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Jenna Cottrell
When you see other teams do it, you're like, I want that.
Mike Catalana
Bean has done those things. Traded. Traded. Traded to get Josh Allen. Traded to get Stefon Diggs signed player in free agency. And Von Miller. I love when Brandon Bean is aggressive.
Dan Fates
The Rams saw a division rival who they were neck and neck with down to a few points. Saw them win the super bowl and they said that.
Mike Catalana
Yeah. Now, from the Connors and Ferris podcast studio, this is the Buffalo plus podcast.
Jenna Cottrell
All right, welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast. Mike Catalana, Dan Fates, I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to like, comment, subscribe and share. The gang is all here back. We are all back together and some big NFL news as the Rams going all in making a trade for Miles Garrett. Jared Verse now going to Cleveland. Cleveland giving a hall of picks to the Rams, including a first rounder, a second rounder and a third rounder. So we're going to talk about a the concept of going all in. What we make of this move, what we would like to see from the Bills or if we think the Bills would ever make another move like this, as well as Mike will do a recap of his Scotland trip. But first we got to just start with, I mean, this was a blockbuster trade on June 1st in the NFL. Mike.
Mike Catalana
Yeah, it's funny because it's been talked about like, could they have traded Miles Garrett before? And then it's like, oh, they're going to give me 100 and some odd million guaranteed. I'm going to sign this deal. And remember, because he had basically said at the super bowl before that he was like, yeah, I'm out.
Dan Fates
Correct.
Mike Catalana
And it's goodbye Cleveland. Then they sign him. Yeah, but this worked out the way the deal was structured. He was tradable. He was tradable. And they are the Rams and everybody's doing the f those picks. And I get that. But this deal happened in large part because not only did they trade the picks, but they had a dude on their roster that Cleveland, from what we've heard was like, he's got to be included in this deal if we're going to make it in. Jared Verse. Because what I say is when the Rams trade their picks, they go for stars, but they've also drafted really, really well. Including a guy like Jared Verse.
Dan Fates
Yeah, it's not only that and it's also funny now when you start to read some of the tea leaves and the fact of Cleveland proposed this off season, teams being able to trade five years of first round picks, that's fine. Yeah, it's like, oh, hey, you know, if we happen to trade a guy like Miles Garrett, you know, we would like some possibly five first round picks. Yeah, yeah. This is a classic. F the picks, F the debt on the credit card. This is, this is win. Now, the, the signing or Ty Simpson makes more logical sense because they're probably not going to have a first round pick. They're not going to be able to draft the quarterback. And they did that last year because of other moves they were able to maneuver. Like, that's where you get into this. Of, well, what could the Bills do? Could the Bills have done that? Could the Bills have done this? No, like in. We may hear he was in on it. We may hear some of that stuff. You're talking about Bean about being in on Miles Garrett. Possibly he's in on. On like any good gm, you're in on players. But the Rams are the team that has the cajones to do this and the understanding of right now with Matt Stafford in this team to go do it.
Jenna Cottrell
I love it. I love it. Look, we know Matt Stafford is at the end of his career or nearing that they've won a Super bowl before, but I love the concept of being aggressive because we have seen it now, does that mean it always pays off? No, but I just love the idea of saying, hey, here is our window. We need to maximize our window and we need to go for it. And so seeing a team get aggressive like the Rams are and they're doing, it's exciting to watch. And I feel like if you're a fan of the Rams, you're reinvigorated once again because the team has been able to maneuver in this way to stay aggressive, to get, you know, really good players to add to this team. The, the draft picks. I, I get like, oh, they're not going to have draft picks in the first round. They've obviously been able to work their way around that, but it's just when you see other teams do it, you're like, I want that. Yeah, I, I want to see that.
Mike Catalana
Yeah, I agree with you. And I. And I think the way they go about it, like bringing in McDuffie, look, we'll see how well that ages. Kansas City has done a pretty good job of trading guys late or letting guys go like they did with Snead before that, and then trying to fill out their secondary with young players that they would do. But if you're the rams, I mean, McDuffie has been one of the best corners, certainly inside best corners. You now get the best. Is. Is Garrett the best player in the NFL?
Dan Fates
I think he's the best.
Mike Catalana
Certainly at his position.
Dan Fates
He's the best defensive player.
Mike Catalana
Yeah. You can argue we certainly know quarterbacks is a more important position, but nobody does their job.
