All Access: Nichols developing on defensive

Miller Lite and Hulu. You gotta be talking Bears football with you from Halla Saw, Jeff, Johnny Eck and Tom Fair from News Radio seven eighty one to five point m WBBM, the broadcast crew with Pause Oranger, Engineer Dan Billy, Our producer and Herb Lawrence and Chris Dickens helping us out at the score of studios. The three and one Bears out of the bye week, and we are pleased to be joined by one of the guys who is making the most of his snaps, the rookie from Delaware,

Belal Nichols. Good evening, thanks for joining us. You're ready for the next hour? Oh yes, I am. I would like thank you guys for having It's been our it's been our pleasure to have you. It's our pleasure to talk to you, and it's been our pleasure to watch you play. I know Tom loves the World's the way you're playing too. You know, I want to talk about your first name a little bit because I'm not familiar with it, and I don't think a lot of people

are either, because you kind of burst out on the scene. Now. I have a national broadcaster message me yesterday how do I say your name? And it's kind of funny because blah, and how do you say it to me? So? Yeah, you said it right? Okay, Okay, It's It's interesting. I've never seen the name, and I always admire Jeff because after being in the broadcasting for twenty years, the names have changed so much in the difficulty of memorizing each of them, but I do. I still find it amazing

that you burst out of the scene. Now national broadcasters are trying to figure out how to say your name, and you know, it's what happens when you make play. Well blow, what happened to John and Jim and Joe? We got blah, We got all kind of different names out there right in the focus. Is there a background to that name? Um? I'm not really not really sure too much. I just know that it is a Muslim name. I'm not Muslim, though. My mother just kind of liked

the name as she thought it was unique. She tried to go for a unique name. And you know, I actually have an older cousin name Balaoun. He's about ten to fifteen years older than me, and she just, I guess she just loved the name, and you know, decided to say, so, is he still with us? Walking around with a little bit of extra Priday because now you're kind of making You're gonna make that first name famous

people across the country. The first time they'll hear that name is when it comes across a national and broadcasting football game. Yeah, so, you know, yeah, so I'm kind of still in his shine a little bit. I guess you could say, you know, before the start of the year, watching your combine, watching your forty at the combine, before you got into the blocks, the broadcasters I kind of talk, oh, who is this guy? Where is he from? What? We don't know much about him? All he looks good and stuff.

And then you're on a sub five forty. Now all of a sudden you're on the radar. Did that four point whatever seconds change the outlook of the way people reacted to you, Oh, yeah, I definitely think it did. Um, you know, I knew a lot of people didn't really know about me, you know, coming from you know, the University of Delaware, which is considered the small school, which I don't consider the small school, but you know it's the FCS school, and you know it's it doesn't get

the attention that those FBS schools get. And you know that was something I had that I had to battle with. And um, you know, I knew my athletic abilities, I knew my strengths and things like that, so you know I knew once I got to the Combine, now I will open up a lot of eyes. Um. I also realized that, you know, I was a lot more athletic than you know I was showing on film. Just because

of the schemes that we played. You know, I was asked to do certain things that you know, really didn't complement my athletic abilities, but you know, anything to help us win. What kind of crowds did your play in front of it? And then when you were at the Combine that that stadium seem enormous to you because I just don't know what kind of stadiums you've you've been

through throughout your career. Yeah. So, um, you know, each year in college we played a FBS program ACC school, Um, you know, my my my freshman year we played pitt at pit um So more year at University of North Carolina, North Carolina, my junior year we played UM we played Wake four s and then my senior year we played Virginia Tech. So you know, I was I was kind of familiar with playing in bigger stadium, so you know,

when I got to the combine, I embraced it. I felt like I belonged, and you know, I felt like it. You know, it was my time to show everybody, you know, what I got. So you would have you played Mitch and that's sophomore year I did, you know, you know, it was funny. Um, I haven't had this conversation with Mitch yet, but it was the first time that I believe he got in like and I remember it was like the second game of the year my junior season,

the twenty sixteen season. Um, the starting quarterback was actually a guy named Marquis Williams. Um. You know he was he was tearing it up and uh, you know it was a close game. I think it was like it was like tie like seven to seven between us and like the first half, and he went down with the injury and then they put Mitchen and h Mitchell let us up like and that, And I think that's when it really think it's really started to take off of Mitch.

Like he came in and he picked us apart. I think he threw for like three hundred and something yards and you know, he really picked us apart. So I haven't had that conversation with him yet, so I think he should think he should. Yeah, there, you did you get a piece of him in that game. I gotta I gotta pressure. I wasn't able to get a sack. You know, you you referred to the scheme you played it? What help? What did they ask you to do? And what do you think what they asked you to do?

