Post Buffalo Bills Hard Knocks Episode 3 from the Buffalo Plus team

Summary

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Buffalo Plus Podcast: Post-Hard Knocks Episode 3 Recap

Podcast: Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills Podcast

Panel: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
Date: August 20, 2025
Episode Focus: Recap and in-depth analysis of HBO’s "Hard Knocks: Buffalo Bills" Episode 3

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Episode Overview

The Buffalo Plus team breaks down Episode 3 of "Hard Knocks: Buffalo Bills," highlighting player personalities, meeting room insights, coaching dynamics, and behind-the-scenes moments the show offered. The hosts agree it’s the strongest and most entertaining episode so far, offering a rare, fun, and emotional look inside Bills camp, with standout human moments and levity mixed with NFL grit.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Best Episode Yet: Meeting Rooms, Personalities & Humor

• All three hosts agreed that this episode featured the best mix of insight and entertainment, compared to prior episodes.
  • “I would say the best episode so far.” – Mike Catalana [01:45]
  • “I agree.” – Jenna Cottrell [01:53]
• The rare appearance of quieter personalities (notably Matt Milano) and the focus on background players stood out.
  • “Breaking news, guys. Matt Milano spoke. We heard Matt Milano say words on Hard Knocks. There was nothing more shocking in this episode.” – Dan Fates [01:15]
  • “I forgot what his voice sounded like.” – Mike Catalana [01:27]

2. Insider Look at Unsung Players and Staff

• Episode highlights less-covered players such as Jamarcus Ingram and Jimmy Charlo, giving much-needed personality to the bottom of the roster.
• The episode’s improvisation expert in Chicago—something even beat reporters didn’t know about—adds to the authenticity.
  • “Little moments like that...you don’t hear about, and you get to see, and I think that was a really fun episode.” – Jenna Cottrell [02:46]

3. Meeting Room Culture & Team Philosophy

• The episode provides a rare look into meeting rooms and Sean McDermott's core philosophies:
  • Importance of celebrating each other's plays and building up teammates.
    • “They want their players to react to their teammates...like, everybody run into the guy, pick up your running back, like celebrate with them.” – Mike Catalana [03:45]
    • Discussion referenced classic college basketball coaching (Dean Smith/John Wooden) translating to NFL culture. [05:27]
  • Sean McDermott delivers a powerful speech: “You’re not as last year means nothing. It’s hard to be successful year in after year out in the NFL.” [03:00]
  • The coaching staff (esp. Joe Brady) is also coached; coaching the coaches is vital and fascinating to see. [06:05]

4. Contract Drama & Emotional Moments

• Behind-the-scenes of James Cook’s contract signing, emphasizing his genuine emotions and how the team celebrated for him:
  • “I loved the players clapping for him.” – Mike Catalana [10:49]
  • Ty Johnson’s quip: “Those look like new money legs.” [11:29]
• The team’s social dynamics come through, humanizing contract negotiations and the emotional weight on players.

5. Player Personalities and Off-Field Antics

• Ed Oliver’s horses—players laugh over the long list (including some “unique” horse names like Panty Snatcher).
  • “When he’s describing all of his horses, I mean, 30. It’s insane.” – Mike Catalana [12:05]
• Ty Johnson on a horse: “That would be me on a horse.” – Jenna Cottrell [11:39]
• Fun at player house parties and impromptu events like pizza parties and baking cookies.
• Travis Clayton’s British accent and “biscuit” banter.

6. Underdogs and Making the Team

• Focus on Jimmy Charlo’s underdog story ("West Pointer") and the importance of preseason plays:
  • “If a guy makes a play like that...he just earned more reps, an opportunity, and he end up playing decent amount of defense.” – Mike Catalana [15:05]
• McDermott’s message: “It doesn’t matter who your name is, what you did last year...you have to earn the right.” [16:27]

7. Team Chemistry, Transparency, and Mental Health

• Conversations between Jamarcus Ingram and Bills’ Dr. Dez revealed the support structure within the club.
• Trey White’s “really sweaty” and sock-changing routine provides a quirky, human touch, sparking friendly ribbing among the panel (and a contest on who sweats most, Trey White or Kair Elam). [19:11]

8. Improvisation Session & Sean McDermott's Shirt

• The improv segment with players and McDermott in a loud, personality-packed shirt draws lots of studio laughs:
  • “That was so much personality in that shirt that I was not expecting.” – Jenna Cottrell [20:44]
  • “How about just, ‘What’s the deal with the shirt?’” – Mike Catalana [21:30]
• Panelists debate who on staff brings in improv acts, and note how rare these activities are to see.
• “Cozy Brick Wall” (KJ Hamler’s improv nickname) is repeatedly referenced as a fun highlight. [22:00]

9. Inside the Game: Candid Football Moments

• Coaches (e.g., Bobby Babbage) aired frustration in bad defensive meetings—“That was garbage.” – Jenna Cottrell [19:58]
• Josh Allen’s sideline antics and movie quotes (Semi-Pro) during a tough preseason loss show personality and camaraderie. [27:35, 28:03]
• Losing big to the Bears: Offers a more compelling, authentic episode. “I think it’s a better show when something really good or bad happens...the fact that they got their asses kicked in that game...” – Mike Catalana [28:47]

10. Staff Banter & Community Interaction

• Panelists highlight in-jokes (the “Staff” gag; Mike and Mr. Peanut via ChatGPT art [33:10]), jokes with Dan Gorman, and shout outs to regular listeners.

