COMMENTARY
Two firsts give Jenkins special feeling
Updated: 09/05/08 6:32 AM
Jason Peters remains camped on the outskirts and Angelo Crowell just had his knee scoped and pessimism’s wedging its way into the picture as Sunday’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks fast approaches. Doubtless Buffalo Bills fans could use a pick-me-up, the kind of feel-good story guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Justin Jenkins is your guy.
Last Wednesday, Jenkins had just finished dining out with a few teammates before the Bills checked into the team hotel for the next day’s preseason finale against the Detroit Lions. His cell phone rang. It was his mother. The time had come. His wife Anita was going into labor back home near Jackson, Miss. Their first child was itching to make his world debut.
“My mom was like, ‘They’re going to let you be on the phone. You can talk to her if you want to and count along with her and help her out through the process,’ ” Jenkins said Thursday. “I did the numbers count for her to push, things like that. That was very special to me. I couldn’t be there but I could hear my wife’s voice and I was able to hear the baby cry. And when I did that I had an emotional moment. I couldn’t be there but God made a way for me to just be a part of it.”
With the Bills scheduled off for two days, Jenkins flew to Mississippi last Friday morning to get his first look at 7- pound, 6-ounce Justin Armand Jenkins II. Head coach Dick Jauron told Jenkins he was excused from Sunday’s practice as well. Spend the time with the family. Savor the experience.
“You see newborns all the time, but when you see a baby that’s actually your flesh and blood, looks like you, it’s a feeling I’ve never felt,” Jenkins said. “It was emotional. I was at a loss for words.”
Jenkins left Buffalo unsure where his career stood, although he might have had a pretty good idea when Jauron excused him from the next workout. Still, one’s never really certain how the numbers will play out. The team would make its final roster cuts Saturday. The Bills had selected fellow wideouts James Hardy and Steve Johnson in the April draft. Roster space was at a premium.
Jenkins had joined the Bills practice squad last year after two seasons on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad. He was activated for the final 11 games, never catching a pass but attracting notice for his play on special teams. He distinguished himself in punt and kickoff coverage again this preseason. Would that be enough? What if he was out of a job just days after the baby was born?
“It went through my head all the time, from the time she got pregnant,” Jenkins said.
As you probably know, Jenkins survived. The undrafted receiver who tied former Bills wideout Eric Moulds for career touchdown receptions at Mississippi State will finally, at 27, experience all the splendor of opening day in the NFL.
“This is my first time making the 53- man roster and all the hard work has kind of paid off,” he said. “I was brought up from the practice squad last year, but I wasn’t on the opening day roster. So this is very special. I wish my family was here, my wife and son, but the best thing for them right now is to be down there near a doctor and with family so they can help my wife out. “
He monitors Justin II’s progress in the pictures Anita e-mails daily. My, how the boy’s growing.
“We’re actually in the process of getting Web cams where we can see each other,” he said. “It’s exciting, man. His face is getting a little fatter it seems like every day.”