Dan Fates
Generational pass rusher and all of that. I looked at this and I said and I kind of tweeted it like this is what makes the Rams so probably fun if you're a Rams fan. Right. Is. And again, you can kind of draw parallels. So what the Bills have gone through. But the Rams saw a division rival who they were neck and neck with down to a few points, saw them win the super bowl and they said that and they said we're going to go get not just better, we're going to get way better. And they went and spent. Now to get Garrett to get Jalen Watson to get Trent McDuffie. That is a message to the entire league. And again you go back to some of this other stuff like the decisions that you make. That is not. Oh, you know, we want to get better through the draft a little bit. We'll get better. We'll increase their. They were already a Super bowl contender.
Mike Catalana
Right.
Dan Fates
And now they're the by far super bowl fan.
Mike Catalana
And listen, you. You need to do it in many cases. Most teams need to do it both ways because you need to have those younger players. I will go to the other side. And what the Eagles have done, it's been more on trading for some veterans but drafting really well to get players on those rookie contracts. You know, Cooper De Jean, you know, and Quinon Mitchell.
Dan Fates
Exciting whites.
Mike Catalana
Yes. And they. But that, that's what, that's what they have done. That's their podcast. I know, it's just. But I'm saying is in that case and then taking your shots in other place. That's why I say about the Rams. They drafted Jared verse 19th and he is a difference making player. It's not Miles Garrett. There's nobody that's really. There's nobody that's Miles Garrett.
Dan Fates
They overhauled their front seven in like a draft and a half. Yeah.
Mike Catalana
Because they got. Well, they end up getting Fisk. Fisk and Bryant.
Dan Fates
Yep.
Mike Catalana
I mean they got, they got some dudes on that defense. Which is why Michael Hoyt was out.
Dan Fates
Correct.
Mike Catalana
And they just sort of drafted over him.
Dan Fates
Correct.
Mike Catalana
Not that he can't play and not that he won't help the Bills. I was thinking. John, I was going to ask you. So they traded Jared Verse. If the Bills were trying to make that Deal with the exact same amount of picks, who would be the player they take?
Jenna Cottrell
Who? That's an excellent question.
Dan Fates
It's all, we're all back together.
Mike Catalana
Who, who would, who is out there? I mean, James Cook's an outstanding player, but I don't know if a running back's going to get that done. I'm, my point is, if you were trying to make that move, I don't know, maybe Cleveland would. If the Bills offered all those picks and James Cook, would Cleveland make the deal? Probably not. I don't think it would be Greg Russo. It would be Greg Russo and maybe another pick.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah.
Mike Catalana
Because Jared Verse has been a notch above him.
Jenna Cottrell
Absolutely. Plus, I think that's the, you look at it and I feel like the Bills just aren't in a position to do something like this. And I think that's what's challenging is you see like other people spending the money, making the moves, and you're like, wait. It's like when you see the person down the street getting the new car and you're like, but wait, I, I, I thought I could do, like, why can't I do that? And, and so it's just the frustration level. But you're right, Mike. Like, I don't know what player would have been viable for the Bills if they were to be in a deal like this. And I think that speaks to the larger point of a game record on the defense has been something that this team hasn't had specifically on the defensive line for a long time, like a game wrecker. And we can talk about how, you know, Greg Russo has had some nice moments, like guys have had nice moments you had in terms of the defense. Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, they played great together. They were great players. But a game wrecker has eluded Buffalo and it continues to, to do that hopefully maybe with the draft picks they've invested in the defensive line, but that is something that stands out to me.
Mike Catalana
Yeah, I mean, I think Vaughn could have been that guy, at least for a, you know, he started out as that guy.
Jenna Cottrell
He was injury. You're right. That's, that's a fair counterpoint. You and like that I feel like was the last time the Bills did go all in. I just, and I've said this on so many podcasts, but it's like Josh Allen is getting older. He is 30 this season. I want this team to push in the chips because Allen deserves to have the pieces around him to at least get to a Super bowl. And that is something that this team has not been able to do. They made the change at head coach.
Mike Catalana
Right.
Jenna Cottrell
That is a fundamental shift in this team. They have a new defensive core coordinator. Obviously, the defense will now look different, too, but are those the right tweaks to get this team to where they need to go? Where some people might say maybe it's not the scheme as much as it is the horses.
Mike Catalana
Well, Jim Leonard knows that, too. I mean, he knows he's. He needs guys.
Dan Fates
And listen, I love when Jenna gets fired up like.
Mike Catalana
Well, you're right, though. I mean, you're. You're right. And he knows he needs that, too. And I think the scheme and maybe putting players in different spots can help the defense.
Jenna Cottrell
Agreed.
Mike Catalana
There's no question.
