JOSH ALLEN's new WHY & 'DAD Strength' + Beane & Brady on BILLS Draft PLAN and Keon Coleman (again)

Summary

Buffalo Plus Podcast Episode Summary

Episode Overview

Episode: JOSH ALLEN's new WHY & 'DAD Strength' + Beane & Brady on BILLS Draft PLAN and Keon Coleman (again)
Date: April 21, 2026
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
Location: Orchard Park

This episode dives into the current state of the Buffalo Bills leading up to the NFL Draft, focusing on updates from star quarterback Josh Allen, new head coach Joe Brady, and GM Brandon Beane. Josh Allen's personal growth—including the impact of fatherhood—his injury update, and the vibe in the Bills' locker room are discussed. The team also provides in-depth previews of draft strategy and addresses injuries across the roster, capped with candid conversation about Keon Coleman’s role and the evolving team culture.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Josh Allen Returns: New Fatherhood, Motivation, and Health

• Allen’s Presence at OTAs:

  • Despite the birth of his daughter, Allen showed up at voluntary OTAs, signaling both his commitment to the team and leadership (“It sends an important message,” Dan, 03:07).
  • Allen credits his wife as a “rockstar” for making it possible for him to be with the team so soon after becoming a father (03:07).

• Allen’s Evolving ‘Why’ as a Player:

  • Allen spoke about how while his desire to win never changes, the reason why he plays football has shifted with fatherhood:
    • “That want to win will never change. The why I want to do it—that’s changed.” (Josh Allen, 00:00)
    • “The will to win is not going to change. The why is.” (Dan, reiterating Allen, 09:48)
  • Discussion among hosts about how life changes (marriage, kids, grandkids) continuously reshape one’s motivation (Mike, 04:08).

• Dad Strength & Physical Prime:

  • Allen joked about “dad strength”: “Hopefully the dad’s strength kicks in, right? That’s what they say.” (Josh Allen, 00:18 & referenced at 09:10)
  • Classic Allen self-deprecation about turning 30 and not yet feeling in physical decline, nor perceiving 30 as the peak for a QB (09:10).

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2. Josh Allen’s Offseason Surgery: Injury Details and Recovery

• Allen on the Foot Injury:
  • Detailed the injury, recovery, and outcome in a humorous, accessible manner:
    • “It was actually kind of a previous deal that I never knew I had, and it just kind of jolted it loose…a little piece of bone just kind of broke off and was floating there. So they just went in, took it out, kind of like a small rock. They literally just cut it out, leave it on the table and sew it back up. Scar tissue will form around it. It feels really good right now. And I don’t feel like I have any limitations.” (Josh Allen, 04:53)
  • Allen joked about not getting to keep the bone, speculating, “Who knows? Black market or something.” (05:37)
  • The hosts kept the tone light, drawing parallel to sports collectibles and memorable sports injury stories (e.g., Ronnie Lott’s finger, Zach Wheeler’s rib, 06:45).

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3. New Team Vibe, Joe Brady’s Messaging, and Allen’s Take

• Joe Brady’s Slogan – “Put the Ball Down”:

  • Brady’s new philosophy is summarized as: “be ready to play football whenever, wherever, no matter the weather.” (Jenna, 11:23; further discussed 11:40)
  • Hosts jested about the slogan being clunky and not as catchy as past mottos, but appreciated the underlying sentiment around readiness and simplicity (11:51).

• Locker Room Culture and Fresh Energy:

  • Allen and Brady both emphasized a “fresh vibe” and much-needed positive change in the building post-McDermott (Jenna & Dan, 12:53).
  • However, hosts argued against media overstatement about past teams being “tight,” crediting both coaches and players for a consistently positive culture over the years (Mike, 13:36).
  • Notable quote: “This team was not tight. That is—that's in the mind of other people. They didn't lose games because they were tight. They lost games because they lost games.” (Mike, 14:07)

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4. Joe Brady & the Keon Coleman Conundrum

• Brady’s Commitment to Keon Coleman as a Key Player:

  • Addressed repeated questioning about Keon Coleman and his work ethic:
    • “Because I believe in who Keon Coleman is... I've never questioned Keon's work ethic. I've never questioned his athleticism. And I think when he surrounds himself with the people he needs in this building, it's all going to come together. And I have no doubt in Keon Coleman.” (Joe Brady, 17:39)
  • Questions about whether Coleman could play inside, and hinting at new personnel groupings with Shakir (18:03).

• Trade Speculation:

  • Discussion about Coleman as a trade rumor, and general notes on how the Bills might behave differently on draft night, depending on who falls or how the board shakes out (Mike & Dan, 19:09).

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5. Brandon Beane’s Draft Strategy and Player Evaluations

• Philosophy on Drafting and Trading:

  • Beane is open to trades but notes “it’s harder to go up, but... you’d never say never.” (Mike quoting Beane, 00:10).
  • Emphasis on “following what they do, not what they say” regarding the draft (Jenna, 24:29).

• Roster and Position Talk:

  • Discussion about edge rusher competition, potential plans for Solomon, and the likelihood of drafting at least one edge rusher (Mike & Dan, 21:42).
  • Honest assessment of Max Hairston, who Beane challenged to “armor up” and prove he can last a full NFL season; hosts read this as less than a ringing endorsement (Dan, 23:34).
  • Hosts speculate that the Bills may target cornerback in the draft and continue seeking a veteran corner, as the door appears closed on a Tre'Davious White return (Mike & Jenna, 27:19).

• Draft Class Quality & Pick Strategy:

  • Consensus that this year’s draft class is weaker than some previous years, especially outside the first handful of picks (Mike, 29:26).
  • Beane notes the number of first-round grades is lower than usual, but expects to get a helpful player at 26 (Jenna & Mike, 25:47).

• Draft Movement and Realities:

  • Despite annual hype, hosts are skeptical about the number of trades or the likelihood of moving back (“I feel like we hear that every year…” Dan, 29:26).

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6. Injury Updates

• Comprehensive Roster Updates (Jenna, 21:22):
  • Michael Hoyt: rehabbing, not fully cleared.
  • Dorian Strong: post-neck surgery, no new update.
  • Tyler Bass: “almost 100%.”
  • Tyrell Shavers: rehabbing a torn ACL.
  • Landon Jackson: closer to return than Hoyt, but not ready.
  • Khalil Shakir: had ankle surgery, participated in some OTAs.
  • Dwayne Carter, Jordan Hancock: progressing as expected, aiming for minicamp/training camp.

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7. NIL’s Impact on NFL Draft Landscape

• Hosts break down how NIL deals are keeping college players in school longer:
  • “If I’m a second-round pick and I’m going to make $2 million...but I can stay at school and my NIL is $3 million, well, then I’m going to stay at school.”
  • Impact: Older rookies, less-developed younger players, and a different calculus for early NFL entry. (Jenna & Dan, 30:45)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

| Time | Speaker | Quote or Noteworthy Moment | |-----------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Josh Allen | “That want to win will never change. The why I want to do it—that’s changed.” | | 00:18 | Josh Allen | “Hopefully the dad’s strength kicks in, right? That’s what they say.” | | 04:53 | Josh Allen | “It was actually kind of a previous deal that I never knew I had...a little piece of bone just kind of broke off and was floating there. So they just went in, took it out...” | | 05:37 | Josh Allen | “Apparently they wrapped it up and threw it away as quickly as they could. And I really wanted it...Who knows? Black market or something.” | | 09:48 | Dan/Josh Allen | “The will to win is not going to change. The why is.” | | 11:23 | Jenna Cottrell | “Put the ball down”—Brady’s new buzzphrase for readiness, anytime anywhere. | | 12:53 | Dan/Jenna | “There’s a new vibe. It is fresh. Josh said there’s a...much needed change.” | | 13:36 | Mike Catalana | “This team was not tight. That is—that's in the mind of other people. They didn't lose games because they were tight. They lost games because they lost games.” | | 17:39 | Joe Brady | “Because I believe in who Keon Coleman is...I've never questioned Keon's work ethic. I've never questioned his athleticism...It’s all going to come together...” | | 24:29 | Jenna Cottrell | “Follow what they do, not what they say...” (regarding draft moves and front office talk) |

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Draft Preview Show Announcement: 01:04–01:18
• Buffalo Sports Community Shoutouts: 01:37–02:26
• Josh Allen’s Leadership & New Fatherhood: 02:35–04:08
• Injury Q&A with Allen: 04:42–05:53
• Locker Room Culture Shift: 12:53–15:12
• Joe Brady’s Slogan Discussion: 11:23–12:53
• Keon Coleman Discourse: 17:21–19:09
• Roster Injury Rundown: 21:22–22:21
• Draft Philosophy & Player Evaluation: 24:29–29:26
• NIL and Impact on Draft: 30:45–31:58

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Episode Flow & Utility

This episode offers a comprehensive, candid, and humor-laced look at the Buffalo Bills as they prepare for a pivotal draft. With inside stories, live quotes, and critical analysis, listeners get clear updates on player health, front office philosophy, the new head coach’s messaging, and the evolving culture within the locker room. Major player topics—Josh Allen’s personal changes, Keon Coleman’s future, and key roster injuries—are all addressed. The episode is an essential catch-up for Bills fans and a practical primer for understanding the team’s 2026 offseason strategy.

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For further Bills coverage and to interact during draft week, tune into Buffalo Plus on YouTube, Wednesday at 7 PM.

Transcript

[Josh Allen]

That want to win will never change. The why I want to do it

[Joe Brady]

has because I believe in who Keon Coleman is. It's all going to come together and I have no doubt in Keon Coleman.

[Mike]

A trade, you know, I'll always listen. It's harder to go up, but, you know, I think with us, you'd never say never.

[Josh Allen]

Hopefully the dad's strength kicks in, right? That's what they say. Apparently they like wrapped it up and threw it away as quickly as they could and I really wanted it. But.