Because you're gonna do what they ask you to do. Held you back a little bit and showing who who you truly are as an athletic defensive lineman. Yeah, well, um, you know I played I played a lot of notes there. Um, you know, I played every position there, but you know, mainly I played notes because I was one of the

you know more bigger and more athletic guys. And you know, I was better on taking double teams and blocked straight on and you know, I was really just asked it, you know, just just take on blockers so that our linebackers can rolling free, so you know, and then passing situations, we always rushed three, so I never really got a chance to show what I could do from like you know, a three technique or well five five offensive lineman against

three rushing defensive linemen. Yeah. Wow, it's tough. And that was difficult too because you know, you know, it's five of them, three of us, and then it would be times where you know they might keep six you know, um six in the block. So you know, that was kind of difficult to really show show you your pass

rushing abilities. Um, you know. And plus um, I really didn't get the opportunity to rush a whole lot from the edge, which I really wanted to do to show how I could bend and show you know, my versatility. So you know, when a combine came around and the All Star Games came around, I really tried to make that emphasis to show people that you know, I can do these things. You know, I'm just doing what you know,

what was best for my team. You know, it's nice to see them expand on your versatility because I think playing a consistent diet a nose guard, you're always going to be hit by at least two guys every play. Now you stretch your versatility and why you can get that one on one. We saw the results of it last week where you get a one on one, an inefficient step and you're in the backfield almost taking the handoff.

So it's it's nicely when you when you moved away from the nose guard, because initially, when you came here at the beginning of training camp, that's where you're playing. Then you start expanding your role. Did it feel did you feel like you're all of a sudden starting to get more space to work within or did it change the way you're feeling from noose ground outside? Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Did you feel free to encumbered? Yeah, it's it's a lot different when you and that nose

you have limited space. You have to be smart with you know, the way you rush, you know, just the way you go about things in there, because your space is very limited and you have to be more of a technician. When you're on the outside, you could get away with a lot more things because you have a lot more space to work with. So you know that

that was the biggest difference that I noticed. Um, and you know, uh, you know, guys like a kam Eddie Goldman, they really helped me with that understanding the difference between you know, being inside, knowing how much space you have, normal moves you can make, normal moves you can't make, and then you know, going outside and you know, giving you more lead way to you know, do your thing. You're trying to make the tackle for loss against Taffa.

Did you even have time to think about it? Or did it happen so quickly you're just saying, okay, now, fundamental, let's make the tackle. Yeah, it just happened so quickly. Like um, like you know, I was able to get a good step on the guard and you know, I just you know, just try to make sure I made a nice form tackle. Um. The worst thing is getting there and not making the play. Well, that's what I'm saying.

Some of those there's there's years of footage of people being in that opportunity, and you know, you think of the play last in the playoffs when the dB got his head down in the Minnesota games, you know, the playoff game, and like I said, you you you burst out and you don't have a time to think about it. It is about just making sure you get the tackle. Yeah, it's just about you know, just knowing your technique. You

know things we practice all the time. We always practice, you know, tackling, fundamental, fundamentally tackling, so you know, just trusting your technique and you know, just just trying to make the play. I don't know if you know this or not, but that guard you beat, Ali Marpett in Tampa just got a fifty five million dollar extension yesterday. I heard about that actually, and he was a good player.

He's a good player. But that you must take pride in that that guy is considered one of the premier guards in football. You smoked him. He got fifty five million dollars extension. You're just from Delaware, don know him. That is Nichols. He's quickly becoming one of my favorite players on this team. I love the way he plays. He plays with a very specific mindset. And we'll talk about that when we come back with Tom there. I'm Jeff Joniac. This is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports

Radio six seventy The Score. Welcome back to Bears All Access brought to you by IGS Energy, a proud partner of the 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 and Tim with you, but All Nichols is our guest heading into the break. I talked about mindset and just listening to you from the moment you were drafted to

you sitting here right now. Is that that belief, that sacrifice that you made over the course of your life to get to where you are. It kind of makes you who you are on the field, doesn't it. Yes, Yes, it does. You know. I put a lot of hard work into, you know, you know, my career and getting better and better each each time I step out there on the field, And you know, I was just trying to make sure that, you know, once I came here to people understood that, you know, I'm always going to

make my best effort to get better. I'm never going to be the same player each day. I'm gonna always get better, you know. And you know, I just I just work hard and just try to strive to be the best. What made you different today at practice? Um? Today I got better at technique. You know that's that's something that you know, a king works with me with you know, continuously he owes me to that standard. And you know my other my other veteran D lineman and

my D line coach. You know, as as a defensive linement, your technique can never be too perfect. You know you could you could always work on that. Yeah, that positive reinforcement every day for offense and defensive linement is so important. Um. Jeff talked about the mindset. Ever, when we came back from commercial, how did this week fit into you personally? Because you're word talking to a rookie, a young guy.

