The BILLS CUT (almost) EVERYONE: THE END of an ERA in Buffalo (Emergency Pod)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Buffalo Plus – "The BILLS CUT (almost) EVERYONE: THE END of an ERA in Buffalo (Emergency Pod)"

Date: March 7, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
Podcast: Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills Podcast

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Overview: The End of an Era in Buffalo

This emergency episode dives into the stunning roster overhaul by the Buffalo Bills, as key veterans Jordan Poyer, Mitch Morse, and Tre'Davious White are released in sweeping moves. The hosts explore what these decisions mean for the franchise: the dramatic loss of leadership and experience, the business of football, and the organization's intent to get younger in pursuit of sustained success. With personal anecdotes, candid takes, and insider perspectives, the Buffalo Plus trio also analyze how these changes place added pressure on GM Brandon Beane, coach Sean McDermott, and, most importantly, franchise QB Josh Allen.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major Roster Cuts: End of an Era

Timestamp: 01:08 – 03:29

• The Bills stunned fans and media by releasing safety Jordan Poyer, center Mitch Morse, and corner Tre'Davious White. These moves, following speculation about Micah Hyde’s potential retirement, truly mark the end of one of the franchise's most significant modern eras.
• The scale is reminiscent, though not equal to, the famous day Hall of Famers Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, and Andre Reed were cut together.
• Jenna: “It is also still jarring when it actually happens." (03:33)

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2. The Value of Leadership and Experience Lost

Timestamp: 03:29 – 05:33

• All three releases combined mean 294 games of experience depart (Poyer: 118, White: 89, Morse: 87).
• The hosts are deeply concerned about losing the leadership of players who served as “steadying voices” through the franchise's best and toughest stretches.
• Dan: "It’s tough to replace that leadership. And that’s the risk that you’re taking by getting younger.” (10:56)

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3. The Case of Jordan Poyer: Playing Through Pain & His Role

Timestamp: 05:34 – 09:02

• Poyer’s physical and mental toughness is highlighted: last year alone, he played with a hyperextended elbow, fractured ribs (drove 15 hours to play in Kansas City), and a torn meniscus—yet remained the team’s defensive constant.
• Mike: “I’ve never seen a Bills player in his circumstances do what he did.” (05:33)
• Coach McDermott’s emotional recent words on Poyer:

  “Jordan has been just instrumental in our success and the growth of our organization… His toughness, his mental and physical toughness is what to me rises to the surface.” (07:45)

• Symbiosis of Poyer and Hyde emphasized; their leadership and integrity, both public and private, set the tone for the locker room.

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4. Implications at Safety and Cornerback: Uncertainty and Pressure

Timestamp: 09:39 – 10:56

• The Bills are likely facing a scenario in 2024 where neither starting safety from the McDermott era returns—an unprecedented overhaul at a key defensive position.
• Hosts agree: replacing on-field production is difficult, but replacing intangible leadership is an even greater challenge, especially at safety.

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5. The Business of Football & Cap Implications

Timestamp: 12:15 – 13:53

• These moves are not simply about saving cap money—if the Bills believed Poyer or Morse were still at peak performance, they’d remain on the roster.
• The Morse decision, in particular, is surprising given his connection to Josh Allen and importance anchoring the offensive line.
• The Bills are reportedly considering David Edwards and/or Connor McGovern to replace Morse at center. (12:42)

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6. The Next Generation: Getting Younger, Filling Needs

Timestamp: 13:31 – 17:53

• The clear intent: Buffalo wants to revamp with youth, much like Kansas City’s recent successful overhaul.
• With 11 draft picks and stated needs at multiple positions (now including safety, corner, and interior line), the draft and free agency will be crucial.
• Hosts debate if the Bills will actually use all 11 picks, or instead target additions via free agency, especially at the offensive line.

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7. Pressure on Josh Allen to Lead a New Era

Timestamp: 20:10 – 22:10

• With the old guard gone, Allen is now the franchise’s unambiguous center for leadership on and off the field.
• Jenna: “I want Josh to be an authentic leader. I don’t want him to have to do more than … I don’t want him to not be authentic.” (21:19)
• Mike: “He’s going into, what, year seven. Like, you are that guy.” (21:56)
• The possibility arises: will Allen grow as a vocal, organizing leader to fill the void left by Poyer, Hyde, and Morse?

