← Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills podcast
Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills podcast
Bills camp starts: Josh Allen on dorms, a Tre White injury update & Jordan Poyer's contract.
00:34:11
The Buffalo Bills opened up training camp and Josh Allen is ready to go. Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell and Dan Fetes break down what Allen said about being in dorms, the changes in the offense and his favorite food at Fisher. Plus what does Tre White's injury status mean and when will a Jordan Poyer deal get done. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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- [00:00]
A
Foreign. Welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast, presented by Buffalo Plus. Wherever you are listening, please be sure to, like, comment, rate and subscribe. We always appreciate it. Mike Catalana and Dan Fates. I am Jenna Cottrell. We're wrapping up another day of training camp. And by that, I mean the first day of training camp back at St. John Fisher. The fans out. They were loud. They were excited. Josh Allen, obviously the superstar that he is, we got to hear from him today. We're talking Trey White's injury status, what that'll mean, Jordan Poyer's contract. So let's get into it. Mike, I want to start with you. Just Josh Allen. This Josh Allen being at camp, boy.
- [00:47]
B
He handles everything so well. And I've said that to you guys multiple times about the way he has handled coming in here in 2018 as the rookie that the veterans were trying to figure out, leaves camp as the third stringer that lasted about 10 minutes. Then he comes back the next year as a guy who could lead and, you know, and gets that team to the playoffs. But that was at camp. But he's handled each stage of it. This is a big stage for him to handle. He is a superstar now. And even the fans who have seen him before and seen him in Orchard park, seen him wherever, it's different at camp. You do not get this up close and personal with the players. And Josh is a star and even has a plan for autographs. So I want to tell everybody, if you're at camp looking for the autograph and you have a kid, he's going to the kids. Yeah, for the photos and all that. I'm not saying he won't sign for an adult, but I watched him. He was so smooth. We got a video up. You'll see it on Twitter, Instagram. He just follows. He sees the kids. He takes a picture, signs whatever it is, and then he keeps moving because he could be spending. He'd still be there now signing autographs. That many people and handling everything in terms of the expectations. His place shot 83 at Oak Hill the other day, beat Brandon Bean. Oh, Dean is burned right there.
- [02:08]
A
Yeah, for sure.
- [02:08]
B
He's burned because Bean's a good golfer. So all those things combined, it's Josh being Josh.
- [02:14]
A
We got to mention what your comment was to Josh.
- [02:16]
B
Yeah. So he says he shoots 83. And for those listening this, who aren't aware of Oak Hill, it's right around the corner from Fischer. It is the site of the PGA Championship. It's hosted just about. It's hosted every championship. It could host. It's a very difficult course. And he shot 83. And as he was getting up, I said to him, hey, what would Tom Brady shoot? And he started to smiling. And then he said, I plead the fifth.
- [02:41]
C
Well, it was great too, because on top of that, he was asked, how was it? And he said, it was great. He said he got to play it back in 2019. He played the west course. There's two courses, all these things. And then he goes, I shot at E3. He goes, you guys think I'm not that good? Like, he goes. He goes, my golf game is better than what you guys saw in the match. He goes, I get it. He goes, but I goes, I'm pretty good. It was that classic. Like, don't let that one round skew you from how good I am, by the way.
- [03:05]
B
I also had a short conversation with Brandon Bean about Oak Hill before he did the news conference. And he started like, he's a very good player and he is a golfer. He's going, I made this mistake and I can't believe I did this. Then I'm starting to press and I'm like, wow, even the guys like that.
- [03:22]
C
Yeah.
- [03:23]
B
Josh beating him, I think.
- [03:24]
A
Yeah.
- [03:24]
B
Frosted.
- [03:25]
A
Oh, I. I agree. Turning the, the key a little bit. But I will say, Alan, I feel like I am always impressed by the way he handles the media. And once again, I mean, it's day one, but the talk of all the expectations and Dan, like, that's obviously something they're gonna get all season long considering what's expected of this team. But how do you think this team can really go about, you know, the day to day handling of that considering it's such a long season?
- [03:51]
C
I think they also have to. I know we've talked about it on previous podcasts, but, like, understanding that they can't fix anything of their postseason woes.
- [03:59]
A
Yeah.
