Bills GM BRANDON BEANE on what he WANTS in a WR, how to HANDLE the VETS and GOLFING with TIGER WOODS

Summary

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Buffalo Plus Podcast: Bills GM Brandon Beane on Roster Decisions, Wide Receiver Criteria, and Golfing with Tiger Woods

Episode Date: February 29, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalano, Dan Fates
Guest: Brandon Beane (Buffalo Bills General Manager)
Theme:
A deep-dive conversation with Bills GM Brandon Beane from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, focusing on roster management, what Beane values most in a wide receiver, handling veteran players emotionally and contractually, and a light-hearted detour into golf with Tiger Woods.

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1. Main Theme & Overview

• Purpose: This episode centers around an exclusive interview with Brandon Beane, exploring Bills roster decisions, future plans for veteran players, insider perspective on what the GM looks for in a wide receiver, the role of star quarterback Josh Allen in the draft process, and fun off-field anecdotes.
• Tone: In-depth and candid, blending serious football insight with humor and personal stories.

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2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

Beane on Roster Management & The Salary Cap

• Cap Compliance:

  • “Our number one focus is getting cap compliant prior to the start of the league year. There’s different ways you can do that – release a player, restructure, or extend.” (Brandon Beane, 02:39)
  • Every contract and decision (release, restructure, extension) is being evaluated for both short-term and long-term roster stability.

• Handling Emotional Attachments to Veterans:

  • On Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Tre’Davious White:
    • “Those three, it’s hard to say guys that have meant more to this franchise, to Sean and I, since we got here, because they all were part of that 2017 team that broke the streak ... very hard. Ultimately, I’m still a human … I would be lying if I said you don’t want what’s best for those guys too.” (Beane, 03:45)
  • Emotion is unavoidable, but the primary job is to act in the team’s best interests.
  • Each vet’s future is handled case-by-case, especially regarding injuries (e.g., Tre’Davious White’s rehab).

• Decision Timelines & Injured Players:

  • “Sometimes you would love to wait, but you can’t ... Your hand’s forced. You’ve got to make some tough decisions coming up.” (Beane, 05:14)
  • The realities of NFL timelines—the need to balance patience with the urgency of free agency and the draft.

What Makes a Wide Receiver “A Beane Guy”

• Skill Set Priorities:

  • “Hands and route running and feel—instincts. I know I gave you more than one, but I weigh those more than size ... there are plenty of guys who weren’t 4.3 [speed] that were really good receivers, and there’s been guys that have run 4.3 that they sucked as receivers because they just didn’t have some of those innate how-to-play-the-position skills.” (Beane, 06:45)
  • Beane downplays obsession with size or 40-yard dash times.
  • Emphasis is placed on football IQ, play speed over track speed, route crafting, and reliability for Josh Allen.

• Draft Philosophy and Playmakers:

  • The Bills repeatedly mention the need for “explosive players” and game-changers, not necessarily just big or fast WRs.
  • “He wants speed and explosiveness ... guys that can catch a five yard pass and take it 55.” (Dan Fates, 16:02)

Josh Allen’s Input & Draft Process

• Beane describes Josh Allen as involved and invested in the draft process—even doing his own mock drafts and sharing opinions.
  • “Sometimes he’ll tell me, ‘Hey, today I got this guy in the first, I traded back …’ It’s fun to hear how much joy he gets into it.” (Beane, 07:38)
  • Allen is encouraged to work out with prospects to give honest feedback beyond tape evaluation.

The Realities of the Salary Cap

• Cap is Real – But Malleable:

  • Beane, with a background as a cap specialist, bristles at those who say the salary cap isn’t real:
    • “Anybody that says the salary cap isn’t real is stupid. And he said it a little bit more colorfully.” (Dan Fates, 11:55)
  • The cap is real, but can be strategically manipulated via extensions and restructures—“every dollar is accounted for.”

