Hall of fame QB Jim Kelly joined Schopp and the Bulldog Wednesday afternoon and did not hold back assessing the 2009 Bills nor his opinions on what the next steps should be at One Bills Drive. Click to check out the highlights from his interview.
When he greeted our afternoon hosts, he made sure to blame the players for the state of the team he watched in Tennessee. "The players just didn’t get it done. I watched that game Sunday and there were so many wide open plays.”
The conversation quickly turned to his thoughts on the quarterback, and his was not optimistic. “I know Trent very well we always pull for him we always pull for good guys who work very hard and are smart but the thing is it just hasn’t worked out. I think that is one position they have to move on and really look whether it is in the draft coming up or I even looked across the board of free agency –there isn’t much out there. There might be a couple. We might have to go through something again if we decide to draft another quarterback and part ways with Trent Edwards.”
The main item everyone wants to know is would a top-flite coach come to Buffalo. Jim Kelly did not mince words. “I do think they would come if they had a certain amount of control, what they were able to bring in and what they were able to spend and what Mr. Wilson is willing to do…If you could turnaround like the Buffalo Bills you pretty much could call what your salary would be because that is what they’ve been starving for for many many years. Do I think Mr. Wilson will do that this coming year? To be honest with you, I really do. He’s tired of losing, he’s tired of putting money into coaches that have not panned out in the past, he’s going on 92 years old - I really think if he doesn’t do it this year, he may never see this again. For him, he wants to go out and build something before he goes and I hope he lives to 110 years old but the thing is I feel he has gotten to the point where he is saying right now I’ve got to do whatever it takes. I want to get that winning feeling not only back for the city for the Buffalo and for the fans but for himself too.”
Finally, Kelly discussed Terrell Owens lack of productivity. "On one hand I feel sorry for the guy and the other I don’t feel sorry because I see at times where he doesn’t even try for the football. You get so frustrated. That’s not a sign of professionalism for me. I don’t care what the situation is – how high the football is or whatever. You try to make an effort. But this other hand I feel sorry because I‘ve seen him wide open, he runs good routes and Evans runs a good route on the other side and there is a lack of blocking out front to give Trent Edwards the time to throw and there are times where Trent has him wide open and he misses him. I can see that every once in a while but when you see it happen week in and week out someone has to be blamed and sometimes it’s not the coaches. The players just have to play.”