All Access: Skrine talks joining Bears defense

I am Tom Bear. I'm gonna be joined by Jim Miller, who is at the owners meetings, and it's a big day for us. We don't have Jeff Joniac, but I think Jim and I are going to be able to get it done. I do want to hear some stuff about the owners meetings, But Jim Miller another award for the Chicago Bears and gm GM, Ryan Pace and Ted Phillips sending the paper with the GM. You need someone you can trust, you can build relationships in the building,

and Ryan Pace does that so well. That is the idea when they went out on a limb and hired an inexperienced guy like Ryan Pace, they were going to need him to provide an interior spark from the building and interestingly enough, Jim Miller. Last year he was ranked twenty nine. This year he's voted number one by his peers to be the general manager or in his position, GM of the Year. So, I mean, it's it's a pretty impressive display what Ryan Pace has done in a

short time as a GM of the Bears. Absolutely, and you got to remember, you know, and originally when he took over as general manager, you know, of the Chicago Bears, they had to overhaul the roster. They were one of the oldest rosters in the NFL. Now we are one of the youngest rosters. And again to target a new head coach in Matt Nagy diagnosed have the same vision, the ability to connect, the ability to target the right players. In free agency, We've gone through the list from from

Trey Burton working a trade for Khalil Mack. The vision it takes one to seal to see that deal, what impact he would have for your football team, and then the ability to go out and make the trade happen, along with other players like Gallen Robinson, certainly Taylor Gabriel, and then the draft focusing on Roquan Smith and players that they have drafted Territ Cohen that have had the impact.

And I think no person more deserving than what Ryan paced, the turnaround that he has engineered for the Chicago Bears and why he was elected the Executive of the Year in the NFL right unanimous. And you think about what the Bears free agents were able to do for this football team last year, and I think that the second round of free agents for the Bears, they have that, you know, the same equal obligation to the Bears, because the guys they brought in last year had very positive

working attitudes towards the betterment of the Chicago Bears. And when you look at the guys they brought him this year, you know, a couple of guys from within their own division in Patterson, in Clinton Dix. But now you have Buster Screen, you got Marvin Hall, you got Ted Larson back in the mix. And it's interesting to see what the free agents that Ryan has brought on board, how much they have complimented, the players that he's kept here, and the draft choices that they've amassed in the last

couple of years. Yeah, you could do it in a fiscally responsible way. Certainly they had you know, a spending spree a year ago. We've teams seen teams already go through that spending spree this year. Look at what the New York Jets have spent in free agency obviously to what have a turnaround. You want to engineer a turnaround. And now it's more selectively targeted because they've hit on

their draft picks. The Bears have hit on their free agents from a year ago, bringing in players, like you said, have the character that they want Chicago Bears players to demonstrate. And I think it always translates well to the field and just how players, you know, really conduct themselves and really have the ability to compete. So it is selectively targeted, and this year it just doesn't have to be that

splash like what happened a year ago. They can be selective in the guys they bring on board, whether it's Ajaha, Clinton Dix, who I think makes a lot of sense. He's got a lot of interceptions. He knows the player in the back end of the safety very well. In Eddie Jackson, plus he comes with a lot of experience.

And unfortunately Callahan will be returned. But they bring on Buster Screen and I think he's had good years not only for the Cleveland Browns, but the New York Jets is a very excellent blitzer in what he can bring to the table. If the Bears want to apply pressure more from that standpoint, and then of course resigning your own your players perform, well, you want to resign players that mean a lot to your program, demonstrate and reflect

everything the organization stands for. And it sounds like Bobby Massey has really been the star pupil from that standpoint. Why they brought him on board to really keep the offensive line in tech for a young quarterback, everybody expects to take big steps here in the near future. Well, our telephone number here is three one two sixty four, four sixty seven sixty seven. If you want to come on board, give us a call. We got a couple of things, Jim, I want to pick your brain about.

You know now it's setting Stone Bears Green Bay opening week after the commercial. I want to come back with that. But Jim, me and you have to talk a little bit about the Michigan State against the Notre Dame Femaleity. Are the ladies teams playing in the nca A tournament, So we might have to dig into that a little bit. And looking forward to it. All right, we'll be right back on Chicago Bears All Access. We have Buster Screen coming in at six oh eight, New Bears free agent.

He's got a big role ahead of him, so we'll be right back after this commercial. Welcome 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 a million customers across the country. Learn more about IGS Energy at igsnigs dot com. Thanks for being with us here in Chicago Bears All Access.

