English philosopher George More once said, “A man travels the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it”.  I’m pretty sure Mr. Moore was not a fan of the Buffalo Bills, but there is no quote that more encapsulates the career of Bills receiver Justin Jenkins. 

You haven’t seen him on sports center, and your son doesn’t have his football card, but Justin’s drive, determination, and love of the game is something that any true football fan has to stand up and applaud. It’s a drive that’s taken him from rural Mississippi, to Philadelphia, to Hamburg, Germany, and finally here to Buffalo. 

The journey started as it starts for so many elite ball players, a scholarship to a division one school.  At Mississippi State, Justin would excel on the football field as well as in the classroom, catching 62 balls for 880 yards and 9 TDs his senior year. He did all of this this while carrying a 3.5 GPA. The future looked bright. Going into the 2004 draft, SI.com said he “has a strong, compact build and uses his frame to shield opponents”. “If put in the proper situation, he should develop into a fine NFL receiver.”  They had him projected as a mid fourth round pick, but that wasn’t the case.  Draft day came and went, and his name was never called.  He was signed as an un –drafted free agent by the Eagles, and made their practice squad, spending the 2004 season working to impress the eagles coaching staff. 

 The 2005 season looked bright for Jenkins, as many Philadelphia outlets had him making the roster as the final receiver. But things don’t always go as you plan.  A torn ACL on the opening kickoff of a pre season game put Justin on the IR for all of 2005, keeping him away from the game he so desperately wanted in on.  2006 held the same fate, as another injury kept him off of the field at camp, and eventually off of the Eagles’ roster. 

He had another chance… but it was all the way in Hamburg, Germany.                                                                                                                                                                                           

“It was definitely a big change,” said Justin.  “Of course, it’s not the NFL, but it humbles you.  It puts things in perspective.” Justin kept on going. He signed on to play with the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europe, and turned some heads in the process. He set a single game record for that season against the Frankfurt Galaxy with seven catches for 136 yards, all the while paying his dues, away from the comforts of home and NFL glory. “ If football is what you want in your life, it’s definitely worth it. I was able to play in the last WORLD BOWL and win a ring. It was great”.

All of that hard work paid off, and several NFL teams were contacting Justin about his services. “I’ve always been confident in my abilities, so I felt with the season I was having, I would get a little interest from some teams. There were about 8 or 9 teams that called.” 

As it turns out, Buffalo wasn’t first on the list.

 “ It was a blessing that I ended up in Buffalo. I was actually in another NFL city about to sign and changed my mind. (I) Contacted Buffalo and told them I would like to come up after previously telling everyone no. Buffalo seemed like a good situation. They were, at the time, looking for a 6th receiver. With 4 set in stone, I felt like I had a good shot.”

That he did. After being released in training camp, Justin was once again signed to the practice squad.  But he didn’t stay there long, having been called up to the active roster prior to the Ravens game. He played well over the next few weeks, even making a crucial play during a tight game, saving a punt from going into the end zone in Miami that led to a Cleo Lemon safety, and an eventual Bills win.  

Special teams are where he made his mark last season, and after the exit of key Bills special teamers, including Josh Stamer, Mario Haggan, and Sam Aiken, he’ll have to make an even bigger impact this season. “Those guys were the core of this unit. Personally, I, along with George Wilson, John Wendling & everyone else have to fill that void. A “BIG” void I might add. I feel that if I keep doing what I’m doing, the playing time will be there.”

It’s hard to get a guy like this discouraged, even after the Bills drafted two wide receivers in this year’s draft. “I didn’t mind at all. Everyone knew that we needed a tall receiver (Hardy). Other than that, I have to stay focused on what I have to do. In this business, worrying about anything else could get you beat.”

It’s talk like that that helps you to realize how a man can follow a dream for this long, and have success.  In a world where you all you ever read about are spoiled athletes that are constantly arrested, holding out for bigger salaries, and demanding trades, it’s refreshing to hear about the guys who are doing it right, and making it work.  As for trading the bright lights of Hamburg, Germany for sleepy old Buffalo, NY?  “LOL, Buffalo is Nothing like Hamburg. Hamburg was actually a party city. The people over there were all about the party. As for Buffalo, it’s more laid back. Just the way I like it!”

We like you here too buddy.  Here’s to Justin sticking around.

- Pat Duffy