[Dan]

Now from the Connors and Ferris podcast studio, this is the Buffalo plus podcast.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast by Catalana Dan Fates. I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to like, comment, subscribe and share. We are in Orchard park today as a couple takeaways from our afternoon listening to Joe Brady as well as Brandon Bean, Josh Allen talking today, all ahead of the NFL Draft. The Bills got OTAs going on as well. So we'll.

[Mike]

We have a show coming up.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes, we do you want to explain it?

[Mike]

Yeah. What's today?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Seems like you do.

[Mike]

We're recording this. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday is our show. Wednesday Live with you guys. We're going to be talking about the draft, what the bills could do. Seven to eight o'.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Clock.

[Mike]

Coming to you on the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel, presented by White Claw. Join us, we'll talk about. You can tell us what you think, what they might do, what you want to see them do, what's going to happen in the league. That's Wednesday night, 7 to 8. And of course we'll have coverage all weekend and then wrap everything up Saturday night. Brought to you by White Claw.

[Dan]

And we were at the Bills on Sunday. Sabers on Sunday. Bills weren't playing, the Sabers were playing. So many people came up to us and said, love the podcast, really appreciate it. I also have somebody been meaning to mention for the last two weeks, Kevin. He stopped me at Aldi's. Great guy. Said he watches every single podcast. So shout out. Kevin. We really appreciate everybody that kind of says hi to us.

[Mike]

Yeah, really appreciate it as always. Well, it's just funny the way you said that, Dan.

[Dan]

Yeah, because I'm always a little like Mike's the pro at. At the meet and greets. We're trying to get there.

[Mike]

Yeah, Tim, Scott, Dave all came up to us at the game. Write it down, write it down. So they were great. And they yelled out a little Buffalo plus or came over and said hi.

[Dan]

Buffalo plus is strong in the Sabers community as well.

[Mike]

Yes, Love it. How about that game, though?

[Jenna Cottrell]

That was wild.

[Mike]

52 minutes of. 8 minutes of incredible pandemonium. That was great. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Well, it's gonna be a busy week ahead, too, because not only the Sabers with a game on Tuesday, and then also, of course, Thursday stuff going on, the draft starting. I mean, Bills and Sabers, but getting to talk to Brandon Bean like we talked about, as well as Joe Brady and Josh Allen, I wanted to kind of start big picture, and I know it's draft week, but I kind of want to start with Josh Allen just because we haven't heard from him as much this offseason. Obviously, him and his wife Haley welcomed their new baby girl. And he. He was back in Orchard park, though, and I thought he had a really nice perspective on things.

[Dan]

Absolutely. And I was not surprised that he was there. I know. Jenny, you said it does send a great message that he's there with a newborn and even said his wife was a rock star and all that she's doing and allowing him and kind of making it possible so that he could come to be with the team because he says that sends an important message.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. I think the reason. I'm also not surprised that he was at OTAs, but if you think about it from Joe Brady's perspective, it would have been understandable if Josh Allen was like, hey, I've been on this team for a long time. My wife and I just had our first baby. Like, I know that this is your. You're setting the foundation. Foundation for your team. But I'm, you know, I got my family stuff going on. So I. I wasn't surprised that Josh Allen came to the OTAs, because that is who he is.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But it would have been understandable for him not to be there as well. So I think. But Josh, he talked about how he always wants to win, and that has not changed, but the why behind it has, and I think that's really cool.

[Mike]

Yeah, that was a great perspective. And that's how somebody changes. Right. You know, it's for different reasons. Right. It's getting married, it's having kids, in my case, doing all that, and then having grandkids. Right.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

It does change perspective. And I love that answer from him about it just changes the reason because, you know, the way he's going to play. It also ties into when he was asked about his injury, which he's just hilarious about injuries, because he's like, yeah, they just. They just went in, they found this little chip of a bone.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

They just took it out and it started a while ago.

[Dan]

Yeah. Tim Graham asked him if he could go more in depth about the off season surgery that he had. And let's just let Josh Allen explain what it was.

[Josh Allen]

Yeah. Obviously, when see Myles Garrett barreling down at you, it's no fun. Try to put my foot in the. Foot in the ground. It was actually kind of a previous deal that I never knew I had, and it just kind of jolted it loose and it just kind of. Little piece of bone just kind of broke off and was floating there. So they just went in, took it out, kind of like a small rock. They literally just cut it out, leave it on the table and sew it back up and scar tissue will form around it. And it feels really good right now. And I don't feel like I have any limitations.

[Mike]

They don't put anything back in there?

[Josh Allen]

No.

[Mike]

Did you keep the bone?

[Josh Allen]

No. Our head trainer, Nate Bresky was there and apparently they wrapped it up and threw it away as quickly as they could. And I really wanted it. I know, I know. It may be floating out there. Who knows? Black market or something.

[Mike]

Well, what I loved about it was he talks about it like it was nothing because later he was asked, you know, you've just. You just go in, you don't take X rays. He's like, I'm good. I don't need. I don't need those. You know, who needs an X ray?

