All Access: Sowell, Mongo talk Bears 100

Tom Thair and man a packed weekend coming up. I mean, we've had a good time getting ready for the Bears one hundred celebration. It's significant in its team history, significant to everybody in the building getting ready for it. A lot of work has been put in from every single department for you, the fans who are coming out. We invite you to still get a ticket, come out and enjoy the opening festivities Tomorrow night, then Saturday and Sunday.

Lots to do in the big Convention Center in Rosemont. It is all blue and orange and it looks great. The stage, the video screens, time and a lot of even active stuff for fans and lots of great conversation about Bears history. Well, the thing for the Bears fans, it's exciting to see the ex players, guys that you haven't seen in twenty thirty forty years. But the thing about it is, as much as you think you know, even though you're a lifelong Bears fans, there's a lot

you don't know. And I never realized this in the last few months of doing the preparation for this whole event. There's so many things that you learn about the nineteen forties football game, about the nineteen sixty three NFL Championship game, the different career paths players have taken throughout their life and their career. I think it's gonna be so informative.

But yeah, the excitement is there on a weekly basis when you play the games during the regular season, but the history of the Bears, and I think we're so fortunate to have Virginia McCaskey because she is a lifelong experienced Chicago Bear herself and from the volume of information that she has understood, been able to absorb and knows

more than us. It's just incredible that the Bears have this opportunity to celebrate the hundred year existence of the Bears and the different information they're going to learn from the different players of the different eras they're having going to have a chance to see an ear about the first Lady of sport, Virginia McCaskey, and she's put herself out there making herself available doing stories for the papers.

And O Peyton Manning was at Wrigley Field today and sat her down and they did something for his upcoming shows on ESPN coming up to make the history come alive over the course of the entire season league wide. Couldn't actually think of a better guy to do it, because he's got a great personality and he really brings a lot to the table. And I can't wait to hear what they talked about as well. You know, for

me is being a lifelong Bears fan. I just wish I would have been able to see Bears game at Wrigley Field, because you know, that's the one thing that kind of hangs over you never went you were not, yeah, OK and everyone, But I learned a lot about playing at Wrigley Field by some of the videos I watched from the sixties and stuff. And you think of George hallis all the success he had in Wrigley field, got it.

It would just be a great just another great component to being a Bears fan if you could have been a part of a Wrigley Field game. This is Bears All Access will be joined by Jim Miller as well. We also are going to be hearing from Bradley saw the Bears new tight end making the move from tackle, and Steve McMichael. Hope to have him for a couple of segments. You know, we won't have to twist his arm to say a few words, that's for sure. It's all coming up here on Bears All Access on Chicago

Sports Radio six seventy to 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 two over one million customers across the country. Learn more about IGS Energy at igs dot com. Jeff Joni Actom there, Jim Miller, How you doing? My friend? Who are you talking to? Jim Miller? Friends? All right, I know I got big Jim. Here a little echo.

We're in a little echo right now. And then also joined on the phone by Bear's tight end Bradley Soud Is it sound comfortable to hear your name attached to tight end in twenty nineteen. It's different, It's definitely different

here in that. But I'm starting to get used to this time because, hey, Brad, was there any other time throughout your career because you're a good athlete, you're a good golfer, you're a good long snapper, and everything else that goes along with it, there was there ever a time in your career that you work being considered for

a different position? UM? When I was with the Arizona Cardinals, UM, Bruce Arian said he had mentioned to media about UM potentially just taking up snap and long snap on flawing that out. But I was so I wasn't wasn't quite ready to see no pack it in and be a long stop with this shit. But yeah, he had mented something about it at one time, and actually I've back

going through with it well, Bradley. In terms of the install I guess how in depth was it for for the tight end position, in terms of coverages and different routes, how they ran against different coverages and for you to you know, I'm sure you're probably always aware of it being in the offensive line meeting room and it probably interested you. But how much more in depth has it been now transitioning into the tight end room. Um, yeah,

it's been. Especially in the passing game has been the It's been the biggest biggest challenge for me is figuring out, you know, when to do certain things. There's certain coverages and stuff like that, and um, but as far as the run game, I mean, I'm I know everything. I'm pretty pretty sharp on that. I kind of went into that and knowing everything pretty quickly and then, um, everything,

everything's inform me. She's been studying the passing game and I mean, you know, just trying ton of get all that down. Bradley saw our guest tonight here on Bears All Access coming up later, Steve McMichael, Jeff Jim and Tim with you on Bears All Access brought to you

by IGS Energy. Hey, Brad, when you made that catch in the back of the end zone last year, was that kind of like the instigator of the reasoning why they would take a guy with your height and your size and even consider the possibility, Because I think it's a fantasy for all of us ex offensive linemen to think what else could we do? But you went out and did it. So, I mean it had to they had to keep that in the back of their mind.