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8. The Human & Emotional Element: Legacy and Unfulfilled Dreams

Timestamp: 25:04 – 25:51

• The hosts lament that the Poyer-Hyde era never culminated in a championship, despite “being so integral in being a part of the process, the foundation of the process.”
• Mike: “These are guys I wanted to see going down a float in a parade.” (25:04)
• The releases signal not just a football transition, but a cultural change—these players “made Buffalo a cool place to be… and got the fanbase to believe again.” (26:02)

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9. Credit to Coaching & Front Office: The Next Challenge

Timestamp: 23:44 – 24:49

• The staff and front office have a track record of turning overlooked talent into franchise cornerstones. That challenge now ramps up—they must develop new players to match what’s been lost in leadership and skill:
• Jenna: “The pressures [are] ramped up on Bean, [and] ramped up on McDermott… But that’s now on you to get the best out of them. You’re going to really need to do it this time.” (24:44)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “End of an era, I think is the best way to put it.” — Jenna Cottrell (02:33)
• “You’re lucky to have these guys for seven years. Seven years is a long time in this league...” — Mike Catalana (04:58)
• “There are few players that Sean McDermott gets very sentimental about.” — Jenna Cottrell (08:24)
• “They were the guys. They were the guys that I thought made Buffalo a cool place to be.” — Mike Catalana (25:51)
• On Josh Allen:
  “He’s going into, what, year seven. Like, you are that guy.” — Mike Catalana (21:56)
• “I want Josh to be an authentic leader. I don’t want him to have to do more…” — Jenna Cottrell (21:19)
• “These are seminal moments in the franchise’s history.” — Mike Catalana (24:49)
• “That’s the thing that kind of stings … to see the work that they put in and not get the reward that they wanted.” — Jenna Cottrell (25:04)

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Conclusion

Buffalo’s roster overhaul marks a seismic shift, ending a celebrated chapter defined by stalwart veterans and unified leadership. The curtain closes on the Poyer-Hyde-Morse-White era, as hope and uncertainty intertwine for what comes next. The franchise must now rely on its leadership core—especially Josh Allen—and the proven ability of management and coaching to cultivate stars from new faces. The Bills’ identity, both on the field and in the locker room, is poised for a major transformation.

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Transcript

[A]

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[C]

This is a concerted effort to have a younger roster. And look, Kansas City did it and it worked and they, and they revamped and so that's what it kind of feels like in Buffalo. But I am a little concerned about the loss of leadership. Buffalo plus, your interactive look at the week in football.

[B]

All right. Welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast, presented by Connors and Ferris, Dan Fates, Mike Catalana, I'm Jenna Cottrell.

[C]

Emergency podcast.

[B]

Emergency podcast. Please be sure to like, comment and subscribe. So, full disclosure, we had already recorded a podcast after Jordan Poyer News came out. And then when we got back in the newsroom, it was Mitch Morris and then Trey Whites. Yeah, other guys, Deontay Hardy, other players as well. But obviously those some of the key guys. And it is, it is an end of an era, no question. And Mike, I mean, what is your take on this?

[A]

So I, I've told you guys about the day in Bill's history when it was Thurman, Bruce and Andre all released on the same day. This is not quite that because those guys all have gold jackets. Hall of Famers had all been to the super bowl, but certainly for the last 30 years of Bill's football, beyond the Super Bowl. Yeah, this is it. This is a major, major move like you're talking about, especially knowing that we believe Micah Hyde is going to retire.

[C]

Right.

[A]

Hoyer and Hyde alone not being back is huge. Add in Trey White and Mitch Morris on any other day, Mitch is the story.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I mean he has been a rock for that team at the center position. So it's, it's really incredible to see. And when the team says they're looking to revamp and get younger. Yeah, they weren't kidding.

[C]

Yeah, I. End of an era, I think is the best way to put it. Obviously the Tray White one. A lot of these moves, Mike, you had talks about like you could see them coming a little bit. It is also still jarring when it actually happens.

[B]

Well, it's the sentimental piece because if you are from the outside looking in, you'd be like, well, Trey White, you know, he had two season ending injuries. Jordan Poyer, he's in his 30s. He didn't make some of the same plays he made in years prior. But you talk about the player and what they meant to that locker room and the leadership aspect and just when you needed to talk to, you know, the Bills obviously went through hard times this past season in the middle of the season, able to come out of that. But at the same point, when you need a steadying voice in that locker room, a lot of those guys were the ones to be the one to be vocal. And I think that just says so much about where they were in terms of respect level. Yeah, but it, it's, it's wild.

