‘The Buffalo Plus’ TRAVEL DRAFT plus STORYTIME from classic BILLS TRIPS

Summary

Buffalo Plus: ‘The Buffalo Plus’ TRAVEL DRAFT plus STORYTIME from Classic BILLS TRIPS

Date: May 21, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

---

Episode Overview

This episode of Buffalo Plus is dedicated to the annual "Bills Travel Draft," in which the team—Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, and Dan Fetes—selects their preferred Buffalo Bills road games for travel coverage during the upcoming NFL season. In classic Buffalo Plus fashion, the draft is peppered with playful banter, behind-the-scenes insight into what makes certain trips more desirable, and hilarious, sometimes cringe-inducing stories from their many years on the NFL beat.

In addition to the draft, the episode features an extended "Storytime," with wild, memorable adventures from previous seasons—ranging from viral tweets to border-crossing mishaps—offering listeners a peek into the lighter side of sports reporting.

---

Main Segments & Timestamps

• [00:00] - [07:47]: Podcast Introduction, Explaining the Travel Draft
• [07:47] - [18:23]: The 2024 Bills Travel Draft – Picks 1-4
• [18:23] - [38:03]: Storytime! Classic Travel Memories (Houston, LA, More)
• [38:03] - [54:58]: Draft Recap, Road Stories & Listener Questions
• [54:58] - [58:00]: Rapid Fire Q&A, End-of-Show Banter

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting Up the Travel Draft (00:00–07:47)

• The Concept: Each year, the hosts select which away games they’ll cover, prioritizing personal preferences, game significance, logistical ease, and family considerations.
• Draft Order: Dan has first pick, followed by Jenna, then Mike.
• Personal Criteria: Jenna weighs weather, food, atmosphere, and if she’s been to the stadium before; Dan factors magnitude of game, family logistics, and personal schedules.

Quote:
"I do a lot of 'what’s the weather going to be like when we’re there?' Because, unlike Mike, I am down on the field. So, Green Bay in January—I'm like, nah." – Jenna [06:19]

---

The 2024 Bills Travel Draft (07:47–18:23)

Pick 1: Dan – Baltimore (Sunday Night Game) [08:22]

• "With the first overall pick... Dan Fate selects Baltimore." [08:22]
• Chosen for: big game magnitude, great stadium and parking, awesome food, easy travel (direct flights), and possible baseball playoff overlap.
• “It is hard for this to be a bad trip. There’s a casino, it’s a conference game, Sunday night—I love it.” – Dan [11:14]

Pick 2: Jenna – Seattle [11:38]

• "I’m going with Seattle. It is the only stadium I have not been to on the schedule this year." – Jenna [11:45]
• Highlights: Unique stadium, bucket-list city, personal travel goal, cultural scene (“coffee, music, flannel, weed, Subarus”), agreeable weather for October.
• Team Banter: Dan passed because it falls on his birthday weekend (“My daughter is a daddy’s girl, she would have a hard time FaceTiming daddy on his birthday.” – Dan [14:20])

Pick 3: Dan – New York Jets (Monday Night) [16:20]

• Chosen for: Major divisional matchup at MetLife Stadium, excuse to visit friends in the area, and birthday proximity for Mike.

Pick 4: Jenna – Houston [18:32]

• Cited for: Game convenience (Sunday 1 PM), surprisingly positive sentiments about the city, and—importantly—space for "storytime" about infamous Houston moments.

---

Storytime: Classic Bills Travel Adventures (18:23–38:03)

Houston (Kelvin Benjamin Story & 'Sports Bar' Fiasco)

• Kelvin Benjamin viral tweet: Jenna tweets about Benjamin not wanting to run routes with Josh Allen pre-game; tweet goes viral, stirs controversy, causes Jenna undue stress (“I actually makes me queasy thinking about getting attention. That moment when it started to go viral was like, 'Oh. Oh, wow.'” – Jenna [23:22])
• ‘Sports Bar’ Incident: Mike and Dan, after a wild playoff game in Houston, try to find food. Every ‘sports bar’ they enter turns out to be a strip club ("Sports bar may have a different meaning in Houston" – Dan [26:54]). Mike, brusquely, to the security guard: “Come on, Dan. She’s useless.” [28:52]

Detroit (Border Crossing Disaster)

• Bridge Back-Up: Mike and Dan try to skip a miles-long bridge traffic jam by using the Nexus lane, only to get caught at customs, nearly fined $3,500, and mocked by a heavily armed officer for Dan's "man purse."
• “I had never felt so small as a human being in my life.” – Dan [42:32]
• Moral: Always know the difference between Nexus and Global Entry, and watch what you call a "man purse."

LA & Other Stadium Adventures

• The crew reflects on media room setups in LA and Oakland, their struggles with stadium logistics, unpredictable September heat, and local food highlights.

---

Continuing the Draft: Later Picks & Strategy (38:03–54:58)

Picks Recap:

• Dan: Baltimore, Jets, Miami (Thursday Night), Indianapolis (for St. Elmo Steakhouse), New England ("Everything about Foxborough sucks." – Dan [44:31])
• Jenna: Seattle, Houston, LA (Rams), Detroit (final pick, "a steal"), with Detroit getting praise for food and being easy travel.

Family, Logistics, and Oddities:

• Team travels often dictated by family and scheduling logistics (“Family dictated some of the decisions. I wanted games earlier in the year.” – Dan [48:32])
• Fun notes about favorite food stops—St. Elmo’s in Indy, Detroit diners, Houston’s “Burger Theory.”

---

Listener Q&A: Bills Analysis, Camp Battles, & Outlook (50:20–56:11)

Field Goals & Kicking Woes

• Question: Do the Bills see field goal kicking as a problem, and would they bring in another kicker?
  • Mike: Surprised a backup wasn’t signed for camp; last season’s inconsistency noted.
  • Dan: Not worried—"There are a thousand kickers on the street. If Bass struggles, you sign a vet the next day."

Camp Battles & Roster Depth

• Wide receiver depth, D-line rotation, safety spots, and if McGovern will start at center are named the biggest summer competitions.

Josh Allen TD Over/Under

• "Over/under 35 passing TDs for Allen?"
  • Consensus: Probably under, given new offense and his history of running in about 10 TDs per year.

Ray Davis as RB1?

• Hosts: Unlikely unless James Cook is injured.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Team Chemistry:
  "It's really cool to see...it's quite a community." – Jenna, on the Buffalo Plus audience [01:26]

• On Draft Surprises:
  *"Dan Fate selects Baltimore." – Dan [08:22]
  *"Wow. I was not expecting that. That was...wow." – Jenna [08:40]

• On Viral Sports Moments:
  *"Kelvin Benjamin...nah, man, I'm good." – Jenna recounting the infamous pre-game snub [22:31]

• On Navigating Adversity:
  *"Just wait. The truth always comes out." – Jenna's dad's advice during social media blowback [26:00]

• On Mike’s In-the-Moment Diplomacy:
  *"Come on, Dan, she’s useless." – Mike, describing the ‘sports bar’ security guard, to Dan [28:52]

• On Customs Mishaps:
  *"Leave the man purse." – Customs officer to Dan [42:00]
  *"I had never felt so small as a human being in my life." – Dan [42:32]

---

Draft Results Summary

| Pick | Host | Game Location | Notable Reason(s) | |------|-------|-------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 | Dan | Baltimore (SNF) | Big game, easy trip, good eats | | 2 | Jenna | Seattle | Never been, bucket list stadium | | 3 | Dan | NY Jets (MNF) | Major game, personal ties | | 4 | Jenna | Houston | Story value, food, logistics | | 5 | Dan | Miami (TNF) | Conference matchup, good timing | | 6 | Jenna | LA (Rams) | Weather, experience, the venue | | 7 | Dan | Indianapolis | St. Elmo's, solid mid-November | | 8 | Jenna | Detroit | Food, easy trip, positive vibes | | 9 | Dan | New England (Foxboro) | Standard (least favorite trip) |

---

Final Thoughts

• Travel reality: Most road trips are quick in–quick out, with little time for sightseeing.
• Team dynamic: Family obligations and city preferences strongly shape who goes where.
• Podcast energy: The episode is lively, irreverent, and packed with heartfelt, often self-deprecating storytelling: “Storytime with Buffalo Plus—it really was.” [56:33]

---

For Listeners

• Fan Engagement: Listeners are encouraged to comment with their own travel stories or food recommendations for Bills cities.
• Next Steps: Subscribe on YouTube or audio platforms; send in questions for future mailbags.

