By Tim Graham
Two of the strongest traits EJ Manuel brings to the Buffalo
Bills are intelligence and a quarterback's charisma that makes his teammates
want to play with him and for him.
So did Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Bills legend Jim Kelly is aware of this. But when it comes
to finally finding a franchise quarterback to replace him, Kelly sees potential
in Manuel's arrival.
The Bills' opening-day quarterback will be the 11th starter
since Kelly retired, and the list is ugly.
Continue reading "Jim Kelly 'tired' of being Bills' standard, rooting for EJ Manuel" »
By Tim Graham
Jim Kelly has a two-step draft plan for the Buffalo Bills.
With the caveat Buffalo
is comfortable enough with Kevin Kolb winning the quarterback job, Kelly
advises his former team to take a wide receiver first, a quarterback second.
"Here's what I would do: If I know enough about Kevin Kolb
and I know he can be the guy to start my season, I would take a wide
receiver," Kelly said Wednesday night on a preview edition of his new
SiriusXM NFL Radio show "No Huddle" with Andre Reed and Steve Tasker.
Continue reading "Jim Kelly suggests Bills draft a WR first, omits Ryan Nassib" »
April 23, 2013 - 11:15 AM
By Mark Gaughan
Buffalo Bills greats Jim Kelly, Andre Reed and Steve Tasker will host a new show on Sirius XM NFL Radio called "No Huddle."
The show will make its debue at 7 p.m. Wednesday and cover a preview of the NFL Draft. Then it will run every week during the NFL season on Wednesday evenings. It is on Channel 88 for Sirius subscribers and XM Premier subscribers.
"Jim Kelly, Andre Reed and Steve Tasker are among the best ever to play in the NFL at their respective positions," said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s president and chief content officer. "We're thrilled to bring these guys together to re-capture the excitement of those talented Buffalo Bills teams of the late '80s and '90s and talk NFL with our listeners every week."
Continue reading "Kelly, Reed, Tasker join for weekly NFL radio show" »
April 19, 2013 - 11:21 AM
By Tim Graham
One more proposal. One less phone call. Another change of
heart. A quicker decision.
The course of the NFL -- dynasties and ruts -- would have
shifted spectacularly.
Maybe the Buffalo Bills wouldn't have gone to a single Super Bowl. Or maybe
Dan Marino would have led them to a Lombardi Trophy.
Continue reading "'Elway to Marino' details fascinating background to '83 draft" »
By Tim Graham
NFL.com has been running a series of articles examining
every team's best and worst draft picks since 1966, the start of the Super Bowl
era.
The Bills' breakdown was posted today, with five finalists in
each category accompanied by a poll that allows fans to select the superlative
picks.
Best
- • Jim Kelly, 14th overall in 1983
- • Bruce Smith, first overall in 1985
- • Thurman Thomas, 40th overall in 1988
- • Andre Reed, 86th overall in 1985
- • O.J. Simpson, first overall in 1969
Worst
- • Mike Williams, fourth overall in 2002
- • Aaron Maybin, 11th overall in 2009
- • Tom Cousineau, first overall in 1979
- • J.P. Losman, 22nd overall in 2004
- • James Hardy, 41st overall in 2008
While it's difficult to argue with any of the
"best" candidates, what about those longshots who had fine careers?
Hitting on the first overall pick shouldn't be difficult. Simpson was a
no-brainer in 1969.
I'd like to have seen one of those late-round fliers get consideration. Right
tackle Howard Ballard was an 11th-round stab in 1987 but was a two-time
Pro Bowler who started 10 NFL seasons. Defensive lineman Kyle Williams was a 2006
fifth-round pick who's gone to a couple Pro Bowls.
As for the "worst" candidates, I have a problem with
Cousineau making the list. What made him a bad pick wasn't his talent -- he started more NFL
games than 1972 first overall pick Walt Patulski -- but the fact he refused to
sign with the Bills.
Besides, the Bills turned Cousineau into the draft pick that
became Kelly. Without the Cousineau selection and the subsequent contract
squabble, the Bills wouldn't have gotten their Hall of Fame quarterback.
Defensive tackle Torell Troup, taken one pick ahead of superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski in 2010, warrants a spot in the poll.
And why should Hardy be considered worse than Perry Tuttle (19th overall in 1982) or Tony Hunter (12th overall in 1983) or Erik Flowers (26th overall in 2000) or John McCargo (26th overall in 2006)?
By Tim Graham
Not that Buffalo Bills fans were worried to
begin with, but there shouldn't be any regret about Ryan Fitzpatrick leaving
town.
Of all the former Bills who have come back to haunt them,
quarterbacks haven't been a concern.
That could be viewed two ways. Either the Bills have been
adept at moving on from an ineffective player, or they haven't been able how to
identify a quarterback to begin with.
Continue reading "Bills quarterbacks don't find greener pastures elsewhere" »
March 12, 2013 - 10:10 PM
By Tim Graham
Amid all the mystery about what the Buffalo Bills' offense
will look like under new head coach Doug Marrone, one thing is certain.
On opening day, the Bills will use their 11th starting quarterback
since Jim Kelly retired after the 1996 season.
The Bills today released incumbent Ryan Fitzpatrick,
who started the previous three seasons. Whether it be Tarvaris Jackson, a free
agent or a rookie, the next quarterback will be someone who hasn't taken a snap
for the Bills.
Continue reading "Buffalo's next QB will be the 11th starter since Jim Kelly retired" »
By Tim Graham
There are so many clichéd ways to illustrate how long it has
been since X happened.
The price of gas. Who the president was. The No. 1
television show.
For the record: about $1.13, Bill Clinton and "Who
Wants to be a Millionaire" the last time the Buffalo Bills went to the
playoffs.
But those examples are yawners compared to this one.
Continue reading "Remember when Joe Ferguson, Steve Grogan were top 50 all-time?" »
February 22, 2013 - 4:04 PM
By Tim Graham
INDIANAPOLIS
-- Bill Polian, lover of the Doug Marrone hiring, tapped the brakes when asked
if the Buffalo Bills can be playoff contenders right away under their new head
coach.
Polian is on the Bills' Wall of Fame for putting together a
roster that went to four straight Super Bowls. He has been a Marrone booster for years, linked by their high school alma mater, Mount St. Michael
Academy in the Bronx.
But Polian warned Bills fans to keep their expectations in
check.
Continue reading "Polian says Marrone 'absolutely' right man; now get him a QB" »
January 31, 2013 - 3:08 PM
By Mark Gaughan
Buffalo Bills Hall-of-Fame quarterback Jim Kelly will appear on the television show "CBS Sunday Morning" on Super Bowl Sunday for a report on the psychology of winning in sports.
"Never have seen a game film in any of the Super Bowls, never watched one," Kelly tells CBS reporter Susan Spencer. "If I went back, I would have to repeat that all over in my mind. ... I'm at ease now. I'm at a peace of mind, peace in my heart now knowing what we accomplished, even though we didn't win them. I feel all right with that."
Spencer also interviews experts on the subject of winning -– and losing.
Kelly on the subject: "There’s always going to be a major emphasis on winning, because that's just the way society is. That's just the way our culture is. That you want to be No. 1 at the end. ... If you're No. 2, at times, there's no doubt No. 2 is looked upon as mediocre, as a person that didn't achieve it, sometimes as losers."
