[News] Ravens Release Veteran Returner Devin Hester

[FlocksGottaFeed]

It's very easy to play devil's advocate about Hester's signing in hindsight, but the reality of how and why he got here is more much complicated. At his tryout and eventual signing there were very little options out there and we desperately someone dependable to take on the returning duties. That said, a proven veteran returner 1st ballet HoFer candidate (although beyond his prime) was the reasonable choice to make good game time decisions. This was critical to address the 'new' league kick-off rules that included 25 yard-line touch back protocol.

I imagine that the thought would be that he simply catches most balls and takes a knee or fields punts cleanly when needed. However; like most teams experienced this year, the new rules only increased the returners responsibilities more (kicking short of the goal-line and more exotic angled and more problematic punting schemes and techniques. The game left Hester behind and vulnerable. He still managed to get reasonable production 180 yards on punts and 466 yards kick-off returns which was close to his 2014 average (his last great season before injury in Atlanta). I just really wanted him to break one last big one this season for us, but...oh well. However, we still should show a little more class in thanking him for whatever he contributed to our team at the very least. Thanks for adding the Ravens to your legacy.

That said, his last game was a definite wake-up call. The release was justified and merciful. He has obviously fought his last battle and deserves to exit with grace.

Good luck Devin to you and your family in your journey going forward.   

Edited December 14, 2016 by FlocksGottaFeed
Good luck Devin to you and your family in your journey going forward.

[Ravens8383]

The Ravens lost to a good team again. I'm not jumping ship here like some fans but lets face it this team isn't great but they can hang with the big boys of the NFL this year. They will beat the Eagles who are a bad team and set themselves up for a street fight against the Steelers. We all know that anything can happen when the Ravens and Steelers get together. The season isn't over!

[balfan23]

For a week or so, I've been thinking ... why don't we just put Webb back there for punts and let him call a fair catch every time? He's sure handed and its not like we've gotten anything truly positive from Hester.

Hester's poor play was surprising. I knew he wasn't going to be blazing by people and taking it to the house every other return, but with his experience, I thought he'd at least be able to field a punt in the air at the 15 instead of letting it bounce to the 2. His mishandling and poor judgement was very unexpected. 

[TheConquerorWorm]

  11 hours ago, Militant X 1 said:

So we waive Hester...good riddance; but we call up Campanaro...a cat that can't stay healthy? Smh!

Whom or what do you suggest? Camp provides reliable hands and an extra weapon In the slot to move the chains.

You clearly have forgotten the two straight fumbles on returns by Camp that prompted us to go out and sign Hester in the 1st place. SSS should be fielding punts with a fair catch signal - everytime.

[Purple Dawg 96]

Just shows how out dated ozzie newsome is with building a team. Our offense is pathetic still, Ive never seen so many passes to the running back WR still cant get open WR still trash. We dont have 1 WR outside of steve smith that could start on another team. Nice ozzie nice

KICK ROCKS! "BUDDY"! YUP

[slowboater]

only trash teams get picked to go to london, its not an accomplishment or a honor, we are offically a bottom of the barrel team and thats why their sending us to london. Youd never see the pats or steelers or any other relavent team being sent to london.

Umm. Pats and Steelers have both played in London. Try again.

[DENNYK]

Thank God for small miracles. Hester was done but Harbs couldn't see it. The guy was a definite liability when on the field. The thrill was gone with him and this season proved it. Campanaro will do OK back there for us as long as he can stay healthy.

[fusuymada]

The first one cost us two points, the next one he allowed to rest on the one and a half yard line at the end of the 3rd quarter. Fortunately, Dixon ran left behind Yanda and gained 8 yards but we ended up punting on that drive because of the length of the field we had to traverse. Had he just fielded it without even returning we would have been at the 15. So it wasn't just one mistake in this game it was two to add to about two per game since he got here. I said it was a mistake to start with, I thought at the time they should have kept Butler instead of cutting him to make room for Hester. This was Harbaugh and Rossbergs dream to coach the best punt returner in history with their special teams background and it has cost us a lot.

Speaking of which, if we just include the three games that Harbaugh lost earlier in the season there wouldn't be a question if we are in the playoffs or not. Those "aggreessive" decisions cost us games. If I'm Bisciotti, I tighten the leash on Harbaugh on this insane aggressive crap.

