Go Long

Jordan Poyer was in a very dark place.

Jordan Poyer got to the other side.

Last season, the longtime Buffalo Bills safety opened up on it all. Alcohol addiction. Pain pills. A teammate nearly dying on the field. Countless injuries. Playoff heartbreak. All of it took a debilitating toll on Poyer. Yet, he plowed ahead at one speed because that’s all he knows.

He was able to survive — and thrive — by getting in touch with mind, body and soul.

You leave a conversation with Poyer determined to change your own life. A trip to Costa Rica for an ayahuasca retreat may be difficult to pull off, but breathwork is right at the tip of our fingers. Poyer teamed up with Christopher August, a revolutionary in the wellness and breathwork space. August is the founder of Beats and Breath and runs the excellent Substack, The Way of Mastery. I’ve gotten into Beats and Breath myself and cannot advocate for the app enough. It’s fantastic.

We thought it’d be a great idea to continue the conversation at the Go Long Podcast.

The art of something so simple — breathing — can change your life.

As the season closes in, NFL teams should pay attention, too.

Take it from August:

“I’m going to make a bold statement. I told Jordan this, and this is why we came together. I said the first team to adopt this as a practice, the first team to actually come together and breathe together — coaches including players — they’re going to be the ones that win it all. And I don’t care what type of team it is, whether it’s an NFL team, an NBA team, MLB team, a college team, it doesn’t matter.”

The margin for error is so exceptionally minuscule. We see it each January.

This could be the difference for a team on the cusp.

Both Buffalonians hope Joe Brady and the 2026 Buffalo Bills are paying attention.

Hope you all enjoy this one. What a fun ride this chat was, from August reliving the time he died and came back to life (seriously) to why Poyer sees himself as a future NFL head coach. You’ll learn more about the Bills’ excellent sports science department, too.

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Download Beats and Breath here if you’d like. August combines breathing techniques with various beats that slip you into a calming state of zen.

For Go Long readers/listeners, he also passed along this track from the app that’s narrated by Poyer. Close your eyes and give it a try any time you’d like:

“Inner Edge,” with Jordan Poyer

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ICYMI:

Jordan Poyer’s Last Stand

2026 Season Preview Features to date:

The Kyler Murray Project, Part I: Liberated

The Kyler Murray Project, Part II: The Great Unknown

‘We will be the best offensive line in football:’ Q&A with Alec Anderson, Buffalo Bills enforcer

‘Who’s going to take this yard?’ The Arrival of Eric Wilson

Jordyn Brooks is the captain now

Dregs to Domination: The Aaron Brewer Blueprint

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

This is the year Joe Burrow stays healthy and his defense isn’t steaming-hot junk.

It’s got to be.

Finally.

Right?

Right!?!

Hotdiggity did Burrow’s somber press conference on his 29th birthday harken back to Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement. He looked and sounded defeated. Now, Joe Cool is completely rejuvenated — and for good reason. Cincinnati busted out the checkbook and got itself a defense this offseason. Boye Mafe. Bryan Cook. Dexter Lawrence. Unlike summers past, the vibes are damn good.

So, let’s get our pal Paul Dehner Jr. on the horn. A recurring guest on the Go Long Podcast, Paul is the exceptional Bengals beat writer at The Athletic and the host of The Growler podcast. This past week, he authored a viral must-read on the darling of Bengals training camp: wide receiver Dohnte Meyers. (It’s worth your time.)

We’ve had fun tracking the Burrow Era at Go Long ourselves. From the Villains on D to the “Son of Zeus” to vets like Tyler Boyd, Chidobe Awuzie and DJ Reader, and future NFL head coach Dan Pitcher.

Confidence — into 2026 — is soaring for the Bengals, as we learn.

Paul helps us get inside the mind of Burrow and set the scene for what could be a championship season.

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Thank you, all.

2026 Season Preview Features to date:

The Kyler Murray Project, Part I: Liberated

The Kyler Murray Project, Part II: The Great Unknown

‘We will be the best offensive line in football:’ Q&A with Alec Anderson, Buffalo Bills enforcer

‘Who’s going to take this yard?’ The Arrival of Eric Wilson

Jordyn Brooks is the captain now

Dregs to Domination: The Aaron Brewer Blueprint

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

As camps grind into the heat of training camp, let’s hit record.