- [03:59]
C
At training camp, like, none of that stuff is going to be fixed day one, day two, until they get to January and February. So, like, we're. We're sitting there and I know we, we asked a question to pretty much everybody that they were asked was, you know, you guys are Las Vegas has you as the super bowl favorites. And it was a long question. And at twice Sean looked away from the reporter. Normally Sean makes really strong eye contact and then just looked at the, the vacant space and just said, we're here to work. Like, like, what does Vegas care? Like, like they. And I really, truly, truly believe that now they have other players. Obviously Von Miller's won Super Bowls. And he says that this pressure, the expectations, it's a privilege. And I also agree with that, that. That use these to motivate them. Like, it's not like in years past, they had said, we don't want to win the super bowl this year.
- [04:46]
A
Yeah.
- [04:47]
C
So, like, yeah, while Vegas may do this, so do what they do. It doesn't really affect.
- [04:54]
A
Yeah.
- [04:55]
B
I'm going to use a golf analogy you'll ever hear. You'll hear them talk about in tournaments where they'll say in the first two days, you can't win the tournament on day one, but you can lose it.
- [05:03]
A
Yeah.
- [05:03]
B
So if they were not focused and got off to a rough start and whatever reason would splinter things, you could put yourself behind the eight ball a little bit. Even the great Bills teams in the day put themselves behind that a little bit, with some rough beginnings to regular seasons, including the. The year they hit the big comeback game.
- [05:21]
A
Yeah.
- [05:21]
B
And had to fight back and then made the playoffs and then still ended up going to the Super Bowl. But they made the route tougher. I think the idea here is get on the same page. Get going. And to Dan's point, you. Yeah. When you get. When the weather's freezing and those games are crazy important.
- [05:37]
A
Yeah.
- [05:37]
B
That's when you can start to fix the problem. At the end of last year, I.
- [05:41]
A
Thought it was really interesting, Von Miller talking about. And obviously he's so successful. Two super bowl rings, like the. The career he has had. He talked about expectations on himself that we'll talk about, but he talked about the clues that success leaves. And I thought that was really interesting of just the. The environment. He talked about. You need a couple key things to have. Have a really great team that he thinks could have a shot at a Super Bowl. Obviously, he knows a little bit about that. It was great quarterback, great defense, and a great locker room. And I think that's obviously one of the, like, the reasons why he decided to choose the Bills. But I think from a guy just coming in to kind of see what this team is all about already is pretty neat to see. But I just think there's just so much pressure, Mike, on Sean McDermott.
- [06:24]
B
Oh, there is, and there should be, because he's established himself as that guy. And it does remind me of Andy Reid.
- [06:32]
A
Yeah.
- [06:32]
B
Because Andy Reid was that guy in Philly before he became Andy Reid, and Sean was with him, and he knows that the pressure goes on no matter how good he is. And he's an excellent coach. Sean is.
- [06:43]
A
Yeah.
- [06:43]
B
It's about winning the big game. And for Andy Reid at that time, it was getting past the championship.
- [06:48]
C
But that's so tough because I. I think, like, this thought of, you know, that Sean or Josh said they had a different mentality offensively. And he said. And was asked about, like, how is it going to be different? He was asked kind of to clarify that statement, and he's like, well, like, things kind of change. And. And, well, do you guys have this lingering feeling of a loss? And. And I do agree when Josh says 31 teams end the season on a loss.
- [07:11]
A
Yeah.
- [07:12]
B
Yeah. But 31 teams didn't have what they had in Kansas City. And the reason I think that's a big deal is because think about if you said to a Bills fan right now, we can put you back in the exact same moment. All the work that it took to get there. We can put you in that exact same moment from right now, you would take it in a heartbeat. You would take all those things. They were. When you're. When you fly that high, that close to the sun.
- [07:40]
A
Yeah.
- [07:40]
B
You gotta make it work. You can't. You'll get burned. And when you get burned in that place, you're losing in the biggest moments, in the biggest games, it adds a level of pressure because. To get back to it.
- [07:53]
A
Yeah. You know, how challenging.
- [07:54]
B
Crazy difficult.
- [07:55]
A
Yeah.
- [07:56]
B
And what. Who said it. The AFC bean said.
- [07:58]
A
Yeah.
- [07:59]
B
Sees. Loaded. Yeah, it's loaded. So the reason there's pressure on Sean is because he's the head coach. And there was failure at the end of that game. They had so many things. Well. And they failed in the big moment. Doesn't mean it's not. It's all his fault, for God's sakes. I mean, you got to be naive to just assign the blame, but he's the guy.
- [08:20]
A
I love the way Jordan Poyer talked about that loss. Because I feel like we've asked in the minicamps and the rookie camp. Well, not the rookie camps. We asked over this past spring about, like, does that loss stick with you? And a lot of the guys would just be like, you know, returning the page to this upcoming season. And it's like, yeah, no, I get that. But, like, that sucked a lot. And I felt like Poyer today actually opened up about what they can use from it, but also just the fact that it even exists.
