1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill's general manager. I'm eighty 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: six to ninety two. He's the host of the new 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: podcast Inside Football with Bill Poli. In the podcast, he's 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,880 Speaker 1: a former ESPN front office analyst. Our buddy Bill Polly 5 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: and joined us right now. Hey Bill, how you doing good? Murph? 6 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,159 Speaker 1: How are you good? I'm here with Steve Tasker and 7 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: we're both excited about talking to you today. We hope 8 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: everything's going well with you and your family. Hey, Bill, Yeah, everything, 9 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: everything's fine. Hi STEI, how you doing. Everything's great. Thanks 10 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: for coming on with us. We're having you on. One 11 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: of the reasons we've got you on is because you're 12 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: once again. Why I thought you retired, man, you're going 13 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: back to work and doing a podcast. Good for you? 14 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:41,160 Speaker 1: Oh well yeah, I did, h and uh. And then 15 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,599 Speaker 1: some guys that I've worked with previously said to me, 16 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: you know, why don't why don't you why don't we 17 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: do this podcast? And I said, well, all right, I'll 18 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: try it. And it turns out to be fun and 19 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: uh and hopefully be a project that be interesting to 20 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: fans and we can supply some inside information on how 21 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,279 Speaker 1: the sausage is made. In the end, Fell and and 22 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: talk about issues that crop up in some depth. That's, 23 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 1: you know, harder to do when you're in a different format. 24 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: So thus far it's been fun and I'm looking forward 25 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: to it. Podcast is Inside Football with Bill Pauli in 26 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 1: available on iTunes and any of the other places that 27 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: you download a podcast. I was saying to Steve Bill 28 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 1: in our first hour we were talking about this, you 29 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 1: have a unique resume, really, you know, get a scout 30 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 1: in the league and other leagues, a general manager, a 31 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: club president, you worked in the league office. There's a 32 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: variety of things you can call upon to kind of 33 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: fill that out. You've got had so many varied experiences. Huh, yes, 34 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: it is, and you know I've done you know, you 35 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: can look at it two ways. I've done a lot 36 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: of things during my career. The other thing is I 37 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: couldn't hold a job for very long. Unfortunately it worked 38 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: out okay. And I do have a tremendous breadth of experience. 39 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: In addition to having served for twenty years on the 40 00:01:55,440 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: Competition Committee and heading up the College Relations Committee, I've 41 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: got a wide range of experience that in certainly in 42 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: this day and age, um gives some you know, I 43 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: have some experience that I can share with people, and 44 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: and that's fun. You know, it's always good. And you 45 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:18,399 Speaker 1: can learn from the issues of the past too, none 46 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: of them. Yeah, go ahead, I'm sorry, Go ahead, Bill, 47 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 1: go ahead, Bill. Sorry. Uh, you know, coronavirus is new, 48 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: but we we've also had situations like the lockout of eleven, 49 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: the dearly departed, the replacement season in in eighty seven 50 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: that all, uh, you know, lead back into into some 51 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: of the problems that the NFL's facing now. So I've 52 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: been around long enough that I can speak to those issues. Yeah, 53 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 1: you have been around a long time and going back 54 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: even further than me. So, and I was on a 55 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 1: text loop with all the usual suspects from back in 56 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: those Bills days. They all said to say hello, They 57 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: all have a great deal of affection for you. You 58 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: have got a wealth of experience and a lot of 59 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 1: us are a part of it. What are some of them? 60 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: The way it stands now, the NFL is ever changing, 61 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 1: and that's one of the things that's so popular about it. 62 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: It stays fresh and relevant, and even in this Corona pandemic, 63 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: it's been a little bit the center of attention. Even 64 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: though from guys like Murphy, nothing's going on. They've kind 65 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: of plowed through their off season and not miss a 66 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: b what's been the most interesting aspect of this offseason 67 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: that's been so different? Well, I think the fact that 68 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: they did the draft so well is really a tribute 69 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: to everybody that was involved in that, and especially the 70 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: IT guys who who helped make that work. That was 71 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: an interesting experiment and it worked very well, and I 72 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: think it came at a time when the nation and 73 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: particularly sports fans need a needed a break from the 74 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: bed news. So we got we got a you know, 75 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: a breadth of good news and at this into that 76 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: it was done very well. The other thing is that 77 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: now I think we're we're back to the future. With 78 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: one small exception. When you came into the league, Steve, 79 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 1: we just had mini camps, right, I mean, we didn't 80 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: have off season programs. We started our offseason program with 81 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: the Bills a couple of years after you came so, 82 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: and it certainly weren't OTAs or anything like that. So 83 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: now we're back in that million. With one exception, we've 84 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:37,919 Speaker 1: got virtual meetings going on, and so that's helping the players, 85 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: I think get up to speed. The question will be 86 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: what physical condition are they in? And we had a 87 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: lot of clubs now conducting virtual lifting and conditioning sessions, 88 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: so that's probably a good thing. I'm anxious. I'm going 89 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:55,799 Speaker 1: to be anxious to see when we do come back 90 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: what condition the players are in. But I think that 91 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 1: we'll find out based on the injury rates going forward, 92 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: some really interesting things as to what we should do 93 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: about modifying OTAs. If anything. Now we lose players and 94 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: ots every year, which as a GM used to drive 95 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: me crazy, and when a guy got hurt OTAs and 96 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: that's a needless injury. But yet you know guys did 97 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: every year, So maybe maybe there's a different way to 98 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 1: approach this. And as they say, necessity is always the 99 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: mother of invention. So we'll learn some things from it. 100 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: Live on the Line with Pro Football Hall of Famer 101 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: Bill Polly and his Inside Football with Bill Polly and 102 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: podcast is coming up. Bill. You know what I've never 103 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: talked to you about, I don't think, is how you 104 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 1: got to the Bills. We talked about your varied experience, 105 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: and I know you've done a couple of years as 106 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: a scout with Kansas City, then you went to the 107 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 1: Canadian Football League. But who brought you to the Buffalo Bills? 108 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: Was it Norm Pollam? Was it Terry Bledsoe? The gentleman? 109 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 1: And here what got you to the Buffalo Bills back 110 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 1: in the mid eighties. It was a combination things. It 111 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: was Norm Pollam and Don Lawrence, who was the was 112 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: a defensive coordinator. And I'm a little vague on some 113 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: of the details, to be honest with you. The build 114 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 1: had just hired probably the previous spring. I came in 115 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: in the fall of eighty four. In the previous spring, uh, 116 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 1: they had hired a pro personnel director, the first person 117 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 1: they'd ever had specialized in pro personnel and and so uh, 118 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:40,920 Speaker 1: he apparently suffered a very debilitating back injury that kept 119 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 1: him from working. I think his home was in Illinois 120 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: in place, and he was he was forced to go 121 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: back there and couldn't work any longer. And of course 122 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 1: in those days, mister Wilson had counted every nickel and 123 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 1: and so they were really worried about could they refill 124 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: the position because this gentleman, I guess, was still on disability. 125 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: So they decided to interview for the position. And so 126 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: Norm Pollam called his daughter Devi, who was an administrative 127 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: assistant with the Chicago Blitz of the USFL, and said, 128 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: you know, is there anybody there that might fill the bill? 129 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: And she said, yeah, Bill Pollian, who's our acting GM. 130 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: So that's how my name got put forth. And at 131 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: the same time, Case Stevenson, who was the head coach, 132 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 1: was also searching around for a candidate, and Don Lawrence 133 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: came to him. Don Lawrence and I had worked together 134 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: with the Kansas City Chiefs, and he said, I got 135 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: just a guy for you, Bill Pollion. So they interviewed 136 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: me in I think over the phone. If I'm not mistaken, no, 137 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: I'm sorry. I came into Buffalore for an interview, but 138 00:07:58,120 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: it was kind of sub rosa. We did it at 139 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: McKinley Park in because anyone anybody know that they were 140 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: looking to fill a position. And UH and then along 141 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: about oh the third preseason game the Bills were playing 142 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: in Indianapolis. Of course, I was based in Chicago at 143 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: the time with the with the Blitz and UH and 144 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: UH the President, the president occupant of the White House, 145 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: had decided that the USFL was going to play in 146 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:36,559 Speaker 1: in the fall, and UH and sue the NFL and 147 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: so the USFL was dormant, but still we had just 148 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: been bought by Eddie Irohorn and Jerry Ristoff who owned 149 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: the Chicago Bulls and White Sox. So I was in 150 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 1: the process of trying to get that all set up 151 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: and running. And so they brought me down into the 152 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: interview in Indianapolis, and I spent some time with Kay 153 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: and spent some time with Terry Bloodsoe, the general manager. 154 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 1: And then about a week or so later, they called 155 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: me back and said, what we'd like to hire you, 156 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: and and the salary was considerably less than what I 157 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 1: was making in Chicago with the Blitz, but because it 158 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: was the NFL, obviously, I said to my family, let's 159 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: go and we'll say we'll make it work somewhere or another. 160 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:31,079 Speaker 1: So I got to work in UH in Buffalo, and 161 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: and then was Kay told me, he said, listen, if 162 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: mister Wilson comes around, um, just make yourself scarce because 163 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: he doesn't know we've filled the position. It's amazing, you know. 164 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: What It strikes me also about that story is you're 165 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: a sense into power in Buffalo. I mean, within two 166 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: years you're hiring a head coach who happened to be 167 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 1: a guy you worked with in Kansas City, and what 168 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: do you know. You know, twenty five years later, you're 169 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 1: both in the Hall of Fame. It's pretty amazing story. Well, 170 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: it is an amazing story. And the funny part of 171 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 1: it is that that I laid low for the better 172 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 1: part of about two and a half months because I 173 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: was I was the advanced scout. I was out every 174 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: Sunday scouting the upcoming opponent. And then we had a 175 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:28,079 Speaker 1: Monday night game with the with the Dolphins, and so 176 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:31,959 Speaker 1: I was in the building because I'd gotten back from 177 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: my assignment on Sunday, and I was walking out to 178 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: to go up to the press box before the game, 179 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: and boom, my bump smack dab into mister Wilson. I 180 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 1: didn't know what to say. I introduced myself and he said, 181 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:56,439 Speaker 1: I know who you are. Ty mcgroder told me he'd 182 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: been hired. So he said, I'm not mad at you. 183 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: So that was the start of a beautiful friendship. Well yeah, 184 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: and it went on from there. And not only that, 185 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 1: you're one of the few gut your experience is so vast. 186 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: You were obviously the executive of the Year or the 187 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,439 Speaker 1: buffalo with the Buffalo Bills, you went to you spent 188 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: a year in the league office, then you went to 189 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: Carolina and you built that franchise. What was the difference? 190 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: And I know that you were kind of part of 191 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: the crew that outlined the new rules for expansion franchises 192 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: when Carolina and Jacksonville came in the league, and then 193 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 1: I got a call you on you benefited from those 194 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: rules because two years after you started the Carolina franchise, 195 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: you were in the NFC Championship game. Tell us about 196 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: how you thought how important you thought it was to 197 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: give those franchises a good start compared to the way 198 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: it was beforehand, when it took years and years for 199 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: Tampa Bay to become relevant. Yeah, that's right. Commissioner tagle 200 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: Book and the owners believed that was going to be 201 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: really important for those teams to become reasonably competitive early. 