JOSH ALLEN wants MORE, MCDERMOTT'S new 'WRESTLER', JENNA does DAMAGE plus MAILBAG QUESTIONS

Summary

Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills Podcast

Episode: JOSH ALLEN wants MORE, MCDERMOTT'S new 'WRESTLER', JENNA does DAMAGE plus MAILBAG QUESTIONS
Date: June 4, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

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Episode Overview

This lively episode of Buffalo Plus digs into quarterback Josh Allen’s candid outlook on the Bills’ evolving offense, the team’s unconventional signing of Olympic wrestler Gable Steveson, the push to land the NFL Draft in Buffalo, and a spirited, in-depth mailbag. The co-hosts deliver analysis, inside locker room perspective, and a few moments of classic banter—plus, a golf course mishap that earns itself “top five moment” status in show history.

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Main Discussion Topics & Insights

1. Josh Allen’s Comments on the ‘New’ Bills Offense

[03:02 – 11:40]

• Context: Josh Allen appeared on Dave Farrar’s USA Today “Touchdown Wire” podcast to discuss his first full season under OC Joe Brady.

• Key Quote (Josh Allen):

  “He’s bringing a lot of different concepts into our offense right now… it’s not the same mundane things that we’ve been doing the last six years. It’s different stuff. My eyes have to be better, my footwork has to be better… it’s forcing me to be a better quarterback… and I’m all about that.” ([03:21])

• Panel Reaction:

  • Mike Catalana jokes about Allen “throwing shade at Brian Daboll” for calling the previous offense “mundane,” but the crew agrees it’s more about Allen desiring to be challenged.
  • Jenna Cottrell:

    “Maybe Dable’s offense was a little mundane compared to where [Josh] is in his career…. To get to where he is now, we’ve got to change it up.” ([05:21])

  • Dan Fetes:

    “You have to crawl before you walk and walk before you run… Last year, we were essentially running the same thing back [with Ken Dorsey]. Now, with Joe Brady, there’s juice and new concepts.” ([05:47])

• Takeaways:

  • All agree Allen needs new offensive challenges appropriate to his evolution.
  • The lack of creativity under Dorsey is discussed, with optimism about Brady’s willingness to bring “the juice” and push Allen to new heights.
  • Jenna praises Brady’s past failures as key learning moments.

2. Gable Steveson Joins the Bills: Why the Wrestler Move?

[13:07 – 19:00]

• Context: The Bills signed Olympic wrestler Gable Steveson, who’s never played football, in a striking attempt to unearth raw, physical talent.

• Mike shares stats from wrestling expert Sean Carroll, noting Steveson’s nearly flawless amateur record:

  • “He won his next 174 matches… career record 212-3. Greatest heavyweight wrestler the USA has ever seen.” ([14:17])

• Panel Reaction:

  • All are clear-eyed about how rare it is for such an athlete to transition to football, especially at the NFL level.
  • Jenna:

    “…Goes back to turning over every stone… You’re trying to find pieces while the salary cap isn’t real.” ([14:44])

  • Team consensus: Steveson is a long-term project; seeing him in actual games (beyond preseason) in 2024 is unlikely.
  • Grappling skills lend themselves best to DL technique—leverage, hand placement—but even getting used to pads and a helmet is a major hurdle.

• Notable Moment:
  Mike: “Do you think they’ll make him just walk around all day in shoulder pads and helmets to get used to it?” ([20:01])

3. Buffalo’s Bid for the 2028 NFL Draft

[20:48 – 25:06]

• Context: Report by Ryan O’Halloran suggests the Bills will bid to host the NFL Draft in their new stadium in 2028.
  • The group is excited and see this as Buffalo’s “Super Bowl,” given no dome means no Super Bowl for WNY.
  • Past drafts in Philly, Nashville, Cleveland, Vegas, and Kansas City are recounted; consensus is Buffalo is deserving—weather is the only worry.
• Jenna:

  “This is an opportunity for Buffalo…you get to showcase the stadium, there’ll be shots of Niagara Falls, wings, all that… fits the blue collar, football city.” ([21:09])

4. Mailbag: Fan Questions & Answers

[27:59 – 43:14]

Salary Cap Space Post-June 1

[28:23 – 32:25]

• Robin asks how to spend new cap money.
  • Jenna suggests depth for O-line, more speed at running back/returner, or another corner.
  • Mike: Keep it as a “break glass in case of emergency” fund; you never know who’s available in August or who gets injured.

Bills’ 2024 Ceiling

[32:28 – 34:09]

• Matt Rollins asks about true ceiling for 2024.
  • Mike: “The ceiling for them is…go to [and win] the Super Bowl. If you have Josh Allen, you’re one of those teams that still has a chance.” ([32:39])
  • Dan & Jenna agree: the window is smaller but not closed.

Focusing on Offense vs. Defense

[34:31 – 38:23]

• 719 Tanker asks why focus is always offense; wasn’t defense to blame in big-game losses?
  • Strong rebuttal: Defensive stats are legitimate, especially given all the injuries. Offenses must now try to score 30 against Buffalo.
  • Jenna: “With all due respect…the numbers aren’t inflated. If anything, they’re more real.” ([34:56])
  • Dan: “If Terrell Bernard plays in that Chiefs game, I think they win.” ([36:31])
  • Group: McDermott and staff “coach up” defense exceptionally well. The way to finally break through is with more offense, not a defense overhaul.

Leading Pass-Catcher in 2024

[38:28 – 41:57]

• Several ask if TE Dalton Kincaid will lead the team in targets/catches.
  • Dan: “Most people are aligned on Kincaid…” ([38:48])
  • Jenna initially hesitates—but when numbers are checked, Kincaid had 91 targets as a rookie. The panel settles on Kincaid leading targets again, but total may just hover above 100 given the spread approach and no locked-in WR1.

Most Productive WR

[42:04 – 43:03]

• Jenna surprisingly predicts Marquez Valdes-Scantling (MVS) will have the most yardage among WRs; the others float Khalil Shakir as a strong candidate.

Lighter Moment: “Man Purse” Merch

[43:14 – 43:49]

• Marty McFly (listener) jokes about making a “man purse” available in the merch store—hosts laugh at Jenna’s supporters for her love of practical accessories.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Mike (on signing Steveson):

  “He just turns around and goes, screw it, man. We’re bringing in the greatest wrestler in the world and he’s going to play for the Bills.” ([20:40])

• Dan (on the ceiling debate):

  “Why is their window [Chargers/Bengals] open? The Bills have done more.” ([33:09])

• Jenna (on defense criticism):

  “So easy to say the defense stinks when Mahomes scores. Do you say that about the Niners in the Super Bowl too?” ([36:02])

• Mike (on O-line depth):

  “If they brought in another offensive lineman, that’s not a bad idea. You need the depth.” ([32:25])

• Jenna (owning up to podcasting miscue):

  “That was terrible podcasting. Apologize, everybody.” ([41:28])

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Notable Segment: Jenna’s Golf Mishap—A “Top 5 Moment”

[44:05 – 49:47]

• The episode wraps with a hilarious retelling of Jenna accidentally hitting Dan with a golf ball on the course—a “line drive” to the ribs, complete with shock, apologies, and lessons about tempo. It’s immediately crowned an all-time Buffalo Plus story, giving fans a glimpse of the crew’s off-air dynamic.

