Found out today that LeRoy Butler "changed the game"

[JohnTurney]

How?

He changed how safeties were used. To blitz, cover, play deep

you know, to play safety

[JuggernautJ]

Are you sure it was the game of football he changed?
He might've been instrumental in developing a new style of tiddlywinks...

According to Wikipedia Butler "invented" the Lambeau Leap...
So maybe that is the legacy of which they are speaking...

[JohnTurney]

Are you sure it was the game of football he changed?
He might've been instrumental in developing a new style of tiddlywinks...

According to Wikipedia Butler "invented" the Lambeau Leap...
So maybe that is the legacy of which they are speaking...

No, I think he changed the game. At least that is some of the BS
being used to promote his candidacy over the others.

[JWL]

Some of us do divide the NFL into two eras-
Before LeRoy Butler (1920-89)
After LeRoy Butler (1990-current)

[Reaser]

Just found out today? People have been saying that for a while. Just as they say that about any player they like, a favorite player or someone they think should get an honor (e.g. PFHOF). Always say "he changed the game" about every player. Pretty sure "talk of fame" said it about him a few years ago, think he's said it about himself -- which a lot of players do that now, too. Say they "changed the game" when talking up their HOF candidacy, probably because they know that voters aren't likely to know the difference, proven by the fact we've seen what voters have said before about someone "changing the game."

As is common knowledge to any football fan, he was the first to do the 'Lambeau Leap', seen him get innovator and "changed the game" status for that, along with the sack/int 'club' 'stat'.

Just 'things'.

Was a helluva football player, though. Doesn't need any superlatives tacked on, especially since that usually just means people go the opposite way and try to make whatever player is getting labeled with "changed the game" a worse player than they really were. Over-correcting credit one way by discrediting them the other. Seen it a million times.

[Jay Z]

Remember Bob Hayes? There were people here that made the same argument for Hayes. I was not crazy about the argument. Hayes did what he did. Maybe his speed was amazing. I don't really see how that fundamentally changed the game. But there was a loud, vocal contingent that said otherwise.

I saw Butler play a lot. He was very good. Does he deserve extra credit for anything? I don't think so. But the door was opened by the Hayes lobby.

[NWebster]

Remember Bob Hayes? There were people here that made the same argument for Hayes. I was not crazy about the argument. Hayes did what he did. Maybe his speed was amazing. I don't really see how that fundamentally changed the game. But there was a loud, vocal contingent that said otherwise.

I saw Butler play a lot. He was very good. Does he deserve extra credit for anything? I don't think so. But the door was opened by the Hayes lobby.

I saw zones against Haroon Hill befor Hayes caused them.

[JohnTurney]

Remember Bob Hayes? There were people here that made the same argument for Hayes. I was not crazy about the argument. Hayes did what he did. Maybe his speed was amazing. I don't really see how that fundamentally changed the game. But there was a loud, vocal contingent that said otherwise.

I saw Butler play a lot. He was very good. Does he deserve extra credit for anything? I don't think so. But the door was opened by the Hayes lobby.

The theory was that they rolled or rotated zones to his side (weak side, he was a split end) when usually they go to the strong side, to the two-receiver side. But teams did that to SHofner---and as Nick mentions to Hill...

[rhickok1109]

To Packer fans, he changed the game by invented the Lambeau Leap