* There’s a new QB1 in Minnesota. We examined this union in full at Go Long with The Kyler Murray Project — here’s Part I and Part II for subscribers. A ton to unpack. We study what led to this all and where it’s going.

* Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams enter Year 2 together, and the Bears coach is talking a big game. Can this offense light it up? They may need to with a big injury hitting the defense.

* The heat should be on Matt LaFleur to get it done in his eighth year as the Packers head coach. Brian Gutekunst has done his part. The roster’s ready.

* Then, there’s the Detroit Lions. It’s been all business for Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell.

On Real Football with co-host Jim Monos — our longtime NFL scout/exec — we analyze it all in full.

Video and audio is above.

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It’s a perfect time to upgrade with our 2026 Season Preview features in full swing.

The Kyler Murray Project, Part I: Liberated

The Kyler Murray Project, Part II: The Great Unknown

‘Who’s going to take this yard?’ The Arrival of Eric Wilson

Jordyn Brooks is the captain now

Dregs to Domination: The Aaron Brewer Blueprint

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

Good morn!

Hey, it’s Kyler Time. The Minnesota Vikings announced this week that Kyler Murray is their starting quarterback.

At Go Long, I’ve spent much of this summer reporting on the new union, speaking to sources in Minnesota, Arizona and ‘round the NFL. The Kyler Project, a two-part series, is live for paid subscribers. Part I takes a close look at Michael Bidwill, Marvin Harrison Jr. and all grime in Arizona, as well as J.J. McCarthy. Where did things go wrong for the QB selected to be the franchise guy in ‘24? Teammates had much to say.

Keep an eye out for Part II this morning. We gaze into the crystal ball to see how Murray will perform this season.

Here on the Go Long Podcast, it was a perfect time to dial up my good friend Conor Orr at Sports Illustrated. He penned this column when the news broke. Nobody’s better at sharpening opinions in real time when news breaks in pro football.

Can Murray vault the Vikings into contention?

We discuss, debate and try to drive the conversation further. (With a hearty amount of Dad Talk at the top of the episode.)

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Our aim, always, is to bring you behind the curtain.

Thanks, all.

2026 Season Preview Features to date…

The Kyler Murray Project, Part I: Liberated

The Kyler Murray Project, Part II: The Great Unknown

‘Who’s going to take this yard?’ The Arrival of Eric Wilson

Jordyn Brooks is the captain now

Dregs to Domination: The Aaron Brewer Blueprint

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

Greetings, all. We’ve got substantive football to gnaw our teeth into on the pod. What a beautiful thing.

A perfect time to welcome in co-host Jim Monos for another episode of Real Football.

We hit on several training camps.

A few topics discussed…

* DJ Moore has been dynamite at St. John Fisher for the Buffalo Bills. What does it mean? Will it last? Go Long chatted 1 on 1 with Moore at camp.

* New Orleans Saints. Our pal Monos won a Super Bowl ring with this team in 2009 as the southeast scout. He’s digging the rebuild.

* Bryce Young. If it hasn’t happened by now, will it?

* Aaron Rodgers went scorched earth on McAfee. He also reconciled with his family. Let’s check in on the complicated fella and the Steelers’ prospects.

* Why Baltimore is a sneaky contender. (Hint: Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry remain aliens.)

* Arizona may go 0-17. Save Jeremiyah Love.

* Which starting quarterback in 2026 is destined for Backup Quarterback Island in 2027?

As a reminder, your ears will never be filled with ads on our podcasts.

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Thanks, all.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

We’re campin.’

First up: St. John Fisher University.

Joe Brady is the new head coach of the Buffalo Bills. We’ve learned all about his rise and his vision. Now, it’s time to see how he’ll lead a team diehards expect to make the Super Bowl. Hard to imagine a coach in recent NFL history who has faced pressure to this extreme. And to his credit, Brady has not shied from the heat one bit.

After practice on Monday, I caught up with our friend Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News. Video and audio is above.

A few topics covered…

* New direction on defense. What are the potential challenges facing new DC Jim Leonhard? Why will this shift to more chaos, more confusion be different than the Rex Ryan Days (Daze)? Brady made an important distinction today.

* Sean McDermott is out. Brady is in. We’re already seeing major differences between the two.

* Why Brady is more than a “fun uncle.” Alec Anderson’s quote was chum for those view Brady as a yes man. There is a happy medium the 36-year-old head coach can strike.

