Buffalo Plus Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills Podcast
Date: May 22, 2025
Episode: The BILLS on HARD KNOCKS, Buffalo Plus TRAVEL DRAFT and PILATES PUNISHMENT
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

Episode Overview

This lively episode takes listeners through the latest, most buzzworthy Buffalo Bills headlines, starting with the announcement that the team will be featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” during this year’s training camp. The crew dives deep on what this means for the Bills, for fans, and for the Western New York community. The second half offers a peek behind the curtain as the hosts hold their annual “Travel Draft,” playfully negotiating their preferred away-game assignments. The show wraps up with the fallout from the team’s “Pilates Punishment” challenge, offering laughs and some humbling moments for the group.

Hard Knocks Comes to Rochester (01:20–16:43)

Initial Reactions & Local Impact

• Excitement and Surprise: Mike and Jenna both admit they “love” the move, though Jenna expresses surprise, as Hard Knocks is often linked to struggling or rebuilding teams.
• Quote [Jenna, 03:22]: “I think I was surprised just because I usually think of Hard Knocks as being an up-and-coming team.”
• Local Flavor: The hosts look forward to Pittsford and Rochester getting national exposure:
  • Expect HBO’s cameras to hit community spots, practice fields, local dairies, and perhaps even cover “media members that will hound attention.”
  • Dan jokes: “There will be Pittsford Dairy. There will be turkey burgers. There will be Oak Hill. There will be a golf episode about Josh [Allen] golfing.” (02:25)
• Team Culture & Opportunity: Jenna: “Getting to highlight what that experience is like… It’s a very like family-friendly environment. The Bills are incredibly likable, and I think that will come out this summer.” (04:10)

Narratives, Personalities, and Pitfalls

• Media Savvy: Mike: “The Bills are a pretty buttoned-up organization. I don’t think this will be any more of a distraction than just having cameras around 24/7.” (06:14)
• Breakout Characters:
  • Dion Dawkins pegged as a likely star (“He’s the guy.” 06:57)
  • Discussion of who else HBO might highlight: Ray Davis, Alec Anderson, Joe Andreessen, and possibly unexpected breakout stories.
  • Dan: “I do think that to your point, Jenna, where you’re talking about, like, there are a lot of Josh Allen fans, I think there are a lot of people that don’t understand the lightheartedness ... That will come out on display because they will have the pranks, they’ll have the Deez Nuts jokes...” (08:07)
• Hiding in Plain Sight: Mike cautions against a “Giants” scenario where too much is revealed—“You don’t want to get Joe Shaned” (referring to the Giants’ regrettable experience with Hard Knocks) (05:13).
• Potential distractions? Mild concern, but consensus: “No more than any other media obligation” (10:51).

Memorable Quote

"There are a lot of Josh Allen fans, but I think this will give birth to a lot more just Bills fans in general too."
—Jenna, 04:49

NFL Rule Changes & Tush Push Debate (11:39–16:43)

• Tush Push Remains Legal: The “Tush Push” QB sneak maneuver will NOT be banned for 2025 despite debate.
  • Dan: “Dan Tushes will be pushed in 2025.” (11:45)
• Entertainment vs. Safety: The panel debates whether the play should be removed for entertainment or safety — decision seems administratively muddled, with Mike highlighting that “you have to find evidence for player safety … but if you can’t, at some point the play has to stand.” (13:11–14:04)
• Divisional Playoff Proposal Withdrawn: Mike applauds the NFL’s decision to keep division winners as hosts, favoring tradition and rivalries over pure records.

The 2025 Buffalo Plus Travel Draft (18:38–34:40)

Format & Rules

• Mike, Jenna, and Dan divvy up assignments for the Bills’ road games, drafting preferred destinations based on personal and work motives.
• Draft Order: Jenna picks first; some friendly trickery and wheeling-dealing ensues.