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• Intro / Topics Preview – 01:14
• Josh Allen & Offense Discussion – 03:02 – 11:40
• Gable Steveson Signing – 13:07 – 19:00
• NFL Draft Bid Discussion – 20:48 – 25:06
• Mailbag Q&A – 27:59 – 43:14
• Golf Story (“Jenna does damage”) – 44:05 – 49:47

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Final Thoughts

This episode blends insightful commentary about a new era for the Bills offense, the intrigue of athlete crossovers, and the continued strength (and scrutiny) of the defense, with fan questions and an all-timer offbeat golfing story. The chemistry and humor between Mike, Jenna, and Dan make for a listen as engaging as it is informative.

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For more: Visit Buffalo Plus Link Tree and subscribe on YouTube.

Transcript

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[Mike Catalana]

Time it takes you to actually board.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Board A flight from Group 8 now.

[Dan Fates]

Boarding Premier Altitude Elite club members.

[Mike Catalana]

You could have bought a Hyundai on Amazon. Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. Limited availability pickup through participating Hyundai dealer in select markets.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We have a top five moment in Buffalo plus history.

[Mike Catalana]

It was the whole team together. And I'll just say that there was an assault.

[Dan Fates]

No comment.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You shouldn't have been standing there. This is the Buffalo plus podcast brought to you by Connors and Ferris.

[Dan Fates]

All right, welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast, presented by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates, I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share, share and share the Buffalo plus channel with you and all your friends. All right, we're going to talk today about some comments made by Josh Allen. We're going to go over the Gable Stevenson signing by the Bills, talk about the draft possibly being in Buffalo, and of course, answer some of the questions that you all.

[Mike Catalana]

We got a lot of questions.

[Dan Fates]

You didn't even let me attempt to finish what I was saying.

[Mike Catalana]

I was just gonna say.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So it begins.

[Dan Fates]

Was that an interruption?

[Mike Catalana]

She did pause very briefly. Like it was like one breath. I just shot the gap, went in there and started talking.

[Dan Fates]

Wasn't even close.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, I was just complimenting our viewers.

[Dan Fates]

Well, yeah, our viewers are the best.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was thinking it's been a few times, weeks. It's been a week or two since we've all been back in studio, so I think Mike's just chomping at the bit.

[Mike Catalana]

I was ready.

[Dan Fates]

He's now.

[Mike Catalana]

When Dan and I did our pod together, I didn't interrupt you once, did I? Did you interrupt me?

[Jenna Cottrell]

No.

[Mike Catalana]

And it did.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Numbies.

[Mike Catalana]

Numbies. That's it. That's the way it goes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, starting off. Also. Also.

[Dan Fates]

What?

[Jenna Cottrell]

When we get to the mailbag, or after the mailbag. And all time.

[Dan Fates]

Nope.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All time?

[Dan Fates]

Nope.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All time. Buffalo plus moment occurred last week on location.

[Mike Catalana]

How's that sound?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

All right, let's get.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I can't tease that enough.

[Dan Fates]

Let. Let's get. Go to Josh's comments. Okay, so Josh Allen was on a podcast and are you going to insert the clip?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Okay. So, yeah, here's what he said.

[Mike Catalana]

Apprehiate that this is your first full.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Season with Joe Breed as your oc how much are you looking forward to that and what makes him great at what he does? Like, if he was your quarterback's coach before that, but when he got that chair, kind of what happened to the offense and. And how did it reflect on your performance?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I think the number one thing.

[Josh Allen]

That he brings is juice and energy to our offense. I think guys can feel how much he loves the game, how much he cares about it. We see how much work he puts into it. He's in the facility all freaking day. And then I'm so excited to kind of actually make this his offense, you know, and I'm just an extension of what he's trying to call, so making sure we're on the same page. He's bringing a lot of different concepts into our offense right now, which it's very fun for me. It's not the same mundane things that we've been doing the last six years. It's. It's different stuff. My eyes got to be better, my feet work or my footwork has to be better. And ultimately the ball placing has got to be better. So it's forcing me to be a better quarterback, forcing me to learn different things, which I'm all about.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So eloquently set up there by Jenna. It was with Dave Ferrara of USA Today, and he was doing it on the touchdown.

[Mike Catalana]

I think it's for our touchdown wire. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. And he was talking about just the excitement, obviously, of playing with Josh Allen or playing with Joe Brady's offense. I didn't really have you think that I'm going to be all butthurt about it.

[Mike Catalana]

He said six years. I think with the thing I think mine's going to be mad about is it is in some way the first time we would have ever heard Josh be critical of Brian Dable.

[Dan Fates]

I see. I don't view it as that.

[Mike Catalana]

No, I don't either, but I knew he would. I thought he would hear that.

[Dan Fates]

It's not the same mundane things we've been doing for the last six years.

[Mike Catalana]

Six years. He called Dable's offense mundane. He went after him. He took a shot at Dable.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know, I have a response.

[Dan Fates]

Debating has begun.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The group text. Mike's like, I. I can't wait to fire Dan up on this pod. I said, I've never been fired up ever about anything. So this is all new. I think where it comes down to is that where Josh is in his career to be challenged differently than what he had with Ken Dorsey. I think that was what really. That's how I took it as maybe davel's offense was a little mundane compared to where he was in his career and reading progressions and all of those things.

[Dan Fates]

And.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And then to get to where he is now is like, we've got to change it up now. Now we've got to do something different. And that's why I've been so adamant and such a big supporter and believer in Joe Brady with everything that he's going to bring.

[Dan Fates]

I think for Josh Allen, with Bri Brian D. Starting out his career, it makes sense. Like, you got to crawl before you walk and then walk before you run. And I think for this offensive for Josh Allen, he needed those mundane things early on in his career to get going. You saw the superstar that he would be and become. And so I think that was more him being kind and not taking a direct shot at Ken Dorsey by lumping it in with the offense overall. But I think that to me says, yeah, like last year, it felt like we're essentially running the same thing back that we did before just now under Ken Dorsy. Whereas now there's the opportunity of having the juice that Joe Brady brings. They love saying juice, by the way.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, you guys are so now here's what I did. I put my hands behind the chair. If you're listening, you want to hear it because I talk with my hands. Now, I wanted on record that I did raise my hand to Dan to follow up his comment before Jenna did. But then I graciously let you go first. So it was really big of you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And I will say almost had an aneurysm.

[Mike Catalana]

I do agree. I do agree exactly what you're saying. I think the offense was in the place it should have been under Brian D. With Josh Allen and he evolved and. And Ken Dorsey didn't take him to the next place. It just wasn't. And Josh, I hope he's doing this because this is going to take an adjustment in the way he plays.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But it's not making him boring. I'm going to hear everybody saying they don't want him to do this, they don't want him to do that. They want him to take the version that he is become more, probably more. I wouldn't say accurate because I think he's improved the accuracy. But to look at things differently, maybe get the. Get some help with the offense that you run with more motion, with more things to try to identify things for him and to be ready once that's identified to attack it. And I think he has the skills, the brains, everything to do it. But he wasn't asked to do that over the last few years. So when he says six years, it really isn't about Dable. But I was hoping to get Dan going.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I took it as another victory lap.

