Signed
in 1969 as a free agent out of tiny Fisk University, Robert James rode
the pine until 1971 when perennial All-Pro, Butch Byrd was traded to the
Denver Broncos. He immediately established himself as a solid cornerback,
going man-to-man against the opposing teams number one receivers and snaring
4 interceptions that year. In 1972 James had no interceptions as opposing teams realized it wasn't a real good idea to throw the ball his way. That year James had an amazing zero touchdown passes thrown against him and was selected to the Pro Bowl, this in a season where the Bills only won 4 games!
In 1973 the Bills intercepted 10 passes with James intercepting none. Again opposing quarterbacks elected to ignore his side of the field when dropping back to pass. James was selected to the Pro Bowl once again.
In 1974 teams were well aware by now of Robert James reputation as being "The Best" cornerback in the NFL and shied away from him again. As teams challenged the middle of the Bills secondary, free safety Tony Greene intercepted 9 passes. Out of desperation, they began to challenge James again and he responded with 3 picks. He was an easy selection to his 3rd straight Pro Bowl.
On August 23, 1975 before a national TV audience in a pre season game against the L.A. Rams, Robert James played his last game as a Bill when he suffered a career ending knee injury after intercepting a Ron Jaworski pass.
Robert James only had 7 career interceptions, hardly hall of fame numbers, but it was the passes that weren't thrown his way that made him such a valuable player. In 1998, the name "Robert James" was added to the Bills wall of fame in Ralph Wilson Stadium, finally giving James the public recognition that his talents deserved. Had he not had his career prematurely ended, I believe he would have gone down as being considered one of the all-time greatest to ever play the position.