Podcast Summary: Buffalo Plus — "Bills surprise: Jordan Poyer is back"

Date: March 15, 2023
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
Main Theme: The surprising return of Jordan Poyer to the Buffalo Bills and its implications for the team, plus reaction to major AFC East news.

Episode Overview

This episode revolves around the unexpected re-signing of star safety Jordan Poyer to the Buffalo Bills on a two-year deal. The Buffalo Plus team delves into why this move is so significant for the Bills, the broader implications for the defense and locker room, and the value of Poyer's loyalty and resilience. The hosts also discuss the AFC East landscape, especially the impending arrival of Aaron Rodgers to the Jets, and touch on additional Bills and NFL news.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jordan Poyer’s Return: Context and Reactions

[00:09 – 04:53]

• Surprise Factor:
  The hosts express genuine surprise at Poyer’s return, with Jenna admitting, "I wasn’t sure this was going to happen, honestly." (05:15)
• Physical Toughness and Commitment:
  • Mike highlights Poyer's resilience, noting, "That guy played on one leg last year and one elbow… the fact that he was on the field last year, in all my years covering the Bills, I've never seen a guy in his circumstance, contract wise, put it on the line like he did last year." (00:24)
  • Dan adds, “He could have set out this whole year to get a new contract… this guy played at an all-pro level battling all those elements” (01:53)
• Locker Room Impact:
  • Jordan Poyer is described as "beloved in that locker room" (05:51), with his return seen as a stabilizing move for a defense facing huge changes.
  • Morale and financial optics matter: “When you’re giving money to some person, how it is viewed in the locker room…you have to sign Trey White to an extension now because what else are you saying around the locker room?” (06:13)

Notable Moment

• Poyer’s legendary road trip to play in Kansas City because he couldn’t fly after injury (04:53).

2. The Deal, Finances, and Roster Dynamics

[05:25 – 11:46]

• Return at the Right Price:
  • Mike: "When a player gets to a certain age... it’s that we have to figure what price we want to pay him." (00:54)
  • There is hope and expectation expressed that Poyer "got the money he deserved" (03:37), but consensus that the signing is a great deal for the Bills.
• “Hometown Discount” & Stability:
  • Dan and Mike discuss the “hometown discount”: “If it’s not a sizable difference... it’s more common sense to say why [go elsewhere]” (10:11), emphasizing comfort, contender status, and Poyer’s ties to the organization.
• Player Restructures:
  • Discussion about possible links between the restructuring of contracts by stars like Allen, Von Miller, and Diggs, and the financial ability to bring Poyer back (06:24).

3. Poyer’s Career Arc and Legacy

[13:18 – 15:26]

• From Underdog to All-Pro:
  • Reminiscence on how Poyer was a low-key signing: “He was one of those guys that sometimes the team signs and it was a nothing signing by the Bills... and look what he's become for them.” (13:38)
  • Dan recalls, “The storyline wasn’t what he can do… it was, oh, he played baseball." (14:10)
• Teammate Bond:
  • Discussion of Micah Hyde’s public plea for Poyer’s return, showing not just team chemistry but their place as the defense’s emotional core (07:20, 15:26).
  • Anecdote about Hyde getting Poyer “fired up” before games and being a locker-room leader (15:12).

4. Buffalo Bills’ Defensive Outlook

[16:07 – 18:28]

• Stability amidst Change:
  • Poyer’s re-signing “kicks the can down the road” in a good way, giving Brandon Beane more roster flexibility (16:26).
  • Discussion of LB Tyrell Dodson’s performances and the search for more linebacker depth, including possible interest in veterans like Bobby Wagner (17:50, 18:20).

5. AFC East Landscape: Aaron Rodgers to the Jets

[18:41 – 28:33]

• Pure Reaction:
  • Dan: “I hate this dude.” (18:44)
  • Mike: “He’s a 13-year-old on TikTok. He’s whining about attention… but I will tell you this, it's worth it for the Jets. I hate it, but it's worth it for the Jets.” (19:44, 20:03)
• Jets’ Risk, Potential, and Drama:
  • Debate over how long the Rodgers experiment can last: “There’s no way this could possibly amicably last even a year, even the season.” (21:06, Jenna)
  • Concerns about Rodgers' temperament, “he’s like a petulant child” (22:35), and how quickly things could go sideways in New York.
• AFC East Competition:
  • The top three teams (Bills, Jets, Dolphins) are described as “very talented, all with legit quarterbacks at different levels.” (25:40, Mike)
  • "I still think the Bills are the best team, but you can absolutely make a case for the other two." (26:05, Mike)
  • Patriots now clearly seen as the weakest in the division.

Memorable Quotes

• "The media lives rent free in that guy's head and he will say that he doesn't care, which only means the media has a penthouse suite in his brain." (19:44, Dan)
• "Jets fans will be insufferable for the next few months. They will be insufferable. But I, I just, I still don’t think they’re on par." (27:06, Dan)

6. Lighter Moments & Chemistry

[Throughout]

• The rapport between Mike, Jenna, and Dan is lively, self-deprecating, and full of Bills-insider references—with plenty of laughs about road trips, contract negotiations, and even potty-training analogies.
• Playful jab at New York taxes being lowered in honor of Poyer's return; “New York State just said they're going to lower the taxes for everybody this year in honor of Jordan Poyer.” (03:37, Mike)
• Several running gags (e.g., “passenger princess,” football/baseball cross-sport references, Aaron Rodgers’ “list of demands” vs. kid’s bedtime routines, 24:00+)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Jordan Poyer’s Impact & Return

  • 00:24 – 03:25: Analysis of Poyer’s toughness and importance
  • 04:53: Poyer’s drive to Kansas City despite injuries
  • 05:51: Poyer’s standing in the locker room

• Contract and Locker Room Dynamics

  • 06:13 – 07:04: Locker room insights & financial context
  • 09:44: Discussion of the “hometown discount”

• Poyer’s Buffalo Legacy

  • 13:18 – 14:41: Reflection on Poyer’s journey from overlooked signing to All-Pro

• Defensive Planning

  • 17:03–18:28: LB depth and possible free agent additions

• Aaron Rodgers/Jets Segment

  • 18:41–27:55: Unpacking the move, divisional ramifications, Jets/Pats dynamics

Conclusion

This episode is an engaging, insider-heavy roundtable dissecting why the return of Jordan Poyer is such a substantial move for the Buffalo Bills in 2023. The hosts celebrate Poyer’s resilience and meaning to the team, speculate on locker room economics, and address shifting AFC East power dynamics, especially with the Jets’ bold move for Aaron Rodgers. Laced with humor, memorable quotes, and genuine enthusiasm, this episode both informs and entertains anyone seeking to keep up with the Buffalo Bills and their divisional rivals.