Inside The Bills

Reed again a HOF finalist

Once again Andre Reed is among the finalists selected for possible induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Reed is a finalist for the fourth straight time, but again is facing difficult competition with the likes of Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders also among the finalists.

Also expected to make induction for Reed difficult is the fact that two other receivers in Cris Carter and Tim Brown are also on the list of finalists for the 2011 class.

Troop bowl game for Kelly

Bills Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly along with fellow Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas and Bills Wall of Famer Andre Reed are visiting with the troops overseas in Iraq this week to give them a taste of Bowl season.

Kelly and Rodney Peete will be squaring off in a flag football “Connect to Home Bowl” this week, with troops from the Army and the Air Force as teammates. Kelly and Peete appeared on CNN to talk up their efforts overseas.

Highlights of the troops “bowl game” with Kelly, Thomas and Reed will be aired during halftime of the Fiesta Bowl between Oklahoma and Connecticut.

Reed among HOF semi-finalists

It’s no surprise, but Bills all-time leading receiver Andre Reed made the cut to the list of semi-finalists for the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Reed was the only former Bills player to make the cut, joining fellow receivers Cris Carter and Tim Brown.

What will make this class particularly tough to crack are the five first-year eligible players that will all get strong consideration not only for the list of finalists, but induction in Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, and Deion Sanders, who are among the semifinalists.

HOF support for Bills

The early support for former Bills on the list of preliminary nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame has been pretty good. Here’s your way to provide more backing for potential Hall of Famers like Andre Reed, Cornelius Bennett, Kent Hull, Darryl Talley and Steve Tasker.

Just go to the Fan’s Choice site where you can vote for who you believe belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2011. You can vote for up to five nominees, so all of the guys above can get your vote. And there’s something in it for you as there are prizes and a chance to win a sweepstakes contest as well just by voting.

So far Bills fans have done well to support the former Bills. Here’s the breakdown of the current leaderboard for fan voting for all Pro Football HOF nominees.

1. Darryl Talley
2. Steve Tasker
3. Andre Reed
4. Cornelius Bennett
5. Kent Hull

So keep up the good work and keep supporting your former Bills and you’ll have a chance to win some pretty cool prizes.

Several Bills on prelim HOF list

A number of former Bills players are on the preliminary Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee list for the class of 2011.

Here is the rundown of former players among the 113 that were nominated.

Cornelius Bennett
Kent Hull
Andre Reed
Darryl Talley
Steve Tasker

Former head coach Chuck Knox is also on the list.

The Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 candidates who will advance as semifinalist nominees. The list of 25 modern-era semifinalists will be announced in mid-November. Reed was the only nominee from this list to make the finalist list in 2010.

Reed to head up golf tourney

Bills Wall of Famer and all-time leading receiver Andre Reed will be hosting the Celebrity Golf Classic that bears his name in his native Allentown, Pennsylvania area next weekend.

From July 24-26 he’ll be hosting events at two different country clubs (Saucon Valley C.C. and Lehigh Valley C.C.) with names like Bruce Smith, James Lofton, Kellen Winslow and Eric Dickerson attending among other former NFL greats. Proceeds will support the Second Mile Organization and the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown, PA.

NFL wants best picks of all time

In celebration of the 75th NFL Draft, which kicks off in primetime for the first time on Thurs. April 22, fans now can help choose the 75 Most Valuable Draft Picks of all time. You can vote for your choices at NFL.com now through April 18. 

The 10 Most Valuable Draft Picks will be announced during Round 1, when many of the Top 10 will be in attendance at Radio City Music Hall, the home of the 2010 NFL Draft. The order of the Top 10 will be revealed after the conclusion of the Second Round of the Draft on Friday night.  Many of these players will be on hand for the announcement.

NFL.com editors narrowed down the first 74 Drafts to a list of the top 320 players, consisting of 10 players from each team.  Fans begin the process of determining the Most Valuable Draft Pick by choosing between pairs of players randomly generated from the list of 320 greats.  After selecting winners of 30 random matchups, fans will begin to build their own Top 10 list.  Fans may continue to vote in order to make changes to their personal Top 10 list as well as the All-Time Top 10 announced at the Draft. Users then may share their lists and their head-to-head winners on Facebook.