Jenna Cottrell
I'm not saying they can't be tweaked and improved upon, but I also think sometimes you just look at the talent level of some of these teams that are going after ultimately what the Bills have always wanted. And when you look at the. The dude meter, it's like these other teams are stacked.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Dan Fates
I think it's funny, too, just because it wasn't that long ago that we were talking about the Bills going all in.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Dan Fates
Remember we went to the combine. That was something that we were going to ask being about because the Rams had just done it and it had worked out in 2022, it was like they traded for Von, they traded for Jalen Ramsey. They had already made the off season move to get Matt Stafford, and it worked. And this kind of came out and it just. It was very easy to click back and find it. But Brandon Bean in April of 2023 said, we're trying to work it out so then we don't have to just tear down. And you can see that happen from a team here. They're like, man, we can't do it anymore. We got to get rid of some of these huge salaries. Way to do it is either try to kick it further down the road, making it harder, or start trading and releasing and taking those hits. We're trying not to do that. We want to be competitive every single year. And so some years you're just going to. You're just not going to be able to get a big ticket item every year. I know that's. I know that's sexy to go do that. And listen, we want as many talented players as possible, but we got to be physically responsible.
Mike Catalana
Fiscally, physically, physically responsible.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah.
Dan Fates
I mean, that was rough reading.
Mike Catalana
Yes.
Dan Fates
I just.
Jenna Cottrell
Honestly, when you were reading that much was like, oh, buckle up.
Dan Fates
So that was pretty much being Being like, you know, there is. There is always the. The shot that he's made. And again, I. It was more when it was the Bengals and the Bills, but he made. I don't want to be bad enough to have to get Jamar Chase, which was.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
I don't want to have to suck enough.
Dan Fates
Right. That I understand almost more like, you, you got him because you were so bad. But the Rams had one down year because Stafford got injured and they had John Stockton, I think starting some games for him. Like something stock them.
Mike Catalana
Okay. Probably wasn't John Stockton.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah.
Dan Fates
I'll look it up in a second. But they have been consistently first or second in that division year in and year out. Even with this. Well, we don't have to tear it down. Like, Matt Stafford was injured that year. He had all the shoulder problems. That's why they had a down year. It wasn't because they had gone all in.
Mike Catalana
Right. It does help to get dudes sometimes. Like when Baltimore dropped down when that weird Lamar year and they got Kyle Hamilton, they took him 14th. Like that can help you. Kansas City had a high pick this year. The Bills have been too good to get that.
Jenna Cottrell
Correct.
Mike Catalana
So they have had this high standard and. But I do agree with a little in what Dean was saying there about big ticket items. It doesn't mean you're always going and getting the guy that's going to cost you a fortune in either money or cap space. But there is. There is making moves to get players that are exceptional by using your assets in a way that can take you. I'm basically talking about trading up in the draft.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah.
Mike Catalana
You know, and doing that and saying, even this year in the draft, like, even this year where, you know, Skyler Bell may end up being a really good player for this team. He could be like, we don't know. But like a move of a draft pick or two may have gotten you Casey Concepcion if you wanted a guy. And we'll have to see how that all plays out. Absolutely. But that's where I'm. We're not talking about giving up. We're not mortgaging your future to trade up in a draft. We're talking about using prime. A prime asset. Not all of them.
Jenna Cottrell
Sometimes I feel like, though, like, for the Bills, they have needed a pass rusher for so long. Like, that has kind of been their Achilles heel, especially in big playoff moments. And sometimes I feel like the draft is almost like not a garage sale. That's the wrong term. But like, you're kind of picking from stuff There's a lot to choose from. And like, the early picks, you get to go in early, but it's like, hey, if I really need something for my house, I'm gonna go buy it. Yeah, I'm gonna go get exactly what I want as opposed to looking through things and be like, well, maybe this would be a good fit. Or I could see this in this room and this would be nice. But, like, to me it's like, oh, look at you. But you know what? I'm. Obviously it's a shopping reference analogy, but I just think sometimes it's like, preach. You've known that you've needed a long time, and why not go out and buy it and be aggressive in the way that I think the Rams are showing as possible.
Dan Fates
John Wolford.
Jenna Cottrell
Okay. Not John Stockton.
Mike Catalana
SH was close.
Jenna Cottrell
Who would have thought?
Mike Catalana
Really close.
Dan Fates
And Bryce Perkins. And that was the year they traded for Baker Mayfield at the end of the year. Yeah, they traded for him on, like, the Monday and he played for them Thursday night and beat the Raiders.
Mike Catalana
Yeah, that was wild.
Dan Fates
So, yeah, that's the year that they were bad. They won it in 2021, 2022. They had a down year. Besides that, they've had 10 wins most of the season.