[Dan Fates]

Oh my God, no. It was a shot at Dable. Just like that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I have because I do want to see something new. That's what I want to see. And I think we're going to. With one wide receiver that's left on this roster that has ever caught a pass from Josh Allen. I think we're looking at a new version of Josh. I think we're going to see a new version of a Bill's offense because. And one thing that I've been such a fan of, of Joe Brady is the fact that he's failed before. Like, I, I think I can't stress that enough of why I like the fact that he is.

[Dan Fates]

Could say that about Ken Dorsey though.

[Mike Catalana]

And you say it about Brian D.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Dorsy was never a play caller.

[Mike Catalana]

That's true. He wasn't the play caller in, in the NFL.

[Dan Fates]

Okay.

[Mike Catalana]

But D failed as a play caller.

[Dan Fates]

He did. Multiple times.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Multiple times.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And so for Joe Brady, I think that's, that's what I like. I like that the guy has had to pick himself up and has learned from the mistakes. That's why I'm, I'm, I'm encouraged and have so much belief in Brady is because of that learning curve, that failure, that bouncing back. I mean, again, you're. He was part of that LSU offense. He wasn't really calling plays at lsu. Goes to Carolina, fails miserably with a horrendous roster, a horrendous setup, very tough to succeed. And now you're giving him tools, you're giving him Josh Allen and you're getting him a lot of pieces that he's going to get to work with from the start.

[Mike Catalana]

And the reality is, sorry, but you got to have balls to challenge Josh Allen at this part of his career.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

Sorry. You do.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And Ken Dorsey is not A guy who doesn't have that. But I. It was odd the way they mixed after he came from quarterback coach to coordinator.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I agree.

[Mike Catalana]

It's like he had the talent and the guy and he was trying to work it out. But I like the fact you struggling there. Okay.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It wasn't on camera.

[Mike Catalana]

That's funny.

[Dan Fates]

What'd he do?

[Mike Catalana]

It was. He was really clumsy taking his glasses off.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was not a clean catalon.

[Mike Catalana]

What is he doing? But he wasn't. He wasn't making him, I'll say it this way, accountable. He wasn't doing these things to push him in that way.

[Dan Fates]

Okay.

[Mike Catalana]

Victory lap. I know.

[Dan Fates]

Oh my gosh.

[Mike Catalana]

See. See what you get for a gram with him.

[Dan Fates]

Ah, yeah. It hurts, honestly. No, I, I get it. I see what you're saying about. Obviously Dorsey failed in terms of his pro career in NFL in terms of being a quarterback, but not as a play caller until this last go in in Buffalo. I think too, this is just a piece of we talked about before, like the evolution. It's like, yeah, so now Josh Allen knows how to run. Now he's sprinting. Now it's. How can we continue to add things onto his plate? Because what Josh has been able to do so far, it's really incredible stuff. But how do we continue to implement and bring in. I think the thing I want to see is just some creativity. Like, I feel like we saw that under Dable and I want to know what that will look like now under Joe Brady. Because we talk about him being, you know, passionate and bringing the juice. Those are all amazing things too. But I think you can criticize Ken Dorsey in saying there wasn't enough creativity in this offense. So how do you continue to push that down the line? Next?

[Jenna Cottrell]

There will be new wrinkles in this offense because there, there has to be. You can't roll the ball out and do the. Do what you've done before because you don't have the same pieces.

[Mike Catalana]

And I would also prepare everybody for shrugs, bumps.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Because it is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's nice that you've had a test drive.

[Dan Fates]

I agree. I agree. I, I do agree.

[Mike Catalana]

But it's. But, yes, but it's also with new players now. That's the thing. It's the combination of a new now for those players. They're coming in here is what we're going to do.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I mean, Josh is the one who has to adjust. But he did say terminology, things like that. He's going to make it what fits Josh Allen. But then it's the players. So. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

All right. Are we ready to talk about Gable Stevenson?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Nope.

[Mike Catalana]

You just gave him an N. Gable Stevenson.

[Dan Fates]

Dang it. Dang it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We talked about this just before we started.

[Dan Fates]

I know, and I corrected you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You also. Hey, at least you called him Gable.

[Dan Fates]

I know.

[Mike Catalana]

That's true.

[Dan Fates]

You didn't go with Gabe Stevenson.

[Mike Catalana]

They gotta bring a Gabe back in just for Dan.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I have seen a lot of Gabus T. Tearing it up at Jaguars.

[Mike Catalana]

Is he in the best of his life?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, he can. He brings a lot of explosiveness.

[Mike Catalana]

That's good.

[Dan Fates]

Diggs did go to Texans.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I mean, he. He wouldn't. How many times did he miss him here? Like, there's certain guys that miss.

[Dan Fates]

No, I. I'm just.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, no, I'm not just disagreeing with you. I'm just saying, as I saw people, like, that's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, he did it again.

[Mike Catalana]

I know. I know. I make it like it's Jenna's fault. There's plenty for me to get on or about, but this isn't it.

[Dan Fates]

So that's our. One of our critiques of Mic is that when. When I tell. When we tell him something, just us regurgitating what we see, he'll get upset at us. Like, I'm just telling you what I heard. I'm not.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm. I'm killing the messenger here.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's literally like. It's like, did you see this tweet? Like, well, that's just a stupid tweet. I didn't tweet it. That wasn't my dad.

[Mike Catalana]

You have had some stupid tweets.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I have. Ohtani. Search Dan, Fates and Otani.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, no, haven't deleted it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Badge of Honor.

[Dan Fates]

Okay, Gable, Steven.

[Jenna Cottrell]

There it is.

[Dan Fates]

So not a football player trying to become a football player.

[Mike Catalana]

An absurd wrestler.

[Dan Fates]

Absurd. So Olympic gold medal winner.

[Mike Catalana]

So I got numbers from a wrestling fan. His name is Sean Carroll. We all know him. He's an obnoxious Eagles fan, and they're the worst.

[Dan Fates]

Aren't they all?

[Mike Catalana]

Like, but he is a crazy. He wrestled at Syracuse. He loves wrestling, like, college wrestling. He sent me the numbers, and I'll tell you, just break this down. He said, until last week, Shawn McDermot was the best wrestler at One Bill's Drive. His career record was 9,723 and one, and he had a 64 win streak.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's McDermot McDermot.

[Mike Catalana]

Gable wrestled in Minnesota for Apple Valley High. It's a national power. He lost in the state finals as an eighth grader. Oh. At 195 pounds. He then won his next 174 matches. His career record after was 212 and three. He was, he was wrestling as a senior in high school and ranked fourth in the world against all.

[Dan Fates]

Oh my gosh.

