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00:00Today, so practice this morning, we have Tyler Bass. We have seen Tyler Bass, Sal.
00:05Yeah.
00:06Whether you had any particular role in his being sort of returned to society, I don't know.
00:13It was an interesting conversation there a couple of days ago, but he's back. Is there anything else to say?
00:20He said, I know you guys have not seen me kick, but we've been kicking.
00:24So he's aware that we talk about that, I guess, or people have reported that, talked about it.
00:31He first kicked to the kickoff return team.
00:35So they were working special teams.
00:36And instead of using the jugs machine, he kicked.
00:39So it was a kickoff return team.
00:40So it wasn't even the kickoff team.
00:43They were working more of the return.
00:44So he did that.
00:45And then they flipped it around and did field goals.
00:49And they started at like the 33, then it went to the 37, 39.
00:53So if you track it, kind of kept going up, make, make, make, make.
00:57Then he missed one from 43, I believe it was.
01:00And then he made one from 46 and 47.
01:04They missed one from 51.
01:05I think I have that right.
01:06As long as he makes was 46.
01:08Now, some in the media, you may have seen some reports that he went seven for seven.
01:13Where we get to stand, the vantage point is tough to see if it goes through the uprights sometimes.
01:18And there's no official actually saying good or no good.
01:21So some of the media thought he made them all.
01:23I thought he missed two.
01:25I had confirmation from a couple other media members that they believed he missed two.
01:28So we're going with he was five of seven.
01:31He pushed a couple to the right.
01:32But more importantly to me, his leg looked really, really strong.
01:35Like he was even on the misses that makes doesn't matter.
01:39They were high up.
01:39They were they were booming through the uprights.
01:42Any explanation for where he's been?
01:44Like why it's been so secretive or no?
01:47I guess it hasn't been secretive to the team.
01:49They just been keeping them, you know, doing it during their walkthroughs because I think they want to maximize practice
01:54time.
01:55And they'll use that time for that.
01:56Just remember, it's not a live period.
01:58You know, you don't have a true pass rush or I'm sorry, a field goal rush.
02:02I think that the explanation would be found in what Jeff Rogers said, Mike, which is they've kind of just
02:07wanted to wait to get him in like environments will be kicking in.
02:09And, you know, they'll wait.
02:10So I think they've just waited to ramp it up here.
02:12You'll see a more on Saturday in an actual stadium environment.
02:16So I think that's probably it.
02:18But, you know, maybe there's something to just kind of wanting them to, you know, ramping them up a little
02:22bit more.
02:23But he looked fine to me today.
02:24And he is the only kicker on the roster.
02:25And he has been for a while.
02:26The first clip I saw of him kicking, there's this little hop step after.
02:32And I after the kick, right?
02:34Yeah, after the kick.
02:35Like he kicks it and there's like a little and I'm just going to admit I had never noticed that
02:40before.
02:40It's been a while since we've seen him kick.
02:42I mean, it's been a year, right, basically, since we've seen him kick.
02:47So I guess I didn't have his kicking motion, the entirety of it, including the follow through and the steps
02:54afterward.
02:54Distinct kicking motion.
02:55Committed to memory.
02:58So I saw like, oh, that looked a little, is he okay?
03:02That looks weird, right?
03:04That's what I thought.
03:05So I did the thing that you almost never should do.
03:08I went to the comments.
03:09And there was a lot of like, what's, that didn't look right.
03:12What's the hop step?
03:13What's going on there?
03:14And thankfully, an account I follow, boy, I don't remember who now, had a highlight of the 61 yarder against
03:21Miami.
03:22The exact same vantage point as the video of him kicking today at training camp.
03:27And the exact same thing happens after he kicks the ball.
03:30There's like a little half step and a hop as he finishes the kick.
03:34Like, I'm like, oh, he's probably always done that.
03:37I just didn't know.
03:38And like, some people were freaking out, I guess, including me.
03:42I was freaked out enough to want to go in the comments and see.
03:45And then a little later, I saw this quote tweet with, yeah, this is what he does.