Jenna Cottrell
I'm curious how Bill's fans are feeling right now. Like, are you. Do you feel like the Bills have done enough? Do you feel like being. Being aggressive was trading that second round pick to get DJ Moore like. Or are you frustrated in seeing other teams like the Rams go and get Miles Garrett? How are you feeling right now? Because I think this is a. An important litmus test test as we kind of enter the end of the offseason. Get ready for training camp. Like, do you feel like there was more that could have been done this season, or are you happy with where the Bills stand after the draft and after free agency?
Dan Fates
They better hope that C.J. gardner Johnson is the second coming of Ed Reed.
Jenna Cottrell
But even he's on a one year deal.
Dan Fates
Yeah, I'm just saying, like, those guys that. No, I think. Hang on. It's not the garage sale shopping like Jenna was saying, but adding pieces like Nick Chubb, Joey Bosa over these years are. Are fine.
Jenna Cottrell
Maybe I should say estate sale instead of a.
Mike Catalana
Sounds better. Yes, yes.
Jenna Cottrell
Estate sale. So we're gonna pretend I said a state.
Dan Fates
You know what I'm saying? It's like, well, Bradley Chubb was, you know, can work in this system and this guy we think can bring an edge. It's like Miles Garrett changes everything.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Dan Fates
Like Right.
Mike Catalana
But. But in fairness, the Rams just gave up a first, a second, a third and a great player to get him. So the Bills care about that? No, but the Bills. The Bills don't have that.
Dan Fates
I understand.
Mike Catalana
To get it done.
Dan Fates
I understand.
Mike Catalana
You just got to draft better. You have to draft better or you have to overspend on. On another player. You know, maybe a Jalen Phillips if you wanted. He was available in free agency. Carolina gave him a lot of money. He's not Miles Garrett.
Dan Fates
Nobody's Miles Garrett.
Mike Catalana
That's it.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah. I mean Miles Garrett is and he's
Mike Catalana
29 years old and he's just coming off a 23 sack season.
Jenna Cottrell
125.5 sacks. He's a franchise leader for Cleveland.
Dan Fates
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
All time single sack record in 2025. Yeah. Five time AP first team all pro, two time defensive player.
Mike Catalana
On the plus side for the Bills, at least he's not going to New England.
Jenna Cottrell
Correct.
Mike Catalana
Or Baltimore or Kansas City.
Dan Fates
His glass half full. Michael. Well, I appreciate that.
Mike Catalana
Just throwing that out there because he's.
Dan Fates
How was the play?
Jenna Cottrell
Mrs. Lincoln counterpoint bills at Rams October 12th.
Mike Catalana
Yes.
Dan Fates
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
But yes, you're right. Not in the division.
Dan Fates
I'll say this. The Bills didn't have we said. The ability to really go and make that move for Miles Garrett. If I'm Brandon Bean, I'm calling Las Vegas.
Mike Catalana
Not a bad idea.
Dan Fates
And now I'm saying you want Greg Russo and a second round pick in a third for Max Crosby.
Mike Catalana
Max Crosby. He's not Myles Garrett. But Max Crosby is a difference maker.
Dan Fates
He sure is.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
Interesting.
Dan Fates
Rousseau's not enough. No.
Mike Catalana
It's two picks. Garrett no.
Jenna Cottrell
Agree.
Dan Fates
But he's enough of a piece that Vegas may want that and it cost.
Jenna Cottrell
You'd have to sweeten the pot.
Mike Catalana
Absolutely. You also have to see if that was total BS by the correct by the Ravens.
Dan Fates
Right. Is his knee string cheese or not?
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Dan Fates
Like you got.
Mike Catalana
That would be a oil change and string cheese.
Dan Fates
I'm just saying.
Mike Catalana
I would call.
Dan Fates
I would call Vegas.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
Do you think the Bills have been.
Dan Fates
No.
Jenna Cottrell
Aggressive enough. This. I mean they did. They did.
Dan Fates
Let's.
Jenna Cottrell
We have to be. What's the word? Like they did go out. Yeah. Fair. They did go out. Traded a second. Brought in DJ Moore, a guy who has had multiple thousand yard seasons. Obviously wide receiver was an issue for this team last year. They're trying to bolster that position group and I.
Mike Catalana
Here's what I mean. I said it. I think the last time when I was. Before I left is that when the team takes the field now, DJ Moore is a good football player and he's going to help them. And I think he's better than anybody they had on the roster at wide receiver. Okay, so they've improved the wide receiver position. I'm not going to focus on what they gave up now because they've done it already.