[C]

The Bills released 294 games worth of players in these three moves. So Jordan Poyer played 118 games in Buffalo. Tray White 89, Mitch Morris 87.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So, like they, I get it in the sense that they want to get younger. This is a concerted effort to have a younger roster. And look, Kansas City did it and it worked and they, and they revamped and so that's what it kind of feels like in Buffalo. But I am a little concerned about the loss of leadership. What these waves mean throughout a locker room. That, again, it's the business. I'm not trying to sit here and act like everybody deserves a billion dollars in cookies and orange slices after every, you know, thing that happens, but this is.

[A]

How would you do cookies and orange slices?

[B]

Oh, first of all, it's just cookies.

[A]

Right. And the orange slice. They would, they would. That's not a good combo.

[B]

No, no.

[A]

I was trying to lighten the mood up a little bit.

[B]

Brady needs a cigarette.

[C]

We all do.

[A]

All right, I will say this. You. We've talked about this. When you have an elite quarterback like Josh Allen, who's going to play a long time in Buffalo, he's going to.

[C]

Go through different teams, three teams. Yeah.

[A]

I believe Tom Brady played for like four.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

Where, I mean, you revamp the entire roster where no one is left, and then he does it again and again, and this is what it's going to end up being, you know, when you have. Just because you keep the same quarterback for a long time.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Rosters get turned over. I think, honestly, it's hard to say right now because I know for a lot of fans it hurts, but you're lucky to have these guys for seven years. Seven years is A long time in this league and especially the safety combination. Look, I've said this on the air before. We got used to not seeing Trey on the field. We just did.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

It's been hurt for two years. Makes it tough. But Poyer was out there. Hyde was out there. Hyde came back from the neck. Poyer played through everything, everything stayed on the field. And you talked about what he did last year, Dan, for Poyer.

[C]

Yeah, last year.

[A]

Incredible. I've never seen a Bills player in his circumstances do what he did.

[C]

Yeah, that was the first move that I thought was surprising. We had just talked about it on this podcast about the fact of. I don't think that you go into a new season with two new safeties knowing how important the safety position, I'd argue it's the most important position on a Shawn McDermott defense. And all of a sudden he gets released and we're sitting there and it's like, well, his play has kind of dropped off the last two years, which we've addressed on this pod. We've said that, yeah, he's missed some tackles, but there are more reasons than excuses as to why Poyer's play has dropped off at times. And Mike, you go back to last year and I went and looked at the tweet. Over a million impressions on this, this tweet of just saying what Jordan Poyer went through last year.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And it was hyperextending his elbow at training camp. You walked by, thought it. He walked by.

[B]

I thought it was career ending. You also brutal.

[C]

Yeah. Then he breaks three rib, two ribs. Fractures, two ribs. Drives 15 hours to Kansas City, making.

[A]

The game winning play in Baltimore, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Made the game winning play against Lamar.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

And then I don't like flying to Kansas City. This guy drove 15 hours to get there.

[C]

And then he also had a torn meniscus on in his knee by the end of the year. Yeah, he battled through all that stuff this year. And guess what? Yeah, maybe he was a little bit of a step slow, but he was the one constant that the defense had for the most part while there were injuries through in riddled with holes. So you had that guy and he's playing linebacker and dime packages and doing everything that this team's needed. And to your point, again, they reworked Raul Douglas's contract. That's. That's a positive. You know, you also have Christian Benford coming back healthy, all these things. But the one constant in the last seven years of what you could say is average at times, secondary play. What, What?

[A]

Two guys, two Guys are constant. Poyer and Taryn Johnson.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Is on the field essentially for.

[A]

For every play.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Micah missed basically a whole season, and Trey's missed a ton of time.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

Poyer has stayed out there.

[B]

Smart, tough, dependable.

[A]

Hey, it's been great.

[C]

We asked Sean McDermott about Jordan Poyer last week at the combine, and here's what he had to say.

[A]

Jordan has been just instrumental in our success and the growth of our organization, our team, our defense. Can't say enough good about Jordan, just like Micah. And usually when I say one, the other one comes to mind as well. And so I think Jordan for us has been a player, among other things, probably to me, that stand out. His toughness, his mental and physical toughness is what to me rises to the surface when he's out there for us versus when he's not. In terms of the toughness of our overall defense, I think Jordan does a great job of driving that.

