The most electrifying return man in the league has found a different way to display his elusiveness.

Devin Hester told the Chicago Tribune yesterday he intends to hold out of training camp until the Bears grant him a new deal.

"I'm not coming," he said by phone. "I have to make a statement. I showed by going to (organized team activities) that I was a team player. But then, I just felt they weren't taking it seriously that I wanted to get a new deal.

"I can't go out and play this year making $445,000. Come on, man."

Hester is entering the third year of the four-year deal he signed as a rookie second-round draft choice. The Bears have discussed the possibility of a raise with his agent, Eugene Parker, and each side has exchanged proposals. Complicating matters is the Bears' inability to measure Hester's worth against any other player's contract.

He wants to be paid as a receiver, but the Bears are willing to pay him only as the league's highest-paid special teams player — a deal that no doubt would fall short of Hester's mark.

Efforts to reach Parker were unsuccessful. Bears general manager Jerry Angelo expressed disappointment but left the window to negotiations open. The Bears placed Hester on the reserve/did not report list after he was a no-show yesterday.

"You should pay me like I'm one of a kind," Hester said. "It's like dating a girl. When you find somebody who is real special, you're going to do whatever it takes to keep her. You might cut back on what you're giving your mom to give to her. And that's how I feel they should treat me."

Hester wouldn't estimate how much money he's seeking or how long a term the deal should be. The Bears awarded contract extensions to Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher, Alex Brown, Robbie Gould, Desmond Clark and Kyle Orton this off-season. Lance Briggs, Rex Grossman and Rashied Davis signed new deals.

Hester will be fined approximately $15,000 per day if he continues to hold out.

"I'm like this — it's not worth it to show up," he said.

Hester received calls from several of his teammates over the last two days.

"I told him to just handle his business and not let this affect his season," Harris said. "There's a point that you have to know, 'Hey, OK, this is not going to get done.' So he has to get here to benefit him and his family. You don't want to miss out the money that they do owe you, that you've already earned."

Hester said coach Lovie Smith called yesterday and said the team didn't feel the same without him. Smith verified his comment.

"I am saying that — it's not the same," he said. "Every team is better with Hester out there. But these things happen. ... I don't think I've ever been to a training camp where you don't have a couple of surprises."

Harris concurred with Smith's comments on the team missing Hester.

"You know there are going to be two critical plays in a game, and he's going to make one of them," Harris said. "That dude is special, man. We need him here."

Hester has 11 kick returns for touchdowns in two seasons, a total that ranks the fourth best in NFL history. Last season, he made the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year as a return man after setting the single-season NFL record with six kick returns for touchdowns (four punts, two kickoffs).

"Everybody in their right mind understands why I'm doing this," Hester said. "For me to have a season like I did last year and getting paid like this, it's not fair. ... I deserve more, and that's just the way I feel.