Bills Training Camp: Peter King Talks Up Brad Smith, Donald Jones

by Brian Galliford on Aug 8, 2011 9:01 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills Training Camp

Peter King (Sports Illustrated) spent his Sunday in Pittsford taking in Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher. He came away with several observations - most of them chronicled in this morning's MMQB - and also believes the Bills will be better than their 4-12 record from a year ago.

Of particular interest to me was King's thoughts on quarterback Brad Smith and receiver Donald Jones. King seems bullish about both players in Chan Gailey's offense.

King lays out the reasons Smith left the New York Jets to sign with Buffalo, then talks about how the Bills will use Smith more than the Jets used him. Gailey all but confirmed this to King: "I don't know if he'll touch the ball four times in a game or 14," Gailey told King. "All I know is he's going to get it a bunch."

King's praise for Jones was slightly more effusive - to the point that Jones is now suddenly a fantasy darling in King's eyes.

King makes sure to note that he's not as up to speed on Jones as many of us may be, but seemed impressed by the fact that Jones snuck into five-receiver sets. He is also impressed by his physicality, and because he's so high on the Bills' spread offense, he even writes that Jones could be the team's second-most productive receiver.

"The Bills are going to throw it a lot," writes King. "Jones could be the second-most productive receiver to Stevie Johnson, with apologies to Lee Evans. Don't worry if you haven't heard of him. No one in your (fantasy) league has, either."

I'm not sure that Jones will have enough priority in the pecking order for touches to reach King's lofty expectations, but it's noteworthy praise all the same. I, however, am not expecting to see an awful lot of Jones in five-receiver sets, as it's more likely that Gailey will sneak Smith or a second running back (whether Fred Jackson or C.J. Spiller) onto the field in lieu of a fifth receiver.

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Peter King always writes an excellent article and it’s a bit of a thrill whenever you actually see Buffalo mentioned in his work.. This morning had to be something of a record.

by ausbillsfan on Aug 8, 2011 9:21 AM EDT reply actions

From his article...there was this gem

Factoid of the Week That May Interest Only Me

Buffalo defensive tackle Kyle Williams, a wide, 295-pound man with thick legs, shot a 66 at the University Club in Baton Rouge two summers ago. Seven birdies and an eagle.

Last year, Williams, who hadn’t played organized baseball since his junior year in high school, took batting practice at Rogers Centre before a Blue Jays game. He hit a home run an estimated 400 feet.

And before Marshawn Lynch left the team last year in trade with Seattle, he challenged Williams to a swimming race in the team’s rehab pool. Williams, a competitive swimmer growing up in Louisiana, beat him easily.

On Sunday, I asked him his golf handicap. "Zero,’’ he said.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/08/08/tour/index.html#ixzz1URY2gp6m

by Mindbender14 on Aug 8, 2011 9:22 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I love Meatball, dude is just an ATHLETE is the broadest sense of the term, wish he would lose a little weight and go out

for the Decathlon when his playing days are done, dude is just so skilled at a variety of things and has the ability to pick things up quickly, he could help out the USTA!

abayarde- "All off the pain will vanish The Whagonblaster will return and with a new MOTOR and attitude even BIGGER AND stronger THE EYE of the Tiger , will knock our enemies to the next Galaxy , WE the BUffalo Nation DO not know defeat , We do not know Surrender , We only know that if we fall we get up stronger , faster, better WE have the Technology to BUILD IT"

by WABillsfan on Aug 8, 2011 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

to reach King’s lofty expectations

Well done.

They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier.

by cjf4 on Aug 8, 2011 9:28 AM EDT reply actions

If you’re in a 12 team fantasy league, and you take 5 WRs that’s 60 WRs league wide. 60 WRs divided by 32 NFL teams is slightly less than 2 WRs per team.

And Peter King thinks Donald Jones, the Bills’ 5th WR, is going to crack that top 60?

I guess the notable thing is that Jones stuck out, either by his performance and/or how he was talked up, but the fantasy advice should be ignored.

More interestingly, it sounds like Gailey will really get Smith involved, although with the money they’re paying him you would think that’s obvious.

If nothing else the Bills offense should be exciting this year.

by Pistol on Aug 8, 2011 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

King does this every year, he pretends to be hip by giving fantasy recommendations when he clearly has no idea how fantasy football works (fantasy baseball… that’s another story).

