11/23/24
January 31, 2009
NFL Hall of Fame Admits Bob Hayes, Bruce Smith and Rod Woodson: Randall McDaniel, Derrick Thomas and owner Ralph Wilson also were inducted. "He scored a TD every 5.2 times he caught the ball," sportswriter Jean-Jacques Taylor writes of Hayes. "[His] call is long overdue." Last year, Hayes and Derrick Thomas were two of NFL.Com's top 10 players not in the hall.
Ray Guy should be on that top ten list... Especially if you're going to include Tasker.
posted by 86 at 08:23 PM on January 31, 2009
Ray Guy was a great punter, don't get me wrong, but Tasker was an actual football player. I watched practically every Bills game he ever played in, and he was unstoppable on the field. No opponent could contain the guy on coverage, and he was absolutely fearless and relentless. He also returned kickoffs, punts, and played the wide receiver position. I honestly don't think I have ever seen a guy play the game harder than Steve Tasker.
posted by dyams at 09:48 PM on January 31, 2009
Steve Tasker only caught 51 passes in his career, so his rep is based entirely on special teams play. Devil's advocate question: Why is a specialist like Tasker an actual football player but a specialist like Ray Guy isn't?
posted by rcade at 11:46 PM on January 31, 2009
I totally agree that Tasker was a specialist, and I don't see him as a player worthy of the hall. Of his 51 receptions and 9 TD's, 41 catches and 6 of the scores were during two years later in his career. Before that it's almost all special teams. Had he produced at the same pace throughout his career maybe it'd be different. To me he just doesn't belong on the list with Stabler, Carter and the rest.
posted by dviking at 12:33 AM on February 01, 2009
I already said Guy was great at kicking a ball up in the air. But I don't truly think anyone going into the Hall of Fame in this sport, based on what they did on the field, should be a player where if they actually get touched draws a penalty flag. And I realize Tasker wasn't Jerry Rice as a receiver, but the times he was needed and utilized as a receiver were often at crucial times, and he made some big catches for them. He's someone you had to watch each week to truly appreciate how great he was. He remains one of the best, surest tacklers ever to assume his role, and anyone who really knows about those great Bills teams of that era realize he was one of the best. People who knew about his play but only watched him here and there never gave him the credit he deserved back then, and I'm sure they won't give it to him now.
posted by dyams at 08:03 AM on February 01, 2009
I already said Guy was great at kicking a ball up in the air.
You can't minimize the contribution of Ray Guy like that -- seven-time Pro Bowler, led league in punting average three seasons -- while at the same time celebrating everything Tasker did, including his trivial contribution as a wide receiver. (The guy caught 10 passes his first nine years in the league -- I think you overestimate his importance to the Bills' passing game.)
Both players were great specialists. Tasker's greatness covering kicks and punts was about field position and great punting is about field position. Both of those skills have the same impact on the outcome of a game. If you think Tasker is Hall-worthy, it opens the door for other specialists like Guy. And vice versa.
posted by rcade at 10:31 AM on February 01, 2009
If you think Tasker is Hall-worthy, it opens the door for other specialists like Guy. And vice versa.
I'm OK with that statement. But I think if a special teams kamikaze like Tasker isn't considered Hall-worthy, you should never see ANY punter there. Besides, as Bills players go, I really want Andre Reed inducted. And Darryl Talley.
posted by dyams at 11:36 AM on February 01, 2009
I think if a special teams kamikaze like Tasker isn't considered Hall-worthy, you should never see ANY punter there.
I think Tasker and Guy both deserve strong consideration. Though as a Jacksonville Jaguars fan who often got Tasker calling our games, since he was half of the third- or fourth-string announcing team for CBS, I am tempted to declare him ineligible for the hall because of his work in the booth.
As an aside, did anyone know that Wikipedia has pages devoted to football announcer teams?
posted by rcade at 12:27 PM on February 01, 2009
You can keep the bullet and art monk, give me chris carter any day.
posted by chmurray at 01:21 AM on February 02, 2009
give me chris carter any day.
Agreed. Still surprised he didn't get the nod.
posted by fadetoblack5 at 09:21 AM on February 02, 2009
YES! Rod Woodson made it in first time nominated! I am a happy camper!
It is also nice to see the late Derrick Thomas get voted in.
posted by steelergirl at 03:50 PM on February 03, 2009
Glad to see McDaniel make it! An awesome lineman if there ever was one.