Kelly Passes First Test

The Buffalo Bills received a pleasant surprise minutes into their first practice Saturday in Fredonia, N.Y., when Jim Kelly ditched his straw golf hat and threw on his helmet.

The 35-year-old quarterback, recovering from off-season knee surgery, battled 95-degree heat with the rest of the team only a day after coach Marv Levy said Kelly most likely would miss several workouts.

Kelly, still trying to rebuild more strength in his knee by working out with weights and on a treadmill, also appeared much leaner than in previous years.

The Bills do not have an experienced backup since Frank Reich left for the Carolina Panthers. Kelly’s prospective backups include Alex Van Pelt and Rick Strom - neither of whom took a snap last season - and rookie Todd Collins, a second-round draft choice from Michigan, who most likely will be the No. 2 quarterback.

Whatever Steinberg says

For the third consecutive year, Leigh Steinberg represents the top pick in the NFL draft and for the third consecutive year he is seeking an early out for his client.

Two years ago, it was quarterback Drew Bledsoe with the New England Patriots. Last year, it was defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson with the Cincinnati Bengals. This year, it’s running back Ki-Jana Carter, also with the Bengals.

Steinberg has become the champion of voidable years, when the final years of a contract are eliminated when a player hits certain performance goals.

Bledsoe signed a six-year, $14.49 million deal with the Patriots. But the final two years of that contract would be voided when he started 40 games. With 28 starts in his first two seasons, Bledsoe likely will void those years this season.

Now Steinberg wants a deal for Carter with disposable years. But the Bengals aren’t as willing to give Carter an early out as they were Wilkinson. There’s a difference between a defensive tackle and a running back on the open market.

The Bengals want to sign Carter to a seven-year deal and have placed a record $6.1 million signing bonus on the table as an inducement. If Steinberg structured a six-year deal with a two-year void-out, Carter would become a restricted free agent in 1999. That would allow Cincinnati to match any offer - but 1999 is an uncapped year.

‘Irongirth’ Heyward weighs in

Fullback Craig “Ironhead” Heyward weighed 280 when he became a first-round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1988. He was up to 300 in his final season with the Saints in 1992, then ballooned to 328 in his one season with the Chicago Bears in 1993.

Heyward signed with Atlanta in 1994 and finished the season in the 280s. The Falcons sent him to the Duke University weight-training program this off-season, and he’s down to 260. If he gets down to 250 by Friday’s training camp weigh-in, he will receive a $100,000 bonus.

Heyward also has weekly weigh-ins that could earn him another $160,000 this season. Each game week that he weighs 250 or less at a Thursday weigh-in, he’ll receive a $10,000 bonus.

The end zone

Frank Abe, spokesman for county executive Gary Locke, said the Seahawks were given a range of figures from about $70 million to $150 million that might be available from a tax-increase measure proposed for this fall’s ballot. The actual amount would depend on whether the bonds are declared tax-exempt, and the interest rate they carry, he said. The original figure was $150 million… . The Las Vegas oddsmakers have installed Jacksonville as a 3-point favorite for the Hall of Fame Game against Carolina on July 29. It’s the inaugural game for both clubs. … Defensive end Mike Mamula, the Philadelphia Eagles’ firstround draft pick and the seventh choice overall, has agreed to a four-year, $6 million contract.