---

This episode spotlights the true grit, fun, and lived-in camaraderie of reporters covering an NFL beat—balancing professional priorities, personal lives, and community with a healthy dose of Buffalo humor.

Transcript

[A]

With the first overall pick in the 2024 Bills travel draft, Dan Fate selects.

[B]

Whoa.

[C]

Wow. I was not expecting that. That was. Wow. That was.

[A]

This is the Buffalo plus podcast, brought to you by Connors and Ferris.

[B]

Hey, everybody. Welcome to the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel, presented by Connors and Ferris. I'm Mike Catalana with Jenna Cottrell and Dan Fates. Please make sure to, like, comment and subscribe. And, guys, we love all of our viewers, the subscribers. We're building up.

[C]

We are closing in on 31, 000 subscribers.

[A]

That's crazy.

[C]

That is wild. We truly appreciate it. And yeah, if you could hit the subscribe button, turn on your notifications.

[A]

We truly, truly second and really appreciate it.

[B]

And as Jenna friend. Share comment. It's always nice stuff.

[A]

Well, we got emails from nice people.

[B]

Yes. Shout out to Brian. Brian emails me. I know he's watching the videos. Bill's fan. Great questions. We love interacting with you, so I know, hopefully you'll be watching this one. So, Brian, thanks very much for being one of our subscribers and one of our viewers.

[A]

They're all important.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

It's really cool. Like, quick aside. It's just. It's really cool to see. I feel like we are kind of building kind of a family like feel. It's quite a community.

[A]

So we do really just like a family like feel. Sometimes we cut each other off.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Sometimes we hate each other. Sometimes we think that the other people are idiots. And this is great.

[B]

And sometimes, you know how it is in family. Like, you know, we say, like, I can say something bad about family, but you. Well, actually, you can. And a lot of you do. And it's usually about dad.

[A]

It's usually about me.

[C]

We get some sprinkles in.

[B]

Oh, yeah, we get ours. Yeah, we get ours. A lot of people mentioned that I don't wear enough makeup. Yeah, that's always something.

[A]

Yeah. Good stuff.

[B]

People mention that you're too old. Right.

[C]

Exactly. Really rounded things out.

[A]

This is a show that people actually have wondered when it's coming.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah, this is. This is a. An awesome special show.

[B]

Well, they may have noticed that I am the host for this show.

[C]

You're doing a pretty good job.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

You're doing great, sweetie.

[B]

Usually. Usually it's Jenna because she's the one who can keep us.

[C]

Because it's in my Twitter profile.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

She is the host. But I am.

[A]

Does it really say that?

[C]

Yeah, I. I mean, I went with the joke. Leaned in.

[B]

Look at you leaning in. That's the way you are. This is this is draft day. Costner's here. Yeah, it's draft day. Kevin Costner.

[A]

I thought about suiting up, Right. I thought about what it would be like to get suited and booted for the travel draft.

[B]

The.

[A]

Is this third annual.

[B]

I think it is this third annual. Third.

[A]

And we used to do this just in the sports office. And then people seem to care about what games we picked and why.

[B]

The why is big.

[A]

And then we ended up saying, fine, we'll just do it fine live on the show.

[B]

So for those who don't get the whole thing, maybe some.

[A]

Maybe they're new.

[B]

Yes. So we. While we are the channel Buffalo plus channel and the podcast and everything that we do, we also have another job at a TV station, abc and FOX affiliate in Rochester, and we cover the Bills and many other sports. And as part of that, we do travel in part for Channel 13 and Fox 31 and in part for Buffalo Plus. And the Buffalo plus part is bigger and bigger each year.

[A]

If you like us traveling and stuff like that.

[B]

Keep subscribe.

[A]

Like and subscribe.

[B]

Yes. So the deal is we go to the games, the home games. Basically, all of us go the road games. It's usually two. On occasions, it's been three. We may be doing that because there is a lot of work that goes into it. So for the time being, like, I go to the game and one of these guys goes with me. We all go to the home games. And so they take their turns going shooting, doing all the hard work.

[C]

And Mike just looks pretty in the press box.

[B]

I do. It's just what I do. Hey.

[A]

Oh, you've never looked pretty in the press box.

[C]

Looking pretty?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Or in the front seat of the car.

[C]

When we drive, I am the passenger princess.

[B]

And in fairness, you don't want to see me drive. In fairness to me, when these two get their opportunities and they're great on the field shooting the games, but when they get their opportunities, come up and hang in the press box a little.

[A]

Bit with the old man.

[B]

It's pretty nice.

[C]

It's pretty nice.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I just sit there with my food in front of me and just tune out Mike. It's glorious.

[A]

Snacks.

[C]

Snacks on snacks.

[B]

Snacks. She's lunch mid first quarter. She's ready to go. So this is what we're gonna do. So last year, Jenna had the first pick. Of course, her being the worldwide traveler, she went with London.

[C]

Awesome.

[B]

It was a week she had her boyfriend over there. Big week now. Fiance.

[A]

Minus the Bill's loss, everything.

[C]

But that game was great.

[A]

Everybody got Injured in that game, too.

[B]

That's it. But Jenna got a ring, so that was important.

[C]

I got my ring. Okay. Buffalo.

[B]

Wow, look at that. It's Buffalo's turn. So this year Dan's on the clock. So here's what we do. We, you know, we have what is there, nine road games this year, and it goes in order and when we pick them, you know, we may tell some stories as to what went on in those cities, but it's basically first come, first serve. And so we go in order and so you guys ready? You guys are anxious, aren't you?

[C]

I am because I turning my computer away from.

[B]

Jenna's got her big board. You think, you know, unlike Bean, she's not trading back.

[C]

No. I wish I could trade up, attempt.

[B]

To trade up, but, you know, there's different. There's travel and sometimes like London was an extended trip. Most of the time it's relatively quick in and out for the games, but that's the way it goes. So you guys ready?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

You ready?

[A]

How do you feel about your big board?

[C]

Oh, I mean, my big board is like. It's just. It's just me and my fiance. So, like, my big board is kind of.

[B]

But you tell everybody what your normal.

[C]

Okay, Normal. Normally I go, I do a lot of what's the weather going to be like when we're there? Because unlike Mike, I am down on the field. So if something is, you know, Green Bay in January, I'm like, I've also already been to Green Bay, so I consider that. Consider the food. I consider how big of a game it is. There's. There's le. There's levels to this. Ish.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Yo, stop.

[C]

Wasn't looking at the board peeking. Yeah, I did turn away my computer, but I always try to figure out what's a big game, what's a cool spot, what's the weather, what's the food, what's the vibe, what's the travel like? All those things play into it.

[B]

Dan.

[A]

I had to get everything approved by the owner.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Of the Fates household, which is my wife Renee. She. I just got off the phone with her. We're on the same page with our big board. We're ready to go. I do have two young kids at home, so that. That plays into it. She's a teacher, so there's babysitters that have to be worked out for morning trips. I'm usually the dad in the morning, so this is. But again, I am.

[C]

You're the dad all day.

[A]

Yeah. I'll say. For me I. I've done this before. Is just magnitude of games. Like, big games.

[C]

Yes. Yeah.

[B]

All right.

[C]

Dan has a lot more. I will say I have a lot more. I have a. The magnitude of the game matters, but also the other stuff matters to me, I think more than you.

[B]

All right.