They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier.

by cjf4 on Aug 8, 2011 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

when Parrish went down last year

I picked up Jones off the waiver wire for the next week thinking he would gobble up all the catches Roscoe had been taking in the previous few weeks. He got 0 points and went back to the waiver wire for evermore. If King wants him he can have him. Mind you if Jones does breakout I won’t be complaining!

by Billsdownunder on Aug 8, 2011 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I actually found this interesting:

One more thing about the Eagles’ cap. It’s not the league’s number of $120.38 million per team. It is actually $125.58 million. That includes $2.2-million in what the league calls "reallocation credits’’ from the last capped year, 2009, when the Eagles didn’t spend to the cap…

So does this mean that the Bills have even more money to spend on players than was previously understood?

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

by TheAfghanTwilight on Aug 8, 2011 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

Possibly, we sat on a lot of cash, though that money the eagles got may be ILTBE (Incentives Left to be Earned) that rolled over

which would make sense.

by WABillsfan on Aug 8, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I love Donald Jones as a blocker and he showed some ability last year as a pass catcher late in the season but a fantasy sleeper? No way. 2nd on the Bills in production? No way. Once again I really like DJ and I think he could sneak up on you if he gets a chance, but there are too many guys in front of him.

by garcia76 on Aug 8, 2011 9:56 AM EDT reply actions

Nelson, not Jones

The WR who could make a lot of noise this season is named David Nelson, not Donald Jones. Jones will be a genuine contributor, but the guy who could sneak up and become the #2 receiver behind Stevie is Nelson (although I’m expected a good season for Lee Evans as well).

by Macktruck on Aug 8, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed, Nelson will get some looks in 3 man sets too, I would expect. The only way Donald Jones sneaks in there before Nelson or Parrish would be because of his blocking, the dude can block for sure.

by garcia76 on Aug 8, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions

and his size, BIG target

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Aug 8, 2011 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

“I love Donald Jones as a blocker and he showed some ability last year as a pass catcher late in the season but a fantasy sleeper? No way. 2nd on the Bills in production? No way. Once again I really like DJ and I think he could sneak up on you if he gets a chance, but there are too many guys in front of him.”

About two seasons ago, those same sentiments {"No way he’s a fantasy sleeper", “No way he’s second on the Bills in production”, “Too many guys in front of him”, etc.} were used to describe another Bills receiver: Steve Johnson.

"If You Ain't a Bill I Don't Give a Fxck Bout Ya!! Most Disrespected Team in NFL! I Always feel Disrespected! I'm All In!" -- Steve Johnson

by go_buff on Aug 8, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you arguing in favor or against this then? Because two seasons ago, Johnson was irrelevant fantasy-wise.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Aug 8, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Last one and than I'm done

in a small college town south of Rochester, N.Y.

I think this is the first time anyone’s ever described Pittsford as a ‘small college town.’ It’s not like college kids are wandering around East Ave bombed out of their tree at 1 am.

I think locals think a much more appropriate title would be ‘idyllic old-money village with almost intolerable smug levels.’

They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier.

by cjf4 on Aug 8, 2011 10:33 AM EDT reply actions

Wow, pot kettle black or something like that.

by greysquirrel on Aug 8, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Pittsford is really only known as a college town when the Bills set up camp. I will say that anyone who’s ever driven town Clover Street and then found Sandringham….wow, how the other half lives.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

by TheAfghanTwilight on Aug 8, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Or pulled onto Ambassador Drive, from East

It might be the most ridiculous street of that type I have ever been on

by Mr. h on Aug 8, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

and the inside of those houses is similarly out of control. I can only dream about having that kind of money to waste.

by Mr. h on Aug 8, 2011 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

More money in front doors than in the value of my entire house.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

by TheAfghanTwilight on Aug 8, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

“I think this is the first time anyone’s ever described Pittsford as a ‘small college town.’ It’s not like college kids are wandering around East Ave bombed out of their tree at 1 am.”