03:51What is it for balance?
03:52I don't know.
03:53I don't know either.
03:54I saw it, though, Bulldog.
03:55I saw it.
03:55And it was kind of weird.
03:56I'm like, ooh, did something happen?
03:57The reason I didn't get too worried about it was he kept kicking.
04:02He kept kicking, right?
04:02And then he came to talk to us after, and he was fine.
04:04Right.
04:05So I'm like, all right, well, obviously, nothing's wrong there.
04:06But it did seem weird.
04:07I just thought maybe he kind of just slipped on the follow through.
04:10But you're right.
04:11Matt Bovay and I just recorded an episode of It's Always Game Day in Buffalo, and he brought
04:14up the same thing you did, which is someone found the Miami kick, and he did it the same
04:18thing.
04:18So, yeah, I didn't really remember him doing that.
04:21You know, the operation with a new holder, Tommy Doman.
04:24Now he has an old holder, if you will.
04:25Well, Mitch Wisnowski, a holdover holder.
04:28But I'm going to anticipate Tommy Doman as the team's punter after drafting him.
04:32So that's got to be buttoned up.
04:34And, you know, he talked about, you know, working with Tommy and obviously Reed.
04:37So seems like things are trending well here for Tyler Bass.
04:41By the way, if you draft a punter in any round, doesn't he have to make the team?
04:46Is that kind of what you're thinking, too?
04:47That if you're going to, if you don't, if you cut the guy after drafting a punter, it
04:52sort of looks bad.
04:52You almost have to go forward with him just to see?
04:56Yes or no?
04:58I think that's the case.
04:59Now, obviously, we had the Matt Ariza situation a few years ago.
05:02Well, yeah, that's different.
05:03And they did draft him.
05:03That's different.
05:04But right.
05:04But I think that normally the guy is going to make the team.
05:07You invested something in him.
05:10I'm sure there's been instances where that's not the case, a kicker or a punter.
05:12I think kickers have been drafted and didn't make the team.
05:14But when you have that investment, yeah, I think that's the case.
05:18Greg Torlone is who I want to give credit to for the Miami video.
05:22And I think he works for the team.
05:24I think his Twitter avatar is him standing with one of the, I think he's one of the flag
05:29wavers in the end zone.
05:30Yeah, he runs out with the flag after they score points.
05:35I don't know how I came to be following him.
05:37Probably for stuff like this.
05:39I feel like he's been helpful before.
05:41I know Greg.
05:41I've seen the name and I'm like, okay.
05:43And that's who had the.
05:44But he's also a DJ, by the way, like weddings and stuff that I've seen.
05:48All right.
05:48So are we done?
05:49Shout out to Greg.
05:49There you go.
05:49Are we done with kickers for now then?
05:52It's all over.
05:53He's fine.
05:53The drama is behind us.
05:55If he starts missing a lot, then maybe we'll.
05:57Until he starts missing.
05:58But look, I will say this.
05:59Bulldog said people were freaking out about that.
06:01I mean, a lot of people still were.
06:02I can't believe he missed two of them.
06:04I mean, you know.
06:05Right.
06:05That's what you get there too.
06:06I'm not as concerned about that.
06:07I think the leg looked healthy and strong.
06:09That's what I'm concerned about.
06:10All right.
06:11Sal Capaccio with us.
06:13Bills on the field today.
06:14Then there's tomorrow.
06:15And then they're in Orchard Park Saturday.
06:18And it's bye bye Fisher after tomorrow.
06:20Right, Sal?
06:21Yep.
06:21That's it.
06:22One day left at St. John Fisher.
06:23Back tomorrow to the return of the red and blue at 7 p.m.
06:26And then that's it.
06:27Then they stay in Buffalo.
06:28And then the following week.
06:29Then the week leads up to the preseason game.
06:31Then the following week they're in Cleveland for joint practice.
06:34All right.
06:34Next week, Orchard Park.
06:36Following week, Cleveland.
06:38Got it.
06:38And maybe the big news, the most interesting thing that happened there today, maybe with
06:45C.J. Gardner-Johnson talking, he was back.
06:48And practicing.
06:50Right.
06:50That's also news after the scare from last weekend with the lower calf strain.
06:56But, man, he went in on the Texans to a degree, Sal.
07:02Yeah.
07:02So, let me set up the situation.
07:03And, first of all, talk about the fact that him practicing today was very, very notable
07:09and a big deal.
07:10I mean, he had just gone through that injury scare on Saturday, guys.
07:13I mean, that was, is he, you know, is it Achilles done for the year?
07:16Oh, my God.
07:16Right?
07:17People wondering.
07:17And then we learned that it was avoided worst case, reported as a calf strain.
07:22And then he's out with trainers for a couple of days.
07:26He was back today.
07:26He was 11 on 11.
07:27He was full go.
07:28He was everything.
07:29I got some video from him, you know, on social.
07:30People can watch during individual.
07:32So, that was really great news.
07:34So, of course, we'd like to talk to him in the media after his first day back.
07:39He comes over to talk.
07:40And he did check with PR.
07:41Tim Graham made a great point on his show with Brad.
07:45He said a lot of times if guys are, you know, still nursing injuries, you know, PR kind
07:48of keeps them back.
07:49You don't want to say anything you shouldn't say.
07:51So, PR keeps them back.
07:52And I saw CJ look over to Bill's PR and go, hey, you know, they want to talk.
07:57And they're like, yep, go ahead.
07:57So, he comes over and he talks.
08:00So, he starts talking about playing.
08:02Well, I will tell you guys that I had talked to people in other markets where he had played
08:07before.
08:08And last year he played in Houston.
08:09And he was released really early in the season.
08:11And I've talked to people in Houston who basically said, yeah, like he kind of did his
08:14own thing.
08:15Like just was kind of freelancing a little bit.
08:17Didn't work out.
08:19They were not happy with it.
08:21It did not end well for him there from their side, from the Texan side, from what I understand.
08:26So, just dawned on me.
08:27Oh, boy.
08:28He's going back to Houston here for week one.
08:30What's that going to be like?
08:31So, I said, are you looking forward to going back in Houston where maybe it didn't end the
08:34way you wanted it to?
08:36And then he just started really kind of going in on, as you say, Houston.
08:41In fact, he first said, nothing, you know, I'm not going to talk about the coaching staff
08:45or the front office, but the players are really good there.
08:47And he stopped.
08:48Another question happens.
08:49And in mid-question, he looked at me and said, man, now you got me talking about the
08:54Texans and I'm pissed off.
08:56And I'm like, okay, is that a good thing?
08:58He said, it's a great thing.
08:59I'm like, do you want to talk about it?
09:01He said, well, I don't know.
09:02What's the real story?
09:02We can talk about that.
09:03I said, well, let's talk about it then.
09:05I mean, it was a really interesting.
09:07And he basically said, it's lies.
09:09It's BS.
09:10What happened?
09:10I said, what happened?
09:11He said, they told him that he didn't gel with the team.
09:15And he said, but they were 0-3.
09:17After that Jags game, they released them.
09:18They're 0-3.
09:18So, how's it supposed to be on one guy?
09:20At the end of the day, at the end of the conversation, it came down to, he felt very
09:23disrespected about how they communicated with him or didn't communicate with him.
09:27A five-second phone call and did not appreciate it.
09:30And he's not happy about it.
09:32And he's, you know, willing to talk about it.
09:35Yeah.
09:36Houston did start 0-3 last year.
09:39He was released.
09:40They ended up, what, 12-5?
09:42So, pretty good turnaround.
09:45Gardner Johnson is on, if you count Philadelphia twice, because he's had two different stints
09:49there.
09:49He's on his seventh team in five years.
09:52Eight if you count practice squad with the Ravens last year.
09:55Okay.
09:56So, that too.
09:58You know, what is it about him that, is it, was it on display today in this conversation?
10:03Like, what is it about Gardner Johnson?
10:05Maybe it's just on the field.
10:06I don't know.
10:07But he's had good stats, you know, interceptions.
10:10He's had good seasons by the numbers.
10:12What is it about him that people don't like, if I can put it that way?
10:15Well, I would say, first of all, I would direct people to a much more in-depth conversation
10:20he had with Tim Graham back in minicamp, I believe it was.
10:23And Tim wrote about this, and he went really in-depth.
10:25And he said a lot more about Houston and the Texans.
10:27And if you want to get even more into detail about, like, what went down there, what he
10:31felt about it, Tim Graham did an excellent piece.
10:33And he asked the same question Tim did.
10:35Like, why have you been, you know, with all these teams?
10:37So, here's my read of everything from me watching him.
10:41And I think that today was a good window into this, which is, C.J.
10:45Gardner-Johnson has a very certain type of edge about him that I think you guys can see
10:49and understand.
10:50He is a really excellent football player.
10:53But that certain edge and type of player can really wear on you as an organization, as
10:57a locker room, especially if maybe things aren't going great.
11:00But he's been on, you know, you go back in his career, Mike, you talk about the teams
11:04he's been on.
11:05Every team he's been on, everywhere.
11:07Like, if he was just there for a second, they all had a winning record.
11:099-8 is the worst record he's ever had on a team.
11:12He went to two Super Bowls.
11:13He's won one.
11:14So, he's helped teams win.
11:15But, man, the Eagles had him.
11:17And they're like, yeah, we got to a Super Bowl, but we don't want this guy on our team
11:21anymore.
11:21Guess what?
11:22They realized they couldn't live without him.
11:23They brought him back.
11:24And then he won a Super Bowl.
11:25And they said, yeah, we don't want him again.
11:26So, to me, it feels a little bit like a Stefan Diggs type of situation where, why does
11:31Stefan Diggs go from team to team?
11:33He has this personality that wears on you.
11:35And after a while, you're like, man, I just, like, I've kind of had enough of it.
11:39But, man, you love when he's on your team.
11:41He gives you an edge.
11:42He's a really good football player.
11:45And it's just a super interesting dynamic.
11:47Diggs now on his fourth team in four years.
11:50Yeah.
11:50Bills, Houston, New England, and Washington.
11:52I wonder if it's just like he's, he, he, I think there might be a window into him from
11:59what occurred with you guys today.
12:01Like, he might just be a guy who's got a real pretty sturdy idea of how everything should
12:11be.
12:12And if anything isn't the way that he thinks it should be, he's probably not going to be
12:19shy about letting you know.
12:20Uh-oh.
12:20Right?
12:21Like, if, if, if that's teammates, if that's coaches, if that's the cafeteria, like, who
12:26knows what.
12:27Right?
12:28But just like, he's got, he just can't keep it in.
12:32Like, why is this like this?
12:34I, I, I am ashamed.
12:36I, I can be this way about certain things.
12:38And I, I, I, I've gotten better as I've gotten older, but I wish I would have been better
12:44at it 20 years ago when my kids were little, um, because I, I, my, my, my, just, why is
12:50this here?
12:50Why is it?
12:51And I, I don't know, but, but that seems to me like in his head, he can't really rectify
12:58something that's so obviously wrong being wrong.
13:02I have a feeling.
13:03And, and like that, I think can wear people out.
13:05So, and I think, and I think to that point, one thing I've heard about him and his style
13:10and his play at various places he's been is he can freelance a little too much and maybe
13:15play out of structure, but I'll tell you this guys, the further away from the ball, that
13:20guy is the better he is sometimes because he can freelance and he can go get the ball.
13:23Like, you know what I mean?
13:24Like if you're, if you just put them in center field and say, go get interceptions, that's
13:28what he does best.
13:29And I think that's, he knows that that's what he does best.
13:32So being on a team that will allow him to do that, I think it'd be great, but he also
13:38signs one year deals, right?
13:39Because teams are like, okay, we're going to bring this guy in and then we're going to
13:41see how it goes.
13:42And to that point, you know, he signed a one year deal.
13:45He has this injury from Saturday.