[C]

So differently.

[B]

So this is what we're gonna do. Dan is on the clock.

[C]

He's sweating.

[B]

I can tell the commissioner's already been booed. He's ready. Okay, so we're ready. Yes. I guess the commish here. All right, so Dan is on the clock, and I believe the number one overall pick. The pick is in.

[A]

Do you have any guesses on what do you think it would be?

[C]

No, I don't. I. We've already discussed.

[B]

I think I know, but, you know, I'm not in the building.

[A]

That's good. That was good.

[B]

I am not in the building.

[A]

I think. I think it's. I think this is going to surprise people. With the first overall pick in the 2024 Bills travel draft, Dan Fate selects Baltimore.

[B]

Whoa.

[C]

Wow. I was not expecting that. That was. Wow, that was. That's a great game.

[B]

That is the Falcons taking a quarterback in round one.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

That is the.

[A]

I think I know where you thought it was going to go.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

There's a reason behind it.

[B]

Okay. But here's what I'm going to say.

[A]

I don't need a quarterback in the first round.

[B]

Awesome trip.

[C]

Oh, and the weather.

[B]

And here a little inside baseball. Baltimore Stadium. Great setup is great. Parking is great.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, it may sound silly. We got LA in here. That parking was absurd. We were in San Francisco where we parked for the game in la. Food is great.

[A]

Food's great.

[B]

Sunday night game.

[A]

Sunday night.

[B]

Awesome.

[C]

Bonus. Yeah. Honestly, that was. That was very high on my. That was. That was my number one.

[B]

So that. And it's a Sunday night game.

[A]

I love Sunday night games. I love that it's a conference big game. It's Sunday night. I love the food. I love the fact. Also, very easy flying in and out of Baltimore.

[B]

Simple.

[A]

No connectors. We're just in and out. I like all of that, too. And again, I like the road games and better weather early in the year. So that was my pick.

[B]

It's the one time a year Southwest seems like a private jet. Yes. They got those direct flights.

[A]

And I think part of this, too, is when Jenna maybe makes some of her picks. I can add. Why? They're lower on my board.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Than they are on other people's board.

[B]

Wow. So last year we were in D.C. the year before we were in Baltimore. Tremendous game. Dan and I were right. You and I. No, no, you and I down there for Balt Poor.

[C]

The entire poured. But the game was great. Phenomenal.

[B]

Jordan Poyer made a huge play at the end.

[C]

He got hurt.

[B]

Josh brought him back. It was about 20 to 3.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

And all that. They were down.

[A]

Yeah. Bass field goal late.

[B]

They came back, so. Yeah, they came.

[C]

Didn't go to overtime because I remember my press pass was like shredded.

[A]

Love Inner Harbor.

[C]

Love.

[A]

Love the harbor there.

[C]

You got to go back to that restaurant we went to. Was phenomenal.

[B]

Yes. Very good.

[A]

There could also be playoff baseball.

[B]

I gotta tell you, Mike, there could.

[A]

Be playoff baseball around that time.

[C]

That's an excellent point, Dan.

[A]

End of September, Orioles. Really good baseball team.

[B]

Would they be. We'd be playoffs.

[A]

Yeah. Just the end of the regular season.

[B]

Well, I never track that schedule.

[A]

Never been to Camden Yards.

[B]

Oh, it's definitely worth going. Yeah, it's definitely worth going. All right. So I gotta tell you, I brought Kuiper in. He's stunned at the number one pick. He's already told us. Outstanding team. Outstanding choice. A little bit of a surprise off the top.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Very low or very high floor with Baltimore.

[B]

No question.

[A]

There is a casino. It is hard for this to be a bad trip.

[C]

Okay. You needed to. You needed to lead with that as well.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

We know you like it.

[B]

All right.

[C]

So I am genuinely shocked.

[B]

Genuinely.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And. And that doesn't. Okay. I mean, there is some prime games on this schedule.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So Baltimore is off the board as we continue. Jenna is now on the clock. Let me wait to hear. And I hear.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

The pick is in.

[C]

The pick is in. And I did not think that this pick would be available. I feel like I'm getting a steal right now.

[A]

I. I know what you're going with.

[C]

I'm going with Seattle. It is the only stadium that I have not been to on the schedule this year.

[A]

Yep.

[C]

I've been trying to knock off some. Some. Some stadiums, get to see the country. I've never been to Seattle. I know the game in terms of magnitude is not as expected to be. Obviously the same nfc, all that stuff. But overall, I am very stunned that this pick is.

[B]

I think it's like picking the left tackle here.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

It's like you need it. You. You haven't been there.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

It is a different place. It's not as flashy because it doesn't have the game vibe.

[C]

Correct. Yes.

[B]

I mean, it's still out there. I love the Stadium saw to Rod Taylor play out there on a Monday night game the Bills probably should have won.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I will say this. The first time I went to Seattle, I'm like, you know, what do you hear about Seattle? You hear about the, you know, all the fish market and everything there. You hear about the music, everybody's, you know, playing something. And you hear about the weed. Oh, and the coffee.

[C]

That wasn't me that brought up weed first.

[B]

So here's what it is. I swear to God, I come out of the hotel, I'm right near the fish market. This guy is. I am not making this up. He is walking down the street with a star, not a Starbucks. Seattle's best coffee in his hand. He's got a guitar on his shoulder. And I could just sort of sense he had. I could smell maybe fully. And I'm like. I saw the whole thing.

[C]

Was he wearing a flannel?

[A]

Yes, because he was driving a Subaru. It was wild.

[B]

So it is what it is in Seattle. But I gotta tell you, Jenna, I, I shocked.

[A]

Okay?

[C]

Shocked.

[A]

Do you know why it fell from me?

[C]

No, I actually don't.

[A]

What's the date of the game?

[C]

Octo. Oh, it's. Is it your birthday or Renee's? Oh, it's your birthday.

[B]

Birthday weekend.

[C]

I didn't even think of that.

[A]

We talked. We talked today.

[C]

Wow.

[B]

The owner stepped in.

[A]

Kids might be a little upset having to FaceTime daddy on his birthday.

[C]

That's very fair.

[B]

I didn't even think of that.

[A]

So that. That on my big board. Because of that, I had it at six.

[B]

Oh, hey, listen, you gotta follow the board.

[A]

I got. Following the board again. Great pick. It was the one of the two stadiums on here that I haven't been to. Some of these are repeats.

[C]

But I trying to think what the other stadium we haven't been to would be.

[A]

I haven't been to Sofi.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

That's.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah. So. But it was. This is one of the things. My daughter is going to turn four years old. She's very much a daddy's girl. I think she would have had four. I think she would have had a hard time FaceTiming Daddy on his birthday.

[C]

Yeah, that's very funny.

[A]

I'm glad that you get this. I got the. The star wide receiver. I think the solid that the Marvin Harrison. And you got, you got Caleb Williams.

[B]

Yeah, I just.

[C]

I paint my nails too.

[B]

I just looked down this schedule and realized every one of them. I have been to two stadiums in that city.

[C]

That's really cool.

[A]

That's how old? You're old as.

[C]

Stop it.

[B]

No, you're not kidding.

[C]

That's so cool. In Miami, people can say that.

[B]

Two In Baltimore, I've been to the Astrodome. Two with the Jets. Seattle. They played at University of Washington while they were renovating. And the Kingdome. So that one. Colts. Both stadiums. Rams. Been to St. Louis. Wow. Detroit. Oh, my God.

[A]

What was the Dome Silver. Dome Silver.

[B]

It was in Pontiac. And the Patriots. That. Sullivan Stadium. Anyhow, we are now.

[C]

That's back to Dan. You're shocked, too.

[B]

Stunned.

[C]

Stunned.

[B]

But I love the pick.

[C]

Yeah, no, I do, too. I just. I'm stunned.

[B]

This could be your C.J. stroud.

[C]

Ooh, could be.

[B]

In terms of players, it's like you had him higher on the board.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

You went with them. Yeah.

