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Report From Canton: The Day Kelly Awaited August 3, 2002
CANTON, OH-- Jim Kelly woke up today at the crack of dawn, bleary eyed and smiling wide. This is the day he has awaited his entire life. "I woke up this morning with a big smile on my face, even though it was 5:30 in the morning," Kelly said three hours before his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "I know my son Hunter is going to be here." Five years ago, when Kelly retired after 11 seasons as quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, it was relatively easy to predict that he would be enshrined in Canton today. But few people would have thought that his son would be there to see it. Shortly after his birth, Hunter was diagnosed with Krabbe's disease, a rare and fatal illness. Most doctors believed Hunter wouldn't live beyond his second birthday. Today, the five year-old boy arrived at Fawcett Stadium with him mother and two sisters just before his father's speech. They joined 14,000 onlookers, the majority of whom are Buffalo Bills fans. In fact, the Pro Football Hall of Fame complex may as well be dubbed 'Ralph Wilson Stadium West,' because it resembled nothing less than a playoff-style Bills tailgate party. One person mentioned to Bills owner Ralph Wilson that the atmosphere was as electric as the team's 51-3 win over the Los Angeles Raiders in the AFC Championship game a decade ago. No doubt, Kelly appreciated the thousands of Bills fans who came to see him, including the 1,100 that he brought to Canton for a private party. But Hunter was easily the most special of them all. "I'll tell you what,"Kelly told reporters at his press conference this morning. "The happiest day of my life will be when I take the podium and I look down to my right and see my little no. 12, my hero, my son Hunter. That will be the happiest day of my life. Kelly will tell you that he takes little for granted these days. During Super Bowl week last winter, he sat in a room in New Orleans with his father, five brothers, and high school coach. They were awaiting a phone call from the Hall of Fame electors that would tell Kelly whether he had been voted in. If so, Kelly would go directly to a press conference. When Jim walked in, he was wearing casual street clothes. "Where's your suit?" asked his brother Dan. Jim looked at his brother and said, "When I get picked-- IF I get picked-I'll walk back to the hotel and put that suit on." Kelly won't assume much nowadays, but he will safely predict that Canton will be welcoming many more quarterbacks in coming years. Two of his "Quarterback Class of '83" comrades (Dan Marino and John Elway) are sure bets. (Other quarterbacks, like Phil Simms, have an outside shot too.) "I just look at how we all prepared for those games," Kelly answered when asked how he remembered the Class of '83. "Throughout the last 15 to 20 years, my opponent who I've played against the most is Dan Marino-- twice, sometimes three times a year. I know the competitive nature of both John and Dan. All three of us have the same fire. We go into the each game with the same intensity as we hope our teammates will." Kelly has spent the last couple of days attending honorary breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. He spoke to a group of high school coaches and rode through a parade. Through all the festivities, he had ample opportunity to mix with his Hall of Fame colleagues. One of those is Deacon Jones, the great defensive end for the Rams, Chargers and Redskins. The defender noticed that a handful of quarterbacks are starting to flow into the Hall: Joe Montana was elected in 2000, Kelly this year, with Marino and Elway to come. "Be ready, because there are a lot more of us coming!" Kelly told Jones. "We might have to take a few guys out," Jones joked. "Hey," Kelly answered, "quarterbacks are a lot bigger nowadays!" But in Canton, none of them may ever put on a bigger show than Jim Kelly.
