buffalo bills
Jill Kelly, Notre Dame grad and wife of former Buffalo Bills QB, talks about faith, hope and heartache in upcoming book
It all began with Hunter James Kelly, the little boy who wasn't supposed to live to see his second birthday.
Shortly after he entered this world, Hunter was diagnosed with Krabbe disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects one in every 100,000 children.
While his battle with the condition did ultimately cost him his life, Hunter beat the odds and made it to age 8. This was partly owing to his own strength and will to live, but also to the tireless efforts of his parents, who worked very hard to make sure he had the care and support that he needed -- both medical and personal.
His father is Jim Kelly, former quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. His mother is Jill Kelly, a former model, a longtime Attica resident and an alumnus of Notre Dame High School in Batavia.
The Kellys were devastated by the loss of their son, and this devastation could easily have shattered their family.
Instead, it brought them closer together.
The same devastation could also easily have snuffed out any faith they had in the possibility of any meaning, purpose or goodness in the universe.
Instead, it drew them into a close, personal relationship with a loving God.
Hunter's ordeal, the hurdles Jim and Jill faced in their marriage, their love for their children, the faith they both found...these are some of the subjects that Jill covers in her new memoir, "Without a Word: How a Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything."
"Without a Word" will be Jill's third published work. The others are "Prayers for Those Who Grieve" and "Prayers of Hope for the Brokenhearted."
As you might expect, the memoir is told mainly from Jill's perspective. But it also includes contributions from Jim and the couple's two daughters, Erin Marie and Camryn Lynn. Each member of the Kelly family shares his/her experience as part of a family that has suffered together, loved together, struggled together, and believed together.
Jill will be featured on NBC's "Today Show" on Sept. 10 (the day after the book's release) and on "Fox and Friends" on Sept. 11.
In the meantime, she was kind enough to take some time out of her busy schedule to talk with The Batavian about the faith that has sustained her throughout all of her ordeals and given her a strength, peace and joy that inspires everyone around her:
Q: How has your faith journey played out through all of this (the loss of your son, etc)?
A: My faith is what sustains me, even to this very moment. But I didn't turn to God or realize I needed Him so desperately until Hunter got sick. I never thought about the things of God with any depth until that point. I grew up with the religion aspect of faith, but I didn't realize that God was as real and as involved in my life as He actually was. He's an intimate God. He cares about all the details of our lives and orchestrates the things around us in order to help us draw closer to Him.
I think people have a choice -- in troubled times, they either turn away from God or they run to Him. In my desperate need for hope and heaven and healing -- because I was devastated -- I ran to God. And I was surrounded by other people who walked by faith, which was very encouraging. They helped me to seek God and to learn more about Him. It changed my whole life, the way I look at our very breath.
Q: Your friends say you and Jim have been "transformed" by your faith. In what way?
A: In every way. We live every moment in light of eternity. I live with the knowledge that I'll see Hunter again, that heaven is real, and that God has a purpose in our pain and suffering. Although we still grieve (for Hunter) at various times and in various ways, my great joy is in knowing what's to come. I'd say I live every moment of life differently as a result of trusting in Christ for everything I hope for.
I don't credit myself here -- it's not my faith as such that I'm trusting in, it's the Person behind my faith. Putting faith in Him has definitely transformed our marriage and our family. We live differently, we love differently, we see differently...everything's changed.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about your marriage, and the role your faith and struggles have played in that?
A: Every marriage struggles. When you have two people coming together, each one having his/her own issues and being a completely unique person, you're going to have problems. You have to choose whether to work it out or give up. With me and Jim, so much was stacked against us -- statistically, in terms of being married to a celebrity athlete and everything that goes along with that, plus having a desperately sick child and everything that goes along with that. We found ourselves in a position where nothing was for us except for God.
We've learned that marriage is not a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It's a process in which God helps us live out our lives, first of all for Him, and also for each other and for our children. Each day, we know that we need help and that we can't do it alone. Our marriage wouldn't survive without Christ, without prayer. It's a lot of work, but the blessings far outweigh the hardships. Most of all, we know we're honoring God and blessing our daughters by doing so.
Q: On your website, you've written that Hunter "loved those around him without being able to speak." How so, exactly?