This has really been a long season so far since you've been here, from July in the Hall of Fame game all that kind of stuff and your mindset. Was this a good time for you to have the buy? Or Man, you're a young guy filled with energy. Could you have gone, you know, gone the stretch? Yeah? I

could have kept going. Um, you know I could have kept going, but it also was good to have the buy just because you know, I'm a guy who likes to reevaluate things, So you know, having this buy gave me an opportunity to mentally and physically recharge and for me to sit down and because I'm always looking at things I could do better, for me to sit down and say, Okay, you know I played in these games, this is what I need to work on, this is what I need to work on. This is what I

need to work on. And I'm a guy who likes to turn my weaknesses into strengths. So you know, this whole week in practice so far, the things that I sat down and evaluated about myself, I made an extra effort, you know, to try and correct and turn them into strength. Did you have the experience in college where they had a fall break but you guys had to stay there because you guys were still in the process of football season.

Because when I went to Notre Dame, there was a fall break and it was kind of nice when dude, we didn't have classes, there was no students on campus, and it was just football kind of exclusive for that week. And it's like, I just say, there's kind of similarities to the bye week because you're not going to school Um, you get a time off and it is just time for self evaluation. Did you have that experience in college or is this the first time you really experienced time

off in the middle of a season. Um. I mean we had a buy in college, but you know, we never had like a fall break. Um. You know, the break that we did have would be like a winter break. Um, you know, right at the spring ball in the spring. So you know this this was like, uh you know, so it kind of had me used to it because I did the same thing in college when we had to buy um you know, but but you know, here it's a little bit different because we actually had more

time time to ourselves. You know, in college, you might have like a day or two off and then you know, all the other days you still on the end the facility. Um, you know, but everything is just you know, limited, like it's very light. Um, we're here. You know, we were able to have the whole week off, so you know,

UM that that was different from me. But but I enjoyed it just because I was able to really sit down and pick apart like my whole game, you know, And you know, I really enjoyed that because you know, I'm always trying to get better. It's interesting to be on a team. It's a young team, but it also has a lot of veteran players. As a twenty just turned twenty two year old. Happy belated birthday in September, right, Yeah? Is it? Is it an adjustment to come into a

locker room. I'm speaking more of off the field where guys have families, wives, girlfriends, et cetera. And while you got guys your age on the team, finding that time to hang out. What's the challenge of that as a young man. Yeah, it's definitely different. Um, you know, like you said, like guys on the team have like kids and like whys Like it's like crazy, Like you know, it's crazy because in college, uh, you know, the biggest thing was like if somebody had had one child. You know,

Now you come here, you know, guys have family. So that was kind of weird for me at first. Um, you know, but after a while you kind of get used to it. I think me and all all the rookies kind of had to you know, you guys all that the rookies hand together or is it unit specific all the rookies hand together? Yeah? Yeah, we do a lot together. We we stick real, real close to each other.

And you know, through this whole process we leaned on each other to get each other through, you know, because because everything is different, Um, you know, you had to be uh, you know, you had to be mentally strong. So you know, we were lean on each other, use each other as crutches, you know, to make sure that you know we were still here. You know, honestly, at time would you say, I would say that it's maybe

the underrated aspect of the game. I mean, obviously what happens between the White Lions would happen a practice every day. It's paramount. But from a mental point of view, relaxation or whatever, you know, having some time together with with folks like minded and so forth. There's also an es sessional part of this, because you have your work day and then you have you know, your your downtime. But you know, too is like when does a click for you? Okay?

You know, you come here from a bigger school, so you have you've you've been around it all, you've seen it all, and there are certain expectations. You come here from a smaller school in the NFL, So when does a click for you? Going? Okay, I'm an OTA's training camp after a couple of months, saying, Okay, I belong here, and I think that's a transition. You got rookies that you can lean on, but it's about your job. It's not about the rookie classes job. So when did it

click for you? Um? It really clicked for me when training camp came. You know, you know, I always believed in myself, but you know, once we put the paths on and we really started to get outter it. Um, you know I knew I belonged here. You know, it was just it was just a question to me working on things to make sure, you know, I have opportunity to be able to stay here. Um. You know, so, like like you said, it's not the rookie class jobs,

it's your job. You know, you gotta be honed into the things that you know it's going to allow you to stay on the field. What was a bigger transition that your defensive responsibilities because they're multiple, or the way what you are seeing in front of you from the offense, you know, because the different speed that can the variations of formations and everything. But now you're not one guy that's lining up in the nose every play. And being

a big strong guy. You're you know three technique, five technique, zero technique, Blitzer's next to you. Yeah, that's a tough one because you know, learning the different positions. Uh, that was definitely a challenge because you know, you want to show everybody that you had a versatility, but you know a lot comes with that mentally. You know, you gotta be sharp on every play, and it's it's no time to be out there second guessing yourself, you know, because