11. Coach Potential: Joe Brady’s Rising Profile

• Joe Brady, seen coaching the coaches, comes across as a future head coach candidate:
  • “Joe Brady...comes across more like a potential head coach to me. I think he’s got that.” – Mike Catalana [31:41]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Matt Milano: “Matt Milano spoke. We heard Matt Milano say words on Hard Knocks.” — Dan Fates [01:15]
• Meeting Room Philosophy: “They want their players to react to their teammates...celebrate with them.” — Mike Catalana [03:45]
• James Cook’s Contract: “I loved the players clapping for him.” — Mike Catalana [10:49]
• Ty Johnson's Quip: “Those look like new money legs.” — Ty Johnson [11:29]
• Ed Oliver’s Horse Names: “We had heard of Sassy, but Panty Snatcher was one of them too...” — Dan Fates [12:07]
• Improv & McDermott’s Shirt: “That was so much personality in that shirt that I was not expecting.” — Jenna Cottrell [20:44]
• Babbage on Defense: “That was garbage.” — Jenna Cottrell quoting Bobby Babbage [19:58]
• Josh Allen Movie Quotes: “Travel, double dribble whistle.” — Josh Allen channeling "Semi-Pro" [28:03]
• Earning It Message: “It doesn’t matter who your name is, what you did last year...you have to earn the right.” — Sean McDermott (as paraphrased) [16:27]
• Pizza Party & Real Life: “Not only is he a phenomenal NFL player that could also cook...Sets off the smoke alarm. Like, chef’s kiss of one of us.” — Dan Fates on Connor McGovern [24:18]
• Coach Potential: “Joe Brady...comes across more like a potential head coach to me.” — Mike Catalana [31:41]

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Timestamps: Key Segments

• [01:15] - Matt Milano speaks, surprising panel
• [03:00] - Sean McDermott’s meeting room message (“last year means nothing”)
• [05:27] - Team culture, “point to the passer” origins—Dean Smith vs. John Wooden
• [10:49] - James Cook contract signing, team celebration
• [12:05] - Ed Oliver’s horses and team banter
• [14:50] - Jimmy Charlo underdog moment
• [16:27] - Sean McDermott: Earning your spot annually
• [19:11] - Trey White’s sweating routine, friendly banter
• [19:58] - Babbage’s critical defensive meeting
• [20:44] - Sean McDermott’s neon improv shirt
• [22:00] - Improv game: KJ Hamler “Cozy Brick Wall”
• [24:18] - Connor McGovern’s pizza party, smoke alarm
• [27:35, 28:03] - Josh Allen’s sideline movie quotes
• [28:47] - Impact of Bears preseason loss
• [31:41] - Joe Brady’s head coach potential

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Closing Thoughts

The hosts universally praise the balance of humor, emotion, and genuine football insight Hard Knocks delivered this week. Less-heralded Bills players got the spotlight, rare moments in team meeting rooms offered teachable insights, and both lighthearted and meaningful moments made this episode “the best one so far.” The panel also highlights Joe Brady’s leadership, the authenticity of “earning it” on this roster, and plenty of locker-room personality—on and off the field.

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Transcript

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[Dan Fates]

There's got to be a a, a, a correct way to ask that question at Sean's next presser on Thursday of, like, how many of those shirts do you got, Sean? Like, something along those lines.

[Mike Catalana]

How about just what's the deal with the shirt? I mean, it really was something.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Hello, hello, hello. Welcome into the Buffalo plus, presented by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates. I am Jenna Cottrell, recapping Hard Knocks, episode number three airing tonight. Gentlemen, I want to start with you guys. Just what was your overall takeaway?

[Mike Catalana]

Dan, go ahead.

[Dan Fates]

Breaking news. It's breaking news, guys. Matt Milano spoke. We heard Matt Milano say words on Hard Knocks. There was nothing that was more shocking in this entire episode.

[Mike Catalana]

I forgot what his voice sounded like.

[Dan Fates]

Same.

[Mike Catalana]

It's been a while. So.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, he was funny.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Right? Wasn't he?

[Mike Catalana]

Right?

[Jenna Cottrell]

The covers. The conversation was funny.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

He's got jokes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He's got jokes.

