By Budd Bailey, Buffalo Sports Page Columnist
Quinn Early – Signed by the Bills in 1996
The Bills had a problem at wide receiver going into the 1996 season. They thought they might be short-handed at the position. Andre Reed was coming off a season in which he had injury issues, and Bill Brooks was about to depart for Washington. Another quality target for quarterback Jim Kelly was needed.
As it turned out, Buffalo found two such players. Eric Moulds was the team’s first draft pick, and he was a keeper. In addition, Quinn Early was available on the free agent market. He agreed to a four-year, $8.8 million contract.
Early had started his career in San Diego but found a home for a while in New Orleans. He had 82 catches for the Saints in 1994, and 81 more in 1995. The Bills scooped him up and he had two good seasons in Buffalo (50 and 60 receptions respectively). But Early’s production dropped off in 1998 (19 catches), and he was dropped from the roster in an effort to save money with the salary cap. The wide receiver spent the last season of his career with the Jets in 1999.
Here’s one of Quinn’s most memorable plays:
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