that's just slowing you down. But I would have to say it would be um, you know, just just getting adjusted to the speed of the game. You know, that was I would say that that was the biggest challenge. You know, you know, I'll be blessing enough to go against Kyle Longer every day, right, Um, you know, you

know Bobby, all those guys. So that was like a you know the first time, it was like these these guys good and you know, the two coaches there, they got a little personality that they in put you know, Rogers on one side of Harry he staid on the other end. Yeah, they're willing to challenge eat of you guys. You know, to do your best to work your hardest, which is cool. Yeah, so that was that was the biggest thing. You know, Kyle, Kyle helps me out of

him go at it. We make practice fund for each other. A big strong guys. Oh yeah yeah. Can you feel his strength? Oh yeah, most definitely. He's very very strong, very physical. But it helps me out in so many ways that you know, I only think he realizes, like, you know, a lot of the plays that you know I've been able to make, um, you know, it's a compliment to him. Uh, just because you know he's working me every day. You know, he's in my eyes, the

best guard in NFL right now. So you know, me younger guy being able to get the was reps against him, it's just making me better and better each day. All Right, we're gonna take a break here on Bears All Access, but all Nichols kind enough to join us up until seven o'clock tonight with Tom There. I'm Jeff Joniak, and this is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. To score. This segment of Bears All Access is orchestrated by CDW CDW people who get at Jeff and time with you here

on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The score, but all Nichols, our guests, the rookie out of the University of Delaware we beat. Did you go back to school this break or did you just stay here? No? I actually was able to go back to school. I really went back

home to see my grandparents. But you know, my school was only about twenty twenty five minutes away, so I was able to go to a practice and you know, chop it up with a few of my former teammates because that week in their game was away, so I know I wasn't gonna be able to, you know, make the game, so I just wanted to go see them

and just let them know I'm still supporting. Yeah, you're very supportive, I think from the videos you shot with the school, and they've done a very nice job documenting your your history at that school, really really good program. They're putting together videos about your journey and so forth. But they give back that you are also providing, Uh, is really substantial. What resonates with you about what that coaching staff, what the people, what that culture there did

for Balo Nickels, And they've done so much. You know, I wouldn't be here sitting here today if it wasn't for those people. Um, you know, it's it's so many people that helped me get to where I'm at there. Um, you know, it's it's been times where you know, those people really sacrifice their time with their family and things like that just to make sure that I was successful. Um,

you know it was. It was countless nice where I was up with tutors or update with coach watching film and you know those people just you know, they've seen something in me, and you know they they they felt like, you know, they had to do those things with me, and you know, I always try to let them know, like, you know, I appreciate everything you guys have done for me. And you know, in any way I can get back,

I'm I'm always going to. You gotta know, from our seats sitting in here, it's rare to hear that from a guy, honestly, to be that appreciative. It's nice to be able to give back by example. And that's the thing about it, because you give a lot of kids belief that if they work hard and give the effort, they're not necessarily going to make it the NFL, but something they're going to be successful. How about the academic side of afford to you, did it go according to

your plan? Are you? Are you satisfied? Are you satisfied with the way you came out of college, because I think that's as important to talk about as your academic or your athletic accomplishments, because the two in order them for the mesh successfully in college, it's got to be an equal side commitment. Oh yes, most definitely the academic side of it. Oh my god, my school had you know,

they gave me tremendous support. I was actually able to graduate in three and a half years for you you know, and I wouldn't have been able to do that without the support from you know, the academic advisors, my coaches. You got to take the support though. I think that's the message here. You know, there's a lot of stuff that we've seen guys all throughout our life, but that they had offerings, but it's about the way you accepted them. Yeah, definitely.

School was huge to me. You know, I was one of the first people in my in my in my family to receive a college degree, so you know that that always is huge, you know, one of my biggest goals. So you know, I always told myself that I was never going to sure change myself. And if people out there willing to you know, give up their time and their energy to help me, um, you know, I would

never make them regret it, you know. So you know that was very huge for me being able to graduating three and a half years because it gave me an opportunity to you know, be done with school. And didn't you know taking oh man, I was. I was taking because because I did it four years with no summer school, and it was fifteen hours of semester every semester, I mean, which and you sweated it out every day, didn't you.

It was an academic side of it was harder than the football side of it, but it's still it's equally as important. Far. Yeah, it was a lot um. You know. I was taking a almost fifteen credits you know, every semester, and then in the summer and winter, I was taking a class um. And then towards like my junior and senior year, in the summer and winter, I started taking like one Instead of taking one class, sometimes I picked

up two classes, you know. So I was kind of grinding through that because you know, school was very important to me. And then I also wanted to be able to, you know, fulfill my dream and you know, be ready to train for the NFL. So your second semester senior year, did you just get to concentrate. I'm getting prepared for your your senior day to combine and everything that light in front of you. Yep, I was just preparing for that.