Um that I'm an icing on the cake. But I think, um, I always found the way to get into the nagie and do so thanks. I know he likes to put guys in the game and have a lot of fun. And UM always made it known that I can throw and catch pretty well. So um, so that way maybe would he would draw something that for man sure enough

we did might need you. But um, yeah, I think I think he kind of he kind of seen early on and I'm you know, I can do some athletics stuff, and but never in my mind I thought I was kind of tight end. And then this all season, Um, we're going to exit meetings and um we just kind of talk about it, and you know we ended up falling through with it right here and right here before it to lose. So well, the number changes on the jury, but he has a number changed in terms of your weight.

Have you tried to shed a lot that? Are you trying to get quicker? I know you're afic athlete. Every team you played on, everybody says what a great athlete you are. Yeah, I've lost twenty one pounds of thirty eight. So when next time you see me, I'm gonna look a little bit slimmer. Say I'm down twenty I save down twenty two pounds a day, and um, I'm gonna go about ten more and get down to about two

eighty two eighty two seventy eight two eighty somewhere in there. Hey, Brad, can you feel a difference when you get in your stance, because you know, when you report to training camp you got a couple of extra pounds on in the first time your belly gets into a stance, you kind of feel it after you trimmed down. Is it easier to get in a stance? Yeah, it's It's starting to feel really interesting. I'm trying. I'm telling its used to that being a little bit lighter out there and have a

lot more energy out there. I really slight once have you been better? But I'm able to run around pretty well, and like this week, I'm finally started to feel it. Us started a movement like really well, and I was, um, it just felt different, you know, being able to come out of breaks and you know, just that's like the lighter I'm getting, the better I'm saying I've already moved pretty well, but then you need to be in a move at a certain level to play, you know, play

a skill position in the NFL. And next week that one that was when I started really feeling like, man, I'm started. I can tell my speed's really good enough. Murmur really getting a lot quicker. So that to the nutritionus and everything, and like every every day it feels different. So um, the lighter I get, the more explosive, more athletic I feel. Bradley sal Our guest here on bears All Access, kind enough to join us for a little bit of time as OTAs are wrapping up this week,

headed into the veteran mandatory Minicap next week. Done a break, but the break will not be a true true break for you because the process of drop. What was the heaviest you've ever played at? And then what were you playing at last year versus where you know you said you'd like to lose you know, another ten, So that's a thirty plus pound weight drop. What's the process of that beyond the obvious? You know, how you're eating, what

you're eating, and what you're doing in the weight room. Yeah, my heaviest last year was I got I was around three twenty one at one time, and then um, I think later on I was down three three fifteen, three twelve. Someone knows that used to like to stay And um, I mean you should be really disciplined. I mean it's it's there's no notes, and I do I do a lot of stuff that people don't see too, like on

the way, I don't take the weekends off. I make sure i'm constantly like light conditioning and um, you know, stuff like that, just to keep keep it going, keeping the way burning going and stuff like that. So but I mean it's something I was asked to do. It's a lot easier to do whenever, um, whenever something you

kind of I kind of want to see. It's kind of a something I want to see if I can do it night and and when you know, you change your position, there's no turning back, like you have to get down, so the motivations there or you know, you get in down without a job. So so there it's it's really hasn't been a struggle, you know, getting it down. It's just something I'm really hungry for. And um, you know, just have to have to make sure foo because that's

my position. I'm a tight end, and um, you know you have to get down to what a tight end looks like if you're you know, if you're going to be successful at it. So, um, I want to keep my job. I want to play for the Bears. So it's it's it's a no, there's no no messing around

on this. Well, you're a veteran and yesterday Matt Naggie was talking about the unselfishness of many players on this football team, whether it be adjusting your contracts or being open minded about where you know a guy like Rashad Coward and moving from defensive line to tackle and trying to learn the position. But you're a veteran, You've been around this legal while. You've had more experienced than most on this team, to be quite frank, and you've had