Bills
Acquire Bledsoe
Reed Retires ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Andre Reed's 16-year journey from tiny Kutztown University to the National Football League came to an end Saturday. Reed, Buffalo's leading career receiver and a key member of the teams that went to four straight Super Bowls in the 1990s, announced his retirement after signing a ceremonial one-day contract with the team, allowing him to retire as a Bill. "They took a chance on a little kid from a small division school," Reed said. "My life has been fulfilled time and time again." A fourth-round pick and the 13th receiver taken in the 1985 draft, Reed spent 15 seasons with the Bills, setting four franchise records, including most touchdowns receiving (86) and most receptions in a game, 15 against Green Bay in 1994. He also had 13,095 yards receiving with the Bills and is third on the NFL's career list with 951 catches, behind Jerry Rice and Cris Carter. Those numbers could land the former All-Pro in the Hall of Fame. But unlike a number of wideouts already enshrined in Canton who built their reputations primarily as long-ball threats, Reed built his by becoming one of the game's premier clutch possession receivers. He survived the NFL's violent no man's land as an over-the-middle threat, becoming Jim Kelly's main target in the prolific "K-Gun" offense. AP NEWS
The top 5 things you WON'T hear at a Gregg Williams training camp:
"Quotable Quotes" "EXCELLENCE IS THE RESULT OF CARING MORE THAN OTHERS THINK IS WISE; RISKING MORE THAN OTHERS THINK IS SAFE; DREAMING MORE THAN OTHERS THINK IS PRACTICAL; AND EXPECTING MORE THAN OTHERS THINK IS POSSIBLE" Gregg Williams(Head Coach - Buffalo Bills) 7/31 - Cornerback Antoine Winfield, one of six players sidelined with a hamstring injury, suggested that the frantic pace of practice under Williams may be partly to blame."I think we're not used to this much running this early," Winfield said. "We just got into camp. "Everyone wants to go hard and impress the coaches, get everything down, move quick. I don't know." Winfield said he doubts that he will be ready to play in Saturday's scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns in Edinboro, Pa., which contradicts Williams' contention that everyone with a hamstring ailment but fullback Josh Roth has a good chance of being ready by then. G.Williams responds to Winfields comments: "It doesn't make any difference to me what he (Winfield) thinks on that." Williams said. "He must be getting ready to be a coach one of these days because he's not right now, and he needs to get ready to play when it comes time to be ready to play."
Bills 2000 Payroll Highlights Player payroll highlights and lowlights for the 2000 Buffalo Bills (from USA Today): The total payroll was $54,612,000 for an average of $1,011,333; 10 of the 54 players made $2 million or more; 16 of the players made $1 million or more; 22 players were under $400,000; Rob Johnson made $3,754,400 and Doug Flutie made $2,793,900. The biggest wastes of money were $2,653,000 to oft-injured offensive lineman Joe Panos and $374,000 to departed offensive lineman Victor Allotey. The top bargains were Pro Bowl wide receiver Eric Moulds at $1,493,700 and Pro Bowl linebacker Sam Cowart at $663,900.
Jim Kelly on the Wall of Fame November 18th I for one could not be happier. Jim Kelly was the drive behind the greatest Bills teams of all time. I was there when he made his first appearance at Fredonia. I was there for every game he played at Rich Stadium. I will be there when he goes up on the wall. I am a fan, the stats do support the honor of "the Wall". But, I won't be totally happy until he is in "the Hall" ! ! ! Guiseppe Kelly's Stats - from JimKelly.com
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More Trouble for Cory Moore (6/2) I think this guy is going to be trouble. He will be gone in no time with this kind of lifestyle. He has already skipped some practices. Williams won't stand for it. Guiseppe Buffalo Bills linebacker Corey Moore was treated and released at a Brownsville, Tenn., hospital after being shot in the leg early Friday morning, the Jackson (Tenn.) Sun reported in today's editions. After the incident, Moore drove himself to a local hospital where he was X-rayed, treated with antibiotics and released, the Sun reported. "The patient was told that the injury was not life threatening and that it was not medically necessary for the bullet to be removed," Diane Presley, a spokesperson for Methodist Haywood Park Hospital, told the Sun. "If the patient wanted the bullet removed at a later time, he could choose to have that done. The patient left without choosing that option." The bullet was lodged in soft tissue and can safely be left in Moore's leg permanently if he chooses, Presley said. Moore, 24, stopped his Ford Expedition at a Brownsville intersection between 2:30 and 3 a.m., on Friday, said Johnny Blackburn, assistant chief of the Brownsville Police Department. "(Moore) said that a car must've pulled up behind him, but he wasn't really paying attention," Blackburn told the Sun. "Someone walked to the driver's side, where the window was rolled down a little. He stuck the gun in the window and pulled the trigger." No motive was known for the shooting, Blackburn said, but Moore was arrested recently in Haywood County and charged with aggravated assault, the Sun reported. Moore allegedly was involved when a man was hit with a beer bottle on May 15, Blackburn told the Sun. Moore was released on bond.
