All Access: Clinton-Dix talks Bears play makers

another edition of Bears to All Access. I'm Jeff Jonnyakodo on with my broadcast partner on Bears games on news Radio seven eighty and one oh five point at FMWBBM, the Super Bowl Bear, Tom Fair, and the former Bears quarterback who led the Bears to the two thousand won playoffs, Jim Miller. Everybody tucked away in their locals and ready to go. We're gonna have a good show tonight. We

got a couple of guests. We're gonna be joined by Haha, Clinton Dix, the Bears new safety, a free agent signing a one year deal, and he'll be joining that back end with Eddie Jack and all Alabama back in. And then we'll be joined as we look ahead to the Bears one hundred celebration first weekend in June with the Big Oh Otis Wilson. Tom, you reminded me last week there's only one big O. We had Old and CRUITZI

last week. You know, you can't help but say big oh to him too, But there's really only one big O. He's Otis Wilson. Yeah, you know, Otis is that kind of guy. He's got a huge personality and I think he kind of, you know, fills that with the way he played, the way he embraced Chicago, the way he became one of the most favorite of all x fairs, and it's it's you know, he's a he's a unique guy because he's you know, we always hear that term boy he looks like you could still play, But Otis

looks like he could still play. He's in great shape. He's totally dedicated to the Bears and his whole lifestyle, and I'm looking forward to talking to him. We'll be talking to him closer to the bottom of the hour. We'll have a segment here with Big Jim Miller and Jim it's crazy to think after everything that's gone on and there's a tough season, whether it be a free

agency draft, hirings, firings, quarterbacks getting moved around. There's only five weeks left in the offseason for most teams, and then they get about a month break and then training camp starts. So we're coming down to wire here. Yeah, it really moves fast. And you know, we talk about it being three sixty five twenty four seven. Football really

is now. I mean, it's just everything comes to the to the forefront from the season and their training camp, then the season and postseason and then hey, you're onto the Senior Bowl and the championship games, the Super Bowl and then lo and behold the combines on you before you know it, and then the draft, and you just got this small window to work with where you really get all these players, whether they're undrafted free agents or the draftable players who you selected the free agent signings,

to really indoctrinate them and get it all set and really a small amount of time for the team to gel together and line up and do it again. And so that'll be the challenge for coach Naggie and his staff. And but at the same point, you got to be

excited about how the team performed last year. Areas of focus where they did extremely well growth of young players like Mitchell for Whisky and the players that were added in free ag, and then you can you just keep stacking them, keep stacking them because obviously a lot of excitement about the Bears going until the twenty nineteen season, and Jim and Tim I felt some real genuine excitement at rookie mini caamp over the weekend too, from the

front office, from the coaches about the types of players they brought in. No first or second round pick, obviously, but running back David Montgomery feels like a first round pick and he's getting a lot of love out there nationally as well as maybe one of the impact backs in his rookie season with the Bears. And I think it goes beyond that. It's some of the undrafted players are gonna get into tonight as well. But do you

guys feel the same way. I mean, these guys they really like what they're going to bring to the table intangibly and then what their skill sets are in traits for their respective schemes on both sides of the ball. You know, Jeff, running back is kind of unique position and the fact that there's a lot of innatability that you can recognize immediately. It's the vision, it's the power, it's the lowering of the show. It's the quality of

feat you have with all the other positions. Offensive line, you got to work in tandem with the other five guys. If you're a defensive back, you have to make sure you have communication with the front seven to help you with the back four or five or six, depending upon how many defensive backs you're playing. So uniquely enough, you get a talented wide receiver, you get a talented running back like Montgomery. You can go there and you can be an a media contributed contributor, but you fill your

plate the better you understand the offense. And I thought it was interesting because we've talked so many times that the Bears probably wanted a bigger back with route running ability. This guy's got great cutback ability. We look at David Montgomery. He's elusive in his jump cuts, in his change of direction. It probably doesn't have elite top end speed, but he's quick.

He's extremely quick. I thought it was interesting. The head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones, Matt Campbell, he said he turned our program around was a quote about David Montgomery, and he said, if we had to put him at receiver, he'd be our best runner at our best route runner at the position. So he comes highly regarded. All right, man, heck of a catch last weekend and Mini camp down the sidelines and stayed on his feet, which is what

he's all about. Guy's kind of unbelievable contract balance. And yes, the quote from Matt Cabell. He's a culture changer. He was at Iowa State's going to fit into this culture in Chicago with the Bears. And he loves the idea of running the football for the Bears. His love of Walter Payton courtesy of his grandfather watching YouTube videos. You

can learn a lot from watching Walter Payton. We'll continue on. Well, we joined by Haha, Clinton Dix, Bears new Safety, and we come back here on Bears All Access is brought to you by IGS Energy on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. Welcome back to Bears All Access brought to you by IGS Energy, a proud partner of Chicago Bears, providing electricity, natural gas, and home warranty products to over one million customers across the country. Learn more about IGS