[Mike Catalana]

Josh had jokes. Josh was funny. All right. I would say the best episode so far.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I agree.

[Mike Catalana]

A little underwhelmed in the last episode. Just in general, my opinion. I love the meeting room stuff.

[Dan Fates]

Same.

[Mike Catalana]

I know we're going to go through it. I love the, the guy that was there with the bippity boppity boop that they were playing the game. I loved all that stuff. I love the stuff on the field that was. That was good. That was more, I thought, more typical Hard Knocks version of a show.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Completely. Like, to me, this one actually had, you know, jamarcus Ingram, Jimmy Charlo, like characters that people like. We cover the team. We've never talked to Jimmy Charlo. Like, we very rarely talk to jamarcus Ingram. He obviously makes some plays, but the inside, like, I had no idea, too, that the Bills had the improv expert in Chicago. Just like little moments like that that you don't hear about.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And. And you get to see. And I think that it was a really fun episode. And I think they. They touched on obviously, like, the shellacking that was Chicago. But I think overall it was. It was my favorite episode for sure.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. And I thought, like, we always Said like the meeting rooms are the coolest thing. Like even watching it with my wife, just understanding how different, like how rare that is to see, like you don't see those moments and then to have a pretty powerful one from Sean, just being like you're not as last year means nothing. Like it's hard to be successful year in after year out in the NFL was I thought was powerful and pretty interesting that he's like, there are guys that I usually feel that I'm not feeling right now. Like there's got to be that energy that that to me was like. And whether that's true or not, like that does make everybody sit up in their seats a little straighter, you know.

[Mike Catalana]

I learned something through the years of all these years of covering the team when we wouldn't get opportunities to see stuff like that or hear them talk. A big one to me is the way they want their players to react to their teammates. Like that is coached. And you heard him say it tonight, like, everybody run into the guy, pick up your running back, like celebrate with them. Like they want that to happen. And sometimes you would think that's professional football. You know, you make a play, you move to the next thing. And that is really big, as I know it is with the Bills. Yeah, like they want them to celebrate the good plays. They want them to be there for their teammates. And the idea, if you think about it like when they put pointed out the one play where only the one offensive lineman was running down the field and that's he said there's a teaching moment. He's running on every play and the other guys weren't. I think it was in the Giants game. So I love hearing that stuff, even though we, we know a little bit about it. But Dan, to your point, like we talk to the players a ton. We don't go in the meeting rooms with them. So that was cool to say.

[Dan Fates]

Mike, was it Dean Smith or John Wooden that was like the first college basketball coach that was like, when you get a good pass from your teammate, like point to them like, hey, like you get the bucket. But it's like, give the guy the credit. Like everybody buying in as even the guy that doesn't carry the ball, score the basket, needs to be cheered and he should be the one that's getting the credit. It's that little stuff. I can't remember which hall of Fame coach it was. I remember it was Dean Smith or John Wooden.

[Mike Catalana]

But I, I, I'm not sure either. It, that sounds maybe more like a Dean Smith kind of thing. John Wooden had his pyramid of success, so he may have said it, but I think it also, Jenna, a lot of times when we hear them say it doesn't matter who made the play, the play doesn't care who made it. Right. I think it all falls into that. And sometimes you think like, they're professional football players, you know, they're going to think a certain way. But I do think you establish a thing and they've had that. And that's what I think they attempt to do in those meetings. Also. Joe Brady, like coaching the coaches. Yeah, I thought was great.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, that was literally what I was. Because you think of them coaching the players, obviously. But I think when you see them coaching the coaches, it makes you once again realize the meticulous nature of the NFL and how everything gets addressed, how to best coach, have your coaches coach, like the things like that, that you just, you don't expect to be a part of what a team does on a day to day basis, but yet obviously that's a piece of what they do and just going over what they expect, what they want to see, not just from the player standpoint, but also from how they're actually interacting with the guys.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, two points off that. Yes, it is live, Isabella.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Isabella. Yeah, we just wanted one.

[Dan Fates]

It was Dean Smith and he introduced the tradition of point to the passer to emphasize teamwork and unselfish play. So that was whenever a player scored after receiving a pass, they were required to acknowledge the passer by pointing to them. So that was again that little thing of picking up a guy after he gets tackled and makes the play. And Jenna, 2.2, talking about, like, Joe Brady, like, I can't wait.

[Mike Catalana]

No, go ahead.

[Dan Fates]

It's. It's funny, like, Renee was watching. Renee was watching the second episode and she was like, who's that coach? Who's this coach? She's like, there's so many coaches. And it was like, yeah, like, you don't like, obviously she hears us talk about Brady or Dable or Babbage, like the, the main guys. And then she's like, there are coaches underneath him. And it's like there's a lot of coaches and it's kind of like the teachers, the assistant principals, the principal and the superintendent of a school district, because my wife's a teacher. And like, explain that. Like, there are people that are hands on, but they're getting coached on how to run their classroom and how to run the building and how the school district needs to operate and their values and all of those things. And when you see it at that level, it was pretty cool.