- [08:47]
C
It was. Mike, you're the one that asked the question. And I thought, because I'm over the 13 seconds, and I guess that before, like, I'm just like, move. Like, that game was so crazy in so many different ways that I know it does come down to the final 13 seconds. But you were asking Poirier. Because we haven't talked to him pretty much at all. We have gotten to talk to players that have signed, players that were brought in, players that resigned. All these things have all kind of said like, oh, whatever, it's in the past. But Mike, you're the one that asked. Pour the question.
- [09:14]
B
Yeah. In that case, just because we hadn't heard from him and he didn't say that.
- [09:20]
C
Nope.
- [09:21]
B
Said he's watched it.
- [09:22]
C
And then he went on Tyreek Hill's podcast and Tyree Kill got to make fun of him and throw jabs at him about the final 13 seconds.
- [09:30]
A
Yeah.
- [09:30]
B
So it is a real thing.
- [09:32]
A
And.
- [09:32]
B
And the reason it's real, it's like when the Bills came back after the super bowl loss against the Giants, it was all about wide right and wide right.
- [09:40]
A
Yeah.
- [09:41]
B
And that the easier blame there was to put it on one guy. And that team never really did that. Scott Norwood missed the kick, but they made mistakes and they were so close. So it. The whole focus was wide right. And it's ugly, and it's still ugly. And 13 seconds is always going to burn Bills fans, and they should until they win the Super Bowl. That team never did. This team has a phenomenal chance to do it. But I think it's. I. I love what Poyer said. I think you're right, John. I love what he said. I love the owns it. And for many reasons. He's got a massive chip on his shoulder, and I don't think that chip's getting any smaller until he wins and. Well, and partially when he gets paid.
- [10:23]
A
Yeah. I thought we all knew why he wanted a new contract. Like, obviously he wants more money. He's an all pro type of player. He won. He was all pro last year. I just. I liked him explaining of like, in his career, he has always been the underdog. And sometimes I think we forget that because in western New York, everyone talks about how great of a player he is and how the Bills have the best safety tandem and all this stuff. But he. He Talked about He's 31 years old, he wants to get that big contract. And I think that is something that him just saying that, it's like, yeah, you know what? From a personal side of things, I can understand why he wants that.
- [10:58]
B
And Dan, he has to want the new contract now. He's going into the final year of his deal.
- [11:03]
A
Yeah.
- [11:03]
B
I mean, if he was 25 at his level of player and it's not the contract he wants. You get to the open market. You don't want to be hitting the open market at 32. We've seen. What did the Bills do with Lashawn McCoy? They cut him in his last year. Great player. Yeah, Teams can do that. Nobody's cutting Jordan Poyer. But then he should ask for it. And now it's a question of what it's ultimately up to. The Bills.
- [11:27]
C
Yeah. And it's up to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who just so happened to be in Rochester, I imagine, for Pittsford Dairy's ice cream, as well as a garbage.
- [11:35]
A
It is that good.
- [11:36]
C
And he may just happen to talk with Brandon Bean in the time being. But I think that to me, that was. It wasn't the white smoke coming out like, oh, no, something's close. Like. But I think we're inching in the right direction. I think Poyer showing up, participating in practice, all of those things are, you know, Jenna, we talked about, like, signs of good faith that, like, hey, again. Yes, I skipped the voluntary OTAs. I showed up at mandatory minicamp. I've done all the right things. And Jordan Poyer was asked if he felt if he ever thought about skipping training camp, and his answer was very poignant. Poyer is always very, very smart with his words. I always think he. I think sometimes he can be combative, but I think he chooses his words wisely. And when he said in my head, no.
- [12:24]
A
Yeah.
- [12:25]
C
Meaning his agent probably saw him don't show up, and he's going, hey, I got a chance with a Super bowl here. I got a really good team. I like this locker room. I'm a captain on this team.
- [12:33]
A
Yeah.
- [12:34]
C
I'm showing up. You get. I'm gonna do my job. You go do yours and get me paid.
