Talking Buffalo

On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran has a lengthy interview with former NFL player and current ESPN writer/analyst Matt Bowen on a variety of topics covering Bowen’s life and career.

They circle back to Bowen’s beginning, where he describes growing up near Chicago a fan of the Bears, particularly the legendary 1985 Super Bowl team that helped inspired him to start playing in fourth grade. A star quarterback running a veer offense as well as defensive back in high school, Bowen was recruited by several colleges as a quarterback and ultimately chose Iowa over Northwestern.  He’d eventually move to the defensive side of the ball in college and became a two-year starter for Iowa.

Bowen gives details of his NFL draft process that began after his college career ended and culminated with being a sixth-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2000.  He gives insight and perspective to what it’s been like being the guy picked exactly one spot before the New England Patriots took Tom Brady.

He also discusses his seven-year playing career, including a season in Buffalo where he speaks fondly of former Bills head coach Dick Jauron in addition to several teammates.

The conversation shifts to Bowen’s post career and he talks about going back to school to get his Master’s and becoming a fixture in the sports journalism field, writing for numerous print and web publications before eventually landing his current job at ESPN.  He talks about that process including getting comfortable being on camera.

They conclude by spending time talking several potential Buffalo Bills draft targets with Bowen also offering his thoughts on Josh Allen and the Bills organization going forward.

If that’s not enough, Bowen’s also a coach on a high school football team that has won three straight high school state championships. He talks about the pride, teaching and competitiveness that comes with coaching.

You can follow Matt on Twitter at @MattBowen41 and follow his work on ESPN.

After that Moran is joined by Joe from NYC (@BuffaloWins) for another installment of “The Run-In With Joe.” Today the guys are discussing the release of the Buffalo Bills 2019 schedule, with Moran a big fan of how it played out while Joe being considerably more indifferent. They also give their takes on the WWE Superstar Shakeup this week and conclude with Game of Thrones talk, both having thoughts on the premiere, looking forward to the next episode and each offering predictions of three characters who will ultimately die before the series ends.

Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets 

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran is joined by recurring guest Aaron Quinn of Cover 1 to discuss a trio of hot topics.

They start with the Masters, where Tiger Woods shocked the world on Sunday by completing a comeback once thought improbable, winning the 15th major of his career and his first in 11 years. Moran talks about how he was so nervous he literally couldn’t sit still while watching, naming this Woods triumph one of his top five favorite sports memories of his life.

From there they talk about the much anticipated Game of Thrones finale season premiere and get into a discussion over whether weekly shows or binge watching makes for better television viewing. While both enjoyed the premiere Quinn felt a little let down while Moran was giddy about the plethora of long awaited reunions. Both expect the tempo to pick up over the last five episodes and Moran claims that not having a vested interest in any specific character will make the final episodes less stressful for him to watch.

However, the main focus of the podcast is on their latest Buffalo Bills four round NFL mock draft and the guys deliver a third in a series of four.   This mock features four of five new picks from last week, including essentially a redshirt defender for 2019 in round two and a wide receiver in the third that sparks a conversation revisiting how all the work the Bills put into the offensive line during free agency has afforded them the luxury of selecting players based on value over need. It’s a must listen for Bills fans that provides excellent insight to the draft, now only nine days away.

You can follow Aaron Quinn on Twitter @AaronQuinn716 and check out the work of his colleagues over at Cover1.net.

Sandwiched between Moran and Quinn is a movie of the new Pet Sematary now in theaters, a remake of the 1989 thriller by Sean Chandler.  Chandler’s the host of one of the popular movie review Sean Chandler Talks About” on YouTube, which is up to nearly 100k subscribers and growing daily thanks to Chandler’s engaging daily content.  Next time you’re on YouTube, make sure to check out and subscribe to his Sean Chandler Talks About channel.

Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets 

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran scores a rare interview with former Buffalo Bills 1992 first-round draft pick John Fina on a variety of topics.

Fina talks about growing up in Arizona and playing football on the defensive side of the ball before eventually getting switched over to offensive tackle, a position he originally hated. He discusses his recruitment that led to him going to the University of Arizona and what the process was like between the end of his college career and the NFL draft, including not thinking he would be a first-round pick until legendary coach Bill Belichick told him otherwise.

Fina recalls his reaction to finding out he was going to Buffalo with the 27th overall selection in 1992 and what it was like being in the locker room with the likes of Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, Darryl Talley, etc.  Fina became the starter at left tackle in his second season in what would be the Bills last of four straight Super Bowl appearances.  John also talks about being the first player in team history to have the franchise tagged place on him in 1996 and shares his feelings about playing for Marv Levy.

The interview is littered with great stories, including a Ralph Wilson/New Orleans tale and John recalling a time where he composed himself from punching out a nasty fan in the parking lot.

They also talk about John’s son, Bruno, who has become a big football star as the same high school his dad played at.  Bruno already has offers from USC and UCLA and is well on his way to being a name to look out for in the future.

After that, Moran is joined by Joe (@BuffaloWins) for another installment of “The Run-In With Joe.”  Today Moran is asking Joe about his experience of being among the 80,000-plus in attendance at Met Life Stadium in New Jersey for Wrestlemania 35 last weekend.  Joe fought being sick to partake in Wrestlemania activities, not just the main show but also WWE Axxess and a few Indie shows as well.  He talks about the Wrestlemania card being fun but long, escaping heavy traffic right after the show ended and points out a few of his highlights, favorite ring entrances and reveals if Wrestlemania is worth the investment.

The two also discuss Tyler Dunne’s Bleacher Report story that recently went viral regarding Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former head coach Mike McCarthy’s alleged tumultuous relationship, including an angry Rodgers firing off at Dunne over published comments by former teammates in the story.  They also take a look into the final season of Game of Thrones beginning Sunday, offer a prediction for how it ends and debate whether they’d rather watch their favorite shows on a weekly basis or binge-watching at once.

Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets 

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This episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast covers a trio of topics.

First up, Aaron Quinn of Cover 1 joins for another Buffalo Bills four round mock draft done in real time that results in four out of five picks being different from last week.  The two break down a myriad o f scenarios for the Bills based on how the board may play out and discover there’s a fair argument for the team not selecting defensive tackle Ed Oliver with the ninth overall pick despite being arguably the most talented player at arguably their biggest position of need. Patrick and Aaron unexpectedly end up with three skilled position players among their five selections and lay out why offensive line can still be in play early, even after all the recent free agent additions.

After that Chad DeDominicis, managing editor of Die by the Blade joins Moran to discuss the Buffalo Sabres firing of Phil Housley.  Moran asks Chad if he found the move surprising considering Terry Pegula’s assumed vote of confidence in Arizona just two weeks ago and the now former head coach’s comments just 24 hours before his dismissal. DeDominicis discusses what went wrong with Housley as coach, the subsequent failures of general manager Jason Botterill through two years, who could be a good fit as the next head coach and what needs to be added to the roster for a new coach to have a realistic chance at success.

Moran finishes the episode with an extensive review of Wrestlemania 35, including his thoughts on Kofi Kingston and Seth Rollins both winning, the iiconics pulling off the stunner of the night, the return of Thuganomics John Cena and Ronda Rousey deserving more respect for the recent explosion of women wrestling.

Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets 

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran interviews WGRZ-TV Sports Director Adam Benigni on a variety of topics.

The two chat for nearly an hour and we get all the details of Benigni’s journey from a youth growing up near Boston all the way to his 20-year plus and counting career at WGRZ in Buffalo.  There were many stops and decisions along the way that shaped his journey, especially deciding to attend Syracuse University for college after being accepted at two other schools, including USC.