[A]

All right. I think I got the next three. I have three. My games lumped two through four. Very close.

[B]

All right.

[C]

I. I don't want to look at your sheet.

[A]

All I have is just the road games highlighted.

[C]

Oh, okay. That makes me feel better.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

All these.

[C]

Well, I saw highlighted, and I didn't want to peek.

[A]

They're just all road games highlighted. They're smaller numbers that you can't see the clock.

[B]

He may have missed his pick.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I think.

[A]

Just kidding. Just kidding.

[B]

The clock.

[A]

Let's see.

[B]

Pick is in with the third pick.

[A]

Magnitude.

[B]

Okay. I don't want to guess because it's your time. So with the third pick in the.

[A]

Buffalo plus draft, Oct. 14, Bills at Jets, Monday night.

[B]

Jets, Monday night.

[A]

Also, best friend Steve Tool lives in Hoboken. I get to see Steve.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

It's friends.

[C]

I do love that New York trip because we have, like.

[B]

It's easy.

[A]

It's friends. You get to go out in the city.

[C]

Wow.

[B]

You know, that's a big trip for me all the time. I have both my daughters, my two little grandbabies making. Are they.

[A]

I got a Sunday night and a.

[B]

Monday night and Dan, the day before the game. It's the old man's birthday.

[C]

Oh, really?

[A]

Yeah, the 13th.

[C]

Oh, the 13th.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I didn't know that.

[B]

It'll be 45 again. Oh, that's a great game.

[A]

Now, you know, also, you're re. You're going back. Oh, it'd be great if.

[B]

I won't say it.

[A]

If somebody injured a body part and was out.

[B]

You never know.

[A]

I think it's gonna be again, big game, great food. It's also earlier in the year October, so it's not gonna be blazingly hot. I like that. That time of the year.

[B]

For New York, full disclosure here. That game is on espn. It is not on abc. That impacts our programming somewhat. If there ever was a change, there is the possibility, like the Dolphins game last year, where the whole team goes, then we make some adjustments.

[C]

And there are adjustments, then we make adjustments.

[A]

But that was last year with both the New York game. We all went down opening night.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And then week 18, we all went to Miami. I believe both of those are mine.

[C]

I think they actually.

[A]

I think they were both mine.

[B]

That one worked out in Miami. That was a great trip. And they ended up, you know, winning the game, winning the division. All right, we are three picks in draft is buzzing along now. It gets, you know, now we've had a little bit there. Dan's gone with probably. I mean, two night games so far for Dan. Jenna with a Sunday 4. Jenna's back on the clock. I really is the pick in.

[C]

The pick is in.

[B]

Pick is in.

[C]

Let me just double triple check.

[B]

This is interesting.

[A]

I'm up.

[C]

Okay. No. Okay.

[B]

With the fourth pick in the Buffalo.

[C]

Plus travel draft, I'm going back to Houston. I never thought I would want to go back there.

[A]

Oh, I didn't think of your Houston story.

[B]

Oh, yeah, we've got Houston. We've got a couple Houston. Houston stories. We can tell these stories.

[C]

Can we?

[B]

Let's start with your. Well, first of all, I can tell you the first story in Houston is when I had barely known Jenna. She met me there for the NCAA Final Four, covering Syracuse. I was on vacation with my wife, not thinking Syracuse would make the Final Four. And they did. Jenna calls me up or we were talking, and she says, I worked at channel 13.

[C]

It was like my first month of.

[B]

Being there, you say. I said, how did it go in Chicago the week before? She'd been working for us for what, two weeks, three weeks?

[C]

And I said, great, except I broke.

[B]

The camera and I started laughing and I really broke the camera.

[C]

We were outside, I was doing a. Essentially a live shot, and a big gust of wind took my camera and just. It slammed on the ground and broke. And I told my city it is. Yeah. I told Mike. I was like, I really appreciate this opportunity. It's been a blast working.

[B]

That was the last time she was nice to me.

[A]

And for the record, for when people talk about those cameras, they're worth more than my salary.

[B]

Yeah, they're expensive.

[A]

Like, yeah. Like whenever we're carrying them on the plane, somebody's like, but that thing's expensive.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. If I were to break it, it's Just like, I'm not coming back.

[B]

So that was. But that was fun. That was at the same place that week was crazy.

[C]

We had NRG stadium.

[B]

I will say we had this moment at the stadium. We were doing a show. We were in this arena and ready to go live.

[A]

And the lights went out. Right.

[B]

They started testing all the lights and the PA and the PA while we were there. And the light on our camera would not go on.

[C]

Yes. So picture this. We're like 30 seconds to the start of our live show that's being aired all across western New York at that point, and we're standing there, and then all of a sudden the lights go out in the arena and we're like, oh, like, freaking out. So then there's the top light at the top of our camera again. I not really well versed with this camera at this point. So we're standing there.

[B]

Was I still not.

[C]

Mike just.

[B]

Well, wait a minute. First of all, we had to carry the camera up to where there was light. Do you remember carrying it up?

[C]

So, yeah, we. I had the. The camera and the tripod on my shoulder, and we're running up the steps, and then Mike's like this stupid thing and he smacks the crap out of the light and it pops on and they're like, all right, we're coming to you in three. It's like, oh, my gosh.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

It's terrifying. That's live TV for you.

[A]

Also. What happened in Houston, Jenna?

[B]

What happened in Houston, Jenna? Okay, so this was for a Texans Bills game.

[A]

You could just say two words and I think everybody will know the story.

[C]

Kelvin Benjamin. So, gentlemen, what had happened was. So this was what this actually. This tweet actually went. Went like, got some more numbers a couple weeks ago.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, really?

[A]

Yeah, it was going around again.

[C]

Every couple of years, it kind of gets another bump. But it was before the game. Josh Allen's rookie season, Calvin Benjamin was supposed to be the Bills wide receiver number one. I was so low in Houston, so that means I was both running the camera and then afterwards was responsible for doing live shots and stuff like that. So normally now we have two to three people. So you can imagine it was a.

[B]

Different time for all of us pre Buffalo. Plus I was doing the Bills post game show. So I was in Orchard Park. Dan was not working for us at the time.

[C]

Correct.

[B]

So Jen is there by herself causing trouble.

[C]

So I was on the field pre game. They're warming up before the actual set warm ups. So Josh Allen asks the guys. He's Throwing passes to his receivers. And he goes to Kelvin Benjamin, hey, man, you want to run routes? And Calvin responded, nah, man, I'm good. And I just remember I was standing on the sidelines with another reporter and I was like, I can't. I was like, wow. If I'm a Bills fan, I want to know that. That my number one wide receiver doesn't want to run routes pregame with your quarterback. So I tweeted it out and silly old me forgot how the Internet works.

[A]

And done blown up.

[C]

It done blow up.

[A]

When Mortenson quoted it or when moron rest in peace retweeted it, I was.

[C]

Like, oh, yes, yes.

[B]

So now. Oh, go ahead.

[C]

If you know anything about me, you know that while this job, you get attention. I actually makes me queasy thinking about getting attention. And that moment when it started to go viral was like, oh. Oh, wow. Like, it happened. It all happened. So then the game happens, and I didn't hear anything from the Bills pr.

[B]

The game happens. And if you remember, Bills fans may remember Josh got hurt in that game.

[C]

Yes, he did.

[B]

And our buddy Nathan came in the game. Peterman.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Threw a touchdown to tie it and threw a pick six to lose it.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

That was the story of the game for someone like Jenna at the game is not really as much about Kelvin Benjamin. It's more about Josh is hurt. Peterman made a play finally.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And then lost the game. So that's what our focus was post game.

[C]

Correct. So it was like running around after the game. You know, you just drafted this, what you want to be franchise quarterback. He gets hurt. The Nathan Peterman saga, all that stuff. So in the locker room, post game, talking with coach, you're running around. I didn't have time to go in the locker room, all that stuff. And then. Yeah, got a lot of.