[C]

There are few players that Sean McDermott gets very sentimental about. And when he talks about even just the last home game, talking about that it was the defense's turn to be introduced and. And that knowing that it was going could be the last time that Hyde Employer get introduced together and they would always run out of the tunnel together, all those things that was said, he got. You know, it was emotional for him.

[A]

Yeah. You know what I remember about those guys, too, is what game was it where they brought all the defensive backs into the media room? It was a playoff game.

[B]

It was a playoff game, I'm pretty sure.

[A]

And all those guys. He said, I want all our guys in here. I thought they were always that way.

[C]

They did the podium with like that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Always talked about the room. They talked about the guys. And, you know, sometimes when you have those veteran guys, they. They differentiate themselves from the other players. It's like not. They were never that way. I never felt they were that. I thought they were always publicly and it appeared to be privately supportive of the younger players and sort of like, hey, come on, like, we need you and go play. And they. They help lead this team through all the demar. Then that all that happened with Demar. Look, I said when they go on the ring of honor, it should be Poyer and Hyde together. I think it would be perfect that those two on there together because. And again, we don't know 100% about Micah. It certainly appears to be that he's going to retire.

[B]

Yeah, I think that's what's shocking to me is you talk about maybe Jordan Poyer Missing a step and all those things. But now having the possibility of two new safeties in your defense and the importance and level of play that is expected from them. Having two new guys, I feel like if, if Poyer were to have a step back, but it's still, there's still a processing that goes into having a new player in one of those positions and the caliber of that's expected. I guess that's kind of why I was. I wouldn't say surprised because it's the NFL and it is a business. But we talked about this on the other podcast of, you know, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde in particular. You can add in Trey White, but when we first really started covering the Bills, those were the guys that were being introduced to the process and all this stuff. So it's, it's gonna be weird, Dan going into that locker room and not seeing those guys there.

[C]

I think they can replace the play of Ryan Bates or Deontay Hardy and Naim Hines. Like those.

[B]

I hope they can replace the play of Deontay Hardy.

[C]

Yeah. And even Ryan Bates. Like, like, again, the people are like, oh, I can't believe we're getting rid of their seventh offense. Best offensive lineman. Like, okay, it's tough to replace that leadership. And that's, and that's, that's the risk that you're taking by getting younger.

[A]

You.

[C]

You have pieces that you want to step up and you can see future leaders. But again, Mike's. Mike makes the point.

[A]

And it's.

[C]

It's weird because it is New England esque, but like, they moved on from dudes too. They cut Vrabel and they, they moved on from Ty Law. Brusque.

[A]

All those guys left and they still made Super Bowls in their case. And I will say this, there is a difference, I believe, both in leadership and what they've brought to the field of Poyer and Hyde than Trey White. Because Trey has not been on the field and I think his play, it's different. I think Poyer and Hyde were natural leaders. And both publicly and privately, it seemed to be more that case. Not that Trey wasn't full team guy and all those things. I just think it's different. I think the move on from Trey, from a football perspective is less jarring to me than the other two because we have seen this franchise get used to playing without him. Yeah. And look, they brought in Rasul Douglas. He's a good player. Christian Benford can play. We've already sort of seen the next iteration of corner. Yeah. We haven't Seen it really at safety. Look, they have Demar on the team. We don't know what they'll do with the position, but they're going to go out and get guys and they're going to, they're going to try to. They're going to. Somebody's going to play that position. That doesn't mean they replace Poyer or Hyde.

[B]

Oh, go ahead. Did you have something?

[C]

Well, I was going to say these moves.

[B]

Oh, you're going where I was going.

[C]

Are salary cap adjacent. They are. They are not cutting Jordan Poyer because it saves them $5 million. If Jordan Poyer was in their mind.

[A]

If he was still the guy they needed him to be, they would keep him. Yes.

[C]

All of these guys, the Morris one is probably the most confusing. That's the kind of what we're, you know, hearing.

[A]

Well, we saw, I saw Tim Graham had a tweet.

[C]

They're expecting to move Connor McGovern to center and have Ryan Edwards then slide in and play guard. Who. They just extend David Edwards.

[A]

David Edwards. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So David Edwards is the guy. You always heard 76 is eligible on the play. Yes.

