NFL Names & Faces: Buzz Heating Up Around Da’ Rookie

Chicago Stores Seeing Increased Demand For Hester-Related Merchandise

Officials at Chicago-area sports stores reported many calls regarding items around Bears rookie CB and KR Devin Hester wear and said that Reebok “is in the process of bringing out new jerseys to meet an expected demand,” according to John Mullin of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Hester has returned six kicks for TDs this year, three of which have been nationally-televised games, and his agent, Eugene Parker, said of his endorsement opportunities, “Shoes, clothing, soft drinks -– you can pretty much name all the main product categories and they’re there” Hester added, “All kinds of marketing deals are starting to come up. Telephone deals, Nike deals are starting to come around and commercial ‘shoots’ here and there. But I’m not looking toward that right now. I’m just trying to focus on finishing out the season” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/14).

JUST LIKE THE PROS WEAR: Game-worn uniforms from several Bears players have been “made available to the public through a marketing agreement the team has with Game Exclusives.” Uniforms from Bears QB Rex Grossman, RB Cedric Benson, WR Bernard Berrian, DE Alex Brown, QB Brian Griese and LB Lance Briggs are available. Grossman’s uniform is the most expensive, listed at $4,250. Bears LB Hunter Hillenmeyer uniforms are available for $1,500, including the pants. One player said, “So that’s why I’ve got a new uniform almost every game” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/15).

GET YOUR KICKS: The Falcons have ordered No. 5 Morten Andersen jerseys “in anticipation of” him becoming the NFL’s all-time leading scorer this weekend. Andersen needs just two points against the Cowboys to pass Gary Anderson’s record of 2,434 points (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/15).