A: Like you said, he couldn't talk, and he also couldn't move on his own. He couldn't smile or give you a hug or a kiss, or anything that we would normally understand as showing love. But just his very presence...I mean, I'm his mom. I took care of him, and I knew him. I know him. I knew he loved us. I mean, just the fact that he was alive, and loved life, and wanted to live, and struggled beyond anything I've ever experienced and yet...was full of joy. It's really hard to articulate, but I do the best I can to share this in the book. I hope the readers can grasp what I'm trying to say about Hunter, as hard as it is to explain.
Q: Would you say that the pain you went through and the experience of Hunter's suffering helped you to get closer to Christ in His suffering?
A: Absolutely. There's no doubt about that. I didn't understand that there can be beauty and value in suffering until I was able to take Hunter's suffering to the Cross. There is beauty in suffering if we have a place to take it where there's hope. I mean, Jesus didn't suffer on the Cross for nothing. If you're a Christian, you believe there is hope because of what Jesus did, and that we can take our suffering because it's not the end of the story. Hunter's suffering was not the end of his story -- his story is that he's with God, and we (meaning Jill and her family) will be there one day, too. And the story goes on. That hope changes the way you live, believe, treat each other...everything. That's the reason for the subtitle of the book -- God used this little boy to change everything!
Q: One of the typical objections of atheists and other skeptics of religion is, "If God exists, and if God is good, then why is there so much suffering in the world? Why do bad things happen to people?" How would you answer that, based on your experience?
A: I would say that I've seen the good that can come out of suffering. Also, you know, it's not my place to convince an atheist that God exists. God has already displayed Himself in creation. The fact that we have another breath is His goodness. Do I understand fully why God allows evil in the world the way it is, and disease, destruction, etc? No, I don't fully understand -- but that's the beauty of who God is. I don't understand all of Him. He wouldn't be God otherwise! He's beyond my comprehension, and He's beyond anything we can know. But, He has chosen to reveal Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Flesh and Blood of the God of Creation. Most people who would make the argument you mentioned have never read the Bible. I would say that until you've spent time getting to know this God Who has chosen to reveal Himself in His Word, don't say anything! (she said this last part with a bit of playful laughter in her voice)
And as far as saying, "If God is good, then...," who are we to stand in judgment of God? You know? Who are we to walk up to Him and say, "Who do you think you are, God?" We're created beings who don't have the capacity to fully understand these things. And I'm thankful for that, because I can at least trust what I know. I can trust what God says versus trying to figure Him out.
Q: You talk about your children and how much they mean to you, both on your website and in your book. What do you think Jesus meant when He said, "The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones such as these (meaning children)?"
A: Children are so trusting. They're willing to believe the unbelievable. They just have a way about that them receives truth. It sounds crazy, but we know it's true. We know children -- they think beyond the ordinary; they think the extraordinary. I think they tend to be more accepting of truth than we are, as adults. What we need to do is just allow the truth to be the truth, and not let our pride, our preconceived notions, our circumstances or our experiences dictate truth. Because truth is beyond what we can see. Also, children have this openness to the simplicity of faith. Faith is really a very simple thing -- you either believe or you don't! What Jesus is saying is, "You need to come like a little child." That way you can just accept what's true and receive the gift. You can receive the love of God, and what He has done.
Q: Do you have any advice for people who want to have faith, but face certain obstacles or are struggling with hurdles...whether emotional, intellectual, or otherwise?
A: Christ says that if you seek Him, you will find Him. He made a promise. He's not running away from us, He's running towards us. And it really has nothing to do with us, because He's the one who starts everything! So I would say that if you're seeking God and pondering these things -- and yeah, you might have different hurdles to overcome, but the fact that a person is even seeking God is evidence that God is already at work in that person's heart. Of course, we could choose to ignore Him and turn away, and that's our choice. But again, the fact that we're seeking Him is a sign that He's drawing us to Himself. My advice would be, don't give up! Jesus has promised never to leave us or forsake us. He's made many promises and kept every one. This isn't something I would know if I hadn't read His Word. I'm a student of the Word, and I spend time with it every day.
Jill's book will hit the shelves all across the country on Sept. 9, but is available now in Buffalo area bookstores -- including the Barnes & Noble on Niagara Falls Blvd. and Bender's Christian Supply Store on Sheridan Drive.
For more information on the Kelly family and Jill's writings, please visit her website: www.jillk.org.
To learn more about the Hunter's Hope Foundation, which Jim and Jill founded in honor of their son and for the purpose of helping children with Krabbe disease, go to www.huntershope.org.
Photos courtesy of Jill Kelly
Way to Go, Buffalo!!!!
Great Game!!!