• Borrowing from the Future:

  • Redoing contracts (pushing money down the road) carries risk—players must still perform or their deals become a burden.
    • “They found money for Von Miller. Great. Until it’s not so great because he hasn’t been a good enough player since he was injured.” (Catalano, 13:02)
  • Reference to mistakes by other franchises (Saints with Drew Brees/Derek Carr) who failed to time their cap resets correctly.
  • Beane finds the “championship window” debate silly when you have elite QBs:
    • “The championship window is one of the dumbest things he hears ... every single year, you can absolutely win a Super Bowl.” (Dan Fates, 14:30)

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3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Roster Loyalty vs. Business:
  • “My job is to do what’s in the best interest of the Bills and the Pegula family. But I would be lying if I said you don’t want what’s best for those guys, too.” (Beane, 03:45)
• On Wide Receiver Priorities:
  • “Hands and route running and feel—instincts … I weigh those things more than their size.” (Beane, 06:45)
• On Allen’s Draft Hobby:
  • “Josh … does a lot of those mock draft things, and sometimes he’ll tell me, ‘Hey, today I got this guy in the first …’” (Beane, 07:38)
• On Playing Golf with Tiger Woods:
  • “Not a lot of things … I don’t really get too starstruck. But playing with Tiger Woods—I’m not sure what that first drive would do.” (Beane, 00:35)
• On Salary Cap Skepticism:
  • “Anybody that says the salary cap isn’t real is stupid.” (Dan Fates, relaying Beane, 11:55)
• Playmaker Mandate:
  • “That’s Brandon’s mission though now: find guys that can catch a five yard pass and take it 55.” (Dan Fates, 16:23)

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4. Important Segments & Timestamps

• [02:39-06:07] – Beane on roster decision-making, loyalty to vets, and the cap’s demands.
• [06:07-07:33] – Deep dive on wide receiver evaluation—what traits trump size or speed.
• [07:33-08:18] – Josh Allen’s engagement with the draft and input on roster.
• [10:50-13:02] – In-depth discussion on the realities, perceptions, and manipulation of the salary cap.
• [14:28-15:34] – Philosophy on “championship window”, cap management, and lessons from other NFL franchises.
• [16:02-17:26] – Emphasizing the need for more explosive, game-changing WRs, regardless of conventional measurables.

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5. Lighter Moments & Off-the-Field Fun

• Golf with Tiger Woods:

  • Beane and the hosts joke about how even a pro like the GM would get nervous teeing off next to Tiger (00:33, 08:24).

• Bean’s Golf Competitiveness:

  • The hosts share personal stories about how intense Beane gets during media golf tournaments, calculating precise shots to the pin (09:36).

• Dan Fates' "Kyle Shanahan" Doppelganger Moment:

  • A humorous anecdote: autograph hunters mistake Dan for 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan outside the combine (18:38–20:02).

• NFL Combine As “Who’s Who” Central:

  • The hosts bump into coaches Brian Daboll and John Harbaugh, encapsulating what makes the combine atmosphere special (20:26).

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6. Takeaways & The Bills’ Offseason Narrative

• Big Roster Calls Coming:
  • The fates of Hyde, Poyer, and White loom large, with emotional ties but financial realities ruling.
• Beane Seeks “Play Speed” and Intelligence at WR:
  • Actual football skills, not combine metrics, will drive decisions at WR.
• Josh Allen Has a Voice:
  • Allen is involved in the offseason and draft dialog.
• Cap Room Demands Precision:
  • Beane’s expertise—and his philosophy—emphasize the cap’s reality and the potential pitfalls of over-restructuring contracts.
• Explosiveness is King:
  • The need for WRs or playmakers who can shift a game instantly remains Beane’s top priority.

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For the Full Conversation:
Tune in to the “Buffalo Plus” YouTube channel or podcast feed for exclusive, behind-the-scenes Buffalo Bills coverage.

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Transcript

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[Brandon Bean]

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[Mike Catalano]

He got to play with Tiger Woods.

[Brandon Bean]

Oh, I know, I know.

[Mike Catalano]

Okay.

[Brandon Bean]

I know.

[Mike Catalano]

I'm not jealousy with that.

[Brandon Bean]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Not a lot of things. I don't really get too starstruck. But playing with Tiger Woods, I'm not sure what that first drive would do. I would hope my adrenaline would be good enough and I would stay calm, but I can't tell you it would.

[Dan Fates]

Buffalo plus, your interactive look at the week in football brought to you by Connors and Ferris.

[Mike Catalano]

Hey everybody. Welcome Back to the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel. Mike Catalano along with Dan Fates. Please make sure to like comment and subscribe to our channel. We are here in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine. We are enjoying ourselves because, yeah, it's a great time here.

[Dan Fates]

This is the best.