[Mike Catalana]

The only thing I was going to add when Dan said, dean Smith is, I've been doing this so long, I told you guys the story. First of all, I was shooting the interview. Dean Smith in Binghamton, New York, held the microphone and was holding a cigarette in the other hand in the hallway of the school when I was interviewing him. Yes, that was back in the day.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That is old school. Yeah, I love it. All right, let me look at some of the other things.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, can I add the other thing I was going to say is, Dan, I counted Bean three jimbos. Did you have more than three? It was three jimbos for James Cook.

[Dan Fates]

It's a lot of hugs.

[Mike Catalana]

A lot of hugs.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I love how they told him to smile. Like, it's okay to smile.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. The Bills posted a clip that was similar to that, and I was kind of hoping they would emphasize it more, that when he was signing, he was very emotional and was. Was kind of crying.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And they're like, we gotta take your picture. And he goes, hang on, I gotta put my sunglasses on. And so then he kind of puts on the Persona of tough and signs the contract. And then afterwards, he gets emotional again. I guess he was. I believe the Bills kind of talked about that. He was on the phone with, like, his parents and his family.

[Mike Catalana]

Like, it's cool.

[Dan Fates]

It was kind of cool. And I wish they would have kind of hit on that more because the Bills put that out. And, you know, you see this picture and you're like, james has sunglasses on. It's like, yeah, because he was crying. Like, that's how much this meant to him. And you kind of got to see that The. The interactions of, you know, wish we would have gotten it done sooner, but we still got it done. Was.

[Mike Catalana]

Was cool.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I thought it was funny, too, how, like, one of Bean's assistants, Andy, you saw her walk in. He was like, yeah, we got it done. And it was kind of like, oh, like, you know, you wonder how much the. The talk is out there of, like, what now? Look, I don't know how much he shares, obviously, with people that are, you know, know, work in other departments and all that stuff. But just in terms of being in, like, who he was speaking to. Of, like, hey, we're. We're trying to get this done, or like, what the circle of trust is like in that instance when you have a contract with a player that you're hoping to get worked out, but there's no. There's nothing to say that it will all get to the finish line.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I agree. And I think. I think those circumstances can happen. I mean, look, he's been dealing with this for a while, and I think, you know, she probably came into work that next morning, she works for the gm, comes in the office, and he's got a big smile, and he's like, Hey, 11 o' clock last night. We got it done. So I think that stuff is cool. And then, you know, then they have the conversations and then he goes and signs the deal. I loved the players clapping for him.

[Dan Fates]

I love those clips.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, that's cool. Because we talk about it. Players pay attention to who gets paid. It does tell you what they think about James. I think. I think he gained a lot of respect in the room by how he handled it. We might have said it got a little clumsy. He's in, he's out. But he really, for the majority of the time he was in, he was with them, he was practicing. And I know a lot of people don't like that. He. It worked. In whatever way, it worked. They got the deal done. But I think his player, you can tell, number one, they like him. And number two, they need them. They know they need them. And I think they were happy for him. So that was cool.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Ty Johnson saying those look like new money legs was great. Isabel, good luck on your earth science exam tomorrow. I hope you pass too.

[Mike Catalana]

Good luck.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I hope you pass. Yes. That's fair. I love. What about Ty Johnson on the horse? That would be me on a horse.

[Dan Fates]

I was worried. I was a little worried.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. So. And he's shoveling too. Ty. He got that job beforehand with Ed. But you knew the Ed Oliver horse thing had to make it. But when he's describing all of his horses, I mean, 30.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

It's insane.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

We had heard of and Sassy, but Panty Drop. Panty Snatcher was one of them too. I did not. I did not expect. I had to rewind it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I missed that one.

[Dan Fates]

He's. He's going through all of them. It was like, well, oh, okay. He was just one after another after another. Was like, okay. A lot of horses.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. My thing about watching, like, Ed on a horse is I feel like. I feel like when you see horses run, it's more like a galloping. And I feel like every time they're just like. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, I feel like their body is totally normal. It's just their legs.

[Mike Catalana]

How about. And like, horse is bigger than Any offensive lineman. I'm not going to be afraid of anybody, though. I think he felt like Joe Tooney was bigger than any.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, lineman. Because that is cool. When you see that. A little bit of the respect there going on. He's like, you know, and Dion talking with the D lineman from the Bears. I thought that was cool. Booker, you know, just because that is something else that we all know. There is teams and it's. They're loyal and they go to win, but there is that brotherhood in the league. It's like, stay in the league. You're. We're all in the league. And, And I think that that shows a lot of times with the players, the way they deal with each other.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. That was funny, though. I loved the. I didn't realize there was Panty Snatcher.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Prayers up for Pops Mafia. Hope all goes well. Cool to see kind of this in the comments.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. So absolutely. We're gonna.

