BY NICK ST. DENIS
The wait wasn't fun, but looking back, it was probably worth it.
After eight straight seasons as a finalist, former Buffalo Bills receiver Andre Reed was finally elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as announced Saturday.
"What can I say? There are so many things, emotions right now," Reed said, while thanking the organization, his former teammates and the fans, via Buffalobills.com. ". . . I could go on and on, but next to my kids this is probably the highlight of my life and to do it all in Buffalo is really special."
And well-deserved it was.
Reed retired in 2000 with the third-most receptions (951) and fourth-most yards (13,198) in the league's history, hauling in 78 touchdowns in the process. His annual snubbing seemed to have taken its toll on Reed over the last few years, but it also likely made Saturday's news that much sweeter.
"He’s one of the greatest wide receivers ever to play the game," former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly said. "You look at his numbers they speak for themselves. You have to look at that.
"And when you look at some of the guys that are in (the Hall), if you put Lynn Swann and John Stallworth’s numbers together Andre beats them both combined. That’s enough to tell you how deserving Andre is."
Reed joins Kelly, Joe DeLamielleure, Marv Levy, James Lofton, Billy Shaw, O.J.
Simpson, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Ralph Wilson Jr. as the Bills' tenth inductee.
The 2014 class also includes Michael Strahan, Derrick Brooks, Walter Jones, Aeneas Williams, Claude Humphrey and Ray Guy.
Follow Nick @NickStDenis
Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily
