Two Bills Drive

‘However, five of the seven [offensive coordinator] candidates have been eliminated without even coming to Buffalo for an interview.’

‘Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements has been the only candidate to interview in person for the Bills’ position, left open after Mike Sheppard was fired last month. Former Steelers offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and former San Diego coach Mike Riley discussed the job with the Bills, but only over the phone. Riley has since joined the New Orleans Saints as assistant head coach and secondary coach.’

The Buffalo Bills Alumni Association will be hosting a luncheon this Friday, February 8 at 11:00 AM for the representatives of the charitable organizations that received donations from the Alumni Foundation this past year.

‘Bills fans should look at New England’s win over the Rams and take comfort and confidence in it. Why? Because it’s just further evidence that in today’s NFL, teams can go from the bottom to the top in quick fashion and the Patriots are just the most recent (and most obvious) example.’

‘Jim Kelly’s football career began in East Brady. It’s winding up in Canton, Ohio.’

‘"I decided to pull out of it," Ramsdell said Monday evening after the Rams had returned to St. Louis. "I talked to Gregg [Williams] about it and said that basically the best thing for me and my family after talking about it was to stay here. That’s kind of the bottom line of it."’

‘Every successful version of the West Coast, from Joe Montana’s 49ers to Donovan McNabb’s Philadelphia Eagles, has one thing in common — a quick-thinking, accurate-throwing quarterback. If you could hang Rob Johnson’s arm from Alex Van Pelt’s shoulder, you’d have the ideal quarterback for the offense. But you can’t and you don’t. And if you don’t, you’d better find a new way to move the football. As Bills fans learned this year, the West Coast can be just as ugly as any other offense when you lack the proper point man.’

‘Riemersma takes his responsibility as a pro athlete seriously. He believes it’s his duty to let people know he is a Christian and that he plays and lives with faith as a foundation.’

Villapiano, who played for Raiders from 1971-1980 and for Buffalo Bills from 1980-84, won the ring with the Raiders’ 32-14 win against the Vikings in the 1977 Super Bowl.

In an impulsive act, Villapiano gave a discouraged Oellrich his Super Bowl ring to motivate him not only to resume his rehabilitation, but to double his workouts so he could walk again. Oellrich protested, but the former All-Pro insisted that he could only return the ring once he could walk. Oellrich returned the ring Sunday after taking about 10 steps with the help of a cane and going immediately back into his wheelchair.

Hall of Fame spots should go only to the truly great.

But Kelly, the Buffalo Bills quarterback, was never even considered the best at their position in his era.

How Can You Tell He’s From Western Pennsylvania?

Hearing of his selection to the Hall of Fame, Jim Kelly said, “I’m going out with my dad and brothers for shots and beers.”

Sentimentality note: In a hotel room in New Orleans, Kelly waited for word of whether he’d been selected with his father, five brothers, and his high-school coach from East Brady, Pa. Oh football gods, why did you deny this man a ring?

Enlightened Hall Politics:

TMQ praises the Canton loya jirga for taking Jim Kelly on the first ballot. That the Bills honked four straight Super Bowls should not prevent admiration for the fact that they were able to get into four straight meaning they are the only team ever to win four straight conference championships, which is the preferred emphasis in Buffalo. Buffalo never got the ring but may end up with seven in Canton from its Super Bowl team – Kelly and Marv Levy, already; Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith, locks; Steve Tasker, Kent Hull, and Andre Reed, likely. Thus the football gods console the vanquished.

Kelly himself deserves kudos for his grasp of Hall politics. As TMQ noted a year ago, Kelly cut his career a little short, since he might have played an extra season or two, in order to become eligible in 2002, when he would have less Canton competition. Staring at Kelly’s brake lights are John Elway, Dan Marino, and Steve Young, all eligible soon and sure to monopolize Hall admission slots for quarterbacks. It was a savvy move for Kelly to make sure he got admitted before such gentlemen’s names went on the ballot.

Eleven years ago, current Patriots coach Bill Belichick capped off his run as the Giants’ defensive mastermind by working with coach Bill Parcells to shock another offensive juggernaut, the 1990 Buffalo Bills. The Giants won the closest game in Super Bowl history, surviving 20-19.

The Giants relied on a ball-control conservative offense (they held the ball for a Super Bowl-record 40 minutes, 33 seconds), leaning on the strength of Belichick’s unit, the cautious play of inexperienced starting QB Jeff Hostetler and the running of Ottis Anderson. Brady was in Hostetler’s role in February 2002, carefully watching over Weis and Belichick’s game plan. Antowain Smith provided the backfield punch for Brady, grinding out 92 yards on 18 carries.

Having one of their AFC East opponents as the reigning Super Bowl champions is the best news the Bills have received this off-season. Benefits abound on this one, folks: The Patriots will play all next season in the spotlight — getting better television slots and the like — which will make their games more exciting and toss some extra attention the way of their divisional opponents.

‘From one standpoint, we will never see his like again. He was the last quarterback to call his own plays and in this high-tech era, no coaching staff will relinquish that responsibility again. His command in the huddle was legendary.’

‘When Hall of Famers sign autographs, they often add a short reference to their class. Kelly knows his will be ‘HOF ’02.’ “It’s only fitting for me to go in as No. 2,” he says. “But today we’re No. 1, the Buffalo Bills, the fans of Buffalo and the Kelly family. Going into the Hall of Fame, we can honestly say we’re No. 1.”‘