[Mike Catalano]

I really like being here. We got the chance to talk to everybody in the including Brandon Bean. I had a one on one interview with him. You're going to see that in just a couple of moments. So you will hear the interview with Bean. We talk about a lot of things on this team, including Trae White and Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, all that kind of stuff. But in general, I thought Bean sort of stuck to the greatest hits of things that he's been talking about and the way he expects things to go.

[Dan Fates]

Brandon Bean is phenomenal to talk to because he gives you just enough but always keeps something a little bit close to the vest and he always gives you an answer but. But it always leaves you kind of wanting more and omitting like a normal gm. Not going to tell you everything.

[Mike Catalano]

Yeah, he shouldn't be telling people everything. Number one. The funny thing is they don't know everything because so many things will happen between now and the start of free agency and certainly before they start picking the players that are here this week. So again we got a chance to talk to him. Let's take a listen as to what Brandon Bean had to say about his roster and about his golf game. All right, the general manager, Brandon Bean joining us. Let's talk about your roster And I was thinking about everybody thinks in terms of free agents, yet guys with a year left. Maybe you have to make decisions on guys with multiple years. Maybe you have to redo a contract. It almost seems like there's very few players on the roster that get left untouched until next year.

[Brandon Bean]

Yeah, I mean, you're always looking. And, you know, right now our number one focus is getting cap compliant prior to the start of the league year. And so there's different ways you can do that. Obviously, you can release a player, you can do a restructure like we just did with Connor McGovern, but you can also extend the player and create some cap space. If it's the right player, you feel they're fitting, and you find a number that works for them and works for you. I think we did that with Milano last year. So we're looking at every single avenue to not only secure our roster this year, but long term and then, of course, get cap compliant.

[Mike Catalano]

I mentioned those type of players. So you have three key guys that have been franchise guys for you. One's contract is up, one has a year left, and one has multiple years. When you're talking about Micah Jordan and Trae White, how do you. And as your job sometimes have to cut out the emotion and look at them as players? Is that possible to do, or does that always play into it in some way for what these guys, in whatever form it takes for this year, have meant to the franchise?

[Brandon Bean]

Yeah, I mean, those three, it's hard to say guys that have meant more to this franchise, to Sean and I, since. Since we got here, because they all were part of that 2017 team that broke the streak and. And have been here and have been such steady forces on our defense and, you know, most important, the back end very hard. So, yes, ultimately, I'm still a human, and so you do have to. My job is to do what's in the best interest of the Bills and the Pegula family. But I would be lying if I said you don't want what's best for those guys, too. And so you're always taking that all into consideration. You know, you have to fit it all within the pie. And those guys understand, too, it's a. It's a business. I mean, we thought Jordan could potentially be gone. A year ago, as he hit free agency here, there was a lot of questions, would we be able to afford him? And. And fortunately, you know, we got him back at the time, but every year's a new year, and, you know, we're still working through all those decisions and, you know, in Micah's case, you know, we haven't had a final word from him on what his plans are, you know, whether he's going to hang it up or whether he's going to come back.

[Mike Catalano]

Trey is coming back again from an injury. Do you need to have patience in knowing where he is? And can you have patience in your job? I mean, free agents is going to start, the draft is going to come. Can you mix those two? Is there a place where, you know, you have to see him before you can make a decision or do the decisions come no matter what circumstances he's in?

[Brandon Bean]

Yeah, I think without getting into his particular, you know, case, everyone is its own essence and you're trying to balance everything. The person, what they've meant to you. In his case, an injury, someone else, it could be their contract number's too big. You're trying to weigh it all and sometimes you would love to wait, but you can't. Because if it's someone that we need to, to do their deal, whether it's his case, an injury or someone else, sometimes your hand's forced of. What moves are you going to make? You've got to make some tough decisions coming up. And so with Trey, you know, we've been working with him. He's been rehabbing. Great. I see him in the building. I was telling the one Bill's live, had breakfast with him a couple of times as he's as the lock since the locker room's cleared out. He's still hanging around and Milano and those guys. But yeah, you would be lying if you said the personal part doesn't really.

[Mike Catalano]

Matter in terms of the offense. You've mentioned explosive plays. Sean has mentioned it. And a lot of people are focused on the draft for the wide receiver position. You got your tight end last year and maybe looking there, when you look at these guys, you talked about it today. All these things come into play. A lot of times people say, well, you need a big player or you need a particularly fast player. I know it's easy to say it in this way, but is there a specific skill for the wide receiver position that is a must for you, whether it's a 5, 9 Steve Smith or a, you know, 6 foot 4 Mike Evans type player. What, what skill just stands out, head and shoulders that you have to have?

