Why Not TJ WATT on the BILLS?! Where's JOSH ALLEN in NFL's TOP 100 and Jenna's WEDDING RECAP

Summary

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Buffalo Plus Podcast Detailed Summary

Episode: "Why Not TJ WATT on the BILLS?! Where's JOSH ALLEN in NFL's TOP 100 and Jenna's WEDDING RECAP"
Date: July 1, 2025
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

Overview

This episode of Buffalo Plus covers three major topics:

1. The ramifications of a blockbuster NFL trade involving the Dolphins and Steelers, and how it could inspire a bold, unconventional move (like acquiring T.J. Watt) for the Buffalo Bills.
2. Speculation and analysis around the NFL's Top 100 player rankings, particularly where Josh Allen fits and which Bills may make the list.
3. A lively and heartfelt recap of Jenna Cottrell’s wedding, complete with behind-the-scenes stories, emotional moments, and plenty of inside jokes.

The episode is conversational, energetic, and blends deep insider football analysis with candid moments from the hosts' personal lives.

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NFL Blockbuster Trade Discussion

Segment starts: [02:05]

Trade Breakdown

• Trade Details: Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith, & a 7th-round pick to Pittsburgh for Minkah Fitzpatrick & a 7th-rounder (Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to Steelers; Minkah Fitzpatrick to Dolphins).
• Mike & Dan's Initial Thoughts
  • Both call it a "big names" trade, unusual in the NFL.
  • Question whether either team truly "wins" the deal.
  • Notable quote – [03:00] Dan Fates:
    "When it was done, I'm thinking who wins this trade? ... Bills and Ravens win this trade. Because I don't think it's going to Pittsburgh."
  • Doubt cast on Pittsburgh's approach by accumulating past-prime, expensive veterans.
  • "Name recognition does not win in the NFL" – [04:47] Renee

Steelers' Strategy and Super Bowl Aspirations

• Criticism of assembling a “dream team” of aging stars.
• [04:18] Dan Fates:
  "Ramsey’s now 30, obviously. Rodgers is 41. ... Let's see what they do with Watt now in that case for Pittsburgh. But they certainly have name recognition now, if nothing else."
• Dan references the Eagles' failed "dream team" experiment and draws parallels.

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Should the Bills Target T.J. Watt?

Segment starts: [07:30]

The Case for Trading for Watt

• Dan floats a hypothetical: What would it take for the Bills to trade for T.J. Watt (who may be unhappy in Pittsburgh)?
• The idea: Third-round pick for a one-year "rental."
• [09:03] Dan Fates:
  "It's very difficult to take him on his current contract with his guaranteed money and make it fit for this year. I think the Bills would need to make it spread the cap hit out."
• Recalls other trades (like Von Miller) where a team rented a star for a season without extending them.

Cap and Contract Realities

• The panel debates the practicalities and necessity of extending Watt if acquired.
• [13:03] Renee:
  "What is wrong with saying, we're doing this for a year? Hey, T.J., we hope you love it here… then you can pick your team with your contract whenever you want."
• [14:10] Dan Fates:
  "I like the player. ... The Steelers, they are what they are. Nothing changed [in the odds]."
• Highlights that Bean (the Bills GM) has spent 3rd-rounders on lesser moves in the past.

Conclusion

• All agree: Watt would be a massive addition.
• "Why not Watt?" becomes the episode's rallying cry.

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NFL Top 100 Players: Where's Josh Allen?

Segment starts: [15:25]

Bills on the Top 100 List

• Last Year's List Recap
  • Josh Allen & Dion Dawkins still with the team.
  • Stefon Diggs and Jordan Poyer made last year's list but have left.
  • Notable moment – [16:38] Dan Fates:
    "Diggs, 56. And it listed him as Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, which was kind of funny ... Jordan Poyer was 65 ... He's out of the league at the moment."

Josh Allen & Top 5 Predictions

• Hosts recall Allen was around 11 or 12 last year, not in the Top 10.
• They debate where Allen and Lamar Jackson should land.
• [18:13] Dan Fates:
  "If you're judging best linebackers, it's not a slight on Josh ... it's where you have the other quarterbacks."
• All agree: Josh should be Top 5, possibly even edging Mahomes for spot behind Lamar Jackson, but it's up to the players' vote.
• [19:43] Renee:
  "It goes back to Lamar being first team all-pro quarterback."
• They speculate on who else could land in the Top 5 (Lamar, Josh, Saquon Barkley, Myles Garrett, Justin Jefferson or Jamar Chase).

Who Else from the Bills Could Make It?

• James Cook a likely candidate, probably in the 90s.
• Dion Dawkins (“Dion”) expected to repeat in the 90s.
• Spencer Brown called "a top 100 player" in terms of talent but likely not recognized this year.
• Defensive potential: Christian Benford and Terrel Bernard possibly getting noticed with strong seasons.
• Consensus: The Bills excel at overall depth, with fewer “top 100” superstars but excellent roster 11-53.

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Buffalo Bills' Offensive Rankings & Skill Positions

Segment starts: [23:03]

• Referenced Mike Giardi’s “All-32” podcast and how various outlets are ranking the Bills’ offense without the quarterback.
• Hosts debate where the Bills' skill position talent ranks league-wide—consensus: lower tier, but the offensive line is a strong, cohesive unit.
• James Cook mentioned as a budding star.
• O-line (especially Dion Dawkins) praised for playing well together.

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Jenna’s Wedding Recap: Behind-the-Scenes & Heartfelt Moments

Segment starts: [28:24]

Jenna Joins from Her Honeymoon

• Shares touching stories about her wedding weekend in Cape Cod.
• Weather-related drama: ceremony goes from outdoor to indoor and, last-minute, back to outdoor due to improved weather—a sign, Jenna feels, from her late grandparents ([31:50]).

Quotes & Moments

• [31:50] Jenna:
  "My grandfather turned 100 a couple months ago… he actually ended up passing away at the end of May. I really think it was the two of them ... who helped make it just such a wonderful weather day as well."
• [32:05] Dan Fates:
  "Credit to Dan and I. We did not interrupt you one time during that."
• [32:38] Jenna:
  On Dan officiating: “He was fantastic. I mean, better than anything else I've ever seen him do. ... Way less annoying than he is on the Buffalo Plus channel."
• [33:14] Renee:
  “Jenna was putting on the bravest face ever. ... She had her cry, but was moving forward.”

Ceremony & Reception Highlights

• Dan shares he was nervous about officiating, but appreciated advice: “talk slow and get the [heck] out of the way” ([34:24]).
• Humorous moments about ceremony rehearsal, delayed day-of coordinator, and keeping things light.
• Emotional moments:
  • Dan’s advice: “Take a second, take a breath. All of these people have never been together before. They will never be together again. And they’re here for you guys and the open bar, but 97% of them, I needed the chuckle right off the get go.” ([35:10])
  • Father-daughter walk and dance notably moving for the crew.

