Post Bills Hard Knocks Episode 2 reaction from the Buffalo Plus Team

Summary

---

Buffalo Plus: Post Bills Hard Knocks Episode 2 Reaction

Air Date: August 13, 2025

Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

---

Episode Overview

The Buffalo Plus team of Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, and Dan Fetes delivers their live reaction and deep dive into Episode 2 of Hard Knocks: Buffalo Bills, discussing standout moments, behind-the-scenes insights, player features, and what surprised them about the show's editorial focus. The conversation is interactive, light-hearted, and peppered with inside jokes, but remains analytical and critical, pulling back the curtain on what "made the cut," what didn't, and how the Bills' franchise is being depicted for a national audience.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. General Impressions & Format

• The crew was disappointed but not surprised that they didn't appear in the episode ([00:20], [00:45]).
• Mike emphasized enjoying the football and meeting room content, as opposed to just surface-level or overly dramatized storylines ([00:45], [01:49]).
• Dan compared this season’s style to the Bills Embedded series, complimenting the team's internal production and how Hard Knocks is mirroring that approach ([01:49]).

2. Editorial Choices: PR & "Rose-Colored" Treatment

• The handling of James Cook's “hold-in” was labeled as “very Bills PR forward”—largely glossed over without context or drama ([05:01]-[06:48]):
  • Dan: “They like brushed it under the rug. Like, yeah, James is holding in but he’s in meetings… This is a very rose colored glasses way of looking at your star running back” ([05:29]-[06:10]).
  • Jenna: “Hold-ins aren’t like what they used to be… but still it’s not nothing, especially for [someone who] never really had this before” ([06:10]).
  • Mike: “Sean was a little annoyed by the whole thing… it is still the NFL” ([06:23]).
• The group concluded the show's edit was likely skewed to avoid negative storylines and perhaps at the Bills' editorial direction.

3. Missed Opportunities: Player Storylines

• Ray Davis’s Story: The group was surprised the episode didn’t delve into Davis’s incredible journey from foster care and homelessness. Instead, it only showcased him as the “best running back, slacks, extra point kicker” ([07:13]-[08:12]).
  • Mike: “How is that not as big a story… the whole country [should know] Ray Davis’s backstory” ([07:35]).
• Other Notables Omitted: No real content on Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Matt Milano, or Ed Oliver, which the hosts find surprising given their importance ([25:32], [32:51]).

4. Standout Personalities & Lighter Moments

• K.J. Hamler as a Breakout Star:
  • Dan predicted correctly Hamler could "be a star" this season ([08:57]).
  • Hamler’s “Scoot 3000” scooter segment was especially entertaining (“I think a squirrel took the other one” got laughs for being pure comedic gold) ([09:29]).
• Buffalo Joe’s Hometown Feature:
  • The emotional thread of Buffalo Joe being a local kid, getting an autograph as a child, and now returning as a player, was heartwarming ([03:26]-[04:03], [29:02]-[29:30]).
  • Reflections on how rare it is to have “the photo” from 20 years ago ([29:41]-[29:52]).

5. Behind-the-Scenes: Meeting Rooms & Coach-Player Dynamics

• The show’s strength lies in showing unfiltered meeting room moments and mic’d up players:
  • Jenna values seeing Sean McDermott’s vulnerable side, especially regarding his skin cancer journey: “It humanizes him in a way we sometimes forget about” ([11:00]).
  • Josh Allen’s evolving leadership with the receivers was highlighted—more mature, more demanding, showing his accountability and growth ([18:30]-[20:59]):
    • Jenna: “It was really nice to see that level of… accountability” ([19:49]).

6. Marv Levy & Franchise Continuity

• The Marv Levy phone call with Sean McDermott was cited as one of the episode's sweetest and most genuine moments ([12:29]-[15:26]).
  • Dan: “Marv answering the phone like it was a landline…like when you call your grandparents.”
  • Mike: “Marv is an incredible human being, who is still pretty sharp. I mean, he is 100 years old… he’s rooting for Sean.”

7. Demar Hamlin’s Journey

• The segment revisiting Hamlin’s journey from his health crisis to his current play moved the hosts. They called it "deep stuff," putting his comeback in poignant perspective ([15:56]-[18:00]).
  • Jenna: “[It] puts into perspective just the journey that he has been on and then truly, like, how much he has had to overcome, which is unbelievable.”

8. Quarterback 2 Battle: Mitch Trubisky vs. Mike White

• Debate over back-up QBs: the crew notes the show labeled Mitch a “super athlete,” which was met with skepticism and humor ([23:36]-[24:12]).
• Mike advocated for Mike White to “get some shots with the ones,” noting White’s live arm and upside ([24:12]-[25:10]).

9. Desire for More Authentic and Nuanced Edits

• All three hosts want more authentic, less sanitized content, especially tough assistant coach-player meeting moments and genuine “cuts” process ([26:33]-[27:40]).
• The heavy usage of “bro” by players sparked amusement and debate ([02:35], [27:52]-[28:04]).

