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About the Author

Romiezzo
My name's Romi Ezzo and I'm a huge sports fan. My favorite thing in the world is baseball, and hopefully, I can become someone involved in sports, whether it's being a sports writer, an analyst, a commentator, or maybe just sticking around here at ArmchairGM editing stuff, and commenting every once in a while. Playing sports is what gets me going, and when I feel like I don't have the energy to actually play baseball, basketball, soccer (football), or American football, I'll just play some MVP, NBA Live, Winning 11, or Madden. My favorite baseball player is Derek Jeter (who I idolized growing up... yes, even though I'm a Red Sox fan), with Dustin Pedroia, Ichiro, and Jacoby Ellsbury in a close 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. I cannot choose a favorite basketball player (it seems like I have a different one each season). I like Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, Hedo Turkoglu, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Paul, Steve Nash, and Dwyane Wade... just to name a few. I'm a New England fan, which means that I love the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins. I'm glad that I can talk sports to a bunch of people that have the same in common that I do.

Keep Armchair GM alive! :)

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Devin Hester Breaks His Own NFL Record; Saints' Season is Over

by Romiezzo
created December 31, 2007, last edited February 10, 2009
26
Vote


Another record was broken in the NFL; finally a record broken that doesn't involve the Patriots. It was in the Bears/Saints game. Everything was on the line for the Saints; if they won, they would make the playoffs, and if they lost, they would not (plain and simple).

The record I'm talking about was broken by a kick returner who we will see dominate his position for a while: Devin Hester. He broke his own NFLrecord today when he returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown, his sixth kick return TD of the season. As a rookie last season, Hester returned five kicks for touchdowns, which was the record at the time. This year, he has two kickoff returns and four punt returns for TDs. His two returns were the key factor of the Bears' 33-25 win against the Saints, which signifies that the Saints' season is officially over with a 7-9 record. If that doesn't impress you enough, in only two seasons in the NFL, he needs three more kick returns to break Brian Mitchell's record for the most in a career (Mitchell has 13).

hester_49ers_1.jpg

"Coming off the season we had last year, we were hoping for better things. But at the end of the day, we left off with a good note," Hester said. "Look at the way we played right now. We should have been doing that all season. It's tough. But things happen."

"It is different. Different teams, different circumstances -- an NFCChampionship Game and 7-9," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "It's an irony that the season ended here."

I expected a lot more from both the Bears and the Saints this season. As the final two teams standing in the NFC last year, they both have the same lousy record of 7-9. Compared to last season, the Bears were 13-3 (6 more wins than this season), and the Saints were 10-6 (3 more wins than this season). Reggie Bush and Rex Grossman (this year) have really been major busts this year. Let's check out some of their stats, shall we?

Starting off with Rex Grossman. 178 yards per game this season compared to 200 last season; only 4 (passing) touchdowns (0.5 per game) compared to his 23 last season (1.4375 per game); went from a quarterback rating or 73.9 to 66.4.

Reggie Bush is next. With such an amazing College Football career, it is extremely weird to see him doing this average. 3.7 yards per attempt, 48.4 rushing yards per game. OK, his stats were better than last year, but as you gain experience, I think you should get a lot better, and as a first round draft pick, he's not doing as well as people thought he would be. I'll give him credit; he has improved since the first couple of games in the season, but after getting in his groove, and then getting injured when the Saints really needed him is not good for a team.

Well, that's it for the season of the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. Once again, congratulations to Devin Hester for breaking his own record and inching closer and closer to the career record for kick returns in only his second year in the NFL. Better luck next year, guys.


Enable Comment Auto-Refresher
RomiezzoLegend
680 days ago
Score 4+-
I don't know if you guys would consider Rex Grossman a major bust, since he's had numbers like this recently, but I still expected him to do better than he did.
Permalink | Reply
SSreportersLegend
680 days ago
Score 6+-
I barely consider Rex to be a football player so...
Permalink
Cougar2000All-American
680 days ago
Score 5+-
Grossman. What a waste of good sperm!
Permalink
LASportsblogAAA-er
679 days ago
Score 1+-
What makes you believe the sperm was good?
Permalink
CoreyisarealboyMajor Leaguer
680 days ago
Score 4+-
How long did I say that Kyle Orton was the best quarterback on the Bears? And now they've kicked the crap out of two good teams the last two weeks with him behind center.
Permalink | Reply
RomiezzoLegend
680 days ago
Score 2+-
How do you know everything, Corey? I forgot to mention Brian Grese as well. I guess I just wanted to provide only one example from each team.
Permalink
CoreyisarealboyMajor Leaguer
680 days ago
Score 4+-
It's a gift.
Permalink
SSreportersLegend
680 days ago
Score 3+-
Will there be a cure for cancer?
Permalink
RomiezzoLegend
680 days ago
Score 3+-
Pffff.. everyone knows the answer to that. Once Jamel dies, cancer won't exist. :P
Permalink
CheezerAll-Star
679 days ago
Score 0+-
Orton has dramatically improved his game during his time on the bench. he may yet become a serviceable NFL QB.