I was away training. Um you know, already had graduated, and then I came back to school and and made just to walk. But I had already had my degree, so theology major. Any long term plans for yourself? Um, yes, I actually I actually want to you know, when when football is all said and done, you know, going to a school and then be some type of guy in this counselor you know, some type of guy that you know kids can talk to and look up to, and uh, you know, just just try to use um, you know

what I've been through, you know, to help kids. You know, if if it's some things that I feel like, you know, I could save them from going through, I'm going to try to do that. So you know, those are those are my plans. You know, after football is over and you went through a lot, there's no question, right every everybody's got a story. Everybody's got a journey. But you mentioned that academics and how important it appears to me your grandparents, who you moved in with as a young child,

really laid that base. I saw one of the videos with all the decorated academic excellence that you put forth in high school. There's a lot of great stuff there. Yeah, my grandmother, my grandparents, but my grandmother in particular. You know, you wasn't doing anything unless your grades were good. I mean, like, you know, if I had a basketball game, football game, basketball practice, football practice, if my grades weren't looking right,

she was not letting me participate. So you know, and I appreciate her for that because you know, education meant the world to her, you know, and I wouldn't. I wouldn't have been able to do that without her. Is it is that a big part of what they did for you now that you will do for others and you almost seek out, you know, even in your own locker room. We'll talk about specifics about that, but is that did that have such an impact on you or were you five? Yes? I would have five? Yeah, and yes,

like like you said, yeah, that played the huge impact. Um, you know, I wouldn't be here without them, like they they really like you know, gave me hope and gave me, you know, belief and the opportunity, you know, and and I was blessing enough to have them because you know, not everybody has grandparents like that, you know, to to to give them support and give them, give them love

and things like that. You know, a lot of people don't have grandparents, their grandparents passed away, things of that nature. So you know, that's that's kind of why I want to get back. I want to be somebody that you know, people can lean on, because you know, everybody don't have it the way I did. Well, When did you know just to FA sported all the stuff that you work through? When did Ryan pay show up on your radar? Or when did you know any type of Chicago recognition show

up to you? At my pro day? Uh coach coach j Rogers was at my pro day. Um, you know he was. He was wanting the defensive line coaches that worked me out, And that was like the first road encounter I had with Chicago. Did you I mean, did you know he was the Bears defensive line coach? Oh? Yeah, I knew. I knew I had, I had talked to him Um before he had came down. Was there any other teams out there showing a great deal of interest in you that maybe confused you a little bit in

terms of you didn't know what to think on draft Day? Yeah, you know, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers d line coach was there just think lastly playing against Kyle Um. He was there. Um. And also he was there in the Tennessee Titans defensive line coach was there. Um And then also I believe the general manager for the Houston Texas was there and uh and and you know a bunch of other people were also there. So you know, I really I really

didn't know like where I was going to go. I was really like, you know, I've been talking to a bunch of different teams at that time, and you know a lot of teams I said they liked me, But you know, I just you just never know during that whole process. It's it's nea the investment that your grandparents put into You had people from the national football landscape coming to see you. It's a great reward for them, and it's a tribute to you for what you invested

back in your grandparents. Yes, yes it is. I would not be there, be here without them. I mean, oh my god. There there my number one supporters, Dolores Bolton and how do you pronounce your grandfathers Adova? Adova? Very good? Keep people in a man's life, right there, Nichols our guest here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio

six seventy to score this sweet gut. Inside the Bears, Roy Robertson Harris goes for a ride with Spice, Adams and another edition of Big Guy in a Ben's Bellah, you you experienced the double a experience A Yeah, how was it? Jeff? Goodtime? What are you talking about with Spice? Yeah? Oh no, I haven't actually won two. Oh I'm very interested. Well, Dan BURRELLI, our producer here, is in charge of that.

So get on it, my friend, get on it. Inside the Bears brought to you by Verizon as Saturday six pm on C fifty Chicago and Sundays at eleven o five on Fox thirty two Chicago. You can also watch show segments online at Chicago Bears dot com around the Chicago Bears Official app. Anytime you know sidetrack a little bit, because that particular feature you know, we all we loved double A. We loved him as a player too. To me, one of the most underrated, uh smaller defensive tackles. Yeah,

specifically he had roots right right. But I remember when he was in that draft and scouts that we were talking to and so forth. You know, it was a guy named Jimmy Kennedy who played briefly here for the Bears. I forgot his nickname. Oh who's a nickname back then? Anyway, Jimmy was the highly thought of one from Penn State. And they said, you know, how about this Anthony Adams guy, And they said, this guy will have a better career

