"Saying he hopes to become "a big part of the ownership group" in the future, Hall of Fame Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly wants to sit down with team owner Ralph Wilson and COO Russ Brandon after this weekend to offer his full support in helping return the Bills to prominence while keeping the franchise in Buffalo.

The strongest suggestion by the passionate, strong-armed quarterback who led the Bills to four straight Super Bowls from 1990-1993? Start over under center.

Buffalo has shuffled nine starters in and out of the huddle since Kelly retired after the 1996 season.

Kelly said the franchise needs to move on from the benched Trent Edwards, a 2007 third-round pick. Kelly suggested the Bills look hard at positioning themselves to draft University of Florida signal caller Tim Tebow, a two-time BCS national champion whose inspired, all-out play is reminiscent of a left-handed version of Kelly.

"I like Trent personally," Kelly told USA TODAY. "He works hard. But he's had three years. It's time to find somebody who is the future of the Buffalo Bills.

"If I'm the owner, that's what I'm thinking.

"Whether it's Tim Tebow, whether they'll have a shot at him when draft time comes ... you have to look at the top three quarterbacks in the draft, really study them. And you look for a guy with good character, good leadership ability and good arm strength — and a guy who doesn't come from California.

Kelly said the Bills' experience with quarterbacks from the Golden State haven't panned out.

The list includes Rob Johnson, who went 4-7 from 1998-2001, J.P. Losman, the 22nd overall pick in 2004, and Edwards, who was benched last week in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick by interim head coach Perry Fewell following the firing of Dick Jauron.

Kelly is heart-and-soul vested in the Bills, still calls western New York home and it pains him to acknowledge that the Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999.

"You have to start with the head coach and you have to start with finding a good signal caller," he said. "You look at Indianapolis. You look at Pittsburgh. You look at New England. You look at what Drew Brees is doing in New Orleans. San Diego. All the teams that are doing well, they all have quarterbacks."