Dan Fates
Correct.
Mike Catalana
That second round pick. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Is DJ Moore good? Like if, if DJ Moore is really good this year, nobody's going to care about.
Jenna Cottrell
Correct.
Dan Fates
Correct. If Miles Garrett gets five sacks this year, it'll be a bad trade, right?
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Dan Fates
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
No.
Mike Catalana
Wow, that's a hot take. There's a hot take for you.
Dan Fates
That'll be a. A bad move.
Mike Catalana
No, but what I'm saying is, so I get to this point and I'm like, that's good. Like he. They did help. I think the combination of the money and the pick.
Dan Fates
Yes.
Mike Catalana
And the, and the, and the position adds together. But once they take the field, did they get better there? Yes, they got better there.
Dan Fates
And part of this, like, frustration I think we're all sensing and I'd imagine a lot of Bill's fans are, is like, like what you were saying, like, why can't we have that? And part of it is unfair to some respects to Beam because he has built a very good roster. I don't want that.
Jenna Cottrell
They're in the playoffs every season.
Dan Fates
Absolutely. It's just a matter of. And this goes back to three years ago, when I read that, you know, when he was. That was before. That was after free agency, before the draft, when he said, we want to be contending every single year. But it is part of just the difference in philosophy of how these teams are built. There is the. Nope. I know what you're saying. The core principle is if you dress better, it makes your life easier. It makes the salary cap easier. It makes all of those things. Trade pieces, all of those things. But being from the time he's got here, it has always been draft, develop, resign. That is not. I'm not saying that's a right or wrong way. That's their philosophy. And teams like Philadelphia don't care to resign. Middle of the road, guys.
Mike Catalana
So you made the point about when we talk about going all in and doing things, Bean has done those things. Traded. Traded. Traded to get Josh Allen. Traded to get Stefon Diggs. One guy was in the draft, one guy is in a trade signed player in free agency and Von Miller. So you went out in three different ways and showed it's the way I look at it. Some players, I love them when they're going forward, not when they're going back. I love when Brandon Bean is aggressive. And I asked him at the combine about being aggressive and he pushed back and he says, I think I always am aggressive. And maybe he is to a point. But I think he's at his best when he is saying, screw it, I'm getting this guy. And I think all of those moves worked out. It didn't. I'm going to even say von agreed. Didn't work out in total because he got hurt.
Jenna Cottrell
To some respect, I loved the move.
Mike Catalana
I love the move.
Dan Fates
I love, to some respects that it's a little bit of DJ Moore. Like, it's a little bit like, oh, did they pay too much? Did they give up?
Mike Catalana
Right.
Dan Fates
But we have to move past that. But obviously that was a guy that Bean was focused on and said, hey, other teams are going to give you thirds. Screw it, we want him. We're going to give you a second and then we're going to got him.
Mike Catalana
So that is aggressive.
Dan Fates
That is being going forward.
Mike Catalana
It's not all in. It's just. It's just being aggressive. I just think there's times maybe you use that pick to jump up and get a younger player on a cheaper contract that can still be outstanding. But DJ Moore might be better than any of those guys this year with Josh Allen at 30 years old.
Dan Fates
Did you know this? I filled in for Julio.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Dan Fates
Sports talk radio on Thursday, and I did it with Sal Marana of the Democratic.
Mike Catalana
How was that? Cell was straight in that he was really good.
Jenna Cottrell
He was way happier.
Dan Fates
He called it. As I said, we didn't prep anything. He goes, yeah, we're just two guys talking sports. Right. Big DJ Moore fan. He said 1200 yards is what he's expecting out of DJ Moore.
Jenna Cottrell
Really?
Dan Fates
And I had to be the one that I felt like I was pouring cold water out of the situation. I was like, I'm negative here.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Dan Fates
Like, Sal, you are.
Jenna Cottrell
Wow, Sal.
Dan Fates
But he says that he is going to BE so again, DJ Moore catches 10 touchdowns in 1200 yards. Oh, incredible move, right?
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah.
Dan Fates
That changes the Bills offense when you get that type of production. But we'll see, we'll see, we'll see. But I was Cell.
Mike Catalana
Yeah. Who would expect that he's going to be more like DJ Lemayu. That'll set him up. Yes.
Jenna Cottrell
Yankees.
Dan Fates
Yeah, he's all high on their Yankees starting rotation.
Jenna Cottrell
Do you think Brandon Bean, though, looks at like, Les need And Howie Roseman and other GMs around the league. Look at those two guys. And they're like, come on, man, you're making all these moves. You're making me look bad now.