I am Tom there. I'm along with Jim Miller, and we have a newly signed Buster screen with us, you know, Buster, Welcome to Chicago, Welcome to the Chicago Bears. I'm Tom there, former offensive linement, and I want to go back just a couple of a couple of months ago, before the Bears were getting ready to play the New York Jets, I heard a really positive scattering report about you, saying this guy is very good at his position. He really

adds a big spark to the Jets. Is it's kind of impressive that they had you kind of picked out that far in advance. For the opportunity that was presented to you, and was it a difficult decision for you? Oh, it definitely wasn't a difficult decision to come to Chicago. I feel like when I was on the Jets, I played Nicol and you're asked the lat to play Nicol in that defense like Blitz lat play safety, sometimes you

play corners. We're a max defense, So it's a being in that role and the older guys and the defense. I had to take on a lot of responsibilities, but I was definitely up for it. Buster Jim Miller here, welcome to the Chicago I echo what Tom said, and just you know, let Bears fans know what type of player you are, what they're going to see, and what your abilities are. I know what they know perceptually, what they've read that, hey, this is a very aggressive Nicol

slot corner. But what to you makes you a special player that maybe can take the Bears to the next level here in twenty nineteen. Well, I definitely think I have an aggressive mentality. And one thing you want to see on film is David play. I compete, so I could be backside and facing it, got down from the other side of the field. That's just one of the things I've always carreed with you to do, you know, high school, college and the NSA. Just a highly competitive guy.

And I also when I was in Cleveland, I played corning and I didn't started playing Nichols. I got to the get so I'm versatile. I played inside and the outside. So I feel like that's what I bring to the table. You know, last year, Vic Fangio, the defensive cording to the Bears last year said the fifth starter talking about Bright the fifth defensive back, talking about Bryce Callahan is as important as any starter on any position in defense. And when you look at yourself, you're a fifth round

or two thousand and eleven with Cleveland. You've increased the value of your position by your ability and what you talk about, being able to play corner, being able to line up at safety and emergency, being able to play over the slot receiver. It's it's interesting, Buster, how you've been able to increase your value and also sustain the longevity that's difficult for for NFL players. Yeah, I feel like the game is definitely changed, and my my nineties

of my career, um ninetybody's spreading it out. I feel like the value of Nichols is going up just because they're always on the seat and the quickest throw or the closest throw to the quarterback is the slot receiver, so you can't get out to see them on third down. That's that's you know, that's always a problem. So I do to like if Nickel is very valuable um the first time, obviously, agent, I'll consider the highest pay you

niggle in the NFL. And just to be able to you know, come to Chicago a great defense and be able to play with those guys, it's definitely well, what's what's from your standpoint? What what really intrigued you the most about Chicago? Just here the one year turnaround that quarterback, how special the defense can be, or just you know, maybe just your talks with Ryan Pace and the head coach Matt Naggie wouldn't treat you so much about Chicago where it really was an easy self to bring on

board to get you to agree to signing the contract. Well, I actually played with coach Tabor my rookie years special teams coach there, and I remember before the game he said, now I love it here, he said, the atmosphere. He's good you know, everybody's positive, like we got something good going here, and then as a season went on, they ended up winning a lot of games. But coach Nage, the first time I met him, I kind of felt that energy. I felt it from mister Pace and I

felt it from Chuck. So I just felt like a special you know, like a special field when I did walk in the building. You know, sometimes those things are kind of hard to explain because you have to kind

of be there to experience experience it. But he's just playing nine years so far, Like you know, the difference between like a good coach of bad coach here and what you're looking for and to play and what you're looking to be a part of buster Was this a tough season for you because you got to play your best? You don't know what your future is, but you know, just everything that we've seen from the outside in with

the Jets its face this year had some issues. But how was it for you personally in terms of making sure that you're playing at an extremely high aggressive level because you know, obviously your future and your preparation led you to the Bears here. Well, one that I can't say. I'm definitely a team player so regardless of like what's going on with the team or the record and things like that, I'm always one of those guys that be

out there and motivating guys around. And I think just the way I carry myself of being professional every day and being competitive even on the little things, it helps like the younger guys around me. But you know, I've played for some teams that I've been in like rebuilding processes. I played for coaching in Cleveland. I played under the coach Bowl. I think it is a great coach. It's just you know, sometimes with certain quarterbacks, which is a little harder to win in the NFL. But I just

feel like Chicagolo is the right fit. I mean, they have good, something good going. I definitely want to add to it and just become part of the coaches and

if anything, just do whatever I can do to health organization. Well, nine years in the NFL really says it all in terms of your preparation and how you you play the game and prepare yourself and maybe over the years, what have you done differently And now you know you've moved on to from Cleveland to say the New York Jets, and now you're moving on from the Jets to Chicago. Do you approach anything differently this time around as you

try to acclimate yourself. I mean, I feel like as a player, you can always just become a smarter player, just learn more about the game. Um. For me, I played in a lot of defenses, a lot of different defenses, a lot of different teammates. But for me, it's just you know, come in learning defense. You have to help the guys around me, and uh, just be good teammates. Hey buster, Yeah, Like looking at your high school, so you're a good defensive back, you're a good running back,

you got receiver qualities. When was the deciding factor at which side of the ball you were going to play on? And then also how did track help you develop, you know, some of the trades or some of the things that

you needed to become a more competitive football player. Well, in high school, I played running back, and when I got recruited and to go to college, I had all the big schools after me, but I only waited one hundred and forty pounds, So a lot of schools came to my school and everybody you don't look the same on film, So I ended up going on a lot of business, and people pulled the scholarships while I was there.

