Two Bills Drive

‘As it turned out, those infamous four straight Super Bowl losses are now seen in the clear light of distance as a plus, not a negative. Resilience, not a Jay Leno punch line, are what those games mean now.’

‘Among the Hall of Fame quarterbacks, Kelly ranks third in career passer rating at 84.4, trailing only Joe Montana (92.3) and Otto Graham (86.6). Only four Hall of Famers (Fran Tarkenton, Dan Fouts, Montana and Johnny Unitas) have thrown for more yards than Kelly (35,467).’

‘Columnist Bob Matthews analyzes the chances other people associated with the Buffalo Bills have of reaching the Pro Football Hall of Fame.’

‘"They had enough confidence in a quarterback from Western Pennsylvania to hand over an offense, to say, you know what, here it is, go for it — the no-huddle offense, calling all my own plays. That was their job security, but they had enough confidence in me to go out there and have fun."’

‘Kelly’s presenter at the induction ceremonies will be Bills Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy. "He was the guy who kept the Buffalo Bills together," Kelly said. "The guy who was able to rally us every single year from those Super Bowls was Marv Levy. God, bless him."’

‘He is the first former USFL player to be elected to the Hall and the first member of the great quarterback draft of 1983, though John Elway and Dan Marino surely will be voted in on first ballots after the required five years passes since retirement.’

‘”John was the first one to win the Super Bowl out that class [of 1983],” Kelly said. “At least I can say I’m the first one to make it to the Hall of Fame.”‘

‘With Houston prepared to re-enter the NFL this summer, there were memories of a long-ago era stirred Saturday when quarterback Jim Kelly became the first member of the late, great United States Football League to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.’

‘Where Martz has quarterback Kurt Warner, the Bills had Jim Kelly. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on Saturday, and he should have been. All he did was lead these guys to four straight Super Bowls, and I don’t care that they lost. They were one of the best two teams four consecutive years, and that just doesn’t happen these days.’

I had believed all along that Jim Kelly was an obvious choice for the Hall’s selection committee. But having twice been a part of its annual Super Bowl meeting through the years, I also knew that what might seem obvious to one person is not even a remote consideration to another. I learned to expect the unexpected.

‘"The main guy that kept the Buffalo Bills together, the guy who that was able to rally us every single year from those Super Bowls was Marv Levy — God bless him," Kelly said. "He’s the guy who allowed me to be the person that I am — being able to go out there and take total control of an offense."’

Kelly’s induction marks the third time in four years that a Bill has entered the Hall. He follows three former Bills already enshrined, O.J. Simpson (1985), Billy Shaw (1999), and Marv Levy (2001).

‘"I didn’t look at this game as a business, I looked at it as fun," Kelly said. "I don’t think there’s anybody out there that enjoyed playing the quarterback position as much as I did."’

‘Kelly, whose team lost all four Super Bowls, was the only one elected in his first year of eligibility, the 51st player and eighth quarterback so honored at the first opportunity.’

‘"Wow!" said Kelly, the only one of the five in his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame. "I don’t think I’ve ever been as nervous in my life."’