* You heard from Josh Allen. He doesn’t want to go down as the best who never won it. He’ll certainly want to make amends for a playoff loss to forget. What’s going on in his mind ahead of this season?

* The QB-HC relationship must be right for any team to win. (I don’t think the new coach will cuss out his quarterback for building a house.)

Thank you for watching, listening and sharing.

You won’t hear one ad on our podcasts and it’s only possible because of you.

Let’s keep growing our community into this season:

ICYMI:

* ‘Who’s going to take this yard?’ The Arrival of Eric Wilson

* Jordyn Brooks is the captain now

* Dregs to Domination: The Aaron Brewer Blueprint

Other pod links:

* Apple

* Spotify

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

Football’s back, y’all.

A beautiful thing.

On the podcast, I catch up with the Green Bay Packers’ all-time leading rusher: Ahman Green. The episode’s off ‘n running with Green detailing life post-NFL. He’s doing everything in his power to maintain a healthy lifestyle — and for good reason. Green opens up on a new opponent that could prove more daunting than anything he experienced on the field: Parkinson’s. But he’s not scared.

Of course, we also look back to his fondest Packers memories. Green had six 1,000-yard rushing seasons in Green Bay. In 2003, he eclipsed 2K scrimmage yards. What made this possible? Readers of our Dolphins piece last Friday will notice a theme. He points, first, to those relationships with his offensive line.

Green didn’t mince words on Matt LaFleur and his former team when we chatted on radio row at the Super Bowl. Now that the offseason has passed, what does he think of the Packers’ prospects in 2026? There’s one player he particularly loves to watch.

Video and audio is above.

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New here? Become a paid subscriber at Go Long to access all of our exclusive longform coverage. Our No. 1 goal is to take you behind the curtain. Have a thought? Email me any time at [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

A few days ago, I received a text from Chad Brown. He read our column on the wide receiver matrix and had thoughts on the topic from his playing days. After going back ‘n forth for a while, we decided to hit record on a podcast.

Love welcoming back one of the most underrated players of the late 1990s/early 2000s.

Brown is always insightful and introspective.

On this episode, we get into plenty:

* Tom Brady’s mid-life crisis. This is getting weird and sad.

* Wide Receiver drama. There were no such divas back on his Steelers teams, but how would Brown navigate this matrix as a GM today?

* John Schneider’s mastery. He wrote the Seahawks GM a letter.

* His love for snakes. Brown didn’t sprint the other direction when a python sank its teeth into his arm. Be sure to catch Shannon Sharpe’s legendary trash talk. He knew Brown loved reptiles and didn’t hold back one Seattle-Denver game.

* Seahawks’ repeat efforts. What impressed Brown most about last year’s run?

* State of the Steelers. What is Omar Khan’s long-term plan?

* Why he loves the L.A. Rams’ title odds. He sees those multi-TE sets ruling again.

Video and audio of this week’s chat is above. Also be sure to hit subscribe, comment rate and review over on our channels over at Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler, played 15 seasons in all with 1,091 career tackles, 79 sacks, 19 forced fumbles, 15 fumble recoveries and six interceptions. He was a key piece on the epic “Blitzburgh” defenses of the 90s, starred for the Seahawks and capped his career off with the 2007 Patriots team that nearly went undefeated.

Today, he’s one of the sharpest analysts going. You can catch him on ESPN Radio and calling college/pro games on the Compass Media Network. His X handle is @chadbrown94.

We’ve previously chatted with Brown for this story on the history/aura of the Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker. And then again, for a (very) deep conversation on the state of football in 2023 — words and pod.

Thanks, all!

ICYMI:

* Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the hunt for heart

* Our 2026 Quarterback Draft

* Dregs to Domination: The Aaron Brewer Blueprint

* The Wide Receiver Matrix

* Real Football: Brian Westbrook on defying the odds, McNabb-TO, Hurts-AJB & timeless Philadelphia Eagles memories

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

Hey, I see it’s quarterback ranking season.

They’re populating the interwebs everywhere.

A perfect time to reprise the Quarterback Draft on Real Football. Subscribers may recall co-host Jim Monos and myself bringing in our pal Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic to draft QBs a few years back.

Let’s get the band back together.

Full video and audio is available above for paid subscribers.

There’s no perfect way to grade quarterback success, but we’ll use the QBR stat that takes multiple factors into account. Each of us select six quarterbacks via snake draft. At the end of the season, we’ll each take the five best scores of those six for a grand total. Winner gets a free dinner of their choosing from the other two.

Fairburn might’ve taken the crown in 2023. But for what it’s worth, I’m already booking my reservation at West Rose in Ellicottville, NY.

Monos of course scouted for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and served as the director of personnel for the Buffalo Bills. Fairburn has covered both the NFL and NHL for The Athletic. Good chance you’ve read his excellent Sabres coverage this past season right through the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He’s still keeping a close eye on the NFL, too.

Let us know who you think assembled the best crew in the comments.

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On our free list? Upgrade to a paid membership today for the full episode.

Our 2026 NFL Season Preview Features are underway. First up, a profile of Dolphins center Aaron Brewer. Much more on tap. We’d love to have you join our community today.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

His NFL life can now be told in two acts.

Eric Wood was the starting center the Buffalo Bills’ starting center for nine years. He helped end the 17-year playoff drought his final season.

Eric Wood has also now covered the team as a radio color commentator/podcaster/analyst the same amount of time. He’s the host of Centered On Buffalo and calls games on the radio broadcast.

This week’s Happy Hour podcast consists of a little bit of everything. Wood looks back to Drought memories and looks ahead to how these 2026 Bills get over the Super Bowl hump with new head coach Joe Brady. A ton of insight on all fronts.

As noted, we’re bringing back virtual Happy Hours this 2026 NFL season to give you the opportunity to ask players (and media members) anything you’d like. Is there someone you want to hang out with this year? Let me know at [email protected].

Video and audio of our conversation with Wood is above.

New here? Upgrade to join all live Happy Hours.

Topics this episode include…

* Life with Rex Ryan. There was so much hope and hype. Why did things turn south?

* Aaron Kromer. He wishes they had more time together.

* Rex’s defense was all about chaos and confusion. The sort of stuff Bills DC Jim Leonhard desires a decade later. Thing is, players hated Rex’s scheme in 2015 anf 2016. We explore the key differences between then and now, and how the Bills get the 3-4 right this time around.

* Alec Anderson. He’s the new guy starting full time on the line. Is he ready?

* The NFL went heavy in 2025 — the Bills, like the LA Rams, enjoyed 3-TE sets — but what is the next counterpunch for the NFL’s best offenses? More spread?

* WR screens drove locals batty. Wood offers thoughts on this play. Big picture, Wood points out something we did back when Brady was hired. The playcaller was often following orders in crafting conservative, keepaway gameplans vs. elite QBs. We’ll see what changes now.

* Joe Brady’s “they have to play us” mentality. The new coach detailed in full to Go Long.

* Was Wood shocked by Sean McDermott’s firing?

* As a young player, Wood suffered a compound fracture of his tibia and fibula. The injury set a tone for his entire career.

* What was Terrell Owens like as a teammate? They played together Wood’s rookie season.

* Why you’ve always got to be careful who you pay — he witnessed the effect with Marcell Dareus. Motivation matters.

* My “Real Football” co-host Jim Monos often points out that offensive line play is overrated. Let’s get Wood’s take.

Thanks, all.

Keep an eye out for our first season preview feature this coming Friday.

In the meantime, here are a few recent links to pieces if you missed anything.

Be sure to share Go Long with a friend if you enjoy. We’re fueled 100 percent by you.

The Wide Receiver Matrix

‘I’m back:’ Jamal Lewis gets to the other side

July Mailbag, Part I: DJ Moore Effect, KOC’s future, Lions CB plan, our draft hits/misses, journalism

July Mailbag, Part II: Football’s future, Sam Darnold, Rex Ryan memories, criminal on-field acts, QB scheming, gambling

Real Football: Brian Westbrook on defying the odds, McNabb-TO, Hurts-AJB & timeless Philadelphia Eagles memories

Happy Hour Replay: Isaiah McKenzie, uncensored

‘I choose to be positive:’ Stedman Bailey on the night that could’ve ended his life, NFL what-ifs, finding joy, paying it forward

Related to the pod…

Joe Brady takes charge, Part I: ‘I’ll set my jaw’

Joe Brady takes charge, Part II: ‘They’ve got to play us’

Josh Allen, reborn

‘My chip is deeper:’ Our 1 on 1 with Bills GM Brandon Beane

‘He wants to win the whole damn thing:’ Inside the Buffalo Bills’ decision to hire Joe Brady as HC

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe