Rochester, New York is now the most hyped hometown in America thanks to Pepsi and stud wide receiver Sammy Watkins, a lifelong Bills fan.

This past Sunday, over 7,500 fans celebrated Rochester’s win in the Pepsi contest with their own ultimate Super Bowl halftime experience headlined by singing/songwriting duo Nico & Vinz, and appearances by new head coach Rex Ryan and Watkins.

Watkins was the NFL Rookie of the Week three times during the 2014 season and was the NFL Rookie of the Month for October. He also set single-season franchise rookie records with 65 receptions and 982 receiving yards, while scoring six touchdowns.

Talk about the work you did with Pepsi.

I worked with Pepsi on the “Hyped for Halftime” contest, which was a contest to find the best fans in the NFL. Rochester, NY did a great job as fans and I’m happy to say we won. They did it! They’ve been leading us for 30 to 40 years, helping us on and off the field, so this is a great treat for them.

One word to describe Bills fans is “crazy.” When we’re hitting at all points on offense and defense, the stadium gets crazy. Sometimes, we have to quiet them down so we can get the play call in. Pepsi was looking for the best fans and this proves we’ve got the best fans. And, Rochester got their own Pepsi Halftime Show, just like the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show with Katy Perry.

I read you were a Buffalo Bills fan as a kid, so you can really connect with the people. What’s it like to be a fan and grow up and join the Bills?

Yes, I was. They were my favorite team to watch when I was younger. To be here playing for the Bills? Man, it’s great! It shows you how blessed I am. I’m in a great situation with the team I love. I try to go out every week and put my best on the field, fight to get the win at the end of the day. That’s what I think it’s all about at the end of the day as a member of the Bills: fighting with the guys next to you and coming out with a win.

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There hasn’t been an NFL player as versatile as Brad Smith since “Slash,” former Pittsburgh Steeler and 11-year NFL veteran Kordell Stewart. Like Stewart, Smith does it all, and even contributes more via special teams.

During his eight-year career, Smith has scored touchdowns via passing, rushing, receiving, on kick returns and a blocked punt. Plus, he is a beast on special teams, recording 60 special teams tackles in 75 games with the New York Jets.

Recently, I spoke with him about his first season in Buffalo, his preferred position, and his recent stint as an intern/backstage interviewer at Men’s Health magazine.

Bullz-Eye: How did the internship at Men’s Health come about?

Brad Smith: It was cool. Eddie my publicist hooked me up with the fashion and style department. I got to meet the fashion editor, get to know him, what he does and kind of how the whole staff works.

BE: Do you have any interest in fashion beyond football?

Brad Smith: I do have an appreciation for fashion, like most guys I prefer to look nice and dress debonair. However, I wanted to go behind the scenes understand the true essence behind fashion, the clothes, the designers, the concepts, the shoes and everything that encompasses it to what is seen during fashion week. Most importantly, I wanted to see how designers and companies put the shows together, how different media companies help shape the image of certain companies to what we see on stage for that brief period of time.

BE: Did you get any tips for your own personal wardrobe?

Brad Smith: Yeah man. Just watching and listening to all the people that eat, sleep and drink fashion and drink style, you pick up some great knowledge to take home. You got some people who are extreme and willing to take huge fashion risks because some people would think that their wearing crazy stuff. But on another extreme there are those who are fashion savvy pushing the boundaries and starting trends. Me personally, I prefer to be right in the middle.

BE: Since you’ve been in the league, we’ve seen an evolution where a QB who can run, like a Russell Wilson type, has become really valuable. Why do you think that’s happened now and what started the shift since you got into the league?

Brad Smith: I think there’s always been this type of player in the league, it’s not new- you’ve always had guys like Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young, Randall Cunningham and other guys like that who have had a lot of success. Players like that are hard to find and I think that’s a big part of it where colleges are going to the zone read- that’s not all that these guys can do. You can be multi-dimensional and people start saying, “hey they have to defend this, and then this.” Then, their running back gets more yards in the hole because they’re worried about this.  It’s all about scheme, man.

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