Energy at igs dot com. Jeff Joni Act, Tom Thayer, Jim Miller, and now we're gonna learn a little bit more about the newest Bear and Bears defense at Outstanding Defense Haha. Clinton Dix and name familiar to the fans of the Bears because of his connection with the Packers in the NFC North. We watched him play heck of an athlete, heck of a safety and out How welcome to the Chicago Bears. How you doing today? Hey, I'm doing pretty good, man. I'm excited to be here. You know,

it's been I guess just about a month. Have you Have you gotten a real good feel of what it's like to mean to be a Bear and what the culture is like at Hallis Hall? Well, it's definitely, it's definitely a great culture here. I'm still a hundred a season this year now, and um just been just been around the team, have been around a lot of the guys, and I'm familiar with with with how a team has been set up and help an organization the vine. Man, It's I'm just got to be a part of it, man,

and I'm just looking to continue going forward. Haha. This is Tom there, the broadcaster with the Bears. Have I've been doing games with Jeff for quite a while, and it seems like every time we refer to you in a game, we always said haha, Clinton Dix makes the play. Is there a shorter version of your name and that we can refer to you that everybody knows you? Wow?

The names and I've been callings I was a little kid, so I think that's you know, it's it's like it's like all the popular people that only need one first name, and to me, if we say haha, then we got everybody has to know who are referring to exactly, so Hama has done. It's actually fine as well. So um, I love my name man, and people joke about it all the time, but it doesn't that everybody loves and the grass on to it. Well, how about for it

for you? You know here you you indoctrinate yourself and ingratiate yourself to the locker room in Green Bay, then have to make the transition to the Washington Redskins and you know, just doing having the same opportunity to do that in Chicago. Just to acclimate to the environment. You know, there's not too much to do up in Green Bay.

There's a lot to do in Chicago. But just I don't want to say it's old hat for you now, but you you've been through it before, and just what it takes to get to know your teammates, be a part of a new team and really be a part of it, and really to jump right in, so to speak. Well, the Bears know we have some special going on here and in the locking room, and there's so many good guys or more down the earth and funny and you know, I have the same pass and also you know, want

to win ball games. And that's what it's about. The first couple of days I came in, I was kind of the cliet kids. You're trying to, you know, get comfortable, and you know, see where I sit in that, And man, everybody here is so humble, man, And what ethic is unbelievable between the guys and uh Coast and Nag always spoke on just being youth, you know, and um, that's that's what I'm doing. But I'm just being me, man, and um, you know, just having to positive energy and

having fun doing it. So um, I'm exciting about this opportunity. Ha ha. Clinton Dick's our guest here on Bears All Access how can you do us a huge favorite. We have a really bad connection on the phone. Is there any way you could call us right back? We'll continue our conversation. That's true there, all right, give a handout, give us a call back. We'll get you right back. On Tom Fair, Jeff Johnny k and Jim Miller with us. I hear on bears all Access is a likable guy, fellas,

he's going to fit in perfectly on this defense. I know Eddie Jackson certainly had a big impact in bringing him to Chicago, as we're gonna learn if when he calls back. Mitch Trubiski also had a lot to do with him coming in here. Gave him a sales pitch to come in here. I like the fit. You know, it's kind of funny you listen to his personality because we're not exposed to a lot of his personality when he is on the other side. So now you have

a chance to talk to him about the culture. The bears the reason and is an attraction to Chicago, And it's kind of nice to feel that you Adrian Amos is not here anymore, but you're bringing a teammate that has experience as an understanding of the division and hopefully he'll be beneficial very quick for him. Well last year. I mean, this guy is productive now in terms of his career fourteen interceptions, has a nose for the football,

and I think he's extremely productive. He's a willing tackler, he's long and lean, all the things you're looking forward for secondary players in modern day day football. And I think, you know, for Eddie Jackson, just you know, Alabama in the type of program that Nick Saban runs, you know, for him to jump in, I don't think it's not a big deal for him, you know. I think this guy knows how to work, and I think he'll stick his nose to the grindstone every single day, and definitely

we'll get turnovers for the Bears. All Right, let's see if we have Clinton Dick's back on the line. How are you there? Yeah, I'm here. Okay, that sounds much better now we can hear you real well, all right, thank you for doing that. I appreciate it. Hey, I was just saying, you know, Eddie Jackson, obviously the connection is undeniable, the Obama connection. He helped get you here. But as I was told by Eddie and Tom there,

and I heard it on draft day. He was on our show, Mitch Trubisky getting on the phone and trying to get you here as well. Made an impact on you. How rare is that for a quarterback to to go on dip on the defensive side of the ball and bring somebody in you know that he would like to see and help out, you know with that recruiting process. Man, he's the leader of the team. He's one of the leaders of the team. And um, you know, I've had

the chance of playing against him. So we have a quarterback that comes over and you know, he tells you how much of a you know, a great player you are because he's you know, he sees us on tape a lot. And that just really meant a lot to me. And it just shows that my playstyff doesn't go unnotice. Hey, hai, when you have a chance to practice against a guy like Aaron Rodgers and then you're removed from him and