[Dan]

He's like, I'm playing Sunday.

[Mike]

Yeah, yeah. And they said, will that change? And he's like, no, no, no. He is really wired that way because there is hurt and injured. That's a little of both. I'm sure it was painful and he is injured, but, yeah, it wasn't even close to keeping him off the field. And then he just get that cleaned up.

[Dan]

I thought Tim was great too. Like, did you get to keep the bone? Yeah, it was funny. He's like, no. They threw it right away. And he even kind of said, like, Golden Meaning and Sports Auction company would have liked to have it. And I was like this thinking to myself, it could be like a Tops football card. It's like one of one. A piece. A piece of bone with Josh Allen's foot.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That is so foul.

[Mike]

It is. Zach Wheeler, the pitcher for the Phillies, I think had to have a rib removed. Yes, I think he has the rib,

[Dan]

Ronnie Lot I thought of him too, having.

[Mike]

Having the finger cut off.

[Dan]

The finger cut off.

[Jenna Cottrell]

My dad had surgery on his wrist recently and they had to, like, remove one of the screws. He kept it

[Mike]

Ben.

[Dan]

Thinking about keeping things that are, like, sentimental. I've been telling Renee about the marble.

[Mike]

Yeah. My daughter, she's not watching this. She was little, very little at the time. Swallowed a marble. Parents will understand this. I guess a lot of people will. We eventually retrieve the marble, and then it's in a cleaned. It's in a little bag with a couple of her other things.

[Dan]

The hospital is like, no big deal, right?

[Mike]

Yeah. They were like, yeah, it'll come. We'll see it eventually. And we did. That's not a body part, though.

[Dan]

Correct.

[Mike]

Battles are very specific. Usually that stuff is just like, yeah, yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Well, they did in this circumstance. Yeah.

[Mike]

Gone.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan]

Just wrapped it up, threw it away. He's like, could be somewhere. It was so good.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

Classic Josh.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was very much classic Josh. But I did think it was important, him being like, yeah, I'm good to go. Like, he was like, I feel good. The foot feels good. I'm not. Again, not surprised. But it's just always nice to hear because seeing Josh Allen and crutches a couple weeks ago, months ago, that was jarring.

[Mike]

Yes. And he has missed. You guys know, this is. These are voluntary.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

It's not the mandatory one, but Josh goes to all that. He did miss once for a golf tournament, didn't he? Did he? Yeah, it was the. It was holes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, I think he went to OTAS and then did the OAI after.

[Dan]

Yeah, that's what I thought. I can't remember.

[Mike]

He missed. It was for one of the. Maybe. Oh, it was for the one he did with Brady, I think the one they did the televised.

[Dan]

Oh, the match.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, That's.

[Mike]

That's been a few years back and whatever. He is really good about showing up to all the stuff. And he, you know, again, you can take time away from those. I do think it's important for the quarterback and to your point, especially this year for Joe Brady and, you know, him elevating to head coach. So it's obviously good to see him there.

[Dan]

Josh was asked about turning 30 this year and how he feels, and he said, you know, he kind of joked again in the classic Josh way of, I don't know when the peak male physique is. And he's like, but I don't think it's 30. And he's like, plus, I haven't gotten my dad's strength yet. All of that playing into it. And just like Jenna said, like, the sense of urgency. And I had tweeted out just the fact of all the life things that have Been going on, and he keeps things very private. We don't know. Before you comment in. We do not know his daughter's name.

[Mike]

We don't know anything other than it's his dog. Their daughter.

[Dan]

Yes. Here. Josh say it was. Was like, whoa.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. He's like, yeah, my daughter. I was like, oh, yeah.

[Dan]

He was asked about the winning and how it, you know, his mindset kind of. And how it changes, and he just kind of said, like, the will to win is not going to change. The why is.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

By the way, I said that, like, two.

[Dan]

I know. I was just reiterating.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Dan]

Just reiterating.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Mike]

He's. Don't even.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No.

[Mike]

Try to spell he. You saw him wearing his sabers.

[Dan]

Yes.

[Mike]

Popular, by the way. So it's not. Pete Guelly, president of the team and president of the Bills, tweeted out, we're gonna have a special guest to bang the drum. Bang the drum.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'll be there on Tuesday.

[Mike]

He did.

[Dan]

That was good. Buffalo plus is Jenna Cattle. Get the crowd fired up.

[Jenna Cottrell]

How disappointed everybody.

[Mike]

Bank would be maybe like, Buffalo plus they start chanting in the place. So I think he's gonna be at the game. I don't. You know, we don't know all the specifics, but, yeah, so, yeah, we'll see. So we'll see how it plays out.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. Do we want to talk Bean or Brady next?

[Mike]

I mean, Joe's talked a lot. He does get asked a lot of the similar questions as it goes along.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I did think one last bit. We did talk to Josh about just kind of like, the new messaging and the new vibe in the building. And I think it's. It's kind of been out there that one of the Joe Brady's new sayings or sayings that he has is put the ball down. And Josh and Brady kind of elaborated on what that means even more. So what they say is put the ball down. Essentially, that means that they are saying they want to be ready to play football whenever, wherever, no matter the weather. Put the ball down. They're ready to play.