Items of note:

  • Somehow handled the elements well against the Pack.
  • Going into the NO game, he had 1 TD and 1 int. Not exactly Manning/Brady numbers.
  • Saints pass defense is the worst in the NFL.
Permalink
Behbigben15All-Star
680 days ago
Score 3+-
WOW!!! Romi hardly EVER writes NFL articles. Well, anyway, Hester is a GOD in Chicago, and he's MUCH bigger than Dante Hall was with KC from '03-'04. If Hester can be a return threat for 10+ years, he's a lock for the HOF, especially if he turns into a threat at receiver as well. I am disappointed that we have to wait a WHOLE ENTIRE YEAR to watch him play again:(
Permalink | Reply
RomiezzoLegend
680 days ago
Score 4+-
Haha. Someone noticed. I think this is actually my first NFL article. I don't know much about football stats. That's why I wasn't too sure of whether to call Rex Grossman a bust or not.

Anyways, Hester is indeed amazing, and he's actually in my favorite non-Patriot player.

I wouldn't say that right now, BBB. That's a pretty huge statement. He's definitely having some years that could eventually get him into the HOF, but no one should judge someone for two years in a league. Just ask Reggie Bush.
Permalink
Alex HolowczakHall of Famer
680 days ago
Score 3+-
I'm obviously not giving him enough snooker stuff to wikify. :)
Permalink
RomiezzoLegend
680 days ago
Score 1+-
Nah. You just weren't around to give me another project. I figured if he doesn't wanna give me anything at 10:00 pm ET, then why not write an article? ;) Haven't written one in a while.
Permalink
Alex HolowczakHall of Famer
680 days ago
Score 4+-
Mmmm. The problem was, 10pm ET = 3am GMT.
Permalink
RomiezzoLegend
679 days ago
Score 0+-
Exactly. I get some free time. This is what I decided to do. :)
Permalink
IbeargRed-Shirting
680 days ago
Score 3+-
one might ask why the saints were kicking to hester in a game that at the time mattered for them.
Permalink | Reply
RomiezzoLegend
680 days ago
Score 1+-
According to ESPN, one of the scouts said, "Why do teams continue to kick to Devin Hester? He made New Orleans look foolish with yet another punt return for a touchdown, and New Orleans made a decidedly non-explosive Chicago offense (with QB Kyle Orton at the helm) look like a juggernaut." It's funny how almost everyone knows what to do except for the team itself. :P
Permalink
Alex HolowczakHall of Famer
680 days ago
Score 1+-
The time will come when the punters punt OB against him. Make sure of a 30-35 yard punt on each play, rather than risk 10 extra yards for a TD.
Permalink | Reply
Bobbyjim45Draft Pick
679 days ago
Score 0+-
Hester is entering a category all his own among kick returners. You look at recent outstanding return men like Dante Hall, Chad Morton, Alan Rossum and none of them really had any staying power. Hester has now done his thing over 2 full seasons, which is Brett Favre-like in the kick return world.
Permalink | Reply
Falcon02520Legend
679 days ago
Score 0+-
Romi only writes stuff that gets a large amount of votes... Romi, WRITE MORE... you are obviously a very talented writer, and I wish you would create some more articles (mabye you could recieve a nomination for the writers award next year)...
Permalink | Reply
Yakob878MVP
679 days ago
Score 0+-
The nfl actually set a record this regular season for total returnsd for touchdown punts and kick offs, one Joshua Cribbs of thew browns is another up and comming return star, who returned
Permalink | Reply
Yakob878MVP
679 days ago
Score 0+-
sorry, who had 1 punt td and 2 kick td this past season and averaged 30.7 a return on kicks and 13.5 on punt returns. These stats earned him a spot in the pro bowl (his first)
Permalink | Reply
Smitty 13JV Squad
677 days ago
Score 0+-
the bears should get into deep shot gun... let hester be the QB. let him run around. the bears would put more pressure on a defese doing that then putting those other clowns back there and throw it.
Permalink | Reply
Anonymous Fanatic #1
587 days ago
Score 0+-
give hester the ball on every play
Permalink | Reply
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Categories: Opinions | Opinions by User Romiezzo | December 31, 2007 | December 2007 | NFL Opinions | Chicago Bears Opinions | New Orleans Saints Opinions | Devin Hester Opinions | Reggie Bush Opinions | Rex Grossman Opinions

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