A practice day that was delayed for about an hour due to thunder and lightning that included a rain soaked field could not dampen the effort or spirit of the team.
Fred Jackson was the forgotten man in the backfield this offseason for the Bills, with the additions of Bryce Brown and Anthony Dixon, and it being a contract year for C.J. Spiller . But today, the 33-year old running back that has adapted to age gracefully got some love from the organization he’s always been with.
The team announced that Jackson signed a one-year contract extension, with his family with him at the press conference to announce as well. His wife Danielle tweeted her four kids and husband looking over the contract.
Perfect team to look over the new contract before Dad signs it. Congrats @Fred22Jackson #Bills pic.twitter.com/wZ5en5AFDp
— Danielle Jackson (@dani22jack) July 30, 2014
Despite his age, Jackson says he feels better then he has “in a long time”, crediting a “tremendous offseason” with the team’s strength and conditioning coaches. Jackson also has a “renewed sense of getting this thing turned around” has him “excited” for the upcoming season.
His head coach is certainly happy to keep him longer.
https://twitter.com/buffalobills/status/494590595839434752/photo/1
Jackson said he wants to play as long as possible, and would be “happy” with three or four more years. However, one of his kids said he wouldn’t mind playing longer.
Fred Jackson says he'd like to play 3-4 more years. His son walks up to podium, asks him to play 5 more years.
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) July 30, 2014
Jackson acknowledged today he’s always wanted to finish his career in Buffalo, and the extension gives him that opportunity.
Bradham Suspended
Nigel Bradham has had a tremendous camp, with Marrone calling him the most improved, not just as a football player, but also because of his “maturity”.
Bradham’s chance to make his mark this season took a bit of a dent, with a one-day suspension that the third-year linebacker thought was “kind of shocking”. The punishment stems from a marijuana possession charge last August, with the charges for the incident being dropped last September.
On September 7 against the Chicago Bears, the Bills will go down to their third option at weakside linebacker, with Stevenson Sylvester the current backup. That being said, Randell Johnson (SLB) and Preston Brown (MLB) could move from their backup spots to instead play at the weakside position, as the team has had linebackers practice at all three positions.
Depth and versatility has been an emphasis of the organization the past couple of seasons at every position. While last season it was quarterback and cornerback, this year appears to be a huge challenge for the linebacker core.
Robert Woods Now Making Noise
While Sammy Watkins has caught many balls and headlines, Woods has made plays in the last few practices as well, including one today caught by the Messenger Post’s Dan Goldman.
In case you missed it, here's my video of Robert Woods' one-handed touchdown reception from EJ Manuel https://t.co/LB8fPb22Jb #BillsMafia
— Dan Goldman (@MPN_DanGoldman) July 30, 2014
Woods enters his second season as a player who developed great chemistry with E.J. Manuel in his first season, but more playing time at the slot receiver position, along with the addition of Watkins, has forced him to get used to his new position. The USC product had a pair of one-handed grabs before today, and appears to have settled in as the No.2 option for Manuel behind the explosive rookie from Clemson.
Bills DB Has Incredible Backstory
Safety Jajuan Harley has gone from working at Walmart to an NFL training camp in a few months.
Harley, who went undrafted in 2013, played at Florida State with E.J. Manuel before transferring to Middle Tennessee State. Harley’s story was covered brilliantly by Yahoo Sports’ Eric Adelson:
Five years ago, Harley was a prized recruit, a four-star safety from Tallahassee who ran a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash and bench pressed 400 pounds. On Jan. 1 of this year, only a few miles from the Florida State campus where he was supposed to become a household name, Harley walked away from his $7.73 per hour salary at Walmart to train full time for one more chance at big-time football. He emailed every single NFL team, hoping for a response. Now, a few months later, he’s the longest of long shots at Buffalo Bills training camp.
He arrived here with 71 cents in his bank account.
“I’m real stingy about money,” Harley said. “I barely buy anything. I go to the cafeteria and I collect food.”
Part of the reason for the job and the stinginess is his dad, Jack, who has some respiratory issues and needs an oxygen tank. Harley has always wanted to support him and his mother, Cynthia, who works at a Florida State library. His two dreams, to play and to help others, have always been intertwined. As a high school sophomore, when his school was temporarily without a head coach, Harley led drills by himself.
“For everyone who wanted to work, he controlled everything,” said longtime friend Devin Graham, who played with Harley at Rickards High in Tallahassee. “He hosted conditioning after school, and weightlifting.”
Harley joins a group of undrafted safeties fighting for playoff time behind the team’s top four safeties (Aaron Williams, Da’Norris Searcy, Jonathan Meeks, and Duke Williams). He will have to beat out Kenny Ladler, Deon Broomfield, and Derek Brim to be a fifth safety, which would likely guarantee him a starting spot.
The former Florida State Seminole has already shown the willingness to continue to fight for his dream despite adversity, but the depth and talent at safety for Buffalo is a huge challenge. Still, Harley looks to be one of the more interesting stories at camp, and how it ends bears watching.
Follow ProPlayerInsiders (@PlayerInsiders) and Robin Lalisse (@RobinLalisse) on Twitter
