Hester excited about starting training camp

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – With the Bears set to kick off training camp with a 3 p.m. practice Friday at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, wide receiver Devin Hester shared his thoughts with reporters.

How big is training camp for you this year?
This camp is probably the most exciting camp I’ve ever been to as far as the NFL. I felt like I couldn’t wait until this camp started because of the quarterback that we have, Jay Cutler, and some of the other guys that are part of the offense. I feel like we have a more veteran team and this is a year I feel like we’ve got an opportunity to easily shoot for the playoffs and hopefully make it to the Super Bowl. I was really geeked up about coming into camp this year and I’m very excited and can’t wait to get started.

How much more familiar are you with the offense?
My first two or three years, it was kind of like, ‘Oh, Lord, camp.’ But this year I feel like I was ready for camp, like I know what’s going on, I know what to expect. It seems more like a field trip to me now, going out and just having fun and bonding with teammates. I look at [them] as brothers. I’m just happy to see everybody back together and just hanging out and getting prepared for the season.

What is Jay Cutler really like?
He’s really very laidback. He gets into a groove with us and then he chitchats and cracks jokes. He’s the type of quarterback that’s not really outspoken, but when you get him in a group of guys and he’s comfortable, that’s when he comes out of his shell and he has fun.

Will it be difficult for you to be a starting receiver and punt returner at the same time?
I don’t think so. It’s what I’m here for; it’s what I get paid for. God blessed me with the ability to go out and do the things that I’m capable of doing, and I want to go out and excel as a receiver and punt returner this year. This is a big season for me. Hopefully I can do well at both. I’m two punt returns shy of the record [for career touchdowns], so that is a goal in the back of my mind. And another goal of mine this year is to come out and be a complete receiver.

How do you explain your decline in production in the return game last season?
I would say [playing] receiver kind of [took] a toll on me as far as me just really trying to get my feet wet at the receiver spot. It was a learning process for me last year. We had a lot of new guys out there playing [on special teams]. This year I feel like all our guys are more veteran now and they’ve got a year under their belts. I have a year under my belt as a receiver, and this year we’re looking for bigger and better things.

What are your goals for training camp?
The most important thing is just to have fun. Learn a lot. Bond more with the players, mingle a little bit more and grow a stronger relationship. When you have a strong relationship with a team and everybody’s bonding together and everybody’s hanging out together and you’re communicating all the time, those are the teams that end up being successful. Just being a part of the team and everybody being back together and just communicating and going out and practicing and getting the job done, that’s all you can really ask for as a player.

What are your thoughts on the possibility of Jay Cutler getting on the receivers if needed?
We want that. That’s what we need. At the end of the day, it’s not about the coaches, it’s about the players. And whenever you get a guy like that that steps up as far as Olin Kreutz, Jay Cutler, Brian Urlacher, those types of guys, they’re the ones that need to be coaching. They’re the key guys and that’s who the players are going to look up to and we’re going to listen to them. At the end of the day we’re out there playing with them. You can’t hear the coaches on the field [during games], so when those guys step up and get on a player, it really helps our team. That’s what bonds the players and brings us to a family, a unit. Whenever you get a quarterback like Jay, when he gets in his groove and starts speaking up and feels a little more confident, that’s when our offense is going to start clicking.



(chicagobears.com)