[Mike]

Yeah. They should have. What is it they should have done?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Workshop.

[Mike]

Workshop.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. I. I kind of was, like, the first time I heard it was like, you want to fumble?

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

With Waldo.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I mean, I get it.

[Mike]

I'm saying it's always been the message from the team. It's the message of every team. We'll play in the parking lot. We'll do this. I get it.

[Dan]

Wherever, whoever. We'll play in a parking lot. Yeah.

[Mike]

Yeah. That type of thing. That's fine. Kind of lame. It really is. It's kind of a lame.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Like, I thought it was a little clunky.

[Mike]

It is a little clunky.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But that's, you know, but that's.

[Dan]

It's not going to fit on a hat.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What do you mean?

[Dan]

It's gonna be like three lines. Put the ball down. Three lines. I don't know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I just think, honestly, everybody eats. I know we didn't love the concept, but that. That's very easy.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That like, every plus, it's eating.

[Dan]

So she's. She's like a big fan of Mike.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Made fun of me today because I. We had subs and I got. I got two.

[Mike]

First of all, let me stop before she continues. I'm gonna interrupt her. She sprinted to the sub line, came back with two whole subs.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They were half. They were halves.

[Dan]

Like, you need help setting anything up? I was like, nope. She's like, okay. Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Hey, do you need me to do anything? No. All right, well, I'm gonna eat because those get picked over pretty fast.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. But, yes, the. Put the ball down. I thought was. I was like, okay, I get it. It's new messaging. I liked hearing about it. Understanding the concept. Yeah.

[Dan]

And Josh, much like we've heard most of this offseason or since Sean McDermott has been fired, the vibe. There's a new vibe. It is fresh. Josh said there's a. It was a much needed change. Those are all his words. And then said, but we all still remembering the culture and the past.

[Mike]

I. I heard him say that. I don't think he said it. It was a much needed change.

[Dan]

He said good change.

[Mike]

Yeah, he said it. Only reason is that can come across a little more.

[Dan]

Well, that's what I'm saying is that he finished by saying the change in whether it was needed or. I know the exact terminology. I'm not trying to put words in his mouth. But then said, like, we also remember the last 10 years of what we did. And he didn't say Sean's name, but that was the imply.

[Mike]

All for good vibes. And then playing with a lot of enthusiasm. I also don't like rewriting of history. I think this team has operated that way for a while. And no matter how many people who think they're on the inside, like to jump in and go, everybody was so tight. Everybody was so nervous. That's people who think they're there, but they aren't there. That's one thing. And that's credit to the players. In addition to Sean McDermott that they have conducted themselves that way. So I think Joe's right for bringing that to it. But that has been their message for a while. This team was not tight. That is. That's in the mind of other people. They didn't lose games because they were tight. They lost games because they lost games.

[Dan]

Also, the culture that had Sean had built took years. But then Sean also said, like, once you instill that culture, the players take it over. Yeah, it's not.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He said that while he was head coach in Buffalo.

[Dan]

And so I'm sitting there. It kind of contradicts things of you. Like, the culture when it was working, but then when you need to change, it was all the coach's fault. Like, it goes against some of that stuff. So, again, I agree. The vibe.

[Mike]

The vibe is good. They should have that.

[Dan]

Yes, it is different. Like, all of those things are true. I thought, you know, Joe said it and Josh kind of that same thing of it's fresh. There's a good vibe. It is also April, like, yes. Like, of course. I can't imagine going to a single pre. It's bad. It's bad around here. Like, the signs are falling off. Like, things are just. It's. It's a mess. Like, yeah, this is exactly what you. All 32 teams are saying. This exact kind of thing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I thought. I thought we saw a more relaxed Joe Brady, though sometimes I think I. And he has even said, like, he doesn't really love public speaking. And in press conferences of, like, having a bunch of media there. Like, I'm talking more like when he was introduced and talking run on sentences. Yeah. He's like, I'll do run on sentences. But he did seem a little bit more calm and relaxed, and I liked seeing that because we know it's been talked about so much about the juice he brings all that. And it. There felt like a lot of nervous energy in that. And today felt a little bit more grounded and a little bit more in control in a way that I was like, okay, I haven't seen this gear yet. And I thought his approach in terms of it's April, like, he's like, I'm not even focused on winning games yet. And. And the way he said it was, it's not that I don't care about winning, but I know we have to set up the foundation and move from there.

[Mike]

Thought it was all good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I thought it was great. The tone of it. I was like, okay, this. This makes sense to me. And I think where his mindset was made perfect Sense for also where we are in the calendar.

[Mike]

And I agree with you. And I think he. He's going to have to find the pace that works for him because it is a grind for a head coach during the year. And you mentioned the media stuff and all like that. He used to do one little. Well, it used to be zooms and then in part in person on Mondays after the games.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Well, now it's Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday. That is every week. That is a lot of media time. Plus his time gets spread thinner all the time. He even said that about he and Josh used to be together. Was it Josh mentioned Josh. They used to be used together all the time when his quarterback coach. And a Little less is O.C.