The Desperate Bills
As a youth, there were no Bufalo Bills. Virtually every local Football Fan belonged to the Giants or the Browns. That is why alot of local football fans to this date are labelled as "Bills Bashers". I am not one of those however. If it were not for the Bill I could never see the Giants in person. They play the Bills every six or seven years, and tickets to the Meadowlands are handed down in Wills. So here is my criticism of the BILLS!! Their CHEAP OWNER!! Who else would move games to Toronto after all these years, and expect the fans to buy into the explanation that he is trying to expand the base...It's the same base it was 30 years ago.
Lets face it, he's trying to sell more of the overpriced luxury boxes, and club seats. That all goes into his pocket. The player salaries are more than covered by the TV revenue. ALL clubs to my knowledge share gate revenues equally. That more than pays the staff. So that leaves the $25.00 parking charge,club seats, Luxury Boxes, and a good hunk of Hot Dog and Beer Money for poor old Mr. Wilson. I feel sorry for him. He must really be suffering there in Detroit. It's no wonder that there hasn't been a big time Coach or General Manager in years. And ,Oh bye the way ,they haven't made the playoffs since one year after John Butler left. Need I list all the losers that have coached here for years. Think about Kaye Stevens, Hank Bullock, Mallarcki (or whatever his name was), Wade Phillips who inherited a John Butler Team his first year, Tom Donohoe, Marv Levy as GM(??) What did he do? I suspect this guy Jauron is there because he's cheap. No wonder they extended his contract. It's not because he's been successful. Where would the Bills have been had they had a Big Time coach and GM these past ten years or so. I'll bet they would have made they playoffs, or better.
NFL Draft live blogging
4:04 p.m. - Here we go. No big surprise as the Detroit Lions select quarterback Tim Couch, err, Matthew Stafford. The team reached a contract with him last night. Updates will be coming through the day.
4:16 p.m. - Jason Smith just went to the Rams. My prediction is Kansas City trades down and probably the Jets come up and get Mark Sanchez. (OK, I'm wrong and confused by the selection).
4:39 p.m. - Jets moved up for Sanchez. Great move. He's the best QB prospect in the draft.
4:59 p.m. - The Oakland Raiders are the worst franchise in the AFC and that was an absolutely stupid draft pick at No. 7. Darrius Heyward-Bey out of Maryland is the fourth ranked receiver in the pre-draft rankings. Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin are easily more likely to be stars. Mel Kiper gave this pick an F. I also do.
5:13 p.m. - San Francisco is the only team other than Buffalo and Michael Oher is still on the board. If San Fran takes him, expect possibly USC linebacker Brian Cushing or Texas defensive end Brian Arakpo to be the pick. If the 49ers take somebody else though, Oher is the pick.
5:27 p.m. - Aaron Maybin of Penn State is the pick. The defensive end is a pretty good pass rusher, but not a choice I think a lot of fans would have made. The Bills need to replace Jason Peters, who was traded to Philly, and Oher would have been perfect. I preferred Arakpo as well.
5:50 p.m. - Buffalo isn't up again for a bit, so I'll be taking a break unless something big happens. What do you all think about Maybin getting picked at 11?
6:06 p.m. - Oher is still out there. He is considered one of four offensive tackles coming into the draft. Why is he dropping?
6:20 p.m. - Detroit just took Brandon Pettigrew, the best tight end in the draft. I was hoping he'd fall to Buffalo at 28.
6:39 p.m. - Good for the Baltimore Ravens. Michael Oher is a great story and a great player. They definitely get an A+ for this pick, at 23 when he should have been top 10.
6:55 p.m. - Two big picks coming up. My Colts are on the board and I'm hoping for North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks to replace Marvin Harrison. Then the Bills will look at either tackle or linebacker. Rey Maualuga is still out there.
7 p.m. - Indy takes Donald Brown, running back from Connecticut. He's a good player, but I wanted a receiver. I guess replacing Dominic was important.
7:04 p.m. - Buffalo takes Eric Wood, a center from Louisville. He's a four-year starter and can play every position on the line. It will be interested to see what the Bills do with him.
7:33 p.m. - 3 1/2 hour first round ... not bad. Lots of fun and surprises. I'll keep giving the occasional update as the second round goes on. Buffalo has the 10th pick.
8:17 p.m. - The Bills take Jairus Byrd, CB out of Oregon, with the 10th pick in the second round. It looks like a bit of a reach and there has still only been one tight end selected. Also, does the team really need a cornerback?
