These days, Jonathan Linton wasn’t always enamored with football as he is with his former pro team.

The former Catasauqua, North Carolina, and Buffalo Bills standout recalled how his career began as an afterthought even though older brothers Dunston and David played the sport.

“I really started playing football when all of my friends were going to practice,” said Linton. “I got tired of being alone and doing nothing.

“I started in eighth grade and had trouble making the weight. When I got to high school, I was an offensive guard and defensive lineman.”

Linton eventually made the shift to running back and linebacker and began a storybook career in the early 1990s that saw him gain more than 4,000 career yards and develop into an all-state player with the Rough Riders.

“The coaches at Catty groomed and taught me the right way to play,” he added. “I started as a second-string fullback and then was moved to tailback. (Former head coach) Ed Csencsits gave me the opportunity, and I will always feel honored to have him as a coach.”

Linton went on to play at the University of North Carolina, where he rushed for more than 1,000 yards in his senior season and scored a career-high 14 touchdowns as a converted fullback.

He was drafted in the fifth round of the 1998 draft by Buffalo, and he spent three seasons with the Bills.

Despite the Bills’ recent loss in the AFC Championship, Linton is relishing his former team’s success.

“Their fan base is getting bigger and bigger,” noted Linton. “It’s exciting to see what they did, and how they progressed.

“I have been in a chat group with my former teammates, and it was great to see them be in the hunt. The people in Buffalo deserve a championship. They are the greatest and most supportive fans in the world.”

Linton is confident his team can be a perennial contender for the Super Bowl, and he envisions plenty of positives in their future.

He won’t forget being part of the “Music City Miracle” in which the Bills lost to the Tennessee Titans in the final 16 seconds on a 75-yard pass in a January 2000 AFC Wild Card playoff game. Linton was the team’s leading rusher in 1999 with 695 yards.

“We were that close from the championship game,” stated Linton. “It was horrible and a heartbreak.

“It was the most memorable moment of my pro career. It still bothers me to this day.”

Linton found solace at both North Carolina and Buffalo, as both places resembled the days of his youth. Former Phillipsburg star Tim Brewster was a member of the North Carolina coaching staff.

“Buffalo was the perfect fit for me,” he said. “It was a hardworking, blue-collar town just like Catty.

“North Carolina also was the best fit. They were an up-and coming team. Coach (Mack) Brown was a lunch-pail type of coach that I was used to. I talked to Tim Brewster and he knew what kind of player I was, and how it was a good spot for me.

“My parents knew it would be the right choice for me, and their coaches made sure they were happy with me going there.”

Linton works for the state department in Washington, and he has spent the majority of his career abroad. He recently returned from an eight-year stay, spending three years in Jamaica.

He will be back in the states for an extended period and plans to keep a closer eye on all of his former teams. His Roughie days still play a prominent role in his memory.

“Growing up in Catty, sports were important,” stressed Linton. “I remember the huge crowds at the game, and how the whole town supported us. Everyone should experience something like that.

“It was a great high school experience for me and I’ll never forget it.”

The Roughies’ faithful haven’t forgotten him.