[C]

So, so there's things. So again, so when everybody's, you know, I get it. You want to. Here you go. You want to take your victory lap and try and tell me the salary cap is real? Maybe. No, it's not. Just kidding. But the fact of the matter is, is that this, these moves are also based on a concerted effort to get younger and see the talent.

[A]

Look, they have Rasul Douglas on the team. Right. They, they're reworking his deal. He's staying. Like, this is what they're doing. Like, and I'm telling you, this is the point we make, is it would be rather easy for them to redo Jordan Poyer's contract.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

If they wanted to save some cap space, move on, whatever it is. But two years ago, they let him. Two seasons ago, they let him walk, and he didn't get offered. What it is now, now is the question is which one of these guys is still playing? Because I think Jordan Poyer is going to play.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And you in the Giants, by the way, we should address this here. We've said this all 100% that he's not coming back.

[B]

Micah.

[A]

Jordan.

[B]

Jordan. I mean, I, I, I won't say. No. There is the possibility.

[A]

I, I think the guy has already dipped his toe out there. There are like 87 safeties who have played in this league. Some pretty good. Good players.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

That are free agents out there. It is like, you know, you see those TV shows where somebody shows up for an audition and they walk in the room and they realize there's like a hundred people for the job that.

[C]

Look just like them.

[A]

That's the safety position in the NFL. And we know Poyer to be that player, and he is a notch above a lot of these guys. But in terms of that, I don't know. I. I'm just throwing it out there. Of all the guys, not TREY WHITE, POST JUNE 1 Designation is what it's going to be.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Him coming off the injury, I don't think that's happening. But I just wanted to say it because we've seen. We saw that happen before and we didn't think it was going to happen. Thought he was going to be gone day one.

[B]

Yeah. I am still shocked, though, by the Mitch Morris situation, only because I think it does make sense when you look. When you take a step back. But I just thought with where he was at, what he meant to the franchise, that connection that he had with Josh Allen.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Dan, you're shaking your head.

[C]

No, I 100% agree.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[C]

I'm shaking. I'm shaking my head because it's like, okay. Pretty important piece on that offensive line.

[A]

Mitch is this offense's version of. I just. He feels like the father of the group.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Th percent.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And I'm just. I'm just shocked. And then I'm just surprised. It's. Bill's made him the highest paid center.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, when I said a couple years ago, obviously I realized that, like. Like he's your guys's age, right?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Yeah. It's insane.

[A]

And he's younger. Oh, man. And it feels like like 29.

[B]

He's like haunting to me.

[A]

I think he's in his 30s. In his 30s. I think Mitch is. But he feels like he's 48. Yeah.

[B]

He feels like he's.

[A]

He's like. No, he does. I always feel that because of 31, the way the NFL works. She's younger still younger than us. The way the NFL works when you are like five years is like 15 in real life.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

It's just because of what they've played and the amount of miles on people. And I felt that was mentioned. I thought maybe there would be a reworking of it.

[B]

That's what I. I mean, we think about when we were talking at the end of locker cleanout, Mitch was like, you know, the NFL is a business. I don't know what's in store for me. Obviously, I Would love to be back in Buffalo, all those things. But in my head then I was like, there's no way the Bills are not going to have him on the roster.

[A]

Yeah. And look, this sets them up to maybe be a more active in free agency because they haven't even done that.

[B]

Is what I was gonna.

[A]

Well, they have not even done the Josh contract yet. That's gonna happen.

[B]

That is exactly what my next question would be. The assumption is there's a restructuring of Josh Allen's contract that will get them kept compliant, get him some new pants and then.

[A]

Yes, yes.

[B]

And then from there, though, does that open up the window for there to be more free agent additions than we actually expected?

[C]

Well, Bean has 11 draft picks and we all kind of laughed saying there's no way he's going to use all of his picks. But when we were talking about wide receivers, there was a need and a want.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

There are now more needs.

[A]

Yes. But you can fill some of these needs maybe easier in free agency. You're talking about interior offensive linemen. I think they're going to draft somebody. And this is the plus on this draft is this draft has got a lot of offensive linemen in and people are excited about. So no one's going to get excited when they actually.

[C]

They're going to draft an offensive lineman in the first round.

[A]

No, no.

[B]

I literally joke that.

[A]

No.

[B]

Do you not remember I said that?

[A]

No. They're taking a wide receiver in the first.

