Pro Football HOF Class of '22 Finalists [no Tasker]

[Never NEVER Give-up]

[Edit: this is the November list - mod]

Tasker is IN!

 

The following is Courtesy of NFL.com:

 

Hall of Fame's Class of 2022

Cornerback Eric Allen

Defensive end Jared Allen

Offensive tackle Willie Anderson

Cornerback/safety Ronde Barber

Wide receiver Anquan Boldin

Offensive tackle Tony Boselli

Safety LeRoy Butler

Running back Eddie George

Wide receiver/kick returner Devin Hester

Wide receiver Torry Holt

Wide receiver Andre Johnson

Defensive end Robert Mathis

Linebacker Sam Mills

Defensive tackle Richard Seymour

Wide receiver Steve Smith

Wide receiver/special teams Steve Tasker

Running back Fred Taylor

Linebacker Zach Thomas

Wide receiver Hines Ward

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware

Running back Ricky Watters

Wide receiver Reggie Wayne

Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork

Linebacker Patrick Willis

Safety Darren Woodson

Defensive tackle Bryant Young

[NewEra]

Poor Steve.  Great career.  Too bad he has to stress out about this every year to inevitably never get that yellow jacket.  

[SWATeam]

Man, what a terrible list. 

[EmotionallyUnstable]

With Devin Hester a near lock, I gotta think it’s a tough year for Tasker to try and get 2 ST guys through 

[Rico]

3 minutes ago, SWATeam said:

Man, what a terrible list. 

Yeah, I’d say Tasker is more worthy than anyone else, maybe he really does make it.

[Royale with Cheese]

I don't think there's a lock anywhere on the list.  Tasker might actually have a chance.

[Chicharito]

Besides Vince Wilfork and Steve smith I don’t see anyone else as a legitimate lock. But yes poor tasker he should’ve been in years ago. You talk about a guy that made special teams players an asset it’s him!

[Albany,n.y.]

That's the November list.  No Tasker.  

 

This is today's list:

Jared Allen, Defensive End – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers

Willie Anderson, Offensive Tackle – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens

Ronde Barber, Cornerback/Safety – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tony Boselli, Offensive Tackle – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve)

LeRoy Butler, Safety – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers

Devin Hester, Punt Returner/Kick Returner/Wide Receiver – 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens

Torry Holt, Wide Receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars

Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver – 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans

Sam Mills, Linebacker – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers

Richard Seymour, Defensive End/Defensive Tackle – 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders

Zach Thomas, Linebacker – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys

DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker/Defensive End – 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-16 Denver Broncos

Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts

Patrick Willis, Linebacker – 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers

Bryant Young, Defensive Tackle/Defensive End – 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers

 

 

Edited December 30, 2021 by Albany,n.y.

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

Dude, this is fake news. Tasker didn't make it. Real shame you posted this.

[Rico]

That sucks. 

 

So Hester, Andre Johnson, and Demarcus Ware are the only 1st-year eligibles along with a bunch of also-rans? They should just skip this year.

[Mailman]

Just now, Rico said:

That sucks. 

 

So Hester, Andre Johnson, and Demarcus Ware are the only 1st-year eligibles along with a bunch of also-rans? They should just skip this year.

Man, just my opinion, but the special meaning of the HOF has been watered down. Ronde Barber??  The HOF should only induct 1 or 2 a year. These lists, in recent years, lack significance and are unimpressive to me. A long career should not equate to a HOF career. 

[Paul Costa]

Too bad , it would be good for the overall view of the game if a guy like him actually made the HOF. He was the best gunner ever. That should count for something. People would realize games are won & lost on ST weekly. If great teams like the Bills had during the SB run needed a guy like him. 

[Rico]

2 minutes ago, Mailman said:

Man, just my opinion, but the special meaning of the HOF has been watered down. Ronde Barber??  The HOF should only induct 1 or 2 a year. These lists, in recent years, lack significance and are unimpressive to me. A long career should not equate to a HOF career. 

Yeah, I couldn’t vote yes for a single one of them. Boselli is the only one who was truly elite, but he didn’t play long enough…. I guess Hester was pretty great too at what he did.

[Never NEVER Give-up]

30 minutes ago, Albany,n.y. said:

That's the November list.  No Tasker.  

My bad!  Thanks for the correction.  Apologies if I got anyone's hopes up!

[Mat68]

Made big plays on every teams.  The Bills do not go to 4 straight Superbowls without Tasker.  He made too many game altering plays.  

[DCOrange]

23 minutes ago, Mailman said:

Man, just my opinion, but the special meaning of the HOF has been watered down. Ronde Barber??  The HOF should only induct 1 or 2 a year. These lists, in recent years, lack significance and are unimpressive to me. A long career should not equate to a HOF career. 

