The next time Brad Smith will see most of his former Jets teammates is Nov. 6 when the Jets travel to Buffalo to face the Bills.
You can bet every time Smith is back to receive a kickoff or lines up behind the center in the Wildcat, the Jets sideline will get a little tense. The Jets have seen what Smith can do with a football in his hands as the team’s multi-faceted threat the past five seasons.
Smith decided to leave the Jets yesterday after the team wanted him to wait around for Nnamdi Asomugha to sign before offering him a deal. Instead, he jumped to the Bills and agreed to a four-year, $15 million contract, according to a source.
Now, the Jets will have to try to stop the 27-year-old jack of all trades.
“It should be fun,” Smith said of facing the Jets. “You want to play against the best. You’ve got New England, Miami and the Jets [in the AFC East]. We’ve got our work cut out for us. My mindset is you go out and play the games to the best of your ability and believe you’re going to win them. That’s what we did at the Jets. That’s the same attitude I’m going to take to Buffalo — to win games at any cost.”
Smith said he was lured to the Bills by coach Chan Gailey.
“It was just talking to Coach Gailey, talking to him and his vision for the team, and his vision for me as a player,” Smith said. “It was very appealing. It was a great opportunity for my family and for myself. It’s just an exciting time for me.”
Smith had some big moments for the Jets. He has been the team’s best kick returner since Leon Washington was injured in 2009, and has run the team’s Wildcat offense. Last Thanksgiving, he compiled 200 all-purpose yards against the Bengals, scoring on a run and a kickoff return.
The Jets traded up to draft Jeremy Kerley in the fifth round out of TCU in April with an eye toward filling Smith’s role if they lost him in free agency. Kerley returned kicks at TCU and ran the Wildcat there.
Smith said Gailey sold him on how the Bills plan to use him.
“It will be being able to impact the offense and special teams in any way possible, whether it’s coming in at quarterback or wide receiver sets with three, four, five receivers, on special teams,” he said. “It was just a very clear thing and I’m excited about it.”