For that, go further east {’Cuse, Ithaca}

"If You Ain't a Bill I Don't Give a Fxck Bout Ya!! Most Disrespected Team in NFL! I Always feel Disrespected! I'm All In!" -- Steve Johnson

by go_buff on Aug 8, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Monroe Ave is where its at

I went to Fisher, and lived in the area for years, it certainly is not a college town. However, you go to Monroe Avenue just a couple miles down and that is where the partying takes place.

by legendmaker53 on Aug 8, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

especially this weekend

It was Park Ave Fest, the drunken started stumbling allover the neighborhood around noon.

by Mr. h on Aug 8, 2011 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Im actually in with King about being struck by Jones' potential in Gaileys offense

last year I thought Donald Jones was a guy who struck me as having the looks of a real difference maker whenever he got a chance. From what I saw last year, I thought Donald Jones looked every bit as exciting and productive as the much more popular David Nelson, if not more so.

He can block, he makes big catches, he runs after the catch, an he’s looked as reliable as they come.

The bandwagon will be full and fast and drunk and exciting - Undee

by poz on Aug 8, 2011 10:33 AM EDT reply actions

I kind of agree

I think Jones has just as much of a chance, and probably more, as Nelson does of making a bigger impact. Jones is capable of lining up in the slot or on the outside and has the strength and agility to beat defenders from either position. I think Nelson is mostly just a slot option….

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Aug 8, 2011 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Both have a combination of skills that can be used to create mismatches. Nelson’s height and soft hands are ideal for some routes, while Jones has the size and acceleration that let him line up in both positions.

I think it mainly comes down to Gailey’s plan for each, and Fitzy’s trust.

It's simple, but it aint easy. *2

by Undee on Aug 8, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Put potential wise, Nelson is at best going to be a great slot, possession guy, whilst I think Jones has the potential to be a #2 receiver (not necessarily in this offense but in the league).

by Xaviermw on Aug 8, 2011 11:56 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I don't really get the "Izod crowd" comment from King, about Pittsford.

It’s more than preppy. It’s a town loaded with money and built on tradition.

Also of note is how strange it seems to think of Peter King driving through North Chili. The man’s a celeb to the sporting world, yet here he was, driving through small-town upstate NY.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

by TheAfghanTwilight on Aug 8, 2011 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

That has to be the first time North Chili’s gotten any national run. As I spent pretty much the first 18 years of my life there, it was interesting to hear Peter King make an allusion to make a joke comparing it to a chili restaurant. Sounds about right.

They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier.

by cjf4 on Aug 8, 2011 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Hah, for sure. I grew up a “West-Sider” myself…now i’m an “East-Sider.” One of the strangerthings I seem to notice between both sides of the Genesse are that the west side has all of the carnivals.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

by TheAfghanTwilight on Aug 9, 2011 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Grew up in N Chili.......

The good old Westside….where did he mention it in the article…I must have missed it.

by fanick82 on Aug 9, 2011 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Awesome article.

Coach Steve Tucker
www.football-tutorials.com

by CoachSteveTucker on Aug 8, 2011 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

Who has been to camp?

Can anyone who has been watching the practices make any comment on Smith’s arm? I was surprised he throws well enough for Gailey to mention him as a similar player to Kordell Stewart… Is he pretty much on par with other athletic ex college QB’s who could throw hard but not extremely accurate? Like comparable to maybe a Marcus Vick type arm?

Let me know what you have observed.

by astrazz2 on Aug 8, 2011 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

I won;t be able to help there till the 16th, which is after our 1st preseason game, which actually might be more useful

after we see how our kids do in live fire for the 1st time.

by WABillsfan on Aug 8, 2011 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I was there Saturday night. Smith mostly ran with it in 11 on 11. He broke a big one up the middle. Looked OK throwing during drills.

"What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach, so you get what we had here last week which is the way he wants it. Well, he gets it. And I don't like it any more than you men." -Unnamed NFL CBA negotiator

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Aug 8, 2011 2:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

At least for once somebody in the national media gave our players some love and praised out training camp location.

That hasn’t happened in one article in many, many, many years.

Thanks Peter King.

"There is not a loser in this room." Marv Levy.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Aug 8, 2011 7:07 PM EDT reply actions

MeatBall's comments er: Mount Doom

I find Meatball’s comments regarding Mount Doom (at least that is what I am calling Dareus) very encouraging. Sounds like the guy is an adult wgho is here to do a job.

by muzza34 on Aug 8, 2011 8:00 PM EDT reply actions

It's one thing to look better than a 4-12 team.

But I would actually like to be better than a 4-12 team :)

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Aug 8, 2011 9:03 PM EDT reply actions

This

The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun

by mob16151 on Aug 9, 2011 5:16 AM EDT up reply actions