[Brandon Bean]

Yeah, I would say hands and route running and feel instincts. Like, I mean, I know I gave you more than one, but you know, I weigh those things more than their, than their size. I mean, obviously you're not looking for a slug that's going to run, you know, four, six, eight, you know, anything like that. But there are plenty of guys who weren't 4, 3, 8 that were really good receivers, and there's been guys that have run 4, 3 that they sucked as receivers because they just didn't have some of those, you know, those innate how to play the position, the feel, the route, craft, how to, you know, sit in a hole, you know, in zone coverage, or run their route to the right depths. All those things matter because Josh is battling, you know, whatever the rush is, and he's got to know when he hits his back step that they're going to be where they're supposed to be.

[Mike Catalano]

Has Josh made his thoughts known on what he wants you to go do?

[Brandon Bean]

Well, I think we talk about guys all the time, and when the draft gets close, Josh, he loves the draft process. I think he does a lot of those mock draft things, and sometimes he'll tell me, hey, today I got this.

[Dan Fates]

Guy in the first.

[Brandon Bean]

I traded back in the second. It's fun to hear how much joy he gets into it. So we talk and we have conversations, and I listen to him, like, anything. And I've always told him, hey, if you're out throwing somewhere and there's a guy out there, go throw with them if, you know they're in the draft. Get the feel for some of these things that we see on tape, but maybe we don't know everything, and maybe they'll close a little hole for us.

[Mike Catalano]

Last thing with Josh, he got to play with Tiger Woods.

[Brandon Bean]

Oh, I know, I know.

[Mike Catalano]

Okay.

[Brandon Bean]

I know I'm not happy.

[Mike Catalano]

Jealousy with that.

[Brandon Bean]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Not a lot of things. I don't really get too starstruck. But playing with Tiger Woods, I'm not sure what that first drive would do. I would hope my adrenaline would be good enough, and I would stay calm, but I can't tell you it would now do.

[Mike Catalano]

Dan Fates has played golf with you, and he's told us that you. You like to excel. You want your team to excel. What. What would you be saying to Tiger? Like, come on, pick it up, big fella. Let's go. Would you. Would you be getting. Pushing him a little bit if you were playing?

[Brandon Bean]

You know, I am super competitive, but it would probably be hard for me to say something to Tiger. Now. I've been known to do stupid things like that, so I can't say I wouldn't, but I would hope that I would. I would not try and cut coach Tiger woods up.

[Mike Catalano]

All right, well, you can coach up the team, but. Or help coaching up the team, but I guess Tiger's gonna have to be on his own. All right, Brandon, thanks very much, and thanks for being here on Buffalo plus.

[Brandon Bean]

You got it, Mike.

[Mike Catalano]

He's so jealous of Josh Allen.

[Dan Fates]

Just watching videos of Tiger with, like, normal people also makes me jealous, so I can't imagine what it'd be like to actually play with Tiger.

[Mike Catalano]

Yeah. And the reason I said that in the video, when I said, you know, you have played golf with him. Bean's pretty intense when he plays.

[Dan Fates]

He's in so intense. We are the reigning Bills media champs. Yeah, we. We won. And. But he was also the one that we always joke around about. Every putt, every shot had to be thought through. And he'd be like, hey, you're 177 from the pin, but the pins in the back with some wind in you. So I want you to hit your 182 shots. Like, Brandon, I'm gonna try not to skull this ball. Like, that's all we're gonna try and do. Hold on.

[Mike Catalano]

You saying you're defending champs is like, the Bills entire wide receiver group. And Josh Allen saying, we had the best passing offense in the NFL. You were along for the ride 100%.

[Dan Fates]

100% me, Matt Perino, Kevin McGandick, and Brandon Bean. Doesn't matter.

[Mike Catalano]

Winners and Brandon Bean. You put him there.

[Dan Fates]

I was like. I was like Juwan Howard on, like, those Heat teams that won championships. Vibes.

[Mike Catalano]

You were Christian Laettner on the Dream Team. Yes, that's it.

[Dan Fates]

And the Dream Team was just Bean.