9 p.m. - Dallas and Buffalo just made a trade.
9:01 p.m. - Buffalo again helps the offensive line by getting the top guard, Andrew Levitre from Oregon St. A surprising move to see the trade and a solid pick by the Bills. Dallas got the 75th and 110th picks owned by Buffalo. Excellent move.
Ralph Wilson is not dead
There is a rumor that has been circulating on the net and word of mouth that Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson died last night.
It is not true.
The 90-year old Hall of Famer is still alive and the Bills confirmed this with a Twitter post saying "There is absolutely no truth to the internet rumor referencing Ralph Wilson’s health."
If Wilson were to have passed away last night, it would leave the future of football in Buffalo in question. If Wilson cares about keeping football in Buffalo, it is time that he sells the team or sets something up where nobody can purchase the team from his family if they plan on moving the team out of Western New York.
Get your T.O. jersey now
With Terrell Owens joining the Buffalo Bills this week, it is time for fans to update their jersey collection.
The team announced on its Web site that Owens jerseys are available for $80. You will receive the jersey 3-4 weeks after Owens picks a number.
Owens, a controversial player, inked a 1-year contract on Saturday after being released by the Dallas Cowboys.
T.O. comes to Buffalo
Wow!
If you would have said Terrell Owens would be a member of the Buffalo Bills even a week ago, I might have told you that you were nuts.
But after the controversial star was released by the Dallas Cowboys, the Bills have signed him to a one year deal.
He's thought of as a cancer and the biggest pain in the butt in the NFL, but he is now a Bill. This is amazing and will put our local NFL team on the map.
We are in for a fun season,
Bills release Dockery and Royal
The Buffalo Bills are making it very clear as to what is going to be priority come draft day, announcing Thursday that the team will be releasing left guard Derrick Dockery and tight end Robert Royal.
Dockery signed a seven year, $49 million contract two years ago and has never lived up to the potential the team saw in him. Royal had some decent games last season but is not considered a true starting tight end by the Bills. He has two years left on his contract.
“These business decisions are never easy,” Bills COO Russ Brandon told buffalobills.com. “Especially when you are talking about two great individuals in both Derrick and Robert. We thank them for their hard work and dedication in their time as Buffalo Bills and wish them the best of luck in the future.”
The moves are expected to free up $8 million in cap space, but the team is likely to fill these positions in the draft rather than shell out big bucks for a weak free agent class at the positions.
Pittsburgh's Chris Kemoeatu and Brandon Moore are the top free agent guards on the market and neither is a player that a line can be built around. With fellow lineman Melvin Fowler, Duke Preston and Jason Whittle all expected to test free agency for the Bills, one or two lineman could be taken on the first day of the draft.
Buffalo has no viable option at tight end right now and should also address this early in the draft, with the position boasting one of the strongest draft classes in years.
Fred Taylor visiting Buffalo (update)
With Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch in more legal troubles and facing a suspension by the National Football League, the team is looking for another option to help out Fred Jackson while Lynch is on break.
The Bills are visiting with Fred Taylor today, and it seems like a great option that will not involve a long-term commitment.
Taylor is an 11-year veteran and 33 years old, so Buffalo will probably be looking to give him a one or two year deal. This would be a great move because it gives the team a chance to see if Lynch is going to clean up his act or if they have to move on.
Taylor can be a stop-gap.
He rushed for 11,271 yards with the Jacksonville Jaguars before the Jags released the NFL's 16th all-time leading rusher. And he's healthy and fresh after getting under 150 carries last season because Maurice Jones-Drew became more of a feature back.
Taylor is a strong and fast runner, even at his advanced age, and is also being targeted by the New England Patriots in free agency.
Signing Taylor would give the Bills three capable backs - when Lynch returns from suspension - and would allow a unique rotation that could maximize Jackson's speed and pass catching ability.
It would also allow Buffalo to focus on addressing more pressing needs in the draft, like guard, outside linebacker and tight end. Having to use an early draft pick to get an insurance policy for Lynch would take away from fixing weaker spots on the roster.
UPDATE: Taylor's visit today went very well, according to buffalobills.com lead journalist Chris Brown.
“My job is to come in and be a helper, not to stir up any problems or things like that,” said Taylor while making his free agent visit to One Bills Drive Tuesday.
This is good news for Buffalo fans who have to worry about Lynch and his future with the team.
It is time the Buffalo Bills start to worry about Marshawn Lynch
The Buffalo Bills have always claimed to only keep players on the roster that are good people off the field as well as on. Owner Ralph Wilson does not like his players making news for non-football issues.