Barber is easily a hall of famer. Amazing player and one of the most important parts of one of the top 1-3 defenses in history. 

[NewEra]

52 minutes ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

With Devin Hester a near lock, I gotta think it’s a tough year for Tasker to try and get 2 ST guys through 

You think Devin Hester is a lock to get in his first year?  We’re talking about the hall of fame…yellow jacket.  While he’s def the best punt returner ever, I don’t think he’s even close to the best KO returner ever. 
 

If Tasker never gets in, either should Hester imo.  Tasker has been known as the best ST player ever for the last 25+ years. Hester is the best punt returner ever…..but not the best KO returner ever.  Maybe it’s me being a homer, but I think it would be ******* if Hester gets in first. But the nfl is all about TDs and Hester has lots

[Wizard]

There are great players on this list, but there is not one player that I think "hall of fame" when thinking of the very best.

 

Boselli, Ware, Hester, Andre Johnson, Jared Allen and Patrick Willis (for short periods of time) were among the best at their positions, so these would be the players I would most consider.

 

Still, I don't think any of these players were significantly more important individually to their position or team's success than Tasker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 30, 2021 by Wizard

[klos63]

I usually don't get to caught up in Hall of Fame selections, but it's ridiculous that arguably the greatest, most valuable special teams player ever is not in the HOF. 

[Utah John]

53 minutes ago, Mailman said:

Man, just my opinion, but the special meaning of the HOF has been watered down. Ronde Barber??  The HOF should only induct 1 or 2 a year. These lists, in recent years, lack significance and are unimpressive to me. A long career should not equate to a HOF career. 

I agree, a long career should not equate to a HOF career.

 

But wait until Frank Gore gets eligible.  He was never close to being the best back in the NFL for any season, but he kept on chugging along, and now is among the career leaders.  The lazy voters will look at stats, not capability or impact.

[ChevyVanMiller]

Steve Tasker, 7 time Pro Bowler, 7 time first team All-Pro doesn’t make the cut. Tony Boselli, whose entire career was only 6 years does. Uh, sure that adds up. 👎

Edited December 30, 2021 by ChevyVanMiller

[Nextmanup]

27 minutes ago, ChevyVanMiller said:

Steve Tasker, 7 time Pro Bowler, 7 time first team All-Pro doesn’t make the cut. Tony Boselli, whose entire career was only 6 years does. Uh, sure that adds up. 👎

The entire list of finalists is, in my opinion, pretty weak.

 

You would think the greatest ST player of all time would make it!

 

 

[RobbRiddicksTDLeap]

There’s isn’t a player on that list that belongs in the HOF

[FLFan]

Tasker completely changed the role of special teams in the NFL and how teams played kick and punt coverage.  He should be recognized for that.  There was not a reserved special teams player role on the pro bowl squad before Tasker. He won games for the Bills on numerous occasions.  He was dominant.  Should have been recognized years ago.  Putting Hester in before him would be shear ignorance.  

[Buffalo716]

You can't tell the game off football without mentioning the contributions from Steve Tasker 

 

He's a HoFr and changed the game

[Mr. WEO]

1 hour ago, Wizard said:

There are great players on this list, but there is not one player that I think "hall of fame" when thinking of the very best.

 

Boselli, Ware, Hester, Andre Johnson, Jared Allen and Patrick Willis (for short periods of time) were among the best at their positions, so these would be the players I would most consider.

 

Still, I don't think any of these players were significantly more important individually to their position or team's success than Tasker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patrick Willis doesn't belong in there.  Barely got to 8 seasons.  Started off great for first 4 years.  

[TAinLack.]

2 hours ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

With Devin Hester a near lock, I gotta think it’s a tough year for Tasker to try and get 2 ST guys through 

Sadly, it will get even harder for Steve Tasker in future years.

[auburnbillsbacker]

How many 7 time All Pros are not in the Hall of Fame?  Only Tasker and current semi finalists?

[HOUSE]

Over officious jerks

 

[Brennan Huff]

If Tasker played for the Jets there wouldn’t be a soul here that would say he belongs. Tasker was a special teams god in our eyes but not to other teams fans throughout the league

[Let's Go Buffalo]

Tasker was the best in the business as a multifaceted Special Teamer for years, and I've always thought if you're the best at your position for that many years, you deserve the Hall of Fame. He changed the way Special Teams was looked at, and Hall of Fame coaches would have to game plan around him on that side of the ball year after year, so hopefully one day he will get the call!