[Dan Fates]

Positive vibes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. All right.

[Mike Catalana]

Absolutely.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. I'm trying to think what other. Some, Some other stuff.

[Dan Fates]

Jimmy Charlo. I mean, I feel like we, yeah. Cameras have been around a guy. And be honest with you, I didn't know who he was. Shout out West Point. That was, I mean, that's a layup of a nickname. Like calling him West Pointer army is just very cool. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Mike, can you tell your story about.

[Mike Catalana]

So he's walking into practice at Fisher. Jimmy Charlo was. And he's walking in and, you know, I mean, we get to know even the night. I mean, we've seen them feel like we've seen everybody sometimes. And he's, he's walking in and I'm looking at him and I, I realized, I mean, I'm 10ft away, but I'm kind of just like. And I'm thinking to myself, is this guy. I had no idea. And Carl Jones is standing there cracking up, laughing because he is watching me just sort of tip my head. Because you couldn't pretend any more that you were just. You were unaware who the guy was. I was new. I had no idea. But I, I was kind of obvious that I was just.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You were so obvious. You literally were like, well, I didn't.

[Mike Catalana]

Walk up to his face. I, I, I was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But your face said enough.

[Mike Catalana]

Did you know who Jimmy Charlo was?

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, but I was watching you watch him, and it's like, that's bleeping hilarious.

[Mike Catalana]

But the point when, when this is why we said about the preseason and the, and training camp, you know, where we talked about people overreacting to results and all those things, but that's very real. If a guy makes a play like that, what he did in his case, he just earned more reps, an opportunity, and he end up playing decent amount of defense. What do you say? I'm, I've been playing Will, and then I, I, I, you know, whatever it was that they, they used him in the game because they needed him in the game. But, you know, I, I think that's what happens in these cases. You make a play like that when you're sitting there with him, watching him, and the whole team's clapping for him. Kind of cool for a guy.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I thought that was so cool to see inside that moment, though, of, like, Sean being like, look, here's a guy that he, Here's a guy. But like a player that, you know, will he make it in the last couple of weeks through roster cuts? No, and that's okay, but, like, to point out the effort to say, hey, you're gonna earn more reps because of this play and the message that that sends in the room, I just thought it was really cool because I think so much of what McDermott has talked about has always been like, you have to earn it. And it's something we say on our channel a lot, like, who has earned it. And, and to see a guy who made an energy play and the response that it got.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, that was. The next thing I had after Jimmy Charlo was the, you know, the fact that as we have a celebrity here, Stephen A. Smith with us, the fact of, oh, wow. Yeah. Like, him saying the fact of it. It doesn't matter who your name is, what you did last year, any of these things that you have to earn the right. And I think those speeches are probably given much more in the preseason in training camp and OTAs more than the regular season. But it is powerful stuff to hear, you know, coach like that to a. In front of a whole team in, in the auditorium was, Was powerful, I thought.

[Mike Catalana]

And, and this franchise, this current team, has those guys, right? I mean, Cam Lewis, you know, the UB guys, basically all the UB guys. Joanne Driessen, like, Joanne Driessen tried out for the team now.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Crazy.

[Mike Catalana]

You know, they only showed a little bit. He did a rough night in the, in the Bears game, but he's going to be on the roster, and he was a tryout guy, wasn't even an undrafted free agent. He, he was a level below that, and he ends up on the roster. So they, they will do that. And, you know, we know six round Picks like Christian Benford. And now we're watching another sixth round pick who you know, might find himself getting. Getting a big opportunities.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Also Jamarcus Ingram. That was cool about him, like talking to himself in terms of like, be great today, one play at a time. Him talking with the bills Dr. Dez. Yeah. And like he truly walks around with her after practice, like many laps, like, like just. It appears like they're just like debriefing the day and just talking about stuff. And it's really cool to see because the. The Bills having that outlet for players I think is really nice. And she is always there, which is cool.

[Dan Fates]

I think there are a couple comments too. Trey White's really sweaty is. Is one of the things.

[Mike Catalana]

And it's.

[Dan Fates]

Now it makes a little bit more sense. We have seen Trey throughout training camp, which was extremely hot in humid in Rochester, constantly having his cleats off, constantly walking around barefoot. And you're like, maybe he's just trying to get the feel for his cleats things of that. No, he's having to change his socks because he's sweating so much. The caveat I have to this point is I wish we could have a contest to see if it would be Kair Elam or Trey White because Kyre Elam sweat was insane. He would. He would walk and his shoes would squish because of it was. He talked about doing hot yoga and. And the fact that he'd have to put towels around himself on the floor to do hot yoga because of how much he sweat. So what I thought of Trey, I thought of Kyer.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. You know what's funny though? You. You say about changing the socks, honestly, they. They got to do that. I mean, he even said like, his feet are heavy and it's got to be uncomfortable. Like when he's. When he's ringing out the socks. That. That's absurd. That is absurd. That wasn't like, oh, they're a little wet. No. They were stoked.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And then he dapped up Max Harrison.