202 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: And in Carolina it was even more important because we 203 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: had to sell PSLs. We're the first team to have 204 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 1: PSLs and it was the only way to fund the stadium, 205 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: so we had to be competitive right away. So I 206 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: sat down with Mike McCormick, who was our team president, 207 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 1: and Dom Capers, who was the head coach, and we said, look, 208 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: we got an opportunity here to build this team through 209 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: free agency that's never been done before because they created 210 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:37,359 Speaker 1: a rule that said that the contracts that you inherited 211 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 1: through the player allocation formula, the veteran player allocation formula, 212 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: would count dollar for dollar, and then the rest was 213 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: free to be spent under the salary cap. However you 214 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: were suspended. I was part of the group that had 215 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 1: negotiated and created the salary cap, so I knew what 216 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: the engine outs were, and so we said, let's take 217 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 1: the lowest possible contracts we can in the expansion Draft 218 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: so that we have the widest possible latitude to sign 219 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: free agents. So that's what we did, and we had 220 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: a team that was constructed basically of really good veteran 221 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: free agents we signed. The first free agent we signed 222 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: was John Casey, the kicker who ended up playing sixteen 223 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:27,199 Speaker 1: years I think. And we populated the defense with really 224 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 1: good veteran players who could play non system, which was 225 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: still you see it with Pittsburgh. It's his own bullet 226 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: stipe system. And we became competitive right away because of 227 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,440 Speaker 1: the defense, and then we built the offense somewhat through 228 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 1: the draft with Kerry Collins and Tamonga, Biakabatuca and Moose 229 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: and Muhammed and some good offensive lineman. But but we 230 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: added Wesley Walls the following year from the New Orleans 231 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 1: Saint Is if Saints is a free agent who who 232 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 1: really put us over the top. And and so the 233 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: second year we went to the NFC Championship game and 234 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: lost to Green Bay, who was the eventual Super Bowl 235 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 1: winner in Green Bay. Um, but there was a flaw 236 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: in the plan which we knew. Many of the players 237 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: that we got were on the back side of their career. 238 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: Is Sam Mills is a prime example. Um. And and 239 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: as as a result, the team was going to have 240 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: to be rebuilt through the draft and management never quite 241 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: ownership never quite got that they wanted to continue that 242 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: that policy. But you but you can't. You can't continually 243 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 1: uh populate your team with free agents because sooner although 244 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 1: you're going to run out of cap money. And that's 245 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: exactly what happened with Bill Polly and Pro Football Hall 246 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: of Famer his Inside Football with Bill Polly and podcast 247 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: is coming up hit Goo. You mentioned your brief stint 248 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: with the NFL and you worked under Paul tagli Boo 249 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: who and some people think it's overdue that he is 250 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: finally now getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 251 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: Tell me about Paul tagli Boo and you're I don't 252 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: know your thoughts on those Hall of Fame credentials. Why 253 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 1: does he belong in the hall? Well, he is long, long, 254 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 1: long overdue. All of the all of the tremendous prosperity 255 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: that the NFL has now, television ratings, record revenues, all 256 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: of the ascension as without questioning, the number one sport 257 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: in America, all of that is due to Paul taglia Boo. 258 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: When he became commissioner, we were at war with the 259 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: Players Association. We had had a disastrous replacement season in 260 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty seven. We had people in power in the 261 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: NFL who were trying to break the players Union, and 262 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: Paul saw that as a prescription for failure, and so 263 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: he came in. He re established himself, was the head 264 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 1: of the NFL Management Council, engaged Gene Upshaw, the head 265 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: of the Players Union, in a four year dialogue to 266 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: try and create a new system to give the players 267 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: free agency, which is one thing that they were absolutely 268 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: would would would not. We lent on uh and and 269 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: they actually were in court and got it in court, 270 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: and through the collective barning process we smoothed it out. 271 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: We put in a salary cap which allowed teams like 272 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: Buffalo to survive. The Buffalo Bills would not be in 273 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: Buffalo today or not for the salary cap. And that's 274 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: one of the reasons he appointed me to the committee 275 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: that tried to or actually did create it, because he 276 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: recognized that the small markets had to have a voice, 277 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: and without a salary cap, the big markets New York, Chicago, 278 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: Los Angeles, with just Miami would just would just gobble 279 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: up all the talent if there was free agency. He 280 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: convinced Jean to do it because he was sincere and honest, 281 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,399 Speaker 1: had been an athlete at Georgetown, a great athlete at Georgetown. 