now you're gonna play against him. Who recognizes tendencies better defensive backs of a quarterback or a quarterback of a defensive back. Well, they always say that the IQO quarterback is a lot better than anybody else On the field. But I'm just running from a rod and being able to play with him and sit in on meet and just get a better field from the game on how he sees it, I think I'm pretty up there. I'm pretty hot with him when it comes to seeing the

whole field. But you know, just being able to play with him and and um, you know learning from him, Uh, it just opened my eyes and I can see the field more. Yeah. I would say last year too with Alex Smith, who I think. I mean, that guy's outstanding with what he's done in his career. But when you look at your statistics, I mean, you're you're never afraid to stick your nose in there. You've got a great nose for the football. Just to your fourteen interceptions speak

to that, haha. But where what areas? Do you feel you've gotten better since you've entered the the NFL because you're you know, you're now a savvy vette is what you're considered. Well, when I first came to the league, UM, I always went for the big hits instead of just wrapping up and just making the clean cut tackle. Um. I think that that was one thing that I always wanted to work on. It is my open field tackling and be able to hop point the ball when it's

in the air. M There's a lot of things I can continue to work on. I haven't reached my peak yet and I'm just excited to get better. Ha ha. Clinton Dick's our guest here on Bears All Access. It's brought to you by IGS Energy, Jeff Jonny Act time there, Jim Millier with you, ha ha. You're familiarity with the division. You know to me, it's not an underrated thing at all. You know very much where all the bones are buried

in the division. Any unfinished business in the division for you? Um, well, I can't really say that, no, No, just excited to

get things going. Um. The Bears off to a great start last year, lost some first round in the playoffs on the wind, I'll say, and um man, we got unfitted spinners here and uh, you know, like coach and Nike says, we're the hunt it now and uh we gotta we gotta carry that tip on our shoulder and know that, Um every team is gonna be after us and we have to go out there with that same mindset each and every week to get better when and

come out with the win each and every game. Hey ha, are you talking about being a young guy and always want to come up and make the big hit? You know, tackling technique has changed in the NFL as recently as the last two three four years. Has that changed anything in terms of your job requirement? And is how tiki tacky they are about some of the hits or even the area that you can hit in the body? Almost definitely, it definitely has changed a lot in the game. But

it's awesome for players safety. Um, I think that's most important in this game. When you hear so much about CT and all the brain bruises as asy as SAK and cussions. Um, I think it's for a good cause. Um. You just have to, you know, buy into the rule and just figure out why it's not to get caught

up in the you know, in the wrong areas. Um. Now going out, I mean you've been with a lot of defensive coordinators now too, when you look at Dom Capers and Mike Penton and then last year with Manusky and now being able to work with with Chuck Pagano, and you know, obviously coverage is coverage. Certainly everybody's got man Man free and how they call it and all that, but just maybe the different techniques you've been exposed to.

And even I'll say this for Nick Saban at Alabama because I know we put a lot of guys, a lot of on you guys to make a lot of calls back there in the in the secondary, just in terms of your football intelligence and how you marry it all together to become the most complete player you want to be. Well, I think you started with just choosing to go play at the University of Alabama. Saban runs NFL type defense, and um, I was just familiar with

everything when I came to the league. I believe su Pagando and Manusky and Dom Capers have been again there at some point in time or they were on the same defense. So when I switched teams those more so of the terminology, I understood the game. I understood the concepts and what to do to get lined up. So just being able to play with Saban, man, I think that that really took my game to the next level with learning defenses and grasping on quit ha Ha Clinton Dix.

Our guests kind enough to join us here on Bears All Access tonight as the offseason program continues, just about five weeks left in it before break. Hey, you know, we don't know a lot about the coaching of the Shay Towns, and we know about him as a player. Obviously he was an outstanding player. He's now the Bear secondary coach. He got played one hundred ninety one games in his NFL career and put up some big numbers. You're tracking him down. You know, he's got he had

twenty one interceptions, so you got fourteen. You're on his heels. But he's coached Patrick Peterson, He's coach Kevin Byard. He's coached a number of people while he's been at Arizona and Tennessee. What have you learned from him? What's he like as a coach. He's a great coach. I've been around him for a month and he's talk talking to nothing but ball. Man. He's all about the ball and making plays and just been in the right plays. Uh. He speaks on the back game. Man. We have to

be the best at everything we do. And uh, he's very sharp minded. Of course, he was an Alabema guy. So I'm gonna take up farm on that behalf and I I mean, I'm excited to work with him. Like you said, he worked with a lot of great players, so he knows what he's doing. And uh, I'm just buying into the system and I'm excited to work with him.

I wish we can come up my picks in the playoffs what we can't so uh, he he had twenty, so I'm going to catch him where he got seventeen with the playoffs, right, Yeah, but they don't count, So it's okay. We've seen a lot of defensive players in the offensive huddle. Are you gonna get in Coach Naggie's here and kind of want to display your offensive skills too? Well, me and Coach Nick you already have to talk about that, so we'll see how that goes. But I'm excited about it. Man.

I'm so excited to be a part of this team, this culture here, and um I'm just ready to move forward, man, and just keep this thing going. Well, I know where you guys are at in the offseasons. Still got the vetment or vetment veteran mini camp and whole team mini camp to go through. But what do you do in terms of your off time leading up to training camp?

Are you one of the guys that crank it up in terms of your workouts to get ready just because you feel new team, you know, new opportunity, those type of things. What do you have scheduled for yourself as you get ready for training camp? Well, I don't know if you know, but coach Local has been has been piped it up a lot on us in the weight

room now. So just about just taking care of the body, man, and staying focus, and spending as much time with my family as I can before the season goes on the way, and just working out man, to make sure I stand shafe. I think being as safe was the most important thing for a player in this league. Well did you mind? And we'll let you go after this, But you know you mentioned time mansioned offense. You're a great running back in high school, now, weren't you all American running back?

I was? I was, Okay, I was. I'm up like these guys in the NFL now, but I can still do something. All right. We'll enjoy I spending more time with you throughout the off season and during the season especially, But glad you're with the Bears and hope you're enjoying Chicago. Thank you so much appreciated. Haha, Clinton Dicks Bears safety joining us here on Bears All Access Back with Tom and Jim after this on Chicago Sports Radio Sick seventy

to score. The Chicago Bears Network presents Inside the Bears, brought to you by Verizon. Anthony Adams and Lauren Screeden cover the world of Bears football on and off the field every Sunday night at ten thirty five pm on Fox thirty two Chicago, or watch anytime at Chicago Bears

dot Com or on the Bears Official app. Jeff Joning, Act, Tom Fair, Jim Miller, and if you guys have been on Chicago Bears dot Com or on the Bears Official app on Twitter or whatever you've been seeing this week, fellas, I'm certain they didn't do this back in your day, but throughout the league you got it's picture video promotional week. You know, you got you got different networks coming in

to shoot the guys in full uniform. They're getting their their pump up videos you'll see and soldier field and you saw some of it on the web and so forth. It's branding for the season, and these guys take it seriously. I'm not joking. Well, you see how many times are we sitting at games or you're watching a game on TV and you see those videos come up and they the fans have a lot of fun with them. Their

participation increases the enthusiasm inside the stadium. And like you said, you have to take it serious because it is It is part of individual branding, and if you happen to have a great football season, those videos and those presentations are going to be played regularly. Yeah, I don't know, you know, I just know players hated doing it because you kind of gotta go. You stand in line, you know, whether it's CBS or the networks that are there, and

they take in the back room. They have the whole big setup and everything, all right, can't can't you give us a mean look? Can't you, you know, all right, do something funny for us? And you're just like, what, I just want to go learn my playbook? Is that all right? Can I do that? But yeah, it's kind of a necessity now the way modern day NFL is is really broadcasted helping us out today as always, and this is not an easy show to put together because

of everybody's in parts of the country hurt. Lawrence at Adams Dzinski helping us out Shane Ridden as always as well here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Okay, a couple of takeaways from rookie Mini camp and after this next segment will be joined by Otis Wilson. The eighty five Chicago Bear outstanding linebacker Riley Ridley, known for his route running. Precise route running boy. That showed him

mini camp as well. Granted no pads are running around, but you could see some of the strengths of some of these guys right off the bat, Tom and Jim. That was one of my takeaways. And then just some of the guys that they brought in in the undrafted market, Dax Raymond, the tight end out of Utah State, Missouri receiver Emmanuel Hall. Twenty five teams offered this guy a free agent deal he wanted to be with the Bears.

Some local guys too from the States. So I'm really encourage about what they might be able to pluck and add to the competitive aspect of training camp. You know, Jeff, were you good as good? If you're If someone is good at their position, their skill, their craft, they're good the day they get there. And then you see players that develop over time, that have to learn different techniques, and that did a lift the differences between their college

program and what's expected of bout the NFL. You go back to eighty five or eighty when Jimbo eighty three, when Jimbo was drafted, you knew Jimbo was great the second he got in a stance, and he got even better throughout his career. And then you see other players that have chace to develop. You mentioned Ridley, here's a guy with a great deal of experience. In all the assets they talk about leading up to the draft, he puts them on display and you get an understanding. Wow.