Odds and Inside Jokes

• Jokes about who would cry (Dan, Mike, Jenna, or Zach) during the ceremony. Mike teared up during Jenna’s walk down the aisle ([43:21]).
• Tales of her father’s legendary size ("built like a refrigerator box") and his dance-floor “reverse worm” ([41:13], [43:41]).

Praise for the Team

• Maid of honor Alyssa Cottrell got "like, comment, and subscribe" into her speech ([49:16]).
• Everyone agrees: Jenna’s wedding was "five stars" and deeply meaningful for the Buffalo Plus team.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamp Highlights

• On Steelers’ “Dream Team”-style tradition:
  • [04:49] Renee: “It usually doesn’t work in the NFL because we've always talked about it. ... Those guys are recognizable in name only.”
• On betting big for a Bills Super Bowl:
  • [14:10] Dan Fates: “...Nothing changed [in the odds]. They are what they are.”
• On Allen’s place among QBs:
  • [18:13] Dan Fates: “A slight on Josh is where you have the other quarterbacks.”
• On being a wedding officiant:
  • [34:24] Renee: “I got some advice from John Dawes... ‘talk slow and get the out of the way’ ... I knew as soon as I was saying, ‘by the power invested in me by the State of New York...’ and I was like, and I’m gone. That was all I wanted to do.”
• On wedding emotions:
  • [43:06] Renee: “I lost it at the father-daughter dance. ... Knowing I have three daughters and thinking about me being up there—that was like, whoa.”

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Upcoming Podcast Preview

[50:02]

• Next week’s guest: A director from HBO’s Hard Knocks will join to discuss behind-the-scenes with the Buffalo Bills.

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Tone & Atmosphere

• Genuine camaraderie, quick wit, centered on football but unafraid to detour into the personal.
• Language captures the insider, irreverent-yet-deeply-caring tone of the Buffalo Plus crew.
• Episode deftly weaves NFL strategy with the team’s signature banter and local flavor.

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Quick Reference Timeline

• [02:05] NFL mega-trade discussion, AFC implications
• [07:30] T.J. Watt-to-Bills hypothetical trade, cap conversations
• [15:25] Top 100 NFL Players: Josh Allen, Bills roster speculation
• [23:03] Bills skill position/o-line debate, NFL offense rankings
• [28:24] Jenna wedding recap: emotional family stories, Dan’s officiant debut
• [41:13] Family praise, dance floor antics
• [50:02] Look ahead to next week (Hard Knocks director)

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Transcript

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, he.

[Dan Fates]

He was fantastic. I mean better than anything else I've ever seen him do. That was. He was so good.

[Renee]

I say, you know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know what too? He was way less annoying than he is. On the Buffalo plus channel.

[Renee]

There'S the. The Buffalo plus podcast brought to you by Connors and Ferris. Hey everyone. And welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast presented by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates. Jenna Cottrell will be joining us remotely from her honeymoon because she is a dedicated employee and hardworking. We will get a wedding review. How I did. How you did.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

How she did.

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Renee]

The whole day. It's awesome. Also, want to talk some trades. Obviously the big news around the NFL Dolphin, Steelers with a. They're calling it a.

[Dan Fates]

It's a pretty big trade. Yeah. That way too often. So we could talk about that. I did want to add this just so all of you know. We just asked Jenna. Cool.

[Renee]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

She was in to come on.

[Renee]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

And of course her husband Zach was like, go ahead. Have you know, go ahead. He knows.

[Renee]

Yeah. So our brains are also content. We put out the pre. Ceremony.

[Dan Fates]

That's right. Pregame, postgame show.

[Renee]

Yeah, exactly. So we're recapping it as well as the NFL is coming out with their top 100 players starting today.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

And you were saying it's two players every day.

[Dan Fates]

I don't think they've done it before. Two a day for 50 days.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So they get to like September 1st and then they do. Must be two in one. Yeah, we'll talk about that.

[Renee]

So all those things and more. Please be sure to like comment and subscribe if you haven't already. Make it Jenna's wedding gift to her. Like, like let's. That can be it. But again, share the pod. Obviously the trade today.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Is Jalen Ramsey and John Smith and a seventh round pick going to Pittsburgh for Minka Fitzpatrick and a seventh round pick in return. It got me thinking.

[Dan Fates]

Well, let's talk about the trade here for a second.

[Renee]

Okay. But first I'm saying it didn't make me start to think that we see this as like a dead period.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Moves can still happen.

[Dan Fates]

Oh yeah.

[Renee]

So it. It. It got me thinking about what could a possible move be for the Bills. Possibly. But first, Mike, your thoughts on the trade in general.

[Dan Fates]

Well, it's funny because Minka was a Dolphin, then he went to the Steelers. Jalen Ramsey wanted out. John who Smith wanted a new deal. So all of this stuff happens. These are. These are big names. We don't get that many Trades like this.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Where you get, I mean both of these guys have been, especially Minka and Ramsey have been, I think five time pro Bowlers like these guys have been in their career.

[Renee]

It's been a little less.

[Dan Fates]

Has been when it was done, I'm thinking who wins this trade? And then it hit me. The Bills and the Ravens. Bills and Ravens win this trade.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Because I don't think it's going to Pittsburgh. They're acquiring a player and another play this, they have an old team right now. I know the numbers may say differently, but they got a lot of guys.

[Renee]

30 plus Peter Schrager tweeted out that, you know, they think that the Steelers think they're in the super bowl window. They're going for it this year.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Congrats Pete.

[Mike Catalana]

Like go ahead.

[Dan Fates]

I want to see how they do in that division. If Cincinnati gets their act together, that's going to be a bear for them. And they, they've got. And by the way, and they also gave more money to in the deal to Ramsey and you got Watts sitting out there going, where's my money?

[Renee]

Yeah, we'll get to that in a second. But Peter Schrager tweeted today, I've been laughed at on TV and off of the take, but you don't go and acquire Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf and Darius Light if you don't have serious super bowl aspirations. They are all in moves whether they are or not. Pittsburgh thinks they're closed now.

[Dan Fates]

I will say this, those guys have all been very good players at times.

[Renee]

20, 19, 20, 20. This is a hell of a football team.

[Dan Fates]

Darius Slay could still play, but he's 34. I mean these are, you know, Jaylen Ramsey's now 30, obviously. Rogers is 41. He'll be 42. That a player like this or two sometimes where like Cam Hayward is what, 36, six. Like they've got it. And let's see what they do with Watt now in that case for Pittsburgh. But they certainly have name recognition now, if nothing else.

[Renee]

But we've also learned that that doesn't.

[Dan Fates]

It usually doesn't work.

[Renee]

It usually doesn't work in the NFL because we've always talked about it. I went back because I was trying to think of like when were these players at their, their peak. Now look, John Smith's coming off a really good year.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Loved him. What he did for that Miami offense. Like he really found a niche and became kind of what they thought New England was getting when they got him from The Titans back in the day when it's like, oh, wow, they got this offensive freak of nature tight end and it just really hasn't become anything. He had a good season, but he wants a new deal. Like this is 2019, 2020, when you're getting what was peak Jalen Ramsey and now again, whether it fits better in the system, I don't know, but I just don't. Those guys are recognizable in name only. They're Rhinos.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Like they're not. They're. They're not the star players that they were. They're past their prime.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

I mean, well, it's certainly closer to the end. I will say Slay was pretty good. He was pretty good. But he is 34 and he's a.

[Renee]

But you have a love hate relationship with him.

[Dan Fates]

No, I've always liked. I mean Slay was always good with the Eagles. You know, maybe not as good the year before, but again, he's 34.

[Renee]

Sure.

[Dan Fates]

And in the NFL, these type of things where it's like, I'm not saying like dream team, you know, that was referenced at one time, it was actually the Eagles and it was terrible. It said sometimes you just bring in a bunch of guys. We'll see if it makes them better. Look, I will give them this. They have been a notch above mediocre for a series of years. They make the playoffs, they get blown out. I guess this is their way of saying this is what we're going to do. By the way, in the other end, maybe more importantly, it's just the start of them cleaning house in Miami.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And I think Tyreek Hillson not the most original. How many times you have to see that? Will Smith. Smith in the empty room at Fresh Prince. Meme my only face on the Bills, my only concern. And you know, I mentioned Tyree Kill said, well, would you ever want him in the Bills? My only thought is absolutely. Could see Kansas City make a play for him.

[Renee]

Has it been long enough that he can be traded back? Didn't we talk about that the one time?

[Dan Fates]

Oh, it could. They could. Andy would take him back.

[Renee]

I know, but there was a rule that you couldn't be traded back to the team within a certain time.

[Dan Fates]

Really?

[Renee]

I thought we talked about that on this pod.

[Dan Fates]

I don't know about that. Why would there be a rule you can't trade them back? Maybe there is. I don't know.

[Renee]

We'll look that up.

[Dan Fates]

It doesn't happen very often. Yeah, he did get trade. They got a bunch of draft picks for him.

[Renee]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Anyhow, we'll see.

[Renee]

Miami's cleaning house.

[Dan Fates]

That Miami's. That's the smart move to make. They should be starting to clean house.

[Renee]

It's going to get ugly.

[Dan Fates]

All right, I want to hear about your trade.

[Renee]

So it got me thinking about who could the Bills possibly like. What move would you be excited about? Because you talk about those names. So would there be a move that now teams maybe are evaluating heading into training camp and they're saying, hey, this isn't what we thought about a player, about their team, about their offense or defense moving forward. It's a guy we talked about before on here. He was a guy I've talked about off season. But you, you brought up. You brought up T.J. watt.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Okay, so again, we've talked about it in the sense of you paid DK Metcalf, you waited around for Aaron Rodgers to pay him. You're making all these moves and you haven't paid the guy that has been your best player, your franchise defining player for the last eight years. That doesn't go well in the locker room. And if you're trying to mend the fence of a TJ Watt extension. It was for before. It was. Well, you want to sign him before Miles Garrett gets the extension. He's not going to get Miles Garrett money. He's 30 years old. I thought I looked it up today. My question to you is there's the talk of what it would cost to get T.J. watt. He's on the last year of his deal, right?

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Renee]

He's not what he was. We talked about, I think, the last 11 games. He didn't have a tackle this season. I've seen a lot of people say it's a. It's a third round pick to get T.J. watt. That comes with the caveat then of you having to sign him to a new deal, an extension. Why do you have to sign him to a new deal?

[Dan Fates]

Well, you. Technically you don't.

[Renee]

You don't.

[Dan Fates]

But that is part of what it is with a player like you make that agreement with the team, they let you. Usually they would let you talk to the agent and get a deal done.

[Renee]

Understand all that.

[Dan Fates]

You're right. The player doesn't have a lot of leeway there. I mean, some players I guess could have no trade clauses, but I don't think he does.

[Renee]

So it's so again, TJ Watt has been one of the best defensive players.

[Dan Fates]

The Bills might want to redo a deal so they can make it work for their cap. Sure.

[Renee]

And whether that's hitting the piggy bank of Connor McGovern or. Or something like that to free up. I didn't do the cap transaction yet because it doesn't matter and you can make it work however you wanted to. But I looked at it and I said. I thought of the Rams signing Von Miller.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

They didn't extend him. They watched.

[Dan Fates]

No, it was mid season trade.

[Renee]

Okay, mid season. But if you're telling me you could get TJ Watt on a rental for one year for a third round pick. Brandon Bean has spent third round picks on rentals that have been a lot worse and have it resigned. Amari Cooper, like the Hines, Calvin Benjamin, all his.

[Dan Fates]

I will only say to you I think it's very difficult to take him on his current contract with his guaranteed money and make it fit for this year. I think the Bills would need to make it spread the cap hit out. If you looked at it well, that cap's not real. Well, in that case it is because you don't have anywhere to go with. You don't have anywhere to go with the money. That's why you would redo it. Now the Bosa thing stands in the way. Like if they would have not made a Bosa move because your idea is a similar thing to what they did.

[Renee]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

Now he was a free agent. They signed him to a one year deal. He's coming off some injuries. It's weird with Watt because you talk to players around the league like Watt was still considered that guy and I don't know what happened. Maybe he wasn't healthy. It's rare for him to just be ineffective.

[Renee]

Correct. A while non existent.

[Dan Fates]

But I don't know. I don't know what they would do. Yeah. Would you love to have him on the Bills? Sure.

[Renee]

Again, I don't know. I'm with you. I understand. I don't know how the cap would work. I believe you can make it work because.

[Dan Fates]

So what would be wrong with taking him and extending him and spreading the cap hit out?

[Renee]

I'm fine with that too. But that is another hurdle where I look at it at the short term. Jenna talked about in the trust tree a few weeks ago. My fear is that you're running out of the window. What is wrong with going in this year and saying we got Greg Russo, we got Bosa and we're adding Watt and we're going to be this massive team. And again I looked at it and I go, they have spent third round picks on way worse trades.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

To get a rental for TJ Watt. For a year. I would do it in a heartbeat. And it made me think of, if I'm TJ2, he doesn't have the power in this spot.

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Dan Fates]

So you could say he would have power at the end of the year.

[Renee]

And you can go wherever you want. And they'll probably be some team that will gladly overpay for you and not pay for, not have to pay for the trade.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I'm.

[Dan Fates]

Look, I'm.

[Renee]

Rentals are so rare, it feels like during this point of the season. But we see those trades, whether it's in baseball or hockey or wherever, it's like, well, this guy's going to be a free agent at the end of the year. I would take T.J. watt for a third round pick in a heartbeat and say, T.J. ball out. If you love it here in Buffalo, if you want to win, if you want to go to the AFC Championship game, here's the team to go to. And if you have success, you're going to make so much money this offseason.

[Dan Fates]

Now, his, his cash for this year is $21 million. His cap hit. Now, some of that cap hit would stay with the Steelers because it was based on the options or the signing bonus. So I, I would think that in this case, it would still take the Bills to manipulate the money and extend it.

[Renee]

Manipulate the money to make it work.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

His base salary this year is $21 million.

[Renee]

So it's just one of those things where, where everybody goes, well, you're trading for T.J. watt and then you have to extend them. And I guess I just was sitting here today going, why do you have to extend them? I get it. For the salary cap reasons. I understand that. I don't believe it's real, but I understand it. But just the fact of. What is wrong with saying, we're doing this for a year?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Hey, T.J. we hope you love it here. We hope when you have success, we're going to have success. And then you can go make and you then can pick your team with your contract whenever you want.

[Dan Fates]

I think if you could make it work financially, they would want to do it.

[Renee]

It's like, why not? What?

[Dan Fates]

All right. And you're all right. People would think it's a higher cost in terms of the transaction. I don't think it is.

[Renee]

I don't think it is.

[Dan Fates]

In the final year of his deal. And it is funny when we talk about these trades and you say like a third round pick, a third round pick from the Bills is a lot different than A third round pick from.

[Renee]

The Patriots, the Browns.

[Dan Fates]

Right. Just their teams that. I mean, you're talking about the difference between it being a pick in the, you know. Well, what would that be in the low 60s.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Or it being almost 100.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So I like it. I like the player.

[Renee]

I like the player, too. And I'm sitting here, and he was a guy that. I've been sitting here pretty much all offseason saying, make a move. The Steelers don't know what they are. And they. They. I don't think any of these moves solidify what they are. Or. I thought it was great. DraftKings. And it's an odds book for whatever you want to say. And I know there are dumb odds books where they say, like, oh, this player is most likely to go to this team next. Right. Whatever. The Steelers before the trade were plus 800 or 8,000 to go to the super bowl or win the super bowl after the trade, they're plus 8,000. Like, nothing changed and said, like, oh, the Steelers now are a great team. They. They are what they are.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

And I go, whatever you want to say about. Well, it's just odds. They don't give away free money, so they don't even see this as a factor. And I'm looking at this at Pittsburgh, and I'm going to. Why not?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Well, let's call Bean up. When we get him on the patio, we'll break it down.

[Renee]

We had some good questions for Bean, hypothetical questions when we were sitting at the bar.

[Dan Fates]

And the longer we were at the.

[Renee]

Bar, the wilder our questions got, the more direct.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, yeah, but we'll be good. We'll be good with them.

[Renee]

Where do you think TJ Watt would be on the top 100 players as the NFL comes out with those?

[Dan Fates]

So he was. I, you know, it's funny, I was looking at last year's top 100. Now, keep in mind, this voted on by the players, and it's. It's based on the play. Like, it's not based on their fit for a team or correct. Like an MVP kind of vote. So it was funny when I looked back at it in last year's list, and I thought, really, Tyreek Hill was number one. Well, he did have an off the charts year. He was on his way to going for over 2000, and he had a crazy year. But what cracked me up now, Watt was on there. Watt was in the.

[Mike Catalana]

He.

[Dan Fates]

I think he was top 20.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Somewhere in there. But I looked at the Bills that were on the list.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So it was Josh, and then it was two guys who were no longer with the team that were in. So two of those guys, and then it was Dion. So Dion was the last one.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

But the two guys who made it, I wrote down the numbers for it. So it was numbers. Oh, you had the numbers from last year.

[Renee]

No, you give me the number, I'll tell you where who.

[Dan Fates]

I think it is number 56 of the top 100. So by the way, we'll get. Yes, we'll get to. Josh is in a minute.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Diggs, 56. And it listed him as Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, which was kind of funny.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And then another guy was.

[Renee]

Number 65 isn't on the team anymore. There's three options. I will say Mitch Morse.

[Mike Catalana]

No.

[Dan Fates]

Good guess, because Mitch was really solid in his time with the Bills. No, it was Jordan Poyer.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Wow.

[Dan Fates]

And then think about it. He went to Miami. It was not good. And at the moment, he's out of the league.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

But it was based on that year before, and we've talked about it, like poor balls out. I mean, he just played hard, played through everything.

[Renee]

One of the toughest players I've ever covered.

[Dan Fates]

So I was happy he got that recognition for him. But then the league speaks.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

In terms of what was out there. The bill spoke and they let him go. And then Dion was 94.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So last year. Not for last season, for the season before. Do you remember where Josh was in the top 111, 12.

[Renee]

Yeah. I didn't think he was in the top 10. That was a big.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, that was a.

[Renee]

That was another one of those coming off the unnamed executive saying Josh was overrated.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Renee]

It was a perfect storm.

[Dan Fates]

Now, keep this in mind. If you're looking at players like that year, you couldn't play the position much better than Tyreek Hill did that year.

[Renee]

Correct.

[Dan Fates]

He did everything. And he was doing it with tua. I mean, it was not exactly Burrow or Josh or Mahomes or whatever. And sometimes there are players listed ahead of him. Like. Like there was. You know, it was like Fred Warner was right ahead of phenomenal linebacker.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So if you're judging him as who are the best linebackers, it's. It's not a slight on Josh. To me, the. A slight on Josh is where you have the other quarterbacks.

[Renee]

Correct.

[Dan Fates]

Because obviously you're trying to say, like, this player, you know, Miles Garrett, hard to be better at your position than Miles Garrett has been. So that's how they voted him in. The question will be where do the players vote Josh in this year?

[Renee]

He's top five.

[Dan Fates]

I would hope so.

[Renee]

He's top five. It'll still be very interesting to see where the players vote him in amongst the Mahomes. Lamar conversation.

[Dan Fates]

So by the way.

[Renee]

Right.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Again, it's how you judge it. It's funny. Saquon Barkley with the Giants was in like the 80s.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

He'll be top five. Yeah, right.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

He had a phenomenal season. He did not have a. Phenomenal.

[Renee]

Yeah. Where was Derek Henry?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I'd have to look at to see where Henry was. I think if I'm guessing the way the vote goes, Josh is in the top five. Lamar is going to be one.

[Renee]

I agree.

[Dan Fates]

And I don't have any problem with anybody saying Lamar is number one. He had phenomenal numbers last year.

[Renee]

I think Josh will be ahead of Momes.

[Dan Fates]

He should be strictly on playing the quarterback position.

[Renee]

It's, it's, it goes back to Lamar being first team all pro quarterback.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Like, I get it.

[Dan Fates]

Well, it's the way Chris Sims did his vote. We talked about it.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

He had Lamar first and he had Josh second. Burrow three Mahomes strictly playing the position of quarterback for that year. So I'll be fascinated to see.

[Renee]

And Lamar was. Was crazy.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, his numbers were crazy.

[Renee]

His numbers were crazy. So I.

[Dan Fates]

And there's no other context here, like we talked about with mvp. Who did Josh do it?

[Renee]

The top five will be in no particular order. Lamar, Josh, Saquon, Miles Garrett, Justin Jefferson or Jamar Chase.

[Dan Fates]

I think maybe Chase, you know, this past year.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And I mean you have Justin Jefferson and Jamar Chase, two guys on a trajectory to the hall of Fame, right? Yeah, no question. They have been incredible.

[Renee]

Fascinating too to see where Kyle Hamilton, because he's, he's going to be way up there for what he did with that defense. Like.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

When he went back to more of that safety position, that defense was better.

[Dan Fates]

And listen, like in anything else, players vote for who they like. Yeah, they do.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

But they're also like, a lot of them are like, you know, it was funny, I was listening to one of the guys from the Chiefs who was talking about Tuney when he moved to tackle.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And they were like, hey, Joe, you see we got like the next five weeks and it was all the guys like Watt and Miles Garrett and that list of players you're going to, the guys they know, like Lane Johnson. You talked about Watt. Lane Johnson says like, like if you asked Lane Johnson, by the way, Lane Johnson who has been the best right tackle in the NFL. Last year was like, 82nd.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

He'll be top 20 this year. They won the super bowl. And he.

[Renee]

And that's part of it. It's the. It's. It's the recognition of those kind of things.

[Dan Fates]

I don't know what you guys think.

[Renee]

And there will be some players on some bad teams that have some guy that is. Had a great year.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Maybe was a Pro Bowler first or second team, all Pro. That is higher. And we'll go. Oh, really?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Because like you said, it's what the players view as that level.

[Dan Fates]

Okay. So that was where they were. We talked about where Josh would be, and Deon made the list. So offensively for the Bills, who do you think will make it and who do you think is in consideration to make it?

[Renee]

James Cook will make it.

[Dan Fates]

I think it's. If he is. He's in the 90s.

[Renee]

I agree.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Because he's. I don't know how many running backs were on last year.

[Renee]

Right.

[Dan Fates]

But if people have him in how they vote, I think he can make it in.

[Renee]

I think I'll make it.

[Dan Fates]

Relatively high number.

[Renee]

Yeah. I think coming off the buzz of.

[Dan Fates]

Last year, 16 touchdowns. Yep.

[Renee]

I think that's it. A guy that should be on it, that won't be on it is Spencer Brown.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I don't think he gets that recognition.

[Renee]

Nope. He's not there yet. But He's a top 100 player.

[Dan Fates]

And I think Dion makes it again.

[Renee]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Deion was in the 90s. Pete Prisco did his own one. He had Dion in the 90s. I think he had him in the 90s.

[Renee]

You were talking about our good friend Mike Giardi.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

And he was talking about ranking offenses.

[Dan Fates]

So they did their pod.

[Renee]

What's it called again?

[Dan Fates]

The all 32.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Clever play.

[Renee]

I. I knew it. But I just want to throw a little shot at Giardy.

[Dan Fates]

Wow.

[Renee]

I don't even know what your podcast is named.

[Dan Fates]

Wow. Did you hear that?

[Renee]

Just kidding. Go, like, comment and subscribe to his.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, they do a nice job. So he and Will Parkinson. So they do that. He covers the Jets.

[Renee]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

So they did it in a simple way. Take all the offenses, remove the quarterback. Now they put everything in. You're talking about play callers, offensive line and then the skill position guys around it. And in the afc, they had the Bills, too. But when you add all those things.

[Renee]

And what did I. What did I have? When you said.

[Dan Fates]

You said your first number, I think you came up with was eight. Eight or nine.

[Renee]

I thought he said six or seven.

[Dan Fates]

Okay. So even in that case, I thought they were. I do think if you just said.

[Renee]

They weighed the offensive line very heavily.

[Dan Fates]

The callers, I think too they fair.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Because I looked at it as skill position as we talked about. It's a big reason why as Jenna's always, you know, banging the drum for. For the James Cook extension. There isn't a ton of playmakers like I. And I know we can push back. But like to sit there and you go through and look at a lot of other teams and you see two wide receivers that are top 30 wide receivers.

[Dan Fates]

You have Cincinnati a good example.

[Renee]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

Not a good offensive line.

[Renee]

Correct.

[Dan Fates]

Okay.

[Renee]

In the backfield, phenomenal wide receivers.

[Dan Fates]

Two great wide receivers. I would say the Bills as a group because of the O line makes a huge difference.

[Renee]

Do you ever think that the offensive line, grading it, ranking it however you want to say can be somewhat volatile because injuries play a factor and, and I feel like.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. I think it's not always on how you're judging that group. Right. I think the Bill's offensive line is the sum of the parts.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

They play well together and they stay on the field. They stay on the field and they haven't gotten the. Dion's the only one that has really gotten the individual recognition to whatever level. They're all really good players.

[Renee]

But Lane has said on podcast that Spencer Brown's going to be one of the best right tackles in the game.

[Dan Fates]

Sooner rather than the way he plays. And you know, like I said, Lane.

[Renee]

Johnson's been incredible because I also know people are. Are maybe more. The younger audience has been very upset by the Bills being like an 85 in Madden. People are very upset about that. That may be something I'll have to go around training camp.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Training camp will see the numbers and ask.

[Renee]

Ask the questions on. On how they think they. They fare.

[Dan Fates]

So anybody else offensively, I don't think. I don't think Shakir is in there only because at a thousand yards. Right. He's a player that Bills fans love and they should.

[Renee]

Absolutely.

[Dan Fates]

And maybe this year the numbers can rise up. But you're talking about he's in the 25 plus range for wide receivers just because of the numbers.

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So that shouldn't make the top 100 of the NFL. You'd have to be you. You need to be by position. You need to be in that 10 + depending on the position. I guess it is in that case. And I don't really think anybody Else offensively, no.

[Renee]

And defensively, it should be Benford, but.

[Dan Fates]

I think Benford might get a little. I think he has a. He's developed a good reputation in the league.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And I think he's a good player. Doesn't get the numbers correct. Everybody likes numbers. They like interceptions. You know, I think. I think Benford is one of those guys with a good year. Maybe. Maybe he makes it and. And he got paid, too. That always helps.

[Renee]

And I also think he's one of those. Pff. Really likes him.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

And maybe it's more of that one. I guess I could see being a little surprising because that could be one where the common fan, casual fan, may not know him.

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Renee]

But the players may respect his game more than he's recognized.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And listen, I think.

[Renee]

I don't think he's in there, but he could be.

[Dan Fates]

We're both big fans of Bernard as a player, but he doesn't have the time on task, and the numbers go out. And he did make some big plays. It's nice when he makes a big play in the AFC divisional final when he made that play with the strip sacks or the strip of Andrews. So those are the kind of big plays. I don't think there's anybody else who would be in consideration for top 100. Doesn't mean they don't have good players.

[Renee]

Correct.

[Dan Fates]

Top 100. You know, I don't think Rousseau's there. I don't think Ed's there. I think those are players. I don't mean to sound like a wise ass, but if you did top 150 or top 200. Yes, they would be in there, but they quickly can go up well.

[Renee]

So we've always said this team is built very well. 11 to 53.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, they.

[Renee]

They don't.

[Dan Fates]

You're right. And it's that top 10, 11. That would make the top.

[Renee]

Make the top 100 list. All right, I know a lot of people are here for the wedding review, so let's bring in the new bride, Jenna Cottrell, a few moments later.

[Dan Fates]

Well, look at this. We have a special guest for the Buffalo plus podcast.

[Renee]

Straight from.

[Dan Fates]

We'll say from the honeymoon.

[Renee]

Right.

[Dan Fates]

This is a version of the honeymoon post wedding. Jenna, how you doing?

[Jenna Cottrell]

My voice is hurting a little bit. My voice is hurting a little bit. But we are relaxing. We're enjoying Cape Cod. And it was. I mean, I'm very biased, but it was such an amazing weekend.

[Renee]

This is the second most impressive guest we've had on recently.

[Dan Fates]

Yes, we had a pilot.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, Brian was way cooler.

[Renee]

Absolutely. Did it live up to. There were so many people sending out love and support and well wishes. Did it live up to the hype? The big day. How was it?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Well, first off, I know we did, like, the little pre game interview, which was really cool. And then when you guys posted it, I happen to look at some of the comments. I. I haven't checked in a while, but the amount of support from the Buffalo plus fam was, like, so sweet and so heartwarming. And honestly, like, really did help make the weekend so special. So that was amazing. And then the day itself was beyond my wildest dreams. Like, Zach and I just felt all of the love, and it was just between the ceremony and the reception and even the brunch and the welcome party, like, it was just such a. It was magic. Honestly, it was magic. And just to be around the people we love the most, and you just see how happy everyone was and so connected and just, like, it was amazing. And I do have to tell the story because so we were all at the rehearsal on Friday, and we were talking about it because we actually had to move the ceremony inside on Friday because there was tornado warnings on Saturday. And I know you guys knew. I was so bummed because, you know, you take a year and a half to plan, and you have this vision of your head of a beautiful outside ceremony. And I was really upset, but I was like, okay, you know what? I'm marrying the love of my life. That's all that matters. And so I was like, all right, I'm sad, but we're gonna move the ceremony inside. It's the right call. And then on Saturday morning, I woke up, and my photographer came to, like, where the girls were all getting ready, and he's like, have you looked at the weather? And I was like, no. Like, it's just upsetting to me. Like, I don't even want to, you know, out of sight, out of mind. And he's like, no, you. You should look at the weather, because you guys can absolutely do the ceremony outside. And I was just like, oh, my gosh. Like, this is incredible. So we called, and all of our vendors were amazing, and they helped turn the ceremony back to outside. And my grandparents, who I've always been really close with, my grandfather, who turned up 100 a couple months ago, he actually ended up passing away at the end of May. Um, but I really think it was the two of them and all my loved ones who helped make it just such a wonderful weather day as well. And I was Getting ready at the Airbnb. And I just called all my vendors and said, hey, the weather looks better. You can move everything back outside. And, you know, there's music playing while we're getting ready. And the. I can't remember the song, but it's by tlc. The lyrics, like, hit me. That was like, you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all. And I just, like, I really felt like that was a message from my grandparents.

[Renee]

So, yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Such a wonderful weekend.

[Renee]

That's awesome.

[Dan Fates]

You know what? I just had a thought there. First of all, that was great. It was wonderful to hear you say that. And credit to Dan and I. We did not interrupt you one time during that.

[Renee]

I. I thought about Bridezilla joke and I was like, just let her cook.

[Mike Catalana]

Just.

[Renee]

Just let her cook. This is not the time. Sarcastic jerk. I'll let. I'll let you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I gotta give credit to Dan as well. Like, the ceremony was such a good job. You did an amazing job. I. I'm glad I went with the rookie. Yeah, I went with the rookie and I trusted him because it was funny. It was heartwarming. It was perfectly paced. You know, it was a tight. What was it, 15, 20 minutes? Like, yeah, he.

[Dan Fates]

He was fantastic. I mean, better than anything else I've ever seen him do. That was. He was so good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know what, too, he was way less annoying than he is on the Buffalo plus channel.

[Renee]

There's the opening. It was. It was very cool, Jenna, to go back to the. The rehearsal. Your day of coordinator was 45 minutes late. Will we say that?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I was. I was stressing.

[Renee]

My wife's there. Like, Jenna's calling again. She was five minutes away three different times. And. And I looked at Jenna. I was like, hey, I. I did a script and like, this ceremony for this. I didn't think I was coaching the rehearsal. Like, I. I didn't know that this is what, like, I was going to be called upon to do. And Jenna was putting on the bravest face ever. She's like, by the way, it's going to be moved inside. And I was like, okay, yeah, like, no problem. And she's like, I had my cry, but I'm over it and we're moving forward. And I just knew it was, like, seething in you and. And the anger of it. You did such a good job. But then to show up, and I was like, the chair's doing outside.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Somebody else having something else happening over here. Yeah. You're like, it's outside. So it was. It Was awesome. I give myself an A minus.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What would have made it better?

[Renee]

Yeah, I stumbled over the bit about Zach Renee said. I said, didn't know if it was with a C or an H. Yeah, that's fine.

[Dan Fates]

Because there is, you know, some people spells.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

So it kind of worked.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Renee]

I am most proud of myself. Jen, if it's okay with you, we will put some of the pictures in.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, of course.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Renee]

I was invisible. That was. That was what I'm most proud of. I got some advice from John Dawes, a friend of ours who officiated my wedding, and he said, don't be nervous, talk slow and get the out of the way was the advice. And it was right off the bat. I knew as soon as I was saying, like, by the power invested in me by the state of New York. And I was like, and I'm gone. And that was. That was all I wanted to do.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Honestly, it was.

[Renee]

He.

[Dan Fates]

He did phenomenally well. I said he should hand out business cards. He could get more business.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Seriously. No, Dan, I think this is your calling. Like you're gonna TV and stuff. Officiating weddings.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

How am I at medical injuries? Medical injuries and hot takes. So, so, so, so maybe this is. Maybe this is my calling. It was really cool. I think it was. It was also special. Like your dad came up to me at the reception and was like, the coolest thing you said was. And it's something I truly do think about with weddings is that I said, take a second, take a breath. All of these people have never been together before. They will never be together again. And they're here for you guys and the open bar, but 97% of them, I needed the chuckle right off the get go. I got it with an open bar line. And then we were off the road.

[Dan Fates]

And I know Jenna, he took some pitches because I know the way that mind works. He had content in his head. He was ready for it. And I hope that was the only advice I gave him. I just said, just, you know, take a pitch when you're not sure. Just take the pitch. Yeah, he did.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He was always looking for the open, so.

[Renee]

That's true. There was. We were talking about. I had printed off everything, wrote it in the book on.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, Very impressed by that, that laminated.

[Renee]

Pages, all that stuff. And we're sitting there and Mike's like. I was like, I'm still trying to work in a light comment and subscribe in into the ceremony. And Mike's only advice. That's where he came in. He was like, Mike's MC'd a lot of things, spoken at a lot of big events. And he goes, just take a pitch. You know, he goes, feel it out. Maybe it's there, maybe it's not. And I think that was a great advice.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

You don't need to swing at everyone.

[Dan Fates]

Well, you got the early laughs, which was good. And then you're like, now they. Now they're probably wishing for more, like. But let them wish. Then. At that point, I guess it was about Jenna and Zach.

[Renee]

We also talked about things that wish. I said in the ceremony about. I was going to talk about how, oh, it's my first time, you know, doing a wedding. I am ordained. I think we thought that would have been. We could have thrown. And then I would have been like, just kidding. Just kidding. I think, like, we would. I. I could have played up the bit twice.

[Dan Fates]

I didn't realize how, like, official. Official. In fact, I got the video of the. The official signing. It was like, the Declaration of Independence.

[Renee]

Was a big signing.

[Dan Fates]

Well, I guess it's the opposite. Independence. You guys are coming together. You were. You had to sign, right?

[Renee]

We signed.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

After the case, we have video of the signing, so.

[Renee]

And it was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Did you. Did you mail, Dan?

[Renee]

I mailed it Sunday on our way home.

[Dan Fates]

Mailed it.

[Renee]

Mailed it. Yeah, it was. That was a. And I even checked, like, which one had the earliest. Yeah, Like, I. I went through the mailbox. Like, I went to a post office. I didn't just drop it at, like, the Wegmans.

[Dan Fates]

Attaboy.

[Renee]

Like, I went to the post office. Wow.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We love that.

[Renee]

So now it's in the post office.

[Dan Fates]

I would say, honestly, I enjoyed that wedding. In one way I can say to you, Janet, I enjoyed that wedding maybe more than any other wedding, because the other two that I really enjoyed, I had to pay for, so even better. And. And the open bar was nice. Dan and I spent some time at the open bar. It was good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Mike, I got a little nervous about you when I checked in early, and you're like, oh, yeah, Jenny and I are just doing bourbons on the rocks. I was like, oh, man.

[Dan Fates]

Well, that's the way we started. And then I just went, honestly, a smart move. Couple bourbons. And then we went to light beer.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Just two more things, because I don't want to take up your honeymoon.

[Dan Fates]

It's.

[Renee]

It's awesome that you're coming on to review it, because obviously people wanted to know, are you happy you did the first look? That's Renee's question to you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Thousand percent. I think I would have been so nervous had we not. But it was. It was so nice just too. To also have, like, just us. And then we. So we wrote vows for the ceremony together, but then when we did our first look, we did private vows. So it was really nice to have, like, something that was a little bit more like, intimate, just the two of us. And then also do, like, the vows that you would traditionally see, but we did them together for the ceremony. So first look, like a thousand percent recommend because it just helps with your nerves.

[Renee]

Yeah, it was our favorite part of our wedding because you're with everybody the entire day. Bridesmaids, family. It's the one time that you just got to be with your significant other.

[Dan Fates]

Before you get to your next point, Janet, I also want to say Buffalo plus has made a transaction. We've acquired a linebacker. We haven't said now. Zach is cool. Zach. It doesn't seek the limelight, but whatever. You're let people know what a. What a good dude you married.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my God. Zach is the best. He's so sweet. And we joke that to have. I saw this, like, real one time that was like, a successful relationship is two things. Like, two types of people. A back of the house person and a front of the house person. And Zach and hire. I think you guys are kind of the same way, but I am definitely a front of the house person. And so I just think Zach is truly the most patient, loving, supportive. Like, when I asked him, I was like, hey, I think I might pop on the podcast really fast. He was like, oh, my God, absolutely. Like, tell the guys I say hi. Like, just. He's the best. I. I can't believe that I found him.

[Dan Fates]

He really is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my God. A thousand percent.

[Renee]

Literally a thousand percent credit to Zach because he did. He did okay through all of it. And the funniest thing is, like, talking to him. Like, I said, I've known him. We went to high school together. He was a grade younger than me, but the fact of he hated the attention, like, deep down, it was the best day of his life. But after the, the. The ceremony, I was like, is this crazy? Taking all these pictures? I was talking about, oh, does your face hurt? And he's like, I want to slither into the corner and disappear. Like, like, Zach just wanted to see everybody else have a good time. He doesn't want any pictures. He doesn't want any of that stuff. Obviously, it's wedding and you do those things. But that was. It was so Cool. Lastly, for me, we have to address the odds.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, yeah. A thousand percent. I thought you were gonna talk about my dad's dance moves.

[Renee]

Okay. Your dad is the best.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Also a very physically terrifying human being. One of the largest human. His hands. He touched me. He hit my back.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

At the rehearsal when he saw me, and he went like, hey, Dan. Good to see you.

[Dan Fates]

Hey. He knocked you over.

[Renee]

I said, yeah. You knocked the wind out of here. He's like, just wanted you to know I was here and.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But I describe my dad as built like a refrigerator box.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

He's.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Renee]

His hands are like bear paws. They're catcher's gloves.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. And Zach. Zach's dad's big dude, too. Like.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes, he is.

[Renee]

Your dad is.

[Dan Fates]

Is just imposing.

[Renee]

But we were sitting there before the ceremony, and it was so cool because it's like, all the brides of bridesmaids, all the groomsmen were all, like, hanging out in this room, and the grooms that are having a couple beers, and I was like, I'm kind of nervous, and I was, like, looking over my shoulder, like, if I crack a beer, is Ben gonna kill me? Like. Like, hey, is my wife. You buried my daughter here. Pull it together. But the odds we talked about in the pregame video.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

No tears. No tears from me. Zach cried. We. That was. We didn't have odds for him.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Jenna cried during the ceremony.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yep. And a little bit. I wasn't sobbing.

[Renee]

No, no, no. Because I was good. Yeah, you were. You're tearing up a little bit. It was.

[Dan Fates]

No, listen, if you look, I checked. Terrible day for allergies in Saratoga. It was awesome. It did coincide with you walking down. It's big. Dad's walking their daughters down the aisle is big with me. That is big. And to see you there, not to sound sappy, but to see you there with everything you've been through was really something. I was. I'm always proud of you. But I was really proud of you that day. So now it's done. Now we're done. Now we're not proud of you anymore.

[Renee]

But it really was back to normal. I. I lost it at the first. The daughter, father, the father, daughter dance. Like, that was one of those things where it's like, again, knowing I have three daughters and thinking about me being up there, that was like, whoa.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

But Mike touched it. He touched his face. That was the official ruling. We have Jenny and Renee confirming Mike teared up when you were walking down the aisle.

[Dan Fates]

So bullshit here.

[Renee]

But for everybody that had the odds on me crying. Nope. And your dad did a reverse worm on the dance floor.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We're gonna call the inch worm.

[Dan Fates]

And Mike's dance moves, Fantastic.

[Renee]

Unbelievable.

[Dan Fates]

We do the same move over and over and over and over again. You just get those arms. You do that, you know.

[Renee]

How's it going? One more time. One more time, Mike.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, you want me to.

[Renee]

Yeah, I saw the dance.

[Dan Fates]

There you go.

[Renee]

There it is.

[Dan Fates]

That's it. Just non stop.

[Renee]

That's it.

[Dan Fates]

Jenny was dragging me out there.

[Renee]

It was a very, very fun, great wedding. So I know a lot of people wanted to hear the review, so. It was awesome.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, the reviews. Five stars.

[Renee]

All right, Go enjoy the honeymoon. You're on vacation. Yes, I'm on vacation next week. Mike's on vacation later this week. We will catch back up again. We have more stuff coming up later.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Real quick, two things. One, again, thank you to everyone who like shared their love. It was so appreciated. And two, thank you to you both because you know how much I love you and the day would not have been the same without you there. So I just want to say how much I love you guys and I appreciate everything that you do for me both today and on Saturday and every day.

[Renee]

Love you too.

[Dan Fates]

My allergies. Yeah, I know.

[Renee]

I texted Mike when he goes video's doing well. And I was like the comments are incredible. And we both texted. I texted and I said it's crazy what we've built.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Like this.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Renee]

And to think I invited Mike's my wedding just as a long play.

[Dan Fates]

And it works.

[Renee]

And it works.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Love you guys. I'll talk to you.

[Mike Catalana]

All right.

[Renee]

This Zachary and Jenna Smith. That was really cool.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I mean she let her hair grow.

[Mike Catalana]

I know.

[Renee]

That's when you know, she's relaxed.

[Dan Fates]

She's relaxed. The newly Dan and I straightened our hair out for. For the pod.

[Renee]

Yeah. We sat at the wedding with the hairdresser. Yes, your hairdresser. Shout out to Heather Dresser that set Zach and Jenna up.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I will say I said it to her. It was an awesome wedding. It was great. Damn, you were good. Thanks, man. Man, I was hoping to have something bust drops.

[Renee]

I was very nervous. Yeah, there was. I always. I was telling Renee about it. The fact of pretty nervous like the week before being like never done this. All this stuff. And I remember telling Jen. I was like, all right, like it's all done. It's all written out. I was like, I think it's like six to seven minutes. My. My stuff in the beginning and she Was like, that's a lot. That's a lot. And I was like, okay, I'll.

[Dan Fates]

She was ready to cut you back right away.

[Renee]

Yeah. So we went back, we. We trimmed it up. And then it was funny because the day of the wedding we had to hotel hop because I made the mistake. And maybe other people have been there too.

[Dan Fates]

Hold on. This is why I booked the travel.

[Renee]

For Buffalo Plus, Yes, I. I hope to one day be in your shoes to have to worry about that. But a while ago I had booked hotel rooms in the block for the wedding. Then Mike's like, hey, by the way, there's a Marriott. We stay in Marriott's when we travel. So it's like you could stay there and use your points and free room. So I was like, perfect, go there, Go to book it. Three, four months ago, made sure I had room. And I pressed Friday and Saturday, thinking I was booking the rooms for Friday and Saturday. And then a month ago, my wife and I had planned a trip. So I was like, oh, let me just make sure all my trips are set. And I saw one night and I went, that's not right.

[Dan Fates]

By the way. This is Saratoga, New York, which is awesome. Saratoga in the summer. Summer, like it is ready to explode there. Like the guy was telling us these hotels in another this next week going forward. Crazy. Like, it's insane there. So all the restaurants and everything. So.

[Renee]

So I like, called them and they were like. I was like, I meant to book two nights, I booked one and they were like, that's tough. So we were scrambling to find another hotel in downtown Saratoga just for Saturday.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

So we did that. So we obviously had to go up Friday. And then the checkout was at 11. The check in at the new hotel on Saturday, the day of the wedding wasn't until three.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh.

[Renee]

So I called them. Like the week before was like, hey, can I get in early? Like, we need an evident early check in. We have a wedding. I need to be there by four. Renee's got to get ready. And they're like, we can't promise anything.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, it's like a Friday into a Saturday.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

And they were like, by the way, we're fully booked. Like, we can't promise anything.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

And I didn't do. Have you ever done the 20. 20 bucks for what?

[Dan Fates]

Like when you check in for the late checkout.

[Renee]

No, like when you're checking into hotels.

[Dan Fates]

Early check.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

You're like, oh, I would have spent it then.

[Renee]

Yeah, I didn't. But Renee is also really pushy. So she was like, I'll go in there and I'll talk to the front desk. And so like we tried to check in at like noon and they're like, we don't have anything. So we just went around nervous about when we were going to be able to check in. We got into the room by one, but it was one of those things. So that was.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, it's hard to even get the late checkout on those days because everything is busy, by the way, during the wedding. So it starts and Jenna, like we said, was great going up there. And then Dan knocks it out of the park. So I put the power rankings. I said to you, sorry, Jenna, but Dan's number one, Jenna's number two. She was great, but like, you really excelled in your moment. And then Alyssa passed both of you.

[Renee]

Guys shout out to the maid of honor. Cottrell.

[Dan Fates]

She crushed it.

[Renee]

Crushed it. We gotta have her on the pod.

[Dan Fates]

She also included a like, comment subscribe. She buffalo plussed it up for us.

[Renee]

She. It took me a second because she came out with so much energy and she was going after Jenna's parents, which was very heartfelt.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

And beautiful. And then she comes in there and she goes, that's Zach Smith. She's Jenna Cottrell. I'm Melissa Cottrell. Please be sure to like, comment subscribe.

[Dan Fates]

Excellent.

[Renee]

It was phenomenal.

[Dan Fates]

She crushed it.

[Renee]

She got in. Jenna getting run over by Mike Evans.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

It was a beautiful. And I'm sure she's going to listen to this while they're at. Up at the Cape. So this will be very nice for.

[Dan Fates]

But yeah, she crushed it.

[Renee]

Alyssa.

[Dan Fates]

Listen, we can say eventually we'll put Jenna back at one.

[Renee]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

But for right now, while we're reviewing in this moment.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, not right now.

[Renee]

Next week, another guest.

[Dan Fates]

Yes, I can say this. We're all. We're all set for this. Is one of the directors of Hard Knocks.

[Renee]

Very cool.

[Dan Fates]

Yes. So we will be talking to the director about what they look for, what they're looking for in Rochester, what they're looking for with the bills. So to give you a little preview of what they're thinking about for Hard Knocks.

[Renee]

Talk about what, what do they like for patio setups?

[Dan Fates]

I know maybe they'll come see us.

[Renee]

Like all that stuff. So that'll be really cool. I'll be remote next week because I'm heading out to vacation with the family as well. Tons of good stuff, though.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Renee]

Again, I thought the pre wedding ceremony thing was. Was funny and as Jenna mentioned, very.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

People were really nice. Yeah.

[Renee]

So appreciate that, as always. That'll do it for us. He's Mike Catalana. I'm Dan. Fates to the newlyweds, Jenna and Zach. Congratulations. And remember, if you didn't give them a gift, just remember to, like, comment and subscribe. It'll mean just as much to them. We'll catch you here next time on the Buffalo plus podcast, presented by Connors and Ferris.