"This is probably the worst place you could be."

Strong points

Jonnu Smith criticizes Buffalo, citing his dislike of the city and its eponymous wings.
Smith’s career statistics and lack of longevity with one team make him an easy target for Bills fans.
Bills tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox could add more material to the scoreboard and further stoke the divisional rivalry.

In the 19th century, Buffalo, New York, was a major commercial center as the terminus of the Erie Canal. By 1950, over half a million people lived in Buffalo. It is a long-standing and important working-class city in the Rust Belt.

And here’s a much lesser-known fact about Buffalo: You can cross Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith off the list of potential residents.

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Jonnu Smith vs. City of Buffalo

If Smith had written “Not Like Us,” it would have been about Buffalo

Jonnu Smith lines up for Atlanta Falcons — Credit: Getty Images (no individual photographers listed)

In a recent appearance on The Dive Bar PodcastSmith was full of praise for the Queen City and its AFC East rivals.

“That’s why the fans hate it so much because they want to be here (in Miami),” Smith said. “Have you ever been to Buffalo? Oh, my God, man. I don’t know how those guys do it. I don’t know how they did it. I don’t know how they did it, man. To come from anywhere in the country, man, and go to Buffalo. That’s probably the worst place you can be.”

Insults are part of the game, so here are some digs Bills fans can throw at Smith. Now in Miami, it’s his fourth team in five years. He’s never had more than 50 receptions in a season, and in his seven-year career, he’s averaging two receptions for 23 yards per game.

Smith was never selected to the Pro Bowl and never came close to making an All-Pro team. No team ever offered him a second contract. Tennessee let his rookie contract expire. New England traded him to Atlanta two years into his four-year deal.

The Falcons preferred to release him before he reached the final year of that contract. He arrives in Miami with a two-year contract, but will he still be in Miami in 2024?

PFF ranked him as the 24th-best TE heading into the 2024 NFL season. This should be a big season for him, as he plays alongside Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Odell Beckham Jr. in the Dolphins’ dynamic offense.

Smith wasn’t done clowning around about his least favorite city:

“And Buffalo wings aren’t even good. I throw all kinds of jabs at Buffalo.”

Hopefully Bills tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox have listened and can surpass Smith and start a divisional rivalry between the AFC East tight ends. Knox has already established a solid career and Kincaid had a better rookie season in 2023 statistically than Smith ever did. Kincaid finished with 673 yards and two touchdowns on 73 receptions.

Smith needs a season like that if he wants his career to last longer.

Source: The Dive Bar Podcast

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference and all contract information courtesy of Spotrac unless otherwise noted.