[Dan]

yeah.

[Mike]

And now it'll be less as. Even though he's play caller as head coach. So yeah, I did. I got that same vibe from him. Was a little more like, all right, I'm settling in.

[Dan]

I thought there was a lot more coach speak like him talking about we're installing the systems now and it's like it's the same system.

[Mike]

Yeah. This off well, but they have new players. They have some new players and they've got some new coaches. Yeah. And they may be changing some stuff.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Right. But yes, it's like.

[Dan]

Yeah, I guess it's flowers. It's. And Joe did say that he. Because there was a talk and we'll get to it because that was the big thing we took away from Joe was he's quadrupled down on Keon Coleman. He was asked about him again today. And here is Joe Brady once again on Keon Coleman.

[Joe Brady]

Because I believe in who Keon Coleman is. I believe in the people that we have in the building. And look, Keon. I've never questioned Keon's work ethic. I've never questioned his athletics. Athletic. Athleticism.

[Mike]

Right.

[Joe Brady]

And I think when we surround himself with the people. When he surrounds himself with the people that he needs down here, you know, in this building, that it's. It's all going to come together. And I have no doubt in Keon Coleman keeps going. Yeah.

[Dan]

And part of the question was could there be the possibility Because I think being alluded to a little bit of could you get Keon inside a little bit more? And there's a problem because you have Shakir that's inside and we're explaining there. And Joe's like, yeah, we gotta. You maybe we'll switch him. Maybe we'll get Shakir on the outside. You get a little bit More mismatches. You've had. You've had Shakir for three years. Like this is. And again, that's where I felt like this was a little coach speak. And that's fine. That's fine. That's what coaches do.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

It's just a little bit of you. You could have moved him outside the last few years, and you haven't. So I guess that's where I. I guess I not rolled my eyes, but it just kind of was like, yep, all right. Sure.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Adam Scheffner was talking about trades and potential trade candidates because we've had a lot of trades in the NFL. Keon's name was thrown in there. Now, that could just be some speculation just because of a player, but it did. No, it was just in there. So I think you said it. One of you two said it. You know, it's like if they go ahead and draft a wide receiver, well then. Then all bets are off here.

[Dan]

If they were follow what they do, not what they say right early.

[Mike]

If they were to do that. So yes, men, well, don't even follow. Don't follow anything that men do. We don't know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right. We can get into Brandon being too. I also want to make sure we get in some of the injury updates real quick. I can just list them off. So Michael Hoyt rehabbing, not cleared. Can do some things, but not a full go. Dorian Strong, there's no new update. We know there was the next surgery, but again, no new update on him. Tyler Bass, Brandon Bean says is almost 100%, so that is something to note. Tyrell Shavers is rehabbing, tore his acl, but he's attacking this next phase of rehab. Landon Jackson is closer than Michael Hoyt, but not fully cleared yet. He had the knee injury. Khalil Shakir, I don't know if you saw, but his wife posted about having some type of surgery this past offseason ankle. So he did get some work done and some was doing some things at OTAs, though. Dwayne Carter, Brandon Bean says is doing well and Jordan Hancock doing well. Expects minicamp in training camp. Timeline in terms of what Brandon Bean had to say. So just a couple injury notes there.

[Mike]

It was nothing specific, but it was like three times he mentioned farther ahead than Michael Hoyt. And the only reason I bring that up is it's a serious injury and he's coming back from Achilles. Yeah, but it's a guy that when you look at where they need some help.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

A guy who can be an edge rusher. Or standup linebacker, pass rusher. It. I think it plays into it a little bit. You got to be fair to the guy. That's a. That's a serious thing. It happened in, what, October?

[Dan]

Yeah, the Chiefs game.

[Mike]

P. No, he had. He played well in the Panthers game. Then he got hurt in the CH team. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So he played for, like, seven quarters.

[Mike]

Yeah. Now, as you said, it's April, but, you know, in terms of. It's not like he's close. Close yet. It's still got. I mean, it's still got a lot of time, but it was like, three different times. He referenced other people that were ahead of. Of Michael, so.

[Dan]

Yeah. And a lot of the guys you mentioned were on defense. Jordan Hancock not cleared either. He's still dealing with the shoulder. Did you mention him?

[Mike]

Yes.

[Dan]

Yeah, you did.

[Mike]

She did.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Jordan Hancock doing well. Expects minicamp to training camp. Of the timeline.

[Dan]

Did Zone out there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Josh Allen said that the want hasn't changed. Hasn't changed. Okay, let's get into what Brandon Bean had to say.

[Dan]

Javon Solomon.

[Mike]

Well, he was very specifically about a player who.

[Jenna Cottrell]

By Matt Beauvais.

[Mike]

Different. Yes. Who might be different in this system. And. And I think that makes a lot of sense because Solomon never found his role. But the clock's ticking on Javon Solomon. Yeah, only because I think they're drafting edges. Yeah, at least one.