Notable Picks & Rationale

• Atlanta: Jenna gifts Dan the coveted trip so he can potentially catch a Braves playoff game—"I wanted you to have that same opportunity to go someplace you really wanted to go to." (22:03)
• Carolina: Jenna’s first actual pick—she’s never been to that stadium; it’s also Dan’s birthday weekend (24:28).
• Houston: Night game appeal; stories about accidentally ending up at clubs labeled “sports bars” during prior visits spark laughter (27:05–28:26).
• New York: Dan chooses NYC to visit friends and enjoy the September weather (28:37).
• Pittsburgh: Jenna wants to check it off her list; Dan plays “game of chicken” expecting Jenna to pass (29:53–30:34).
• Miami: Dan scoops it up (in November, it’s top-tier for Bills fans); Jenna is unavailable due to wedding conflicts.
• New England & Cleveland: Jenna has family in New England; Cleveland slides to Dan as the “Mr. Irrelevant” pick, but gets props for food and breweries.

Final Rosters

• Jenna: Houston, Pittsburgh, New England, Carolina, Cleveland
• Dan: Atlanta, Miami, New York, Cleveland

Notable Moment

(On Pittsburgh’s stadium) “I've never been there. I want to go to that stadium.”
—Jenna, 29:53

Looking Ahead

• 2026’s draft could get heated: Vegas, Green Bay, Denver, Minnesota, and possible international trips await.
• Cue joking about bribes and “tanking for picks.”

Pilates Punishment Recap (35:20–41:23)

Background: As a result of coming last in their game picks competition, Mike and Dan had to do a Pilates class with Jenna—the “Pilates Punishment.”

Experiences and Reactions:

• Both men find themselves humbled by what they initially assume would be an “easy” workout.
• Dan: “I knew I was in trouble when I was very sore and they were like, ‘that was the warmup.’” (36:12)
• Mike: “My weights changed colors midway through the workout...” (36:12)
• Jenna explains her motivation: “I wanted you to see that it is challenging.” (36:00)
• The group effusively thanks at Embody studio for hosting and Alex for leading.
• Light-hearted recounting of mishaps and struggles—Mike jokes that, unlike big “hide-in-the-back” fitness classes, there were only three people in the room with a camera on them, so there was no hiding (37:39–38:01).
• Dan: “It was not good … my brain can process what the moves are, and my body just was like, it doesn’t move like that.” (38:37)

Notable Quote:

“In the future, the bar is closed.”
—Mike, 40:27 (referring to dance/ballet bar exercises)

Credit to Me: Personal Shout-Outs & Reflections (40:30–45:54)

The hosts give tongue-in-cheek “credit to me” moments:

• Mike: Survived Pilates, secretly trained for it at his gym (“I started doing Pilates classes. … I kind of like it!” 41:10)
• Dan: Shout-out to preschool and daycare teachers, recognizing their patience and skill. (41:25–42:38)
• Jenna: Praises her fiancé Zach for good-naturedly helping with a friend’s move, and gives credit to friends who help others without being asked. (44:51–45:37)

Closing Miscellany & Community Notes

• Open invitation for HBO’s Hard Knocks crew to visit Pittsford Dairy:

  “I will personally invite HBO Hard Knocks and showcase them to Pittsford Dairy.”
  —Jenna, 46:09

• The trio riff on what Bills coach Sean McDermott would order (“Vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup” suggested by Dan, 46:22)

• Listeners are encouraged to comment on Hard Knocks, Pilates punishment, and draft picks.

Key Quotes & Timestamps

• On Hard Knocks and the Bills:

  • “I love it. I think it’s great.” —Mike, 01:45
  • “This will give birth to a lot more just Bills fans in general.” —Jenna, 04:49

• On Distraction Concerns:

  • “I don’t think this will be any more of a distraction than just having cameras around 24/7.” —Dan, 06:14

• On Pilates:

  • “I knew I was in trouble when I was very sore and they were like, ‘that was the warmup.’” —Dan, 36:12
  • “In the future, the bar is closed.” —Mike, 40:27

Useful Timestamps

• Hard Knocks Announcement & Reactions: 01:20–11:39
• Rule Changes/Tush Push Debate: 11:39–16:43
• Travel Draft Segment: 18:38–34:40
• Pilates Punishment Recap: 35:20–41:23
• "Credit to Me" Personal Wrap-Up: 40:30–45:54

Tone & Language

Playful, self-deprecating, and rooted in personal experience. The hosts’ banter is energetic, and there’s a strong sense of camaraderie, locals-only jokes, and an authentic behind-the-scenes vibe throughout.

This summary covers the central topics, notable discussions, and memorable moments of the episode—perfect for fans who want the scoop on the Bills, a dose of media insider chat, and some good-natured ribbing among friends.