Benigni discusses how the opportunity to join WGRZ in 1997 came about and that on his very first day the Buffalo Sabres hired Lindy Ruff as their head coach. Adam has several takes on a number of sports media topics, including being able to balance the line between friendship and competition when it comes to his colleague and how it’s been covering Terry and Kim Pegula since they became owners.

They also spend time talking about a serious bicycle accident in the fall of 2016 that saw Adam struck by a car while riding his bike, causing a severe concussion and other significant damage to his body including dental.  He discusses his road back to recovery and his passion for cycling, including being a big part of the annual Ride for Roswell which raises money for cancer research.

Before wrapping they spend a little time talking about the dismal Buffalo Sabres and finishing with the Mini-Lightning round, where we learn Adam’s fond of Florence (Italy), cooking and would love to be able to rock out a U2 song at karaoke.

You can follow Adam on Twitter at @AdamBenigni and check out his work at WGRZ-TV online if you’re not in the Buffalo market to see the local news on television.

After Adam’s interview Joe (@BuffaloWins) joins for another installment of ‘The Run-In With Joe.”  Today it’s all about Wrestlemania 35 and the guys have a full preview.  Moran runs down all the matches while Joe has insight and a prediction for each.  The two disagree on a handful of them,  including Kurt Angle losing his retirement match, Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre and the Uso’s retaining the Smackdown tag team title.  They also discuss how Kofi Kingston could end up getting screwed over again, what may happen if Ronda Rousey isn’t taking time off after Wrestlemania and what John Cena’s role in the show will be.

Joe ends the segment with a final take on what he perceives to be a weird act among some Buffalo Bills fans.

Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets 

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran interviews Eric Wood, former Pro Bowl center for the Buffalo Bills and host of the “What’s Next With Eric Wood” podcast.

This is Wood’s second appearance on the podcast, first appearing on Episode No. 47 last August. Back then he was just months removed from prematurely retiring because of his neck injury.  Today the two discuss how big the adjustment was for Wood to become a spectator during a football season for the first time since before high school.

They also discuss his new podcast, which even before its debut peaked all the way in the top 15 on the Apple Podcast sports podcast charts.  Wood elaborates on the premise of his show, which includes a different guest each episode where they discuss among other things their transition into a new chapter of life, something still a work of progress for Wood.

Wood also gives his thoughts on a completely Buffalo Bills revamped offensive line, including new center Mitch Morse before defending Buffalo in wake of Antonio Brown publicly refusing to go there in a trade.

You can follow Eric on Twitter at @EWood70 and be sure to check out his “What’s Next With Eric Wood” podcast.

Also featured on the podcast is Sean Chandler’s movie review of Dumbo. Sean’s a friend of the podcast and talented content producer.  Be sure to check out and subscribe to his Sean Chandler Talks About channel on YouTube, which features daily movie/entertainment content and has drawn nearly 95,000 subscribers.

Sandwiched between the segments is Aaron Quinn of Cover 1.  Aaron and Patrick discuss Ed Oliver and the likeliness of the Bills moving up from nine to draft him.  They also do a Bills four round mock draft in real time with a computer simulating the other 31 teams.  They’re stunned to see a guy fall to them at nine and Chris surprisingly passes over tight end Irv Smith Jr. for another prospect at pick No. 40. A running back goes in round three while the fourth nets them a safety and wide receiver.

They also do the Moran-Alytics Interest Meter and Patrick throws his typically Buffalo Sabres hissyfit before agreeing Tom Brady sucks.

You can follow Aaron on Twitter @AaronQuinn716 and check out Cover1 at www.cover1.net.

Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets 

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran interviews Shelby Waddle, wife of new Buffalo Bills offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle and becoming somewhat a Buffalo social media celebrity of her own.

In the days since Waddle signed his one-year deal with the Bills, Shelby’s been heavily engaged with Bills fans on Twitter, demonstrating both her sense of humor and willingness to strike at trolls who take shots at her. It’s quickly made her a popular Twitter follow.