[Mike Catalana]

He's the greatest heavyweight. Sean says that he's ever seen for the USA or anywhere in the world.

[Dan Fates]

Whoa.

[Mike Catalana]

Heavyweight wrestler.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So that's Nadal on clay numbers crazy.

[Mike Catalana]

Like eighth grade. He made at 195 as an eighth grader. Wow. Lost his third match of the year.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Never lost again. That's comical.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. That is absolutely insane. And he's only six one.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Size like it. Who knows how this is going to translate. I think it's again, this goes back to being turning under. Turning over every stone.

[Dan Fates]

Like, like you're trying credit Mike.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You're trying to find pieces while the salary cap isn't real. You are trying to work with what you have.

[Dan Fates]

They are getting creative. That is for sure.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So I think it's worth a flyer. I don't see why to give this guy a shot. And again, you also have the. Travis Clayton is another guy that they're trying to form into a football player.

[Dan Fates]

I, I, I see it, I understand it. I think like there was in the ESPN article it said that like Stevenson. Stevenson never even put on cleats until his workout right in Buffalo. I just feel like there's so much teaching that has to be involved. I wonder if, if the juice is worth the squeeze because there's so much that goes into getting someone up to speed on a football field. And in terms of would you trust that player in big moments?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know about big moments. That's a different argument. But what does Daquan Jones say?

[Dan Fates]

It's about whooping another man.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Football comes down to a man whooping another man.

[Mike Catalana]

So I've talked to you guys about.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He whooped a lot of men.

[Mike Catalana]

He did. Yeah, he did.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Gable has whooped a lot of men.

[Mike Catalana]

Our friend Brian who emails us watches our pod.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

He sent me a message that he wrestled and he was describing this player and he was talking about the skill set and he's very high on him. Again, he's a guy who's got a football background and a wrestling background. He believes that Stevenson will very quickly get his weight up and be a 300 pound guy. Believes he can easily do it and, and do that. But the skill set, it's so funny. We know this skill set absolutely applies to a defensive line.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Absolutely.

[Mike Catalana]

Almost every Part of it does. But Jenna's point is true. I mean, even when we've talked to other guys, like literally putting a helmet on you've never done. It is an adjustment. I don't believe maybe I'm wrong. You guys think differently. I, I believe the chances that Gable Stevenson plays in a football game other than maybe preseason for the Bills this year are zero. Right. Do we believe he's going to. Could be on the active roster for a game?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't think so, but I would agree with your. I would agree with.

[Mike Catalana]

I think that's the way they're thinking. Unless he comes into camp and he's just throwing people around.

[Jenna Cottrell]

How long did my. A lot of take?

[Mike Catalana]

I think he was not. I have to remember if he was not on the roster the first year, I think he might have. I don't remember him being on the practice squad. He might have been on the roster.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Because he was another seventh round pick like Travis Clayton.

[Mike Catalana]

And they quickly looked at him and I, you know, and said this guy can play already. Now he didn't play right away, but it was very quickly. They had drafted Andre Dillard and he was in there. So. Because keep in mind, no matter who the guy is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What's my first name?

[Mike Catalana]

Jordan.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Thank you.

[Mike Catalana]

If you want to get him on the practice squad, you got to release him. So if the guy shows anything, that's a danger that another team can pick him up. But I think those things. I do think it's looking. I mean, we are talking about the end of the roster here.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

We're not talking about them using a first round pick on a guy here.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And you're not, you're not saying he's. They need him to start. This is the potential of what having a physical freak of an athlete. What he could be with the coaching and where you are.

[Mike Catalana]

And there's been. Jenna. A lot of talk about athletes transitioning in other sports. Could they do this and do that. But I will say how many minutes. Certain positions are much easier translation to it.

[Dan Fates]

I mean. Yes. Defensive line. Absolutely.

[Mike Catalana]

I think both lines of scrimmage are. It's. It's the physical part is so much. And then the technique and wrestlers. No technique.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

And it's hand placement.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

It's leverage. It's all those things. So he's already got that going for him. I mean it's kind of like the idea of a rugby guy being a runner.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

But that's a, that's a catch the ball handoff the ball. That's different. Than it is on both lines of scrimmage. So I have. I have zero problem with them bringing this guy in.

[Dan Fates]

I mean, it's a true experiment.

[Mike Catalana]

It is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They got two of them.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

They're also Christian Wade.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I do remember Christian Way.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I just think that it's funny, Mike, you talk about the difference and where it is. I think everybody, at least that's listening and has subscribed. And if you haven't subscribed, subscribe now. Appreciate it. Has thrown a football and then put on shoulder pads and a helmet and trying to throw a football again. My brother played football and, like, being the little kid, like, hanging around there, being like, I can throw football pretty far. And he put a helmet. How restrictive it is where you're like, how do they do it now? Quarterbacks have special shoulder pads. There's few pieces missing compared to a defensive end. But, like, it is. You're right. Like, the biggest adjustment is being in cats. Like, Gable is used to being free and not having anything on him. So it is a difference in there that I think with time and repetition, you can get used to. But right now, that is completely foreign to him.

[Mike Catalana]

Do you think they'll make him just, like, walk around all day in shoulder pad and helmets to get used to it?

[Dan Fates]

Like a little kid who has to carry around a basketball at all?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, he's just walking around the house. And shoulder pads.

[Dan Fates]

I mean, the man didn't wear cleats. Like, think of that.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, well, they got a wide receiver that doesn't wear shoes.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, he's at least worn them before.

[Mike Catalana]

Maybe. I don't know.

[Dan Fates]

I. I don't know. I. I get it. I just.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, a little negative. You're not gonna give being credit for this one. By the way, McDermott made this signing, right. He's been watching YouTube videos of him.

[Dan Fates]

He loves wrestlers, that's for sure.

[Mike Catalana]

But it is comical that they haven't brought in that many players with a wrestling background. There's a few guys.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

And then he just turns around and goes, screw it, man. We're bringing in the greatest wrestler in the world and he's going to play for the Bills.

[Dan Fates]

Okay, let's talk a little bit about ahead, because per Ryan o' Halloran of the Buffalo News, he talked about the Bills plan to submit a bid to host the 2028 NFL Draft at New Stadium in Orchard Park. Dan, your thoughts?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Love it. I think that this is when they started to decide that the draft would rotate.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And they rotated cities. The Bills are never going to get a Super bowl because they did not put a dome on their new stadium.

[Mike Catalana]

And they might have still not gotten it correct.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But I think this is the opportunity for a city like Buffalo. We saw Kansas City has had the draft. I think this is a great opportunity. You get to showcase the stadium. They'll make it cool. There'll be shots of Niagara Falls. They'll have wings. Like. Like there are. If there is something we know, it's the blue collar Buffalo football. Like, this does fit in to what. They can host an event like this. So I think it's a great opportunity. I think it makes a ton of sense to me. Again, when they decided to rotate it, this was like, hey, the Bills could and should get this opportunity.

[Mike Catalana]

You and I have been to Nashville. Nashville. Because I had gone to Philly with Toby Mateka, used to work with Philly.

[Dan Fates]

You've been.