[B]

The Bills weren't happy.

[C]

Bills were not happy.

[A]

That's fine.

[B]

Yeah, they. They weren't happy. And they let Jenna know. And then they let me know.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

And we went back and forth, and.

[A]

Obviously Jenna let me know that she was going to lose her job. She thought.

[B]

And then let's just say this because.

[A]

We were friends, that we were best friends at the time. We was working at different stations.

[B]

I. Jenna had to take a lot of grief. I ended up in a position to very calmly and quietly defend you.

[A]

He went full dad mode.

[B]

My wife was going, who are you talking to?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it was. It was pretty good.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I think they may have been critical of what we did. I may have been critical of the decision they made to acquire that player.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Because you want to talk about our personnel decisions, I'll talk about yours.

[A]

And now it's all water under the bridge. And Calvin Benjamin is, well, hey, you.

[B]

Came to the edge.

[A]

And then, no, McFarland Booger ended him.

[B]

He ended him.

[C]

A Popeyes biscuit away from being a tight end was just. I do remember. I was. I was really, really upset. I was kind of going through it, very stressed out, all this stuff. And I remember my dad saying to me, he goes, jenna, the truth. Like, just wait. The truth always comes out. All that stuff. And obviously, you know, I never. At the expense of someone's career, you don't want that to happen. But.

[B]

Well, as Bill's fans know, that still.

[A]

May be the second best Houston story we have at this desk.

[C]

I agree, actually.

[A]

And Mike will tell it, and it'll take 30 minutes. No offense.

[B]

I'll buzz through, I'll set it up, and then you tell it. We're in Houston, Dan and I. Playoff game. Josh Allen's the quarterback. It is wild. Wild game. As you guys know, they end up losing. Game's over. We're tired. We're just saying, let's go grab something.

[A]

And it was Brady's last game as.

[B]

A Patriot, and they were losing. So we were like, we got to get somewhere to watch the game so we can get something to eat and watch the end. So we said, let's find a sports bar. Dan was.

[A]

You were driving. Yes, because I was. I was on my phone trying to find the nearest sports bar. Let me reiterate.

[B]

Sports bar.

[A]

Sports bar. That may have a different meaning in Houston is what we came to find out. We went to one. There were polls, right? We said, we're not going here. We went to a second one. Still polls.

[B]

Yes. So we get out of the car at the one that was in, like, the plaza.

[A]

It's like a strip mall.

[B]

And we're like, okay. And you could see it was a bar.

[A]

No, I knew right away.

[B]

Well, I mean, there was something we could see, like. And we walk. Go ahead.

[A]

I knew when there was security outside, this wasn't a sports bar for food.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But Mike can talk his way through anything, and he goes up to a large person.

[B]

Well, wait a minute. If you remember, she sort of walked up to us, correct.

[A]

Like, we were, like, lost. And she was large security guard. And she's like, what are you guys looking for? And Mike famously says, I just. We just want some food and to watch the game. She's like, we got TVs and food. And we're like, okay. And Mike's like, no, no, no, we don't want to go here.

[B]

And she just kept talking.

[A]

Correct. And so Mike is. How do you say this? Crude when he. When.

[C]

Kurt.

[A]

Kurt.

[B]

Kurt is a word, okay?

[A]

And I'll never forget it.

[C]

Kurt. He is Kurt.

[A]

I'll never forget this. As long as it's something we still say to this day in the Buffalo plus and Sports office here. Mike turns around, and it's not like it's a outdoor patio bar area at, like, TC Hooligan.

[B]

Now we're in a parking lot of.

[A]

This, where there's security and, like, we shouldn't probably be here to begin with. And Mike just says, we are this close. This person is this close. Mike turns his back. I'm still looking at the woman. And Mike goes, come on, Dan. She's useless.

[B]

Was I right?

[A]

I'll never forget being like, we need to run, by the way.

[B]

She would have kicked both our asses. There's no doubt. No doubt.

[A]

And the story goes on. We couldn't find anything to eat.

[B]

Oh, yeah, that.

[A]

That. My jaw just dropped. It's one thing to say that when we get back in the car of, like, she was useless. Mike said it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Four and a half feet from her. Yes. So now we go back to the hotel. We're like, there's a bar. There's a restaurant bar at our hotel.

[B]

So Dan says, I'm going to run out because we went to get food. Kitchen's closed.

[A]

Kitchen's closed.

[B]

So I said, I. He goes, I'm going to go get gas for the car and what? Going to pick us up Whataburger. Right.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I remember there was a woman at the bar.

[A]

Andre Reed.

[B]

Eric Molds.

[A]

Oh, Eric.

[B]

Eric Molds Jersey. Yelling loud. It was very annoying. I grabbed two beers for each of us, and I wait. And then Dan almost died.

[A]

I would have thought the lady killed us. I go to get gas in downtown. You know, we're outside of Houston, and it's one of those times you're at gas station all alone. End of the night. It's now 11:30, and a guy walks up to me and is like, hey, man, do you have any money? And I just. He came from a shadowy corner, and I was like, this is it. This is it.

[B]

This is where he's gonna die.

[A]

This is it. And he was very nice. He's like, do you have any money? Said, no. Got in my car, drove away. And I'll never forget showing back up with the burger, slamming the food down. And Mike's like, what's wrong? I was like, almost died. You're like, haha. I was like, I thought I was gonna die.

[B]

But what you should have said to the guy was, you're useless.

[A]

Yeah. Houston was a trip. That was insane.

[B]

Well, Jenna's going back to Houston.

[C]

Going back to Houston.

[B]

Kelvin Benjamin will not be there. We will not be going to that sports bar. I could tell you that.

[C]

Yeah, I can tell you that too.

[A]

So.

[B]

And that's a Sunday one o' clock game.

[C]

That's why I also liked it.

[B]

I'm gonna give myself a little pat on the back. I told you guys in our show, I said, I don't think that game is going to have the magnitude nationally that we think it does.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Now they may hook that to CBS as a key one o' clock game that a lot of the country gets.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

But it didn't get prime time, which was surprising. All right, so Dan is now back on the clock. We are four picks in.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

To this nine pick draft. Right. Is what it is. So. Okay, that's interesting. So here we go.

[A]

Fifth pick.

[C]

I'm guessing I'm gonna get. Oh, I don't know.

[B]

Okay. And pick is in.

[A]

With the fifth pick, the Buffalo plus travel draft. Dan Fate selects week two at Miami.

[C]

Okay. I had another game that I thought you might take.

[B]

That is a Thursday night, Thursday night game. Quick turnaround off the open.

[C]

You love Miami.

[A]

Great casino.

[C]

I mean, who doesn't love Miami?

[A]

The stadium kind of sucks, but I could feel like I could walk around that place blindfolded. We've been there so much.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Big magnitude game again. I like those. I've got Thursday, Sunday, Monday night.

[B]

Got them all. Got all the days of the week. Or at least since they're not playing on a Wednesday this year.

[C]

Yeah, thankfully.

[B]

Yeah. Okay, so now is Jenna back on the clock again? Some interesting matchups. Some 425 games, late season game.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Let's wait.

[C]

What pick is this?

[A]

6.

[B]

So this is sixth pick of the draft.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

And the pick is in.

[C]

Pick is in with the sixth pick. Sixth pick in the Buffalo plus travel. Jeff Travel.

[B]

Daft.

[A]

We're keeping that in.

[C]

No, not high. Okay. Not high. Truly not high. Okay. Three, two.

[A]

No, we're leaving it in. We're not cutting it out.

[C]

No. Yeah, okay. Whatever.

[A]

Hey, guess who cuts the pot. Guess who, guys, guess who cuts these. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. We don't make it easy on Dan. All right. With the sixth pick in the Buffalo plus travel draft. I am selecting Los Angeles.

[B]

Oh, la going west.

[C]

La, we going back.