So I remember one of my fourth business of chattan Ugle, my mom said you better committing because you know, weally had no money to paying for college. So I ended up committing to Chattanooga an hour and a half away. When I went to Chattanoogle, you know, they probably said getting number one. I ended up getting number forty one was my number with the Jets, and they put me a slight receiver. For the first couple of games, I was kissing screens and then the corner ended up getting hurt.

They slip me out the corner and then it never looked back pretty much, but I did. And when I did go to or the Bay facility, I seen we're doing on retire how I was like, man, what am I gonna be? But I chose them because they aren't more retired, more retired numbers in the Chicago Bears than any other team in the NFL. Yeah, it was crazy. It was crazy. I've seen all the retire I said, man, yeah, but let me ask let me ask you this, because you just come from a tough division. You're dealing with

Tom Brady twice a year. Even go back to the AFC North, what you're dealing there with Big Ben and at that point Flacco, you know, he's winning Super Bowls with the Baltimore Raiders. And now I don't know just

your perception of the NFC North. You know, facing Rogers twice a year here, Matthew Stafford's thrown for a gazillion yards, and certainly Vikings fans they feel confident in their quarterback, Kirk Cousins gonna be a challenging you know, those challenges are there every single week in the division, in the NFC North, just facing some tough quarterbacks, right. I definitely have a lot of respect for all the quarterbacks in the division. I mean, the receivers are good. I'm definitely

enough for the challenge. I feel like when I played in the AFC North feels more like a black and bloom type of division. Everybody ran the ball. Of course, things changed over the views I went to Jets, it's more finesse people just airing the ball out. But I

feel like I'm right for it for the NFC. No, just because I played in both types of the division, past division and a running division sold and I've always played in the cold also, So I'm just excited to get out there playing soldier Sel and just show them the coaches the city what I got, hey Buster when I was It's interesting because we're talking to someone who

is prepared to play against the Bears. Matt Nagy has a tremendous amount of respect for Todd Bowles, your head coach with the Jets, and understands he plays an aggressive style of defense. So what was the Jets philosophy when they were getting ready to play against an active offense with mobility at the quarterback position, playmakers around the field. What was the thought process and getting ready to play

against the Bears offense. So we went into the game and going in there playing man demand because Ravensky can scramble. So like we went in, they're playing man to man. Then y'all hit us. We went cover to zero and y'all hit us with that screen. Our linebacker missed the running back Cohen and he ran for like eighty yards for a testdown. So he got outside of the man and we started going zone and they started picking apart our zone. So even though it was a close the game,

the coaching was just great. We're in the red zone two yard line. We decided to go cover three and they ran the perfect route Indy seven, which is like the beater for Cover three in the red zone. But just playing him and uh, just playing agast the Bears last year. Our coaches like, no, they had some good players the cause that we had and you know that

was a tough loss. Well, just in terms of the schedule, you're playing on being in Chicago pretty much most of the off season for the OTAs, the mini camps, and obviously you're a widely vet, but really just getting acclamated with with your to two teammates and the schematically, what the payers are doing, what's what's your scheduling? How how you know really how much will you be participating in the offseason approach. Well, I'm actually flying to Chicago tomorrow

to look at a couple of houses. So starting tomorrow I'll look at a couple of houses and I'll move in at the beginning of April. But I mean that the cities I do playing, I like to get involved, like a lot of charity works. Um, I like to be at every workout, every ota. All that matters when you're trying to build something specials and I feel like if you aren't there, you're letting your peers down and you're letting yourself down. So I'm definitely guy's going to

be there every day. I'll be there, got to get there early, all that good stuff. I mean, I enjoy doing that. I enjoy playing football. It's just a part of my life. It's a beautiful new facility, and you have great fans support here in Chicago. Buster. Best of luck to you to all of your you and all of your teammates, and welcome to Chicago. I appreciate that. Brother, Thanks for having me on today, Thank you for joining us.