[Mike Catalana]

That was great. And I've been. Well, I'd been to. To when they were at Radio City in New York, but then we went to Dallas, which was great. That was the. Josh.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, my gosh. How did I. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Cleveland.

[Mike Catalana]

Nashville.

[Dan Fates]

Cleveland.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Cleveland.

[Mike Catalana]

The shame for Cleveland was the weather.

[Dan Fates]

The weather was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But again, if you're thinking Cleveland, anything Cleveland gets, Buffalo should get.

[Dan Fates]

I. I completely agree.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And listen, I just hope for everyone's sake the weather.

[Mike Catalana]

Weather is good because it really hurt that day in Cleveland. It was cold and rainy.

[Dan Fates]

I felt bad for Cleveland.

[Mike Catalana]

I did, too, because I think they would have put on a really good show. Detroit looks spectacular. I'm gonna say I didn't go to Kansas City. I'm gonna say it was bad just so we can say something bad about the Chiefs.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's fair.

[Mike Catalana]

But I will say this. Yeah. I didn't like Vegas.

[Dan Fates]

Okay. Well, Dan.

[Mike Catalana]

Dan, I didn't like it for the draft.

[Dan Fates]

Vegas was dope. Why didn't you like it for the draft?

[Mike Catalana]

I think there's just too much going on there. And they did it outside. I. I would have rather seen him do it in the stadium.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think it would have been cool. I mean, if. Obviously, like, if you could do it in the eye now, like, that would be a cool experience. But I thought it was cool with the water and the backdrop. I thought all that they brought him on boats and stuff. I don't.

[Mike Catalana]

It's just that there's so much going on in Vegas when you go to these other places. It took over. Yeah, it took over. That was the only part that was a little disappointing to me. But I love it for Buffalo. It was Pete. Pete Gully's the new team president. He's the one who talked to Ryan and I. I think what they say. 28.

[Dan Fates]

28. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

So they'll be in the stadium in 26 and then.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I think it's a great.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I'd love it. I think it'd be great.

[Dan Fates]

I am nervous about the weather, if I'm being completely honest. But that being said, I think Buffalo deserves to put on an event like this.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I think the fans.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think the hospitality concert outside, like.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I mean, I know, but it's April. I don't know. I just hit or miss, Right.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Right.

[Mike Catalana]

Who knows what. The way the off season is going to go. It might even get pushed back a little bit.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Later they get rid of the OTAs.

[Dan Fates]

And changes that go into effect.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't know when the new cba, I guess, for an adjustment to the cba, but I. No, I love it. I love it for Buffalo and the draft. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect even when I went to Philly the first time. Fans from everywhere. There's no cost. Like, you just go and you hang out and you think. It also takes away a little of the negative part of a game sometimes where it's fans and other fans sometimes. And it's about results. And it still is. Honestly, I thought people had a ball.

[Dan Fates]

No.

[Mike Catalana]

And Bill's fans were everywhere. Everywhere we went in all those cities.

[Dan Fates]

It's a cool. I feel like it is like kind of a moment of unity for everyone to celebrate the NFL. What it means.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Roger Goodell.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Get out. Get in on that. And then they do have a lot of NFL. Like, I can't remember. NFL, whatever. The free events are like, NFL. Yeah, yeah. Stuff like that.

[Mike Catalana]

They have all that, plus. But I will say this. I want it in Buffalo. It's going to be great. Personally, I think it should be in Nashville every year.

[Dan Fates]

Nashville was fun.

[Mike Catalana]

Nashville is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Everything should be.

[Mike Catalana]

It is just like a street of bars and boot shops leading right up to the state stage. That was the whole place.

[Dan Fates]

Remember that rooftop bar? Yeah, that was really cool.

[Mike Catalana]

Climb up there.

[Dan Fates]

Tell that story real quick.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So wasn't that the. The Rhys Davis story?

[Dan Fates]

No.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, we interviewed him the day before.

[Dan Fates]

We interviewed Rhys Davis the day before on a different rooftop bar in Nashville because let's be real, there are. There are a lot of them. It was hot.

[Mike Catalana]

Like, scorching hot. And we're up there and everyone. Everyone is sweating. Sweating, but not.

[Dan Fates]

And not cute sweat.

[Mike Catalana]

Reese Davis Was wearing a full suit, and he was perfect. He had not a bead of sweat. His hair was perfect.

[Dan Fates]

I think it was a three piece suit.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Annoying.

[Dan Fates]

The lights are on him and he was totally fine.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I want to get him on the channel just as a guest and just ask him about how you ever sweat.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, you got sweat. So real quick. So we're doing that show, Jenna and I, and our local station that we have in Nashville had been set up atop this rooftop bar. Great spot. And they had a spot for us, and Jenna and I had to get done our live shot and get up there to do the show. And the guy said we couldn't go the very short distance to get up to the top. He said, you have to go all the way around. It was like four city blocks down.

[Dan Fates]

And around, and we had not even like less than a half an hour.

[Mike Catalana]

So I. I'm going to use Jenna and had her ask the guy if we could cut through the fence.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Why is that?

[Mike Catalana]

Because she's taller than me and more intimidating. Yes. So we literally are cutting through a.

[Dan Fates]

Fence, like a construction fence.

[Mike Catalana]

And we get inside and we're like going like this, getting through. We go into this side door, go in. And now there's an elevator. So Jenna knows the way I am. So we're standing there, and there's like a line of people, and they're all talking or whatever, and I just weasel us up to the front. The door opens, there's like, thing is packed. We get in the elevator, just get in. We get in, we come out. How crowded was that bar?

[Dan Fates]

Insane.

[Mike Catalana]

Like, you couldn't move.

[Dan Fates]

You're just like, oh, excuse me, excuse me. Going through.

[Mike Catalana]

And then we pushed our way all the way to the back, Found our station set up. And the people who worked there were awesome.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, it was great. But the. The peak for me was when he was like, yeah, you're gonna have to go all the way around. And we were like, we should. We, like a live tv waits for no one, obviously. And we were anchoring the show from the top of the rooftop. So I was like, oh, my God, we got to figure this out. And then you being like, no effort, just cutting through, essentially construction zone.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Give away all of our secrets, though. Mike has a lot of secrets on how to get places.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, we can't.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We cannot release them.

[Dan Fates]

No.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, my secret weapon is just put Jenna there, Let us go through.

[Dan Fates]

Well, I don't tell people they're useless, so it usually works out pretty well.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Okay.

[Mike Catalana]

That was fun. That Was fun.

[Dan Fates]

Let's talk some of the questions. People had great questions. We appreciate everyone reaching out.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Stay tuned.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We saw story. We'll be at the end. I can't stress it enough.

[Dan Fates]

Okay, now you're overhyping it. You're being dramatic.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Can't. You can't overhype this story.

[Dan Fates]

Okay, whatever. All right, we'll start with this question from Robin.

[Mike Catalana]

Former Channel 13 Internet.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, okay. Like that. Hi, Robin.

[Mike Catalana]

And Robin knows this looks like Rory McElroy.

[Dan Fates]

Really?

