Point 4: How does a career football player, who also is an avid sportsman, reconcile his profession with his drive to hunt each fall?

Kelly: To be honest, that was the hardest thing for me, and that's a big reason why I'm not an NFL coach right now.

Jim Kelly is all smiles after harvesting his first bull elk.
Photo courtsey of ESPNOutdoors.

Point 5: How do mainstream sports fans react when they find out you're a hunter? Should "conservationist" fit into the mix when people talk about Jim Kelly?

Kelly: Each week, I do a local call-in radio show called "Under the Helmet" and, frankly, we talk about hunting as much as we do football. People know I'm a hunter and it's never been an issue. As far as being a conservationist, I take a lot of pride in allowing game animals to mature and reach their full potential. If I have a chance to take an animal that's not quite the trophy I'm looking for, I'm content to let it go. Someone else can take it, or maybe that five-point bull that I let walk away will be a big six-point bull next year.

Point 6: If you were going to assemble an elk-hunting team from NFL players, who would you draft?

Kelly: I'd put Brett Favre on there. In fact, he and I had an elk hunt planned and paid for last year before he decided to go back and play another year. We'll get it done as soon as he retires. Ben Roethlisberger tells me that he wants to go hunting. I just talked with Dan Marino the other day and he said that he'd like to try hunting. Other than that, I don't keep up with football players who hunt. I'm sure there are lots, but for me, hunting is more about being with my friends. It's all about my friends.