Ode To Billy Joe Hobert Has To Face The Music After Losing Battle For Starting Job
If Billy Joe Hobert doesn’t like exhibition games and he isn’t thrilled about training camp, he won’t be too happy about riding the bench.
The Buffalo Bills’ quarterback became a backup Wednesday after he was beaten out for the starting job by Todd Collins. Collins replaces Jim Kelly, who retired after starting for 11 years and helping the Bills to four Super Bowl appearances - all losses.
Competition between Collins and Hobert never materialized into the battle Buffalo had hoped for when they traded a third-round draft choice to the Oakland Raiders for Hobert during the preseason.
Bills coach Marv Levy opened training camp saying Collins was his quarterback, and Hobert did little to change the coach’s mind. Buffalo broke training camp Wednesday and headed for Rich Stadium.
“I feel I’m the starter. I’ve earned that right,” Collins said before the Bills left Fredonia State College for Orchard Park. “I feel good about my situation in knowing that I don’t have to look over my shoulder.”
Hobert has struggled almost since his first day with the Bills. He gained 20 pounds and approached 250 during minicamp in April before getting down to about 230 pounds for camp.
Hobert, who was 0-5 as a starter in four seasons with the Raiders, has had problems picking up the Bills’ new offense under coordinator Dan Henning.
His throws have been more wobbly than not, and he angered some teammates by throwing temper tantrums after bad throws during practice - which was often.
On Wednesday, he went out the back door of the Bills training facility without speaking to reporters.
After a poor second outing against Chicago last week, Hobert had only short answers while acknowledging he doesn’t like preseason games. He also has said he doesn’t like training camp.
When it was suggested after the Bears game that Hobert seemed unhappy about his performance, Hobert responded, “OK, next question.” When asked about what he’ll be looking for on videotape of the game, he said, “Myself.”
Collins will make his third straight start in the exhibition season on Friday against the Minnesota Vikings, giving him more time with the first-string offense than Hobert.
“Todd is our quarterback,” Bills coach Marv Levy said. “We want him to work with that first group quite a bit. If something in the process tells us that somebody else ought to be in there, then we’ll do it.”
Hobert is due to make $760,000 this season and $1.5 million in each of the next two seasons. Collins’ contract calls for him to earn $375,000 this season and $437,000 next year.
Hobert might have problems beating out Alex Van Pelt as the backup when Van Pelt returns from a separated shoulder.
Van Pelt is expected to be healed by the start of the regular season. He is popular with teammates and played well before sustaining the injury in the first exhibition game.