Go Long

Why exactly are pro football players different than the rest of us?

Exhibit A: Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY on Monday night.

Isaiah McKenzie could not even move after absorbing a vicious hit in Baltimore that knocked him out of the Buffalo Bills’ 23-20 comeback win. And yet, he cannot wait to venture across the middle of the field again. He loves the physicality. He knows that’s what separates him as a slot receiver.

Make no mistake, too. This was a scary moment.

On Episode 3 of “The Isaiah McKenzie Show,” the 5-foot-7 receiver takes everyone through the collision and the aftermath. Concussions are obviously back in the NFL headlines and we’ve seen quite a few motionless players sprawled on the turf in NFL games this season. We all love the sport’s violence but, holy, it comes with a cost. McKenzie details exactly what that cost is.

He does believe his mind is doing just fine… even though he’s currently using this concussion to get out of cleaning dishes at home with his girlfriend. When you come from where McKenzie did in South Florida — yes, a bullet once grazed him — you’ll gladly accept football’s inherent risks.

Also, on this episode, we dig into Buffalo finally winning a close game.

McKenzie refers to Sean McDermott as a “dad” and Brandon Beane as the “cool uncle” in taking all of your questions.

As always, the goal of this show is to take you beyond the press conferences and locker room. McKenzie says himself at the end of this pod that he never wants to spew mindless cliches as if part of a “cult.” His raw honesty is refreshing. We want to bring you as close as possible to this league at Go Long. Live around Western New York? Come on out to one of our five remaining live shows at Mister’s. All dates are below.

You can watch or listen to the show right here at GoLongTD.com or within the Go Long Podcast feeds:

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Miss a previous episode from Season 2? Catch up below…

Ep 1: Inside the gender reveal and the beatdown of the L.A. Rams

Ep 2: What was running through the receiver's mind that final play?

Also: All episodes from Season 1 are archived on our site.

Go Long is your source for longform journalism in pro football. We’re completely powered by you. Subscribe today:

Here are the remaining dates for our live recordings at Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY:

* Monday, Oct. 10

* Monday, Nov. 14

* Monday, Dec. 12

* Monday, Dec. 19

* Monday, Jan. 9

As a reminder, right now, you can pre-order “The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football” at 30% off and receive a signed bookplate. Just click this link.

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 all saw the hit that knocked out the Buffalo Bills wide receiver. So, how did it feel? What goes into treating a concussion? Isaiah McKenzie doesn't hold back.
He calls this the hardest hit he's taken in his life and -- yes, for a moment -- he could not even move.
Yet, he believes his mind was unaffected. McKenzie takes everyone through this dark, violent side of the game. The last half of the show, he answers your questions live at Mister's Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY.
As always, be sure to subscribe to Go Long to get all stories and all podcasts: GoLongTD.com.
And, right now, you can buy "The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football" at 30% offer by clicking this link: https://800ceoread.com/coupons/view_expired/1818
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Finally, the Bills have won a one-score game. This is exactly the kind of game that should have fans thinking 2022 could be different, too.
Playing on Baltimore's terms, Buffalo overcame a 20-3 deficit. It was rainy. It was sloppy. It was a game Buffalo needed to prove it can win. Not to mention, the clock management late in the game was pretty darn solid, too.
Remember, right now, you can purchase "The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football" at 30% off! https://800ceoread.com/coupons/redeem/bloodandgutspublic
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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

The Lions' offense is averaging 35 points per game, the most in the NFL. (But the defense cannot stop anyone.)
The Saints' defense remains Super Bowl Bowl-caliber. (But is mangled to bits on offense.)
And what about those Pittsburgh Steelers? They may look back at Oct. 2 as a brutal, yet necessary step toward winning once again.
As always, we wrap up the NFL action here on the podcast with co-host Jim Monos. In addition to these three 1-3 clubs, there's plenty of Green Bay Packers' talk. It was ugly vs. Bill Belichick's Patriots but this felt like a W for the receiving corps more than anything. We explain.
Also, there's plenty of concussion talk out of this Tua Tagovailoa situation. Can we trust the NFL and NFLPA to do the right thing?
Remember, right now, you can pre-order "The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football" at 30% off by hitting this link: https://800ceoread.com/coupons/redeem/bloodandgutspublic
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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

Live from Fattey Beer Company, we dissect the quarterback conundrums three weeks in. All mysteries are explored.
First up, a former QB. As in Ken Dorsey. What should we make of the explosion that broke the Internet?
From here, it's a raucous affair. QB to QB, we try to solve of the greatest mysteries at the most important position. Is Russell Wilson shot? Is Jameis Winston nothing more than backup? What will we see in Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson on Sunday? Aaron Rodgers always finds a way to make our podcast.
Right now, you can purchase "The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football" at 30 percent off and receive a signed bookplate. Bang this link: https://800ceoread.com/coupons/redeem/bloodandgutspublic
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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

Hindsight is a beautiful thing. These last 48 hours, we’ve all been hyper-analyzing Isaiah McKenzie’s every step that final play against the Miami Dolphins.

Could he have gone out of bounds? Should he have collapsed? What was he thinking in real time?

On Episode 2 of “The Isaiah McKenzie Show,” we get answers. In immense detail, the Buffalo Bills wide receiver takes you all inside his mind.

The Bills fell to the Dolphins, 21-19. It was unbelievably frustrating, too, considering they outgained the home team by a whopping 497 yards to 212. McKenzie is also well aware that Buffalo ran 90 plays to Miami’s 39… in a sauna of a stadium. With the heat index soaring to 100 degrees, Bills players were melting one by one.

Honestly, this might’ve been one of my favorite chats with the team’s “Face of the Franchise.” We launched this show at Go Long to take fans beyond the insipid press conference and beyond the locker room for moments like this, for when we’re hoping for real stories behind everything we saw on Sunday.

You can always watch and/or listen to the full episodes right here at GoLongTD.com and within our main podcast feeds:

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Much was discussed this hour…

* The heat. Bills-Fins was a scene straight out of the 1982 “Epic in Miami.” What exactly does it feel like to lock up with cramps, need IV and puke your lungs out in the locker room? McKenzie compared this game to a battlefield.

* The final play. McKenzie knew he needed to gain yardage for kicker Tyler Bass after catching a short pass over the middle. McKenzie also knew he needed to stop the clock. He relives it all second by painstaking second... right to that clock hitting 0:00. Yes, he heard from fans, too. One sent him a pretty hilarious picture telling McKenzie what he should’ve done.

* Finishing. It’s the last hurdle this Super Bowl contender must clear. Why do the Bills’ struggle late in games?

* Ken Dorsey’s freakout. Players loved it and players have seen this side of the Bills offensive coordinator many times before.

* The rivalry. Real hatred between the Bills and Dolphins is finally back after a 20-year hiatus. McKenzie assures Buffalo cannot wait to play Miami in the cold.

* Up next: Lamar. Ahead of Buffalo’s playoff win over the Ravens in 2020, McKenzie played the role of Lamar Jackson on the scout team in practice. Even though he’s actually a big part of the offense now, he hopes that continues.

* McKenzie vs. Hyde. My co-host is ruthless. The safety’s neck injury only ramps this up.

* Your questions! We had some gems.

Go Long is your source for longform journalism in pro football. Want features delivered right to your inbox? In addition to all of our podcasts? We’re completely powered by you. Subscribe today right here:

All eight episodes of Season 2 are being recorded LIVE at Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY. Here are the remaining dates:

* Monday, Oct. 3

* Monday, Oct. 10

* Monday, Nov. 14

* Monday, Dec. 12

* Monday, Dec. 19

* Monday, Jan. 9

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

The Buffalo Bills' starting slot receiver meticulously breaks down the answer to everyone's question out of Buffalo's 21-19 loss to Miami. Could McKenzie have scooted out of bounds? What was going through his mind in real time? McKenzie dissects it all.
You may have heard, but this game was also a scorcher. Were the Bills doing enough to stay cool in the 100-degree heat index? And why were guys dropping like flies? This was a fun one. With all of those cramps behind him, McKenzie takes everyone beyond the locker room here on the podcast.
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What happened in Miami? Injuries mounted and the heat index reached 100, but the Buffalo Bills' inability to finish proved costly.
Elsewhere, Lamar Jackson's price keeps going up, the Jacksonville Jaguars are legit and the Packers have to be thrilled with how their win went down in Tampa. This is the new brand of football in Green Bay.
The Lions blew it in Minnesota, but Jim Monos explains why he's encouraged with Dan Campbell's bunch.
Be sure to subscribe to Go Long at GoLongTD.com to get our full series on the Detroit Lions. What a crew this offensive line is: https://www.golongtd.com/p/the-detroit-lions-must-break-you
Also, we are now recording all mid-week podcasts LIVE at Fattey Beer Company. Be sure to get all details on when/where inside "The Morning After" each Monday.
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Last week was rough. This week, we rebound. Book it.
Jim Monos and myself tell you which games to bet on right here with our "Fattey Locks," which are always Fattey Beer Company approved.
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The longtime Green Bay Packers cornerback joins the show. Few players busted their ass quite like Jarrett Bush through his time with the team from 2006 to 2014. Undrafted out of Utah State, the 6-foot, 200-pounder worked and worked and worked and found a way to stick with this team through several playoff runs.
There's a good chance Green Bay doesn't win the Super Bowl without Bush. His interception of Ben Roethlisberger was massively important. (He breaks that play down for us, too.)
For a half-hour, Bush details his rise from obscurity before then dissecting the current Packers. Can this team get back to the Super Bowl? Without Davante Adams? Bush supplies sharp insight on what made his 2010 team special.
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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