Like you mentioned, all the route running, the catching ability, the rate, catching radius and all that is evident. Yeah, it's it's going to be a competitive wide receiver room. There's no doubt about that because Ridley not only he's got huge hands. Now if you go look at you know,

just the measurables and things like that. Certainly the name of his older brother, and you know a lot of times too, it's it's the structure of the offense because him at Georgia, certainly with Sony Michelle and the running backs that they had there, or even this year Elijah Holyfield. They did focus more on running the football. This guy's a William blocker, does everything extremely well, can make the big catches, a really good fluid route runner that you mentioned,

And I'd say the same thing about Emmanual Hall. A Hall of Famer. Gil Brandon made every pick of the draft there this year in Nashville, and it was from the fourth round on. Gil Brandt said, my highest guy on my board is Emmanual Hall. Shocking that he did not get drafted that as a talented football player from the Zoo. I'm excited about watching that unfold as well. And I'm telling you Bears fans, you're gonna like Duke Shelley, the five nine corner likely to handle that try to

compete for that slot job out of Kansas State. He's feisty, he's energetic, and he's magnetic. Players respond to his enthusiasm. You're gonna like it. Coming back, we're gonna be joined by Otis Wilson, but Big Oh, former first round pick in nineteen eighty by Jim Finks and the Bears. He'll be joining us to talk about the one hundred celebration weekend coming up in June. This is Bears All Access

on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the sport. Hey, everybody, join us for Bears one hundred celebration weekend in Rosemond, June seventh through the ninth. Enjoyed player autographs, photo ops, football panels, and activities for all ages. You can get your tickets today at Chicago Bears dot com. It's gonna be a fun weekend. I know Tom and I are

going to be involved in these football panels. There's some very interesting ones, some great ones that we can't really wait to get involved with and to hear the stories about the past and maybe things we've never heard before. I know that's hard when you're Chicago Bear in this market because so many stories have been told. But there's a few that we're gonna try to pull out of these guys. Right. Of course, there's a lot of great stories that even that you kind of re reminded of

because you had some of the experiences with them. You know. One thing, for example, when I got to the Bears, I would watch Buddy Ryan lead this troop of defensive players to these archaic fifty updown they would have to do before practice, jog in place, jump through their stomach pop up, and I was thinking, oh my god, I can't believe at this level that Buddy Ryan can take this group of talent and just challenging the discipline of

them by having doing something like updowns before practice. Yeah. I mean, I mean there's I'm sure for every player that when you're part of something uh special, a part of teams, you know, you create those those bonds. A lot a lot of funny things happen. You know, you're with each other every day for for many hours, and

a lot of funny stories really unfold. And there are some great ones and the legendary ones, but you know, I just know the ones that I was there in a in a part of with great teammates, and man, they're they're fun to think back, and it really brings a smile to your face to be a part of such a great guy's, great organization and everybody that you dealt with over the years that you participated tim you

you you brought up something. Now I gotta ask so respectively, both you guys, what's the one thing you hated doing in terms of physically at during practice or at training camp that you really did not like doing? You know, when we started training camp, Jeff. You know, we didn't have these pre practices where you go at no pads.

You show up and you start pads, and so you go through the very first day, you go through your stretching, you warm up your individual, the whistle blows, and you go to this drill it used to be called nutcracker, where it was one offensive lineman, one defensive lineman or linebacker in a running back behind you and you'd go up and down the line of scrimmage and that whistle would blow or the snapcount would go and it would just be a massive collision. And so that's the way

that we began training camp. So probably the first five to eight or nine days, depending on depending upon how physically we are practicing, it would be judgment how long we would do. Though, so nobody looked forward to them. They were next shortening drills, but they were super competitive. What's the first who's the first guy you went up in nutcracker? Do you remember Steve McMichael. I would go with Steve mc I would go Steve McMichael first, Mike

Singletary second, and then William Perry third. That's that's that's that's terrible Thank you, the Red jerseys. Thank you Lord. I never had to do the Oklahoma's. Well what did you what did you hate doing? Uh? Being in the damn training room all the time? You know that was you know, it's just it's you know, it's when you're you find yourself in there more than well you're because I did. I love practicing. I love being out on

the field. I love it, you know, honing the craft, getting getting better, and you know, whether it's torn achilles or shoulders, it just it gets old being in that training room. You know. But even then, though, there's so many great memories, and you know, God bless ed McCaskey because a lot of times I'd be sitting there on the table right next to him and we had some great conversations that even you know, I cherished to this

very day. Yeah, you can't ever forget that at and nor can we forget the play of Otis Wilson, first round pick of the Bears back in nineteen eighty. Kind of enough to join us tonight here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The score, good evening, Otis, Jeff Joni act time there, Jim Miller, how are you doing today? Good evening, guys. I'm doing fine. I've been good. Good good man. It's just I would say, just taking

it easy this evening. Well, you know, I bring it up from the start because I just asked Tim and Jim about what they what's the one thing they disliked about, you know, going to practice or training camp or whatever one thing you dready going to every day. Was there anything Tim didn't didn't particularly love the nutcracker? How about yourself? Um well, I really viewed practice as like I did at school. You know, I just I did enough the

polished my skills. But I always figured, you know, you don't have to take five hours to do something that you can do and two hours. So I didn't like practice much, especially when it's a hundred and something degree. Then you got to practice twice a day with pad zones and then beating up on the guys you love.

