Lost
amid all the hoopla of drafting quarterback Jim Kelly and tight end Tony
Hunter in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft was the fact that the Buffalo
Bills selected All-American linebacker Darryl Talley from the University
of West Virginia, in the second round. I admit I've always had a soft spot
for Talley, ever since the day I saw him play in a game on national television
for the Mountaineers in a game against Dan Marino and the Pitt Panthers.
Talley was all over the field and giving Marino fits. The Bills were starting
to decline and as I was watching this college football game on a Saturday
afternoon I wondered to myself, "Why don't the Bills ever draft anyone
like Darryl Talley?" You can just imagine how elated I was when I found
out who we drafted in the second round in 1983, even though those around
me had no idea who Darryl Talley was. Over the years, people found out.
The Bills also knew who Darryl Talley was and signed him to his first pro contract, worth $1 million over four years. That first year, Talley didn't start but got to see some action and managed to get 39 tackles, 5 sacks and recovered a fumble. He impressed the coaches enough that before the 1984 season, the Bills waived starting outside linebacker Ervin Parker, clearing the way for Talley. The 1984 season was a disappointing one for the Bills as they finished, 2-14. Talley, in his first season as a Bills starter finished with 89 tackles, a team high 5 sacks and 1 forced fumble. During the 1985 season things went from bad to worse as the Bills replaced coach Kay Stevenson with defensive coordinator Hank Bullough. Talley was benched and sent to Bullough's ever increasingly crowded doghouse. Before the 1986 season, Bullough added insult to injury by telling the press that '86 would be a make it or break it year for Talley. In early November, Talley and the Bills would luck out when Hank was fired and replaced by Marv Levy.
Under Levy, Talley, like most Bills stars of this era, would blossom into an all pro talent, living up to his pre-draft potential. Talley became the Bills undisputed leader on defense. Perenial all pro defensive end Bruce Smith, Talley's closest friend on the team, often credited Talley with being the reason Smith was able to record so many sacks. "It's because of Darryl Talley, that I am able to go all out after the quarterback," Bruce would say, "I know he will always be back there, in position to back me up, if I am unable to make the play. Without Darryl Talley, I wouldn't be half as good a player as I am, with him on my team."
During the Bills four Super Bowl seasons Talley led the Bills in tackles every year but one, finishing second in 1991, just five tackles behind Shane Conlon. 1991 would be Talley's finest however, as he would record 4 sacks, force 4 fumbles, recover 2 fumbles and intercept a team high 5 passes. He was voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time, having gone in 1990 as a personal pick of AFC squad coach, Art Shell. After the 1994 season, the first that the Bills would miss the playoffs in 6 years, Darryl Talley was told he was no longer in the Bills future. He was a free agent and could sign with any team he wished. Talley would sign with the Atlanta Falcons and before he left Buffalo, he took out a full page ad in the Buffalo News expressing thanks to all of teamates, coaches and Bills fans. He said it was an honor and a prviledge to play for such a great franchise and for such a great town. He was the first Buffalo athlete to do so. In 1997, after his playing career was over, Darryl Talley was allowed to re-join the Bills in a ceremonial jesture, allowing him to retire as a Bill. It was a class act on the Bills' part to repay one of its all-time classiest players.