Archives for April 30, 2002

When Drew Bledsoe was acquired in a trade with New England on April 21, it marked the end of his nine-year career with the Patriots that ironically began in Buffalo on September 5, 1993.

Buffalo's new quarterback Drew Bledsoe has been compared to Hall of Famer Jim Kelly in many ways. Here's a look back at the top 10 greatest moments in Jim Kelly's career with the Buffalo Bills.

‘Buffalo Coach Gregg Williams praised Bledsoe for his willingness to assume a leadership role. Though Williams didn’t name names, his remarks were clearly directed at departed quarterback Rob Johnson.’

‘He despises public attention, ironic because he’s brought so much upon himself. People have been adding things up, and it was inevitable someone would raise his most-hated subject. It happens to be Tom Donahoe.’

”’Someone with Bledsoe’s tremendous star power will draw people from all over the U.S. and Canada. And while they’re here, hopefully, they’ll spend money on products and services other than football, which will benefit the economy of the whole region,” says Arun Jain, a marketing professor at the University of Buffalo.’

‘Weighing similar low-money deals, Webster went to where he felt his best chances of winning are.’

‘At 6-feet-7, 275 pounds, Denney bears a striking resemblance to Hansen. If the rookie plays the part as well as he looks it, the Bills will be ecstatic.’

‘I’ve never understood why people who say Buffalo never has won a major-league championship don’t give the Bills credit for winning AFL championships in 1964 and 1965. The NFL record book fully recognizes AFL records and statistics.’

‘While free agency and the salary cap have shortened that requisite learning period from a few years to a few months, or even a few weeks, 12-4 or 13-3 is optimistic to the point of fantasy. But make no mistake, better the Bills will be. And that improvement starts with the quarterback.’