[Dan Fates]

After that was my first thought, was like the clip went on and he slapped him. Was like, dude, he just wrung out his socks and he just like dabbed him up.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That was foul. I did not. I did not appreciate that.

[Mike Catalana]

And before we get, at least in my chronological order, one, I love Babbage lighting into his defense when they were playing poorly.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That was garbage.

[Mike Catalana]

Garbage. And then Buffalo Joe cruising down the field with the interception and who tracks him down?

[Dan Fates]

I'm so glad they had that moment. That was phenomenal. By. By hard knocks to get that moment, because we all watched that and, like, the next play was going on. But they have the thing where you have to. If a defensive player intercepts it, you have to run the ball the other length of the field. Joe's gas, and it's Josh who comes down and chase him.

[Mike Catalana]

Was.

[Dan Fates]

Was great.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Outside of Matt Milano speaking, which I thought was the. The highlight of the episode, we do have to Talk about Sean McDermott shirt during the improv.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I literally wrote that down.

[Dan Fates]

What a shirt.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That was so much personality in that shirt that I was not expecting. You're talking about the improv scene at the meeting in Chicago.

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Dan Fates]

I wrote down neon light, Bill's shirt. Question mark.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That must be his Saturday night shirt.

[Mike Catalana]

That.

[Dan Fates]

That was his.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Right. He's got a couple Mick Ultras with that thing on.

[Dan Fates]

There has to be a great brand. There's got to be a. A correct way to ask that question. At Sean's next presser on Thursday of, like, how many of those shirts do you got, Sean? Like, something along those lines.

[Mike Catalana]

How about just what's the deal with the shirt? I mean, it really was something. Speaking of that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay, Jenna, when you're watching, the bippity.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Boppity would be so horrendous.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm watching. I'm like. I got. I was like, I'm a little lost here. But it was entertaining. And of course, KJ Hamler was a star. What they call him a soft something. Brick wall.

[Dan Fates]

Cozy Brick wall.

[Mike Catalana]

Cozy brick wall. Love the energy. And it's Kaden Davis, right. That ended up winning.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. The kicker beat.

[Mike Catalana]

Beat job.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, okay.

[Mike Catalana]

Big moment for him. Beat out Josh. He was the champion. But I love stuff like that. It's like the one time they had. When we did see the video, when they had the. The Mentalist.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

That was cool stuff to do. Things like that. I thought that was. It was cool to see what they were doing there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I am genuinely curious, like, how that comes about. Like, who is that something that, like, other teams do and they talk about it and then it's like, oh, we should do this as well. Or like, how does that. Because, like, Oz the Mentalist. Sure. We've seen that on ESPN before game. And like, wow, this is crazy. But like, something like that, like, with the improv, like, I don't know that just to me is. Wouldn't be something I would expect. Obviously, the players loved it and they were all excited, but I just. I'm curious, like, how that all comes together for A team. And who is the one that looks into that? I. I'm genuinely gonna ask, but I just. I'm. I don't know if you guys thought about that either.

[Mike Catalana]

All right. I think it's a Sean thing.

[Dan Fates]

I agree.

[Mike Catalana]

I. And I'm sure, you know, I know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Like, that man doesn't have enough on.

[Mike Catalana]

His plate, but I mean that maybe at some point he figures, I want to bring this guy in. And you're right. You'll probably. I haven't noticed. He's probably been to other teams. Maybe he's even spoken. Sometimes those guys speak to maybe a basketball team or something, and you hear about them, and then that's how. The guy with a mentalist. I. I saw him with it. Four or five different teams. Yeah, that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I've seen that. I guess just like the improv stuff. Like, how does that come together? How common is that throughout this, like, stuff like those questions. Because it's cool and it's different, but it's something that we would never get access to or really know. It happens unless there's video of it.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Makes great pizzas.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. How were you watching the pizza party?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Look bomb.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And he said he had Detroit style pizza and the cookies.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I want to try McGovern pizza, too.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And what made it feel very normal? Like, not only is he a phenomenal NFL player that could also cook and do all these things. Sets off the smoke alarm. Like, chef's kiss of one of us. Yeah. He's just an everyman. Like, you're. You're cooking that. You're searing that steak and a cast iron in your kitchen. You're like, this is going to be a good dinner. And then all of a sudden you're like, yep, I got to go take the smoke alarm out. We got to open the windows here.

[Mike Catalana]

I want to ask you guys a question. I wasn't sure I caught it. Did his wife say, Josh is on the phone with the guys saying, come on over. Watch a game, watch a movie.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's so funny.

