NFL - Sports Rumors

Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:52 pm EDT

League rejects 'Devin Hester Rule' on punts

By Joe Zedalis

Devin Hester

Getty Images

The NFL has no interest in doing Devin Hester any favors, so there will be no "Devin Hester rule" passed any time soon according to the Chicago Tribune.

In recent weeks, the league considered legislating against punting out of bounds-which teams did frequently when opposing Hester last season. A survey was sent to head coaches and general managers to get their reaction to such a rule, but the response was overwhelmingly against changing what often is a strategic move to trap an opponent inside his own 20-yard line rather than kicking into the end zone for a touchback. The NFL's competition committee also had a discussion about enacting a new rule, but it didn't go very far.

"Directional kicking is a difficult thing to do," said Colts President Bill Polian, a member of the competition committee. "We saw no evidence that [punting out of bounds] is growing in use. So it's not an issue we had a lot of concern about. Very few people can do it, and the odds of it backfiring on you are pretty high. If you shank it, it's 20 yards, not 40. It's a tough skill to execute."

Source: Chicago TribuneNew Window

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1392 Comments

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  1. Pokey
    1. Posted by Pokey Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    First and with a good comment. i'm a die hard bears fan. and i hate how teams are scared to kick it to the best returner in nfl history. but i understand totally. hester is our only bright spot for next year. hopefully he can take us back to the bowl. hahahahahaaa
  2. Hoa
    2. Posted by Hoa Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    hahah...devin hester rule....laughable...second
  3. Anthony L
    3. Posted by Anthony L Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

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    why dont we just remove punting altogether
  4. SiGGz
    4. Posted by SiGGz Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm EDT

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    haha back to the bowl? not gonna be the superbowl with no WR's and no QB......maybe the fiesta bowl....as spectators
  5. Greg C
    5. Posted by Greg C Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:25 pm EDT

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    Let the boys play.
  6. Gary P
    6. Posted by Gary P Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    I think it would be an exciting rule. They do it on kickoffs by penalizing the team that kicked out
    of bounds. I would do it on punts. Penalize the punting team 10 yards if it goes out of bounds outside
    the 20 yard lines. If it is punted inside the 20 and goes out of bounds make that legal. Well I don't
    know if that will work either, especially if you have lousy punters that are always shanking their punts.
    But on the other hand punters that shank often shouldn't be making $1 M plus a year.
    There are pros and cons for this idea, no wonder they declined. Anybody have an idea on how this could work - or if it cannot just say so.
  7. suchthepimp1
    7. Posted by suchthepimp1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    Pokey is an idot!!
  8. stuff
    8. Posted by stuff Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    Ryno Who cares that your first. Why dont you post somthing Oh thats right you cant spell... Nascar Rules...... The only reason Hester get all those returns is because the refs don't call clips because the are OLD and Slow and cant see.PS the Bears will never do anything until they get a QB and by that time the Def will be as old and slow as the refs..... You better start rooting for the cubs to win.... Oh that ain't happen either......
  9. nep617mvp
    9. Posted by nep617mvp Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:13 pm EDT

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    Just dont kick to him.i wouldnt.
  10. nep617mvp
    10. Posted by nep617mvp Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:13 pm EDT

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    Just dont kick to him.i wouldnt.
  11. hcdouglass
    11. Posted by hcdouglass Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    Ryno~ You are a confrontational person. Everywhere I have seen you, you never have anything to say about the topic of the board, just negative drivel.
  12. stuff
    12. Posted by stuff Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    Amen 17
  13. ironchest33
    13. Posted by ironchest33 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:25 pm EDT

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    if Hester is your only chance to get back to the super bowl you better start saving funds to by them all tickets
  14. stuff
    14. Posted by stuff Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    DD read the post I never said DEVIN ( learn to spell his Name) hester was slow I said the ref were..... Idioit
    And Ryno its not HUNT you Donkey
  15. loop
    15. Posted by loop Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    I think Ryno needs a big hug. Are you feelin' okay, fella? So much anger... You may consider changing your name to "angry grammar police".
  16. stuff
    16. Posted by stuff Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    ryno, Why don't you get a real Job that requires you to do something other than worry about if someone forget to Captialize the first letter of the name... you donkey
  17. Br8d h8r
    17. Posted by Br8d h8r Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    I know of 1 team in the league had the stones to not kick away from Hester at all and they completely shut him down!! Raiders, love'em or hate'em they had the stugots to do it.
  18. hcdouglass
    18. Posted by hcdouglass Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    Red~ You are ruthless. lmao!!
  19. stuff
    19. Posted by stuff Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    Right on KMC
  20. loop
    20. Posted by loop Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    ... not that there's anything wrong with it.
  21. RFFL....
    21. Posted by RFFL.... Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:55 pm EDT

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    Get em KMC........
  22. RFFL....
    22. Posted by RFFL.... Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:55 pm EDT

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    I think the guy has a very unhappy life~or just no life at all.......
  23. Jason
    23. Posted by Jason Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    Pokey your back again dont' you just shut up Hester is alright but I'm sorry does Desmond Howard ring a bell, Bear Fans are just like Cub fans or my bad your the same a bunch of whining babies... just shut up please...
  24. sxymothafaya
    24. Posted by sxymothafaya Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:52 pm EDT

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    There is a Hester rule already in place. (DON'T KICK TO HESTER) That worked for a lot of teams last year.
  25. hcdouglass
    25. Posted by hcdouglass Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    Ryno~ You are still here after that outing by Red? I'm sure you laughed at that to. That was a "ZING" in every sense of the word.

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