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00:00Still, just like what a party last night at the new stadium, 41-31 over Detroit.
00:06With us again, as it is 4 o'clock Eastern on a Friday, is former Bills defensive back Aaron Williams.
00:11He joins us on the West Her Hotline.
00:14Aaron, I think there might have been a pretty wide range of emotions for not only for fans,
00:20I mean it's different for players, but for players that had times in the old stadium
00:25and seeing everything that was on display last night.
00:29What were your feelings, your emotions watching the game and sort of the whole scene there?
00:35Well, I got a chance to actually be at the game.
00:38All right, even better.
00:39Honestly, yeah, it was super exciting, but in all honesty, it was actually really weird not being in the old
00:46stadium.
00:46It felt like an away game for me just because I was so used to preparing and being in the
00:52old stadium,
00:52and then even after being retired, going back to the stadium and just kind of being well-equipped
00:58kind of like what am I getting myself into.
01:00I think everyone yesterday, last night was, it felt like a little maze being in a new atmosphere,
01:06but at the end of the day, the environment was electric.
01:10I mean, the stadium looked beautiful.
01:12The design's amazing.
01:14The fans were 100%.
01:16Bill's Mafia always shows up and shows out, and it was super exciting.
01:21Definitely a weird vibe, but at the end of the day, it was an exciting vibe.
01:24I think starting with something new is also never a bad thing, and it's always good to start fresh.
01:30And what a way to start out with 1-0 in the new stadium.
01:33Was it noticeably louder, in your opinion, in there?
01:36Were you in a spot where you would be able to judge that?
01:41I would say it was definitely loud.
01:44I can't really compare the loudness between the old stadium and the new stadium,
01:49only because when I was playing, I really didn't get to hear the full loudness.
01:54And even when I was coming back, being retired, I was in a suite,
01:59so I didn't really get to be out and about.
02:02But last night, being in the stands was remarkable.
02:07It was not quiet whatsoever from start to finish.
02:10So when it was loud, it was unbearable for sure,
02:15but it only happened when Detroit was on offense, so that was good.
02:18They showed our guys some respect on the offensive side of the ball.
02:22Seeing as we started on the stadium itself, Aaron,
02:25I'm curious, and forgive me if this is a very out-of-left-field question for you to be asked
02:30here,
02:32how aware of the state of the franchise would you have been when you were here?
02:36Did the players feel it at all being tenuous, games being played in Toronto or whatever was happening?
02:44I know how we felt as – I mean, Mike and I were together on the radio.
02:48We've been together for more than 20 years now.
02:51But just the ride that fans went on, there was always this fear that we were going to lose the
02:57team.
02:58We don't get a new stadium.
02:59We've got a new stadium.
03:00Funding and all this stuff.
03:02And yesterday is really the culmination of finally that's – I mean, we knew the stadium was being built
03:09and it was coming online and everything, but definitively, like, we're here for another generation
03:14or who knows how many, and there's a lot of comfort in that.
03:17Were you ever aware of that as a player, that fans were nervous about the future of the team?
03:23Yeah, I was actually a part of the time where the team was being sold after Ralph Wilson was selling
03:29the team.
03:29And there was a chance where the franchise would be possibly moved to Toronto.
03:36And honestly, being from a player that got a chance to play at the Rogers Center at that time
03:45when we did have that game in Canada, I think the vibe definitely would have been off just a tad
03:51bit.
03:52I think the tradition of it having it in Buffalo means so much to the people in the city of
04:00Buffalo
04:00that changing it anywhere else would have definitely not been the same, obviously.
04:05I know playing in Toronto, it was definitely a different vibe.
04:09It wasn't as loud.
04:12It definitely didn't have the same effect as if you were playing in Buffalo.
04:15So the fact that we were able to keep it in the city means a lot to not only the
04:21people and the fans,
04:23but also the players.
04:24I mean, the tradition that runs deep here is so magnitude and so significant
04:29that you never want to change that aspect of the football in Buffalo
04:34because the fans care about it so much and we have so many memories here.
04:38So I'm happy that I was able to keep it in the city thanks to the Pagoulas
04:44and super happy about that.
04:46But definitely when we played in Toronto, it was a different vibe.