That's no fun. But you know, Otis I was bringing up for me to watch the whole, the whole eighty five Bears because I was a latecomer there, but I remember coming out there and watching every single day, buddy, having you guys do updowns, and I hated it. For you guys, did you did you hate it or did you just know you had to live through it? Well, you knew you were gonna do it. I mean any type of running, whether it was you know, gases or

up downs. I mean, but when you think about it time, you know it was really buddy, I always wanted to pay to pay you for five quarters. It wasn't about four quarters. It was about five quarters long. And that's what That's what the mentality he wanted you to have. So but to physically do it after a long day. I mean when he said hit the line, I'm like, oh man, you know, here we go. And then he said okay, let's up, let's up down. You know, I

look at him and I just like, okay. I just give him a little half smile, and he looks at me like, you know, you know, buddy, Ryan, you know what did you tell you? The heartbeat? Oldest Jim Miller here, Good to talk to you again, my friend. And when you arrived with the Bears in nineteen eighty, when did you realize you're going to be a part of something special, something historic in terms of the defense. Well, the gods ryder is true. When I first came here and I

got dubble phones. Number Doug came from Louisville as I did, and played for fifteen years and did a stellar job. I said, the pressure is on me because I mean, I know they're going to compare, you know, what he did to what I'm going to do. And looking at the linebacker Colly had, Tom Higgs, Jerry mulcam Stern and oh god, I can't think this name went out of my head. Gary Campbell SHOPI, you know, honestly, and don't don't take this the wrong way. I said, this linebacker

Corse sucks. I said, I need to be out there twenty four seven, and I just worked my butt off, you know, and and the process so that I could, you know, being number to be that number one player that they wanted me to be. But it really didn't start happening for us because we were losing a lot of football games and you know, at the last game, the last home games, guys are packing their car. You know, I'm like, what kind of crapper is this? I mean, don't y'all want to go to the playoffs? So the

attitude wasn't there. I say, those those first two years, it was an experience. I mean, the best thing about it, I'm gonna give you another guards on us too, was watching Walter Payton. I mean, this man would just beat up people trying to tackle him. So you know, when I got out there, I said, I want to keep him off the field. I mean, he don't need to be killing himself. So that that that's my take on it.

Otis Wilson our guest here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score with Tom Thare, Jim Nutter. I'm Jeff Joniac. So you're a two time All Pro, you go to the Pro Bowl on eighty five ten and a half sacks that season. You are a feared pass rusher thirty six career sacks. You could have even done more damage if you were put in those positions. You swipe ten balls, scored a couple of touchdowns.

And let me be the first to tell you in case you didn't know, it is going to be revealed the top players in Bears history to top one hundred for the one hundred celebration, and Otis Wilson, you're in the top fifty all times Chicago Bears. This is all a part of Chicago Bears Centennial scrapbook put together by two outstanding writers, Hall of Fame writers and Don Pearson and Dan Pompey. This book will be coming out right in time for the convention fifty five dollars. It'll be

on the Bears Pro Shop when it comes out. So congratulations, top fifty player in Bears history. Well, I really know, you know, when people play, they don't play for accolades. But to hear that and know the tradition of what defensive players done in Chicago, I mean that that just total ony. I'm surprised, I'm shocked, and you know, I'm greatly appreciative. You know, otis And in my time in

watching Buddy Ryan, he never handed anything to anybody. And Jeff just read about the stats that you were able to achieve in stuff. When how did you make the transition to the good side of Buddy? What did you do that? Okay? Buddy said, I realize, man, this guy is legit. I'm gonna play him and I'm gonna give him a lot of opportunity. How did that go with

you and Buddy? Well, like everybody else, I mean, you have to win Buddy's confidence, you know, because He always said, rookies get you beat, and he stay, oh he stay on rookies and he just you know, humbles you, breaks you down to build you up. And finally, you know, probably the fifth game, you know, being anxious and wanted to play, you know, I sat in his office. I

came to have a meeting with him. Man, I sat down and talked with him, and you know, he really explained to me, you know, what he was trying to get out of his players and watching the film and understanding system because number one, that system was crazy to him. I mean, we called AFC automatic front and cover and off of anything off that particular AFC. You know, you have four or five different responsibilities and then that's not even going into you know, the forty six. So you know,

I just didn't know what was going on. I ain't gonna lie. I mean, I ain't no five bit of kapital, you know, but I mean I'm gonna jumping. I'm not a dummy, but I mean, and I understand the scheme of football. But I saw took the time to sit with him on numerous occasions and really understood what he was talking about. But then again, he was still still hard on me, you don't have no favorites. But then when you buddy's boy, he would go to bat for

you one hundred percent. And you know, I finally understood what he was trying to accomplish and how he wanted all of us to know what everybody's doing, and you know, get out there and just be the best athlete you can give, y'all. That's all he could ask, you know. And I saw always getting next to somebuddy's forty six buddy because what you know, what Kleio mac and Ron Millen Alan were doing. I was doing that a long