Jimmille and I. I will be right back after this commerce Chell and Jim dig into the owners meetings a little bit because I do have a couple of questions for you and just some of the stuff I've been taught I've been reading about, So we'll get to that right after the break. The twenty nineteen Miller Like Chicago Bears Draft Party will be held on Saturday, April twenty seventh at Soldier Field from noon to six pm. The event will feature on field activities, locker room tours, player autographs,

and of course, live draft coverage and analysis. From Bears football experts. Get your tickets today at Chicago Bears dot com slash Draft Party. That's gonna be a good time interesting this year with the draft, Jim, because I know you have to cover the entirety of the league when you're basically a Bears fan and you're dedicated to following

everything Bears. When you don't have the initial picks, it kind of takes a different tempo to it because it's hard to predict and for us outsiders to try to predict things that are going to happen three bounds into it, it's a little difficult, and you know, I guess it's got to be a time consuming for you and preparation for the draft, well, it is you're trying to anticipate. I've always been a big I do think the draft

is neat based. You know, just when you look at free agency, teams are already right now signing players, and now you go into the draft, say hey, where are we weak, where we need holes or holes that need to be filled. And really the draft is a big part that can supplement that. I'm not saying that you know you're not going to take the best player if surely the player is there, you're going to take him.

I e. The Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers falls to twenty four and they just say, hey, his value is too good on the board. Let's just take Aaron Rodgers. We feel he's the best player, and they take him. So things like that do happen. But with where the Bears are selecting, you know, the first pick is until the third round and then subsequent rounds later. Yeah, they may target a certain guy, move up and get the guy that they want. But you know, I always go

down to this. Every team has the thirty visits, right they can is it with thirty guys? So you're going to bring in most likely players. You think you're going to have a shot at players that maybe you'll take a chance on that maybe blow your socks off, but you're gonna have So you know, if the draft is seven rounds, you got basically four guys, four to five guys that you're targeting in every round. So how do you get up? You know, say two guys are gone, how do you move up move back to really get

the guy that you've targeted? And I'm sure Ryan Pac and the whole staff there are the Chicago Bears. That's what they're gonna do, that's what they're gonna hone in. And let's face it, last year they nailed it in terms of their draft, and I would say the year before when everybody was crying and screaming about them trading up one spot for Mitchell Turbisky, that's going to turn

out to be a great pick. Yes, we'll see where it goes for Mitchell Turbisky, but remember all the screaming and hollering and what the Bears gave up and then lo and behold, Ryan Pace was able to recoup a fourth round draft pick. So you just see GMS today there are not more aggressive. I think they're more selectively targeted to where they draft to complement their football team and in the areas of impact or where a team

can grow at crucial positions. Three one, two sixty four four sixty seven, sixty seven is the phone number if you want to jump on with myself and Jim Miller. Jim, so, can you set the scene a little bit from the Arizona owners meetings, because it seems like the more I read about them, it seems like the new debate this year is the replay language and it last year or the last few years. It was the catch, no catching, the other debatable issues. What is Can you fill us

in a little bit about the scene at the owners meetings? Yes, first off, it's the hundredth tier anniversary, right centennial of NFL football. They had a big party last night. They'll have a big party tonight with the media, with all the owners, the coaches. They'll be out there kind of rubbing elbows. And I think it is a big deal, and I do think in Tom I'm sure we'll get into it as we roll along. It's only fitting that Paris Packers really line up week one. You know, this

is the most storied rivalry in the NFL. It's only fitting that they should kick off the NFL season. But in terms of the rule and the proposals, you know, historically the Competition Committee has always kind of, you know, tapped their foot on the on the break a little bit. You know, they are concerned about the game, is it changing too much? Is it changing too quickly? And a lot of these proposals that are out there, some have

even been called gimmicky. When you look at Denver's proposal for their version of the on side kick, which would allow an offense to convert a fourth and fifteen if they want to come back in a game. I'll get to that in a moment. Concerning your question concerning replay, great question ask, because I just had on Stephen Jones, who's on the Competition Committee, and I think it's very hesitant.

He said he'll have an open mind and he'll listen to all the proposals because they're fluid, just because they're written in black and white and what we're presented. There's a lot of talking and negotiating that's going on in that room, or questions that are brought up by a coach or GM or even an NFL owner that talks about the quote unquote unintended concept quences. And I do think this historically when things come down like this, because

here you've got Sean Payton, who's been very vocal. He's also on the Competition Committee, and certainly everybody feels bad for the Saints. Everybody feels bad for football because you just want to get the call right. You want the play to be right, and for a team not to get quote unquote you know, cost us ball due to a bad call or a non call. What I've seen

in the past. Time is historically plays like that don't happen enough for the NFL to feel like they need to step in and make a change, meaning that plays like that are happen so minimally. When you go back and you look at a whole year's worth of tapes, a whole year's worth of games, and you say, well, we're complaining about one call. You know, that's kind of

what it comes down to. And I think how they look at it, the you know, the the adverse reaction is Sean Payton, Well, we've got all this technology, we've got all this new opportunities to get the game right and get the call right. But ultimately, you know, if anything happens at all, Washington Redskins, to me, have put together the best proposal, and I'll read their proposal. By the Washington Redskins, they believe that a coach should be able to challenge that type of call, even if a