success where you've been. Is this a rebirth for you in some respects? A little bit? Yeah, it's I told my wife the other day, I was poking around. It's like, you know what it's it's. Um, it's a new motivation, man. I mean you have we have Charles and O'bobby Massew and those are two Pro Bowl level type tackles and I can either sit there and you know, be the swing guy and come in and out, or find a

way to get out there and help the team. And you know, just looking at the situation and looking at what our team needed, I felt like I wanted the challenge to step up and try to do it for our team. And I know we need a hy tight end, a bigger tight end that can, um you help out our run game and do something the dirty work, and um you know, I approached Naggie about it, and he was open minded, and you know he was he was

kind of on board. The two you kind of was thinking it, and I was like, yea, let me give it, give it a hack like work. I'll work super hardld lose all the way. I'll do everything. So you know, that's where we need it rather than going outside the building.

I really know. Yeah, Bro, what about equipment change? Are you you know, like high tops to low tops, smaller shoulder pads so you can have more movement, any of those types of changes for you, very small, very small umm cleats, pleats, similar you know, similar cleats, Maybe a little bit smaller pad where I can be a little more flexible. But I mean, for the most part um. You know, I'm going to keep keep all my stuff. Yeah, your last thing for me and pre appreciate your type.

I think they should have another mini combine for you, Dean Pulp and day can they can video it and see what your numbers come in at. Now, Bradley, I bet you're gonna crush it in your next little combine here. I'd be interested to see what I run the four and now I think I do a little better than my previous numbers. Hey, so lastly, we'll let you go just for clarifications. So this was kind of your idea. Yeah,

I mean it was it was both. I mean when I said something about us meeting and he um, he said that him and Pace had discussed it, discussed it before as well, so we were turning on. We joked about it and stuff like that. But then you know, when Hope you have an exit meeting with a coach, you discuss everything like, hey, you what ways canna? Hell? Which way is do this out? On the other end, we talked about it and and he didn't say for sure,

and then um he didn't tell. You know, we didn't really decide until our days and it was just like, hey, let's give it a try. It was like the days while we still can and um, you know, it's it's it seems like it's sticking. It's I'm getting kind of belting a little roll and um, you know, it has been fun so far, well beyond your own performance in the trenches. And you play with a nastiness too. You are a finisher no matter what you do on the field.

But watching pre game when you throw that tight spiral, uh, pretty pretty far past every now and then that bar arm of yours is showing up big times. So there's a lot to you, no question, Glad. That's exactly all right. Thank you very much, Bradley. We'll see you tomorrow night on the weekend. Looking forward to that, I'd imagine, Yeah, absolutely, it's gonna be a great weekend. It's an honored to be a Bear, and um, it's gonna be a fun celebration for everyone in the city and us as well.

All Right, we'll see you tomorrow and I Bradley saw kind enough to join us coming up in a couple of segments, we'll be joined by Mango, Steve McMichael, Jeff Jony Act, Tom Fair and Jim Miller. With you here, on Bears All Access with Mike Chen and herm Lawrence Ben of Dedials helping us out on Chicago Sports Radio

six seventy The Score. The Chicago Bears Network presents Inside the Bears, brought to you by Verizon, Anthony Adams and Lawrence Greed and cover the world of Bears football on and off the field every Sunday night at ten thirty five on Box thirty two Chicago, or watch anytime at Chicago Bears dot Com. Around the Bears official app. Jeff, Jony Act, Tom There, Jim Milligan. You said one hundred celebrations starting tomorrow with the opening ceremonies, and a lot's

been written Jim and Tom and Dampomp paying down. Pierson did a tremendous job with the Bear scrap Book. It's going to be available. You gotta check it out. If you're going, you gotta pick this book up. Tons of history in there, things you never knew, stories told. It's not chronological. It all puts each decade in perspective, link to other decades and the overall history of the team, but also within the framework of what's going on in

society at the time. And to me, it was a real historical educational I read the entire three hundred eighteen page book. Yeah, I did in twelve hours. I don't read much, but it was that interesting. And obviously there's a lot of pictures in there. But but Jim just dam pomp pays. Subsequently, through the Athletic has been written writing some great stories. And Tom had the Gale Sayer's story wrote today or a couple days ago, was fascinating. I don't know if you read I know Tom read

