Hester’s record-breaking runback is a very familiar sight for Lovie The Tampa Tribune, published 19 September 2014 Before Thursday’s game, Bucs coach Lovie Smith and Falcons WR Devin Hester shared an emotional embrace. The next time Smith noticed No. 17, Hester was streaking past his sideline for a pair of touchdowns. On the first snap of the second quarter, Hester ran 20 yards untouched on a flanker end-around that put Atlanta ahead 28-0. That was just a warm-up. Eight minutes later, Hester followed with a 62-yard touchdown on a record-breaking punt return to make it 35-0, high-stepping his way for the final 15 yards as a nod to Deion Sanders. The 20th career score by Hester off returns — 14 punt returns, five kickoffs and one missed field-goal return — vaulted him past Sanders as the NFL’s all-time leader. Sanders was in the Georgia Dome as an NFL Network analyst. For seven years in Chicago, Smith grew accustomed to Hester’s penchant for dazzling plays on special teams. Eighteen of Hester’s touchdowns came when Smith coached the Bears. But when Hester, 31, became a free agent in March, it was an NFC South rival that signed the three-time Pro Bowler to a three-year, $9-million deal. Hester left Thursday’s game temporarily in the second quarter with cramps, but he wasn’t quite finished. In the third quarter, he added a 25-yard catch and had a 40-yard punt return nullified when the Falcons were called for a block in the back. By then, Smith had seen quite enough of his former game-breaker.