[Mike Catalano]

Yeah. You were Dan Aykroyd, and We are the World. Like you said. You were just there.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalano]

Yeah. Anyhow, that's about the golf. But I would say when you listen to him talk about things, I found it interesting about the wide receiver thing, and I know he goes back to playmakers, and I know he has gotten James Cook a running back who is a difference maker.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalano]

Dalton Kincaid in that way. But come on, Dan, he needs that out of the wide receiver position. Not drafting a tight end, not drafting a running back.

[Dan Fates]

Universally. We talked today, and you'll hear interviews from them. We're gaining, you know, talking to, collecting content for you guys. Chris Sims, tons of Matt Miller, all these guys. The Bills. It's well known the Bills need a wide receiver. And so when you talk about playmakers, and I think with the Bills adding Dalton Kincaid, who was a mismatch.

[Mike Catalano]

Right.

[Dan Fates]

But you still need more help for.

[Mike Catalano]

Joshua well, he becomes a bigger mismatch when there is a playmaker next to him and next to Stefon Diggs. And by the way, like you said, Diggs. Bean was asked about Diggs today.

[Dan Fates]

He's like, yeah, he's going to be back. I expect him to be back. And that nothing has changed.

[Mike Catalano]

No, could it? Yeah, I guess. But we don't expect that to happen since, poof, $30 million was added to the cap. Now let's talk about the cap and it being real.

[Dan Fates]

So we talked to Bean, Matt Bovet and I.

[Mike Catalano]

This was post interview. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

He said, anybody that says the salary cap isn't real is stupid. And he said it a little bit more colorfully, to which I went, sup, Brandon? And he's like, listen, it was great that he could say it. I don't know if he's seen my tweets, but for him to say it. Joking. Not joking. But I could also be like, hey, by the way, like, what I always appreciate and what he's kind of told us was he has a cap background. Like, for the first few years of his career when he was in Carolina, he said, like, that was his job was to. Every time a new player at a position was signed, his job was to write it on what was called a cap room. He said, so, like, Bean knows the cap. He wouldn't say it, I think as good as any gm. He says he's more of a. He said he learned how to figure out the cap and the CBA and all those things before he could evaluate talent. And I think that's one of the reasons why the Bills are so good with building a roster is because he knows how to manipulate it. Now, he says every single dollar that you put on contract has to be accounted for. Yes. But the way that you can maneuver it is different.

[Mike Catalano]

So here's the way you got to look at it. I have a friend of mine who's a very good golfer, and he will say to me, mike, putting is easy. Putting is easy. And he stands there and he just, boom. Hits the ball. It's easy because he's good at it. So he says it's easy. Now he knows it's not easy. This is what I'm gonna say. Like, when we say the cap is not real, we know it is sort of real. But when somebody says it's easy, they don't really believe it's easy. They say if you do it the right way and you manipulate the club the right way, it's a constant motion and isn't that easy for people that are good at it. The point is, you said that about Bean. You know what he got? He got the ability to not redo a contract or two because the lead gave him $254 million as a cap. So what that does. Because when you redo contracts, I understand there is a price to pay for that. You redo it, you kick it down the road, and then if that player doesn't excel, it can be a problem for you that you have to deal with. Right. So you said it. They found money for Von Miller. Great. Until it's not so great because he hasn't been a good enough player since he was injured.

[Dan Fates]

And Bean also did blow it up. He did come to a point in 2018 where you had to eat it.

[Mike Catalano]

It made sense then because the team stun 100%.

[Dan Fates]

And that's why when we, you know, he was also laughing about why the. The championship window is one of the dumbest things he hears by the fact of, hey, listen, this is the fact that you have Josh Allen, like, the salary cap is a little bit different when you have Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen or these quarterbacks that, you know, every single year, you can absolutely win a Super Bowl. So, yeah, you don't want to pay it right now. Like, you don't when everybody says, well, eventually you're going to have to pay for it eventually. When, as Beane jokes roundabout, he's long gone and Josh Allen is maybe 40 years old. That's when he paid. That's why the Saints got in trouble. They should have blown it up when Drew Brees retired, but they didn't. They tried to keep running it back. They signed Derek Carr to a bad contract. That's why the Saints are in cap hell. That they are. And they're not winning.

[Mike Catalano]

Right.

[Dan Fates]

When you win, it is different.