10. Community & Recurring Jokes

• Lots of engagement with live viewers via chat comments, ongoing banter about the “Mike and staff” dynamic (“Mike and the bros,” “Janice, just one of the bros”), and playful self-deprecation around their own prospects of ever making Hard Knocks ([29:02]-end).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan [01:49]: “The meeting room stuff, to me, is the coolest stuff about Hard Knocks… it reminded me of all the other episodes… for Sean to say, you know, consistency and nothing’s new and that kind of stuff, I thought it was really cool.”
• Jenna [11:00]: “Hearing [Sean McDermott’s] backstory, I didn’t realize how in-depth it went, truly… it humanizes him in a way that I think sometimes we forget about.”
• Dan [12:41]: “Marv answering the phone like it was a landline…like when you call your grandparents…what a great interaction.”
• Mike [13:21]: “Marv is an incredible human being, who is still pretty sharp. I mean, he is 100 years old, and…he’s rooting for Sean…he’s been a supportive guy for the coaches.”
• Dan [06:10]: “This is a very rose colored glasses way of looking at your star running back…like, he’s not [just] taking a little time.”
• Jenna [19:49]: “One of the reasons why Brady was so good was because he could get after guys…to hear Josh be…demanding…we’ve been waiting to see that.”
• Mike [34:02]: “Just in the realm of highlights, if the plan is to do a piece on them and what he needs to be better…and what they’re saying, you gotta show the bad with the good. And I think that’s better storytelling.”
• Dan [09:29]: (on KJ Hamler scooter) “I think a squirrel took the other one. Was so good. Like, it was like they wrote lines for him.”

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:20: Introduction and brief disappointment at not appearing in the episode
• 01:49: Praise for authenticity of meeting room content
• 05:01: Discussion on James Cook "hold-in" and the show's soft-pedaled approach
• 07:13: Missed opportunity on Ray Davis’s backstory
• 08:57: K.J. Hamler segment and “Scoot 3000” laughs
• 09:29: More highlights from Hamler’s scooter
• 11:00: Jenna’s reflection on McDermott’s openness about skin cancer
• 12:29-15:26: Marv Levy phone call segment
• 15:56-18:00: Demar Hamlin’s journey and its impact
• 18:18-20:59: Analysis of Josh Allen’s leadership and accountability in meetings
• 23:36-25:10: QB2 battle: focus on Mitch versus Mike White
• 27:40: Desire for more “real” meeting/coaching segments
• 32:51: Noting the absence of content on key players (Coelman, Shakir, Milano, Ed)
• 34:02: Mike’s take on storytelling and authenticity in future episodes

---

Final Thoughts & Hopes for Upcoming Episodes

• The panel is eager for more in-depth, raw content that shows the real tensions, player development arcs, and assistant coaches in action.
• They speculate that future episodes might better spotlight up-and-coming players or offer deeper access to underexposed personalities.
• Hard Knocks’ current trajectory is “very positive,” possibly at the expense of a more complete, sometimes messy reality.
• Jenna, Mike, and Dan plan more live shows throughout the season, inviting community participation and keeping the conversation going.

---

For continued Bills coverage and insight: Subscribe to Buffalo Plus on YouTube and visit BuffaloPlus.com.

---

Transcript

[Dan]

Like, I was never going to be a big star because my parents don't have enough pictures of me. Like, you see, like to have those pictures shout out to Mrs. Andreessen to. To scrapbook them and set them away.

[Jenna]

Hello, and welcome back to the Buffalo plus channel. Mike, Dan, I'm Jenna. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe, and share. We just finished up watching episode number two of Hard Knocks. I see people commenting in. Tell us what you like about the episode. Tell us what you thought you want to see more of. But guys, I want to get your impressions of episode number two, and unfortunately, we were not in it.

[Mike]

Well, I think we kind of knew that we weren't going to be in it. I. I don't know if we're gonna make it. We had fun the day it was all shot. You guys got to see the podcast. So you guys who watch us see us all the time. So if you don't see us on Hard Knocks, so be it. We would have liked to have been on. I thought it was entertaining for this reason. I like seeing the football stuff. I like the meeting stuff. I like the mic'd up players. Even the stuff we don't hear all the time. And obviously, Dan, KJ is a. A trasher.

[Dan]

Yes. That was my big takeaway. Sorry, I was just getting. We're also on X. This is live streaming. Not in the Buffalo plus one. It's on mine. Sorry, it was just the only one that I had instant access to.

[Mike]

So you need a premium. Yeah, but we were scheduled on the. Yeah, go ahead.

[Dan]

We were. It's not premium, so it's. So now it's up.

[Mike]

Oh, on your pretty steel.

[Dan]

Oh, yeah, Mike, that was like. If we go chronologically after the. Being upset that we weren't on it again. But moving on, I did think the meeting room stuff, to me, is the coolest stuff about Hard Knocks. I. I felt the first episode felt like an episode of Embedded, and that's a compliment to Embedded by how good of a job the Bills do at that product. But it was really kind of co. See, like they're talking about this team as a football team. Like. Like it wasn't just like, it reminded me of all the other episodes of Hard Knocks that. That we've seen. So, yeah, for Sean to say, you know, consistency and nothing's new and that kind of stuff, I thought. I thought it was really cool.

[Jenna]

I realize I don't say the word bro enough. Like, every other word was bro. It's like, bro this, bro, bro. Dang, man. I Don't say bro at all. I gotta work that in.

[Mike]

Janet. You need to work it in. Like, stop interrupting me, bro. You could say that to either one of us.

[Jenna]

I'm sure I'll say that tomorrow now. But no, I thought that that was one of the things. I mean, there was a lot. There were so many, like, little plot points within the episode, though. I guess I forgot, like, looking back at, like, last year with the Bears, all that stuff, how they're able to kind of weave in so many different backstories of, you know, Buffalo Joe and Sean McDermott's skin cancer journey. Obviously the stuff with Demar, like, that point, how they're able to do all that and weave it all together is really cool to me.

[Dan]

Yeah, the Buffalo Joe was interesting. Obviously. We kind of called that, I think, when we knew that Hard Knocks was going to be with the Bills. I don't think he's had a good camp. And they kind of showed those plays of like, the coaches got, like, those are the plays that have stood out to me where it's like, been a nice completion. I've been like, die. Andreessen was in the wrong spot. So it was kind of funny to. To see a little bit of that, because last year it was like, who is this guy? And then he made so many plays and to even. Even see Beans response to dropping the interception, like, got to catch that, Joe. Yeah, I thought that was. I thought that was very interesting.

