The Bears’ Hester loses more than the game on Sunday Night Football by Lloyd Vance

Receiver Devin Hester literally lost his pants in the Bears’ 24-20 loss to the Eagles

One of the funnier moments from Week 11 of the 2009 NFL Season was the de-pants-ing of Chicago Bears WR/KR Devin Hester in his team’s 24-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.  After the Bears explosive receiver attempted to catch a Jay Cutler pass in the fourth quarter of the game, Hester had his pants pulled down by Eagles CB Dmitri Patterson.

Let’s just say that NBC’s national viewing audience saw Soldier Field eclipsed (i.e. Mooned) by Hester’s backside for a more than a few seconds.  Many would say Hester’s mooning was his most exciting play so far this season.  Once viewed as the NFL’s most dangerous return man, the now converted starting receiver has not been able to improve on his former NFL record return pace from earlier in his career. 

In fact, the former two-time Pro Bowl returner has zero returns (punt and kickoff) for a touchdown over the last two years.  Which has been a true surprise after the 4-year veteran needed only two returns for a touchdown at the start of the 2008 season to tie former tough return man Brian Mitchell’s NFL career record of 13 –- scored 11 return touchdowns (7 punt returns and 4 kickoff returns) in his first two seasons. 

This season Hester’s return numbers are down again with 20 punt returns for 185 yards (9.3 ypr) and a long of 33 yards, plus one kickoff return for 26 yards.  I know many Bears fans would prefer to have Hester’s explosiveness back more involved in the Bears’ special teams as his receiving numbers (52 receptions for 614 yards, 11.8 ypc, and  3 TDs in 10 games this season) are not considered starter-worthy despite former Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler throwing the ball to him.