than Jimmy Kennedy who got the first round. And sure enough, Anthony Adams had a long career and played for the forty nine ers and the Bears and had had a great career and now he's got a second career. He's funny, Yeah, he's funny. Do you got you as players like to show that side of your life a little bit, the the fun side of your life. Yeah, we do. We try to show people that, you know, it's more than

just you know, on the field. You know, we're people too, you know, so we try to show that side of us and you know, get let people get to know us. You got some funny guys in that locker room, but allowed us to this day. I mean, Tarik's non stop oh stop trek is hilarious. Oh my god. I go to Tarik every day and just mess with him just

so I get a good laugh. Well, you know, we soft footage of the whole disco ball thing in the locker room after the games, and I asked one of our guests here, have you seen anybody that should never dance again? Number one? And what is your post game, you know, dealing with with the disco ball? Oh? Man, I'll be I'll be in there just just enjoying it with my teammates. We'd be all jumping around. Isn't allow.

It's jumping, not necessarily jump, it's jumping. We just excited, just hugging each other, just you know, just just expressing how much we care for each other, and you know how much we appreciate each other for you know, coming in and work every day and working hard. I got one of my living room now because of it, I do. I'll take a picture of it. Even I don't even know what I don't have a background on that. It's yeah,

well what are you doing with that? Somebody gave it to me because I saw it on the Bears using, so I took it and I had a plant hanger in the corner of my living room. Well it is. It is fun to see. It's fun to see a bunch of young guys coming together. And even this week Danny Trevisan in the locker room said, hey, you know, a bunch of us veterans we're sitting around talking, Which I love that right away, right because they weren't just

talking about like they're talking about focus. They're talking abo about the length of the season, the journey, and spreading that information and knowledge their own experiences to the rest of you. Guys. I can't tell you how invaluable that is, you know, to a team, and it's a team that clearly respects each other. Do you get that feeling and are you intuitive enough to see that as a young man? Oh? Yeah, most definitely. Um, you know, these guys here are some

of the most you know, selfless guys I ever met. Um, you know, they're they're they're all always about just making the team better and just just helping out us younger guys, Um. You know, guys like like Danny and and A Kim and Khalil like those are guys who bring it every day. But you know they aren't selfish with knowledge. You know they're always passing it along. You know. I can go to Danny and asking asking anything about how to get better. I can go to Khalil asking anything. And of course

a Kam tell us the A Kiem story. You told me the other day because I was doing a feature on you for for WBBM, and it's it's a wonderful thing what he's doing. Tell him, yeah, so um so Keim, he's he's been tremendous for me. Um. You know, in practice in camp when we first got there, he told me, uh, a rook, You're gonna always be my partner, so you know when we do drills and an individual, he me

and him are always partners always and he's always helping me. Um. But then he told me it was one day he said, uh, for now and every time, you know, at the preseason game, when we're on a plane right back, I want you to come up there and watch film with me. So you know, every game, you know, I watched film when we watched the whole game. We go through each player on the D line and he'd be like, now, tell me where he could have done better, or tell me

how does this look to you? Or you know things like that, and words can't explain how much that means to me, right, you know, getting that getting that type of one on one from a from a player of his caliber. Um, you know, that's that's that's a guy that you know, I want to be just as good as one day. So you know, he's meant He's meant so much to me. I don't even think he understands.

And uh, you know, and even outside of football with you know, regular life stuff, he's he's helping me with and you know he's I look at him like a big brother. I appreciate it. It's a great line you use, and I hope I remember that these veterans are not

selfish with knowledge. Yeah, And I think that's a great line, and that should be one of the lines that's up in the hallway up there, because those veterans being a lot and you know, there's not a lot of veterans that will take a young guy and t give them those experiences because they're so we're also it's I'm including myself. I'm self contained in my own career. Yeah, so you didn't. Would you have done the same thing for him back

when you played? Just be honest? Probably you know it's different now because before when I was here, you had to go out and you had to get the beta, you had to wait for it to be made, then you had to get the room to be able to use the projector. It was a lot different. Um, I don't know. I would have probably been I would have probably been my selfish self as a player, even have an act us to the modern day technology, we weren't

fortunate enough to have it. But but I think also, you know, he played for a coach that put the fear of God in you about keeping your job every day, So maybe that was part of your mindset. I think that's you know, as much as my mindset is balal the fear of losing your job. That is one of the greatest motivators for anybody of any pursued business, sports or whatever. It's an interesting discussion because I believe it weaves a fabric for a team to help each other

and be selfless like that. I really do. I think it's a wonderful thing that a keeps doing. And he went through something with himself. You know, hearing him today for the first time about being disqualified from the game the other day, first time in his entire athletic life that he ever been kicked out of a game, and it was a lesson learned for him, even as he hits the age of thirty and he's been a veteran in this league. And he said he talked to the team,

he apologized to the team. You being so close to him, how how was he through that whole process here in the last week and a half or so, He handled it actually pretty well. Um, you know, he handled it better than I probably would have. Um. You know, the team is one of those guys who you know, his

his word me and everything. So you know when he when he preaches to the team in the defense about you know, not not making mistakes and not making dumb mistakes rather and you know, just just just being a team player. Um, you know, he didn't want anybody to feel like he was being hypocritical. Um, you know by going out there and you know, getting dismissed from the game.