NFL.com delivers comprehensive information on each of the 320 players, including the player’s draft information and career accomplishments to help the voters make educated selections in determining the Most Valuable Pick.

Below is the list of Bills nominees.
Gary Anderson – never played for the Bills, but was a late round draft pick that went on to be one of the league’s all-time scorers.
Ruben Brown – 8 Pro Bowls
Joe DeLamielleure – Hall of Famer
Jim Kelly – Hall of Famer
Reggie McKenzie – Well known member of the Electric Company
Andre Reed – Bills Wall of Famer, 4 time HOF finalist
O.J. Simpson – Hall of Famer
Fred Smerlas – Bills Wall of Famer
Bruce Smith – Hall of Famer
Thurman Thomas – Hall of Famer

My All-Time Bills draft picks

The chance for you the fan to select your all-time Bills draft picks starts now at a special site asking fans to pick their top 10 Bills draft picks that represented the best value. Value of course is subject to interpretation, which is what makes this debate interesting. Here are my top 10 All-Time Bills draft picks.

My definition of value was based on three things, the player’s performance on the field, where they were drafted and the amount of time they spent in a Bills uniform, in that order. So here’s my list.

10. Tom Sestak
9. Darryl Talley
8. Fred Smerlas
7. Billy Shaw
6. Joe DeLamielleure
5. O.J. Simpson
4. Jim Kelly
3. Bruce Smith
2. Thurman Thomas
1. Andre Reed

To me being a fourth-round draft choice from a Division II school and a potential Hall of Famer is what earned Reed the top spot on my list.

Among the handful of players that just missed the cut for my top 10 were Jim Ritcher, Eric Moulds, Kurt Schulz, Phil Hansen, Aaron Schobel, Terrence McGee and Joe Devlin.

Encouraging sign for Reed

Even though Andre Reed did not make the final cut for enshrinement as a member of the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, there is some encouraging news regarding the outcome of the voting.

In the previous three years in which Reed was a finalist he was eliminated in the first round of cuts from 15 to 10. This year however, Reed cleared the first cut making it the second round or the final 10 candidates. For Reed to do that with Cris Carter and Tim Brown also in the field of finalists is a very promising sign that Reed’s enshrinement is likely to happen sooner rather than later.

Carter and Brown were both eliminated in the first round of cuts (15 to 10). So it appears that the Hall of Fame voting committee sees Reed as more worthy of induction than Carter or Brown. And I believe it’s because there’s one key area where Reed is superior to Carter and Brown with respect to his career and that’s winning and performing in the playoffs.

Reed has an edge over Carter and Brown in one key area. The postseason.

Some might see this as a slanted playing field, knowing Reed played in 21 career playoff games as he was part of a Bills team that won four straight AFC Championships. But Carter played in a respectable 14 playoff games himself and Brown played in a dozen. Both of them reached a conference championship game and Brown played in a Super Bowl.

Even though Reed expectedly has superior numbers in terms of receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns in the postseason, he also bests Carter in average yards per reception, speaking to Reed’s yards after the catch prowess.

Reed stands third all-time in playoff receptions (though that could change today with a big day from Reggie Wayne), fourth in receiving yards and is tied for sixth in postseason touchdowns. Carter is behind him in all of those categories, ranked 11th, 14th and 10th respectively. Tim Brown meanwhile, who played in 12 playoff games isn’t even in the top 25 all-time in any of those categories. One other stat to add, Carter had two 100-yard receiving games in his playoff career. Reed had five.

It seems as though the Hall of Fame voting committee recognizes that Reed was productive even though there were other offensive weapons on his team and the best case in point would be his performance when the other offensive stars were not available, namely the Comeback Game. With no Jim Kelly, and an injured Thurman Thomas, Reed and Frank Reich hooked up for three second-half touchdowns to help propel Buffalo to a third straight Super Bowl.

Finally the voting committee looks as though they’re coming around to seeing that Reed is deserving and based on this year’s voting you could make the argument that he’ll be the next receiver to gain enshrinement.

Reed caught in numbers game

Once again Andre Reed was considered worthy as he was a HOF finalist, but 2010 is not going to be his year.

