"You want to call Devin Hester the best return man of all time?

I won't argue.

In fact, I'm there leading the charge. And I watched Gale ­Sayers.

And Brian Mitchell and Eric Metcalf and Dante Hall and Deion Sanders.

Why, I even saw live-action from "Bullet Bob'' Hayes and, yes, Walter Payton, who returned 17 kicks for the Bears for a 31.7-yard average in his first two seasons.

But when Hester caught a punt on the Bears' 31-yard line in the second quarter Sunday against the Panthers at Soldier Field, you could see that which is unique exploding."