[B]

So now I will say this. So Jenna and I are going there in now December, so it should be a little cooler. We went there in September. And I'll tell a quick story. First of all, I joked about the parking. It was absurd. Worst ever. We park so far away. And I was reading a tweet by our friend John Scott, who's Now at Channel 2. And John was going to wear a sport coat. And he's down on the field before the game and he's like, it's so insanely hot down here. I'm just going to. I can't because I'm sweating through everything. Because that stadium is not air conditioned on the inside. So you think, oh, it's LA, it'll be nice. It was 94 degrees, something like that.

[C]

And the air gets trapped.

[B]

Trapped in that.

[C]

Because the, the sides have ventilation.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But there is the roof. The stadium is stunning.

[B]

Right?

[A]

Is the stadium down?

[C]

So.

[A]

But it's not cool like a basement.

[C]

No, it's not. Also, you got to think about it. It's. The sides are kind of open, but they're really not correct. And then all that air just gets trapped because you have the field right there.

[B]

And listen, they don't usually have that kind of weather.

[A]

Yeah, they're 75. Yeah, 85.

[C]

It was just, it's.

[B]

And it was humid. It was bad.

[A]

So I've, I've been to la. When it was. They played at the Coliseum.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

That was 2017. That was. They played against Case Keenum. And I'll never forget, because it was at the cool stadium, all those things. And we're walking in. I was still. I was at Channel 8 at the time. And we're like, where's the media room? And they're like, oh, it's on the field. We were like, what do you mean it's on the field? It was just in the end zone. And we were like. It was just folding tables in the end zone. And I remember going, what if it rains? And they go, it just doesn't rain. It just doesn't rain. Like, to have an outdoor venue of. That was. Was wild.

[C]

Incredible. No, that game, two games there.

[A]

Because I've done the. What was the Oakland Coliseum, whatever it is. And I did the Rams game that year. And I did the Raiders game that year.

[B]

The Raiders is an adventure.

[A]

That was cool.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So, like, you walk out of, like you walk out on home plate.

[B]

That's cool. So that's Two places I have not been for a game yet is. And you've been to one of them. San Francisco.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

The new stadium. I've been to Candlestick 2017.

[A]

I did two.

[B]

And I have not been to the Vegas stadium.

[C]

I want. Yeah.

[B]

Because we were out there for the draft, but they didn't use the stadium. And then they. The game they played in 2020. No fans, no media.

[A]

So I'm running up to the clock right now. I'm running up.

[B]

Oh, here we go. We're ready.

[A]

I, I, we're.

[B]

Seventh pick is in. Yeah.

[A]

I, I could have taken this. Third overall.

[C]

How indie. I knew it. I knew it.

[A]

I Dan Fate selects St. Elmos with the seventh pick of this draft. Great value. I got the top four on my board.

[C]

Great value.

[A]

I can't wait. I love this indoor November. Traveling there is kind of a pain in the butt, but I. I'd be excited to see what that team kind of is in Indy again to get to. Kind of see what. What Anthony Richardson would look like. But I think that's very happy to get that. I almost went there over Miami, but I went Miami because it was a Thursday night.

[B]

Thursday night.

[C]

I don't think I would have picked Miami.

[A]

Is it too early in the year for you?

[C]

Yeah, well, I just feel like. Yeah, I don't know.

[B]

I. Dan has been there for what we talked about, Jenna. For the high game. Dan was there for the hottest, hottest game in the world that we've ever been to. You were on the field for it. It was absurd. It'll still be warm down there, but way different at 8.

[A]

There were two games that I have filmed. The Other one was 2018.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

It was week two, I believe the Bills were home against Denver.

[C]

Yeah, I think I was on the field for that.

[A]

I think we were on the field where, like, the Bills PR Was handing out water bottles.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Because the turf was melting. Was so hot that they were worried. Like, hey. Like, they were w. Like, very rarely do the people care about the photographers, players included, as Jenna knows. But the fact that, like, they were like, hey, like, here are cold towels. Like, this isn't going well.

[B]

It's not good. Yeah.

[A]

That was a home game.

[B]

Oh, shit. I need to tell Dan now. I've gone over this with the company. We're driving to Baltimore and Indy. We are driving to. And we're driving to Miami this year. So we're driving to RV because Jenna doesn't drive. So.

[C]

No. All right. So I have the final pick.

[A]

Great value.

[C]

Well, there's New England, too. But.

[A]

Yeah, that'll technically be mine.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

I mean, we already. We already know.

[B]

We know.

[C]

We know.

[B]

This is one of the best games of the year.

[C]

I love Detroit. I love Detroit.

[B]

We both.

[C]

Is cool. Yes.

[B]

So we both had trips. They are back to back.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

You and I went one. Not last year. Right. It's the year before, right?

[A]

Year before, yeah.

[B]

Yeah. It wasn't last season.

[A]

It was the demar season.

[B]

It was the demar season.

[A]

Correct. Because it was a huge snowstorm.

[C]

So I covered the Browns game in Detroit.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I did the Thanksgiving.

[B]

Thanksgiving. And so we've told the story, but we might as well tell it quickly one more time.

[A]

All time.

[B]

Dan and I are going to Detroit. There's different bridges to go across. And we see this one. That is you. You enter Michigan back from Canada. Because you cut across Canada, it's much shorter. You enter Michigan about a half an hour before you get to Detroit. So it's a different bridge. It looked like it was pretty clear. Get to the point where we get to the toll, and then we realize as we're going through, it's backed up on the bridge.

[A]

Backed up is an understatement.

[B]

Basically all the way back to the other end of the bridge.

[A]

So it was. I would. I would argue it was backed up for three miles.

[B]

Yes. The whole length of the bridge.

[A]

So it was part of. It was the day before Thanksgiving. So college kids were coming back and they were saying it was a big travel day for everything.

[B]

So that was the point where the woman at the. This would be for just the toll says there's a duty free shop. If you got to run in a bathroom and get something, do it there. Because you could be on the bridge for a while. We're like, great. So we do that.

[A]

So Mike has a terrible idea.

[B]

So I have a Global Entry pass, which includes the pass to come Nexus in Nexus to go back into the U.S. it works as part of that.

[C]

I thought Global Entry and Nexus were different.

[B]

They are, but it comes with it. When you sign up for Global Entry, you get the Nexus pass. It only works going back into Canada. US into the. Into US From Canada.

[A]

Mike is reading the back of this card and Googling it and trying to see can he use it. And I was like, well, I don't. I don't have it, Mike. But it.

[B]

It describes it. Because this is in my mind, it is a. It is a. It's in a car. We're in a car together. So I say to Dan, I Think we're good.

[A]

So it's right. Lane is standstill. Every single car for the whole bridge. The whole bridge. And then there's a nexus lane and it's empty. And Mike's like, just go in. Just go. Go around the lane. I'm like, mike, if I. If I go out of this lane, nobody will ever let me back in. So it's a decision we make right now. He's like, yeah, I think so. So I go out. And he's like, I'm not sure. I don't know. It says. It just occupancies in car. I think we're good. I. I can't. I. It's hard to even put into words. Going 65 for, like, blowing by everybody minutes. Yeah, everybody is in standstill.

[B]

So we go all the way now. Now we're towards the front where you're going to go through with customs agent. And they say, we get up to. The customs agent, goes so.

[A]

So south so quick.

[B]

And she says, passport, and give me your global entry. Give me your nexus card. So I hand it to her.

[A]

I hand her my passport.

[B]

Passport. And she goes, I need your global entry or your nexus. And Dan says, I don't have one.

[A]

And what did she say?

[B]

She flipped out. She says, you.

[A]

You can't do that.

[B]

You can't do that. You could be fined $3,500.

[A]

You. She points at me, could lose your card or whatever.

[B]

She was pretty attractive, yelling at the both of us, and we were like. And then she's like, pull over. Pull through. Pull over and wait. She says to us. So we quietly pull over and go ahead.

[A]

And we have to get out of the car. We have to go into this customs place now. And Nick Sirianni, with a bulletproof vest and an assault rifle comes to our door.

