timstep Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/...-was-to-buffalo A snippet: Bills fans despised the USFL for harboring Kelly and luring away star running back Joe Cribbs, yet no other team benefited more from the USFL than the Bills did. The man who built their Super Bowl teams (Bill Polian), his eventual replacement (John Butler) and the man who coached them (Marv Levy) all came from the Chicago Blitz. Three-time Pro Bowl center Kent Hull was undrafted out of college, but proved himself with the New Jersey Generals. I'm trying to remember all players who spent time in the USFL and end up on the Bills. Besides Kelly and Hull, there was Trumaine Johnson, Mickey Sutton, Walter Broughton, Dwight Drane, Ray Bentley... Besides a few fill-in's during the '87 strike, I can't remember anyone else. Where there more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Good list there already! The first year we got Lofton (late season acquisiton) his first football card as a Bill was actually Trumain Johnson. I believe it was Fleer. They quickly made the change, but if you have it, it's unique and valuable. In 2 years, we went from doormat to Super Bowl Power for nearly a decade. Thanks USFL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLflutie7 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/...-was-to-buffalo A snippet: Bills fans despised the USFL for harboring Kelly and luring away star running back Joe Cribbs, yet no other team benefited more from the USFL than the Bills did. The man who built their Super Bowl teams (Bill Polian), his eventual replacement (John Butler) and the man who coached them (Marv Levy) all came from the Chicago Blitz. Three-time Pro Bowl center Kent Hull was undrafted out of college, but proved himself with the New Jersey Generals. I'm trying to remember all players who spent time in the USFL and end up on the Bills. Besides Kelly and Hull, there was Trumaine Johnson, Mickey Sutton, Walter Broughton, Dwight Drane, Ray Bentley... Besides a few fill-in's during the '87 strike, I can't remember anyone else. Where there more? Scott Norwood played for the Birmingham Stallions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like A Mofo Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 So when the UFL folds, will Ralph raid those rosters in an attempt to re-kindle the magic? Losman back as a Bill? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartyBall4Buffalo Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 So when the UFL folds, will Ralph raid those rosters in an attempt to re-kindle the magic? Losman back as a Bill? Brooks Bollinger 4 the future!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endzone Animal Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Doug Flutie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 If there was no USFL, we would have had Kelly a few years earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimGraham Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 If there was no USFL, we would have had Kelly a few years earlier. You might want to read the article. That point is made ... and it's a good thing you didn't have Kelly a couple years earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endzone Animal Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 I miss the XFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderbread Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 I miss the XFL. I miss NFL Football in Buffalo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 You might want to read the article. That point is made ... and it's a good thing you didn't have Kelly a couple years earlier. Eh. Might have made '84 and '85 a little more watchable. Then again, as you pointed out, he 1.) may have gotten his brains bashed in, or 2.) may have played well enough to cost the Bills Bruce Smith. Fun read. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thoner7 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Brooks Bollinger 4 the future!!! I want Bollinger. I am serious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 I want Bollinger. I am serious. I agree Bring BB in after the UFL season is over and the players are free to sign with the NFL. Can't be much worse than Edwards has been or Fitzpatrick will be. We'll have to cut the Chroisen One®, but all he does is command a cult that provides virgin sacrifices Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albany,n.y. Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 You might want to read the article. That point is made ... and it's a good thing you didn't have Kelly a couple years earlier. Great article. The only line I disagree with you on is the one that Kelly might not have signed with the Bills. He was in the Bills' office when the USFL called and told him not to do anything yet. Without that call he might have even signed with the Bills that day. I've always thought that no matter what Jim Kelly said at the time, his biggest objection to signing with Buffalo was he didn't want to spend a year or two on the bench behind Joe Ferguson, when he could play right away in the USFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justnzane Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Eh. Might have made '84 and '85 a little more watchable. Then again, as you pointed out, he 1.) may have gotten his brains bashed in, or 2.) may have played well enough to cost the Bills Bruce Smith. Fun read. Thanks. agreed. Good posting as usual lori. Now I will add that it in essence served as minor league experience for Jimbo and Hull, which probably served them best as they may have been ruined as NFL'ers under the staff the Bills had in place in '83 and '84 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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