it this afternoon. Yeah, you know all all the history of the Chicago Bear. And like I said, it's about the lessons that we're going to learn throughout this hundred years celebration because there's a lot of events that have taken place that we're not familiar with or are you not you need to be reintroduced to. But when when the feelings in the thoughts that we have about the greatness of Gael Sayers and how beautiful of a runner he was and how much he meant to the success

of the NFL and the Chicago Bears. It is great that they've taken the time to make sure there's a whole generation of young people that don't really have the knowledge of some of the great past Chicago Bears that they're going to be able to be reintroduced through pictures and stories that you know, they're going to have some great lessons that they're going to learn. Well, you know, you look at guys like Dan Pompey one, He's he's been around for a long time. Who knows the history

of the Chicago Bears. And let's be honest, I think we understand a lot of the newspapers that are local, you know, that have covered the teams, the quote unquote beat writers that's changed over the course of the more over the last decade. You know, think of writers that are no longer in markets that you know, really decide who's going to be maybe a Hall of Fame football player.

A lot of those guys have moved to different cities, so it's hard to get the consistency with writers who represent the game and understand the history of the game, specifically for one team like Dan does. I mean, he knows the Chicago Bears and its history. And that's important because it you know, for upcoming players, like whether it's an old Incrus or who's ever now going to be

considered for the Hall of fame. That's a big deal because that writer has to be fighting for you in that room and they need to know the history not only of you, but over the organization or like what you said right there, Jeff, about the time, the era, what was going on surrounding that particular moment on that particular team. So Dan Pompeii that guys like him are are very vital, uh to to really the history of both Dick Mccannhall of Fame writers, and was very much

involved in charting the history. But you know, that's it's a great point that Jim brings up because you don't have the beat writers that you would see on an everyday basis. And I'm probably more familiar with Don Pierson throughout my career because Dan is a more of my peer,

my age of a guy. And you think of all the times that you've had a chance to see those guys walk in the locker room every single day and you could be in the worst mood of the whole season, and you don't want you want to make eye contact

with them, but somehow they break through that. How come I couldn't do that with you back in the because I lived my career in a bad mood because of the pressure, the pressure that you had put on yourselves, that you had your coaches put on you, the head coach, the position coach, and just the idea that you wanted to be so successful. And if you go out to a practice or you're coming off a game field and

you miss a couple blocks, it's a failure. You could have seventy great plays and then you could give up a sack and it's the game is not worth anything. So these guys that are the writers that see you on an everyday basis, they kind of have a chance

to break through and know you on the other side. Yeah, Jim, I always have had great respect for not only veteran announcers, guys who've have charted the game in any sport, to play by play, guys that had long tenures at their teams, but the writers, whether it be baseball writers, NBA writers, NFL writers that that were there for decades, and you know, you gotta respect it. You gotta respect it because times were different than they were able to tell different stories.

And you know, even now, the Chicago Tribune as a treasure trove of historical artifacts covering the Bears, they were there. You know, George Hollis wrote columns in the in the Chicago Tribune, and they're doing a great job as well with their their own one hundred and putting different you know, Spens, I don't think Tom likes his ranking in the Tribune one hundred. Well, I mean it's true, Well, it's true, It truly is the coverage. I respected everybody that I

had the ability to work with in the media. It is a part of the job. I think we all understand that, but you do you have to respect it, and of course that goes both ways. You know, they've they've got a job to do as well. I think there's only one person that I really had a run in because I just didn't respect him. Because if you're not going to put in the time and put in the hard work is as Tom mentioned, you know, I'd like to think we as players put in our time

and we put in our hard work. And I don't think that's too too much to ask. But if you're not doing that, you won't be respected. On the other side. From the player's side of things, but they are extremely vital and not only the history of the league, but the coverage to the to the fans that are out there, and that pipeline needs to continue. But as you mentioned, just social media everything, things have changed how news is distributed here here in twenty nineteen. Yeah, but look at it.