04:49And even with the new stadium, you would think that something would be off.
04:53Honestly, the fans were even more excited to have an updated stadium, more reliable place.
05:00It's like having a new toy.
05:02You're so excited to finally get to be able to play with it.
05:04And the fans just, you know, they loved it.
05:07They loved the atmosphere.
05:07They showed up for the players and the players loved it.
05:10You could see it on the field.
05:11Josh Allen, he got called out.
05:13You know, the love that he gets.
05:15All the players.
05:16I mean, it was just a lot of so significant and a lot of love.
05:19So it was awesome to see.
05:21Very cool.
05:22A new toy or, you know, like maybe a new car.
05:26Yeah, exactly.
05:27Yeah.
05:27You had a car for a number of years.
05:29You know, there were empty bottles in the backseat and just sort of napkins and random garbage.
05:34And then you get that new car the first time.
05:37Like, no, no, no.
05:38Do not put that.
05:39Son, do not put that down.
05:41We are not doing that with this car.
05:42Get that out of here right now.
05:44We're going to treat this with respect.
05:46The new car.
05:47You go sit.
05:48You bring it home.
05:49You've driven it home.
05:50And it's like 9 o'clock at night and it's dark out.
05:53And you're like watching TV.
05:54And you go, I'm going to go sit in the car.
05:56Yeah, I'm just going to sit in the car.
05:57I'm just going to go sit in the car.
05:57I'm going to look at the owner's manual.
05:59Whatever.
06:00I'm just going to go sit in the car.
06:01I want to feel the car.
06:03What does this thing do that I don't even know about yet?
06:06With Aaron Williams.
06:07So, either out of respect, did the fans not get as loud when the Bills had the ball?
06:13Or because their mouths are all open when they're watching this quarterback.
06:16I mean, just like, you know what I mean?
06:18Like, your jaws drop watching these Josh Allen games.
06:21I don't know, Aaron.
06:22I mean, what is he for you?
06:24I think we're pretty much talking about the best player in the NFL right now.
06:29And you have games like last night where sometimes it just seems like it isn't real.
06:34I mean, Josh Allen's a playmaker.
06:36And he does a great job of not only managing the clock, but also being able to give our guys
06:42the ability to make a play.
06:45There are times where I wish he was just a tad smarter with the ball.
06:50Just like, for instance, last week in Houston where he just kind of threw it up when Palmer was in
06:55the end zone.
06:55And, I mean, things like that, I would say I hope he gets a lot better.
07:00But overall, I mean, I have no bad things to say about his play.
07:04He's a great leader.
07:06He shows up and shows out.
07:07He makes our guys.
07:09He motivates our guys.
07:10He has the ambition and motivation to win.
07:14He works hard.
07:15And having a guy like that in the locker room and on the guy that has the ball 90%
07:20of the time, that's something you want in your leader and your quarterback.
07:25And not only can he throw the ball, I mean, he uses his feet really well.
07:28I mean, you saw that he got a couple touchdowns with his feet.
07:32And just slinging the ball around, giving our tight ends, our receivers a chance to make plays.
07:37I mean, it's something that I wish I was able to play with Josh.
07:42And, you know, just witnessing what he has and the athletic ability that he's put on the field is just
07:49amazing just to watch.
07:51To play with him would be a great luxury.
07:54And you're talking about how much fun it would be to play against him.
07:59Now, let me just ask you, Aaron.
08:01You were, you know, a physical player and you were, to put it mildly, I would say, completely unafraid to
08:08throw your body around.
08:09Like, you're somebody that Bills fans look to, to, like, throw a shot every once in a while, if I
08:16may.
08:17What are these Lions last night?
08:19Anybody that plays against Allen, what are they talking about in the huddle?
08:22Like, when they can't get him down and basically these games depend on it.
08:29Being able to sort of curtail his rushing and try to send a message.
08:33He takes a lot of hits.
08:34Not to say that this would necessarily be a game changer if you were to hit him.
08:38But, you know, he gets up all the time, too.
08:41What is the conversation during the TV timeouts in these huddles on, you know, defensive teams playing against him?
08:46What do they sound like?
08:49I mean, honestly, with a guy like Josh, it's kind of hard to really come up with a game plan
08:54to try to neutralize his abilities.