Strapped Bills release Linton The versatile running back thought team had a place for him By Leo Roth (Saturday, June 2, 2001) -- Jonathan Linton was sorry to see fellow running back Antowain Smith cut by the Buffalo Bills two weeks ago. Now he's joined him on the NFL free-agent market. The Bills chose not to re-tender minimum contract offers of $512,000 each to Linton and guard Victor Allotey, both restricted free agents, by yesterday's deadline. Waived was cornerback Ray Hill, whose base salary was $418,000. The moves were made as the Bills continue to find salary cap room to sign their 12 rookies. Defensive tackle Ron Edwards, a third-round pick out of Texas A&M, became the first rookie to sign. It's believed his deal is worth just under $1 million for three years. As it was with Smith, severing ties with Linton was not unexpected by the cap-strapped Bills. Still, Linton was hopeful he'd be given a chance to win the starting tailback job in the team's new West Coast offense that uses versatile players. A 1998 fifth-round pick out of North Carolina, Linton led the Bills in rushing his second season with 695 yards and added 29 catches for 228. "They didn't give us any hints what they were looking for, but I guess I wasn't it," Linton said. "I had a feeling and it came true. It's a business. The cap is affecting all of us." Smith's release saved the Bills $1 million in cap room. In 1999, Smith and Linton led a Buffalo rushing attack that ranked eighth in the NFL. Last year, however, both found themselves in former coordinator Joe Pendry's dog house, losing playing time to newcomers Sammy Morris and Shawn Bryson. Linton, who had 205 carries the previous season, had just 38 carries for 112 yards after being slowed early by a rib injury. He volunteered to play special teams just to stay active. "I don't think a lot of people saw eye to eye with Pendry," Linton said. "He was a very difficult man to work for. It was his way or the highway. He wouldn't listen or change." Linton feared Buffalo's new coaching staff would want to put their own players in place and that began with the drafting of Tennessee running back Travis Henry in the second round of the April draft. Henry, Morris and Bryson are the lone tailbacks left to compete for the starting job. The starting fullback will be veteran Larry Centers, with Phillip Crosby and Josh Roth as backups. "I thought Antowain and I were a pretty good 1-2 punch," Linton said. "To finish eighth in the league in rushing isn't easy to do in the NFL. It's funny how things work out and the reasons behind it all, reasons that are a mystery to us players. But I'm sure both of us will find jobs and we'll do all right." Allotey, a seventh-round pick out of Indiana in 1998, never appeared in a game for the Bills. Ruben in Rochester: Bills guard Ruben Brown is the honorary chairman for the 10th annual AIDS Walk at Cobbs Hill Park tomorrow. He will be on hand to greet finishers from noon to 1 p.m.
Do they really know? Do they really know? Several sources take it upon themselves to rate each teams selection of players in the draft based on their evaluation of the players and what each team needs. But do they really know either? I hope so, but my contention is that until they line up and play, player selection is a "crap shoot". The draft can only be measured on a long term basis. One year of stellar or putrid play is not really a measure of how well a team drafted. It's the long haul and the production of individuals and of the team. You increase your odds by evaluating players and selecting the "best" of the best, based on the criteria that you define. Let's hope that the Bill's coaching staff has set the proper criteria. Guiseppe
Dallas Morning News
CBS Sportsline.com Buffalo Bills: B+ You don't think new general manager Tom Donahoe knows his way around a war room? He ended up collecting a dozen choices for a team that needed a quantity infusion of young blood, and his selections were typically solid throughout. Even after dealing down in the first round, he still got CB Nate Clements (Ohio State), arguably the best cover player in the draft. DE Aaron Schobel (TCU) nearly went to St. Louis in the first round, but Buffalo was able to get him in the second stanza. Donahoe is a master in the middle rounds and choices like LB Brandon Spoon (North Carolina, No. 4), OT Marques Sullivan (Illinois, No. 5) and FS Tony Driver (Notre Dame, No. 6) will eventually make this draft one to remember. Even in the seventh round, the Bills got an intriguing developmental type guy in DT Tyrone Robertson (Hinds Community College). AFC report
card
Bills 2001 Draft Selections Free
agent profiles The Buffalo Bills Tuesday announced that the following 18 undrafted free agents have agreed to terms with the team. If available, you can click on the player's name for more info about each player.
