Two Bills Drive

‘The Bills are due for more prosperous times with Drew Bledsoe. The Browns are banking on Butch Davis – two first-round picks, Gerard “Big Money” Warren and William Green, to cash in the first expansion-era playoff year. The optimistic 2001 also-rans get a chance today and Saturday to see whose optimism is more worthy of investment.’

‘”I owe everything to my dad,” Kelly said. “He took the time to work with me when I was younger. More than that, he taught me if you work hard enough, anything is possible.”‘

‘”I was a part of the USFL at the time Buffalo drafted him,” said San Diego Chargers General Manager John Butler, who worked in Buffalo when Kelly played there. “I was with George Allen at the Chicago Blitz. We drafted Jim, but we had Greg Landry as our quarterback, so we traded his rights to Houston because we wanted as many great players in the league as we could get.”‘

‘”I believe that he mirrored the physical Buffalo Bills fans – hard-working, tough-as-nails, gritty, determined type of player. Looking at it from a historical perspective, he is one of the three great quarterbacks from the class of 1983. … Personally, he took an old, washed-up receiver, who couldn’t out run his shadow, and made him an All-Pro again. For that, I thank him.” – Wide receiver James Lofton’

‘”The “Golden Age” of the Buffalo Bills started when (General Manager) Bill Polian pulled off a three-way trade that sent Eric Dickerson to the Colts and the rights to Cornelius Bennett to Buffalo,”Felser said. “That was Marv Levy’s first full year there. Jim Kelly was coming into his own, and the “Golden Age” didn’t end until 1997, when Kelly was gone.”‘

‘”Jim Kelly succeeded the legendary Bruce Mathison as Bills’ quarterback,” said retired Buffalo News sports editor Larry Felser, tongue in cheek. “I think Bruce won one game by accident. When Jim Kelly came to Buffalo, the fans knew it, I knew it, and the players knew it: Jim Kelly was their meal ticket. I don’t think many minded what he was being paid.”‘

‘”Those two games, for me…There are only a few guys that I really, really respect in this league. And the way I work is, if I respect you, you’re going to get my best. And that’s what I’m going to do with him. I’m going to want to kick his ass, basically.”‘

Quarterback Drew Bledsoe and the Bills offense completed Thursday's afternoon session with a crowd pleasing two-minute drill that was culminated by a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jay Riemersma with no time left on the clock.

The Bills and Browns have met 11 times during the regular season and Cleveland holds a 7-4 edge in those contests but the Bills have won the last two. They last met in Cleveland in 1995 when Buffalo recorded a 22-19 win.

‘Williams and his staff know the two days against the Browns will provide a more tangible means for evaluating talent. Players tend to coast through the monotony of two-a-day practices.’

Buffalo Bills veterans Ruben Brown and Pat Williams had a big weigh in today and it did not involve being on the football field. This weigh in was a little different. This weigh in helped the Food Bank of Western New York and the Rochester Food Link beef up.

‘Kelly, who set many passing records with the Buffalo Bills, has already set a Hall of Fame record: most rooms reserved.’

‘For all the honors, passing numbers and victories Kelly compiled, few could match the quarterback’s confidence and determination. Some had better arms and many had faster feet, but Kelly had an unmistakable ability to lead.’

LB London Fletcher is reporting from Training Camp. He'll be giving you the inside scoop of what's going on as the Bills prepare for the regular season.

Photos from the 2002 Bausch & Lomb Training Camp