[Dan]

They signed them.

[Mike]

Yeah. And so you've got. You've got avoid.

[Dan]

Meaning they've signed an edge. They haven't signed Solomon. They signed Bradley Chubb, obviously.

[Mike]

Bradley. So, yeah, Bradley Chubb. You're moving Greg Russo there. You have Michael Hoyt coming back. You're likely to draft another one.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Let's go. And then, you know, and we'll see. But, you know, physically, maybe it does make sense for him. What do you think?

[Dan]

I think that this is training camp talk. Like, this is offseason talk. This guy looks great. Best shape of his life. We're.

[Mike]

We're didn't really say that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We were. We were saying this before we were on camera. But Javon Salomon, obviously, they drafted him. You know, you always want to look at the upside, and with him in this new defense, he really didn't contribute in the old defense. So I feel like any amount of contribution on defense would be a step up. He obviously played on teams.

[Mike]

Right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But I was gonna say, in terms of the actual defense, like, he really didn't make an impact there. So I think anything would be, you know, a step in the right direction.

[Dan]

Were you surprised at all the way that Bean spoke of. Did you break the mic again? Yeah, yeah, way to go. Well, it's also this whole thing's on a three shot. It's the wide shot.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The remote here actually did my makeup and hair today.

[Dan]

The remote's not working here that I change all the cameras with. So this is just a good old fashioned three shot of all of us,

[Mike]

like we be out at the stadium.

[Dan]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, actually that's true.

[Dan]

Were you surprised at all the way that Bean spoke of Max Hairston? Because I was a little surprised.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Go on.

[Dan]

There are so many times like Javon Solomon or other players that it's always positive. It's always glass half full. I didn't get that full sense from what Bean said when he was talking about he's got to be able. You know, we talked about him. His best availability is, you know, availability. And he goes, he got a little bit of a taste of training camp. Now. The knee injury was kind of freak, but he needs to. Freak injury, but he needs to armor up and he needs to be able to now know what it takes to go through a full NFL season. It wasn't all of those things of where there wasn't a ton in my opinion. I guess that's just how I viewed it. Of this ringing confidence. And the only reason I say that

[Mike]

is because a few.

[Dan]

Several people are mocking the Bills. To have a wide receiver in the first or cornerback in the first round.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Say I was like, really?

[Mike]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What did we say? We said follow what they do, not what they say. Well, that was mine to begin with. But we talked about this earlier on today, not on camera about that would say. That would certainly send a message if in the first round they would take a corner.

[Mike]

Even if you took one in the third round.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't expect that, though I hear what you're saying where it's like Brandon Bean did say that needed to armor up.

[Dan]

Correct. He wasn't like piling on him or anything like that. No, just wasn't.

[Mike]

Let's also be honest, Max not even just being hurt, he is a thinner, smaller player that we thought was not particularly a great fit for what we thought Sean McDermott wanted. And it seems like if you watch the corners now, you got Patrick sir tan, so he's just, you know, really. But you've got. They seem to be more physical blenders and doesn't mean Max can't play, but correct.

[Dan]

Pure speculation of could it be Jim Leonard comes in is like, I need a bigger corner to Be alongside Christian Bedford.

[Mike]

I think it also depends on somebody falls.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Right.

[Mike]

And you're sitting there going, hm, this

[Dan]

is one of the 12 guys that I have a first round grade on. Is there at 26?

[Mike]

Because Bean was asked about how many first round grades.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He did say it was lower this year than in years past.

[Mike]

I think, I think a lot of teams are.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What did I say? 13? I think it's somewhere around there.

[Mike]

Yeah, you think about it. But as we always say, it's 13 from Brandon Bean. It could be 15 from Howie Roseman and 17 from the Dallas Cowboys. Or they're not all the same guys. So it depends on how everybody's board is set up. But guess what? 32 guys are getting drafted in the first round. So you know what I mean? Like, it's. It's just a matter of how much. Like he even did say Bean said, when we get to 26, there's a player there who's going to help us or they believe is going to help them.

[Dan]

Yep.

[Mike]

But do you draft him then? How much do you like?

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

And when you start thinking about those positions, it's like, yeah, I could see them. I could see them prioritizing a corner some point, or maybe even making another deal to get a corner.

[Dan]

And he didn't say anywhere along the lines of when they do their mock drafts, like they're going through right now, they went all the way to 91. He was saying on Monday, and they'll do that again. But they don't go into a round saying, we need to get this position. But he did say we le. We enter the draft going, we need to leave the weekend by adding to this position group.

[Mike]

And that could also still be free agent signings and even trade.

[Dan]

Sure.

[Mike]

Because there's players that are going to be out there.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

And so, you know, he was asked about, like Trey White. I thought he gave a. We love Trudevius.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The door is not closed on the idea.

[Mike]

The door's closed.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think the door is closed. That's kind of the impression I got.