*These
players will sign with the team this week upon passing a physical exam.
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The Return Of The K-Gun: In an interview on Empire's FAN TV, Gregg Williams admitted that the K-Gun offense of the early 90's will be making a return as a wrinkle in his West Coast Offense. The offensive staff have held conversations with former Bill greats Jim Kelly, Steve Tasker, Kent Hull, and former coordinator Ted Marchibroda about the offense. The K-Gun was a one back set with three wide recievers and a tight end, many times out of the shotgun without a huddle. This will be an interesting wrinkle that we will have to see how often it is used.
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| BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Dr James Ailinger the
National Football League's oldest former player, has died. He was 99.
Ailinger died Tuesday in Highland Hospital in Rochester after a brief
illness. The former Buffalo dentist's NFL career began and ended in
1924, when he played one season as center and nose guard for the Buffalo
Bisons, formerly called the Buffalo All-Americans. He was past president
of the University at Buffalo Dental Alumni Association and served for
several years as an assistant football and basketball coach at the
school. He married Helen McMullen in 1927. She died in 1989. Services
were scheduled for Dr. Ailinger Saturday.
__________________________________ Orchard Park, NY - The Buffalo Bills today announced that the team has signed free agent defensive back Ray Hill. In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed. Hill, 25, returns to Buffalo after spending the last five weeks of the 2000 season on the team's active roster. He spent the first seven weeks last year with the Miami Dolphins before being signed by the Bills on 11/22/00. He played in five games for the Bills last year, primarily on special teams. Hill originally entered the league in 1998 after signing with the Bills as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State. He spent the 1998 and 1999 seasons with the Dolphins and has appeared in 30 career games. __________________________________ Buffalo Bill's Connections to the NCAA Elite 8Gary Poplawski 03/24/01 - While sitting here watching Maryland play in the Sweet 16, I said to myself, that's where Frank Reich came from. Of course, attempting to think of Bill's connections to the Sweet 16 became the game of the day. Its kind of fun. Below is a list of Bills connections to the Elite Eight:Arizona: Floyd Hudlow (DB-65), Bill McKinley (LB-71), John Kaiser (LB-87), Mark Walczak (TE-R-87), John Nies (P/K-90), Jeremy McDaniel (WR-99), Glenn Parker (OL-90-96), John Fina (OL-92-99) Illinois: Mitchell Brookins (WR-84-85), Chris Green (S-95), John Holecek (LB-95-99), Filmel Johnson (DB-95), Henry Jones (S-91-99), Adam Lingner (C-87-95), Tom O'Connell (QB-60-61), Rick Schulte (OG-R-87), Mike Taliaferro (QB-72) Michigan State: Tom Beard (C-72), Dave Behrman (C63-65), Veno +Belk (TE_R_87), Mark Brammer (TE-80-84), Carl Charon (DB-62-63), Joe DeLamielleure (OL-73-79), Tony Discenzo (T-60), Al Dorow (QB-62), Ray Hill (CB-98), Steve Maidlow (LB-85), Archie Matsos (LB-60-62), Brian McConnell (LB-73), Herb Paterra (LB-63), Butch Rolle (TE-86-91), Tom Saidock (DT-62), George Saimes (S-63-69), Bill Simpson (FS-80-82), Duane Young (TE-98) Temple: Jack Bravyak (DE-R-87), Nick Mike-Mayer (K-79-82) Duke: Wray Carlton (WR-60-67), Leo Hart QB-72-73), Steve Jones RB-73-74) Stanford: Justin Armour (WR-95-96), Tony Cline (TE-95-97), Steve Hoyem OT-94), Kevin +Lamar (G-R-87), James Lofton (WR-89-92), Chris Walsh (WR-92-93) USC: Cole Ford (K-98), Chris Hale (DB-89-92), Rob Johnson (QB-98-01) Maryland: Ralph Felton (LB-61-62), Don Healy (T-62), Ed Fulton (G-79), Eric Wilson (LB-85), Bruce Mesner (NT-87), Scott Schankweiler (LB-R-87), Tony Greene (DB-71-79), Frank Reich (QB-85-94), Stan Gelbaugh (QB-86-89) __________________________________ |
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I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. I am truly honored to have been named the new head coach of the Buffalo Bills. Under the guidance of Ralph Wilson, this has been a first-class organization for over 40 years and this is an opportunity that my family and I are extremely excited about. We have been preparing for this role since I began coaching high school football almost 20 years ago. Without a doubt, this was one of the most attractive positions in the NFL and a large part