time ago, you know. But it's a different times and a different defense and a different scheme the way they're playing it. But that's what you know. And then keeping the stats. They really didn't start keeping the stats until probably after the eighty five eighty six season, you know, because you know my average as far as you know, looking at Richard over there or any defensive end that on that side, I can get the ball as quick as they can. So just a matter of understanding what

he was trying to do. Because he breaks, he treats us like his kid. He always say, just because I beat you don't mean I don't love you. Yeah, well, olness, when you brought up, you know, just you know the changes in the in the NFL and the evolution of it. Here the hundredth anniversary of football, and certainly football has been under attack, but yet it's rated higher than it's ever been. You know, just the meaning of football to you, Why you started playing, your love of the game, because

it certainly showed what the passion you played with. Well, you know, I love the game. I started when I was eight, and you know I used to have to go to different neighborhoods to play because after about two weeks I beat up on everybody and then nobody wanted to play. You know. So when I finally got in high school, I mean, you know, the competition got better and you always you know, my my philosophy is, I'm

not gonna let you outshine me. Ain't no way if you're gonna If I see somebody who's doing well, I'm gonna do better. And that that that's my philosophy. Since day one. I have a lot of respect for the game. We had a lot of great athletes, So I mean, you look at the offensive line, you look at you know, Walter, I mean, you know, when I first got here, the only two people that had on that offensive line with Noah Jackson and Review Short, and then Walter would follow

them and get as much as he could. So I think that eighty three draft would go down to history, probably one of the best drafts for US. That's Chicago because when league we had all these guys day do us and Richard did? I mean, everybody started coming, you know, and you know that's when that eighty three, eighty forty five, eighty six, eighty seven, I mean eighty eight. It was just a good rider. Otis Wilson, our guest at remaining moments with the Bears linebacker. I ranked the time the

top fifty all time Chicago Bears. We'll tell you more about that scrapbook coming out here in June real quick. I was thumbing through some photos today and there's an iconic one of you and Walter Peyton high five, and I believe that's when he broke the rushing record um at at Soldier Field. Um, what what was the relationship, like the bond between the two of you, because there's a lot of pictures of you on Walter. Well, when I first got here, you know, Walter, I guess took

a liking to me. And you know, I'm a guy from New York City, Brooklyn, you know, a little fast, you know, run my mouth and you know how strong, and you know he he said, you know, we just really struck up a conversation and like you do with any teammate, and it would just form that bond. And you know I would go over to you know, meet him at his house and we go hunting on Tuesdays with Roland Hopper, three of us, and you know, he would I was interested in, you know, the business aspect.

You know, he would always you know, take me to some of his restaurants and clubs. I mean we just really had a good time, you know, talking and and what I what I lived. What he loved about him was I mean he always had a smile on his face. He never took nothing serious. I mean, obviously he took a lot of things serious, but he always joking me

about it. He enjoyed what he was doing. And he always said he played this thing, do this thing, you know, like you've never done it before, because you never know how long it's gonna last. Man always kept that with me, and you know until the end. It was heartbreaking at the end, but you know he walked with a genuinely nice guy. Plus he had nice car, so I'd always get to drive this car. Everybody think they were they were minor sometimes Liken, you know, you know you take

that way like it's your car. More great stories like that, Promotis Wilson and many many other Bears. If you'll join us. Had the Bears one hundred celebration in Rosemont June seventh, through the night. We'll be looking forward to hearing these stories. You'll be on with Tim and Iron some panels, So

looking forward to see you. Thanks for taking the time tonight. Well, you know I always guys, you guys do because you guys keep it real and you make it a joyable listening to it, and you people really understand what football is all about. So until next time, piece of love. Otis Wilson, Bears linebacker, will continue with our program after this on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score back with you on Bears All Access. Jeff Jony Act, Tom Thare,

and Jim Miller. We just talked to Otis Wilson. H the unvarnished truth. Huh. Otis Wilson gives you. He gives it to his treat Tom and Jim. You know, Jeff. One thing when we talk about in preparation for one hundred year anniversary celebration with the Bears, when you talk to a teammate, it ignites stories in your head up things that happen on the practice field that not everybody sees. You know. For example, I remember the day because they

did it. They pulled it off on me, but when they did it to their defensive line coach or Dan Hampton would come up and kind of engage you in a conversation and then Mick Mike would get behind you on all fours and then half would push you over. And so they did it to behind the practice field boat the day I saw two guys like that do it to day. I'll hop their defensive line coach, and then he got so mad he was getting up chasing them. So it is. It's it's things that you think about

with old teammates that are stories that mad you. You thought that you couldn't remember them. But a conversation, a subject that you start talking to someone and then you think about a million things that you went through as a Chicago bear, either as a broadcast or a player that are you're reminded of in these times? Jim, was there an era of football that you would have preferred to play in? Or did you? Were you the right

fit for your era? H? No? I you know I enjoyed my era, you know when you look at it, you know, I started, like I said, with a great organization. But like you said, I mean, things are just different now, you know. And how you could prepare it was more hands on. You do, more field work, more practicing things like that, you know, and you look back. It's funny because you have on Os, we have on Otis Wilson to and I who's a great linebacker. And I go back and I bring this up about Dale Lindsay all