[Mike Catalano]

Look, you can do all the same things. They just redid the contract of Derek Carr. Yeah. The Bills are going to redo the contract of Josh Allen.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalano]

One is a great player. The other is Derek Carr. Yes, in that case. So, I mean, that, that's, that's the point that we make. But we are going to get a coffee mug that says Brandon Bean says Dan is stupid.

[Dan Fates]

He said it a lot more colorfully than that is. It was in the grand scheme. I don't know if it was a slight of me, but it was pretty funny.

[Mike Catalano]

For the first of all, you know, he's watching. You saw it on the video. He's got the buffalo. Plus, he. And you Know they're. They know when they want to know what to do with this team. We've given them some ideas, so we'll see what they can end up doing.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. And obviously they'll start to talk to players. Starting tomorrow. They have meetings and things like that planned.

[Mike Catalano]

So that would be Wednesday.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalano]

When you're watching this. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Explosive players. He wants speed and explosiveness. That is what they're looking for. Because for as valuable as Dalton Kincaid is and being the right pick, all of those things and adding that mismatch, he still wishes there were times that you don't have to go. Every drive has to be 10 plays.

[Mike Catalano]

He's right.

[Dan Fates]

And like that's tough to do. So like without having a holding call or a penalty or a personal, like all of a sudden they're going back. Like you need. Sean talked about it. Brandon's reiterating it. That's Brandon's mission though now is to find guys that can catch a five yard pass and take it 55. That is the goal here. Again, for as great as Dalton Kincaid is in that mismatch. He is. That's not his forte.

[Mike Catalano]

No. And the other thing being talked about is don't get too caught up in the size of the player because he said there are six foot, five guys who play like six footers. And he goes, we had a five, nine guy, Steve Smith, who is phenomenal player. He's like that guy played like he was 6, 4, stayed in on the red zone all the time because he was such a mismatch. Played bigger, played stronger. It's just the difference in players. So sometimes you'll see 40 times and say, oh, that's the guy we need because we need a fast guy. Hey, look, they have to have a certain level of speed, but it's not the one thing that they need. And the size is not always the one thing that they need. What else you got, Kyle?

[Dan Fates]

And it's not also. We'll get that a second. It's also the fact of don't fall in love with whatever the 40 time is.

[Mike Catalano]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

The 40 time has been. The 40 yard dash has been weird. It's changed so much because guys aren't running it.

[Mike Catalano]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

They're only running at their pro day and things like that. So Bean talks about there are guys that will run fast in a straight line at the combine that don't play fast because they're thinking they're having to do other things that are slowing them down when they're on the field. And that for him it is more important as we lost the light to find that more the playing speed.

[Mike Catalano]

Let's see, Dan's going to fix the light here. Here's the other thing. I was. You know, it's funny, you say that about 40 times. What do you got there? You say that about 40 times. You know, the thing I was thinking about is, you know what's a very real thing as Dan comes back. That's better. What's a very real thing about that is you run the 40 in your shorts. Right. And a T shirt.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalano]

You got pads and you're wearing a helmet.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. You don't think that players guys trying to kill you.

[Mike Catalano]

Yes. But I mean, just physically running is different. And it's not the only reason. But some reason. Sometimes a reason guy is got that football speed. They take the proper angles, the hip movement. All those things that don't always come out in a 40 yard dash. Now tell everybody why I called you Kyle.

[Dan Fates]

Unbelievable moment last night. We are walking to dinner.

[Mike Catalano]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

And we're walking by the convention center. And here at the convention center, because there are top players, coaches, all those things. There are also adults that want their autographs.

[Mike Catalano]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

They were at the airport.

[Mike Catalano]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

We landed. And they were waiting for them. So we're walking by and there's a.

[Mike Catalano]

All of a sudden, Right.

[Dan Fates]

We like shuffling behind us.

[Mike Catalano]

Yeah. It's like turn around.

[Dan Fates]

We kind of turn around and there's a pack. Yeah.

[Mike Catalano]

Paparazzi of autograph people.

[Dan Fates]

Six people. And then we kind of keep walking. And then I kind of look back again because they're still shuffling after us.

[Mike Catalano]

And then they. They stopped after we looked back at them. And the guy goes, oh, points to you. He goes, I thought he was Kyle Shanahan. And I told him, I go, no, this guy would have known to kick the ball to start overtime. That's what I told him.

[Dan Fates]

It's just a weird. Wore what I pretty much wore on the video yesterday with a vest and a hat. And that was about it.

[Mike Catalano]

But I don't think Shanahan's even here.

[Dan Fates]

I don't know. And I don't. So then the funnier thing was today on Tuesday, we talked to Chris Sims, who was teammates and like best friends. I believe they have a tattoo together on their ankles about their time at Texas. And I told him, I go, by the way, I got apparently Kyle Shanahan's doppelganger.

[Mike Catalano]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And what did he say?

[Mike Catalano]

You have the same shaped head. Same shaped head. By the way, if those guys would have Realized this was Dan Fates from Buffalo. Plus, they would have asked for his autograph, but they were a little short shook that it wasn't the Niners coach.

[Dan Fates]

So there's the look of disappointment.

[Mike Catalano]

And then we saw John Harbaugh trying to get into the. Did we talk about that last night?

[Dan Fates]

This is after we left.

[Mike Catalano]

Yeah. He. We're walking out and I turned to the door and I hadn't held the door. And I look, I see a guy behind me and I realize it's John Harbaugh. It's just the three of us outside, and the convention center is across the street from the Lucas O. Lucas Oil Stadium where he needed to go. And he's like, hey, guys, do you know if I can get in Lucas Oil Stadium, Coach? And I'm like, I don't know. And then I was like, coach, they'd let you in.

[Dan Fates]

That is.

[Mike Catalano]

It's the combine.

[Dan Fates]

That's the combine. We walking out of dinner last night and ran into Brian Dable.

[Mike Catalano]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Like, just. That is what the NFL combine is in a nutshell.

[Mike Catalano]

With his cigar looking like.

[Dan Fates]

And his good friend Brian Cox.

[Mike Catalano]

Brian Cox. And by the way, you know what I said to Brian Cox? Because. Because I referenced his big moment with the Bills and the face. I think he's moved past that. It was a long time ago, if you remember it. Cool guy. And D was D, so.

[Dan Fates]

And finally, I have not eaten today.

[Mike Catalano]

I know. So we are going to St. Elmo's. I'm going to have the salad.

[Dan Fates]

There was a fly in my mic.

[Mike Catalano]

Really? Do you ever see Seinfeld when Jerry's dating the woman who loves steak and they go to a huge steakhouse and Jerry orders a salad. It's just phenomenal. And then she cooks mutton for them. So we're not ordering. I don't even know what mutton is. I don't know what mutton is. We're not doing that.

[Dan Fates]

But shrimp cocktail.

[Mike Catalano]

Oh, we gotta have the shrimp cocktail.

[Dan Fates]

An old fashioned.

[Mike Catalano]

Old fashioned. I'm way more old fashioned, well fashioned in many ways than I am Manhattan. I've switched over. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I'm not a Manhattan. I don't like vermouth. I don't like vermouth.

[Mike Catalano]

Used to be a Manhattan.

[Dan Fates]

I don't like vermouth. Or Campari. I'll go to. A lot of times. We'll go to the bar.

[Mike Catalano]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Say, make me whatever you want. No Campari.

[Mike Catalano]

That sounds like I don't understand. No Campari. No.

[Dan Fates]

No Campari. Yeah. So we will give a review we.

[Mike Catalano]

Will give a review and we'll see how it goes.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalano]

All right. That's going to do it for us. For Dan Fates, I'm Mike Catalon. Kyle Shanahan, he's. He's not Kyle Shanahan. And for Jenna Cottrell, holding down the fort back at home. I know she misses this. Doesn't she miss it? Yeah, she said she doesn't, but.

[Dan Fates]

No, no, she said she had a little bit of FOMO yesterday.

[Mike Catalano]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Next year we're just having a good time.

[Mike Catalano]

Next year she can come with us. Cuz we're coming.

[Dan Fates]

Unless then you're not.

[Mike Catalano]

Well, we'll see. That'll do it for us. Please make sure to, like, comment and subscribe and we'll see you next time on Buffalo Pl.

[Dan Fates]

Buffalo plus your interactive look at the week in football brought to you by Connors and Ferris. In the time it takes you to actually board that flight from Group 8.

[Mike Catalano]

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[Dan Fates]

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[Mike Catalano]

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[Dan Fates]

So while you're waiting for them to make up new boarding groups, you can order your dream car and the dealer will have it ready in no time.

[Mike Catalano]

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[Brandon Bean]

So close.

[Dan Fates]

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