08:57I mean, it's one thing to where he's a pocket passer and he can't really scramble and make plays with
09:03his feet.
09:03And there's another one where he can't really throw the ball and he uses his feet really well to gain
09:09yardage.
09:09The fact that he's able to do both makes it hard for the defensive coordinator to kind of game plan
09:14that.
09:15You just kind of want to rely on trying to have your D lineman get to the quarterback and try
09:21to rush him, rush him in his throws and make him a little uncomfortable.
09:23But let's be honest, we may have a lot of praise for Josh, but let's give a lot of praise
09:29for our offensive line.
09:29They've done a great job of giving for him time to make plays and give him time to look at
09:35the coverages and be able to be comfortable in that pocket to make those throws.
09:40And when the pocket does collapse, he's able to do what he does with his feet.
09:45So it's kind of give or take. I mean, as a defensive back, you're really frustrated being able to realize
09:51that you hopefully five to six seconds is the best time you can cover.
09:56Because, I mean, covering these guys, these receivers for that long, it's kind of hard to do it further than
10:02five seconds.
10:03So it's frustrating for DBs. It's frustrating for D lineman to not be able to contain him.
10:09And it's frustrating for DBs not to be able to hold up your end of the bargain for that long.
10:14So it's a frustrating thing. But, I mean, as a defensive guy, you try to do the best that you
10:18can.
10:19And luckily, we have a guy that has that kind of Superman effect to be able to do both things.
10:26So we're lucky to be able to have him on our team.
10:28You know, a couple things here. As Mike is laying that out to you, Aaron, I'm thinking about there's a
10:34play in this game last night where Aiden Hutchinson has Allen in the flat.
10:38Like, Allen's running away from him and Hutchinson's closing.
10:41And he gets there and he's on him and he's trying to pull him down.
10:44But Allen is stiff-arming him and he still manages to get rid of the ball.
10:48And, you know, it's not a completion, but it still saves a loss of yardage and, you know, keeps the
10:54Bills on schedule.
10:55And Hutchinson kind of can't believe it when the play is over, right?
10:58The way he looks is he's looking at the officials and then they looked at it, too, to make sure
11:03that Allen wasn't down.
11:04Because it was reasonably close, I guess.
11:07But that's got to be – Aiden Hutchinson's got to be like, I'm Aiden Hutchinson.
11:11Like, I've got both hands on you in the open field and still it's, you know, it's not a loss
11:19of yardage.
11:19And as you're talking about the DBs, like, great coverage, the pass rush looks like it's going to get there.
11:26Oh, no, he got away and he ran for 12 yards.
11:29Like, that has got to be so demoralizing to a defender.
11:33Yeah, I mean, you've got to remember, Josh Allen is not a small guy whatsoever.
11:37It's not like we're playing a guy like Powell Murray or anything.
11:40This guy is 6'5", 235 plus and can move exceptionally.
11:45And there was a time where he did scramble out of the pocket and Hutchinson thought he had a sack.
11:52And for him to be able to kind of manhandle a guy with that size to get rid of the
11:59ball and not take a sack, I mean, it's hard to manage that.
12:04It's hard to try to use your ability to get him down.
12:07I mean, he's just, he's big and strong.
12:10He's fast on his feet.
12:11He has a great arm.
12:12It's kind of like, what doesn't he have?
12:15What can we use to utilize his negative spots in his game?
12:20And when you look at him and you watch him play, it's like, what can Josh not do?
12:25And, you know, luckily for us, we have an exceptional guy like that.
12:29And I know it's very frustrating for a demon like Hutchinson because Hutchinson's a really good player.
12:34Pro Bowl guy has a lot of sacks last year.
12:37He was very dominant last year.
12:40And even on the sideline, when you looked at, when the camera, you know, pointed out to Hutchinson, you can
12:46tell he was breathing hard.
12:47He was exhausted.
12:48He felt like he was out of shape.
12:50And that's the ability we kind of, like, need with a quarterback to not only make these guys frustrated, but
12:57get them tired and to realize that even though I feel like I have this play made, I have to
13:02fully make sure to finish the play.
13:05Because if I don't finish the play, this guy's going to make even phenomenal more plays if we don't get
13:09him down.