the time. I mean, I'll never forget. We'd get out of our quarterback meeting rooms and Dale Lindsay would already have the linebackers Brian or Lacker obviously, carry Samuel would be out there in Roosevelt Colvin and he worked those guys to the bone. Now, I mean, but those guys will all tell you they credit that Dale's the one that got them ready to play. Yeah, war Coleman and they were that was a good group. I mean, they

really were. But a lot of it was that that effort, you know, and all the hard work that those guys did, you know, during during you know, that time that you could go on the field in practice. And that's that's for every team that I've been with. You know, I could tell you a story like that and uh, you know, coach impacting a player plus the players, you know, realizing how great that they were and how good a players, uh they could be. And he pushed them now, and

he pushed them hard. And those players were all willing to accept it. Probably like what ODIs said, didn't like it all the time, but they knew at the end of the day was making them better, all right. He's a heck of a linebacker two in the NFL, Dale Lindsay, I think the guys called him Sergeant Slaughter. So he was a tough guy. Man, he isn't He had so many knee injuries. That guy kept coming out of the practice field though, and coaching, coaching everybody up. He took nothing.

None of those guys could take anything for granted, because he never knew where we're gonna get the next day of practice, you know, and some of these types of stories. And I'm gonna go back to this book that Don Pearson and Dan Pompey put together, and you know, with the foremost authority on the Chicago Bears, Virginia mccasky also providing a unique look back at the at the first

one hundred years. They spent ten hours, over ten hours with her interviewing her and she's the only one with the first hand knowledge of every decade guys in the one hundred year history, So you can imagine what those stories are gonna be. Like, Oh, I mean it's unique. I don't you know. There's a couple of organizations that have the people I have been around him with the

Rooney family or the Mars and stuff. But when you talk about the creation of the NFL and just just some of the meetings or everything that she was able to witness, there's not a person that you could go and talk to about the NFL that has actual eye account experiences. Yeah, it's really is amazing. Like and I mentioned this about Dan Rooney all the time, God rest his soul when I was with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But now you know his son or his relatives taken over

the team. And you know, and that's the same for the whole mccaskie family. I mean, that whole family has grown, has seen it, have been a part of it, have witnessed it. But none none like her. None. I mean it truly is amazing. Be looking for the book Chicago Bear Centennial Scrapbook insider take on coaches, players, ownership, key games, innovations, significant milestones, events that shape what the Bears are today. There's going to be so many different things in that book,

including you know, artifacts and everything like that. So it's going to be a great, great thing to get on your table for sure, on your nightstand. All right, a couple of things league wide today. Just want to touch on him real quick. First of all, Kyler Murray signed

his contract. It's not unusual obviously with the way it's everything slotted now, but the thirty five million dollar contract for Kyler Murray, well, you know, now it's up to Arizona to make sure that they cultivate his talent, figure out a way how you can use it, and in the abusive defenses of NFL football, making sure that he turns out to be an asset that's going to lead you into the future for the next ten years, because this GM cannot go and fail on two top ten

quarterback picks within two years. And that so I think there's a lot of pressure here with the first time head coach, a passing coordinator that's not really an RPO type of coach. And then his size is always going to be suspect unless he's so great that it just doesn't matter. Yeah. I mean here, I think there's the stu i'le the fit, and you're right. I think we'll see how it plays out, you know. And I think Tom brings up a good point about Steve Kind. But

I will say this about the general manager Arizona. He supports his coach, what his coach needs, he drafts, and obviously Cliff Kingsbury he coveted Kyler Murray. Shoot, he recruited him out of high school. He's seen the kid since he was a young man and always grown out to be a first round picking not only baseball but football as well. So certainly a lot of excitement about Kyler Murray.

I want to ask you a question, Jim. If Bruce are hypothetically Bruce arians is still the head coach of Arizona, does he develop Josh Rosen or does he even consider Kyler Murray. I don't think, in my opinion, I don't think he would have considered Kyler Murray. He has always been the big strong pocket passer guy. Why he went out, you know he's been with Big Ben. You think of the guys he was within Cleveland and then they even went out and traded and got Carson Palmer from the

Oakland Raiders. So he likes the big strong arm pocket passer guy is to throw chuck it down the field. All right, guys, believe it or not, We're out of time, ready to row. Thanks as always, Tom Fair, Jim Miller. Thanks to our guest tonight Haha, Clinton dix Otis Wilson. Thanks most of all, thank you for listening. Thanks to her Lawrence, Adam Suzinski and Shane Reardon. We're out of here. This has been Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio

six seventy the Score. Thanks for listening to this Chicago Bears Network presentation of Bears All Access. Podcasts are available on Chicago Bears dot com and on iTunes, or download the official Bears mobile app. Bears All Access has been brought to you by IGS Energy and sponsored by CDW, Athletico Physical Therapy and Ford