LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. The Bears confirmed Thursday that they are parting ways with the three-time Pro Bowl pick after eight seasons, confirming what he told the NFL Network the previous day. So instead of a return to Chicago, hell hit the market as a free agent. General manager Phil Emery said it had been an honour to have Hester on the team. "While Devin has redefined the pinnacle standard of the return position in the NFL, the memories and contributions he has given us cannot be measured by stats or numbers," he said. "Not only is Devin a special player, he is also an exceptional person. He is a great teammate, husband and father. Devin represented the organization off-the-field as well as he did on it. When his career is over, he will always be a welcome member of the Bears family." Hester matched Hall of Famer Deion Sanders NFL record with his 19th return touchdown last season, tying his friend and mentor with an 81-yard punt return at Washington in October. It was Hesters 13th punt return for a TD, extending his own record in that category. He has also returned five kickoffs and a missed field goal for a touchdown. Hester is best remembered by Bears fans for returning the opening kickoff in the 2007 Super Bowl for a touchdown. He ran it back 92 yards for a score in a game won by Indianapolis. Hester endured several lulls on returns during his career, particularly when the Bears tried to make him a receiver. But he showed some of his old form while focusing solely on returns last season. Hes the second Bears star to leave the team in as many years: Last May, linebacker Brian Urlacher announced his retirement after 13 seasons, all with the Bears. The eight-time Pro Bowler and the team were unable to reach a deal a year ago and he eventually decided to call it quits. Authentic Deion Jones Jersey .twitter.com/xBTpoAKLJk — Daryl Zerr (@darylzerr) May 29, 2014 @BarDown I give to you the @SquirrelsNCHL aka the Fighting Squirels. Authentic Takkarist McKinley Jersey .Y. - For once, Clayton Kershaw was glad to see a long shutout streak end. http://www.cheapfalconsjerseysauthentic....do-allen-jersey. The team said Saturday that the 36-year-old Robidas is expected to miss four to six months, jeopardizing his return this season. He was injured when he slid hard into the boards in the second period of a 2-1 shootout loss to Chicago on Friday. Authentic Isaiah Oliver Jersey . CSKA received the heavier punishment of playing its next European home game behind closed doors, after its supporters displayed racist and far-right symbols in the Czech Republic during a 2-1 loss to Viktoria Plzen on Dec. Authentic Tony Gonzalez Jersey . It was well worth the wait. Manning and the Denver Broncos waited eight long months, then another 33 minutes to get the season started because of a lightning storm.LONDON - Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar was ruled out of the World Cup in Brazil on Monday with a hamstring injury that will sideline him for up to six weeks. The playmaker ruptured a muscle in his hamstring during Queens Park Rangers 1-0 win over Derby in the second-tier League Championship playoff match at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Kranjcar is on loan at QPR from Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv. Croatian national-team doctor Boris Nemec is quoted in a statement released by QPR aas saying Kranjcars "rupture is some inches wide and will need between four and six weeks to heal.dddddddddddd." The 29-year-old was one of 12 midfielders included in Croatias provisional 30-man squad named on May 14. He was expected to be in the final group of 23 players due to be announced by head coach Niko Kovac on Saturday. Croatia plays the opening match of the World Cup, against Brazil on June 12. Mexico and Cameroon are the other teams in Group A. ' ' '