[fusuymada]

  11 hours ago, verified said:

only trash teams get picked to go to london, its not an accomplishment or a honor, we are offically a bottom of the barrel team and thats why their sending us to london. Youd never see the pats or steelers or any other relavent team being sent to london.

Umm. Pats and Steelers have both played in London. Try again.

Pats have played twice in the UK.

[The Mom Gene]

I'm not saying we shouldn't have cut him....  But folks were begging we sign him  before the season started

[steelcityraven]

TBH... Camp cannot be much worse and I think his upside is higher bc he can also mix in at WR just giving Joe and the offense one more weapon!

[fluffy201]

The Ravens lost to a good team again. I'm not jumping ship here like some fans but lets face it this team isn't great but they can hang with the big boys of the NFL this year. They will beat the Eagles who are a bad team and set themselves up for a street fight against the Steelers. We all know that anything can happen when the Ravens and Steelers get together. The season isn't over!

I don't get you people and your blind optimism. We were a horrible team last year, and to be honest we would have still been a bad team even with out the injuries. Furthermore, we are a bad team again this year. I wouldn't even want to go to the playoffs with this trash team. We'll only once again embarrass ourselves on National Television.

[January J]

14 hours ago, designermaryland said:

He is a real threat for the ice tub and training staff nursing injuries. weapon on the field, not so much.

 

14 hours ago, mrc724 said:

When will that be, he can't stay on the field.

And not surprisingly neither of you offer an alternative option. Camp atleast kills two birds with one stone.

4 hours ago, TheConquerorWorm said:

You clearly have forgotten the two straight fumbles on returns by Camp that prompted us to go out and sign Hester in the 1st place. SSS should be fielding punts with a fair catch signal - everytime.

Nope- haven't forgotten that- but they were the only fumbles I believe he's ever even had and in a preseason game. Everybody makes a mistake eventually, but I trust his hands. I wouldn't really be opposed to Steve doing it- but we don't know if he even  wants to. That's really up to him, not to mention that puts our number 1 receiver coming off a serious injury at risk. Plus we need to keep him fresh when the offense takes the feild. Still would've preferred that over Hester. I'm actually a proponent of Webb doing it.arguably best hands on the team, has experience, and will give him time to rest when offense has the ball before defense takes the feild again- even though he's mostly going to be fair catching them anyway. How about we have two options- send Webb out there when the feild position requires for a simple fair catch- and send Steve or camp when we have room for a return?

[Tdot.to.Bmore]

  9 hours ago, Ravens8383 said:

The Ravens lost to a good team again. I'm not jumping ship here like some fans but lets face it this team isn't great but they can hang with the big boys of the NFL this year. They will beat the Eagles who are a bad team and set themselves up for a street fight against the Steelers. We all know that anything can happen when the Ravens and Steelers get together. The season isn't over!

I don't get you people and your blind optimism. We were a horrible team last year, and to be honest we would have still been a bad team even with out the injuries. Furthermore, we are a bad team again this year. I wouldn't even want to go to the playoffs with this trash team. We'll only once again embarrass ourselves on National Television.

You should stop rooting for this team and jump ship lol If you honestly think our team is trash like the browns, bears or jags then you have lost your mind my friend.

[Rav'n Maniac]

I'm sorry but, it's time. There wasn't any chance he was going to be able to help this team or any team at this point. I hate it when an all time great player like Hester tries to further their career when they don't have it any longer. When its gone, it's gone.

[Crusader]

He was fun to watch in his younger days but like everything comes to an end.

[b93333]

Another bad signing by the FO. Mr. B needs to take a hard look at our decision process during the off season.

[steelcityraven]

Another bad signing by the FO. Mr. B needs to take a hard look at our decision process during the off season.

Hester was not the result of a bad decision making process. He is the greatest return man to ever play the game. He was a FA and available. We needed a KR /PR guy. His resume and pedigree warranted consideration. The only real question was regarding his healthiness and how much he had left in the tank, at his age. Once he proved to be healthy why wouldn't we sign him. The only way to know if he had anything left in the tank was to give him a chance. This didn't work out but it was not a bad signing. The contract was right, the length of the contract was right and Hester was the right guy to take a chance on.

