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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly felt strong enough to huddle up and visit his former team Thursday, making a surprise appearance at the Buffalo Bills practice. Kelly made his way to the sideline as players warmed up for their final practice until training camp. Coach Doug Marrone gathered his team at midfield before introducing Kelly, who spoke to the team in a brief, two-minute address. Kelly thanked the team for its encouragement throughout his battle with jaw and sinus cancer and said he was touched by the outpouring of support from both the Bills and the Buffalo community. "One thing I noticed about Buffalo, New York, was how everybody comes together," Kelly said. "If somebodys struggling, theres always somebody there to pull them together whether its on the football field, whether its after a tough year or whether its when I was in the hospital, they always seem to rally." The former quarterback also said he was impressed with the amount of skill on Buffalos offence and urged the team to come together and end Buffalos 14-year post-season drought, the longest in the NFL. "From everybody Ive talked to, this is a very special team," Kelly said. "Lets get this thing back on the road, lets start playing games in January." Wearing jeans, a black jacket and a white baseball hat, Kelly then watched the start of practice in a chair by the 35-yard line. He chatted with Bills president Russ Brandon, long-time trainer Bud Carpenter and Hall of Fame teammate Thurman Thomas. Kellys appearance was unexpected, but certainly welcome in the eyes of Bills coaches and players. "It means a lot for him to come out and support us in the state that hes in," Bills centre Eric Wood said. "That was a special moment. You talk to Jim all the time. Hes been around over the years and Ive become pretty close to him. But for him to come out and address the team in the state hes in was pretty powerful." Kelly left one hour into the practice session after receiving hugs from Brandon and Thomas. "Obviously, it was very emotional," Brandon told The Associated Press. "Jim means everything to this team, this community, his fans all over the world. "To see him out here today was really a great way to cap off a really good minicamp and all the work these guys have put in and see one of the greatest players of all time coming out here and being a part of it. Its really special." Kelly has spent the past 10 days recovering at home after spending much of the spring receiving radiation and chemotherapy treatments for sinus cancer. "Were with him, were fighting through this just like hes been there with us trying to fight through what were going through," Marrone said. "We support him and it was great for him to get out there and be among the team." Wholesale Air Max 97 Outlet . 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Yoenis Cespedes proved he can play through a hurting right heel, giving Scott Kazmir and the As a spark with a pair of RBIs that helped spoil the Minnesota Twins home opener with an 8-3 victory on Monday.PITTSBURGH – Its fitting Marcus Stroman is taking Brandon Morrows place on the Blue Jays 40-man roster. A top pitching prospect, one who the ball club is pinning some of its future hopes, takes the spot of a veteran who once was viewed as a future ace but who, to this point, hasnt realized his potential and may never. Stroman threw his first major league pitch on Sunday, facing four Pirates hitters in the eighth inning of a 7-2 win less than 48 hours after Morrow may have thrown his last pitch for Toronto. That is if Morrow requires season-ending surgery on a torn tendon sheath at the base of his right index finger. Stromans just beginning. Morrow is in the final guaranteed year of his contract and if, for a second consecutive year, his season has ended shortly after it started, its hard to believe the cash-conscious Blue Jays would pick up the $10-million club option it holds on Morrow for 2015. The 23-year-old Stroman, whos started at the Double-A and Triple-A levels dating back to last season, will begin his big league career in the bullpen. Its an area in which Toronto needs help. Since the second game of an April 17 doubleheader in Minnesota, Blue Jays relievers have combined to allow 40 earned runs on 55 hits and 33 walks in 48 1/3 innings pitched. The bullpen has blown saves in six of the last 15 games. It was a strange scene for Stroman. He arrived at the PNC Park and almost immediately was whisked into manager John Gibbons office, where the skipper had called a meeting with his struggling relief corps. The rookie was saying all the right things."I honestly think we have one of the best bullpens in baseball between guys like Sergio (Santos), Casey (Janssen), (Brett) Cecil, everyone thats in the pen dominates," said Stroman. "Its just a rough patch theyre going through but I have no doubt in my mind that theyll get through it and get back to where they were last year."Stroman is coming off his most dominant start of his professional career. On Tuesday in Buffalo, pitchiing against Louisville, he struck out 10 Bats hitters and didnt allow a hit over six innings.dddddddddddd During one stretch, Stroman retired 16-straight. In five starts for the Bisons, Stroman has two wins, a 1.69 ERA, a 1.088 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings. The WHIP is even more impressive when you consider Stroman has allowed almost a hit per inning. Hes walked only six, a welcome walks per nine inning percentage for a staff whose 124 bases on balls is second most in the majors. "Fastball command has definitely been a lot better; Ive been keeping the ball down in the zone much better," said Stroman. "The development of my change has been huge and I just feel more comfortable, more settled in. That was my first big-league spring, I feel like I got ahead of myself sometimes, but I feel real comfortable, I feel like Im ready to go out there and pitch well." Stroman found out about his big league call up in an unusual way. The Bisons played an afternoon game on Saturday, which gave Stroman an opportunity to venture with his girlfriend to Niagara Falls for the evening. He thinks he missed a call from Blue Jays farm director Charlie Wilson and when he did check his phone, the first message he picked up was a congratulatory one from his mother. "Shes been saying for a little bit, Oh, Ive got a feeling," said Stroman. "Im like, Mom, relax." Stroman didnt sleep on Saturday night, he was excited, and he was out of bed by five oclock on Sunday morning to meet the car service driving him from Buffalo to Pittsburgh. "No sleep," he said. "But I feel wide awake." Stromans addition to the starting rotation seems like an eventuality but hes not going to dwell on his role. "Im just happy to be here," said Stroman. "Ive had experience in the bullpen, Im not worried about it, I feel like I can come in, thats something Ive done before in the past and thats something Im comfortable with, so its not like its completely new." ' ' '