[Mike Catalana]

After they spent two and a half weeks together.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, that sounds. That sounds right. Oh, also, people talking about Travis Clayton. He was funny, the biscuit, all that stuff. His accent gets me every time, too. Also, a crumpet appears to be. It sounds like it's an English muffin.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Yeah, right.

[Dan Fates]

Like, it was great to hear Vandemarko. So it's toast. He's like. He's like, it's his bread, and you put it in the toaster and you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Put jam on it different than an English muffin.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, English muffin's probably the best. But, like, just to sit there and, like, we have.

[Mike Catalana]

Are you explaining to us.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Are we explaining bread to one another again on this podcast?

[Dan Fates]

We should ask. We should. Are they. Do they have a twist tie on the crumpet bag? Like, how. How does the crumpets. How are they sealed?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my God. That is really funny. Yeah. No, the pizza party looks bomb. Those chocolate chip cookies he made, too, looked like they had a little bit of, like, flaky sea salt on top.

[Dan Fates]

Which is also appearance from my boy White Steve making a cameo.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Very happy to see that.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

I just tweeted out White Steve at.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The time I saw you.

[Dan Fates]

I won't get taken. That won't get taken out of context by any means.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my God, Dan. What about. What about Dalton with the bird?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, like, yeah, I want to be a bird. Fly. Well, he said. He's talking about.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I could see myself saying that. So I'm not gonna be too judgy.

[Mike Catalana]

But you're. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But I also am on the sidelines not playing.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Yes, I did, like, from the game, Like, I respected the understanding of, like, DM being like, we're getting our asses kicked. There was no sugar.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Like, just that kind of level of it where it's like. No. Like, you know, they're players, all these things. That is, like, at that point, they're just a fan, just like everybody else watching the game, and they're seeing exactly what you're doing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

So it's two years in a row. That hard knock shot the Bears destruction of the Bills in a preseason game last year was from the Bears side, though we did see a Tremaine Edmonds sighting. Talking to Josh, former flash play. Yes, he did. Simone Biles. We saw Simone Biles quickly. Her husband plays for the Bears, right?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes. That was cool to see her.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. I'm trying to think what else. Joint practice looked fun. Josh being like, what color is their offense in? That was just like.

[Mike Catalana]

And then he said, I'm as dumb as. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He was kind of silly most of the show. A lot of joking around on the sidelines. Josh, he was, you know, because he had a lot of free time, double.

[Dan Fates]

Dribble travel, something whistle was really good. To quote. What is that? What's that basketball movie with Will Ferrell.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, wow.

[Dan Fates]

Semi pro.

[Mike Catalana]

Semi pro.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, that was a good. That was a good pull.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All you're gonna say.

[Dan Fates]

Like. Like, this is gonna be like travel, double dribble whistle. Like, it's the.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, that's from a movie.

[Dan Fates]

That's from a movie.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. I didn't know. I've never seen what Josh is a third.

[Dan Fates]

Semi. Semi pro. It's Will Ferrell, like, basketball movie. But, yeah, he's. He's just always got a movie quote. Locked and loaded. And to have that one was pretty good.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, no, I. I thought the. The football stuff was. I was just gonna say that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Cool.

[Mike Catalana]

I thought the football stuff was good because now I think it's a better show, actually. It's a better show when something really good or bad happens. And the fact that they got their asses kicked in that game, you can even see, too. Like, I like seeing Jamarca Sangam out there on the field at the end of the game, and he's just. It's 38 to nothing. So you'd be a 38 to nothing in a preseason game. But, you know, these players are out there in their own sort of world, in that case, fighting. And he's saying, I'm going to make a play. I got to make a play. I. I think just because of what that game means and the score doesn't really matter. And I think the examples of the film catching. Everything in that film's gonna catch you, good or bad, and they will point it out, good or bad. So guys, you know, whatever it is, they got to keep playing. So I do think they'll want to put on a better show Saturday in Tampa, but, you know, it's probably still going to be a lot of backups in the game.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, definitely. All right. Anything else, gentlemen?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, it was good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I thought it was my favorite episode by far.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I thought they just did a really good job. You had the serious moments. You had some fun moments. You had Sean's Hawaiian shirt.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Connor McGovern, the chef with the pizza.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. A lot of good stuff.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Some of the players that you don't think about, like the Jamarcus Ingrams, I shouldn't say don't think about, but, like. Yeah, they're not top of mind when you think of the Bills.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know what's interesting is we have not, like, nothing from Keon, nothing on Keon. It's kind of surprising to me, though.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You're not surprised by that?

