CookieG Posted February 15, 2016 Posted February 15, 2016 Big Ted was great, but I'm not sure who underrated him. Not college scouts, he was a first round draft pick. Not opposing defensive coordinators. Not his peers, who voted him to 3 pro bowls as a Bill. Not the fans. I guess Bills management, who asked him to take pay cuts 2 years in a row. I'm glad he won a super bowl, he was a class act who did a lot for the community. Overrated - Ruben Brown Underrated - John Fina I looked at Smerlas being "underrated" the same way you look at Big Ted. Maybe in a current perspective, he's underrated, but he wasn't when he played. Smerlas was a multiple Pro Bowler and was considered one of the best NT's in the league, at a time when most teams had switched to a 3-4 D. He had lots of competition among NT's in the league at the time, but was a consensus top 3 NT in the league. 2 underrated players in the Knox Era... Shane Nelson - the 3rd and forgotten member of the Bermuda Triangle. He actually started as an OLB, and was the best front 7 player on a bad team. When he moved inside behind Smerlas, the D took off. But he never seemed to get the recognition of Haslett or Smerlas. He was to the Bermuda Triangle what Wedge was to Luke Skywalker and Lando. Joe Devlin - probably the best Bill to never make the PB (I don't think he did). But Mark Gastineau, who went against him twice a year, voted for him every year. He defined an offensive lineman, strong, tough, unassuming.
JP's Voice Posted February 15, 2016 Posted February 15, 2016 Most overrated: Mario Williams, Jairus Byrd
Big Turk Posted February 15, 2016 Posted February 15, 2016 Underrated: Kenny Davis...he always stepped up big for the Bills O when Thurman was taking a breather or out and they never missed a beat. Overrated: Hmm...I'll go with Eric Moulds. He was a good player but his prime didn't last that long and he only had one real dominant season. People talk about him like he was Jerry Rice or something but he wasn't anywhere near that level.
I'm Spartacus Posted February 15, 2016 Posted February 15, 2016 Underrated: Henry Jones Overrated: Bud Carpenter
Buftex Posted February 15, 2016 Posted February 15, 2016 Underrated: Kenny Davis...he always stepped up big for the Bills O when Thurman was taking a breather or out and they never missed a beat. Overrated: Hmm...I'll go with Eric Moulds. He was a good player but his prime didn't last that long and he only had one real dominant season. People talk about him like he was Jerry Rice or something but he wasn't anywhere near that level. I agree with you about Moulds. He was very talented no doubt, but once he "arrived" in the NFL (with Flutie) he got into this annoying habit (annoying to me anyways) of playing to draw PI calls (which he rarely got) rather than making an honest attempt to catch the ball. Great athlete, with some lazy tendencies, by my estimation. Always whining to the refs....I think it really went to his head in 2002, with Bledsoe throwing the ball to him. True, Eric never had the consistency at QB that probably would have made his career even better...but amongst Bills fans, he seems like an untouchable. I think that is mostly among younger fans, who had precious little to cheer for over the last 15-20 years. Underrated: some of the names being thrown about as being over/underrated are kind of silly...what Bills fan underrates Ted Washington? I will throw Joe Cribbs on the underrated list..he was a stud...all most Bills fans seem to remember of him is that he held out, and jumped to the USFL... Cribbs, along with Fergy and Jerry Butler, vaulted the Bills offense into the 20th century, after a decade of, primarily, OJ left, OJ right, OJ up the middle. If Cribbs hadn't jumped to the USFL, I think he would be remembered as one of the true greats of his era...he, along with Roger Craig, were early pre-cursers to the double threat running back...they could line up as receiver just as effectively as they could run the ball. Great player. Another all-time underrated, is Travis Henry. A bonehead off the field, but a real warrior on the field.
JohnC Posted February 15, 2016 Posted February 15, 2016 George Saimes was far from underrated We had some guys with very short stays who you'll never hear about because they had career ending injuries early on. One who comes to mind was Ben Gregory, a bruising rookie fullback who looked like a future Pro Bowler until he totally tore up his knee. Ben Gregory was acquired in a trade with Denver for Cookie Gilchrist. Al Bemiller the center was asked at a charity event how good was Gregory compared to Gilchrist? His response was Gregrory wasn't good enough to wear Cookie's jock strap. Gregory was a superb receiver for a back and was a very effective on swing passes.
Prickly Pete Posted February 15, 2016 Posted February 15, 2016 I think Steve Tasker is easily the most overrated Bill of all time. I chose him because so many consider him Hall of Fame worthy. An excellent Special Teams player, a good receiver too. Not a Hall of Famer.
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted February 15, 2016 Posted February 15, 2016 (edited) Under: kelso, cowart, and my surprise pick Bruce Smith... He is easily one of the greatest players to ever play the game. No other Bill save OJ belongs at their position in the conversation as GOAT like Bruce. I think people forget how much better he was than every DE in the NFL. But yet most don't even rate him the best bill ever. Over: Flutie(and every other QB since Kelly up until last year for that matter) Conlan, Evans, metz, should Lenard smith be here too? Edited February 15, 2016 by over 20 years of fanhood
bbb Posted February 15, 2016 Posted February 15, 2016 Under rated:Jim Dunaway. Some legal problems of his own. Killed his wife. He wasn't convicted, though, right? I wonder if we lead he league in murder charges?