But one of the faces of the franchise has become a problem.
Running back Marshawn Lynch was arrested over the weekend for possession of a concealed firearm in California last week, making two straight offseasons where he has been in trouble with the law.
Lynch and two other men were in a 2006 Mercedes Benz when they were pulled over and officers found a loaded gun, which belonged to the back that just a week ago was playing in the Pro Bowl.
Lynch was arrested last June when he was involved in a hit-and-run accident on Chippewa Street in Buffalo. He did not turn himself in right away and it took four days before his lawyer contacted the police.
He also made the news as a college student at California when he was the target of a drive-by shooting, which the police eventually said was a case of mistaken identity. There were "character issues" when the Bills drafted him in the first round of the 2007 draft.
After Willis McGahee was run out of town for negative remarks about the City of Buffalo, Lynch was drafted and has been a decent player on the field in his first two seasons. He rushed for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie and followed that up this past season with 1,036 yards and eight scores. He was an alternate and was added to the Pro Bowl this year.
His numbers are good, but he has not jumped into an "elite" status in the NFL by any stretch of the imagination.
The Buffalo Bills will be asking themselves this offseason if it is worth keeping a player around that makes as much news off the field as on. Lynch will definitely be suspended for some of this upcoming season for violating the league's code of conduct policy, and with his track record there is no assurance that he will not get into trouble with the law again.
The team isn't saying much at this point.
"We can confirm that Marshawn was arrested in California and has retained an attorney," Bills vice president of communications Scott Berchtold said in a statement. "We are in the process of trying to gather the facts and will not offer a comment while that process is ongoing."
Buffalo came into last season with questions about depth in the backfield, but Fred Jackson did a great job last season and some might argue was a more exciting player on the field than Lynch.
Lynch will not be released or traded before the season starts and will probably get another chance with the Bills, but his future is without question in doubt after this latest mishap. The team will probably be focusing on drafting an offensive guard and an outside linebacker early in the upcoming draft, but it might be worth using a pick in rounds 3-5 on a running back. There are always highly ranked players that slip (like Mike Hart to the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round last season).
Lynch is young and has talent, but is he the future of the Buffalo Bills? If the past and philosophy of the team is any indication, he will be on a short leash until he proves himself.
Langston Walker and other NFL big men struggle
ESPN.com's Elizabeth Merrill has a very interesting piece on the Web site today that is well worth checking out.
Merrill talks with Buffalo Bills tackle Langston Walker about the difficulties that come with being an oversized NFL offensive lineman.
It's Tuesday, an off day for the Bills, and Walker wants to demonstrate a few things he can't have as an NFL big man. He pulls into a car dealership and says he wants to drive a Mini Cooper. After a couple of laughs and nervous looks, he shoehorns himself into the car, pushes the seat all the way back, and turns the ignition. It is not a flattering -- or comfortable -- ride.
The 6-foot-8, 366-pound 29-year old is in his second season with the Bills.
Bills game delayed due to mylar balloon
If you're like me, you wanted to watch the big game today between the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers (though, you're probably not like me in rooting fo the Chargers).
The game started on schedule at 1:05 p.m., but then went off air about 1:15.
WIVB reports that a mylar balloon hit a powerline, tripping a transformer.
Sources say the balloon hit power lines, which caused a transformer to trip off.
Lights and non essential power were affected.
CBS has delayed the game due to technical difficulties at the stadium.
CBS just reported that game has resumed, but no broadcast power yet. This is disappointing personally because my dad and I haven't been able to watch a Chargers game together in a couple of years, and who knows when we will get another chance.
UPDATE (1:50 p.m.): Kind of confusing report on NFL.com about how the power went out a half hour before game time, and suspending the game for five minutes was planned, but no word on the broadcast. CBS just said the game is 7-3 Chargers.
UPDATE (2:01 p.m.): Game back on. Still 7-3. Bills driving after Charger turnover. No graphics on screen to say what game time is. And while I wrote this, the Bills scored.
UPDATE (2:19 p.m.): Game off air again. Lost broadcast during two-minute timeout.
UPDATE: In comments, Russ provides a link to online play-by-play.
UPDATE (2:50 p.m.) Game back on, 8:58 left in 3rd quarter.
UPDATE (3:58 p.m.): Congratulations Bills fans. 23-14.
They're back: Flutie Flakes!