flag is not thrown on a play. But they believe that a coach, if the official comes over to the coach on the sideline, he better cite the jersey number of the player, and he better cite the infraction specifically to the official in order for the NFL to look at it again, it would be a challenge call by the official. The NFL's Competition Committee didn't propose anything like this. It doesn't even address what happened in the Saints Rams game,

but the Washington Redskins proposal does. But ideally, and like I should say ironically what I just said, NFL owners are hesitant to do so, so I don't think it'll pass tom So, I don't think anything will be done on instant replay. And these meetings are time consuming for the owners or is it social as much as professional? Yeah?

I think it is social, but there is a lot of work being done, you know, a lot of you know, say the interviews I did today for a serious sex of NFL radio, Doug Morone was supposed to join us like an hour into the show. He didn't come out for two hours later. So that means they were in a room hammering out disagreements on whatever proposal that they were you know, disagreeing on or arguing about or trying to hammer out in order to approve it. And then

the GM, the coach, all the coaches, the owners get together. Hey, this is how you know, we believe in this we should we should vote yes on this, and they state the reasons why and those votes will come down tomorrow. But yeah, it is part of a social gathering. But you know, if everybody thinks that work isn't getting done here, it happens at the crack of dawn and it really continues all the way through the night. Right. You know, these owners that bouts with their other business concerns outside

the NFL. When you look at all the officials that are at the meetings, that kind of empties the facilities of all the high ranking officials before the actual season and the meetings get underway, it just seems like, you know, there's so much business that takes place, but when you start reading about the issues they're talking about, they're small

in terms of topics. And if that if some of these replay issues happened in a half sold out stadium between two losing teams, or it happens under the biggest magnifying glass of the NFL, you know, those issues kind of create lives of their own. Yeah, well it does, like you said, well, think about that that rule by Denver. You know, their rule is to implement what is essentially a fourth and fifteen. Say a team is behind, they drive down offensively, they score touchdown, they're still down by

a touchdown. They want the ability to have, you know, have an opportunity to score again. I e. Because of the new kickoff rule has created an issue. There's a new rule, say the kickoff rule that was tabled and then implemented for one year, which was twenty eighteen. Now that new kickoff rule has been implemented from here on out. It's official. Now that's a new rule. But what is the unintended consequences of the new kickoff rule? Yes, it's helped health and safety, but what is hurt? What is

it hurt? It's hurt the on side kick. There's no there's no overloads. The percentage of onside kicks recovered in twenty nineteen or twenty eighteen just plummeted. I mean, it was down less than eight percent that team's recovered an onside kick. So John Elway and the Denver Broncos propos Hey, we want an ability after we score to have an opportunity to get back in the game. Thus they proposed this new proposal this year to go for it on fourth and fifteen. The initial report was the ball was

going to start at the thirty five. Not true. Stephen Jones, who joined us on moving the chains, said hey, more like it's going to start at the twenty five. So if you get fifteen yards now, that's going to take you upwards to the or forty yard line. Now that's a legitimate, you know, two minute drive if you get the first down on a four within fifteen. But again,

what are the unintended consequences of that? You know, all it takes is one defensive holding by defensive back that we know has increased in the NFL, and all of a sudden you got a first, a first and fifteen and they didn't even run a play and essentially they would get a first down. So again you got to be concerned of the unintended consolace that it sounds cliche, but it can go in numerous directions where these rules

could fail. Already, like I said, the new kickoff rule that has affected the onside kick, which historically has been a big play in terms of getting yourself back into a game in NFL history, and under those circumstances, they definitely would be play specific trying to get that individual coverage on a long pass just to invite the opportunity for that pass interference. It'd be interesting to see how it work things out. But for me, I love the

anticipation of the onside kick. I don't know. Sometimes it's the most exciting play at the conclusion of the game, and sometimes teams start out with it, or even they bring it out at halftime in some big games. It'll be interesting to see what happens down the road. More. I want to talk about after we come back from the Bay, come back from the break, getting ready for the first team meeting a lot different Jim last year than it is this year. We'll get to that topic

right after this. The Chicago Bears Network presents Inside the Bears, brought to you by Verizon Double A, Anthony Adams, and Lauren Screen and 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.