You're you're doing it now yourself. You're helping chart the history of the game in your role, and I think that's very significant for an ex player. So you're doing a great job yourself. All Right, You're gonna have to give up a little airtime, fellas, because coming up next, hopefully for two segments, the one and Only Steve McMichael going to join the program previewing the one hundred and walk down Memory Lane a bit with the Madman at

defensive tackle. Tom There still has a man crush on him, My favorite player, Steve McMichael Coming up on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score Ali join us to the PNC Chicago Bears five K Saturday, July thirteenth, finish on Historic Soldier Field Register Knowledge Chicago Bears dot Com Slash five k before prices increases, we await Steve McMichael, Jeff Joni Act, Tom Fair, and Jim

Miller Quick snap check. I was at practice yesterday for the media availability, and you know, a couple of things stick out. Boy, it's a competitive bunch. I'd love to have fun. We already knew that, Jim, But just watching these guys have fun with each other and how hard they practice in shorts, I mean, it's it's fun to watch. There's a lot of competitiveness going on and there should be.

I mean that, you know, there's a talented team, and I think everybody knows just because the pads aren't aren't on, it doesn't mean that you can't get evaluated and with the talent. You know, just kind of how this roster has been overhauled since Ryan Pace has arrived for the Chicago Bears, and every year it's gotten better. From that standpoint.

Now you look at the new players that have acquired, it's just the talent level is through the roof and it's going to be competitive because that's the type of character traits the Bears are going after. And I kind of like some of the stuff they're they're doing with the Augusta silence too. They're putting pressure on players, so you know, all those type of things make it interesting every day out of practice. Yeah, just for the people

that don't understand what that. You know, it's it's not allowing anybody to talk, you know, when these guys are trying some kicks a different type of pressure. It's just it's just the ball and the foot and hope the snaps there and spot's good and you know, just go at it. So I know some publications have mocked it a little bit, but why not turn over every possible stone, put every type of pressure you can possibly imagine, and what is an extremely important position and one that they

want to give right period. Well, you know, there is no lollygagging at any type of practice, whether you're a no pads, OTA's you know, mandatory mini camp or training camp. If you think that you can go out there and halfheartedly give less than one hundred percent effort and think you're going to be evaluated, honestly, that's going to be get you evaluated right out the door. So I like every every way they're trying to do this to get the get the evaluation right on the kicker and whatever

they want to call it. I like every challenge they put out there, because the hardest thing to do is to go out there and perform at a professional level. In front of your peers, because if there's crowd noise and you miss it, the reaction is going to be the same. If there's no crowd noise and you miss it, that's where the you know, the finally valuation is going to be made. Jim, is there going to be a

scenario given what happened a year ago? And are they going to be the fans intolerant of even one miss kick when the regular season happens. It doesn't matter if it's one of these three guys who're making or if they're bringing a veteran down the road. I mean, is that what it's going to be like because we've all kind of touched the stove, burned our fingers, and we don't you know what to expect, right, I think, well,

the one thing you don't want to happen. I think why coach Naggi's addressing it as aggressively as he can, like whether it's this Augusta silence and everything, is because you want to have early success, right, you want to eliminate that memory as early as you can. And so by putting these players in the pressure situations that they are, you know, maybe you're doing a seven on seven droll. All of a sudden, you say, hey, all right, it's time now for a forty three yard you know, field

goal try. And you put the pressure on right there, because it could happen in a moment's notice in a game. But he's quiet. Say it's at home, right, Normally it is silent in the stadium, at your home field when your kickers trying to make the game winner. So you try to simulate all these things to make it, as you know, to make it the present the situation that's going to arrive in a game. Jim, you gotta have the early success early because if you don't, it's gonna

hang over. It's gonna hang over like what has happened with the Tampa Bay buckingeers. Quite frankly, Hey, Jim Marle, you can just bring out of retirement the golden toe. Steve McMichael has been known to kick a field go or too big to shoe. Happen to that old square toe shoe, baby, So it's in the Hall of fame. Man, Joe, did you did you go? Did you go? Don Cockroft and Tom Dempsey? You just go straight on, no sidewinder,

Oh no, it was straight home. Tommy tried that that kicking shoe that I made, all stayed in and Texas is in the high school Hall of Fame. Down there, longest field goal, Oh boy, forty eight yarder against the Texas A and m Aggie's in college forty eight Yeah, down right down Broadway station of course, right down Broadway. Oh yeah. I don't know if anybody ever remembers this.

