It seems like Marino or Elway get a little more kudos than their also=HOFer '83 counterpart.
What would be reasons for placing Jim above both instead?
Argument for Jim Kelly being the 'best' of the Class of '83
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74_75_78_79_
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JuggernautJ
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Re: Argument for Jim Kelly being the 'best' of the Class of '83
I had season tickets to the USFL's Oakland Invaders.
It was at an Invaders game that I saw one of the two best passes thrown that I ever saw "live."
Oakland wore UCLA colors and on this play the pass rush had surrounded the opposing QB.
It looked like a huddle and all I could see was sky blue and gold... the QB was engulfed by the rush.
I was already applauding the sack when out of this mass of humanity came the football on a beeline which hit the receiver, who was a good distance downfield, right in the hands.
It was amazing... I couldn't even see the quarterback, just a half dozen blue jerseys and "zoom" this pass just rocketed out of the pile.
Of course, the Invaders opponents that day were the Houston Gamblers and the pass was thrown by Jim Kelly.
I don't think Jim Kelly was the best QB in the 1983 class.... Marino was a better passer and Elway has the rings... but I will never forget that throw.
(And, one thing Kelly does have in his favor is that he called his own plays in the "K-Gun" offense. Even by 1983 that was a rarity in the NFL.)
It was at an Invaders game that I saw one of the two best passes thrown that I ever saw "live."
Oakland wore UCLA colors and on this play the pass rush had surrounded the opposing QB.
It looked like a huddle and all I could see was sky blue and gold... the QB was engulfed by the rush.
I was already applauding the sack when out of this mass of humanity came the football on a beeline which hit the receiver, who was a good distance downfield, right in the hands.
It was amazing... I couldn't even see the quarterback, just a half dozen blue jerseys and "zoom" this pass just rocketed out of the pile.
Of course, the Invaders opponents that day were the Houston Gamblers and the pass was thrown by Jim Kelly.
I don't think Jim Kelly was the best QB in the 1983 class.... Marino was a better passer and Elway has the rings... but I will never forget that throw.
(And, one thing Kelly does have in his favor is that he called his own plays in the "K-Gun" offense. Even by 1983 that was a rarity in the NFL.)
Re: Argument for Jim Kelly being the 'best' of the Class of '83
I always assumed K-Gun was named after Kelly...was actually named after Keith McKeller's nickname (Killer)