[Dan Fates]

No, I am.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm surprised. I mean, even. Just. Even if, you know, everybody knew him from the beginning with the jacket and the cookies and all stuff, but even from a football perspective now, maybe that comes later, but I mean, he's a pretty important player to them, and he's a guy people got to know a little bit. I'm. I'm with you. I was a little. A little surprised we haven't seen more of that. But the other thing I've come across with this, seeing Joe Brady in this element, he comes across more like a potential head coach to me. I think he. I think he's got that. I think he's had the knowledge and the ability, but, you know, there's. There's another step there towards going from, you know, just coordinator to saying, can you. Can you lead the room? The whole room? And I. I see him in those spots, and I'm thinking that's. Again, we don't always see that. We just. We see him on the field and all, but I. I think he's come across really, really well.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you not see that from Bobby Babbage, or do you think Joe has just asserted himself more in that way?

[Mike Catalana]

I think he's asserted himself more, and I think Bobby is in a little different spot. I mean. I mean, Joe's. You know, I mean, I always got Josh Allen being the number one offense and success, and there's a lot more. It's a lot more on Bobby. And, man, it's a lot of change on that defense, and it's going to probably be more. So he's. He's got a different kind of pressure on him. For him right now, it's like success at his current job. Not, if you know what I mean. Like, I think that's. That's the way he comes across as a guy's like, we got to get this together. Because their defense just hasn't been good, so.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Yeah, that's fair. Okay, gentlemen.

[Dan Fates]

All right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right, Mike and staff.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, Staff. Nice job. Staff.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We gotta shout out. Dan Gorman.

[Mike Catalana]

Sent me my mug.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

That's awesome.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was so good.

[Mike Catalana]

Senior bro.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Senior bro. I love. Yeah, that was awesome.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, Mike, Jenna and I. I was.

[Mike Catalana]

Trying to make it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Sorry. Dan o'. Gorman.

[Mike Catalana]

Thank you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, Gorman.

[Dan Fates]

There he is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, hello.

[Mike Catalana]

Thank you. Thank you, Dan.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Love them.

[Mike Catalana]

Love the mug.

[Dan Fates]

So, Mike, we were. I was trying to make a design for Mike and Staff shirts, so I put it in chat GPT. I'm not usually one. I don't know how this really works. So I put your picture of that. We have of you in the hall of Fame gold jacket. It takes a while for an image to come up, and I just start laughing, and Jenna's like, why are you laughing? I Don't get it. And I go, you have to come over here and see this image. Chad GPT AI Greatness was a picture of you, like, kind of cartooned. You looked great. And then they had Mr. Peanut from Planters Peanuts next to you. No idea why Chad GBT did that.

[Mike Catalana]

Planter's peanuts, huh?

[Dan Fates]

It was Mr. Peanut.

[Mike Catalana]

With the monocle and the whole thing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

That's interesting.

[Dan Fates]

I've saved the image. We should upload it at some point. But Jenna and I were falling on the floor, and it was one of those things where I was like, this is weird. And I was kind of giggling about it. And then Jenna came over, and her laughter made me laugh so much harder that, like, my. My abs hurt. Like, I was sore. Like, my stomach hurt was so funny. Of, like, why is it. It was like, make a logo of Mike and staff. Like, just, like, figuring that's what it would be.

[Mike Catalana]

Is it like, were they saying, like, a. Like, as a staff, like a.

[Dan Fates]

You know, like, it was like that had his, like, arm around you.

[Mike Catalana]

Doesn't Mr. Peanut have a cane?

[Dan Fates]

Doesn't he does.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And a mon.

[Mike Catalana]

That's. They were going by.

[Jenna Cottrell]

By staff, but you and Mr. Peanut were buddy buddies.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, we are friends.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So funny. Oh, my God.

[Mike Catalana]

Gosh.

[Dan Fates]

So, yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my God. That's wild.

[Mike Catalana]

Isabelle says, do we think if they beat the Ravens week one and overreact to every game.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, thank you.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, we will probably overreact. I mean, people will definitely overreact to everything.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do we want an overreaction right now? Because I know how to get one.

[Dan Fates]

Well, I already told Jenna that we're going to overreact because week one is going to decide who's the number one seed.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's. We did talk about this.

[Mike Catalana]

You know what's funny? That.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Also, thank you to the original Purple Diva for your super thanks. We appreciate that.

[Mike Catalana]

It's funny with the Bills winning those Chiefs games, the one time it ended up that they ended up getting home field on the Chiefs played in the playoffs. But even those other times when you. You think, oh, this will be. Make the difference. And look, last year, the Bills lost to the Ravens in what week? What was that? Yeah, four or five. And got handled in that game, lost to him and ended up posting them in the playoffs. So. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, that's true. Okay. All right, thank you, everyone, for joining us here on the Buffalo Plus Channel. Some great comments. Please be sure to, like, comment and subscribe if you already have not. We genuinely appreciate it. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, on Instagram, on Tick Tock, on all the social media platform forms. We're trying to grow this thing as much as possible. Anything else from you guys?

[Dan Fates]

Great show, staff.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Great show.

[Mike Catalana]

Way to go, staff.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right, for Mike and staff. We'll catch you next time here on the Buffalo plus channel, presented by Connors and Ferris.