of that is because of the team’s unwavering fan support. I believe there is no better place to coach in the NFL. We are looking forward to moving into Western New York and becoming a member of the community. We are just now finishing up with the hiring of our assistant coaches and we cannot wait to get started. We have a young team who is ready to get going and this season will not arrive soon enough for us. We have some exciting plans for the future and we hope that you will join us. This is a team effort, which includes the coaches, the players and the fans. Without you, none of it will be possible. I want to thank you for all the support you have given me the past two weeks and I look forward to meeting and talking with you as the season nears. Gregg Williams Head Coach __________________________________ Bills Hire: GREGG WILLIAMSGREGG WILLIAMS age 42
An impressive interview brings us
the cream of the crop.....And that’s what makes his being named as the
team’s 14th head coach (including Lou Saban and Harvey Johnson twice
each) so remarkable. __________________________________ FROM BUFFALO BILLS .COM
Orchard Park, NY - The Buffalo Bills today announced the hiring of Gregg Williams as the 12th head coach in franchise history. "Gregg brings to our franchise a long list of very impressive credentials," said Bills President/General Manager Tom Donahoe. "He did a remarkable job during the interview process and made a strong presentation for his plans to lead our team into the next chapter of Bills winning football. His strengths are in the areas of leadership, knowledge of the game of football, organizational skills, and people skills. "This was a rather exhaustive process with several very qualified candidates being seriously considered for the position," said Donahoe. "But I am confident that we have selected the candidate who best fits our needs and we are excited to have Gregg join our staff." Williams, 42, recently finished his 11th season with the Tennessee organization and his fourth season as the Titans' defensive coordinator. Williams worked his way up from quality control coach in 1990 to defensive coordinator in 1997. Under his leadership in 2000, the Titans defensive unit led the league in total defense for the first time since joining the NFL and the 191 points allowed were the third fewest in the NFL since the league adopted a 16-game schedule in 1978. The Tennessee defense also led the league in third-down efficiency (30.8%), fourth-down efficiency (8.3%) and fewest first downs allowed (215). In 2000, under Williams' guidance, the team also established the franchise's single-season records for sacks (55), fewest passing yards allowed (2,424), and fewest offensive touchdowns allowed (17). The Titans also rank first in the AFC and second in the NFL over the past two seasons in sacks with 109 combined. Tennessee was the only team in the NFL to place in the top seven in both run (3) and pass defense (1); and over the last 37 games, the Titans' run defense only allowed three 100-yard rushers. Two seasons ago, the Titans' defense also led the NFL in the big play stat of combined sacks and turnovers with an impressive 94. Williams spent three seasons (1994-96) overseeing the Oilers' linebackers after spending the 1993 campaign as the team's special teams coach. In 1993, Williams' special teams unit had the top-rated punting game and rated sixth in kickoff return defense. From 1990-92, Williams served as the club's first quality control coordinator. In addition, Williams had previously assisted in the coaching of the Oilers' defensive backs, assisted the "scout" teams for practice sessions and helped the defensive coaching staff on game day. Prior to joining the Oilers, Williams spent the 1988-89 seasons working with the linebackers as a graduate assistant at the University of Houston for former Oilers head coach Jack Pardee. From 1984-87, Williams was the head coach at Belton (MO) High School after spending the 1980-83 campaigns as an assistant coach at his hometown of Excelsior Springs (MO) High School. A native of Excelsior Springs, Mo. (7/15/58), Williams played football (quarterback) and baseball at Northeast Missouri State where he received his B.S. degree. He later earned his master's in education from Central Missouri State. Gregg and his wife, Leigh Ann, have two sons, Blake (16) and Chase (9), and a daughter, Amy (11).
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Here
is a letter I received, apparently the coach has already heard of
me.... 