Moran talks to Waddle about her growing up near Detroit, paying her own way through school and working as a manager for a company.  Her “normal” life would change when striking up a relationship with LaAdrian, originally via Twitter (she “slid” into his DMs) and eventually in person.  Although she admits neither can fully recall all the details of their courtship, she reveals one of the more memorable proposal tales you’ll ever hear.

While the bulk of the conversation is light there’s serious subject matter involved as well, including late 2015 when their lives got flipped upside down after LaAdrian was cut from the Detroit Lions, exactly one year to the date of tearing his ACL.

Of course, there’s always a silver lining and in this case Waddle was claimed by the New England Patriots within 48 hours of his release. Three full seasons, three Super Bowl appearances and two championship rings later things worked out for the best.

Shelby discusses her personal feelings towards Tom Brady and close relationship that her and LaAdrain have with Rob Gronkowski, a Buffalo native hated by the majority of BillsMafia in part due to the dirty hit he inflicted on Tre White two years ago.  Waddle says while she understands the feelings of Bills fans, she’s very much a fan of Gronk the human being and doesn’t concern herself with blow back because of her previous New England ties.

They finish up with the Mini-Lightning Round, where among things we learn about Shelby is her rapping to Kid Rock’s “Cowboy” at her wedding and being a big fan of Toronto.

You can follow Shelby on Twitter at @MrsWadd68.

After that Moran is joined by his friend Joe (@BuffaloWins) for another installment of “The Run In With Joe.”  Today the guys are analyzing Buffalo Bills and Sabres owner Terry Pegula’s press conference from Arizona earlier this week and share their feelings about whether the Bills should get a new stadium, where it should be located and if it should be domed.  Patrick nearly loses his cool when the conversation turns to Sabres talk, visibly bitter at how ugly this season got under the watch of embattled head coach Phil Housley.

The two also get semi-heated over Antonio Brown, excited about Game of Thrones and spend a little time talking WWE before Joe ends the segment with a take on the perception of Buffalonians.

Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets and “like” the Moran-Alytics Facebook page.

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran scores an interview with arguably the greatest offensive tackle in Buffalo Bills franchise history.  Will Wolford joins for an extremely rare interview covering a wide variety of topics.

Going all the way back to the start, Wolford talks growing up in Louisville, Kentucky with basketball as his favorite sport, only playing youth football because his father made him.   Wolford became a two sport star in high school, making honorable mention for All-State in basketball.  However, it was football that presented the best opportunities despite suffering some key injuries and an illness.  He was recruited by Notre Dame, Kentucky and Tennessee among other teams and ultimately chose Vanderbilt after Notre Dame pulled their offer, where he became a standout guard and tackle and All-SEC selection.

Wolford parlayed his talent and size into a first-round NFL draft pick in 1986 when the Buffalo Bills moved up to No. 20 overall in a trade with San Francisco to take him.  Wolford recounts the draft process and his feelings the moment he realized he was going to Buffalo.

He stepped into an organization that was horrible as a rookie, coming off consecutive 2-14 seasons.  Wolford recalls players smoking cigarettes in the locker room with cases of all over as well.  He also tells a stunning story of a 1986 game in Tampa where the team knew a loss would result in Hank Bullough’s firing.  Most of the veterans despised Bullough as coach and the team intentionally lost the game, leading to his ouster and the arrival of Marv Levy.

Wolford talks about the turnaround and what would become the Super Bowl era of Bills football, the memories he had in Buffalo and the bittersweet emotions after signing the contract with Indianapolis in 1993 that contained the infamous “poison pill” clause making it impossible for Buffalo to match. Will explains in great detail the conflict with the deal and the heartbreak not only he felt, but his wife as well.