- [12:38]
B
Yeah. And that's what he needs to do. But. And if you're an agent, you know nothing. But Drew Rosenhaus has gotten a lot of guys a lot of money. But you're sitting back going, I'm going to orchestrate this. And it eventually could lead to more money. But Jordan Poyer didn't want weeks or whatever, months, who knows, away from his team. Plus, then he get fined. It's a mess. It causes a rift, and it takes him out of there. He is a team first, guy. But you have to look out for yourself. And we're recording this. Who knows? It could in a day. They could have something. I think something Sunday afternoon. Jenna, would you believe something has to happen, happen during. I would say during the preseason, at least. Like there has to be some resolution. You're not just gonna go and we've decided to. Jordan says, no, I don't really want the new deal. Let's just play this out. I don't see there's. That, that's not a legitimate scenario.
- [13:30]
A
I don't, I don't think that would be the case either because I think this is something that we haven't seen in terms of Brandon being dealing with contract negotiation like this. But I think the longer this goes on, the more it kind of, the more it festers, let's be real, the more there's kind of that opportunity for bad blood. I think by Poyer showing up, coming to the stuff that he's needed to.
- [13:50]
B
Come a little bit.
- [13:51]
A
I think so too. And I, I know Brandon Bean has made some deals where it's, you know, a three year contract and, you know, the last. Yeah, there's, there's ways to kind of operate around it and I, I like the way that both sides are handling it. I think it's mature. I think it's, it says a lot about both the team as well as Poyer. But at the same point it's like, okay, this is nice for both sides, but when is this going to get done? Because that is when it could really throw a wrench into things.
- [14:21]
B
So players don't have usually a ton of leverage in their 30s, but as a football player, 31, so young as a football player on this team.
- [14:33]
C
He'S.
- [14:33]
B
Got more than most would.
- [14:36]
A
Correct.
- [14:36]
B
Number one, they didn't draft anybody. There is no eminent replacement for either one of these guys. So if I'm Brandon Bean, maybe I don't want to shell out too much money for a guy post 31 years old, but I want those guys on the field. And two, and now we're going to talk about this when you're all pro. Corner is not in uniform. He's at camp in Trey White. The value of Poyer and Hyde together out there, especially right off the rip of the season, is immense. And so again, I hope we're not conveying to anybody that there was anything other than. And Brandon Bean is so consistent. He'll talk to us, he'll give us answers, but he's like, I am not negotiating with you guys. That's fine.
- [15:18]
C
And Mike, you, you spoke to Drew.
- [15:20]
B
Rosenhaus today at camp and he didn't want to comment. And Drew Rosenhaus loves to comment. He does. But I think one, that's not the way the Bills operate. That would not be a good Move. He's had a good relationship with the franchise. He's got Greg Rousseau two number one pick so. But he said I can't comment. I'm not going to comment on it. He said I'm only around for the day. Maybe he's only going to be at practice today. Yeah, I don't know on this, on this Sunday, so we'll see. But I'm encouraged for the Bills that it's going in the right direction. But there needs to be a resolution. You're not just going to go and we forget about this and let's go on to next year.
- [15:59]
A
You bring up that Trey White point and that is huge because you're not sure. We got to see him today. Really. That was the first time.
- [16:04]
C
Guys, guys. What remains on schedule. Relax. Remains on schedule.
- [16:10]
B
So what did I ask him?
- [16:11]
C
What's the schedule or what does, what does it mean?
- [16:14]
B
And by the way, Brandon Bean is in the example said, you know, for some guys coming off the knee, maybe it was if he goes if it was you, it might be four months. Me eight months. I'm like, no, Brandon, if it was me and it'd be more eight months and you'd be four months. But he talked about he went through this long answer very long and I get the idea, look, I'm going to read into it because that's what we able to do. I think they're being cautious. I, I, we have seen guys maybe be ahead. They always like to say that they're also being smart. They don't want to put a timetable on him.
- [16:45]
A
Yeah but they don't need to being.
- [16:47]
C
Also but in part of his long answer in his description was talking about guys also may have messed up other ligaments along the way. That was a little odd. When he talks about how he's like, well what was it a clean tear, Was it a partial tear? All these things and far as this may have been made public, it was just an ACL tear. We, we do note we did not know about mcl. None of those things were right. So I'm not worried. I've been very steadfast at Trey White's fine and man schedule. But it was an odd answer from Beam.
- [17:22]
B
Thank you.
- [17:23]
A
Remember when we were talking about it this past spring and you're like getting your ACL repaired is like having an oil change. You did compare it to getting an oil. It's an oil change, but that is out.
- [17:33]
C
But rage said when Bean saying all off season he remains on schedule and that was it. Like he wouldn't go into detail now. This is the first time that there has been a long winded answer about the recovery. And when Mike, you asked to clarify that and he went on and talks about, well, I know this other player from this other team that I'm close with that did this and all of.