So you know, um, you know, it really felt good, you know, to hear him talk to the team and you know, just just to let just let everybody know, like you know, how he felt and things like that, and everybody knows a team like he's a He's a bubbly guy, walks in every day, you know, keeps a smile on his face. You know, as has good, positive, contagious energy. So you ever notice how what a violent

tackler he is. I was watching some highlights, some footages of US today in preparation for stuff Jeff and I are going to do this weekend. Ye, I'm telling you, man, whether it's catching or running back, get unforded getting a quarterback that's unfortunate. He's violent at the end. He's very violent. It's funny you said that because we were actually talking

about that. I believe it was yesterday. In films, he's always slamming of running back if you look like he's really slamming them, and if you're an unfortunate offensive garden, he realizes that you got a one on one. He's really violent against those guys too, And my gosh, but you know, I guess it's the finished product when he gets the chance to tackle strip whatever. But mat Remember last year in New Orleans with Drew Brees. Yeah, you

know right, ragged on them all right. We'll talk more with Below Nichols as we wind down here on Bears All Access with Tom there. I'm Jeff Joniac. Thanks for listening, Everyboddy. This is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score this week Gut Inside the Bears, Roy Robertson Harris goes for a ride with Spice, Adams and another edition of Big Guys in the Ben's below you you experienced the double a experiencing Yeah, how was it, Jeff? Goodtime? What are

you talking about with Spice? Yeah? Oh no, I haven't. I actually won two. I'm very interested. Well, Dan Burrelly, our producer here, is in charge of that. So get on it, my friend, get on it. Inside the Bears brought to you by Verizon as Saturday six pm on c W fifty Chicago and Sundays at eleven o five on Fox thirty two Chicago. You can also watch show segments online at Chicago Bears dot com. Round the Chicago

Bears Official app. Anytime you know sidetrack a little bit, because that particular feature, you know, we all we loved double A. We loved him as a player too. To me, one of the most underrated, uh smaller defensive tackle specifically, he had roots right right. But I remember when he was in that draft and Scots that we were talking to and so forth. You know, was a guy named Jimmy Kennedy who played briefly here for the Bears. I

forgot his nickname. Oh he's a nickname back then. Anyway, Jimmy was the highly thought of one from Penn State. And they said, you know, how about this Anthony Adams guy, And they said, this guy will have a better career than Jimmy Kennedy who got the first round or enough. Anthony Adams had a long career and played for the forty nine ers and the Bears and had had a great career and now he's got a second career. He's funny, Yeah,

he's funny. You got you as players like to show that side of your life a little bit, the the fun side of your life. Yeah, we do. We try to show people, you know, it's more than just you know on the field. You know, we're people too, you know, so we try to show that side of us, you know, get let people get to know us. You got some funny guys in that locker room, but allowed us to this day. I mean Tarik's non stop, oh stop. Tarrik

is hilarious. Oh my god. I go to trick every day and just mess with him just so I could get a good laugh. Well, you know, we saw footage of the whole disco ball thing in the locker room after the games, and I asked one of our guests here, or have you seen anybody that should never dance again? Number one? And what what is your post game, you know, dealing with the with the disco ball. Oh man, I'll be I'll be in there just just enjoying it with

my teammates. We'd be all jumping around. Isn't allowed to it's jump, not necessarily jump, it's jumping. We just excited, just hugging each other, just you know, just just expressing how much we care for each other, and you know how much we appreciate each other for you know, coming in and work every day and working hard. I got one of my living room now because of it. I do. I'll take a picture of it. I don't even know what. I don't have a background on it. It's yes, Well,

what are you doing with that. Somebody gave it to me because I saw it on the Bears using it, so I took it and I had a plant hanger in the corner of my living room. Well it is. It is fun to see. It's fun to see a bunch of young guys coming together. And even this week, Danny Trevisan in the locker room said, Hey, you know, a bunch of us veterans we're sitting around talking, which I love that right away because they weren't just talking