Mike Catalana
I, I think he believes in his philosophy of doing it.
Dan Fates
That's what I was saying.
Mike Catalana
And it has worked. It has worked.
Dan Fates
That's what I was trying to get to.
Mike Catalana
It hasn't worked to there.
Dan Fates
And so that's why I get the point was of this is how the Rams have done things.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Dan Fates
It's just.
Jenna Cottrell
Well, they don't go to the combine.
Mike Catalana
Yeah. Yeah.
Dan Fates
I love the combine.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah, you love going.
Dan Fates
They're probably some pretty good stakes.
Mike Catalana
Hey, how he goes to the combine.
Jenna Cottrell
Yes, that's true. Yeah, that's fair.
Dan Fates
That Weasel.
Mike Catalana
He is a weasel. So we're, we're not even talking about. By the time you're watching this, they may have announced the trade.
Dan Fates
We're recording this at three o' clock on Monday.
Mike Catalana
Right. And when I'm, I'm thinking about that they, I mean, A.J. brown is going to the Patriots. Right. I may sound like an idiot here saying this and he's traded somewhere else. The Rams were one of the teams that was supposedly in on him, but he's going to go to the Patriots. And it's funny, like some people are like, oh, they have to wait till 401 to make it not look bad. No, they could have been talking to the Patriots every day.
Jenna Cottrell
Correct.
Mike Catalana
About a deal and then just say,
Dan Fates
yeah, we already about that.
Mike Catalana
Yeah, they could talk about it. They could. There was no, there was no restriction.
Dan Fates
Designate post cuts.
Mike Catalana
Well, that's a different. That's designating it and actually sending it. Well, actually, no, it is because that you can, you can actually make the deal, send it to the league and designate. Some people think you should be able to do that with a trade also. But there was nothing. It's not like free agency where you can't talk to the guy till 401. He could have been talking to them for months and just said, it works better for me to wait. It's like when you, it's like when you're working a deal to sell your house, you want the closing date to work and you go, can we push it to this point? Yeah, that's kind of what it is. So I think that's going to happen. And there's a case where here's a guy. If AJ Brown is officially with the Patriots. Well, he certainly is the best receiver that was available this year. And I hear some People trying, listen, he is an incredible player. Was not great last year. A lot of blame goes around. I watched him. I kept thinking, just get him the ball more. Get him the ball more. And he didn't come through. Maybe it got in his head a little bit. I think he's going to. It's not just best behavior. He was very popular in the locker room. He was not a cancer. I see these people saying that that's not the case with the guy. He just.
Dan Fates
He's different.
Mike Catalana
He's a different type of dude. I think. I don't think he's anything like Diggs. I don't think he's got that personality. He's just a little different. But he's an exceptional player. And if you're New England with the off season, they've had that they need some positive good PR and they're giving up. In all likelihood a one. Maybe it's a 28 one. Like whatever the deal is when it finally gets done. If you're New England, you make that move now.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah. How much does that scare you? Just with them adding him. With the Patriots coming off the season that they had.
Dan Fates
So Miles Garrett changed the. The odds of the Rams as Super bowl favorites from plus 800 to plus 650.
Mike Catalana
That is wild. Usually it's so hard to change odds. Unless it's a quarterback.
Dan Fates
Unless it's a quarterback. Yeah. Point spreads don't change unless wide receivers
Mike Catalana
aren't going to change. I don't think A.J. brown's gonna change.
Jenna Cottrell
I. I agree, but I'm saying the Bills also have to see them twice a year.
Mike Catalana
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Dan Fates
I'm just. That was so. I don't. Maybe it'll change it a smidge, you know, But I don't think that it changes the lines for the New England games with AJ Brown when. When those all get adjusted. But it's. He's a really good player. You have to. Game plan against a player like A.J. brown.
Mike Catalana
Yes.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah.
Mike Catalana
He's. He's a number one. I mean, he is a clear number one.
Dan Fates
Yes.
Mike Catalana
And he's a 1400 yard guy and he.
Dan Fates
Yes.
Mike Catalana
Crushes man coverage.
Dan Fates
Yep.
Mike Catalana
So crushes press coverage. Like you have to just play him a different way. So that is a weapon. We'll see what they end up giving up for him. Unique circumstances. The Patriots were able to wait until post June 1st to make the deal. So not every team, you know, sometimes the guys like. Well, there's not that many teams in it. How many teams were going to wait until June with the draft and every other thing, I think the Patriots were able to do that. So we'll see how it plays out, but it looks like that's what's going to happen.
Dan Fates
How much were you dying? Oh, you were with 11 other dudes, so you probably talked quite a bit of sports.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah, sports.
Mike Catalana
I missed you guys, though.
Jenna Cottrell
Oh, I was thinking about it. It's been like three weeks, almost a month since I've seen you.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
Which is wild.
Mike Catalana
One of the hardest times.
Jenna Cottrell
It was so peaceful. I was only interrupted by Dan instead of Mike and Dan.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
I actually listened back to the podcast. There was one time where you just steamrolled right over me.
Dan Fates
Sounds about right.
Jenna Cottrell
It's like, oh, you steamrolled somebody.
Dan Fates
Sounds about right.
Jenna Cottrell
Did you watch any of stuff?
Mike Catalana
I watched a little bit of. Of. Which podcast was it?
Jenna Cottrell
Don't tell me. The one. We were a little loopy. The one.
Mike Catalana
Oh, yeah.
Dan Fates
By the way, I was right. What about a spoon of salt? More salt?
Mike Catalana
It's a spoon.
Dan Fates
People. People were not happy about that one.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah, no, they were not. They were, like, very mad at you.
Dan Fates
There must have been some people that it was their first time listening. They're not coming back.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Dan Fates
Hope you do. But they were.
Mike Catalana
Okay.
Dan Fates
So I was unprofessional that Jetta was trying to have a professional podcast, and I was very unprofessional.
Jenna Cottrell
In my defense, there were times where I was like, let's get us back.
Mike Catalana
I was in another time zone in another country. So you can be a little loopy. Maybe a few Guinnesses or eight, and I'm listening. I was like. I was. I was having a tough time following.
Dan Fates
She's. She moves like you. You guys don't stay still when we're at the facility.
Mike Catalana
Just think about this. He thinks we're the ones who were wrong.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah. Classic.
Dan Fates
I frame up a shot.
Mike Catalana
Oh, you mean physically moving. I thought you meant the way we talk.
Jenna Cottrell
No, physically, no.
Dan Fates
No.
Jenna Cottrell
You trying to get away from him. Yeah.
Mike Catalana
Speaking of that, from my trip, Megan Lynch Abbott. I was with her father in law on the trip. I know Megan watches the podcast, so. Thank you, Megan.
Jenna Cottrell
Thank you, Megan.
Mike Catalana
Tom was awesome. We had a great time. So. Yeah. Fan of the pod.
Jenna Cottrell
Want to mention Spiro? Spiro from Greek Fest.
Mike Catalana
You went to Greek Fest?
Jenna Cottrell
I did. No way.
Mike Catalana
Did you tell everybody?
Jenna Cottrell
Oh, I was just in the hole.
Dan Fates
You had to.
Jenna Cottrell
No, I did not. But it was nice. It was fun. It was cool. Well, my friends were like, oh, what's this? What's this kind of Food. So I was like explaining it to them. So I got. I got the high off little flex.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
I was like, oh, we should get Lucamatas. But no, the Greek Fest was great. But why don't you tell people more about your trip because I'm sure people want to hear.
Mike Catalana
It was great. It's with went to Scotland. 12 of us, we went to Scotland is a golf trip. It was 12 guys playing golf and we played every day. The people were great. It's different than Ireland because people put them together a lot. You know, the especially I think golf is a part of that because you think about golf and a lot of the similarities. People were awesome. The golf courses are insane. Like it's not the same sport we play in the United States.
Jenna Cottrell
What do you mean by that?
Mike Catalana
So they say it's links courses. And here we'll play some courses that are considered links courses. It's. It's not the same. You can I. Oh, I'll give one quick example. And if you played any golf at all. I putted the ball 97 yards to the green. The caddy said just putt it. You would be off the green. You would call it right. A Texas wedge. This is a legitimately from a wedge distance, you're hitting a putter, you're putting up hills. It is wild the way the ball rolls. The wind is incredible. Most of the courses are on like the North Sea there. And it was. I loved it. It's just very different way to play golf. But the guys on my trip were great. We had a lot of fun. We went out a couple.
Jenna Cottrell
Couple drinks.
Mike Catalana
Couple drinks. A few nights there we got to meet some of the fine people of Scotland.
Jenna Cottrell
That's fun.
Mike Catalana
And it was good. So it was. It was a lot of fun. If anybody's been. They know what I'm talking about. Royal Aberdeen was one of my favorite courses there. Yeah, Royal Doorknock was fantastic. That does Dornick almost like Dorn. Yeah, yeah, but it's och. Yeah, great.
Dan Fates
Great.
Jenna Cottrell
Well, we're happy you had fun.