- [17:53]
A
A sudden it's like, well, when he.
- [17:54]
C
Read into that, I'm not going to read into he's on schedule, I'm going to read into why is he telling us that other players take longer because they've had ligament issues, other things ruined.
- [18:05]
B
And Janet, keep this in mind. And this is just something to put out there. He's on the PUP list physically unable to perform this. This is where for players who come into the off season injured or injured in the off season, if he remained on that, he would have to sit out the first six weeks. Six weeks.
- [18:23]
A
Yeah.
- [18:24]
B
I'm not saying that I think that's happening. I'm saying is that has to absolutely be on the table. Right? I mean, it's.
- [18:31]
A
That seems fair.
- [18:32]
B
No, the reason I say that is on the table, meaning like the. They're going to be cautious. They know how good they are. If he's not ready and they don't think he's going to be ready for two or three weeks and maybe if they think he's going to be close to opening day, maybe he missed the first two games, then he's on the roster. Yeah, but if they believe we're going to let this all pro guy get himself ready, ready come back, then that is an option for the team. And that's when I think they'll. He even said, you know, we'd look at veterans. They would, they would have to do that again two weeks from now. All of a sudden we could see Trey ramping it up. He's out doing more stuff. He looks good. And maybe that's the case. I don't know.
- [19:10]
C
Trey shredded. He is shredded in the so muscular.
- [19:14]
B
Shape of his life.
- [19:16]
A
I actually, I don't know what do you.
- [19:18]
C
When you have a surgically repaired acl.
- [19:20]
B
I don't know if.
- [19:21]
A
Oh, it's an oil change. When you said that I almost slapped you, I was like, that is outrageous. It's still the shirts.
- [19:28]
B
No salary cap.
- [19:30]
A
We're just a tagline. No, I just think, think. While it is obviously a surgery that you can come back from and plenty of players in the NFL players, every athlete has come back from it at the same point, it is still a surgery. We've seen many players have to take A while to get back to this. Think of what you expect, the level of play you expect from Trey White. That is a tough level of play for any player to ascend to, let alone Trey White. We've seen him be that guy, but it's going to take time for him to become that guy once again.
- [20:01]
B
So as I get older, the. There's always the possibility, not that I'm so far, so good, a knee replacement. Would that be like rotating the tires?
- [20:08]
A
Is that where we are?
- [20:09]
C
No.
- [20:09]
A
That is bananas. And Micah Hyde said this offseason, Trey.
- [20:13]
C
White would be like getting a new front end.
- [20:15]
B
Oh, wow.
- [20:18]
A
Oh, it's more.
- [20:19]
B
Oh, really?
- [20:20]
A
You mean like replacing an acl?
- [20:22]
C
No, it's an oil change.
- [20:23]
A
That is just. Tom rotates like Tom foolery.
- [20:28]
C
It's like, buy new shoes.
- [20:30]
A
Buying new. Oh, my God.
- [20:32]
C
Rotating the tires.
- [20:32]
A
Okay, well, there's that.
- [20:34]
B
Yeah.
- [20:34]
A
We did get to see Trey White today, though.
- [20:36]
C
Yes. Riding the bike. Was doing some things off this side. Of course, we haven't seen him. Like.
- [20:42]
A
I haven't.
- [20:42]
C
No, I know. He was at Micah Hyde's softball game.
- [20:45]
B
Yeah.
- [20:45]
C
Yeah, he's there. Besides that, we haven't seen him. It's great to see him. He walks past, goes to the bike, and of course, all the cameras follow him over there. And in classic Tray White fashion, he's wearing his Tray White goalie academy winter hat. And he's like, why you guys gotta do me like this? I just want to go back inside and ride the bike by myself. And it's like, yeah. Again, a guy that has. Enjoys the limelight, but again, he's. I really do. Everything we've heard, he is so focused on the recovery, and he's done it silent.
- [21:14]
A
Yeah.
- [21:14]
C
For a guy that has such a massive personality, he's done it quietly.
- [21:17]
A
So that's a good point. I didn't think about it like that.
- [21:21]
C
I make a lot of points. Good points.
- [21:22]
A
No, no, that's a singular good point.
- [21:26]
B
He just pulled out of the Valvoline instant oil change with a new knee. Jiffy lube.
- [21:32]
A
The Jiffy lube of surgeries. I. It was encouraging to see him out there, but him being out there and just, you know, being off to the side is that, to me, is like. The bills are going to be very patient. I think Trey White will want to come back before the Bills will want him to come back.