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Well, we used to say that. I think we told him that looked like Rory.

[Dan Fates]

Well, he knows now.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, he looked like. To me, got the curly. He had the curly hair. He looked like Rory. He was an intern for us.

[Dan Fates]

How would you spend the additional salary cap money from the post June 1st cut? Post June 1st cut.

[Mike Catalana]

Go ahead.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I've thought about this a couple of ways.

[Dan Fates]

You're chomping.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I thought about this three different ways. One, I think I would. And this isn't exactly specific players. I don't have a specific player in mind. I think I'd reinforce. I think I would add some depth to the offensive line just in case. I think that this is not to say found money, but this is money that you kind of have most of your roster set. You have an idea of your starters. There are some mean off defensive lines, and the Bills have been very fortunate not to have to dip into reserves and backups of the offensive line. I think you can always bolster the defensive line or the offensive line. I think that's one of them. I would do. I would still be looking for speed on offense, whether that's a running back position, whether that's somebody that can return kicks, punt, punt returns, this, whatever this special teams is developing into. I think you can always add more speed. And I think that you could also have another corner. I think those are three things that I would still check off that I would still want to improve.

[Dan Fates]

Someone floated this to. To me, Micah Hyde. A little extra money available. Do you think that the Bills. Do you think now would be the time you had a little extra money?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Why are you. Why are your hands behind your back?

[Mike Catalana]

Because I'm Italian and I talk with my hands and I'm trying to be patient and not big of you and not dominate conversations when I shouldn't be.

[Dan Fates]

Sometimes you remind me of a windup doll where you just pull the string and you just keep going.

[Mike Catalana]

So I am kind of a doll.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

No. And I love Micah Hyde. He's one of my favorite players to be In Buffalo. I, I don't at the moment. They do not have a need for Micah Hyde.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm not signing Micah Hyde. And.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But I don't think they have a need for anything specifically. That's why I'm saying generally I would say this.

[Mike Catalana]

I wouldn't normally say it. I'm not spending that money yet. I'm spending it when I need it. You also don't know who becomes available later in the year.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

You don't know who becomes available. All of a sudden somebody's holding out, they want to deal. Somebody. I'm just. I. I'm with you on this roster. Unless there's somebody that you know. Somebody. I don't know if you were going to use the question somebody asked about Stefan Gilmore, who's a free agent. Xavier Howard and Xavier Howard. Like, look, if they wanted those guys, I think they could make a play. And do they? I don't know. But I don't know if that is an interest for them. But there's going to be a point. Maybe it's August 12th that they're like, h, this guy is available. Could be a wide receiver. Could be a team that brought in a. A guy in the fourth round and they're like, this vet's out of here. Go ahead, you got.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I agree with you 100%. I was just trying to thinking of if there is an injury already having somebody.

[Mike Catalana]

That's not a bad thought.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, but yeah, because I guess you never know if some other team has an injury and things like that. But I'm with you. I think that I agree this is a break glass in case of emergency. Emergency funds.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

This is a bean having money in his pocket that he can spend when needed.

[Dan Fates]

I mean, I went back and looked. They signed Leonard Floyd. June. Yeah, June 4th or June 5th or something like that. So they have made signings. Obviously, last year was a different circumstance in terms of the cap, but you're right. Maybe that's the rainy day fund.

[Mike Catalana]

It could. Unless he. I don't know if there's somebody sitting out there already that he's talked to.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But yeah, that's kind of what I would do. And then I would wait when that opportunity comes. You never know who's out there. But hey, if they brought in another offensive lineman, that's not a bad idea.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Because you know, you need the depth.

[Dan Fates]

Matt Rollins asks, what do you each think in your heart of hearts is the actual ceiling for the bills in 2024? It's a good question.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Michael.

[Mike Catalana]

Ceiling for Them is to go to the Super Bowl.

[Dan Fates]

Go to the super bowl or win the Super Bowl.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, win the suit. If they're in it, you can win it. I. If you have. I know, but I'm saying it's go to the Super Bowl. I'm just saying. I mean, I don't know who they're. I haven't determined yet who they're playing. No, I still believe this. I. I was out Friday. These guys. I know. And right away we're talking Bills. And the guy's like, yeah. I don't care what he says to me. I don't care how positive you want to be. The window is closed.

[Dan Fates]

He says, who said that?

[Mike Catalana]

Just this guy. You know who you are. And I'm like, why is it closed? Then I said to him, whose window is open? And they name, like, nine teams and the guy's name and like one guy's name. And like the Chargers. And I'm going, sure. But they haven't done anything.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Why is their window and the Ravens?

[Mike Catalana]

You know, it's easy. Bengals. I think Joe Burrow's great, but he's coming off an injury. They got a mess going on with the receivers at the moment. Who knows what their own line like. And they're still really good. And we have seen them go there.

[Dan Fates]

But what's their.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, they can go to the Super Bowl.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You have Josh Allen.

[Mike Catalana]

I would say there is 10 teams in the league. You could probably count that. Say they have no chance to go.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

Like, it just Tennessee's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Tennessee's not going to the Super Bowl.

[Mike Catalana]

New England's not going to the Super Bowl. Right. There's teams that, like, you're like, no, they just don't have it. They're not. They would want to, but they're not. There's another 10 that it would take. Something special.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And then there's 10 that you. Or 12 that you just know have a chance with the quarterback. Bills are still one of those teams.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I agree. So we can be critical and say it's a tougher, slimmer possibility, but it's still a possibility, and that's still their ceiling. Because of Josh Allen.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And because of. Don't. Don't click out yet. Because of a Sean McDermott defense.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Like.

[Dan Fates]

Well, this. This is. Leads to another question.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

From 719 tanker. I don't understand why everyone is so focused on the Bills offense and the need for a number one wide receiver. In the past few seasons, the defense dropped the ball and lost multiple big games for Us, I always fear, feel our defense is overrated and the stats are somewhat misleading. The offense was able to take leads near the end, but the defense just let the other team parentheses Chiefs, march down the field and score. Your thoughts?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I couldn't disagree more. And then all respect, with all due respect to Tanker, like, the numbers aren't inflated. If anything, they're more real because I always said this for the longest time about the Bills when they were in the drought and they always had a top seven defense because offenses came in going, we got to score 17 points, we're going to win the game. So offenses used to come into Buffalo, play a vanilla style game plan, not do anything. They'd win and the Bills defense would hold them to 20 points, but they lose 20 to 10. Now teams come in knowing they have to face Josh Allen, we got to score 30 points. And this defense has still been more often than not able to answer the bell. And they have still been with all the injuries. Tanker, look at what, look at what. Milano and Daquan Jones and all these things and Trey White and Micah Hyde Bernard. Okay. They still were really damn good.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Bottom line. So there's still a damn good defense. No matter who's injured. The players they've been able to plug in at times has been phenomenal.

[Dan Fates]

I also think too, like, the way the league is set up, it's advantageous. Advantageous for the offense.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's so easy to say, sorry, don't.