[Mike]

So I. I put this up. Josh had this comment. I remember Buffalo plus talking about that tie hit were spot on. I remember Ty was down and they were. I couldn't hear what Vandermark was saying. We just said, you know, basically, like, do not take a guy down at that side. That happens sometimes in a. In a practice where you can tell when guys get a little pissed because, you know, Ty Johnson went down and that was, you know, it's Ty Johnson, you know, and it was the day I think James was doing the hold in, so. So it was not a great day for the backs, but it was a good thing. He was okay. Yeah. I mean, some of the comments from, you know, from. From Bean, you know, they love saying Mitch is a great athlete.

[Dan]

Okay, are we gonna go chronologically or are we just gonna throw stuff around?

[Jenna]

Sorry. You want to.

[Mike]

Whatever you would like, Dan, go ahead. Let's go right down the list. That's fine.

[Dan]

Well, I mean, we all took notes, so I just thought, like, the James Cook Holden wild. The way they covered it, like, it was no big deal. Like, that Was one of those things where I'm watching it going. Bill's that final edit of this. Like, it was, it was very bizarre.

[Mike]

They did it almost like they knew today James was going to show up at practice.

[Dan]

It was very Bill's PR forward and not like the other thing of what he said about business and kind of the, the shock by all of us that he started a holding seven days into camp. I just thought they like brushed it under the rug. Like, yeah, James is holding it, but he's in meetings. And then like the running backs coach is like, you can leave. Like he just left a meeting. Like, it was. I was like, this is a very rose colored glasses way of looking at your star running back. Just be like, ah, he's just taking a little time. You're like, he's not. Oh, well.

[Jenna]

Holden's aren't like. Or holdouts aren't like what they used to be. I'm like, well, still, I mean, I get it, they're at the facility, they're in meetings, but still it's not nothing, especially for that's never really had this before.

[Mike]

Especially, especially at the game where I think we could all tell Sean was a little annoyed by the whole thing. So, yeah, I mean, yes, it is still the NFL and it is still going to definitely, you know, fans were worried about it being too negative. I don't think you got to worry about that.

[Dan]

We were like, this is going to be an episode one. Like, holy cow, they're gonna have to fit this in. And they like shoehorned it in for like two minutes. Like, yeah, by the way, James Cook's up. Play it. You're like, that's it. Like it. It seems to be a much bigger thing. I don't know. So that was just one of the things where I was like, that was very PR controlled via Hard Knocks.

[Jenna]

What was your other. What was the next thing?

[Dan]

Ray Davis. Awesome.

[Jenna]

Yeah, it's so funny. Like, I figured as soon as they got into Ray being, you know, the kicker, all that stuff, like, they would transition into his backstory being a foster child, growing up homeless, like all this stuff. And they're just like, best running back, slacks, extra point kicker. I was like, oh, I figured they would work that in somehow.

[Mike]

I was telling Jenny, you know, for you watching my wife during it, and I go, Ray has come up to me twice now and asked me, when are we winning an Emmy? Is what he said. So Ray's on board with Jenna in her Emmy nomination and now, you know, to see if they win. But on his backstory, which you're right. Like, how is that not as big a story as that was for Bill's fans? I don't think necessarily the whole country knows Ray Davis's backstory.

[Jenna]

Yeah.

[Mike]

And I. I figured by now they would have gone with that, but especially in that circumstance.

[Jenna]

That's what I was expecting. Yeah, that's what I was expecting. Because you think of his. His play, how with James Cook being out, like, him being elevated in terms of that. And then. Yeah. The backstory is like, are they using a Jenna filter?

[Dan]

We look dorky.

[Jenna]

Wow. Thank you so much.

[Mike]

Jeez. I'm taking a shot.

[Dan]

Full disclosure. When we watched the first episode together, Jenna walked in, and I went, you got ready?

[Jenna]

Yeah. Episode two did not get ready.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Jenna]

Oh, that's really funny. Okay. All right.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

K.J. hamler, I think credit to me. I think I did throw him out there that he could be a star. I think when we talked about it, I did say, like, sneaky KJ Hamler from your mic, when you talked to him last year about, like, knowing Rochester.

[Mike]

And he went off on garbage plates, and he was like, oh, I know. Garbage plates. Like, he knew all that, and he was great.

[Dan]

The Scoot 3000 was an awesome. Just all of those were so clippable moments.

[Jenna]

The bell on the scooter, he goes.

[Dan]

I think a squirrel took the other one. Was so good. Like, it was like they wrote lines for him. That was how funny he was.

[Mike]

He was miked on the touchdown, wasn't he?

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

And he's like, oh. He goes. I give this other. He's like, I was sitting, like, oh, oh. And then he goes. And then you show the clip of him, and he's running down the field going, oh, like, I'm open. Was so good stuff. I. I think we had known a little bit about the skin cancer stuff. It was cool to tie it back. Cool. Thoughtful.

[Mike]

No, I. I think it was cool. I think.

[Dan]

I think Jim Johnson.

[Mike]

Yes. And. And the idea. Because you see, people don't know, you know, Sean wears a lot of protective clothing, but he's been through that, and he's not the only person in the. In the world. I mean, it is a real concern, and I think to have a guy in his position talk about it like that, when sometimes people can be a little dismissive of it. I thought that was kind of cool for him. I. Yeah, I. I thought that was good.

[Jenna]

I interrupted you. I apologize, bro.

[Mike]

Let's start that trend.