[Mike]

The impression, like, he's gonna see.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The impression I got is that we have not even talked to Trey. That is. And that is again, my pure speculation, but I thought it was more so like, yeah, you know, that's a good point. The. The door is not closed, but we're at the point where we're looking at the draft and Trey probably wants to see what the draft brings for other teams. And just in terms of where he would be.

[Dan]

That's a good point. Because he had said, I think at the owner's meeting that they had been in contact with Shaq.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

So if it was a player like he has said openly, like we've been in contact and things like that. He didn't say that about Trey said that you never close the door. And somebody like I bring it up

[Mike]

because I think they will need a veteran corner. They need another corner. They need probably two outside corners. I would think that's what one could look.

[Dan]

I think they're going through the weekend going, we have to come out with a corner.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, agreed.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

So the draft's going to be interesting. They're sitting there at 26 and then to 91. You know, he has on occasion use some future picks earlier, but not much.

[Dan]

No.

[Mike]

And you know, it depends. It depends on who's sitting out there and maybe to make some moves. Because he does say he doesn't have patience. He's going to need it. Day two, sitting there really from 26 all the way through to 91.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

That's a long way.

[Dan]

And I, and I. This is partly getting into our Wednesday draft special. Again. I don't want to repeat myself on, on this podcast and that in the show.

[Mike]

You would never do that.

[Dan]

I would never.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But repeat what I say during the show.

[Dan]

It is when everybody says like every year it's, oh, this draft class, everybody wants to trade back. And you know, there, I think there'll be so many trades in this, this first round and it's like, I feel like we hear that every year and then there's the normal amount of trades or that, you know, there's very few times that Michael, Michael Penix goes in the top 10. That totally catches people off guard. And then there's always this thought that next year's draft is going to be loaded. Like we hear that every year and every year at this time we act like this is some revelation of this.

[Mike]

I think this is not a great draft. I don't think the high end talent is there.

[Dan]

But we've talked about quarterbacks.

[Mike]

Aren't there quarterbacks make the draft.

[Dan]

Agreed.

[Mike]

Because it spreads all the other players out. You also, I think, I think there's some thoughts that after about 7, the difference between maybe like 10 and 30 is not that big. And that's why some teams will be looking to move back a specific guy. Somebody's going to make a play up. It'll be interesting to see teams with picks in the, in the low teens or 10, 11, 12. You may not get what you would Normally get for it, but do you want to move back because you pick up some assets and then you pay less for a player that you.

[Dan]

That's why I just feel like it's going to be so hard to trade back because there isn't that you have

[Jenna Cottrell]

to find a trade partner.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

Why would somebody want to give up a second, a third to move up?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Because there's no quarterback too.

[Mike]

Yeah. Eight minutes between picks. That's fine. They could make it, which is fine.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But I'm saying like that make. There's less available time for it.

[Mike]

If there's trades for picks though, keep this in mind. You know, you take up seven minutes of your time and then you trade to another team. Well, then that team gets eight minutes. So it does push it back a little bit when there's those kind of deals for the draft picks. But it needs to move. The first round needs to move a little faster.

[Dan]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, that's true. I did think last thing for me at least is like the NIL and how players are either coming out older or there's a bunch of young guys that haven't had quite as much development but they're going pro. I, I do think that age is a really interesting thing to look at because it's like, yeah, do you take a guy that's younger that you think has an higher upside or a guy who has, who is older but you at least know what his floor is and that's where there, there's, there is that variance in this.

[Dan]

The NIL is the wild West. I know that's much more college in the sense, but obviously it affects the NFL. But it feels like the NIL has gotten to be like what draft money used to be when Sam Bradford was coming in, making the fourth most money out of any player and you're like, well, whoa, whoa, whoa. Because a lot of players, like you were saying, it's a great point. They're evaluating, saying if I get, If I'm a second round pick and I'm going to make $2 million in that contract, but I can say at school and my, my nil is $3,000,000, well then I'm going to stay at school. Like it's just financial decisions. So I feel like some of that has got to get figured out because that just seems crazy, obviously. And, and that's how it affects the NFL of that draft class.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, no, I agree. That's just another interesting point of, in terms of the picks, if guys are older, if they're younger and how it all pans out. Okay. Nothing.

[Mike]

Good, good, good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right. We'll be say it again Wednesday.

[Mike]

Wednesday night, 7 o' clock on the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel, brought to you by White Claw. We're also going to be doing a little White Claw draft.

[Dan]

White Claw draft.

[Mike]

Picking our flavors.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Picking our own six packs. So that'll be coming up on Wednesday. Just join us live seven to eight. And then all weekend long coverage, we'll drop in. Right. You know, within a little bit of time before the Bills picks. We'll talk to you live. We'll be posting our reaction to whatever the Bills do. It could be a trade out.

[Dan]

Yep.

[Mike]

It could be one of those quiet first rounds, but it also could be a trade up. You never know.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, it's very true. All right. We'll have to wait and see. Okay. For Mike and Dan, I'm Jenna. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. We'll see you later on on the Buffalo plus podcast. Thanks for watching

[Dan]

Buffalo Plus.