about like they're talking about focus. They're talking about the length of the season, the journey, and spreading that information and knowledge their own experiences to the rest of you. Guys. I can't tell you how invaluable that is, you know, to a team, and it's a team that clearly respects each other. Do you get that feeling and are you intuitive enough to see that as a young man? Oh? Yeah, most definitely. Um, you know, these guys here are some

of the most you know, selfless guys I ever met. Um. You know, they're they're they're all always about just making the team better and just just helping out us younger guys. Um. You know, guys like like Danny and and a Kim and Khalil like those are guys who bring it every day. But you know they aren't selfish with knowledge. You know, they're always passing it along. You know. I can go to Danny and asking asking anything about how to get better. I can go to Kalil asking anything. And of course

a Kim tell us a Kim story. You told me the other day because I was doing a feature on you for for WBBM, and it's it's a wonderful thing what he's doing. Tell him. Yeah, so, um so a Kim, he's he's been tremendous for me. Um. You know, um in practice in camp when we first got there, he told me, uh, a rook, You're gonna always be my partner, so you know when we do drills and an individual, he me and him are always partners always and he's

always helping me. Um. But then he told me it was one day he said, uh, for now, and every time, you know, at the preseason game, when we're on the plane right back, I want you to come up there and watch film with me. So you know every game, you know, I watched film. When we watched the whole game, we go through each player on the D line and he'd be like, now, tell me where he could have done better, or tell me how does this look to you?

Or you know things like that, and worriors can't explain how much that means to me, right, you know, getting that getting that type of one on one from a from a player of his caliber. Um, you know, that's that's that's a guy that you know, I want to be just as good as one day. So you know, he's meant He's meant so much to me. I don't even think he understands. And um, you know, and even outside of football with you know, regular life stuff, he's he's helping me with and you know he's he's I

look at him like a big brother. I appreciate it. It's a great line you use, and I hope I remember that these veterans are not selfish with knowledge. Yeah, And I think that's a great line, and that should be one of the lines that's up in the hallway up there, because those veterans being a lot and you know, there's not a lot of veterans that will take a young guy and give them those experiences because they're so we're also it's I'm including myself I'm self contained in

my own career. Yeah, so you didn't. Would you have done the same thing for him back when you played? Just be honest. Probably? You know it's different now because before when I was here, you had to go out and you had to get the beta, you had to wait for it to be made, then you had to get the room to be able to use the projector. It was a lot different. Um, I don't know. I would have probably been I would have probably been myselfish self as a player, even having access to the modern

day technology, we weren't fortunate enough to have it. But but I think also, you know, he played for a coach that had put the fear of gut in you about keeping your job every day, So maybe that was part of your mindset. I think that's you know, as much as my mindset is balal the fear of losing your job. That is one of the greatest motivators for

for anybody of any pursuit, business, sports or whatever. It's an interesting discussion because I believe it weaves a fabric for a team to help each other and be selfless like that. I really do. I think it's a wonderful thing that a Keem's doing, and he went through something with himself. You know, hearing for him today for the first time about being disqualified from the game the other day, first time in his entire athletic life that he ever

been kicked out of a game. And it was a lesson learned from him, even as he hits the age of thirty and he's been a veteran in this league. And he said he talked to the team, he apologized to the team. You being so close to him, how how was he through that whole process here in the last week and a half or so. Um, he handled it actually pretty well. Um, you know, he handled it better than I probably would have. UM. You know, a team is one of those guys who know his word,

me and everything. So you know when he when he preaches to the team in the defense about you know, not not making mistakes and not making dumb mistakes rather and you know, just just just being a team player. UM. You know, he didn't want anybody to feel like he was being hypocritical. Um, you know by going out there

and you know, getting dismissed from the game. So you know, you know, it really felt good, you know to hear him talk to the team and you know, just just to let just let everybody know, like you know, how he felt and things like that, and everybody knows a team like he's a He's a bubbly guy, walks in every day, you know, keeps a smile on his face. You know, has has good, positive, contagious energy. So you

ever notice how what a violent tackler he is. I was watching some highlights, some footages of US today in preparation for stuff Jeff and I are going to do this weekend. Yeah, I'm telling you, man, whether it's catching or running back, get unfortunate getting a quarterback, that's unfortunate. He's violent at the end. He's very violent. It's funny you said that because we were actually talking about that. I believe it was yesterday. In films, he's always slamming

a running back. If you look at like, he's really slamming them. And if you're an unfortunate offensive garden, he realizes that you got a one on one. He's really violent against those guys too, And my gosh, but you know, I guess it's the finished product when he gets the chance to tackle strip whatever. But Matt, I remember last year in New Orleans with Drew Brees. Yeah, you know, rag do right, ragged down them all right. We'll talk more with Below Nichols as we wind down here on

Bears All Access with Tom There, I'm Jeff Joniac. Thanks for listening, everybody. This is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to 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 Athletical Physical Therapy and forty