[Dan Fates]

No, go ahead.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, it's so easy that Mahomes drives down the field one time and. And scores a touchdown. Defense stinks. Like, do you. Do you watch the other games that Mahomes does this to? And then do you say that defense stinks too? Like.

[Mike Catalana]

Like the Niners in the Super Bowl? Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And guess what? The Niners defense is pretty damn good too. Like, so.

[Mike Catalana]

By the way, Jen, I want to apologize for Dan interrupting you there. Come on, be a little more courteous.

[Dan Fates]

I'll allow it.

[Mike Catalana]

Hey, and if I will say this.

[Dan Fates]

Can I read that you mentioned the name?

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, you mentioned the name. But if Terrell Bernard plays in that Chiefs game, I think they win the game.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

I agree.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Men be like, I'm bilingual, I speak English. And over women, it's the Buffalo plus podcast. I'm kidding.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm proud of us. Bilingual.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I didn't know. I didn't know.

[Dan Fates]

Pretty funny. No, I. Unfortunately, I do think that's the case. Case if Terrell Bernard was in that game and he was obviously gutted that he couldn't be out there. I mean the fact that it was almost in. I mean he was trying to get out there and how injured he really was.

[Mike Catalana]

The drop off was substantial.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Also, like we've talked about this before, but the fact of when we got out of that playoff run and especially after watching the playoffs, I never went there and said Bills need to get better on defense. I thought they need another piece on offense because you have to at times just straight up outscore the other team. We've talked about this before. The defense is going to keep you in games and that was when Josh got over the hump was that Josh now has to be good enough to win you games that the defense, you're going to have to win some shootouts against Miami 33 to 30 because there are good offenses that seem to trump good defenses more often than not. So again, I, I still think it's going to come down to you've got the ball last, you've got to score.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I, if there's one thing I have faith in in this team is Sean McDermott coaches up and his team coach up defensive players, especially the secondary. They just do. And with Babich calling. Well, we're going up to camp on Tuesday. Bobby Babich is talking, probably still won't tell us even though Taron Johnson sort of slipped, said Bobby Babbage calling plays. Jenna broke that story.

[Dan Fates]

Okay. He said it. That might not be the case for.

[Mike Catalana]

The season, but I think they coach up guys. I, I think it may be some adjustments, but I don't worry about them defensively. I don't. Just don't.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't.

[Mike Catalana]

I think they're going to be good. They need to be really good on offense if you want to win big.

[Dan Fates]

All right, so this is kind of a combo question from Lance Nelson and Jeremy Docter. Lance Nelson saying, I think most people are aligned on Kincaid being the leader in targets this season. Do you all agree why or why not? And then Jeremy Docter saying which receiver will have the most yards or catches? And then he also said whatever answer Dan gives is right.

[Mike Catalana]

Wow. Get out of here, Jeremy.

[Dan Fates]

Doctor said that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Shout out.

[Dan Fates]

Jerry, is that your burner?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, Got it.

[Dan Fates]

Okay, so most people are lying on Kincaid being the leader in targets. Do you agree?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't think so.

[Dan Fates]

Who do you think?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I don't know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's kind of a two part question. I know I need to have an answer, but.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, your answer.

[Dan Fates]

No, your answer would answer.

[Mike Catalana]

Your answer would answer the other part because I assume you're not going to say it's. I just think it's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I just think it's tough.

[Mike Catalana]

Cook.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. I just think it's tough to have a tight end lead a team in targets. That's. That's rare. Am I. Am I wrong on that?

[Mike Catalana]

I'd have to look to say like, you know, when these tight ends have.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Had very kiddo doesn't Andrews.

[Mike Catalana]

So where was he in targets last year? Was he second? He might have been second last year.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I know Gabe got targeted a ton.

[Dan Fates]

He did.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. He's tearing it up. I heard in Jacksonville.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know. I. I guess I'm not going to say Shakir. And I think whoever leads in targets isn't going to lead by like 30.

[Mike Catalana]

I think the safest bet is to say Kincaid because he's the guy who.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Is the only. Only true pass catching tight end. I mean Knox catches a few, but I mean Kincaid's that guy. They're going to expect him to.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You got it, Jenna.

[Dan Fates]

Do I got what?

[Jenna Cottrell]

The targets from last year.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, no. I was looking up how many with the Chiefs with Travis Kelsey.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't think like Kelsey didn't lead when Tyreek was there.

[Mike Catalana]

I think it might be if you said touches. I think Curtis Samuel could be that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Guy because I think between receptions and handoffs.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. And it depends how much they use more of a screen game. That could be either or forward handoff kind of plays that are considered passes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. I guess maybe I'm just being a contrarian to say it's not going to be concave with targets.

[Mike Catalana]

Wow.

[Dan Fates]

Diggs had 160 targets. Davis had 81. Shakir had 45. Hardy had 21. And how about Sherfield had 22. Isabella had one.

[Mike Catalana]

And how about Kade?

[Dan Fates]

This just has it's great podcast.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Sorry guys.

[Mike Catalana]

It was funny. She went right to the numbers and Dan's like, oh, Jenna's giving me the numbers. And then she's like, no, I'm doing something else.

[Dan Fates]

No, sorry. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm gonna say Kincaid had more than Gabe.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You think so?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Cause he caught. How many passes did he catch?

[Dan Fates]

I don't think so. What do you. What do you think?

[Jenna Cottrell]

He had 73 catches, 91 targets.

[Dan Fates]

Wow.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So. Yeah. So wow.

[Dan Fates]

He had 91 targets.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Hand up. Hand up. It's gonna be king Kate.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, wow.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

Can we just cut the rest of that out of the podcast?

[Jenna Cottrell]

That was terrible podcasting. Apologize, everybody. Yeah. Kincaid's probably gonna lead.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay.

[Jenna Cottrell]

To have a rookie have 91 targets. I can't imagine that gets cut down without a true number one wide receiver that will spread. I think a lot of guys will have, like, 60 to 70 targets.

[Mike Catalana]

I guess I would just be surprised at any of those guys having a hundred targets.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I agree.

[Mike Catalana]

Outside of him. Outside of Kincaid. Just because I don't think a rookie's gonna have that. I don't care.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Apologies.

[Dan Fates]

It's fine. Down that path, what receiver do you think will have the most yards or catches?

[Jenna Cottrell]

How about I got one for you?

[Mike Catalana]

I know you're gonna say, go ahead.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yards.

[Mike Catalana]

You're gonna say mvs.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, my God.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I am. Yep.

[Dan Fates]

I mean, his. Yeah. In terms of the stats of, like, how.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

His catches.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Mvs.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. I mean, I think.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think Khalil. And Khalil will have.

[Mike Catalana]

You asked him right up and asked him.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, it's Khalil.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What have we been saying?

[Dan Fates]

Well, no, you said Cole.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh.

[Dan Fates]

But I will. I will say that was the rumor that it was colol.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

So I asked him when we. We talked, I was like, hey, just so we're clear.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Khalil.

[Dan Fates]

Khalil.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Just like it. Just like it looks.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But that man is so cool. He just answered you like, yeah, yeah, I don't care.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Almost like, yeah, by the way.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. He was like, oh, you want to know what. How to say my name?