The interview wraps with an update of Wolford’s post-career, what he’s up to now and his thoughts on his nephew John Wolford, who’s tearing up the AAF with Arizona. Of course, no Moran-Alytics Podcast guest star interview is complete without the Mini-Lightning Round, and we learn of several Wolford favorites, including a city in Australia as his favorite place to visit.

He’s not on Twitter much, but you can shoot John a follow there at @Wolf6769.

After the interview Moran does his first Buffalo Bills four-round NFL mock draft in real time.  The computer makes simulated selections for the other 31 teams and Moran makes five picks for the Bills, explaining his rationale for each. It’s a segment he’s planning on doing each episode between now and the NFL draft that begins on Thursday, April 25th.

Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets and “like” the Moran-Alytics Facebook page.

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran interviews NESN Boston sports reporter and host Courtney Cox about her life and career.

Cox talks about growing up in Lowell, Massachusetts and eventually going to Boston College, where she was not only a member of the cheerleading team but a captain by her junior year.  She would give it up for her season to start focusing on making sports journalism her career and it’s clearly a decision that paid off.

After stints honing her craft in Charlotte, North Carolina at the ACC Digital Network and the LAX Sports Network back closer to home, Cox landed her job at NESN in Boston during the summer of 2016 and she discusses how each opportunity came about.

Cox also has several takes on the sports media, reveals how she deals with occasional idiots that troll her on Twitter and offers sound advice for aspiring sports journalists.

We also learn among other things that Cox loves Nashville, knows how to deal with dates from people that just wish to talk sports, wants to have dinner with Tyrion from Game of Thrones and isn’t bothered with name comparisons to the Courtney Cox that played Monica on Friends.

You can follow Courtney on Twitter at @CoxCourtney and be sure to check out her work at NESN.com.

After the Cox interview Moran does an AMA (Ask Me Anything) segment where fans of the podcast were asked to submit sports and pop culture questions to be answered. Among the topics Moran hits on are his favorite current and past Buffalo sports reporters, the biggest go-to song to get a party started, three things Kim Pegula should do with the Buffalo Sabres this summer and why so many who leave Buffalo for greener pastures end up missing it.

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Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets and “like” the Moran-Alytics Facebook page.

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On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran interviews former nine-year NFL veteran guard Kraig Urbik about growing up, the process of getting to the NFL and his time with the Buffalo Bills among several other topics.

Urbik played six seasons in Buffalo including several as a starter. He talks about being part of an unheralded unit that helped pave the way for impressive Bills team rushing totals despite the lack of overall team success and recalls a few of his favorite Buffalo memories, including the blizzard that forced the team host a Monday night game in Detroit. He also reveals that he’s very much still a Bills fan and recalls getting to finally see an actual Buffalo pre-game tailgate after retirement.

Kraig also talks about growing up as a kid who started playing football in middle school and parlaying his size and worth ethic into a scholarship at Wisconsin, becoming one of the best offensive linemen in the conference.

He finishes with the traditional Moran-Alytics Podcast Mini-Lightning round and we learn about a few of his favorites; including Peaky Binders, London, Eric Wood and Anthony Bourdain.

Follow Kraig on Twitter @KraigUrbik.

After the chat with Kraig, Tone Pucks joins for another installment of “Pat with Pucks.”  Today the guys are discussing all of the Bills free agent additions as a whole and how much they think it improves the team, particularly on the offensive line. Tone (@TonePucks) tells his legion of 132 Twitter followers that he’s liked every acquisition, including Frank Gore and gives his theory on how the running back situation will play out.

They then turn their attention to the Buffalo Sabres and as expected the mood quickly goes somber.  Pucks reiterates his disdain for Phil Housley as the head coach while Moran wonders if this train wreck of a season half will ultimately cost the team being able to re-sign Jeff Skinner.

Tone finishes with a Sabres related “Puck Drop” containing uncharacteristically evident emotion.

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Follow Patrick Moran on Twitter @patmorantweets and “like” the Moran-Alytics Facebook page.

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