FanNation - The Republic of Sport

EagleHater: Goodbye, FN said 08/29, 10:10 PM
Special teams ace.

Important? They are totally key to the game. If you don't have one, the opposing team will always have great field position. Having one can save you hundreds of yards a season, much like a punter. However, unlike a punter, a special teams ace can turn the tide of a game. When was the last time you saw a punter force a fumble that was recovered, giving your team position at the opponent's 20? Not to mention a great ST guy will save you a TD or 4 each year on returns.


And you want no love? Yeah, none of these guys are in the Hall either. Hell, until like 15 years ago, they weren't even invited to the Pro Bowl.


And you know the worst part? A great punter, he'll stay good. He'll sign a nice contract and he'll make 2 million bucks a year till he's 40 years old bouncing around the NFL, kicking twice a game. But a special teams ace? Well, the kicker is, the better he is, the more likely he is to seriously injure himself. A great ST guy speeds down the field and hits with reckless abandon. Great for, say, broken necks. A great punter can get 15-20 years. A great ST cover guy will be lucky to get 6 or 7.

EagleHater: Goodbye, FN said 08/29, 10:24 PM
http://www.probowlonline.com/pro-bowl-players.php

Go to the special teams section. Every year, each conference sends one player to the Pro Bowl under the designation "Special teamer". Some teams don't have a true ace, but guys like Brendan Ayanbadejo of the Bears (and formerly Steve Tasker of the Bills) have really carved out a place for themselves. They will never see the field on offense or defense, yet they are fairly well paid, make the Pro Bowl, and are essentially roster locks because they are aces on special teams.

EagleHater: Goodbye, FN said 08/30, 02:52 PM
Wait... so you're going to tell me that these guys line up on the field 6 times a game, every single time on special teams, never on offense or defense. They do one job only all season, and they get paid million of dollars for it. They have a coach. They have a job. They get paid. And they go to the Pro Bowl.

And you're going to tell me that they don't really play that position? The Ravens just paid Brendan Ayanbadejo, a Pro Bowl special teams ace with the Bears, 5 million bucks over 4 years. TECHNICALLY, Aynabadejo is listed as a linebacker. But are you HONESTLY going to tell me that the Ravens went out and paid 5 million bucks to a linebacker who will be 3rd string and NEVER get on the field? If they wanted a linebacker, they could've gone and signed someone better for less money. But they wanted a SPECIAL TEAMS player.

I'm sorry, I just don't see your logic. As a technicality these guys are listed at offensive or defensive positions. However, they play only on special teams, make the team only for ST play, get paid for their ST play only, and make Pro Bowls for their special teams play under the designation "SPECIAL TEAMER".

It IS a real position.