Two Bills Drive

‘”I feel like we’re at a Bills home game,” said Kelly’s former center Kent Hull. “Akron has never seen a party like the one we have planned.”‘

‘Every year, new Pro Football Hall of Famers talk about the people who changed their lives. But until Saturday, one of those had never been a 5-year-old lying in a canopied stroller in the front row, his eyes barely open, a line of oxygen wrapped under his nose.’

‘Besides Kelly, Thurman Thomas, the Bills former All-Pro running back, doesn’t see why Tasker shouldn’t have a bronze bust. “You talk about individuals making plays and making a difference, he’s the greatest special teams player ever to play the game,” Thomas said.’

‘Don’t count out Bledsoe, though. Given time, he is one of the finest passers in the league.’

‘The Buffalo turnout even drowned out the usually overwhelming number of “Terrible Towel”-waving Pittsburgh Steeler fans who showed up to cheer for Stallworth.’

‘”In an era of headsets and technology, he did it his own way: out on the field.”‘

‘But this day was an outpouring of affection for Kelly, a man who turned around the once-bumbling Buffalo franchise.’

‘Kelly, who has friends who own an RV company in Buffalo, borrowed the vehicle to accommodate Hunter’s oxygen tanks and other needs.’

‘Bills blue was everywhere, and the cheers for Kelly all day were long and thunderous.’

‘Kelly’s entourage of 1,100 was more than double any following for previous inductees and the crowd of 20,000 was the Hall’s largest.’

‘At other times, Kelly, 42, also displayed the timing of a gifted comedian, the spirit of a college cheerleader and the stage presence of a great preacher as he accepted his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with a stirring 17-minute speech.’

‘Of the crowd of 17,700, at least 1,100 were personally invited by Kelly.’

‘"I learned how to be a quarterback in my USFL days," Kelly said. "It really prepared me to run the offense in Buffalo."’

‘More than 150 buses rolled in from upstate New York, and the "Let’s Go, Buffalo" and "Kel-ly, Kel-ly" chants started about two hours before the ceremony kicked off. "I feel like I’m in Buffalo," said Bills center Kent Hull. "Look at this."’

‘”It’s been written that the trademark of my career was toughness,” Kelly said. “The toughest person I ever met in my life was my son, my hero, Hunter. I love you, buddy.”‘