When the owner of just about every receiving record out there is also a finalist (Jerry Rice) its an uphill battle to gain enshrinement in the same year aT the same position.

Reed and fellow finalist receivers Cris Carter and Tim Brown were clearly overshadowed by Rice.

Two receivers haven’t been part of one enshrinement class since 1983. With the league’s all-time leading receiver a finalist it was almost impossible for the other receiver finalist, including Reed, to gain entry this year.

Pulling for Andre

Andre Reed’s former Bills teammates aren’t being shy about pulling for the Hall of Fame finalist.

Here was HOF RB Thurman Thomas’ show of support on his twitter account.

thurmanthomas RT @pthomas3434: Let’s go Andre, let’s go, CLAP CLAP, Let’s go Andre, let’s go, CLAP CLAP

The 2010 HOF induction class will be announced at 5:30 pm on NFL Network this afternoon. Reed has an uphill battle with Jerry Rice and Cris Carter also among the finalists.

Reed will again have uphill battle

While it’s great news that Andre Reed is a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist for the fourth straight time, getting in this time around may prove to be the most difficult task yet.

The pool of candidates this year is even deeper than years past.

Also on the list at the receiver position alone is Jerry Rice, Tim Brown and Cris Carter, all of whom have superior statistics to Reed. Carter was a finalist with Reed last year and did not get in either.

Add in the fact that the second all-time leading receiver at the tight end position is also a finalist in Shannon Sharpe along with all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, who is a lock, and the deck is stacked against Reed maybe more than it ever has been in the past.  Unfortunately it is both a statistics and numbers game at the receiver position.

Voters factor the numbers in heavily and there is a contingent that believes there are already too many receivers in the Hall of Fame. Rice is a lock, but with a maximum of five modern era inductees (7 including the senior nominees) and a minimum of four inductees total, I’ll be surprised if there are two receivers this year, and there’s no way that there are three.  

I fear that Andre is going to be waiting another year… again.

Evans now number 3

Lee Evans with his five reception day against the Falcons moved into some select company Sunday.

His 43 receiving yards helped to put him all alone in third place on the Bills all-time receiving yardage list passing AFL Bills great Elbert Dubenion.

Dubenion had 5,294 career receiving yards with the Bills. Evans now has 5,307.

Only Eric Moulds (9,096) and Andre Reed (13,095) sit ahead of Evans on the team’s all-time receiving yardage list.

Tasker, Reed have HOF hurdles

With Steve Tasker and Andre Reed once again making the list of Hall of Fame semifinalists, Bills fans are naturally hopeful that another August day in Canton will belong to them. But both of them have some other prominent names at their respective positions or phase of the game that could make enshrinement for them all the more difficult this year.

Reed, who has been a finalist three times already, may not get that far this year. Bad enough he had Cris Carter as a fellow finalist last year. Neither of them were voted for enshrinement.

Carter and Reed are again on the semifinalist list and joining them are Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. Rice is a lock for enshrinement. With a healthy contingent of HOF voters reluctant to parade receivers into the Hall every year, Rice is likely to be the only player at that position to go in.

The presence of Shannon Sharpe as one of the most prolific receiving tight ends on the list doesn’t help matters either.

For Tasker, his main obstacle is Ray Guy. There are many that believe if a special teamer is going to be enshrined, that the first should be Ray Guy. Guy is on the semifinalist list. If a special teamer goes in, Guy is expected to get the nod over Tasker. The only positive for Tasker if that happens is that special teamers will finally be viewed as Hall of Fame worthy.

The list of Hall of Fame finalists will be announced on Jan. 7.

HOF semifinalists to be named Saturday

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will be naming their 25 semifinalists for enshrinement as part of the 2010 Hall of Fame class, and you’ll be able to see the names revealed live.

For the first time ever, the announcement of the 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010 will be televised on “Pro Football Hall of Fame: Road to Canton” show this Saturday at 1 PM ET on NFL Network with an encore at 9 PM ET.

Paul Burmeister hosts the 60-minute show and leads a panel discussion analyzing who made the final 25 and who didn’t.

Former Bills likely to be on the list include Steve Tasker, Andre Reed, Kent Hull and Darryl Talley.