[Buffalo716]

29 minutes ago, Brennan Huff said:

If Tasker played for the Jets there wouldn’t be a soul here that would say he belongs. Tasker was a special teams god in our eyes but not to other teams fans throughout the league

Definitely not true

 

I know plenty of NFL fans who are not Bills fans from the 90s who thought Steve Tasker was insane 

 

He was a seven-time first team All pro.. coaches actually had to game plan around him... Never before was that ever the case for special teamer 

 

Matthew Slater gets a lot of love for the Patriots over the last decade.. he's going to be on the Hall of Fame ballot

 

He literally can't hold Steve tasker's Jock.. Steve is five times the player

 

And Slater is going to get a look

 

[Dr.Sack]

Steve Tasker made some game changing plays in some of the biggest games in Bills history. Unfortunately for Tasker, his punt block in the Super Bowl happened in the biggest blowout. If Tasker makes that blocked punt in XXV, instead of XXVII he would have been immortalized in Canton a long time ago. 

[Clyde Smith]

2 hours ago, Utah John said:

I agree, a long career should not equate to a HOF career.

 

But wait until Frank Gore gets eligible.  He was never close to being the best back in the NFL for any season, but he kept on chugging along, and now is among the career leaders.  The lazy voters will look at stats, not capability or impact.

Wow, to put time in perspective. Willis Mcgahee became a starter cause Gore went down in college. Chugging along is right lol.

[BRH]

1 hour ago, auburnbillsbacker said:

How many 7 time All Pros are not in the Hall of Fame?  Only Tasker and current semi finalists?

 

Ruben Brown says hello.

 

Which says a lot more about Pro Bowl balloting than it does about Tasker.

 

I was arguing with a Dolphin fan earlier about Zach Thomas.  He said "Zach Thomas changed games."  I was like, maybe so, but Steve Tasker also changed games... and he changed THE GAME.

 

This group of finalists, except for Hester, doesn't have a single guy I would consider top 5 at his position, or actually even top 10.  Tasker was the very best ever at what he did.  It drives me nuts, especially since this was really his best shot.  I bet he gets in via the Seniors committee someday.

Edited December 31, 2021 by BRH

[Sherlock Holmes]

Great news! This means Kuechly will make the HoF!!!!

 

Also how does an OL with only 6 years make it and then on top of it make it over Tasker?

Edited December 31, 2021 by Sherlock Holmes

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Wow what a terrible list. Only Devin Hester, Reggie Wayne  and maybe Andre Johnson are worthy. Holt has good numbers but Wayne and Johnson were more talented.

For the record I don’t think Tasker should be in the HOF but this class is so weak maybe he will make it.

 

One of my long time snubs, Tom Flores made it finally last year.  Now I really want to see Don Coryell inducted.

 

Edited December 31, 2021 by Ethan in Portland

[ngbills]

Weak list. Hester? Guy was good but there have been a ton of Devin Hester’s.  Willis was good as well but a short career and nothing earth shattering. 

[Mark Vader]

4 hours ago, Albany,n.y. said:

That's the November list.  No Tasker.  

 

This is today's list:

Jared Allen, Defensive End – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers

Willie Anderson, Offensive Tackle – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens

Ronde Barber, Cornerback/Safety – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tony Boselli, Offensive Tackle – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve)

LeRoy Butler, Safety – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers

Devin Hester, Punt Returner/Kick Returner/Wide Receiver – 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens

Torry Holt, Wide Receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars

Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver – 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans

Sam Mills, Linebacker – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers

Richard Seymour, Defensive End/Defensive Tackle – 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders

Zach Thomas, Linebacker – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys

DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker/Defensive End – 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-16 Denver Broncos

Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts

Patrick Willis, Linebacker – 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers

Bryant Young, Defensive Tackle/Defensive End – 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers

 

 

Weak list.

 

Andre Johnson & Torry Holt are the only two that deserve serious consideration. Maybe Sam Mills, and maybe Bryant Young.

[Billznut]

1 hour ago, BRH said:

 

Ruben Brown says hello.

 

Which says a lot more about Pro Bowl balloting than it does about Tasker.

 

I was arguing with a Dolphin fan earlier about Zach Thomas.  He said "Zach Thomas changed games."  I was like, maybe so, but Steve Tasker also changed games... and he changed THE GAME.

 

This group of finalists, except for Hester, doesn't have a single guy I would consider top 5 at his position, or actually even top 10.  Tasker was the very best ever at what he did.  It drives me nuts, especially since this was really his best shot.  I bet he gets in via the Seniors committee someday.

All Pro and being selected for the pro bowl are completely different things. All pro carries infinitely more weight than pro bowls. Although sadly neither of these things are helping Tasker’s case.