[Jenna]

No, I do think Sean is such a A, I don't want to say guarded, but obviously he doesn't really share a lot of his personality, personal life. Like, we know a lot about Sean in terms of the Persona of Sean, but the personal side of Sean, I feel like he is very private in that way. So hearing his backstory about, I didn't realize how in depth it went, truly. And him talking about on his nose, like, having to keep cutting away and just. You see Sean on a hot day wearing the big hat and the sleeves and all that stuff, but once you peel back the layers and learn the reasons why, A, it makes more sense, but B, it's also humanizes him in a way that I think sometimes we forget about. But I also just loved, like, some of the things. And Daniel mentioned this earlier, like, being inside the meeting rooms in places that we are not normally allowed. Like, hearing what Sean has to say about the message of even consistency and how, you know, it's such a preseason game number one for a lot of these guys, it is literally like make or break for them in their NFL careers. What kind of tape can they put out there? But him talking about how you've already done the work, like, putting his players at ease so they can play comfortable and play fast, like, just some of the messaging that you saw from Sean, it was just another side of him that I think we really haven't seen as much.

[Dan]

Hamler scooter is getting a lot of. A lot of air time. And it is, again, I think. I think they put it in the second one after the first clip went so viral of just that of it.

[Mike]

So where do you think the scooter came from? Do you think that scooter company. Yeah. Just sent him to him. Right. And they get. You know, he's talking about it. That was cool. Yeah. I don't think there's any. I don't think there's any doubt.

[Dan]

One of the. I honestly think the coolest moment of the episode for me, outside of the funny moments of KJ being the national treasure that he is, was calling Marv Levy.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

Again, Mike, you've interact. I've never met Marv Levy. And you have a great story about Marv Levy that I want you to tell. But it's so funny. Like, Marv answering the phone like it was a landline. And maybe it was. Maybe it was a landline. But, like, answering it like, hello, it's like, hey, it's Sean McDermott from the Buffalo Bills. Like that. Like, Like. Like when you call your grandparents and you're like, hey, it's me. Like, that was a very genuine, sweet interaction. And to see Marva, you know, Sean's face after hanging on the phone, like, now we can start our day. Like, what a great interaction. I thought that was really cool to see.

[Mike]

Now, I will say a couple of things about Marv. Marv is an incredible human being who is still pretty sharp. I mean, he is 100 years old, and he and Sean have had a lot of interactions. And, I mean, he's been there. He was there when he first got hired. Like, Marv has been around the team comes in just about every year for a game, and so we hope that he. He comes in again this time. So. So it was a phone call, but they've spoken. It's not like he's never talked to him. And Sean is always so gracious when it comes to Marv, and Marv is that guy. Like, Marv knows his place in the franchise, but he's rooting for Sean. He always has been. From the beginning. He's been a supportive guy for the coaches. So I thought that was. You're right. I thought that was cool that they. That they made that connection and they. They put it on. Put it on the show. The story real quick was. I mean, I got to cover Marv as a coach, and I did the games with him in the preseason, which was awesome, when I was a sideline reporter, and we sat at lunch before a game, and Marv says, michael, I want to tell you something. And I'm like, okay. And I was listening, and we were sitting there, and he said, anytime you're doing one of these games and you got to get dressed up for tv, make sure you carry one of those shout wipes with you. And I always carry a shout wipe. And I was waiting for, like, something from MacArthur or Patton or Churchill, and he gave me carrier shot wipe. So I listened to the coach and Carrie Sharpway. It makes a lot of sense, too. He's always planning, so preparing, you know, preparing every game to be your best.

[Jenna]

I thought it was so sweet, like, just seeing that interaction. And, like, honestly, it reminded me of, like, calling my grandpa, where he's like, oh, like, the surprise of it probably being a landline. And, like, oh. And then Marv being like, you're so busy. That's so nice of you to call when it's like, dude, you're literally turning 100. Like, you're so sweet to think that. That's sweet of him.

[Mike]

Yeah, I thought he was at the hall of Fame. They. They sang Happy Birthday to him at the hall of Fame was awesome for Marv. So, so good for him and good for Sean.

[Dan]

I just love the thought of Mike being like, oh, I can't wait to hear what deep football knowledge. History. History's gonna get. And he's like a shout wipe.

[Mike]

And you.

[Dan]

Yeah, thanks, Marv. You're right. And he always carry a sharp wipe. Shout wipe. Sharp wipe.

[Mike]

There was a lot on Demar, but, you know, I think it's also a little bit of a reminder, you know, he's still here and he's still playing. And I believe there's someone on this panel who has said he's going to start week one and it's. It's leaning that way. Dan.

[Dan]

Yeah. Yeah, I don't think I. Yeah, it may have been close to that. I think it was a sharp white, was what it was.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

But.

[Mike]

Yep. Yeah. Yeah.

[Dan]

Also man of war. Appreciate it. Thank you so much. Again, like, comment. Subscribe. Obviously all the videos and stuff like that. Yeah. The mars stuff was. Was. Was deep.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

Was deep stuff. And again, Mike, you and I were there.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

And hearing Josh, obviously these. This time later, even him seeing, like, you don't really forget that kind of day and that moment. And again, not making this about it, but like, I just remember, like, being on the field and being shaken up as he's not my teammate. It's just a person that you don't know is gonna make it so well. When you. When you saw basically done was nice.

[Mike]

Yeah. I. When looking back at that video and you see Trey and you see. You see the emotion on those guys in the fear of that day and now you just think casually, like, you know, it's. So you see Demar all the time playing and still playing in a role for this team. And like I said, it might be a starter. So I think it's. I think it's good to. That they did that in at least one of the. In one of the episodes. So I thought that was cool to see.

