Andre Reed Hall of Fame Class of 2014 enshrinement ceremony: open thread

Tonight is the night, Buffalo Bills fans: Andre Reed, the greatest wide receiver in franchise history, will soon be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Marv Levy, Reed's Hall of Fame coach from the Bills' glory years, will introduce Reed. His speech will follow, taken in not just by the thousands of Bills fans that have taken Canton, Ohio by storm this weekend, but by several of Reed's former teammates - including his quarterback, Jim Kelly, who made the trip west despite ongoing recovery from cancer.

We'll use this thread to talk about tonight's Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony. It's sure to be an evening overflowing with nostalgia, pride, and more than a few tears. Before we start talking about Andre's big night, however, Reed himself has some words for us:

An open letter to #Bills fans from @Andre_Reed83 pic.twitter.com/3PI9OecZAZ

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) August 2, 2014

And then the fans started chanting "KELLY TOUGH" and the tears started flowing! LOVE OUR FANS!!!… http://t.co/dGb1Rm9qJU

— Jill Kelly (@HJKforever) August 2, 2014

Standing ovation for Jim Kelly. #PFHOF14 #KellyTough https://t.co/dJnhxSJsc0

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 2, 2014

"We're all in Buffalo's world. We're paying rent tonight," says @richeisen on @NFLnetwork.

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) August 2, 2014

All living Bills Hall of Famers -- except O.J. Simpson, of course -- in attendance tonight. Loud cheers for Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas

— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) August 2, 2014

Bills superfan is super ready for the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony! http://t.co/tcRFQXVVGP pic.twitter.com/FsN0uuuwHe

— SB Nation (@SBNation) August 2, 2014

Jim Kelly opens up about his battle with cancer http://t.co/hC3nfIo1A4

— NFL: AroundTheLeague (@NFL_ATL) August 2, 2014

@wgrz #Reedhof Andre Reed hugging his mom after being introduced. pic.twitter.com/bwRIBjX6DI

— Ben Read (@ben_read_wgrz) August 2, 2014

.@gggaughan saw 34 (!) different #Bills jersey #s in Canton today, from Hollis (!) to Dareus: http://t.co/lJrTx0Gprl pic.twitter.com/5pR1tzTWar

— Buffalo News Sports (@TBNSports) August 2, 2014

#KellyTough #PFHOF14 pic.twitter.com/edmHR1olGl

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 2, 2014

Current Bills players are inside the Hall of Fame right now.

— Sal Capaccio (@SalSports) August 2, 2014

There were no posthumous inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year. But at this rate, there still could be.

— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) August 3, 2014

Jim Kelly being interviewed prior to Andre Reed's enshrinement. pic.twitter.com/VZHp9Etgj9

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 3, 2014

Andre Reed HOF pic.twitter.com/wYvfOlSWvs

— James Lofton (@lofton80) August 3, 2014

Andre Reed introduced. https://t.co/qaqJzC5If1

— Sal Capaccio (@SalSports) August 3, 2014

Andre says, "Where would you rather be than right here, right now!?" Marv loves it.

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) August 3, 2014

Reed: "Patience is a virtue and I waited nine long years for this baby."

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) August 3, 2014

There's an empty seat next to @Andre_Reed83 mother for his late father #PFHOF14

— TWC News Buffalo (@TWCNewsBuffalo) August 3, 2014

Big Tree Inn reference. Now we're cooking.

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) August 3, 2014

If you get to the @BigTreeInn like Andre suggested, get the wings. Duh.

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) August 3, 2014

HOF Bills really liked Andre calling Thurman "Squatty."

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) August 3, 2014

Reed: "The toughest individual I ever met in my life is number 12."

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) August 3, 2014

"12 + 83 always = 6"

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) August 3, 2014

Andre Reed: "You had to deal with so many egos, I don't know how in the heck you did it." Marv Levy mouths: "Neither did I."

— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) August 3, 2014

After years of watching & rooting against #Bills & @Andre_Reed83, a well deserved congratulations to him tonight as he joins the #HOF14!

— Kevin Nogle (@thephinsider) August 3, 2014

"Oh yeah, and the Bills will stay in Buffalo, too!" Andre after thanking Ralph.

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) August 3, 2014

Mark Gaughan gets the shout-out! MT @TBNSports: Andre Reed's speech is now the longest of the night. 31 minutes and going.

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) August 3, 2014

NFL Films speaks. RT @chellegz: Canton will never be as good as it is tonight with all of these emotional, passionate Bills fans.

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) August 3, 2014

Here's the video from @WillBrinson of the pass from Kelly to Reed. 12+83=6 http://t.co/tbC2mmY5bm

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) August 3, 2014

Joe DeLamielleure Jim Kelly Marv Levy James Lofton **Andre Reed** Bruce Smith Billy Shaw O.J. Simpson Thurman Thomas Ralph Wilson, Jr.

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) August 3, 2014

Lynn Swann is taunting Andre Reed for what was believed to be a @ProFootballHOF record induction speech: "35 minutes, Andre! You're No. 1!"

— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) August 3, 2014

Let's Go Buffalo! The 90's Bills #Kellystrong pic.twitter.com/SHiqiTjqzv

— James Lofton (@lofton80) August 3, 2014

One photo. Eight #Bills @ProFootballHOF'ers. pic.twitter.com/MpIdrhQRoJ

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) August 3, 2014

Close-up of @Andre_Reed83's bust. #PFHOF14 pic.twitter.com/pVXpyh11Ux

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 3, 2014