[B]

Full on garb, the whole thing.

[A]

Nick Sirianni's twin, except, like, bigger. Yeah, except he was Dion Dawkins size. So he says, get out of the car.

[B]

Leave your phones.

[A]

Yeah, leave your phones. Leave everything in the car. So I do. And then he says something to me.

[B]

He says to Dan, leave your man purse in the car. And Dan says, what? No, you.

[A]

No, first. He said. First he said, leave your purse in the car. Yes. I didn't know what he meant. I had a.

[C]

Over the shoulder, cross body bag. Yeah, man, I've never been able to look at them.

[A]

Hey, hey, hey, hey. It fits. One diaper, a pack of wipes, my wallet, my keys.

[B]

That doesn't make it any more masculine.

[A]

And so I said, What? And he goes slowly, as if I didn't understand English, it goes, leave the man purse. And I had never felt so smaller as a human being in my life.

[B]

Dan and I are walking with our passports in. And Dan goes, just what he said. I've never felt. So we go in there, we sit down like. Like two little kids in the classroom.

[A]

We got called in the principal's office.

[B]

Fortunately, they were. They were laughing about the lions, oddly enough.

[A]

And now they're really good play.

[B]

Yeah. And they were all joking around. So there were. The vibe wasn't too bad in there. And we thought we were getting Scotty Scheffler here, and instead they were super cool.

[A]

And they said, I'm doing the talking. And I was like, I wasn't going to say anything.

[B]

So the guy said, he marked down. I told him it was all my fault. I misunderstood it. It's mine. He goes, I'm going to mark it down that you got pushed into the other lane. And, you know, because the lanes are next to each.

[A]

Oh, he said that the lane closed.

[B]

Right. And we went over and whatever. And then we were going, and he let us just leave. And we got in the car, and the first thing I said to Dan was, well, that saved us about an hour.

[A]

It saved us three hours.

[B]

Yeah, it was good.

[A]

We had to wait 30 minutes in there. And the bridge. I can't stress enough. I've never. It was New York City level traffic.

[B]

Hang on a second. You're coming with me.

[A]

Do you have the global entry?

[C]

I do.

[B]

Texas. We're gonna cruise right in.

[A]

Yeah. So that was story time. Leave the man purse. And now we. I felt so little.

[B]

I did not share that story with any of the other reporters, except for all of them. I told everybody it was so phenomenal.

[A]

It was like, hey, did you guys get caught up in that traffic? It's like, yeah, we shaved two and a half hours. But Dan got belittled by Nick, Sirianni's big brother. Juiced up brother.

[B]

Oh, that was so much fun.

[C]

It's always a story.

[B]

That was so much fun. So now Jenna and I, last pick.

[A]

Fox Bro sucks. Everything about Fox Bro sucks.

[B]

Just gonna be honest, except I see my college buddy there.

[A]

Yeah, Actually, yeah.

[B]

See, Matt when we're there, we'll be there to see him. We'll get dinner together with Matt, but it's not bad. Yeah, yeah, that part's fine. It's just. It's. You could go to Providence, but, you know, you gotta watch yourself in Providence.

[A]

And.

[B]

Or you could Just hang out in Foxborough. It's. It's not a great.

[C]

You could always go. You could do Boston.

[A]

Yeah, I've never done Boston. Yeah, I've done Foxborough for lacrosse.

[B]

He's on Foxborough.

[C]

No, you stay in Boston.

[A]

I know. How far away?

[B]

Honestly?

[C]

45 minutes.

[B]

I'm a fan. You took me to a place in Providence. Outstanding Italian food.

[C]

Providence has phenomenal Italian Fed hill. So I have family out there, so I know the spots.

[B]

It is recapping the draft. It is good. Okay, let's recap it. Dan went really stunned the rest of the league.

[A]

Where was Baltimore on yours?

[C]

Well, I. It was my one because I thought you'd take Seattle.

[A]

Okay. So. So we had the top two.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, yeah. She was.

[C]

But I was just like you. You literally asked me before you walked in, you. He was like, oh, what are you going to take? And I'm like.

[B]

Because I said, well, Dan's taking Seattle.

[C]

Yeah. So I was like, I'm going to take Baltimore.

[A]

We talked about it with again, the owner this morning.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Birthday.

[C]

So to recap, I should have thought of that because I would have played that up way more.

[A]

Yeah. I had it headed at 6.

[B]

So to recap, Dan, number one pick, took a phenomenal game Sunday night. 8:20. Baltimore early season. Right. In that mix of big games. So Dan took that and then Jenna came right back with her Seattle trip.

[C]

Yeah, I'm excited. Like I said, never been out.

[A]

Very excited for you.

[C]

I was gonna say, never been out there. I think the stadium's gonna be cool. That atmosphere is gonna be cool. It's also early enough that I hope the weather isn't crazy so that it.

[A]

Only rains like 3/4 of an inch. Not a full inch.

[C]

Hey, last year in Baltimore.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Rained. Philly, it rained. We had a lot of rain last year.

[A]

No, Dan got a lot of rain.

[C]

No, I got game. I did get a game.

[B]

That's true.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And then. Okay, so then after that pick number three went to Dan. He went the Jets. Jets.

[C]

See Aaron Rodgers.

[B]

That Monday night game for Tyrod Taylor. We'll see.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Jenna followed that up.

[C]

Houston.

[B]

Houston Texans.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Stefan Diggs.

[C]

There's Houston has great food as well.

[A]

There was a great card room.

[B]

How about the breakfast?

[A]

Oh, yeah, that was dope. It was like chicken. Joanna Gaines place.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Oh, that was awesome.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Should we go back to burger theory?

[B]

Yes. We went there to eat like six times. When we were there for the final four, it was right there. They had like four things on the menu. It Was okay.

[C]

It wasn't bad.

[B]

Then we went back on the clock, so. So again it goes. One with Baltimore, two Seattle.

[A]

He's losing it.

[B]

Three Jets, Jenna. Four Texans, right?

[C]

Yep.

[B]

Dan five, Miami, Jenna six. Went la LA with the Rams.

[A]

Seven was Indy.

[B]

Indy for Dan. Scooter time for you and me.

[A]

Oh, redemption on the scooters.

[B]

Yeah, we're going back. Scooters. Try not to crash.

[A]

We're going to Scooter. To Elmos.

[C]

That is.

[B]

No, that's. We can't. We shouldn't do it post Elmo's.

[A]

No, Uber post.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

You can't show up to St. Elmo's in on a scooter.

[B]

Why not?

[A]

Oh, are you in your ball gown when you show up to a steakhouse?

[C]

Not Scooter. St. Elmo's is an institution. It deserves respect.

[A]

Dan's right next to, like, Hillbilly Joe's and some brewery.

[B]

Dan's plan is to fly up with the scooter and go right over the.

[A]

Curb, slide into the table.

[B]

And then Jenna went to non man purse Detroit and took that. And Patriots game is up in the air.

[A]

I'll say Detroit as the final pick is a steal. I know, it's great. This is again, family had dictated some of the decisions. I wanted games earlier in the year, family wise. But to get Detroit. And we do talk. We've had feelers out of like, hey, could you do this with obligations and things like that. But very happy you got Detroit. Very happy you got Seattle.

[C]

I know. And you get Indy, Miami.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

This in terms of the schedule and in terms also of, like, having domes, having, like, good. In terms of weather expected. Pretty good year for that.

[B]

And just, you know, at home, we always try to enjoy ourselves on the trips. The trips are quick.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So, like, you fly to LA on Saturday. You do.

[A]

We land the day before at like 3. We get a bite to eat, and then we're at the game the entire next day and then you fly back.

[B]

So it. I'm just saying is sometimes it would be nice to say, oh, you know, like we've done in certain places, take a little extra time, whatever. But it's the way you sort of COVID the NFL. Because there's another game the next week.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, everything keeps rolling. So we had a few questions.