[Jenna]

I thought also too, like taking us back to that day in Cincinnati. It is wild to think about the journey that he has been on and then to have him, you know, what happened then. And then the video of him, like making tackles and just showing the physicality of the game from what was such a scary situation to now, I think was it puts into perspective just the journey that he has been on and then truly, like, how much he has had to overcome, which is unbelievable.

[Dan]

Yeah, I. I thought seeing Josh going through some of those things with the Receivers was really cool.

[Mike]

Yes.

[Dan]

That. That to me, like, having the iPad out at practice and being, like, telling Keon, like, I need you here, and tell it, like, talking to Shavers. Like, why were you outside? You got to be inside. Like, those kind of things where we've talked about it or. I. I know I harped on it before, but, like, that butcher insurgent, like, I. I don't think that was Josh his first few years.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

And now to see the level perfection. Oh, really?

[Mike]

You froze for a second. I thought it was a dramatic pause.

[Dan]

Like, I thought that was really interesting to see. Like, that's kind of what you always saw with, like, the great quarterbacks of, like, I need you here. You got to be doing this. Like, we talked about, like, pushing these wide receivers, like, being hard on them. I liked seeing those kind of moments.

[Mike]

I agreed. I wrote down the same thing. Watching it, Janet, and I was thinking, it's in the Josh way. It was not. It was still semi positive, but it was more like, I need you there. It was that way, but a little more demanding because we don't hear him in those settings. And I like that. I think he should be that way a thousand percent.

[Jenna]

I think of, like, one of the reasons why Brady was so good was because he could get after guys, and he'd say, I'm not throwing to you. I don't trust you. All this stuff. And he had Edelman and other players to, you know, call other players out. But to hear Josh be. And the word is perfect, demanding. And honestly, we've been waiting to see that because Josh is such a nice guy, and we. We know how he is, and he's always lifting his teammates up. But I think to be a great leader, you also have to be like, hey, I need you to do this better. I need to maximize what you can do for me and for our team in this moment. And this is what I expect of you, and this is where you need to deliver. And I think that's a mature Josh Allen. And you're right. We would not see that Josh Allen in 2018, 2019, probably 2020, but now where he's at in his career. And I think that's a big, important step, because having accountability like this team goes as Josh Allen does, but there's also a level of you need to perform to help this team go. So I just thought it was. It was really nice to see kind of that level of, like, not being a jerk, but just, like, accountability.

[Mike]

Yeah. And like, Ryan is saying this, you know, and that was in the case with the other guys getting open and I, and I really do think that's a good point the accountability. And Josh Allen is saying that to you. You know, like Dan, you did the, the piece with White Steve and was cool, but him talking about, wow, I'm in the huddle with Josh Allen. Well that's cool to be in the huddle. Josh Allen. The other thing is to do what Josh Allen needs you to do. And when he's telling them that's the spot I need, that is where it becomes if you're not there, you ain't getting the ball. And I think that's what makes can make the entire room better and everybody play better. And they got, you know, they got some of that last year and it was pretty obvious because Matt Collins got to spots last year and Josh got him the ball. So it's available for any of those guys in order to, to get their opportunity. I wanted to ask you guys, they said the party that Terry Pula threw was for anybody who's anybody. Where was our invite?

[Jenna]

You got caught in mail. I'm expecting that it'll be here tomorrow.

[Dan]

I like champagne.

[Mike]

Yeah. Looks like it was a nice little party.

[Dan]

It did look nice.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Jenna]

Look nice.

[Mike]

Yeah. Maybe next year. Maybe next year. What do you think?

[Jenna]

They love having the media there.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Mike]

JP's comment, Dan.

[Dan]

That's awesome. That's, that's, that's the winner. That's the winner.

[Mike]

That's the winner, bro.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Jenna]

Oh my gosh.

[Shopify Advertiser]

Shopify's point of sale system helps you sell at every stage of your business. Need a fast and secure way to take payments in person? We've got you covered. How about card readers you can rely on anywhere you sell.

[Mike]

Thanks.

[Shopify Advertiser]

Have a good one. Yep, that too. Want one place to manage all your online and in person sales? That's kind of our thing. Wherever you sell. Businesses that grow, grow with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 a month [e-mail] Listen. Shopify.com Listen Mr. Gecko, you're a huge inspiration to us all, but who was your muse?

[Mike]

My dear old nan. She would tell me, always remember to be true to yourself and to use that fast and friendly claim support on the Geico app. I follow her advice to this day.

[Dan]

Get more than just savings.

[Mike]

Get more with Geico.

[Jenna]

That is so funny.

[Mike]

Oh, wait, yeah, yeah. No, it really is. Honestly, I, I, that is hilarious. Well, we can, you know, we can approach them for sponsorship if we think.

[Dan]

The battle for QB2. I wrote down Mitch, big arm question Mark was my note when they said they go, has got a big arm. I said, I. I don't know if I 100 agree with that.

[Mike]

I wrote down super athlete, question mark. Mitch, question mark. Listen, he is a very good athlete, but when you talk about an NFL player being a super athlete, I mean, super athlete.

[Jenna]

That's a direct quote. A super athlete. I was like.

[Dan]

Josh Allen's a live arm.

[Jenna]

But Mitch.

[Mike]

Well, I did like hearing that Mike White has a live arm. He does. Jenna, you've talked about it. Like, you think of Mike White as a guy who's got some of the juice, like, he's that kind of player. And Sean said, you know, it's just those conversations on the sideline with Terry Pula. But, like, when he said, we'll give, you know, both of them get their opportunities, I'm very curious to see how that plays out. You know, does Mike White get a shot with the ones? And the reason being the backup doesn't get those. If you wanted to be the backup, you want them to at least get some time with the ones in case he needed to play. I'd like to see Mike White get some of that. I don't know if we'll see that in Chicago, either in the. In the practice, the joint practice, or in the game, but honestly, watching both of them, they both made plays after slow starts, but I think. I think Mike White at least deserves the opportunity to see what he can do.