- [21:50]
B
And again, there's a. There's a level between getting him read and maybe it's not week one, because there's also a danger of that Players Will focus on week one. I'm going to be back for week one. And sometimes teams have to be smart where it just doesn't work for week one and week two. Actually, I think the Rams are going through this with Jalen Ramsey. Yeah. And so that's who they play, you know, and that's an important game. Obviously, we're all focused on. That's going to be great. But in the big scheme of things, it's not as important because, you know, it's. It's the idea. It's.
- [22:19]
C
I go back and forth on that.
- [22:21]
A
Their schedule is tough.
- [22:22]
B
Really. No, it's an NFC game I'm talking about.
- [22:26]
A
Yeah, yeah.
- [22:27]
C
No, no. And I know it. It's like, oh, this game isn't as important.
- [22:31]
B
It's important for a vibe. Like, they beat the best team. They start out this year. They're not going to be. You know, what I'm saying is, in. I always talk to you about how this game is in hindsight. In hindsight, it's an NFC game on the road. I'm saying is if Trey White's not ready, he ain't playing in that game. And he might. He might be.
- [22:49]
C
How about this? And again, we are. We are putting the cart so far ahead of the horse here. But how much will. The Bills. Obviously, they want to win every game. Breaking news. But to lock up the number one seed. And I'm not just talking about just week one, but I'm just saying, like, oh, like, hey, this guy can sit out. Or it's like playing through things to make sure that you are. That you're having that Kansas City game in Buffalo and not, like, the two years in a row your season has ended in arrowhead. And again, we are so far ahead of this. But I wonder if that mindset of, like, we're not taking anything for granted because we need every single week is everything.
- [23:30]
A
I totally see what you're saying. I think the afc, though, is going to be such a bloodbath this year that it's. The records aren't going to be as high. Like, the win totals won't be as.
- [23:39]
C
I still want that number one.
- [23:41]
A
Definitely.
- [23:41]
C
That. That home field is going to be just.
- [23:43]
A
Yeah. I just think the AFC teams are going to beat up on each other. Every game matters so much in this league. There's only 18 regular season weeks.
- [23:50]
B
Yeah.
- [23:51]
A
At the same point, though, I just think that it's going to be such a hard schedule in terms of the conference that things will look a little different and feel a little different. But. But they're still going after the top spot.
- [24:01]
B
We were to get to Jenna's golf partner Sean McDermott's list of notes for the year. I absolutely believe it begins with goal. Number one is winning the AFC East. And I think they stick with that even though they're the favorite. And all this stuff, because that gets you in. Like, that's the goal. You got to win those division. Those games are bigger than other games you win. I guarantee you, in his mind, it is the goal. Yeah, sure. To win the Super Bowl. I get that. But there's so many steps. The goal is number one seed, and there might be a point when it becomes a bigger goal. You know, if you start out the year three and three, your focus is on the AFC east, man. It's not on that.
- [24:41]
C
Right.
- [24:41]
B
But you get to that point, you're going to be like, look at the Bengals last year in the playoffs when they ended up tossing away that last regular season game. And it could have meant the difference. The Bills would have been playing them at home as opposed to in Kansas, in Cincinnati. And I'm like, in hindsight, I wonder if the Bengals look back and go, that's not too smart. I don't. You know, they ended up winning anyhow, which is funny. But. No, I'm with you. I think it is a goal, but it's like a. We'll focus on that down the road.
- [25:12]
C
But I feel like you have to start looking at that now.
- [25:15]
B
No, but I mean, you're not going to make a decision on a player and play the guy for that.
- [25:20]
A
It's the long game.
- [25:21]
B
It's the long game, but it's not.
- [25:23]
A
Because.
- [25:23]
B
Think it's not so far out there.
- [25:25]
A
Correct.
- [25:25]
B
You know.
- [25:26]
A
Correct. You would. You want the number one spot, but I think you would. You would also rather know that your player is ready and healthy and all of that, and you wouldn't want to jeopardize that.
- [25:39]
B
Yes, but I think you make a good point. And you look at. Look, they've got all these games. They've got a Bengals game. They've got a. A Titans game.
- [25:46]
A
Yeah.
- [25:46]
B
Got a Chiefs game. You know. You know, you're playing the Ravens. These are all teams that, man, you get those head to heads against them and then say to everybody, okay, you gotta now be a game ahead of us because we beat you head to head. So, yeah, it's definitely on there.
- [26:00]
A
That's why just having Von Miller on this roster, the fact that he wasn't there for the how. The way last season ended for the Bills. Like the experience that he brings. I feel like he's got to be a calming sense in that locker room.
- [26:13]
B
He should have been one of the two pass rushers they had in the last 13 seconds.
- [26:19]
A
Wow.
- [26:19]
B
Two guys rushing the quarterback. That's it.
- [26:22]
C
I, I thought it was interesting when, when Vaughn talked today about just there's been so much change on the defensive line, probably more than any position group that there's just so many new guys. And Vaughn talks about how it's kind of interesting and fun that they're all coming in together. But he, he again singled out at Oliver and, and to me it stood out because I look as a guy, as Von Miller is going to be a guy that helps Ed Oliver. And he said it was actually the other way around. And he goes, I've always played with a three technique defensive tackle. I don't understand what any of the techniques of defensive tackle are. That's besides the point. But he talked about Derek Wolf he had in Denver. He talks about Aaron Donald with the Rams and then kind of look at Ed Oliver. Von Miller is a really smart guy who also, while he wanted to win a Super bowl and knows Josh Allen, he also wants to continue to play well. So for him to make that calculated decision to be able to look at the Bill's defensive line and go, who's going to help me? Whereas all off season we have talked about how many people are Von Miller going to help. It was to me, it stood out that he goes, I'm so happy I got Ed next to me. He's going to help me out. All this stuff, it's like, wait, I thought you were going to help Ed. And it was, it was kind of telling to me. That stood out to me today.
- [27:34]
A
That to me says more about his mindset though. That to me says that he's not like, hey, I'm the chosen one here. I'm going to. Everyone can just like feed off of me. I think that says how he still wants to do more in the league and how he, he looks at the team as not what he can do. Yes. But also who can help him to get what he wants as well.
- [27:53]
B
Yeah, he also said he wants to be defensive player of the year and lead the league in sacks, which he said usually kind of goes together. That is a thing a lot, you know, and there's players out there to do that. But yeah, he's not coming here unless he has help on that D line. He's not. And he played with the all time great in that position on the inside. So.
- [28:14]
C
Yeah.
- [28:14]
B
So he. But he believes this guy's got the talent and he's also got. He's got a better quarterback with him.
- [28:20]
A
I'm. I'm excited to see what Ed Oliver will do.
- [28:23]
B
Yeah.
- [28:24]
A
This year. I feel like last year he found success. I think he's going to keep kind of growing, maturing, learning more about himself, the game. And then to have Vaughn Miller there beside you too, it's like, I mean, I just remember asking Leslie Frazier before last season started who he expected to kind of be the breakout player. And he said at Oliver. And obviously when the defensive coordinator says that, it stands out to you. So I just, I think of what that means for this upcoming year with even more help for him and him continuing to grow as. As a person. Yeah, it's going to be fun.
- [28:58]
B
You want to talk about turkey burgers before we go?
- [29:00]
C
Yeah.
- [29:02]
B
That was a stunner.
- [29:04]
A
So to set the scene, we're at Bill's training camp. Practice has ended. We're talking to the guys and Josh Allen says that he is so excited to eat the turkey burgers.
- [29:16]
C
He goes, it's almost tbt. And we're like, turkey burger time. And he goes, jalapenos. And he goes, they have the best turkey burgers ever. It's here at St. John Fisher. And like, again, we were also kind of talking to players about what's it like being back at training camp because they've been. Last two years, they've been back in their home facilities. So we, I didn't. We didn't ask about food, but Josh.
- [29:40]
A
You know, I respect the hell out of that.
- [29:42]
B
Yeah. And then food.
- [29:44]
C
She had a couch. Was the hat tip gift.
- [29:46]
A
Yeah.
- [29:48]
B
I thought Poirier was gonna say I was gonna skip training camp for my contract, but I like the turkey burgers so much. I mean, he was like, I've been thinking about it.
- [30:00]
A
He said, direct quote, I've waited three years to eat those turkey burgers.
- [30:04]
B
And I said, none of us had it. Now what they you went to lunch.
- [30:07]
A
So we did not get the turkey burgers. But I will say the cookies phenomenal at Fisher are fire. Chocolate chip cookies. Soft.
- [30:15]
C
I think they're Wegmans.
- [30:16]
A
Yeah, you think so?
- [30:17]
B
I think they're weg. Yeah, they probably are.
- [30:18]
C
But fire. We.
- [30:21]
A
They're a little different.
- [30:22]
C
I know my turkey burgers were players only. And Jen and I accidentally walked in the wrong, like cafeteria and we were like, oh, this.
- [30:28]
B
So I cafeteria before. It's crazy in there, cuz everything's like, coated and covered and whatever it is.
- [30:34]
C
Walks in the wrong room.
- [30:35]
B
Yeah. I'll tell you this, I don't care how good they are, my wife, Jenny, makes better turkey burgers. They are incredible. They are pork chop. Yeah. Way better. Like, seriously, they are.
- [30:46]
A
Pork chops are trash.
- [30:47]
B
I'm going to get Josh Allen and Poyer over here for turkey burgers. They're going to say, well, you live close enough. My God, Joe. Jenny makes them better than you.
- [30:55]
C
Bring. Bring them. I'm gonna say Tupperware.
- [30:58]
A
Oh, my gosh.
- [30:59]
B
Try these.
- [31:00]
C
Yes.
- [31:00]
A
If someone can ask Josh Allen to prom, you can do this.
- [31:03]
B
I'm gonna guess the way Jenny makes them. The trainers wouldn't be too thrilled with these turkey burgers. Okay. They might have a little too much in them.
- [31:10]
C
Speaking of things not being thrilled with Von Miller, we asked him about his. Him coming here his first time, and because they didn't go away for training camp, I don't think he said either of his teams.
- [31:23]
B
Well, yeah, only there half the year, but, yeah, the Broncos didn't know.
- [31:27]
A
They said, yeah.
- [31:28]
C
And he said. He goes, you know, I love it. You know, he's like, oh, he goes first. He goes, not my number one choice. He's like, I haven't been in dorm since I was at Texas A M. He's like, I'm 33 now. Beds are different. Toilet paper's different.
- [31:42]
B
Toilet paper, stock up.
- [31:44]
C
Turkey burgers, stock down. Toilet paper. It's like, Charmin. Help our man out.
- [31:48]
B
You know, it's funny. That's not a misspeak. Like, Bruce Smith used to. Another phenomenal hall of Fame player used to speak. And Bruce was like. He'd start going. And he'd misuse some words sometimes that you turn and look and go, did he just say, that's all water over the bridge? Like, he'd say stuff like that when he was trying to make a point. Von Miller said that. I turned, I looked at everybody like, did he just say toilet paper?
- [32:16]
C
Like, seriously, there's no TVs in the.
- [32:18]
B
Yeah.
- [32:19]
C
First of all, our beds.
- [32:20]
B
Come on, he's 32. You don't have a laptop. You got screaming. I mean, come on.
- [32:25]
A
Yeah, Josh.
- [32:26]
B
Meanwhile, I gotta say, people always say to me, I know we're gonna wrap this up, but people always say to me, do you think they'll be back? Be back? Bean and McDermott can't say it enough times. Now. Bean did say, you know, you never know what's out.
- [32:38]
A
Correct.
- [32:38]
B
But I gotta tell you, if anybody, unless Josh Allen Just likes to mess with people, and I don't think that's the case. He loves being in the dorm.
- [32:48]
A
He does enjoy.
- [32:49]
C
He's a kid, right? I mean, he's a kid. He's a big kid.
- [32:51]
B
Like, you can talk to the other guys. I love it here. It's just kind of wild.
- [32:55]
C
It's got his shows that he's gonna say.
- [32:57]
A
I don't think that's that surprising, though.
- [32:58]
B
I know, but, like, even now, like, if they turn, would say to them, I hate it. I can't get ready. It doesn't work for me.
- [33:07]
A
They would stop.
- [33:08]
B
I mean, it would be a huge consideration into what they're doing. He's like, give me my. He's like a college dude. Give me my streaming, my turkey burgers, and I'm happy.
- [33:19]
A
He said he didn't bring the.
- [33:20]
C
The Xbox. Didn't bring an Xbox or gaming.
- [33:23]
A
Yeah. Said he's gonna focus on his shows. Josh, watch the bear on Hulu. It's.
- [33:28]
B
I know. It's your show, right?
- [33:29]
A
I love it. It's so chaotic. It's so good. It's so good. Highly recommend.
- [33:34]
B
That's how he relaxes.
- [33:36]
A
Watching chaos and eating turkey burgers. All right, well, this was fun. We'll have more updates throughout camp. Things going on, and we always appreciate the love on the podcast. It would do a lot for us if you would rate the podcast. We always love getting good feedback, hearing comments, all those things, as well as. Be sure to subscribe anywhere you're listening to this. For Mike Catalana and Dan Fates, I am Jenna Catro. Thank you for checking out the Buffalo plus podcast. We'll catch you next time on Buffalo Plus.