282 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: Jean respected that he spoke an athlete's language. Steve heard 283 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: him speak in front of the team. I mean, he's 284 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: magnificent in that regard. He's one of the smartest people 285 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: I've ever met in my life. But more importantly, I've 286 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 1: met few people and have his integrity. If Paul Tagleybuo 287 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 1: tells you that he's going to do something, he's going 288 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: to do it, you can take it to the bank, 289 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:37,160 Speaker 1: and Jean realized that, and together they worked to create 290 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 1: what would amounted to twenty five years of labor, peace 291 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: and nothing but growth. Sunday Night Football came into being, 292 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:52,400 Speaker 1: we added the Fox Network. All of that would never 293 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: have been possible had we not reached the agreement we 294 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 1: did in nineteen ninety three and created the system that 295 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: still exists today. One of the many things that Paul 296 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: did that speaks to integrity, I'll give you two. One 297 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: that's in the news right now, the Runey rule. That 298 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 1: was brand new. It had never been tried before in sports, 299 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: and despite the fact that we've had some setbacks recently, 300 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: every other sport in the world adopted it. Secondly, we 301 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:29,680 Speaker 1: did almost right out of the box, a steroid policy 302 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: which remains in effect today and which is the gold 303 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 1: standard for steroid policies around the world in every sport. 304 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: And you see what happens in Olympics, you see what 305 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: happens in baseball. We don't have those problems because our 306 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: policy was put together by players and management, Gene and Paul, 307 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 1: and it's never stained our sports. So you know, that's 308 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 1: only the tip of the Iceberg. I could go on 309 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: forever in terms of the things that he did, instant replay, etc. Etc. 310 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 1: But that alone, the Rooney rule alone and it's effect 311 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:16,399 Speaker 1: on sports worldwide, is qualification enough to get him in 312 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: the Hall of Fame. And fortunately he's now made it, 313 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: and I'm looking very much forward whenever it takes place 314 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: to a great celebration and welcoming him to Canton. Aside 315 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: from the obvious, which is the COVID nineteen pandemic, which 316 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 1: sits on the you know, on everybody's doorstep these days, 317 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: what is the front and center issue you think the 318 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: NFL's got to address next? Is it? You know, outside 319 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: of this pandemic and this season that may or may 320 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: not be condensed all of that, but on a larger scale, 321 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 1: if everything was off the table with the pandemic, what's 322 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,120 Speaker 1: the next issue for the NFL that you feel they've 323 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 1: got to address. I think there's two major areas. One 324 00:19:56,000 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 1: is updating the Rooney Rule. In minority hiring. We're essentially 325 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 1: way behind the times and behind the eight ball and 326 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: in hiring minority head coaches, and our record has gone 327 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 1: downhill in the last couple three years, and we need 328 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 1: to improve that, and I'm still serving on a committee 329 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 1: that tries to help that forward, and I think we'll 330 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: make some progress there. And that's true of all places 331 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: that It's true of scouting, it's true of management positions. 332 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: We got to do a better job in terms of 333 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 1: bringing diversity to the four in the National Football League. 334 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:40,160 Speaker 1: And then the other thing is that we need to 335 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:45,640 Speaker 1: use technology and all of the resources that it brings. 336 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:51,959 Speaker 1: That we've seen during this COVID time two injuries. We've 337 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 1: got to do a better job of diagnosing of preventing injuries, 338 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: and I think with the use of technolo anology and 339 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:05,440 Speaker 1: big data, we can do it. And that will do 340 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: more to help players and help the quality the game 341 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: than anything, because, um, you know, the longer you can play, 342 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: the longer you can make good money. And whenever we 343 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:21,200 Speaker 1: have our best players on the field, we put out 344 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: a tremendous product that people absolutely love, So that doing 345 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 1: that makes sense for players and for fans and for 346 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: coaches alike. So that's something that to me would be 347 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: project one if I were even if I were a GM, 348 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:44,640 Speaker 1: I want to get moving on injury prevention. Injury diagnosis 349 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: and prevention quickly. We led the we led the league 350 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: with Rusty Jones and our strength and conditioning program and 351 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:56,359 Speaker 1: the way Marv got our teams ready to play, and 352 00:21:57,680 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 1: part of our success. The reason we want to force 353 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 1: eight Super Bowls was because we managed that so well. 354 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 1: We need to bring that approach and even more science 355 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: to it on a league wide basis. Bill Pully and 356 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:12,920 Speaker 1: his hosted The Inside Football with Bill Polly and podcast. 357 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,399 Speaker 1: And Bill, I understand that the first edition of your 358 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: podcast deals with one of the most meaningful decisions you 359 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: had to make when you were with the Colts, Ryan 360 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: Lee for Peyton Manning. What can you tell us about that? Well, 361 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 1: thank god we picked the right guy number one, no 362 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 1: question about that. I often said, I've been parking cars 363 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: outside look at Royal Stadium if we've made if we 364 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 1: made the wrong choice, I think people will be interested 365 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: in the process. How we started out at ground zero 366 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 1: with a basically a fifty fifty split on the scouting 367 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 1: staff fifty percent Peyton fifty percent Ryan, and then went 368 00:22:55,920 --> 00:23:01,120 Speaker 1: forward to try and arrive at the at the correct decision. 369 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 1: So that the podcast takes the listeners through all of 370 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 1: that process and and explain some of the things that 371 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 1: people I don't think really see about how scouting a 372 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 1: player and making that decision is done. Because what you 373 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:22,679 Speaker 1: to be very basic about it. When you're watching or 374 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: listening to radio and television, you're seeing the analysts rank 375 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 1: the players one through three hundred and thirty six. That's 376 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 1: just the opposite of how we actually do it in 377 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:37,480 Speaker 1: the league. We we rank them by round and by position, 378 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 1: both horizontally and vertically, and so it's a much more 379 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:47,639 Speaker 1: nuanced process than you'll let to believe in television. People 380 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 1: do not rock it up and down the draft boards 381 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 1: as you as you're frequently here during during draft time. 382 00:23:56,200 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: There are no there are late risers, but they don't 383 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 1: rock it up and down the boards, and they don't 384 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 1: come from from nowhere. Uh. Actually, the most the most 385 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,160 Speaker 1: accurate board, and we tested this in Indianapolis with about 386 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 1: twenty five years at data, is the one that the 387 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: scouts put up in December when when the college season ends. 388 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,919 Speaker 1: Are the way the league is structured now, and you 389 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: built the Bills team of the nineties that went to 390 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: four straight Super Bowls and had some at least a 391 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 1: little bit of sustained success, and now you've seen we've 392 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:31,919 Speaker 1: seen new England with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have 393 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 1: twenty years of sustained success. And you've seen now in Buffalo. 394 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:38,159 Speaker 1: I don't know if you've been paying attention, but and 395 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:41,880 Speaker 1: I know you have that Sean McDermott and Brandon Bean 396 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: have started to build something they think they can continue 397 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:47,879 Speaker 1: to be successful with down the road. How difficult is it? 398 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 1: Why don't more Why are not more teams able to 399 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: sustain longevity, long term success like the Patriots and like 400 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:00,920 Speaker 1: those old nineties Bills, teams like even the Dallas Cowboys 401 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: teams of the nineties as well, teams that did it 402 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: from the ground up and then kept it going for 403 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 1: quite some time. How why is it so hard? Well, 404 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 1: the Patriots and ourselves in Indianapolis were, and the Steelers 405 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:19,479 Speaker 1: to a large extent are the exceptions. And the reason 406 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 1: is because we had a distinct we I'm meaning those 407 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: three franchises had a distinct philosophy of how to do 408 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 1: things and a detailed roadmap in terms of how to 409 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: carry out that philosophy. Most teams in the NFL jump 410 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: around from pillar to post. We hired a disciplinary coach, 411 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: a hard nosed guy. Next time we're going to hire 412 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 1: a players coach. These are the hot assistants that are 413 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 1: out there. Let's hire one of those guys. Let's win 414 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:59,359 Speaker 1: the press conference. That's