Atlanta Falcons: Kick returner Devin Hester released before camp
Just one day before the Atlanta Falcons were scheduled to kick off their 2016 XFINITY Training Camp, the team announced that veteran kick returner and wide receiver Devin Hester has been released.
Veteran kick returner and wide receiver Devin Hester, who holds the NFL record for most all-time return touchdowns and most all-time punt return touchdowns, was released from the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday, July 26.
Hester joined the Falcons in 2014 on a three-year contract after the Chicago Bears did not re-sign him. Just three weeks in to the Atlanta Falcons 2014-15 season, he broke the record for career non-offensive touchdowns, which previously belonged to Deion Sanders.
Two years later, Hester has found himself under much different circumstances, and now currently a free agent. In 2015, Hester missed the first 11 games of the season due to a toe injury, which required him to undergo surgery in January. Despite the injury, according to the Atlanta Falcons’ general manager Thomas Dimitroff, the decision to release the soon to be 34-year-old was strictly a “football decision.” Hester had even passed his physical.
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VIA Marc Sessler of Around the NFL:
"“Of course we made a move today with Devin Hester, releasing Devin, and we appreciate all of Devin’s contributions over the last couple years. A fine individual,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “He passed his physical, and it was a football decision for us in the very end.“Obviously there are business moves when we make a move like we did with Devin, but that wasn’t what was directing our other potential acquisitions, not at all.”Although his best days could be behind him, Hester has no plans to retire, a source informed of his thinking told NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. Along with former Falcons teammate Roddy White, who, according to Rapoport, has been in contact with a few NFL teams and wants to play in 2016, Hester likely will be looking to land with a new team quickly."
So it’s out with the old for the Atlanta Falcons, but now in with…who? According to head coach Dan Quinn in a press conference on Tuesday, the Falcons have proposed a contract to a certain player, but that player remains unnamed at the moment. Many fans are hopeful that it could be defensive end Dwight Freeney. The Falcons previously expressed interest in him earlier this summer, but said it just “wasn’t the right time.”
Next: Atlanta Braves: Will Sean Newcomb make his debut this year?
After this move, the Atlanta Falcons roster now stands at 87 men heading into training camp, which kicks off Wednesday, July 27. To view the full press conference from Tuesday, watch the video below.