Man I saw a presentation on the app of that trip, and I saw a double A Anthony Adams head fake, Jeff joniak off his feet so badly a couple times that I was thinking, Jeff watched the midsection and you're not gonna get head fake by double A with the little shoulder and head Bob. Well, you know what, we have a guest on the line with us, and I'm really excited to talk to Chase because Chase an obviously

our guest. Chicago Barrett quarterback and Chase, you're getting ready to go on a USO tour and we are joined by Jim Miller, also Chase. And when I was a little kid, and I used to watch the commercials of the NFL, and I used to watch the salutes of the USO shows that Bob Hope used to run, and they had the starlets, and they had the pro athletes and they are at all these sites entertaining the troops. It was something as a little kid that aspired to

be a professional athlete. He said, Wow, that would be cool if I ever had the opportunity to go out there and give the troops the respect they deserve and go to some of these foreign territories. And how how did you get involved in a chase? And welcome, thank you for coming on with us. Yeah, thanks for having me. Guys, really appreciate it. I didn't talk to you guys in a while, so it's good to be back back in

your graces. But now we're we're excited about it. You know, I got I got invited to go this year, and you know, I'm one of five guys or four guys I believe going and and uh like you. Even when I was growing up, I saw you know, commercials of the USO and the NFL and NFL and just their longstanding relationship, and I've always been interested in going just

because I'm a huge military guy. My dad was in the Navy and same with my grandpa, and so for me to be able to get a chance to be able to go over there and try to get some smiles on those troops faces and bring a little bit of home, you know, football to them is something that I'm really excited about and I actually take pretty seriously. So, um, yeah, we're going over there April first, and we come back to seventh. So it's a quick trip in South Korea,

and we're excited about going. Well, Chase Jim Miller here, Yeah, hey man. All I can tell you is this, my sister was a lifer in the Air Force and you mentioned your father being a ball This is I mean, it'll blow your mind. I had the opportunity to go over to Baghdad in Iraq and just to see the young men and women and how they work and how they serve this country. It's something that was life altering for me and blew my mind. It never it makes you so proud, you just I can't even tell you

until you experience it first for yourself. But when when you go over there and you go out to these bases, you and you visit the troops and and there, you'll find out that I mean, they love football. I mean and very rarely do they get the opportunity to sit down and watch their games and enjoy the game. You know, it's got their radios going and all that. But I mean, this is a huge football fan base that you're about

to go into their in Soul, Korea. Yeah, and listen, we're super excited about I know some of the guys that are going. Obviously Cam Jordan is one of the guys, Miles Jack and Stephen Gaskowski. Um so listen, we're bringing everything football that we got over there, and a lot of Bears gear. I've I've heard there's in the South Korean basis, there's actually a lot of Bears fans, so um, hopefully bring some some good spirited and uh conversations and

fun over there. But we're just we're so excited. Um. It's just they're they're so selfless and the sacrifices that they make. I mean, you know, listen, I don't forget it, but it's but it's easy to forget sometimes that they're they're risking their lives every single day just to protect our freedoms here in the United States of America, And that, to me is the most arcrificial thing you could do.

You know, Chase, looking at your itinerary you have on base lodging, you have canine unit tours, you tank unit tours, jet tours, aviation simulators, all the things that you kind of look at from the outside in that you're going to get a firsthand experience. I did notice though, three of the mornings you got breakfast on your own, and Stephen Gaskowski's gonna be there. Hey, you know, maybe you could afford a little bit of courtesy breakfast form and

you know you're a negotiator. Eddie Jackson did it with haha. Clinton Dix. What about yourself? Hey, you know, you never know what can happen over there. You know, we might be rooming together, might be next door, might become best friends. You never know. So that's that's definitely up in the air, no questions about it. Well, I gotta know this if you're going to represent. I did a tour with coach Mike Smith. You have former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

We were down at Fort Benny, and nobody knew this because they made us do the zip line where you got to go up however high the tower was. Who knew that Mike Smith was scared of heights? All right? He gets more to go, okay, So you got to represent and all these activities. So if you're scared of dogs, I don't care. You're doing the K nine unit, you're doing everything over their chase. You gotta represent. I know.

So I'm actually buddies, pretty good buddies with Mark Ingram and everyone remembers the viral video on social media last year when they went over to Italy and Germany of him getting literally fun around and tackled by it by the K nine unit. So I might give out on that one. However, I'm sure there will be other challenges and experiences that I can do. But that looked pretty narly.

So South Korea, do you know anything about the conditions, about the temperatures of the facilities in the area you're gonna be in. Did they have you prepared for that? So? Yeah, I mean, actually they've they've done a really good job, the USO in the NFL just really getting us prepared and I've already started packing. It's it's gonna be, you know,

a little bit warmer than normal time of year. It's gonna be like or like light sixties, uh in the afternoon and uh, you know, really low in the forties probably so twenty degree spread not bad. So most likely we'll be wearing pants and all Bears gear, Bears hats. Maybe I'll bring a Bears hoodie to giveaway or whatnot. So yeah, we're we're we're really excited. Obviously. Um, I've actually watched a bunch of documentaries on South Korea and

actually North Korea and just the tensions there. Obviously that exists, we all know what happens there. But um, the DMZ, the militarized zone, is something that a lot of documentaries. Nat Geo has a great one out on it, but I've actually watched a lot of those, and we actually get to go to the DMZ though, which is which is pretty spectacular, I think. So I'm looking forward to that as well. Chase, you got to you gotta pack all Bears clothes and you got to come home with nothing.