Saxum Posted February 15, 2016 Posted February 15, 2016 Over-rated: Derrick Dockery (based on the unwarranted expectations and crazy FA contract Levy gave him) Under-rated: Phil Hansen (a great, dependable player) Levy has nothing to do with contracts when he was GM.
l< j Posted February 16, 2016 Posted February 16, 2016 Levy has nothing to do with contracts when he was GM. Speaking of overrated.
Chandler#81 Posted February 16, 2016 Posted February 16, 2016 Under rated:Jim Dunaway. Some legal problems of his own. Killed his wife. George Saimes Not actual part of the discussions but Tom Sestak is one of the best of the best. Young people use google. eh, you're going to be under-rated when you play on a DL that includes McDole & Sestak. And yes, he dunaway with his wife.. Saimes, on the other hand, was far from under-rated. Credited with the 'invention' of the Safety Blitz in Joe Collier's scheme, he was a regular AFL All-Star and a great player! For me, I gotta give propers for my-Boy, Bobby Chandler. Led the team in receptions many years, caught EVERY pass ever thrown to him and had marvelous awareness of where he was on the field, tapping toes just inbounds seemingly every game. That the Bills were otherwise miserable through most of his days here, he never got League recognition -never made the Pro Bowl, despite leading the League in receptions one year. RIP, Bobby C.#81
Bill from NYC Posted February 16, 2016 Posted February 16, 2016 Over-rated: Derrick Dockery (based on the unwarranted expectations and crazy FA contract Levy gave him) Great call! Overrated by fans: CJ Spiller EJ Manuel Donte Whitner Underrated by fans: Aaron Schobel - He had all those sacks with really not so much help at rushing the passer, AND he had Jauron sending him into coverage. On another team he would have had much better numbers (which were even very good on the Bills). Underrated: John Holecek Holecek was very good but he was just too banged up on a consistent basis. He had a ton of talent but could not stay on the field.
JohnC Posted February 16, 2016 Posted February 16, 2016 (edited) He wasn't convicted, though, right? I wonder if we lead he league in murder charges? He wasn't even indicted. The bottom half of the link goes into the wife situation. The Tom Sestak and Jim Dunaway duo was formidable. At the time Sestak was the best of the best. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/33449-jim-dunaway-the-true-notorious-big http://www.engagingnews.us/select/Jim+Dunaway.html Edited February 16, 2016 by JohnC
OP Class75 Posted February 16, 2016 Posted February 16, 2016 Over: Talley Under: Schobel, Cribbs Underrated by management: Winfield, Pat Williams Aaron Schobel is my most overrated. Took more plays off than Mario Williams, and was best known for insignificant sacks...Aaron Shoebel's greatest skill was padding his stats to make himself look good - I was happy to see him retire!!! Talley Overratted.....Really????? Well anyone who would list Shoebel as underratted, why should I be surprised about Talley!!!! Some great choices around the board for underrated: Cowert, Hansen, Byrd - I'd add Robert James. He was the best bump and run defender in the league. Today, he'd epitomize a shut down corner.
RevWarRifleman Posted February 16, 2016 Posted February 16, 2016 One that stood out as far as under rated is Butch Byrd. Not familiar with him, but this guy had some serious stats. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000214805/article/buffalo-bills-alltime-underrated-overrated-players Per wikipedia still leads the team in picks, pick return yards, and pick 6's. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butch_Byrd Byrd is under rated probably only because he played so long ago. But he had great instincts as a d-back. Superb ball hawking skills, quick, and with great anticipation.
ricojes Posted February 16, 2016 Posted February 16, 2016 (edited) Mine are maybe more from a league perspective. Bledsoe over Norwood under Guess I should have read the article first 1 made FG away from being on the overrated list.... I think Steve Tasker is easily the most overrated Bill of all time. I chose him because so many consider him Hall of Fame worthy. An excellent Special Teams player, a good receiver too. Not a Hall of Famer. It's easy for forget how unbelievable he was on ST's. He was always double teamed and somehow made the tackle. I guess you kind of forget with time, but that guy was an amazing special team player. HOF worthy is debatable, but one of the best ST'ers of all time for sure.... Edited February 16, 2016 by ricojes
TakeYouToTasker Posted February 16, 2016 Posted February 16, 2016 Overrated: Jeff Wright Underrated: Mark Pike
CardinalScotts Posted February 16, 2016 Posted February 16, 2016 If Smerlas were on a consistent winner he'd likely be a hall of famer. His pro bowl and all NFL awards came in his 2nd 3rd year usually takes a few years to get noticed for those types of things but he was that dominating. His level of play was still tremendous when the Bills as a team stunk and he went unnoticed by most. When the Bills rebounded at the end of his career here he STILL was playing well getting not only a pro bowl invite but was all conference in 1988 AND 1989. I was suprised to see Tasker on someones over rated list- to me he's STILL underated unless you saw him play it's hard to explain how great he was. The downing of the football, the tackles usually first down there and never missing, the fumbles recoveries the punt blocks and he can return punts (4th in the league 1995 and kickoffs 2nd in league 1985) the 7 probowls, the 7 years all NFL. overrated- Nate Clements, Josh Reed, Shane Conlan, underated- John Holecek, Eric Moulds
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