[B]

I literally said that. I said, wouldn't they how hilarious is.

[C]

Probably the wrong word.

[A]

Nope, they're not doing that in the first round.

[B]

I could definitely see. I mean, I don't expect that to happen, but my brain's all fuzzy. We should check Adam Schefter to make sure there's no other. Yeah. We also recorded this earlier today with the Poyer news.

[A]

So I just think sometimes when you look at. Of what teams do, like when this has become a thing, I will say this. There is a sentimental part of this. You love the player, you love what they can do. If they were having the draft now and Kyle Hamilton was in the draft and they drafted Kyle Hamilton, people move on.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

The player moves on. The idea isn't just that you let these guys go, you're not going to hit on all of them. But we talked about pressure on Brandon Bean. He ramped it up. They haven't done this since 2018. And that was off that playoff team.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Drought was broken, but playoff adjacent team, 17, drought broken. And then they just like cut a Bunch of guys and brought in the quarterback. And that was like starting. That was easy. Easy moves, relatively speaking.

[C]

And that's the case is that that's when, you know, that's when the seller caps really a factor of you're not as good of a team as you think. You made the playoffs, but it's not really a playoff contending team, not a championship contending team. So you hit the restart button like. Like that. That's what you do. If Poyer was playing at an all pro level again, they have no problem eating the $5 million cap it, of course. And that's what's a little bit surprising. I guess it's just a move to get younger. I'm trying to wrap my head around now.

[A]

I will say this. On the offensive line, they have a good offensive line and you know, they've like Edwards coming in. I know, but I do believe on the interior line, I do believe they can bring in another. I mean, look, they hit it well with your favorite player on the offensive line.

[C]

Oh, Cyrus or Torrance.

[A]

Yes, but, yes, they really did. It really is a change. And honestly, to some extent, a little more goes on the plate of 17 now, which is.

[C]

I'm sorry, but that is what we're trying to accomplish.

[A]

No, no, I'm not talking about.

[B]

There's already been so much asked.

[A]

I'm not talking about scoring points. I'm talking about from a leadership perspective.

[B]

See, that is actually something I'm very curious to see play out. Because while Josh is a leader in his own way, he's not, in my opinion, the most vocal, outspoken leader.

[A]

I think we may.

[B]

I wonder if that will push him more into that kind of role.

[C]

But I don't want that.

[A]

Oh, he's the quarterback. I want that.

[B]

I mean, I think.

[C]

No, no, no. I want him to be the leader that he is. And he has said he's not this rah, rah, rah, rah kind of guy.

[A]

Doesn't have to be rah, rah. That doesn't mean it.

[C]

I know.

[B]

I'm just saying, gentlemen.

[C]

No, I just want Josh to keep doing what he's doing.

[A]

He's better ripping his pants in France. Pants and friends and digs. Looking sharp over there.

[B]

Yeah, always.

[A]

Can you imagine one of us wearing that outfit?

[C]

No.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[C]

Could you imagine going to get like a coffee in Paris and you're like, oh, there's. Oh, there's Josh Allen.

[B]

Yeah, that's wild. No, I could not. I couldn't imagine going to the loose anyhow.

[A]

I Want to go get a Dan.

[C]

End of an era.

[B]

Yeah. It makes me sad also, too. I don't want Josh Allen to have to become. I. I want Josh, like Dan talked about, to be an authentic leader. I don't want him to have to.

[A]

Do more than I don't want him to be not authentic. I want him to be freed up to be just a little bit more of that as a te. As the guy people look for. I think he's been really good. I just think when I. I mean, I've used the example of getting the players together in the off season, having a weekend with them, like, a little bit. Hey, look, he's going into, what, year seven.

[B]

2018.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah. Year seven. Like, you are that guy.

[B]

Crazy.

[A]

Yeah. And so.

[B]

And there are Calvin Benjamin. You want to run routes?

[A]

Run routes. Nope, just Jenna.

[B]

Goodness.

[C]

End of an era.

[A]

Put the hammer down. It is. It's sad.

[B]

It is sad. I get why Bill's fans are sad, because that has been the safety blankets, like Poyer and Hyde. Meaning, like, that has just been.

[C]

They've covered up a lot of holes.

[B]

And again, and they've been so selfless. Think about when Josh was a rookie, and you saw those flashes, but there was a lot of growing pains, and they didn't say, yeah, number 17 needs to be better. They said, we need to score points on defense.