I mean, this is a trip that you have to go out there and as soon as you walk away from an event, that shirt, that sweatshirt, that hoodie, those shoes they got, they got to stay behind. There's no question. I've already talked to Team Ed and he's already sending over a budget of a Bears gear over there, so we will be fully represented over there. No questions about us. Well,

are you doing anything to video record? You know, because that's, like you said, just something to experience that not a lot of people would get to experience, like you said, to see a different culture. And I don't know, it sounds like even the weather, that's nothing, man, that's like a Thursday night Bears football game against the Ramps. I mean that's nothing. Yea, that's all said, Doe. That's great weather. Actually, So I'm looking forward to that um, you know, it's

it's uh, it's an experience to say the least. And so definitely, you know, I've been talking to the social media people over at the Bears and between my Instagram and and the Bears Instagram, you guys might want to watch out for maybe some live videos or maybe some Instagram stories or some Instagram posts because I think we're going to work together and try to give you know, fans that can't make it over there obviously, which is everyone behind the scenes look and tour of everything that

we can show on video. You know, when you come back into town, you're going to be right back in the mix of things. Last year, for that first team meeting, we as Bears fans, Bears supporters, we didn't know anything about Matt Naggie, We didn't know anything about the team. Do you think when you go into that second team meeting this year it's going to be drastically different or is it going to be similar to last year? But now the players that have been in that room before

know what to expect. I think it'll be different and a good different, and that's what you want. You know, there's stages to new coaches and new takeovers. Of teams. And this is our second year, right, So first year twelve and four did some amazing things, but in the end,

we really didn't do anything. We lost the first round playoff game, and obviously ultimate goals to win, win the championship, to win the ring, the Lombardi Trophy, and something that we are excited about doing and understand that it starts now. And I just think there's a level of expectation around the Bears, on offense, on defense, special teams, everyone in

the building, the GM down to the janitor staff. It's just something that we expect to win, and we obviously know what it takes to get there, but obviously what else it takes to get to that ultimate goal? Well last one for me, chase for that drive that you're talking about there, that's you know, everybody to hold each other accountable, and Moore's expected, certainly because everybody wants to accomplish more. Just from your perspective, You've been on a

lot of teams. I personally, as an outsider looking at the Bears locker room, coaches, everybody, I just get a sense that and I've said this in Tom and I have discussed it. The maturity of This team is different than others I have witnessed store that I've been upon. You know, good teams that I've been on have been a mature team and it's reflected it in terms of the wins and losses on the field. I'd like to get your perception and what you've seen being a part

of the Chicago Barrison in that locker room. Yeah, there's no question. It's something that people are excited. People want

to come to Chicago to play. And it starts with you know, I go back to Matt Naggie and everything he's done and the culture he sat and the man he is, and and obviously Ryan Pace and our ownership up to the mc caskeys, mister Phillips, everyone involved has made this an organization that people want to be at and once people are there, even though we are a very young locker room right our core nucleus is very young, the leadership there is unreal It's it's one of the

better teams I've ever been a part of. Obviously, you know, me being the oldest guy on the team gains a little perspective to see these young twenty five twenty six year old guys going into a leadership perspective, in point of view you, and it's just it's fun to watch man, it's fun to be a part of. It's sort of rejuvenated me and listen, I'm more excited than ever for this upcoming season. A chase last question for us. Last week, I was up to look at your new facility. It

is incredible. It is insane. But there's got to be a message that goes along with that. But it's got to come from experienced guys like yourself. It can't be the twenty two twenty three year olds. It's about how do you accept the new facility, don't be late because of space all those other things that have to be said. It's impressive, but it also is gonna take a little bit of growing into a facility that large, beautiful and

spread out. Yeah, no question, Listen, a lot of guys haven't really seen it, so we'll be seeing it the first time when we started on April fifteenth, for the first time really since it's been done. I know it's supposed to finish here pretty soon, and we're excited about Listen. We understand that there's a lot of work that went into it that you know, it wasn't only the success on the football field that led to this, but the ownership that said, hey, we want to have the best

facilities in all the National Football League. And I truly believe that's what we're getting. And I understand that that guys maybe coming in that are rookies or second year guys. This is not the norm, right, this is the bar standard. Nothing's ever given to you. You have to work for it. And we understand that that's part of the next progression

of this team, and so we're looking forward to it. Well, Chase, from all the Chicago Bears fans and supporter, thank you for supporting the us the USO and the NFL, and have a great time and tell those guys that they have a lot of support from the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Bears audience. I will thank you guys so much. Thank you. I have a great trip. All Right, we'll be right back for our last segment and Jim and I will talk a little bit more about the beginning

