Buffalo Plus Podcast – "BILLS Season SUPERLATIVES and the LEGEND of 'SLICK RICK'"

Date: February 13, 2025
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

Overview

In this engaging post-season episode, the Buffalo Plus team dives into their annual Buffalo Bills team superlatives, breaks down the unforgettable story of “Slick Rick” (Roderick Murrow), and reflects on memorable moments and key contributors from the 2024-25 season. The trio—Mike, Jenna, and Dan—mixes in-depth analysis, inside locker room anecdotes, good-natured debates, and plenty of humor. Special attention is paid to both on-field performances and the emotional highlights, notably surrounding Josh Allen’s MVP honor and the impact of unsung team heroes.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

The Legend of Slick Rick (00:55 - 09:33)

• Story Introduction: Josh Allen’s MVP speech included an unexpected, heartfelt shoutout to "Slick Rick," the longtime Bills mailroom employee, Roderick Murrow.
  • "I almost had a heart attack when he said my name." – Slick Rick (01:04)
  • The acknowledgment sent shockwaves among fans and staff, with Rick sharing genuine emotion and disbelief at being recognized on national TV.
  • Mike, Dan, and Jenna discuss Rick’s humility, his daily bus ride to the facility, and his “living the dream” attitude after 15 years in the organization (06:47).
  • The story is recognized by national media, with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt highlighting it and referencing Maya Angelou’s quote about how people remember the way you make them feel (08:08–08:13).
  • The conversation underscores the Bills’ close-knit culture and Josh Allen’s down-to-earth approach. Jenna adds, "Some things are bigger than sports moments that tug on everybody's heartstrings..." (02:37)

Josh Allen: MVP and More (02:06 - 09:33)

• Allen’s MVP win is contextualized—not just as a football achievement, but for his self-aware and humble persona.
  • "It's great to have that self-awareness... they are people, they're just very good at a sport." – Jenna (03:26)
  • The team notes Allen’s willingness to connect personally with everyone in the building, highlighting the moment he recognized kids from a hospital video and the genuine reaction he had to it (04:06).

Team Superlatives: 2024-25 Buffalo Bills

Categories: Most likely to succeed, biggest improvement/surprise/disappointment, player of the year (offense, defense, special teams), and fun ones like best hair, most likely to be president, best on a deserted island, and more (10:06).

Most Likely to Succeed Next Season (10:37)

• Defense:
  • Greg Rousseau (Dan & Mike): Cited for impact despite lack of help on the D-line; high expectations for further growth (11:34–14:16).
  • Cole Bishop (Jenna & Mike): Praised for adjusting quickly as a rookie with hopes he'll build on valuable experience (15:21–16:56).
• Offense:
  • Ray Davis (Jenna & Dan): Shows flashes of production and resilience, both on and off the field, lauded for attitude and future upside (14:30, 17:03).
  • "That dude's gonna be fine. That's the way I look [at it]." – Dan (17:33)

Biggest Improvement (17:44)

• Khalil Shakir (Jenna): Developed into Allen’s dependable “go-to guy,” exceeding expectations for role and reliability (17:44–19:15).
  • "He lived up to the hype and then some." – Jenna (18:49)
• James Cook (Mike): Showed tremendous growth, proficiency in the run and pass games, and delivered big playoff moments (19:29–20:21).
  • "He could be my non-Josh Allen MVP and also biggest improvement." – Mike (20:00)
• Spencer Brown (Dan): Offensive lineman’s energy, attitude, and improved performance drew praise from around the league (20:34–21:18).
  • "He is becoming just a force on that line." – Jenna (21:17)
• Connor McGovern (Jenna): Stepped up as a reliable starting center after initial preseason struggles (32:55–33:37).

Biggest Surprise (23:16)

• Mac Hollins (Mike, Dan, Jenna): Emerged as a trusted target for Allen and brought intangible leadership and energy (23:22–24:18).
  • "Mac Hollins is an energy giver... walking into the stadium and his play on the field..." – Jenna (24:06)
• Austin Johnson (Dan): Little-used player tied for team lead in interceptions (24:44).
• Positive surprises contrasted with players who underwhelmed, moving the discussion to “biggest disappointment.”

Biggest Disappointment (25:42)

• Dalton Kincaid: Did not live up to lofty expectations set at draft; lacking consistent impact as a matchup nightmare tight end (25:42–28:00).
  • "He hasn't become that mismatch... doesn't mean the book is out, but... you needed more out of him." – Jenna (26:22)
• Kaiir Elam: Training camp promise didn’t translate to games; seems miscast in current scheme—likely needs a new team to thrive (29:01–30:48).
• Keon Coleman & others noted for not fully meeting rookie expectations (31:03–31:39).

Players of the Year (31:53)

• Offense:
  • Dion Dawkins (Mike): The backbone of an improved offensive line, set the tone and protected Allen consistently (32:01–32:51).
  • James Cook (Jenna): Explosive and reliable in both phases (34:50).
  • Josh Allen (Jenna): Nominee for his obvious and continued importance (34:53).
• Defense:
  • Terrel Bernard (All): Stepped up as the new defensive leader, only defensive captain, consistent play, critical role in defensive success and post-injury resilience (35:01–36:02).
  • Exploration of Matt Milano’s future and the need for durability/athleticism at the LB spot.
• Special Teams:
  • Tyler Bass (Dan, Jenna): Bounced back from midseason slump, clutch performances—especially a 61-yarder, strong in playoffs (37:16–39:32).
  • Reid Ferguson (honorable mention): Longest-tenured Bill and highly consistent snapper.

Fun Superlatives

Most Likely to be President (42:00)

• Vaughn Miller (Dan, Mike): Has the ego and profile to run.
• Micah Hyde (President) & Dawson Knox (VP) (Jenna): “Thoughtful, nice, calm under pressure” (43:25–43:47).
• Josh Allen, Terrel Bernard, Spencer Brown: Noted for various presidential qualities (or lack thereof).

Best Hair (44:24)

• Josh Allen (All): Newly grown “lettuce” was a showstopper, with style peaks at NFL Honors and through the season (44:27–45:51).
• Ty Johnson, Mac Hollins, Dawson Knox: All recognized for unique hair flair.

Most Likely to Become a Comedian (46:09)

• Josh Allen (Mike, Jenna): Praised for comedic timing and dry wit; parallels to comedic actors like Chris Pratt (47:12–47:25).
• K.J. Hamler, Dion Dawkins: Noted for energy and humor.

Best Person to Share a Deserted Island

• Mac Hollins (Dan, Jenna): Practical skills, positive attitude, and resourcefulness (48:30–49:16).
• Matt Milano: For those preferring a “quiet” island experience; discussed as “the silent assassin” (48:32–52:10).
• Sean McDermott (honorable mention): Would keep everyone fit and organized, but perhaps too intense (49:10–49:19).

Most Likely to Win the Lottery and Lose the Ticket (50:41)

• Keon Coleman (All): Personality matches the absent-minded archetype (50:49–51:03).
• Matt Milano (Jenna): Would intentionally avoid the attention of winning (51:08).
• Isaiah McKenzie (Mike): Classic absent-minded potential (51:14).

Other Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• On Josh Allen’s humility and self-awareness:

  • "Some people that maybe have played quarterback for colors that are green don't seem to have that level of awareness." – Jenna, referring to contrast with Aaron Rodgers (03:26–03:57)

• On Special Teams Synergy:

  • Discussion of holder Sam Martin’s pride and his confidence as “the best in the league”—emphasizing the importance of the snap-hold-kick relationship (40:39–41:18)

• On Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs (52:38):

  • Mike takes a victory lap after the Eagles’ Super Bowl win, mocking Mahomes’s garbage-time stats:
    • "The most meaningless thing is Patrick Mahomes threw a 50 yard touchdown to Xavier Worthy... after the Eagles had dumped Gatorade on Sirianni... maybe the most garbage time touchdown in the history of the NFL." (54:28)
  • "Go ahead, Chiefs fans... tell me that the Bills lost to him four times. ...I just wanted to get a shot." (55:07)

• On Legendary "Prediction" Bets (55:17)

  • Mike tells an incredible story about a family member's “parlay of the century” (NCAA, NBA, NHL, MLB, and NFL champions, Eagles as the final leg) worth $243 million on a $100 wager (55:17–57:44).

• Listener/Community Shout-Out:

  • Jenna gives a heartfelt update to a pregnant listener (Caitlyn), acknowledging Buffalo Plus’s community and their loyalty and resilience (59:17–59:52).

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Slick Rick’s Reaction (01:04):
  "I just broke down. I broke down because I'm just... I'm just an average person." – Roderick Murrow

• Josh Allen’s Human Side (03:26):
  "It's great to have that self-awareness in all of that..." – Jenna

• On Khalil Shakir’s Growth (18:49):
  "He lived up to the hype and then some." – Jenna

• On Mac Hollins’s Surprise Value (24:06):
  "Mac Hollins is an energy giver... walking into the stadium and his play on the field..." – Jenna

• On Dalton Kincaid’s Struggles (26:19):
  "He hasn't become that matchup nightmare that being in. Everybody told us he would be on draft night..." – Jenna

• On Dion Dawkins’s Role (32:01): "Dion is not only the core guy on that line... he made the Pro Bowl and he’s... a core guy." – Mike

• On Ty Bass's Comeback (37:26):
  "He hung in there, got back up. They brought somebody in. They had enough faith in him..." – Dan

• On Mahomes’s Super Bowl TD (54:28):
  "That is maybe the most garbage time touchdown in the history of the NFL." – Mike

Segment Timestamps

• 00:55–09:33: Slick Rick, locker room/organizational MVP moments, Josh Allen’s leadership
• 09:33–17:40: Superlative categories, “Most likely to succeed” picks
• 17:40–23:16: Biggest improvement, surprise, and supporting cast analysis
• 23:16–31:55: Discussions: surprises, disappointments, (Dalton Kincaid, Kaiir Elam, Keon Coleman, etc.)
• 31:53–37:16: Offensive, defensive, and special teams players of the year
• 37:16–41:53: Special teams relationship, Bass’s bounceback
• 42:00–52:10: Fun superlatives: president, best hair, best comedian, deserted island picks, more
• 52:38–55:07: Patrick Mahomes/Chiefs post-Super Bowl banter (“credit to me”)
• 55:17–58:42: “Biggest bet” story; betting, hedging, and sweating stories
• 59:17–59:52: Listener shout-out & podcast community appreciation

Tone & Style

Light-hearted, locker-room banter mixes with real analysis and community spirit. The hosts are unafraid of poking fun at each other, the Bills, and their NFL rivals. Candid, knowledgeable, supportive, and humor-filled—a perfect post-season wrap with inside stories and genuine fan engagement.

For New Listeners

If you missed the episode, this summary covers the emotional and analytical highlights, from the rise of “Slick Rick” to the inside jokes on Bills locker room personalities, and provides insight into both rookie progress and the resilience required to contend in the NFL. The “fun” superlatives give an entertaining look at how the team (and media) doesn’t take itself too seriously—right in line with the passionate, close-knit Buffalo fanbase.