[C]

Yeah. I remember being in that locker room in Houston.

[B]

Like, think of how much they were.

[C]

Like, he'll be back. Like, this guy's a stud.

[B]

Like, how important that is to not have the locker room turn on a young guy.

[C]

It's also credit to Josh, but the.

[A]

Reason I brought that up about Josh is because now you start looking at the roster. You start looking at the roster and the years guys have been with the franchise. So who. Reed Ferguson, who's been there longer. Longer.

[B]

It will be a weird day when Reed Ferguson is not. Milano.

[C]

Milano.

[A]

Milano.

[C]

That's.

[B]

That's essentially. I'm trying to think if there's anyone else.

[C]

What else was that draft?

[B]

Dion, I believe.

[A]

Was Saran Neal in that draft? Yeah, he just got released.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I mean, I'm just saying it. Yeah.

[C]

I had a point.

[A]

So my. My point is now these are guys who have all been there. Now, Mitch wasn't, but, you know, Trey, Mike and Jordan, prominent guys there. And it's. It's just. It's changing. And. And that's why it becomes in another way, just another level of Josh's team. It always has been.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But he's been able to rely on those guys. Oh, here we go.

[C]

Got it.

[B]

No Celsius.

[C]

Also, for some of these guys that have turned their careers around, a guy like Poyer Hyde was more of a mainstay, obviously, when he came from, from Green Bay. But give Sean McDermott and the coaching staff credit. And you also have to have a little faith in Bean because he has been able to find those guys. And again, turning some of these guys that were good players into mainstays and franchise caliber players. Give credit to the coaching staff for turning those players and getting the best out of them. So have. I guess that's the. The other thing of this is the, the pressures wrap ramped up on Bean, pressures ramped up on McDermott to. You're going to get guys that 100% that are a step below talent wise, but they're going to be younger and cheaper, hopefully with more speed. But that's now on you to get the best out of them. They've done it at times. You're going to really need to do it this time. Yeah, I'm just. I'm just so scared that we're missing.

[B]

Something every time I look and there's going to be another Adam Schefter.

[C]

My wife's going to love that when I get home.

[B]

Oh, yeah, I'm sure.

[A]

Hey, well, Matt Milano is coming back, so there you go.

[B]

That'll be helpful.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Do we check on that now? Look, it's. It's a different team, but like I said, this happens in the league and these are seminal moments in the franchise's history. And these are guys I wanted to see going down a float in a parade.

[B]

That's what I was going to bring up. Yeah, that's the thing that kind of stings is I think they were so integral in being a part of the process, the foundation of the process. And to see the work that they put in and not get the reward that they wanted into the level and extent, obviously making the playoffs and AFC championship, but not going beyond that. I think that's why I think a lot of Bills fans, when we talked.

[A]

To Mike at the end of the year and he was joking about coming into Buffalo in the culture, and he's like, let me tell you something, when we got here, I'm looking around, he goes, there wasn't a lot of winning going on here. And then he was like, we built this culture. He's right. I mean, McDermott will say that. I mean, they did. They were the guys. They were the guys that I thought made Buffalo a cool place to be.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And a great. Then Josh comes along, and then people start realizing how good he is. It was also two the guys who. That guy would leave that house in San Diego to come work out in Buffalo. Seriously, I don't think I'd ever leave there.

[C]

And it got. It also. It got the fan base to believe again.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, hey, we're. We're not just the. The plucky little underdog. We're good. We can. We can hang.

[A]

Yeah. And. And we're saying this about. Again, Mike hasn't said anything officially yet, but, man, it's. It's leaning down that path. Certainly.

[B]

Agreed. All right, well, thank you for joining us on the Buffalo plus podcast. Please be sure to, like, comment and subscribe. Anything, Dan? No, just scaring me with all your Twitter updates. Also, follow us on Twitter at Dan Fates at Mike Catalana at Jenna Cottrell. We appreciate that.

[A]

And on audio podcast, too.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Everywhere you get your.

[B]

Every Tuesday, we have an audio podcast as well as the video podcast. You can check it out on our channel, CH channel. We've hit 30,000 subscribers, so thank you so much. We appreciate it. Yeah. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe, share as well with a Bills fan. And thank you for joining us. For Mike and Dan, I'm Jenna. We'll catch you next time here on the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel.