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00:00A lot of the talk today about what the experience was like at the stadium Saturday night, not so much,
00:06at least for our purposes, what happened on the field.
00:09And there were a couple of, you know, possibly worrisome developments, injuries, Ty Johnson, Conor McGovern.
00:16Let's see what we know. Paul Hamilton with us now.
00:20Ken, I know you weren't at the state. My understanding is you're not at the stadium Saturday night. Neither were
00:24we.
00:24But I wonder how this all sounds to you, Paul. Like last segment alone, people are talking about they were
00:31in Section 409 or Section 422.
00:34Like that's different. I've never heard of 409 as a section, you know, can't find places or the adjustment that
00:40would be for fans having been there.
00:42It's all very interesting, if not exciting, too.
00:45Yeah, I wasn't able to. I was doing the Bisons game, but we'll be at the next one.
00:50And I may just wander around during that to different places in the stadium and see what people are seeing
00:57or try to see maybe what people are talking about or because, you know, Sal will be there.
01:03I mean, he's the one who has to really pay attention to practice.
01:06I do when I'm there, but I can also pay attention to something else, which is also something important to
01:12the fans.
01:12And that might be something that might be worthwhile for me to do is just wander a bit.
01:16Yeah, I mean, I don't know how much more I would have gotten out of being there, but given how
01:23this conversation has been going for the last 24 to 48 hours, I wish I had made more of an
01:30effort to be there.
01:31Because I very likely would have done exactly what you're saying, which is not that I would have known ahead
01:37of time that there were going to be this controversy about railings and stairways and whatever.
01:42But I think I would have wanted to take a look at it from as many places as I could,
01:47you know, without, you know, trampling on people or getting in their way if they're there in their seats.
01:51But I think I would have wanted to go all the way up to the top and see what that's
01:56like and just check it all out.
01:58And honestly, if there is a problem, you know, with a seat or a fan or whatever, I think the
02:05Bills will deal with that fan individually and see, you know, what is the problem?
02:09Is there something we can do about it?
02:12Can something be moved?
02:14Can the seat be moved?
02:15Can this be moved?
02:15Can the person be moved?
02:17I mean, so it seems like maybe they'll be taking care of it on an individual basis.
02:24So today, as the Bills get to practicing there, or not in the new stadium, but in Orchard Park, as
02:32opposed to in Rochester, what was the news of the day, to put it that way?
02:39Yeah, well, for fans, just so they know, this is still training camp.
02:43It's just in Orchard Park.
02:44It's not in Rochester anymore, but it's still considered training camp, even for us, the media, because if it wasn't,
02:51we'd be out.
02:52We would be there for the first 15 minutes.
02:54Okay, so this is now how we draw that line.
02:58So, yeah, as soon as we know it's not training camp anymore, we know because we're sitting in the media
03:02room.
03:03You know, we get to watch the first 15 minutes and then regular season rules apply.
03:09But, yeah, so it is still training camp.
03:12It was just with rain in the forest, and I think it did rain.
03:15My car looked like it had gotten rained on, so they were in the field house.
03:19They weren't out on the field.
03:21So, it was a training camp type of a practice, still about the same time that they had St. John
03:28Fisher, about an hour and a half.
03:30They did some goal line work.
03:31You mentioned some guys.
03:33Connor McGovern didn't practice.
03:34He was one of the guys that went down, according to Sal, on Saturday.
03:42Ty Johnson.
03:42Some other names that people might know.
03:44Johnson was around.
03:45I saw him catching some balls and that kind of thing.
03:48The problem with when they're in the field house is we've got to stay in one end zone.
03:51When they're at the other end, you basically can't see a thing because the players will block your view because
03:55they're standing in the way.
03:59So, now, the nice thing about it is when they did goal line, it was at our end, so we
04:03could see everything, who was in, who was out.
04:07Maxwell Hairston didn't practice.
04:08Cole Bishop didn't practice.
04:10I'm just looking for names that people would pop out at people.
04:13Skylar Bell, the rookie, did not practice.
04:16And then, as I mentioned, Connor McGovern.
04:18And a few other ones that, as I said, people wouldn't really pay attention to right now.
04:24And we were – I know, like, Saturday came and went and Joe Brady talked after the red and blue
04:30event and said, like, we don't know yet.
04:33We'll know more, you know, we'll know more Monday.
04:37Did he not speak – like, there's no resolution or timelines on any of that or confirmation, nothing, right?
04:44Yeah, he doesn't speak until Thursday.
04:46Oh, wow.
04:47Holy cow.
04:48Because they don't practice on Wednesday.
04:50Defensive coordinator Leonard tomorrow.
04:53And then offensive coordinator was today.
04:55And then Brady will talk on Thursday.
04:58And, again, no media on Friday, the day before the game.
05:01Okay.
05:01So, we're probably going to be, unless we get, like, an Adam Schefter has learned report on someone,
05:08we're not going to get anything from the team about McGovern or Bishop or Ty Johnson or any of the
05:14other people you mentioned.
05:15Unless they're back.
05:16Unless – yeah, unless they take part in practice, then duh, there they are.
05:19Right, right.
05:20The other two I didn't even see around.
05:23Again, they could have been at the other end where I couldn't see.
05:26But I did see Ty Johnson around.
05:29Okay.
05:30Landon Jackson, Paul, he seems optimistic.
05:34Yeah, it was interesting to talk to him.
05:37You know how I consider – it's almost like a mulligan.
05:41Like, this is his rookie season again.
05:43Like, forget about last year.
05:45He was getting injured quite a bit.
05:48He was in a defense.
05:49He wasn't at all – I mean, as he said today, what really got him drafted and in the league
05:55was the way they –
05:56the defense that he played in college.
05:59And what Leonard's doing is more like that.
06:02And now he also has adjusted his body to play, you know, in certain positions.
06:09And he said so far he's really liked Leonard's defense because it is familiar to him.
06:16He feels he's been able to make plays in camp so far.
06:19So, he's pretty excited about it.
06:21So, I almost look like it – he's a rookie, you know.
06:25Last year really didn't do him any good no matter what.
06:28Yeah, I got to sit in meeting rooms, I guess, and do mental reps.
06:31But it's a totally different defense that fits him better.
06:34So, I almost look at this as a mulligan year for him.
06:37I was glad to hear this about him feeling like he's got familiarity with the scheme
06:42because he's one of the guys that I've been sort of very curious to see what they're actually going to
06:47ask of him
06:48because when, you know, we're into the spring and it's, oh, he's putting on 25 pounds
06:54and he's going to play, you know, they drafted him to be an edge guy
06:57but he's going to be a 4-I or whatever, like just a different position to an extent.
07:05But that he's got experience in it is encouraging because, to me, they've got, like, kind of wide open.
07:13I mean, I know there's a depth chart, but I'm not sure if they even really know yet who's going
07:18to be where.
07:19Yeah, whatever a depth chart is right now is absolutely subject to change.
07:23I mean, because you get into the actual preseason games, somebody might really excel.
07:30I mean, yeah, today, you know, let's use the two-minute drill, or I'm sorry, the goal line drill today.
07:38Well, nobody's going to hit Josh Allen, so you've got to kind of decide,
07:42well, Josh Allen probably would have gotten tackled there, so this play really wouldn't have happened
07:46or maybe it would have happened or those types of things where once you get in a preseason game,
07:52yeah, the quarterback's going to get tackled.
07:55And I think it gives you a little bit better perspective when you're trying to put together a depth chart
08:00and those types of things.
08:02So, yeah, I think, you know, you went from no pads, and really, to me, you almost get nothing out
08:08of that
08:09other than it's almost like a walkthrough to familiarity to try to get used to the schemes,
08:13and then you put the pads on.
08:15You're still not killing each other unless you're, you know, a couple of different guys
08:21who have gotten themselves into trouble.
08:23But for the most part, you're not, you know, you're not, you know, loading up for contact,
08:28and that happens next Saturday.
08:32How big a deal is Ty Johnson to you guys?
08:35Like, he has had a very specific and semi-important role for them as the third-down running back.
08:42I know, Paul, you said you saw him out there, so maybe not necessarily worth worrying about long-term
08:47or anything like that.
08:48But, like, would they go get a running back if they knew he was going to miss extended time?
08:53I don't know if he would outrank Ray Davis or what role he might play specifically.
08:57How important do you think he is?
08:59I think it's two different types of roles.
09:01I think, you know, Ray Davis is going to spell Cook.
09:06Ty Johnson's going to be in on third down.
09:07You know, and, you know, it does take Cook off the field.
09:13A lot of people don't like that.
09:15Even though Ty Johnson has been very good, I think, on third down, in my opinion,
09:21it's like you still are taking your best guy off the field.
09:23You know, why are you doing that?
09:27So a lot of people, you know, and they would have a valid point.
09:30I mean, that's an arguable point.
09:32But I've liked Ty Johnson and what he's – and he seems to be able to catch the ball
09:37for a running back.
09:38He does a nice job.
09:39I've seen him make some really nice catches on balls that I would say,
09:43most running backs might not have caught that.
09:45And they wind up being big plays into a first down or, in some cases, a touchdown.
09:49So I've liked the role they've put him in,
09:52and I think he's excelled in the role they've put him in.
09:54He had a touchdown catch, maybe it was against Denver in the playoffs year before,
10:01the home game against Denver.
10:03There was one play, as Paul's describing, like, wow.
10:06Back of the end zone.
10:06Yes.
10:07Was that the game against Denver?
10:08Yeah, I think that's right.
10:09It was especially good.
10:10Yeah.
10:11Mm-hmm.
10:12There's a little bit of Connor Hellebuck today, by the way.
10:15What?
10:16Just, you know.
10:17What, Paul, what?
10:18Just Elliott Friedman asked about what is going on.
10:21I hear it's quiet.
10:22I still think he gets moved.