The only real issue that I have with the signing and the entire process is that we put all of our eggs in one basket. I wish we would have went out and found an insurance policy (like a WR who can also return) just to hedge our bets so to speak.

But that is today's NFL and I have to remind myself that we live in a salary cap generation that is dominated by QBs - so we hedge our bets in other areas with project guys like Michael Campanaro.... guys who have the talent but have health, or other issues that we can stash away on a PS.

Which again is what our FO did.... not a bad process... just one that didn't work out. In business not every decision is expected to be a home run... but you try to make an educated guess as to which ones will be... you gamble on those and hedge your bets just in case it is not.

I think that is exactly what we did with Hester... it just didn't work the way we had hoped. Don't make it a bad decision!

[steelcityraven]

The Ravens lost to a good team again. I'm not jumping ship here like some fans but lets face it this team isn't great but they can hang with the big boys of the NFL this year. They will beat the Eagles who are a bad team and set themselves up for a street fight against the Steelers. We all know that anything can happen when the Ravens and Steelers get together. The season isn't over!

Agreed.... we will beat the Eagles... and we have owned Pittsburgh as of late. If we beat them again (and I think there is a good chance we do) I think that Cincy will have already checked out by seasons end. They would love to beat us but if they are not doing so by half... they will fold their tents quickly bc they have nothing to fight for.

The sqeelers on the other hand have Cincy (who is a big rival with Pittsburgh) Cleveland (who would want nothing more then to get a win and especially against a chief rival) and Us....

They have three rivalry games left and all very important to them. That is not only physically draining but more importantly emotionally draining - and right before the post season... that is a lot of pressure to carry. Everybody says that we have the more difficult schedule down the stretch but I don't believe that.

Everyone knows that Rivalry games can go either way.
(WE have 2 and one will be with a team that has checked out)

They have 3 rivalry games left...
(Cincy will not be checked out yet when they face them. Cleveland will be a tougher out as they get desperate for a win and now they got RGIII back and US -and we have owned Pittsburgh as of late)

I still like our chances.

[Purple Dawg 96]

  17 hours ago, Ravens8383 said:

The Ravens lost to a good team again. I'm not jumping ship here like some fans but lets face it this team isn't great but they can hang with the big boys of the NFL this year. They will beat the Eagles who are a bad team and set themselves up for a street fight against the Steelers. We all know that anything can happen when the Ravens and Steelers get together. The season isn't over!

I don't get you people and your blind optimism. We were a horrible team last year, and to be honest we would have still been a bad team even with out the injuries. Furthermore, we are a bad team again this year. I wouldn't even want to go to the playoffs with this trash team. We'll only once again embarrass ourselves on National Television.

Squeeler fans give the Ravens more props that you! Smh the Ravens lost the game and gained respect because they displayed Heart on that field Monday Night we just walked into a meat grinder because Bellichick had them ready! PS Leave your wings on the desk you're not a Raven! "REAL" Ravens are down for WHATEVER!

[b93333]

8 hours ago, steelcityraven said:

Hester was not the result of a bad decision making process. He is the greatest return man to ever play the game. He was a FA and available. We needed a KR /PR guy. His resume and pedigree warranted consideration. The only real question was regarding his healthiness and how much he had left in the tank, at his age. Once he proved to be healthy why wouldn't we sign him. The only way to know if he had anything left in the tank was to give him a chance. This didn't work out but it was not a bad signing. The contract was right, the length of the contract was right and Hester was the right guy to take a chance on.

The only real issue that I have with the signing and the entire process is that we put all of our eggs in one basket. I wish we would have went out and found an insurance policy (like a WR who can also return) just to hedge our bets so to speak.

But that is today's NFL and I have to remind myself that we live in a salary cap generation that is dominated by QBs - so we hedge our bets in other areas with project guys like Michael Campanaro.... guys who have the talent but have health, or other issues that we can stash away on a PS.

Which again is what our FO did.... not a bad process... just one that didn't work out. In business not every decision is expected to be a home run... but you try to make an educated guess as to which ones will be... you gamble on those and hedge your bets just in case it is not.

I think that is exactly what we did with Hester... it just didn't work the way we had hoped. Don't make it a bad decision!

You are making a funny... right?