[Jenna]

Yeah, I agree. I think this is a really good comment from George McKay saying, I like White ceiling, but he needs to raise his floor. I think that's fair because I think floor of Mitch Trubisky is higher, But I do think the ceiling of Mike White's is higher. So it's just about what can he do to kind of make sure that the lows aren't so low.

[Dan]

So we've got two episodes in, and there hasn't been anything on Keon, nothing on Shakir, nothing on Milano, and nothing on really Ed, which I think is surprising.

[Jenna]

And also, really, Bean, I feel like.

[Mike]

He'S been. He's a lot of sound with Brandon Bean. Unfortunately, none from our podcast. But, you know, they did a full interview with him. They did a full interview with Sean, and they used a lot of Brandon. In that case, I thought a decent amount today. And then they used him in the booth again. So. But you're right, it's not been. You know, you saw a little bit of the background on Sean, obviously, what they talked about with the cancer, but with Bean, There really hasn't been that. It's just been him commenting on his players and. And how hold ins are just the new version of hanging out, kind of. Right. Hold ins or.

[Jenna]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Fun.

[Jenna]

They're not like, they're not how they used to.

[Mike]

Yeah. So, yeah. In terms of other player. I mean, there are some other personalities and other guys that would be. So, you know, we've gotten Trey, we've gotten Dion, but you're right. And I don't know how it plays out now because now it's fully in Buffalo. They'll have the trip to Chicago this week and then the other preseason game. So we'll see how it plays out. I would say I like the football stuff. Even though we see a lot of it. I like that. I think they got some of that in there. But I want more meeting rooms. I want individual meetings with a player and a coach. I want somebody getting chewed out a little bit or demanding one of the assistant coaches, maybe. You know, Kelly Skipper is an underrated guy. Like, he is a very important guy as a running backs coach and they like him. Al Holcomb got a lot of play in this one. So sometimes you see those guys. I want to see him in a meeting telling a guy, get your act together because the cuts are coming. Like that does happen and I want to see it happen in the show. So that's my two cents.

[Dan]

All right.

[Mike]

Did you see? Yeah.

[Jenna]

Oh, that's really good, rj.

[Mike]

That is real. That's really good.

[Dan]

That's a deep cut.

[Jenna]

That is a deep cut. We appreciate that.

[Mike]

Josh says bro. I agree with Mike. Bro. More of dudes getting chewed out. Bro.

[Jenna]

Come on. Weren't you just like they say bro a lot?

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Jenna]

Is that. I mean, I don't know. I feel like we've been around football players a lot, but I never heard the word bro used so much.

[Dan]

Yeah, it was up there.

[Mike]

So Beth is saying, I can't see the show covering meetings. It's not meetings like normal work meetings. To me, it's more. It's, it's, it's. It's a different setting and it's a different tone. A lot of times these meetings take. It's, it's. It is definitely a top down thing. It is coaches on a player telling them what they have to do. And in that case, one of the things they told him was, he can leave the meeting.

[Dan]

You can take a break. They're like, he's so great. He's here in the meetings. And then the next shot is you can Leave. It was like, what are we doing? This is what the cut is.

[Jenna]

I did think. I don't feel like we touched on the Buffalo Joe stuff as much. I thought that was pretty.

[Mike]

I love this stuff in Lancaster. Like, we know a lot of that, but that is cool for hometown guy.

[Jenna]

Yeah. I think that opportunity, like the him going to training camp, like him waiting for autographs as a child and now getting be able to have that same experience.

[Mike]

And I'm glad to Kio came through for him. I know it was a really good bill. Yeah.

[Jenna]

Isn't it unbelievable? But that they have that photo that's so good. You know what I mean? Like, what are the odds you take that photo 20 years ago and.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

I think it's funny. You're right. Because it is different time. Like, you had to take that picture.

[Jenna]

Develop it, hold on to that picture for 20 years.

[Dan]

Because we always joke around, like, at least me with like, my mom now and obviously with Renee with our kids. And I'm like, I was never going to be a big star because my parents don't have enough pictures of me. Like, you see like. Like you have Bryce Harper, like, videos of him 2 years old, like, hitting. And you're like, well, this guy was meant to be. I now take so many videos of my kids because I'm like, you never know when this kid's gonna be the next star and when they. You're gonna need the feature of when they talk to the family. But it's all on a phone. It's all digital. Like, I. I can email it and save it forever. To have those pictures shout out to Mrs. Andreessen to scrapbook them and set them away.

[Mike]

Dan, it wasn't about the photos. It was that you couldn't hit the curveball. That's why they knew that was.

[Dan]

That was it. That was it.

[Jenna]

And maybe the photos too.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

My mom probably has, like, cameras that are still like film that's still not developed. Like, it's probably in like a bureau somewhere of like. I was gonna get around to that.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Jenna]

What were you gonna say, Mike?

[Mike]

No, I was just looking at some of the takes. JPS has a take shavers five TDs by week 10. That sounds like not a Dan take, but that sounds like the type of take you would have. Maybe not about shavers, but that. That would be aggressive. 5 TDS this year would be something to see, but we'll see how it plays out.

[Dan]

Yeah, a lot.

[Jenna]

I was a third child, so even less photos than that.

[Dan]

Wife and I are Sitting there. It's like we did. We did the pictures of like every month with Shane. And she's like, we haven't done any of those with Ryan. It's like, second kid. Second kid, you're busier. It's fine. I hear you, Jojo.

[Jenna]

And then what about Taylor?

[Dan]

She's just so easy. She's a breeze.