10:24Yeah.
10:25That he hasn't bunched.
10:26And Elliott's been very consistent about that throughout,
10:29that, you know, he feels he's going to be moved.
10:32He hasn't moved off that opinion since when all this came up.
10:37So, you know, obviously he still feels that way.
10:41You know, I'm just to the thing.
10:46I just don't know if it's worth it.
10:48I mean, you've got, as a team, they were the third best goaltending,
10:55well, almost in tandem, I guess, three guys in the league when it came to save percentage.
11:02Lucanen's numbers were better than Hellebuck's last year.
11:04Hellebuck had an off year.
11:06Is it a one-off?
11:07Or at 33 years old, is he starting to falter a little bit?
11:11We don't know.
11:12Is it worth $8.5 million on your salary cap to find out?
11:16I guess that's up to a specific fan to decide if it's worth that to him.
11:21Is it worth going after a guy who is in his last 23 playoff games, is 8-15?
11:27I guess, again, you got, I mean, Bobrowski is a great example.
11:32He was awful in the playoffs for his whole career until he wasn't.
11:35And then Lyon was in goal.
11:38It didn't work.
11:39They put Bobrowski in goal, and he got him to the Stanley Cup finals.
11:42That was the year they lost, and then he won the next two.
11:45So just because you haven't been good in the Stanley Cup playoffs for your career,
11:49basically, or especially recent career, doesn't mean you can't turn it around.
11:56But is it worth when you've got the third best save percentage in the league right now
12:01to take 8.5 and add it to your salary cap and then have to trade players away
12:07that maybe you'd like to use to get him because you have to open up that salary cap room?
12:13I don't know.
12:14I don't know if it's worth that chance.
12:16The first thought I had today about everything we've been talking about today, mostly,
12:22and now I'm glad that Mike thought to bring up Hellebuck while Paul's on the line with us
12:27is like at 8 o'clock this morning, I thought the Hellebuck trade's going to happen today
12:31and just save the Bills like eight hours of conversation about glass partitions and railings.
12:37One Buffalo.
12:38That's what we're going to get today.
12:40The synergy.
12:42They call the Jets, and they're like, all right, we'll take your deal.
12:45We'll change.
12:47We really got to do this.
12:48The issues are of nothing, no particular reason.
12:49I got to do this now.
12:51I'm not prepared to answer any follow-up questions, but I need to do this now.
12:54We just talked about it again and decided to say yes this time.
12:58All right, Paul, good to have you on.
13:00No problem, guys.
13:01We'll talk again later in the week.
13:02Take care.
13:03All right, there you go.
13:04There's Paul, which means don't adjust your sets.
13:08Training cam coverage here on WGR is brought to you by, excuse me, presented by Fiegel Car
13:13and Joyce, your board of attorneys, and brought to you by Outlet Liquor.
13:17When you need to stock up, it's the place to buy a case.
13:19What's your outlet?
13:20And by the Barnes firm, Car Crash.
13:23You've got to call the Barnes firm, 1-800-8-Million.
13:29Okay.
13:30I'm done with that.
13:31I just pointed at you.
13:32You did.
13:32And what came to my mind is when Brad Pitt, you're comparing yourself to Brad Pitt, when
13:38Brad Pitt points to Jonah Hill in that famous scene from Moneyball, and he's like, just does
13:45that, doesn't look at him, just, that's what I was just doing there.
13:48As opposed to the, as opposed to the Leonardo DiCaprio where he's pointing at the TV that's
13:57in, what the hell movie is that?
13:59Wolf?
13:59Wolf of Wall Street?
14:00No, not that, no, it's more, it's the, oh.
14:04Is it the Aviator?
14:06No.
14:08It's pretty recent.
14:09And Brad Pitt is in it.
14:11Is it big?
14:11Brad Pitt is in the movie with him.
14:13Is it big?
14:13It's the, it's the, it's the, the Manson, once upon a time in Hollywood.
14:20There's a scene where he's sitting in his room drinking a beer and he like sits up and
14:24points at the TV like this.
14:27You didn't do that.
14:28I've never seen any of those movies.
14:30I didn't, I liked it.
14:31I watched it on Christmas Day a few years ago.
14:34Once upon a time in Hollywood.
14:35It was good.
14:35Good.
14:35It helped my attention.
14:36I've seen Moneyball.
14:37That's the one I mentioned.
14:38I've seen that.
14:39Yeah.
14:39Never these other ones.
14:40Yeah.
14:41All right.
14:43That's that.
14:43And then there's the double point.
14:45That's what, I just gave you that.
14:46The double point.
14:47I just gave you that.
14:47The filiponi.
14:48That's known as.
14:49I'm going to stop.
14:50We will be back after this break.
14:52If they'll let us.
14:53Unfortunately.
14:54803-0550 to join.
14:55Talking about the stadium a lot.
14:57Mike Shope and the Bulldog.
14:58WGR.
14:58Bumper.
14:59Bumper.
14:59Bumper.
14:59Bumper.
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