[A]

We need to book almost.

[C]

Like, we'll get it almost.

[A]

We'll book almost.

[B]

Oh, we got a lot to book Saturday night. We need almost. Yeah.

[A]

Just saying.

[B]

Well, if we drive there that day.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And we're flying to Detroit, I'M just kidding.

[C]

I am a little jealous. That shrimp cocktail is really good.

[A]

Everything's real good. I mean, yeah, the old fashioned's good. Everything about it is good.

[C]

But I'm. The steak is great. Don't get me wrong. I'm just not as much of a steak person as most people. But that shrimp cocktail.

[A]

Maybe I'll get a pork chop.

[B]

You could pork chop, man. Gross.

[A]

Good questions.

[B]

Do we. We. Because this was a lengthy. Yes.

[C]

Yeah. All right, let's see the questions. Just a couple. This was a good one. I. I had it. This is a good one from Sakowski. 1903. Did the bills feel the field goals were a problem and do they do. And did they do anything about it? If Bass continues to be inconsistent, what is the backup plan? It's a great question.

[B]

I'm. They don't have another kicker on the roster right now.

[C]

Not to my knowledge.

[B]

And I'm a little surprised at that. I would have thought you just bring somebody in and look, they like Bass. Bass has been a good kicker, but it was a problem last year. And not just the mission. Not just that miss, which obviously was the one, you know, a lot of people will reference because it came in the last game of the year. He was inconsistent. He missed some that were makeable. They lost faith in him in the 50 plus kicks. I thought. Agreed they did. So I don't know if he was dealing with something, whatever it was. But I'm surprised there's not another kicker. And that doesn't mean they can't still bring somebody in. But I'm a little surprised they didn't bring a kicker in, at least for camp.

[A]

I don't think you. I don't think you try and mentally have him battle for a spot in training camp.

[B]

I'm not saying battle for a spot.

[A]

If Bass falls on his face, he falls on his face.

[B]

They sign a veteran.

[A]

They sign a veteran. There's a thousand kickers on the street.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That. That you can sign and they can kick the next day.

[C]

You got to be so careful.

[A]

The XFL has. Correct. I guess, when. If you bring a kicker. I feel like in training camp, it's like, hey, even though we signed you this extension, you have been good for us in the past. You got to prove it now. I think it's.

[B]

Yeah, I. I just think they talk about competition.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

They talk about.

[A]

I'm not saying I agree with it. Yeah.

[C]

But that position in particular, though, it is, I would say, very tricky because.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But I do think with this team and he's still a young kicker.

[A]

It's like you drop a guy in the batting order before you pull him out of the starting line.

[B]

Yeah. But I do think of all the positions, like, yes, the holder has to deal with it, you know, in that.

[A]

But the XFL has like, routine guys kicking 65 yarders.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like there are kickers that will be available. It's not like, hey, you better get one now, because you don't. Won't have one.

[B]

I think the guy is a talent.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I think he went through a bad spot. I don't know if he was 100% healthy. I think Jen and I were right saying that a kicking problem. We got shot down.

[C]

I know people were like, that's like, yeah, well, people.

[B]

Dan.

[A]

It wasn't the first time I was wrong about something. I love when people comment it and they're like, dude, it's gonna be so wrong about this. It's just like, won't be the first. Hey, thanks for tuning into the podcast for the first time.

[C]

I. I feel like the. You know, it's in the playoffs, everything gets exacerbated. All those issues. And that was one that kind of hampered them.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You got one more. We'll do one more question.

[C]

All right, one more.

[A]

Keep them coming because we'll. We'll do them.

[C]

Yeah. Intermittently throughout. Which positions do you expect the biggest camp battles to take place? Place in. That's from M. Wigsy. 944.

[B]

Well, there's battles, I would say. Look, filling out the wide receiver room is got to get settled. I don't think it's at the top. It's more in the middle to the bottom. It's who's going to be four and five.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That's the way I kind of look at that. We'll see if Justin Shorter is in the mix.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

With the guys they've signed. Yes. We always mentioned Justin. And I don't know how the D line's gonna shake out because they have some players. You don't know how the young guys are going to be. I don't see. I don't know. Guys, maybe who the starting safeties are going to be.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

It's a great question.

[B]

I don't know.

[C]

This. This will be a very interesting camp.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Just because there is so much influx.

[B]

For the team and is McGovern the center?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Or can the kid from Georgia show enough that they would make that. That would be substantial. But I would not say it isn't a possibility. A guy who started for three years, two national championships.

[A]

I think the way the D line rotates, too, is always. I think that's still.

[B]

There's.

[A]

There's some spots.

[B]

Right.

[A]

With how Vaughn is and where they go from there.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So how Vaughn is is definitely.

[A]

Yeah. Just a few last things because we do. I. We did ask for a couple things. Rapid fire, positive vibes with Sammy said over under 35 passing touchdowns for Allen this season.

[B]

35.

[C]

Where was he last year?

[A]

It's good podcasting.

[B]

Look, he runs them in. Yeah, he's. He's good at that. Forget about whether you're a running or a throwing team. Josh is always going to run in a bunch of them. I mean, I think you can pencil them in for 10 rushing touchdowns. I think eight to 10.

[C]

I. Yeah.

[B]

Whether they find it.

[C]

Nope.

[A]

Is it too tough?

[C]

Yep. Sweating. 29.

[B]

29.

[A]

I'll say under.

[C]

He had 35 in 2022 and 36 in 2021 and 37 in 2020.

[B]

Okay. So that's, you know, I could. They. Let's see if Kincaid bumps up that number. He only had two and, you know, you see what they have.

[C]

But we could get surprised, get 15 rushing touchdowns.

[B]

Yeah. See, that's the thing.

[A]

Yeah. So Marty McFly asked if Ray Davis could sometime at some point take over RB1. I think that's a big ask.

[C]

Yeah. I don't. I don't expect that to be.

[B]

That to me would be if.

[A]

If Cook gets hurt. Gets hurt. Gets Wally Pipped.

[B]

Yeah. But I. I don't know. They've. Again, they keep investing in the running back position.

[A]

All right. Keep the comments coming in. We went long at all the other stuff, so.

[B]

All right.

[A]

Mike has to work.

[B]

Comment on what you think of the trips on the road. You know, maybe you have some stories about some of those cities and any.

[C]

Recommendations that you have for those cities. For those cities.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

For food. That's mostly what we have. Time.

[B]

Yes. But we have time.

[A]

Always Long video. Great stuff.

[C]

We appreciate.

[A]

This was just story time with Buffalo.

[B]

Plus. It really was. We had some good stuff. We think. We hope.

[C]

Good draft.

[A]

Good draft.

[B]

Good draft.

[A]

Decent job, Mike.

[B]

You guys. You guys.

[C]

Yeah. I feel like every year you surprise me with your picks.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

It works out well, though.

[B]

You know, what have that effect. The owner should be influential because. Leave him to his own devices. You never know what you're going to get out of it.

[C]

I feel like this is like when you go out to eat with someone and I like flats and you like drums. So it's like. And there's harmony. There's Harmony there.

[A]

Worked out well.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. We'll see how it all works. All right. Well, that's going to do it for us. Please make sure to, like, comment, subscribe, tell your friends, tell everybody, share with whoever and we'll continue with the content. Make sure you also check us out on audio channels wherever you get your podcast. For Dan Fates and Jenna Cottrell, I'm Mike Catalana. Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time on Buffalo. In the time it takes you to actually board that flight from Group 8.

[C]

Now boarding Premier Altitude Elite club members.

[B]

You could have bought a Hyundai on Amazon. Yes, that Amazon, where you buy everything else.

[C]

Mid tier Altitude Elite. Feel free to board now.

[B]

So while you're waiting for them to make up new boarding groups, you can order your dream car and the dealer will have it ready in no time.

[C]

Now boarding groups one through seven.

[A]

So close.

[B]

Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. Limited availability pickup through participating Hyundai dealer in select markets.