[Mike]

You know what they say. First kid drops the pacifier, you boil it clean. Second kid, you brush it off. Third kid, you send the dog to get it.

[Dan]

So.

[Jenna]

We read the Love that.

[Dan]

We were at the library the other day and we were feeding Taylor like little puffs for her to eat, and one fell on the floor. And we're like, oh, don't give that to Taylor. We're like, ryan, do you want it? And Ryan ate it. Second kid. Ryan's fine. Isn't that bad.

[Jenna]

Oh, my gosh. If you. Okay. If you drop something on your floor in the kitchen, will you pick it up and eat it?

[Dan]

Yes.

[Jenna]

Yeah, same.

[Dan]

Our house is also like, sterile. Hospital sterile. Because of Renee. Oh, shout out Renee.

[Jenna]

Zach is like, what? I. That's disgusting. I'm like, it was on the floor for like a second.

[Mike]

Yeah. The only thing is we love Winnie, but man, that dog hair is everywhere. So you gotta look at it when you pick it up and it's a black hair. And it's like, that's. That's a little much. It's got to be something. It's gotta be something I really want. And then I just go, bro, I'm eating this thing. That's the way it goes. Alex says, have they featured Coleman yet? No, no, they. They really haven't. They've mentioned him. He's. They shouldn't catching the ball, but I.

[Jenna]

Feel like they've tried to give him a pretty good edit.

[Mike]

Like there was not showing any drops, just the catches.

[Jenna]

They could have shown drops. They haven't, but they. They could have had that opportunity and they haven't. So they haven't featured him, but they also haven't dogged him either.

[Mike]

Yeah, in. In past Hard Knocks, when I've seen it, like, they will have somebody who maybe has a rough game and then how do they come back? I think that's cool stuff, you know. Haven't seen any of that through two episodes so far.

[Jenna]

So do you think that's the Bills conscientiously like trying to like pump up their second round player or second. Well, second round and second year player. Like, do you think that's like intentional for them? Of like, hey, we Want to make sure that this is a good edit.

[Mike]

Yeah. I mean, unless there's a lot of that going on. If the plan is to show good highlights, you're gonna. You know what I mean? Just in the realm of highlights, if the plan is to do a piece on them and what he needs to be better and how Josh is working with him and what they're saying, you got to show the bad with the good. And I think that's better storytelling. I think it finds it more interesting for people just to say, here's a great catch. Well, you know, a lot of guys make great catches in training camp. It's about growing as a player and what they expect out of now. Maybe that comes down the line. I don't know. But, you know, we're two episodes in, and that hasn't really been the case.

[Dan]

I love, like, we're gonna do more of these live shows, like, throughout the year, obviously. We started doing them more last season.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan]

But, like, Jenna. Shout out. Staff. Mike, congrats. This is like. This is like Dan and the Danettes on the Dan Patrick show. Like, we are staff. Shout out to your staff.

[Jenna]

But, like, I think that person's trying to be nice, which we appreciate, but it is funny.

[Mike]

Yeah, it is. It's Mike and the bros. That's what it is. Janice, just one of the bros.

[Jenna]

I've. Yeah, I. I do feel like that most of the time.

[Mike]

In Search of Summer says, do you think they listen to any feedback before they make next week's edit? Since they are doing it in real time, I think there's a tone. They kind of are figuring out what the team. I shouldn't say once, but is going to object to. I think it's more like if there was anything like that. I just think the storylines they've gone with have all been good but very positive. You know what I mean? The buffalo. And that's great. I mean, it's great in that way. There just could be something else. And the James Cook thing, let's be honest, I do think it's been underplayed. I mean, he held out, held in to end the last episode. You could have done it in the first episode. No question. It happened late, but it could have been in there. And then he was in and out during the second week, so it could have been played into more. And now. Now he's back. So at least back for today. So I don't know. And that's not to be intentionally negative, but we're talking about a superstar player, and it got A passing mention in the show. So.

[Jenna]

Yeah. Do you feel like that's more the editorial side from them?

[Mike]

I think it's. That message has been delivered.

[Jenna]

Got it.

[Mike]

So I don't necessarily think it's sitting there going, take this out. Take that out. I mean, if that was the case, I mean, they. You know, somebody should be in there pounding on the thing, going, why aren't we in Mike's backyard with his staff doing a podcast? That would have been the case.

[Jenna]

This is fair, though. What? Someone asking, what more could you say about Cook?

[Mike]

You could interview Cook.

[Jenna]

That is.

[Mike]

And I think Cook wanted attention, and I think he definitely. They could have used sound with Cook. He talked at the beginning of camp. They have all that sound.

[Jenna]

That's.

[Mike]

I just find it interesting.

[Dan]

You have Sean from Postgame.

[Mike]

Yeah. I mean, they're in everything. They're. They are everywhere.

[Jenna]

I don't know why. Like, today we were in Orchard park, obviously, for practice, and, like, walking in, and they were there. I don't know why I was surprised, but I was like, oh, yeah, you're still here. Like, of course you're gonna be at the facility.

[Mike]

And I'm thinking of all the interviews we've gotten. Like, we.

[Dan]

Shut up. Josh is killing it tonight.

[Mike]

I know he's having a night. I was thinking of all the. I was thinking of interviews that we've done. Like, I was in there for Ray after he made his field goal. So I. Or extra points. So I don't know. Now they'll maybe. Do they show that in the next step? I mean, show the interview? I don't think so. Like, they had an opportunity to show up, but they shot all that stuff. And he was funny. Like, I don't know what it. And that's all positive stuff, but I don't know what it. How much of that stuff was thought of, you know? But what my point is, they're there for everything. Every press conference in the locker room. I mean, this is no slight to the people working there. They are no. Yeah.