13:47Sometimes guys would just like, yeah, and I'm not going back out there for a couple of weeks.
13:50Right.
13:50I mean, he was out there today.
13:51Right.
13:52He loves football.
13:53He exudes football.
13:54That's the one thing about CJ.
13:55I will tell you that no doubt I've learned here, you know, getting to cover him for the last few
13:59months, you can say all you want about his boisterousness, his attitude, the way he talks.
14:06That guy loves football.
14:07He wants to play football.
14:08He wants to make plays.
14:10Gardner Johnson out of Florida came in with the saints and has bounced around.
14:13I was sort of cringing during Bulldog's, you know, analysis because I am that way.
14:21And I think there is a, just if I may, there is the, another side to that coin because you
14:27do damage sometimes to relationships and you make your life more complicated by speaking up.
14:32But then if you, you know, to soften that and to get along better as you get older, you
14:37stop doing that.
14:38But it eats me up inside because I know I'm right.
14:42I mean, sometimes at least.
14:45And to not say it just because you want an easier ride is very frustrating and depressing
14:50too.
14:50There's no winning.
14:51It's just, it's just a, it's a, it's a curse.
14:54Yeah.
14:54I'm just taking a shot at it.
14:55I mean, I have no idea if I'm correct about him, but about him, you know, it's true about
14:59yourself.
14:59It's definitely true of me.
15:01Can I make one more point about this?
15:02Sure.
15:02The other day, Dion Dawkins said, when everything happened with CJ, we asked him about Dion and Dion
15:07said, he's the teammate I never knew I needed.
15:10And what do you mean by that?
15:12He's like, he, he shows you that you're, you can be expressive and be yourself.
15:17And Dion wants to be that way.
15:18And we know Dion can be that way.
15:19So I just find it interesting, the dynamic that he brings to this football team.
15:23My mind is racing.
15:24I was, I was out in Chicago with a friend who used to be in restaurants and I love how
15:29sort of matter of fact, he was never rude or unfriendly.
15:32He was just sort of direct with the servers, you know, like I want this, you know, like they
15:37say on that progressive ad there, you don't have to be their friend, just, you know, you
15:39don't have to say your name or anything like that.
15:41But you know, you go to a restaurant, like, can I have a glass of water, please?
15:44And the waiter will say, no problem.
15:46And be like, well, why, why would it have been a problem?
15:49I mean, you're, you work here.
15:50Could you please bring me?
15:51I just, it's a very, very strange, dark area.
15:55You have a problem with no problem.
15:56I have a problem with no problem.
15:57I have a problem with a lot of things.
16:00Sal, yesterday, seeing pictures of, I guess, the old stadium, we'll call it that now, in
16:07rubble, we talked about some of our favorite memories there and just kind of like kicking
16:13the feet up, lit a cigar, talking about, you know, the old days.
16:16Do you have, if you would, I'm sure you do, you have probably many, but maybe once as a
16:23child or a teenager or something, and then maybe once as a professional, a couple of
16:27memories that you think you might never forget of the place?
16:31Yeah, I mean, I think as a fan, it's 51 to three more than anything, you know, just being
16:37in that stadium for that moment in senior in high school, being with so many people celebrating
16:42going to the Super Bowl, 41 to three at halftime.
16:44That's been incredible.
16:46You know, for me, I mean, I got a chance to play there, guys.
16:49I had an interception at the stadium in high school and walking out of the tunnel as a
16:53player, like, you know, I didn't know that 25 years later, or 30 years later, whatever
16:57it is, that I'd be walking out of the tunnel as a media member and professional and covering
17:02the Buffalo Bills, but when you do that for the first time, you're like, oh my God, this
17:07is so cool, and I will tell you back then, yeah, I do, my memories of the turf, you guys
17:11know that turf was like concrete back then, right?
17:14And like, you know, getting like just bruised and scraped up and bloody just playing on it,
17:19the crown was so large and things like that.
17:22And then, you know, I think later on, some of my memories just being on the field and
17:26what I will always take away, and this will not change in the new stadium really, is being
17:31so close to the action.
17:32You know, as a sideline reporter the last 12 years, you go to all these different stadiums
17:35and that stadium, everybody's just so close to you.
17:37And we know the new stadium's like that.
17:39We know the way it's pitched and everybody even up top is going to be a little bit higher.
17:42But like, you know, that fight that happened with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Bills,
17:45like being right in the mix of that, because there's nowhere to go.
17:47You have no escape when you're there.
17:50And being so close on that field to the fans and the game is different than most stadiums.
17:56Yeah.
17:56If you wanted to get further away from that fight, you would have had to go on the field,
18:00the actual field of play, right?
18:01That's right.
18:02Like within the white lines, right?
18:03Because it was just so compacted.
18:06Yeah.
18:07Is it jarring to you that it came down so fast?
18:10Yeah.
18:10Like I watched that entire, you mentioned when we visited on Tuesday that you and Matt
18:15were going to talk to Pete Goeli.
18:17I watched that Tuesday night as soon as you posted it.
18:20Or maybe even I was watching it live.
18:22I don't know.
18:22I didn't finish it live.
18:23I know I had to pause it, but.
18:25We recorded it, so it wasn't live.
18:26It's all good.
18:26There was so much good information in there.
18:29But him talking about how they were, I think, obligated, he said, contractually to have
18:35the stadium down by March of 27.
18:37Nothing.
18:38And like, I mean, I know it's not shovel ready.
18:41I mean, they still got to get all the debris out of there and clean the site and make it
18:44shovel ready.
18:45But I didn't expect it to be.
18:48I wondered, I said on the air yesterday, I wonder if fans were expecting to still be
18:53looking at it from across the street when they went like they were looking at the new
18:56place last year.
18:57Whoops.
18:58But gone.
19:00I think what's happening here, my read of it, listening to Pete talk, and thank you for
19:04that.
19:04Pete, great conversation on a lot of things, and people can check that out on the Always
19:08Gamed podcast.
19:09I would highly encourage them to do it.
19:10I got a lot of information out of that hour-long conversation.
19:14I appreciate it.
19:15Yeah, it was an hour-long with the Bills and Sabres president.
19:17My guess is they have some real ideas of what they want to do with that space, and they
19:23want to get on getting on.
19:25You know what I mean?
19:25Like, it was before, like, yeah, we're going to figure out what we want to do, so let's
19:29get it down by March of 27.
19:31By then we'll have an idea.
19:32I think they have ideas.
19:34Listening to Pete talk, I think they want to get on with it so they can start doing
19:37something over there.
19:39Bulldog said it all the other day.
19:41Construction is always behind schedule.
19:43Demolition is always ahead.
19:45You know?
19:46It's true.
19:47Yeah.
19:48I definitely think that's right, Sal.
19:49I mean, if they want to get in line for an NFL draft, they, I think, and I know Pete
19:55talked about downtown and, like, using Canal Side and the arena as part of that, and maybe
20:01even Niagara Falls and, like, having this incredibly varied footprint for an event like the NFL
20:06draft.
20:07You're going to need support, you know, just infrastructure, rest, just places for people
20:13to go and gather that are not just the stadium.
20:18Like, any of these places that are holding the draft have got, like, big, big spaces for
20:23that.
20:24Yeah, and Canal Side, you know, is something that's been talked about for sure across the
20:28street from the stadium.
20:29Whatever is there, they're going to have to think about.
20:31And then you have parking issues, too, which you have to start, you know, thinking about
20:34with the new stadium.
20:35So we're going to see for the first time on Saturday with a pretty packed house, I think,
20:40people showing up and how all this is going to start to work with the ingress and the egress
20:44and the parking.
20:44And, you know, we're going to have a lot more conversations about that, and I'm sure
20:47that they're going to start adjusting things after that, as they've done in the past with
20:49these types of events.
20:51Thank you, Sal.
20:52One more tomorrow.
20:52We'll talk then.
20:54You got it, guys.
20:54Thanks.
20:55That's Sal Capaccio on...
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