of the Chicago Bears season. And we can't forget about green Bay Chicago Thursday Night win tickets to every twenty nineteen Chicago Bears home and away game with the schedule prediction challenge brought to you by United Airlines enter at Chicago Bears dot com. I'd be a heck of a thing to get right, as hard as the NCAA bracket. Jim Miller Tom therel on Chicago Bears All Access. So, Jim, I got a question that can probably take you the

final of the show to answer it. So we talked about Chase and I was interested in his answer, what's going to be different than last year? And he says, there's gonna be a lot of things different. So last year, going into it, we didn't know a lot about coach Naggy, his game thinking process, his use of personnel, the multiple levels to this offense, Mitch's continual improvement throughout the season,

week in and week out. So I'm asking you from from what you've experienced with the Bears, do they have a number one influence on this offense? You know what I'm saying? Do I think you know just the impactful players? You know, Mitch is going to take another step forward. He's gonna take controls or the rains of the offense. He's gonna feel much more comfortable. I think he'll take

the much more initiative to be more assertive. I think a lot of players on offense even felt that way, lasting towards the end of the end of the year. And again I go back to when the head coach challenged him. I think about that jet scheme the second half, Matt Naggie walking down to that end zone saying, hey, we need you. It's time for you to step up right now, young man, and you gotta you know, we

need you right now. And I think that happened numerous times and really to me a huge growth point for him. You could see it was at the end of the season, week sixteen, or the final week, week seventeen, I should say, against the Minnesota Vikings. That's a big game on the road that really had a huge impact the following week or for the Bears to make the playoffs and seal

the deal. So I thought Mitch stepped up huge. So I think he is going to have a huge opportunity to assert himself even more and have more confidence doing in time. I really believe that. Say. So, you know, back in our days we watch Randy Moss, what an influence he was with Minnesota, or Adrian Peters and his prime Barry Sanders all these guys. So as NFL changed where it's not about the number one receiver, the number one running back, it's about a number one offensive player.

In today's evalation evolution of the game, it could be Mitchell Trubisky. No, I think he's got to be the leader. He's got to be the one running the show because he just he touches the ball so much in his decision making could really, you know, affect the outcome of a game so quickly. You know, there's a reason why Blake Bortles is out of Jacksonville. You know there's there's

a reason for that. Okay, And they need a certain level of play, and every team that's going to go postseason time to make a run at the super Bowl, you need a certain level of play out of the quarterback position. I think Mitch is capable of doing that. I still think you need your stars to be stars.

You know, whether it's an Alan Robinson, I think for for Trey Burton to have his impact for Tarik Coo and to make the plays that he makes, your star players need to be stars, both on offense and defense. And the other guys need to obviously supplement that with their level of play and their dedication and how they supplement you know, the big play impactability of certain guys

on your team. It's definitely a total team effort, but I definitely think certain guys definitely need to raise their level of play, and normally that's your special players on your team. All right, going back again a year before all this got underway, you know, looking at the division a year ago, it was probably Minnesota one, green Bay to Detroit, and the Bears somewhere tied up there. Going into this year, the perception is probably the Bears number one.

Who's number two in the division? I think, well, green Bay, you're going to say the quarterback, they feel that they've made, you know, dived into free agency. Why can't they have a turnaround much like the Bears did a season ago. I think Minnesota keeping that team intact, you know that, I think that is a huge ability for them. Detroit I think still has a level of growth period. You know, here you have Matt Naggie and everybody has bought into his culture, so to speak. The changing of a culture

that is yet to happen up there in Detroit. I mean, shoot, there were articles and I live in Motown there were articles, you know, three quarters away through the season a players bitch and that they had to practice outside. Are you kidding me? I mean, I mean, so they go out and they sign a whole bunch of X New England Patriots players that don't have a problem doing that, Guys that are more tough minded, pack of lunch, bring a flashlight type of players that I think there's more work

to do for the Detroit Lions. But Minnesota remains intact. Now their quarterback, this is a big year for him. He signs a three year deal a year ago guaranteed. Heck, he could be renegotiating his contract how well Minnesota does at the end of this year. And green Bay always feels like they have a shot with Rogers and they feel they've done enough in free agency. But I agree with you. The best built roster I think would be Chicago, Minnesota,

then green Bay, then Detroit. There you have, We'll see how it all unfolds. The producers Tonight, Mike Change, Jackson, Jack Savio, and Herb Lawrence. Thank you for guys for sending all of this up for me. Thanks for Jim Miller, Thanks Chase Daniel, Thank Buster Screen, everybody here and we'll see you next week on Chicago Bears All Access with Jeff Joniac