exactly the wrong way to approach it, 415 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 1: and taking nothing away from the Patriots. I've said four 416 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 1: years that Bill Belichick is in a class by himself 417 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 1: and preparing his team and coaching the game on Sunday 418 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: and doing all the things that it takes to build 419 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 1: a winning franchise. But for many of those twenty years, 420 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 1: actually until with a brief run by the Jets for 421 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:25,440 Speaker 1: a couple of years, and then now with Buffalo with 422 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: Sean and Brandon Sending, they really haven't had anybody to 423 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:34,120 Speaker 1: challenge him, so that if you can win the division, 424 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 1: you know you're in pretty good shape playoff wise. Taking 425 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:40,360 Speaker 1: nothing away from them, that's part of it. We were 426 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:43,880 Speaker 1: in the very same boat in Indianapolis in the early years. 427 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:47,640 Speaker 1: Once we've got good, Houston never really challenged us. Only 428 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 1: Tennis Seat did so it was Jacksonville for a while, 429 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 1: but we had a pretty good lock on the division. 430 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 1: And when you can do that, that really helps, really 431 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 1: helps you get into the play offs and get positioning 432 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, which is important. Seating Having said that, 433 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: let's look at the Bills today. They're built with a 434 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:16,880 Speaker 1: very solid philosophical core. One, they're going to play great defense, 435 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 1: very important in any division, but much more important in 436 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:28,679 Speaker 1: the division the Bills are in than many of the others. Secondly, 437 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:32,440 Speaker 1: they're going to be really good taking care of the football. 438 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 1: Third they're going to play with guys that are a 439 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:42,680 Speaker 1: good character, hard working guys that buy into the program, 440 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:46,080 Speaker 1: that do what Sean wants them to do, and they 441 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 1: don't deviate from that blueprint. Sound familiar, It's exactly what 442 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: we did in a good old face. So they're they're 443 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: following the same blueprint. There's a little there's some exces 444 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:01,960 Speaker 1: and ows difference with the defense and with some of 445 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:05,320 Speaker 1: what they're doing on offense. And then, finally, and this 446 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 1: is the question mark that remains for the Bills, the 447 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,920 Speaker 1: quarterback has to take you the rest of the way. 448 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 1: The program and the defense and the running game and 449 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:17,919 Speaker 1: the kind of people you have will get you to 450 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:21,440 Speaker 1: the playoffs. The quarterback has to take you the rest 451 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:24,879 Speaker 1: of the way. And it can be Frank Reich, who's 452 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 1: who's a terrific game manager and a game player and 453 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:32,360 Speaker 1: a guy who uses his head more than his athletic ability. 454 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,480 Speaker 1: Or it can be Jim Kelly, who had everything that 455 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: you want in a quarterback, doesn't have to do isn't 456 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:44,000 Speaker 1: exactly one mold to do it. But when playoff time comes, 457 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 1: the quarterback has to take you the rest of the way. 458 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 1: So hopefully Josh has has learned that lessons not some 459 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 1: experience last year and and and he'll be the better 460 00:28:54,800 --> 00:29:00,120 Speaker 1: for it. Um. But the Bills now are doing it 461 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 1: the right way because they have a philosophy, they have 462 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 1: a blueprint, they're following it. They don't deviate from it. 463 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 1: And you know, Steve, as a player, when you come 464 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:14,480 Speaker 1: to work every day and you know exactly what how 465 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:16,840 Speaker 1: the day is going to unfold, and you know exactly 466 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 1: what's expected of you, you can go and play fast 467 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 1: and play free of anxiety. So as Marv used to say, 468 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 1: a prepared team is a motivated team, and that's absolutely true. 469 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 1: And that's what Sean and his coaching staff do. So, uh, 470 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 1: you know, brighter days are here, but they're even brighter 471 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 1: days ahead, I think for the Bills because they do. 472 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 1: And that's that's the only way to stay on top. 473 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 1: That's the only way to stay on top. You can't 474 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:51,640 Speaker 1: because when you change philosophy, you change players, and you 475 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 1: affect the cap. It starts over again. It's a constant 476 00:29:55,720 --> 00:30:02,080 Speaker 1: rebuild and that never gets anywhere. You just ending your wheels. No, 477 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 1: thanks so much for this, good luck with the podcast. 478 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 1: Please give our best to Eileen and your family and everybody, 479 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:09,680 Speaker 1: and thanks very much. I know Steve wants to say thanks. 480 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: Thank you guys. Great to be with you.