Andre Reed to receive Ralph Wilson Distinguished Service Award

The Monday Quarterback Club announced that Bills all-time leading receiver Andre Reed has been selected to receive the 24th annual Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Distinguished Service Award.  Reed will be honored during pregame ceremonies at the Bills-Cleveland game at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Oct. 11 and at the Monday Quarterback Club luncheon at HSBC Arena the next day.

For those still interested in joining the Monday QB Club they can log onto their website for more information or call 716-693-3807.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Distinguished Service Award was established by the Monday Quarterback Club in 1986 to honor former players for long and meritorious service to the Bills.  Reed becomes the 30th former Bills player to be selected for the award over the past 24 years.

Fan can now lobby for HOF candidates

For the first time, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is asking fans to voice their choice for who they think should be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010 with a dedicated fan forum.

At the Fans Choice Forum you can argue for the candidacy of Bills Wall of Famer Steve Tasker or three-time finalist Andre Reed. Kent Hull, Cornelius Bennett, Darryl Talley, Fred Smerlas, Chris Spielman and former head coach Chuck Knox current join Reed and Tasker on the Hall’s preliminary 2010 induction list.

The Hall wants to know what fans are thinking and it’s time for fans to speak up and be heard by casting their ballot! Almost 10,000 fans have already cast their ballot in the first 24 hours! 

Andre Reed is currently ranked #9 while Tasker is at #17, so get behind your guy and vote!

Top 10 fan’s choice as of this morning:
1. Jerry Rice
2. Emmitt Smith
3. Cris Carter
4. Shannon Sharpe
5. Charles Haley
6. Ray Guy
7. Richard Dent
8. Tim Brown
9. Andre Reed
10. Phil Simms

Friendly wagers on when Bruce cries

Bruce Smith’s former teammates have a friendly wager going on when the HOF’er will break down at the podium.

Andre Reed has the 3 minute mark, Darryl Talley has 2 and a half minutes.

“Blubbering counts,” said Talley.
“It won’t take long,” said Reed. “Once he looks out at everyone he’ll start to lose it.”

Jim Kelly golf tourney underway

I’m out at the 23rd annual Jim Kelly golf tournament this morning. A lot of familiar faces out here.

Talked to Jim, Bruce, Andre, Tasker and Phil Hansen among others.

Among the current Bills taking part that I spotted were John Wendling, John McCargo, Derek Fine, Gibran Hamdan, Paul Posluszny, Jonathan Stupar, Trent Edwards and Matt Baker.

Among the coaches I saw were Tyke Tolbert, Turk Schonert and Alex Van Pelt.
We’ll have full coverage of the event later this afternoon in the media lounge on Buffalobills.com.

Reed looks to have HOF credentials

I suppose the one saving grace in Andre Reed’s omission from this year’s Hall of Fame induction class is that Cris Carter did not gain entry either. But if you match Reed’s numbers up to the 19 post-World War II wide receivers currently enshrined in Canton, he looks like a Hall of Famer to me.

Career receptions
1. Andre Reed   951
2. Ark Monk   940
3. Steve Largent  819
4. James Lofton  764
4. Charlie Joiner  750
5. Michael Irvin  750
6. Charley Taylor  649
7. Don Maynard  633
8. Raymond Berry  631
9. Fred Biletnikoff  589
10. Lance Alworth  542
11. John Stallworth  537
12. Bobby Mitchell  521
13. Tommy McDonald  495
14. Paul Warfield  427
15. Tom Fears   400
16. Elroy Hirsch  387
17. Dante Lavelli  386
18. Pete Pihos   373
19. Lynn Swann  336

Career receiving yardage
1. James Lofton  14,004
2. Andre Reed   13,198
3. Steve Largent  13,089
4. Art Monk   12,721
5. Charlie Joiner  12,146
6. Don Maynard  11,834
7. Lance Alworth  10,268
8. Raymond Berry  9,275
9. Charley Taylor  9,140
10. Fred Biletnikoff  8,974
11. John Stallworth  8,723
12. Paul Warfield  8,565
13. Tommy McDonald 8,410
14. Bobby Mitchell  7,954
15. Elroy Hirsch  7,029
16. Dante Lavelli  6,488
17. Pete Pihos   5,619
18. Lynn Swann  5,462
19. Tom Fears   5,397