[Dan]

Hey, we're hoping to come out with new merch soon, so stand by for that and maybe shout out to you guys for all these great ideas. Appreciate that, Jennifer.

[Jenna]

Yeah.

[Dan]

Yeah. Don't. Like I said hi.

[Jenna]

What?

[Dan]

Tell Micah her son. Oh.

[Mike]

Oh, oh, yeah.

[Jenna]

I thought you said Michael. Like, I thought you were talking about Mike.

[Dan]

Shout White.

[Jenna]

As members of his staff. I wasn't sure what we were talking about.

[Mike]

Yeah, you guys, you're doing a pretty good job, staff. I appreciate it.

[Jenna]

Mike and the Mikettes, we gotta Workshop that a little bit.

[Dan]

Mike and staff was so good. That's one of my favorite comments. Mike and Steph have a great podcast. We do. I agree.

[Mike]

That could be a T shirt. Maybe that's on my mug. I don't have a mug. Somebody was asking me this week.

[Jenna]

I think that would be.

[Mike]

I don't have a mug. So maybe it's, like, stayed for the staff. Oh, okay. Pops Mafia said, I was waiting for the Dan versus the Jugs machine. We would have so much good content from them. We gave them, you know, we gave them content. They didn't decide to use it, but that was fine.

[Dan]

Wait, wait, wait, wait. Mike and staff on the front. At the back is Buffalo plus Bra. I think that's.

[Jenna]

Pretty good. Daniel. Oh, my God.

[Dan]

Watch Buffalo plus Bra.

[Jenna]

They said bro a lot.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Jenna]

Okay. All right. Anything else before we wrap up? No, I'm looking here, so we really appreciate that.

[Mike]

That's really cool. I'm looking here. And we'll look at some more comments while we're going. But honestly, I did like Dion going, which one of the rookies is going to be nervous? Which is kind of funny. Talking about the D lineman there. That was good. Yeah. Other than that, I think we hit on.

[Jenna]

This is a good. This is a good question, Josh, again. So what do they focus on from here? Look back at all the heartbreak more Josh. Maybe life in Buffalo for the players. They haven't even talked to a rookie. I don't think I could see the Bills actually being like, we don't want you to talk to them.

[Mike]

Yeah. I mean, but that's lame if that's the case.

[Jenna]

I'm not. You do this all the time. I'm not saying.

[Mike]

No, I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm saying is if they really did that, that would be lame. I think TJ Sanders is a good talker. Dion was good. They're funny like that. They could do a piece with the two of those guys as these young players on the D line. Like, I hope I'm not. I'm not saying this. I hope that's not the case. Like, the Bills are in pretty good shape with their players. Like, I think most of them are good with us. They'd be good on camera. The ones that like to talk. I mean, he ain't getting Milano, but. Because he doesn't talk to anybody.

[Jenna]

But could you imagine if the next episode is just all about Milano? It would be unbelievable. We've covered that dude for since 2017, and I feel like I've talked to him like four times.

[Dan]

Since when Catherine and Elena from Buffalo News and ESPN got him last year. Maybe it was right before the playoffs. And they said, they gave the stats of how many words he said, the time, the questions that were asked, and it was. It was like 3.2 words per answer was just unbelievable. The analytics of talking to Matt Milano.

[Mike]

Yeah, I think the most he. People, the most he ever talked was after he had signed the contract and we had him on a zoom.

[Dan]

Yeah, he was really good. After the Bengals playoff loss, Mike, you and I went in the locker room.

[Mike]

Yeah, he was.

[Dan]

He was very thoughtful about. And deep and. And poignant about all that went wrong. Wasn't good enough. It's on us, all that stuff. So that's the last time I've talked to him.

[Mike]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I, we. I asked Dion Kane, because Dion Kane works out with Mike White, if he had ever seen that shot of Milano just laying out his buddy Mike White. And he said he hadn't seen it. So I said, well, I don't think it's the kind of thing Mike's gonna bring up. I just didn't know whether you had ever seen it before, so. But I think they're good now. He just tries. Try to keep him away. So future episodes, look, I think they're going to focus a little bit on this Chicago thing. When they get the second team there and they're doing the practice, that always adds a little bit of something to it. And then like you guys have talked about, there's a lot of interesting players and people. I was trying to think more on the coaching staff, too. I think that I thought Joe looked really good in this episode. Joe Brady. I thought the, the sound that we get to hear more of when they have him mic'd up was great. And I could definitely see something more on Joe just as a coach and a guy with, you know, a bigger future, maybe at some point. But yeah, I think that. That kind of thing. But we'll see. We'll see where they go.

[Jenna]

Yeah. Okay. All right, well, thank you everyone for joining us. Please be sure to like, comment, subscribe. All the good stuff. We always appreciate it. Dan and I will be in Orchard park tomorrow as the Bill's back to practice. They will be off traveling on Thursday, doing practice on Friday in Chicago and then Sunday. The preseason night. Night game. Yeah, preseason night games should be.

[Dan]

Running clock.

[Jenna]

Yeah, yeah, there's illegal, but.

[Mike]

Yeah, they. I mean, there's usually a lot of. This one is a network game. It's on Fox So, yeah, so we'll see. We'll see how it plays out. But yeah, they, they, they take off. That's a, that's a lengthy trip if you think about. For normal travel for them. I mean, they're going on Thursday and they get back middle of the morning on Monday. So that'll be interesting.

[Jenna]

Yeah. All right. So for Mike and Dan, I'm Jenna. We'll catch you next time here on the Buffalo Plus Channel. Please be sure once again to, like, comment, comment, subscribe and share. Thank you for hanging out with us. We appreciate it. For Mike and the staff. We'll catch you next time here on the Buffalo Plus Channel. Presented by Connors and Ferris.