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Tuesday afternoon turned somber in Bills Country as former center Kent Hull passed away at the age of 50. The cause of death is not certain, according to the ESPN.com report.

Kent Hull played his college ball at Mississippi State University before entering the USFL in 1983 with the New Jersey Generals. In 1986, he joined the Buffalo Bills, where he played for ten years in 121 consecutive games as the anchor of the offensive line that played in four consecutive Super Bowls.

Hull retired in 1997 and was honored by being inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame the same year. Mississippi State inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2000, and he received the Ralph C. Wilson Distinguished Service Award in 2001. His name was added to the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame in 2002.

Thurman Thomas was quoted in an email to the Associated Press as saying, "Kent was a teammate, big brother and best friend. My heart breaks for His amazing family. My heart breaks period. He will be a best friend and in my heart forever."

According to the ESPN.com article, Jim Kelly stated, "I'm finding it hard to describe what this loss means to me and my family. Kent Hull was my best friend. ... He will be missed and never forgotten."

As a lifelong fan of the Bills and of football, I believe the center is one of the most underrated positions in the game. The center is responsible for making sure the rest of the line knows its job and is responsible for putting the ball in the quarterback's hands.

Kent Hull was a huge part of the K-Gun offense. He had to be smart and quick-witted, and have superior endurance. Hull earned a spot in the pantheon of great centers, and we Bills fans will truly miss him.

Rest in peace, No. 67.