[Mike Catalana]

In a perfect world, you know who would have been the leader in catches?

[Dan Fates]

Roma Dunes. He's a handsome man.

[Mike Catalana]

Roma Dunes.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, my gosh. Okay, let's do one more question.

[Mike Catalana]

The last question. Go to the last question.

[Dan Fates]

I speak for all. Oh, this is Marty McFly. I speak for all Buffalo plus fans when I ask, when will the man purse be available in the merch store?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Is that funny?

[Mike Catalana]

It's very funny. Leave the man purse in the car.

[Jenna Cottrell]

There were a couple comments that had my back.

[Mike Catalana]

Really?

[Jenna Cottrell]

There were a couple.

[Mike Catalana]

Fellow man purse.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, my gosh.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Appreciate it.

[Dan Fates]

What did they say?

[Jenna Cottrell]

They were just like, oh, have that bag, too. This is great.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay, so now we have the story. Now, how do you call this story?

[Dan Fates]

I mean, there's more questions, but you.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, I'm just saying is. I don't know. You said last question.

[Dan Fates]

Well, yeah, because our. We're on for a little bit.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

We have to be more.

[Mike Catalana]

We have to tell the story.

[Dan Fates]

You know what? Let's do another question.

[Mike Catalana]

How about if I just start it and then Dan can take it? So just to set it up as a team, the Buffalo plus team is out playing a little golf we like to do that.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Jenna has really taken to the game. She enjoys it. Dan and I love to play. So we go out some mornings and play. We had a fellow employee here at channel 13, Stephen Pappas. He came out with us. We went out to play, having a nice round of golf. We're playing. Jenna is a nine hole golfer.

[Dan Fates]

Yes. After nine, I'm a nine holes and go dine and get lunch.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. She's not. But this was on the second nine.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. The. So she was still playing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But do you want to say what you shot in the front nine? Because I thought that was pretty impressive.

[Dan Fates]

So also, I started golfing in 2020 because I'd always wanted a golf and I never had so much. I only took one formal lesson. So I've really relied on Mike and Dan to help me along. So I never kept score because I was like, I'm not good enough to do that. And then Dan was like, you know what? I think it's time that you keep score.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You've all of a sudden this year you're great off the tee.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You're great with the driver. You've played in the bills.

[Mike Catalana]

Media.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Some media golf tournament.

[Mike Catalana]

Like, fantastic wedges.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes. And it's probably the best putter out of all of us.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. She just goes up. Bang, bang. It's. It'll make shaef well better than Sheffler. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

No.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So the drive is good and she's good around the greens. So now it's the in between part.

[Dan Fates]

Really struggle that my five iron. I should just light it on fire. It's just not good.

[Mike Catalana]

So we're on the hole. I'm standing on the left side of the green, Dan's on the right side, and Jenna is back a little ways. And go ahead, Dan.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you want to take it over?

[Dan Fates]

So I'm tired at this point. Again, back nine. And usually I'm fine around the green. So I get out my pitching wedge and all the guys are in front of me. They're on the green, subtle flex. And I go to hit it, and.

[Mike Catalana]

She made good contact.

[Dan Fates]

I made good contact and shanked it so hard right into Dan's rib cage. It was a line right into Dan.

[Mike Catalana]

It was.

[Dan Fates]

Did you just hit me?

[Mike Catalana]

He went down on his knees. And then we were laughing because it was. It was funny.

[Dan Fates]

I felt so bad. Oh, my gosh.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We were 30 yards apart. Like.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I would say 30 yards apart.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And you.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, my God. Gosh.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Sliced it just like again.

[Dan Fates]

Line drive.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Jenna's there I'm in that corner of the room. And it was in the green straight ahead where the camera is, and it went 45 degrees into my ribs.

[Mike Catalana]

I'll put it to you this way. If it didn't hit Dan, it would have been on the next tee. Okay, so it was. It was a rocket. It was going.

[Jenna Cottrell]

There was a mark.

[Dan Fates]

Immediately made a mark.

[Jenna Cottrell]

There was a mark. It said Titleist Noodle.

[Dan Fates]

It did. Noodle. Oh, my gosh. And I just love. Did you just hit me?

[Jenna Cottrell]

And for the record, we were riding the cart together, and she had literally just been like, your golf tips are so great. Like, I really feel like I'm starting to get this. Like, thank you so much for all your help. We were working this. This round on tempo.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was like, I'm your tempo coach. Like, you got this. All these things. And then she pegs me with a golf ball.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Like, if it was.

[Mike Catalana]

It was held. If it was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

If it was head high.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, if it was, I wouldn't be here.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I'm not gonna lie. If it was higher. Yeah, it would have been bad.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Just. Yeah, right there.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

I couldn't. I couldn't do that to you.

[Mike Catalana]

You were. You were a baseball player. Yeah, I've taken a shot in the room with the ball before. Yeah, this hurt more.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was the shock of being hit with a golf ball.

[Mike Catalana]

Like, in baseball. You're anticipating.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I could get hit, wear it like. Like, there's like, hey, this ball's coming at me. I could get hit with it.

[Mike Catalana]

Most importantly, though, wasn't even looking because.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was, like, looking at the green, so I was like, oh, here we go.

[Dan Fates]

That is true. He was. He was not looking.

[Mike Catalana]

It's like you should have had.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Like, there wasn't even. There wasn't even time for a four.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was just.

[Mike Catalana]

First of all, she's not yelling for.

[Dan Fates]

Honestly, it's better that you didn't duck, though, because if you duck, it would have hit you in the head.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But all I could do. You know what it was like, Jenna? It was like when I fell off the scooter and Mike just gives you one of those, oh, no. Like, where he doesn't really say anything. It's just the oh, oh, no Papas.

[Dan Fates]

After our colleague was like, her co worker was like, oh, yeah, you guys are going to talk about this all week. I was like, do you know them? It's gonna be the rest of my life. I bought you coffee. I now owe Dan a lot of coffees.

[Mike Catalana]

How was her tempo on that swing. It was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was great. It was the follow through.

[Dan Fates]

I made solid contact. Just happened to be with your rib cage.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's just the club face. We got to work on closing the club face.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Then she would have hit me.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No all time moment.

[Dan Fates]

It was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think what's also messed up about our brains too, is that insta. I was like, this is going to be a good pod right away.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, I'm so sorry, Dan. Although there's probably people in the comments that were like.

[Mike Catalana]

Finally, I say, I see merchandise here.

[Dan Fates]

A man purse, golf balls. We'll work on it. Okay.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's a little sore right now.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay. We could have a. We could have a viewer subscriber contest to see who could hit.

[Dan Fates]

There might be some people lining up. Let's be real. Okay. Anything else, gentlemen?

[Mike Catalana]

No, I think we're now.

[Dan Fates]

All right. Yeah, we're done with that story. Never to be told again. Yeah, right. All right, thank you so much for joining us here on the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel. Please be sure to, like, subscribe. All right. We appreciate it. For the next time for Mike and Dan, I'm Jenna. Thanks.