Event Date: August 5th, 1986
Event Description: Kelly May Opt Out
Source: UPI
Jim Kelly, star of the Houston Gamblers who was one of Buffalo's two first-round picks in the 1983 draft, was given permission to talk with the Bills after the Gamblers announced upcoming changes to ownership.
Houston minority owner Jerry Argovitz has said that he is open to the idea of Kelly pursuing an NFL deal. Kelly has a guaranteed contract for $800,000 next season, but has indicated he wants to play in the NFL.
The Bills are in need of a quarterback, coming off their second straight 2-14 season. They would like to have Kelly signed by their Sept. 7 season-opener against the New York Jets.
Lustig met with Kelly Monday night and said the quarterback would like to meet Bills Coach Hank Bullough and his offensive assistants. The meeting will likely occur this weekend when Buffalo plays the Houston Oilers in the Astrodome Saturday night.
“It's a foregone conclusion that Jim Kelly will be the highest paid player in football. And with good reason,” Lustig said Monday night from his Akron, Ohio, office.
“Look at what he's going to mean to this franchise in terms of attendance and wins. We're aware of Buffalo's attendance problems.”
Lustig, who represents Bills running back Greg Bell, said contract negotiations could stall.
“Unless somebody is going to open up the vault and let me in, I really don't think the signing is going to happen quickly,” he said. “In my 10 years of negotiating with the Bills, I've never had an easy time of it.”
“Jim wants to play in the NFL. He has had nothing but success in Houston. He loves the city and the team, but at the same time he feels like he has already accomplished so much in the USFL. He just wants to find a situation where he'll have a chance to be a winner. We'll see how serious Buffalo is this week.”
Story-(UPI Modified)
No comments:
Post a Comment