Mike Catalana
Yeah, it was great.
Dan Fates
I was just looking for. We were shouting out people. I had met a guy in the Aldi's and I think his name was John.
Mike Catalana
Right.
Dan Fates
He stopped me and then Renee and I were voting for something at. For the school board, right. And we're walking out and he was like, hey, Dan. And I was like, hi. And he was like, John from all these. You gave me a shout out. Really appreciate it.
Mike Catalana
Love the pod.
Dan Fates
And I was like, oh, gotta get a double shout.
Mike Catalana
Out. Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
So love that.
Dan Fates
Appreciate it.
Jenna Cottrell
Big fan. Awesome. All right, well, thank you so much. Anything we want to.
Dan Fates
You guys are going up? Yeah, we'll grow.
Mike Catalana
We'll go up for ota.
Jenna Cottrell
And then mandatory camp is coming up as well.
Mike Catalana
Yeah, it's the next. No, two weeks.
Jenna Cottrell
It's like middle of June.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah.
Dan Fates
But then we have a Bill's golf event on Friday. Yeah. So be some stories.
Jenna Cottrell
Gotta get my game in order.
Dan Fates
Same.
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
Jenna Cottrell
It's in shambles.
Dan Fates
I still have your driver head cover.
Jenna Cottrell
Oh, that's right. That's right.
Mike Catalana
Yeah. By the way, if anyone in Scotland found my Rochester Americans 3 wood head cover, they asked me, I called the course back. I said, anybody find this? She goes, what's it look like? I said, big letters. It just says Americans.
Jenna Cottrell
I'm like, what?
Mike Catalana
Yeah, somebody might have thrown it in the North Sea, I don't know. But, no, it never came back, so I didn't.
Jenna Cottrell
Oh, I gotta get another. That one was cool.
Mike Catalana
Yeah. I'll have to get another one.
Jenna Cottrell
Yeah. Oh, well, all right. Well, thank you for joining us here on the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. Please let us know how you're feeling after the Rams going all in your take on it. What do you think the Bills do? Should they have done more? We want to hear from you. So for Mike and Dan, I am Jenna. We'll catch you next time here on the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel from the Connors and Ferris podcast studio,
Dan Fates
Buffalo plus.
Episode: The RAMS go 'ALL IN' for MYLES GARRETT, will the BILLS 'way' WORK!?
Date: June 2, 2026
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
This episode centers on one of the off-season’s biggest NFL moves: the Los Angeles Rams trading away a haul of picks and Jared Verse to the Cleveland Browns for superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett. The crew dissects the Rams’ ultra-aggressive “win-now” strategy, contrasts it with the Buffalo Bills’ more conservative “draft, develop, and resign” philosophy, and debates whether or not the Bills have done enough to maximize their Super Bowl window as Josh Allen turns 30. The hosts also field the emotions of Bills fans watching other teams make headline-making moves and debate what—if anything—Buffalo could or should do differently.
On Rams’ Aggression:
“This is a classic. F the picks, F the debt on the credit card. This is win now..."
– Dan Fates [02:23]
On Buffalo’s Missing Superstar:
“A game wrecker has eluded Buffalo and it continues to, to do that...”
– Jenna Cottrell [09:13]
On Team–Building Philosophy:
“Being from the time he’s got here, it has always been draft, develop, re-sign. That is not...that’s their philosophy… Teams like Philadelphia don’t care to resign middle of the road guys.”
– Dan Fates [20:30]
On Comparing Strategies:
“I love when Brandon Bean is aggressive...I think he’s at his best when he is saying, screw it, I’m getting this guy.”
– Mike Catalana [21:13]
On the Fan Mentality:
“It’s like when you see the person down the street getting the new car and you’re like…why can’t I do that?”
– Jenna Cottrell [09:13]
On DJ Moore Trade:
“If DJ Moore is really good this year, nobody’s going to care about [the second-round pick].”
– Mike Catalana [19:46]
The podcast toggles between admiration and frustration: The hosts recognize the allure and excitement of bold, big-ticket trades—and acknowledge their own and the fanbase’s envy of teams like the Rams who "go for it" without fear. At the same time, they appreciate the Bills’ perennial competitiveness and acknowledge the limitations (both roster and cap-wise) that have shaped Buffalo’s “way.” The episode ends as a call-invitation for Bills fans to weigh in on whether Buffalo’s current path is enough, or if it’s finally time for their own all-in moment.
For Further Engagement:
Let the Buffalo Plus crew know your take: Should the Bills have done more this offseason? Are you reassured by their consistency or hungry for Rams-style fireworks?