Devin Hester, a Hall of Famer?

The Steve Tasker to the Hall is Peter King trying to be a contrarian and expert on talent. This is the same moron who pounded the drumbeat against Art Monk. Was Tasker that much better than Larry Izzo?

 

If special teams were that important, North Texas would be NCAA champions five times over.

 

Yes, but part of our job is to see through clichés and that is pretty clearly a cliché.

 

And now I want ice cream.

 

I understand the field position argument, but how many walls did Tasker blow up on kickoff teams? How many times did he pin a team back with a great open-field tackle on a kickoff or a punt?

Hester almost certainly has more impact on a game, but Tasker was the best ever at what he did, too. He just didn't have his name in lights every night. And they were both special teams players, first and foremost. Why is the comparison of the best ever at one aspect of special teams to the best ever at another so absurd?

 

I always thought Donald Igwebuike was underrated.

 

Does this mean Patrick Mannelly won't make it to Canton?

 

Lorenzo Alexander, Hall of Famer!!! YES!!!!

 

And Elbert Shelley.


It's funny this came up, because when I heard Hester had returned a punt for a TD yesterday, I had two immediate thoughts:

1. Why on earth would anyone EVER punt the ball to Devin Hester? The sideline is there for a reason.

2. That guy belongs in the Hall of Fame.

 

No doubt that Tasker was great at what he did, but I don't think opposing teams went out of their way to avoid letting him make a play, like they do Hester. I think that's significant.

My gut tell me Hester is a HOF player, but the hang up I have is that many special teams players aren't the best on the team. Special teams are often made up of specialty players, and those trying to prove themselves.

Does anybody else think this makes a difference? Would guys like Hester and maybe Tasker shine on special teams if the best players were on special teams, rather than the backups and rookies?

 

I loved Billy White Shoes and the Funky Chicken:

 

Wasn't Hester a second-round pick? That at least is some indication that he actually is a savant at what he does, and not just the world's tallest midget.

For those who missed the game yesterday, he also had a long kickoff return deep into Carolina territory.