NewEra Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Fadingpain said: I couldn't agree more. I know the argument for NOT putting a special teams guy in there. Doesn't play enough, doesn't impact the game enough, perhaps, and so on. There are 2 exceptions that make Tasker a legitimate HOFer IMO: 1) He wasn't just an outstanding player, he was the best gunner the league has ever seen, and the second best guy is a mile behind. That deserves recognition. 2) He had a knack for making huge, big, explosive, impact plays that altered the outcome of football games. Guys like that are very rare and worth their weight in gold when you find them. Is he really the best gunner ever? I’ve never really scouted them so I wouldn’t even be able to tell you who the top 5 are. If he’s the best, what makes him SO much better than the #2 guy. Who is the #2 guy btw? I always knew that up until he retired he may have been the best ever. It’s been 20 years and these guys are way faster and stronger than he was. He was a great contributor to just about every aspect of special teams. But was he really the best gunner ever? Edited September 13, 2018 by NewEra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobbRiddick Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Part 1 of Tasker highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VF3tI3DDSg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsbackto81 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 (edited) Extraordinary Special Teams players of the late 80’s and early 90’s 1. Steve Tasker 2. Reyna Thompson 3. Everybody else....... I should reiterate I’m talking Gunners, not return players or kickers. Edited September 13, 2018 by billsbackto81 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Tasker is the yes in that group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie's Dead Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 1 hour ago, Buffalo716 said: Tasker needs to get in. hes the best ever at his position. He revolutionized special teams He changed the game. ST is now a true 1/3 of the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMAKCruiser Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 9 minutes ago, billsbackto81 said: Extraordinary Special Teams players of the late 80’s and early 90’s 1. Steve Tasker 2. Reyna Thompson 3. Everybody else....... Mark Pike and Bill Bates were also very good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman1876 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 The proudest moment of my sports fandom was when peter king published my essay about why Tasker should be in the HOF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 2 hours ago, Fadingpain said: I couldn't agree more. I know the argument for NOT putting a special teams guy in there. Doesn't play enough, doesn't impact the game enough, perhaps, and so on. There are 2 exceptions that make Tasker a legitimate HOFer IMO: 1) He wasn't just an outstanding player, he was the best gunner the league has ever seen, and the second best guy is a mile behind. That deserves recognition. 2) He had a knack for making huge, big, explosive, impact plays that altered the outcome of football games. Guys like that are very rare and worth their weight in gold when you find them. A play I'll never forget is Deion Sanders camped out under a punt and looking downfield to see where he wanted to take it. When he tried to take his first step, he looked down and found Tasker had wrapped up his legs and he wasn't going anywhere. Not a moster hit, but he completely neutralized a hall of famer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklabel Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 2 hours ago, Fadingpain said: And how about Kent Hull? He was the anchor on an outstanding offensive line for years. I will always remember Will Wolford talking to the media after a game from the locker room. A critical Kent Hull holding penalty was being discussed and Will said something like "Believe me, Kent doesn't hold" as if to say there is no way it could have been a good call b/c in Wolford's mind, Hull literally did not hold, like ever....b/c he just didn't need to. Coming from a guy as good as Wolford that is high praise. I don't think Kent will get into the HOF, but he should! Definitely and underrated and underappreciated (outside of Buffalo) player. Any time I've read/listened to interviews about him the most consistent thing that comes up is his intelligence. I've heard numerous players say he was one of the smartest X's and O's guys they'd ever been around. Without him, the K-Gun probably never works as well as it did. Hull was able to process and call out the protection quick enough to keep that offense going at the pace it did. That's not easy to do. Hopeful for him to get in but not overly optimistic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah John Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 It will be tough for any player identified primarily as a Bill to get in. Two reasons. First, the Bills who have gotten in did so largely because Larry Felser advocated for them and Felser had the respect of the other football writers. Well, that and the fact that they were all great players who deserved selection. But without a repected advocate the chances of getting in drop. The second reason is that the Bills have been so bad for so long, that a lot of younger people don't remember how good they used to be. If Felser were still around, Kent Hull would have a chance. Probably not now, even though he deserves it. Felser got Billy Shaw selected, a well deserved honor but also a minor miracle. And Tasker should have been in the HOF 10 years ago. It's a disgrace he isn't already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 2 hours ago, Buffalo716 said: Tasker needs to get in. hes the best ever at his position. He revolutionized special teams ...Tasker is the NFL's version of MLB relievers..waited forever.......OR...closer to NFL Home, punter Ray Guy comes to mind............... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livi38 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 1 hour ago, Batman1876 said: The proudest moment of my sports fandom was when peter king published my essay about why Tasker should be in the HOF. That would be be awesome to see! Do you have a link or can you send it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formerlyofCtown Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, PeterDude said: A lot of the guys on that list made their important hay before they played for the Bills, so this list is kinda silly IMO. 5 of them were long term bills. Five of Fletcher's first 6 as a starter were as a Bill. So I would recognize 6 as Bills. Edited September 13, 2018 by formerlyofCtown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fadingpain Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 1 hour ago, blacklabel said: Definitely and underrated and underappreciated (outside of Buffalo) player. Any time I've read/listened to interviews about him the most consistent thing that comes up is his intelligence. I've heard numerous players say he was one of the smartest X's and O's guys they'd ever been around. Without him, the K-Gun probably never works as well as it did. Hull was able to process and call out the protection quick enough to keep that offense going at the pace it did. That's not easy to do. Hopeful for him to get in but not overly optimistic. Some of my fondest memories from that time are with the team lined up at the line of scrimmage, Kelly behind center, and Kent would have his snapping hand on the ball. He'd sort of half-stand up and turn his body to the left, then to the right, then maybe back to the the left again, barking out blocking assignments. I think half the time he was calling the actual play too, as he was no doubt much more intelligent than Kelly. I'm pretty sure there were times when Kelly had his bell rung and Kent was telling him what signals to call, while lined up. Kent Hull is one of my all time favorite Bills, so I'm biased, but he was one hell of a good center too. I'd love to see him get in the HOF. He's doing what I'm talking about in this photo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBillsFanSince1973 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 (edited) ST Steve Tasker LB Darryl Talley C Kent Hull those three well represented the buffalo bills. if there were only one to get in my choice would be #67, farm boy out of Mississippi. he was the man during those glory days for sure. Edited September 13, 2018 by no name Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 1 hour ago, Utah John said: It will be tough for any player identified primarily as a Bill to get in. Two reasons. First, the Bills who have gotten in did so largely because Larry Felser advocated for them and Felser had the respect of the other football writers. Well, that and the fact that they were all great players who deserved selection. But without a repected advocate the chances of getting in drop. The second reason is that the Bills have been so bad for so long, that a lot of younger people don't remember how good they used to be. If Felser were still around, Kent Hull would have a chance. Probably not now, even though he deserves it. Felser got Billy Shaw selected, a well deserved honor but also a minor miracle. And Tasker should have been in the HOF 10 years ago. It's a disgrace he isn't already. I believe that Mark Gaughan with TBN was very instrumental in Andre Reed’s campaign. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman1876 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 50 minutes ago, Livi38 said: That would be be awesome to see! Do you have a link or can you send it? https://www.si.com/2013/10/11/readers-hall-of-fame-nominations 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Biscuit97 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 All great Bills but they just belong in the Hall of Very Good. Tasker has the best shot. Spikes and Spielman might have been if not for injuries. Spikes had the most dominating linebacker season I ever remember a Bill having. He was amazing pre injury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Buffalo Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 How many blocks did Tasker have two different sets if highlight I watched, all different games and amazing number of blocked punts especially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 25 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said: All great Bills but they just belong in the Hall of Very Good. Tasker has the best shot. Spikes and Spielman might have been if not for injuries. Spikes had the most dominating linebacker season I ever remember a Bill having. He was amazing pre injury. Sam Cowart was beastly until that !@#$ from TB cheap-shotted him. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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