Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas, Pro Football Hall of Famers, along with Rome native Ken Irvin, a 10-year NFL veteran who played at Pepperell High and Memphis, and former Falcons punter Chris Mohr, worked the Gridiron Greats youth football camp this week at the University of West Georgia.
Mohr had some storm damage and returned home Thursday, but Kelly, Thomas and Irvin spoke with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about what they’ve been doing, the lockout, Chan Gailey and Bills running back C.J. Spiller.
Q: What are you doing in your post-NFL career?
Kelly: I've been so busy with my son's foundation, Hunter's Hope. I also have a daughter that I coach basketball with. I have so many things that I do. I'm national spokesperson for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I'm about 100 times more busier now than when I was playing.
Thomas: I own an energy company in Buffalo. I've been back in Buffalo for about four years now. Just raising kids. One daughter is finishing college at the University of Florida.
Irvin: I spend a lot of time with my family and kids. I go back and coach at my high school. I spend a lot of time with real estate, golfing and riding horses. I live in Atlanta now. I was born and raised in Rome. I spend quite a bit of time giving back to the community there, too.
Q: What are you hearing on the lockout front from your league contacts?
Kelly: I just hope it gets settled, sooner rather than later. From what I hear and just being around the Buffalo area, listening to some of the coaches and different people, they are getting closer and closer. That's a big step because from what I heard three weeks ago, there was no movement. No one wanted to budge.
Thomas: There's been some really good progress. ... I just think they need to get it resolved as soon as possible because the longer it goes on, the more fans we are probably going to lose.
Irvin: I feel like communication and talking is the key. There are several issues that need to be ironed out, but the most important thing is that the talking is going on.
Q: What’s the future for the Buffalo Bills under coach Chan Gailey [formerly of Georgia Tech]?
Kelly: He's got them fired up. The draft this year, everybody, including myself, thought it was a very good draft. We needed defensive help, and we needed somebody to put pressure on the opposing quarterbacks.
Thomas: I liked Chan Gailey right off the bat. The first thing he said when he got there was, 'It's a tough game. It's a physical game. We need physical people. We are going to hit every day and if you don't like it, you're going to be out of here.'
Q: Can C.J. Spiller still blossom into a big-time running back?
Kelly: When he finally gets it all and it will come, I just look at him and I see Thurman Thomas out there. He's probably a little quicker than Thurman, but Thurman was so smart with how he went about setting people up. He was the all-purpose back that you want coming out of the backfield.
Thomas: I have [wide receiver] Steve Johnson and Spiller over to the house for dinner. I invite the younger guys over just to let them know that I'm there for them or whatever. Spiller will be just fine.