Couldn't keep myself from passing this along... Every Buffalo Bills fan's favorite cereal, Flutie Flakes, will once again hit grocery store shelves this November in a limited edition 10th anniversary run.
From the press release:
The limited edition, collector’s box commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, which was established by the former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie and his wife Laurie in honor of their son, Dougie Jr. ...
Flutie will donate his profits from the sale of the cereal to the foundation, which has raised more than $10 million since 1998 to provide support and resources for families with children with autism.
Three million boxes of the original Flutie Flakes cereal were sold a decade ago, according to Melissa Heher, vice president, PLB Sports. “Many fans purchased the box as a collectible and did not even eat the cereal inside,” she said. “It is very difficult today to find the original red box that started the frenzy in Buffalo, N.Y.” ...
The Flutie Flakes boxes grabbed much national attention when they originally debuted. The coveted cereal appeared in episodes of “Friends,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Dawson’s Creek.”
Visit the PLB Sports Web site to find out more or to pick up a pack of Big Ben's Beef Jerky—they're "soft and tender"—named for Pittsburgh Steeler's QB Ben Roethlisberger. Or grab some Lauryn Williams Fast Flakes, if you can't wait for the Flutie variety.
Evans is the right fit for Buffalo
I don't know if it is because wide receivers like media attention or I just like interviewing them, but I've always been tight with the receivers on the Buffalo Bills.
Eric Moulds and I used to always chat at training camp because of a shared interest in the Wu Tang Clan. I always chat with Josh Reed, even if he didn't do much in a game.
And I always find myself talking about situations with Lee Evans.
Evans has had the lingering question about a contract extension hanging out there for quite some time now, which is something he really hasn't talked about much.
But Ralph Wilson and the Bills' organization did the right thing today in locking up the talented WR.
There are very few details about the extension that have been made public at this point, but it is clear that one of the biggest pieces on that team will be sticking around as the wins keep coming.
“I’m thrilled,” Evans told buffalobills.com. “It all just kind of happens at one time. I’m thrilled about it. It’s a great day. Working with these guys over a long period of time has been tough, but the communication has been there and we finally got it done. So I couldn’t be happier.”
Evans is the perfect fit for our local National Football League team.
A loudmouth like Chad Johnson or Terrell Owens would not last long in Buffalo because the minute he pulled the garbage T.O. did last weekend, he'd be ridiculed by the fans so bad that he couldn't show his face in public.
The most controversial comments Evans has ever made is when he backed J.P. Losman as the starting quarterback. He didn't rip anybody. He just felt like he had a good relationship and could perform better with him in there.
I remember a conversation I had with Evans and Reed at the Jim Kelly Tournament at Terry Hills a couple of years ago when the two were in the pro shop buying gloves.
I made a comment about the big dollars in the NFL and I remember Evans telling me that he would never turn down money, but if that is the reason you play the game, you are not going to be the best type of player you can be. He basically said that if you go out there and play the game well, you will not have to worry about the business end.
Evans is polite and a good guy that does charity work in the community.
On the field he produces on a high level year in and year out. He has never had a Marvin Harrison-type of season, but he's been a very good No. 1 receiver for a while now.
It is nice to see the Bills reward a player like Evans, and that is a reason why the team is on an upswing and will be contenders for years to come.
The Bills Are Due ~ Book Signing
On September 4th at 7:00 p.m., the Holland Land Office Museum is proud to host a book signing for The Bills Are Due by Attica author, Rob Thompson.
The book is a candid look at Western New York’s favorite football team, the Buffalo Bills. The book is full of personal interviews with Bill’s greats including Jack Kemp, Billy Shaw, Fred Smerlas and Frank Reich. There are interviews with 14 ex-Bills in all.
Thompson’s interviews of the former Bills are fantastic. He gets the players to open up about topics like, the Bills possible move to Toronto, their favorite Western New York memories and how the NFL Players Union treats its former players.
In the book, Thompson pays tribute to the generation of players who made the Bills what they are today. It is a great insiders look at the team. The chapter on Fred Smerlas made me laugh out loud. The author successfully captures the attitude and personality of the players.
Scheduled to appear with Thompson that night are former Bills, J.D. Hill and Donnie Green. The book is available right now at the Joseph Ellicott Book and Gift Shop in the Holland Land Office Museum. We will have limited copies available for sale that evening. The price of the book is $20.95 and is a must read for any sports fan. Start your Christmas shopping early, pick the book up, have the author sign it, and who knows, maybe a couple of former players!
