Event Date: May 23rd, 1983
Event Description: Kelly Offer
Source: United Press International
Chicago Blitz General Manager Bruce Allen said Monday the USFL team has made a multi-year contract offer to rookie quarterback Jim Kelly.
Kelly, drafted in the first round by the NFL's Buffalo Bills and No. 14 by the Blitz, “was offered a sizeable contract that would include the final six games of this season,” Allen said.
The Blitz may need a quarterback to backup Greg Landry, who injured his right ankle at the very end of the fourth period of Sunday's 28-10 victory over New Jersey.
Team officials said they plan to make a move at quarterback as a result of Landry's injury. “We will have to do something about our quarterback depth,” Allen said Monday.
Besides his offer to Kelly, Allen said he has talked to several NFL quarterbacks “in hopes that we could land at least one.”
Allen said he told Kelly's agent, Greg Lustig, “we were looking for a long-term quarterback but at the same time one that could step in and possibly be a regular at some time this season.”
It also was revealed Kelly watched Tampa Bay's 44-7 victory over Oakland Saturday night as a guest of Bandits' owner John Bassett.
“We urged Kelly to go and see how the USFL games were being played and we wanted him to get a feel of what he could look forward to,” Allen said. “It is a case that Kelly must decide whether he wants to wait around for a long time at Buffalo or whether he wants to step in now and start playing even though he might not be a regular for a while.”
Allen said the team made “a considerable offer” to Kelly and the amount is very close to what Buffalo has offered.
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