13:10So, luckily for us, you know, we have a great quarterback like that and hopefully, you know, manage to keep
13:16him still healthy and have our old lineman, you know, continue to make that pocket comfortable for him to be
13:22able to make those plays like he did last night.
13:24Right on.
13:25With Aaron Williams, Mike Shope and the Bulldog here on WGR.
13:28It's one of my favorite things about watching a football game is that quarterback, the big, fast quarterback versus, like,
13:35the great linebacker, edge rusher, Bulldog knows where I'm going maybe, a game you played in.
13:42We're just getting to know each other.
13:43So, I don't know how you like to think about or how well you do recalling games you played in,
13:48but Carolina with Mario Williams against Cam Newton was this game.
13:53And, like, that was more of a great heavyweight fight between Mario and Newton and, like, Mario had four and
14:01a half sacks in the game, Newton still had a good game.
14:04I mean, last night was a couple of plays with Hutchinson, but, man, I loved that game.
14:09Just every play, there's Williams usually with his hand down, not always, you know, but every play had the potential
14:16for here comes the rush, does Newton get out, does Mario chase him down?
14:22Like, every game, every play is, like, its own game for that.
14:25I love that about watching football.
14:27And last night you got a little bit of a glimpse of that kind of thing.
14:31Are you one to sort of think about games?
14:34Like, when I say all that, is that familiar?
14:35Do you remember playing in that game?
14:3712 tackles, I'm looking at the box, so at least you had a good day, I'm here to say.
14:42Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of games I'll never forget.
14:44I'm playing a guy who had a lot of hype coming into the draft and into that first week with
14:50Cam Newton.
14:51And it was a statement game for us.
14:55And luckily for me, I had an amazing D-line core with Kyle Williams, Marcel Darius, all the Williams in
15:03that field.
15:04Jerry Hughes, probably, right?
15:06Jerry Hughes.
15:07Like, the list goes on and on.
15:09And then we had an exceptional linebacker and crew as well.
15:11But just like last night, I mean, we got Bradley Chubb who's out there making plays.
15:15Greg Roos is out there making plays.
15:17A lot of guys that we put a lot of expectations on holding up to their end.
15:25And it brings me back, like you said, to that Carolina game of how are we going to be able
15:30to sustain a guy like Cam Newton who not only can throw the ball, but can make plays with his
15:35feet.
15:36And, you know, our defensive guys, we had a heck of a game.
15:41It was a really phenomenal game and a memorable game for me.
15:45And it was something that I wanted to make sure the fans know that we are serious about what we
15:51do and how we can, you know, make effect in this year.
15:54And it also starts, you know, I think it was like the second game of that year.
15:59So having that momentum of going into that year, knowing that winning after that big game, it helps the players
16:06and also the fans out to let us know that, you know, we are serious.
16:09And, you know, this could be the year.
16:12And the hype around it makes the city, I mean, it makes life so much better in the city of
16:17Buffalo when you come off a win.
16:19So I'm glad that last night puts another great energy around the city, but also just with the team, knowing
16:27that, you know, with Joe Brady, his second time being head coach, being 2-0 already.
16:32I mean, that's phenomenal for him being Jim did a great job on the defensive side of the ball.
16:40There are a little bit of things that I feel like we should work on as far as the DB
16:44play.
16:45But overall, I mean, I'm very happy and excited to continue to watch these guys this week on, week on,
16:52week off.
16:53Man, you mentioned, like, how the city reacts to it.
16:56The fact that it's a Thursday makes it all the sweeter, too.
16:59Like, it's still summery enough, and you got the whole weekend, and if the Bills drop that game somehow, it's
17:07not like there's clouds all of a sudden in everyone's lives.
17:10But you just feel a lot lighter going into the weekend, you watch the games, hope that New England finds
17:15a way to lose to Pittsburgh and drop to 0-2, whatever.
17:18Like, you just got that win in the pocket, and it just takes whatever pressure there might be, even for
17:25fans, because, you know, we're living and dying out here.
17:27And you just have your feet up on a weekend like this, because you know you already banked your week
17:34two win.
17:35Yeah, it definitely makes your week a lot easier, especially on a Thursday.
17:40I mean, you have Friday, Saturday, Sunday to enjoy a win and, you know, end your week off on a
17:45bang.
17:46We're not, like you said, it's not like we're, you know, we let the game affect our lives.
17:51But at the end of the day, it does feel good knowing that our team came out with a victory,
17:55and when the team comes out with a victory, you have a more exceptional day of providing for yourself to
18:02motivate yourself to go out there and go get it yourself.
18:06And that's what the effect of the Bills have on the city.
18:11Obviously, we want to go, you know, undefeated, but there are going to be times where there's going to be
18:17ups and downs, and that's just life.
18:18But knowing that we see our guys go out there and give it a shot, I mean, coming off a
18:22short week, I don't think people understand how hard that is to come from playing a game on Sunday to
18:28coming right back to try to put a recover on your body for getting banged out for, like, three hours.
18:34And your body's sore, your mind is just kind of tired from the week before, and then four days later,
18:42you have to play and be a high performance again, an elite performer, and coming out and producing the way
18:48they did last night.
18:49I mean, you guys, we put up, I think, what was it, 21, 27 points in the first half.
18:55I mean, that's kind of unheard of in NFL.
18:59So the way they just came out firing out, it definitely motivates you to not only see our guys and
19:08know that, you know, they're taking their job seriously, but it just makes the city of Buffalo a lot easier.
19:13And it's coming, it's sunny outside right now.
19:17It's beautiful weather.
19:18We don't have to deal with snow yet.
19:20Things seem relaxed.
19:21The scenery seems calm and just peaceful.
19:23And, you know, ones like that are going to make that kind of effect.
19:28What would you normally do on Sunday when you played Thursday night?
19:31Would you be, like, go apple picking or the Octobox, all the games on in your basement on different screens,
19:38something in between?
19:39What was Sunday like for you when you didn't have a game?
19:43Really just getting prepared for the next game.
19:47I mean, you definitely want to relax, but at the end of the day, you have to understand that this
19:52is an opportunity
19:52for us to get a little bit extra days getting prepared for the following week.
19:57You definitely get more time to enjoy your day and be with family and friends.
20:02You also get more time to recover and really work on your body, getting that hyperbaric chamber, getting the treatment
20:11that you need with the athletic staff,
20:14with the training staff, and, you know, not really being able to be rushed back into the office or back
20:21into the locker room.
20:23You get the ability to kind of, I mean, I'm sure a lot of guys on the team have multiple
20:27TVs to be able to watch games,
20:29but wherever we're playing this next coming week, we get to be able to watch them and kind of get
20:34a heads up on what they're thinking.
20:36So it's a relaxing time.
20:39It's a time for us to enjoy our time with our family and friends, but at the same time, we
20:43have to understand that we're getting an extra amount of time
20:47to be prepared for the next week.
20:48Are you up for the whole weekend, Aaron, if I may ask?
20:52I'm actually leaving tomorrow, so I should be back up here in October again.
20:57I'm not sure which game.
20:58I think the New England game, I believe.
21:00But, yeah, I'll be back.
21:02I love coming back and enjoying just watching the city.
21:06It's electric, especially on game days.
21:08I miss the tailgating.
21:09I miss seeing people out there just enjoying themselves.
21:11And there's a reason why Bill's Mafia is the number one tailgate in the country.
21:15So being able to experience that with the fans and to feel the electric of the atmosphere is, I mean,
21:22I would never want to miss it.
21:23Very good.
21:24New England week four, so just two weeks away if that's the game you mean.
21:29Very good.
21:29Well, if you ever want to drop by and hang with us on one of these Friday afternoons, we would
21:33love it.
21:34But no pressure to do that.
21:36Thanks for your time today, Aaron, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
21:40Thank you, guys.
21:40I appreciate it.
21:41And definitely, when I come back in town, I definitely want to come in and hang out with you guys
21:44and be in the studio and have that experience.
21:47Great.
21:48That would be really cool for us.
21:49Yeah, man.
21:50Thanks again, Aaron.
21:51See you next time.
21:51Thank you, guys.
21:52Have a good one.
21:52All right.
21:53There's Aaron Williams weekly with us here on Football Fridays and his appearance.
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