We're playing a preseason game and there's a kicker out there who's trying out for the Bears, and Dicka puts Nick Michael out there to kick it, and the kickers line up, pushes him aside and goes and get dust the kick. Yes, it was like it was like who was the kicker? I nobody has any idea. Yeah, look if I was on the team, now, if I had done that, nobody had ever heard or had to put up with. Cody Parkey. Hey man, you know one of the things about you is I don't think people understand

what a great multi sport athlete you were. You're a great baseball player. You could kick, You played tight end on short yardage and goal line, and then you had other responsibilities on extra point and field goal protection. So a little bit earlier, we talked to Bradley Soul about him changing from offensive line to tight end. If you were going to go to a different position other than defensive tackle, would you Could you have been an offensive lineman or a tight end in the NFL? Will tell me?

You know, we were relatively the same body size. We were both undersized or playing inside like we did. Really, but man, it would have been tough for us to move out to a tackle, wouldn't it. I wasn't a defensive end at long lank you like Danton Hampton. That's when I knew I was going to have to be an overachiever. I got in the huddle and their butts hit me in my short ribs. But you know, if you're an athlete with balance and and hand eye coordination,

you can play other sports. Favorite memory for you, Stephen, and you know as a Chicago I know, obviously the Super Bowl sticks out, but you know, I gotta believe there are memories even in practice. They just say, you know, that's it right there, that the one I will never forget. Jimmy, this is what I want to give to you. Baby. You can thank my defense for being able to sit there right now. And form a complete because we got we got hitting the quarterback in the head outlawed. Yeah,

before you even became the quarterback of the Bears. Baby, all those little eighties quite I feel kind of bad about it now, all those the eighties quarterbacks I meet, they're all puss drum Well, men, what do you what do you think about him taking the we call the nutcracker, it's referred to as the Oklahoma drill? What do you think about him taking that out? Because you and I probably have fifty reps against each other in that drill.

Do you think it's good to get rid of it or did you think it benefited either of us in any way? Well? Did it teach us balance? Tell me yeah, because the guy that got you know, his head over his skis is the one that got chunked. Oh yeah. But you know, it's the same way I think about boxing. You know, why do you spar before your first professional fight to get your body and your jawl ready for

the contact, and without that, you're gonna get dings? Right, you know, if you go, if you're sparring before you first professional fight and the spating partner breaks your jaw, you find out you got a glass jaw. Should you play foot? Should you be a professional boxer? No, it's the same way I think about football. If you go out there and you ain't got to head for it, you shouldn't play it. Steve McMichael, our guest here on Bears All Access with Jim Miller, Tom Fair, Jeff Joniac,

with you, Mike Channon, her Lawrence, our producers. Thanks for listening to everybody with you to the time of the hour. Steve, I'm gonna I'm gonna blow some Tom Fair smoke here because he admires you. He's I'll tell you, when I started working with him twenty three years ago on these broadcasts, he always talked about you, and we always had I sat next to him on the team playing a lot for all these years, and we talk about history and

always talked about Steve McMichael. Don't underestimate what he accomplished, how smart of a football, how play, how much of an instinctive player he was. When you hear appear like that, I got you faced every day in practice, got to know very well on a decorated team. Do you feel like you left a mark, Jeff, It's it's one of the greatest accomplishments, and one of the greatest compliments I've ever had in my life is from my peers. When

you get a compliment from your peers. You know, Jay Hilgenberg, what did he say, Tommy having to practice against McMichael and Hampton, The games are easy? Yeah, you know, it's funny about Funny about that, man is I was playing in the USFL with a guy named Jerry Sullivan who came to the Bears for a little while, and he warned me for an entire season before I came to

the Bears about practicing against McMichael and Hampton. Oh yeah, yes, you know, we were practicing what we were gonna do in the game and what we couldn't do in the game. But the offshoot of it was, guys weren't gonna sit around and look like a dog while we're going full speed. They're gonna ratchet up their intensity and now they're learning. You know, I don't care who Tommy played against after practicing against me. Keith Millard didn't do nothing to him.

You know, Randy, what I couldn't get past the boards, He's locked arms. That's what you learn in practice. You don't learn half speed because that ain't the game. Baby. Well, let me ask you this, Stephen, that you know, I know you're you guys are a tight group. You guys stay connected with a lot of guys still live there in Chicago, of teams that that you were on. But what does this hundred celebration we can mean to you?

You know, reconnecting with the guys and maybe some guys you haven't seen over the last couple Well, you know, you want we won that championship and your family, you know, it's like you're going to the family picnics and I hope the bears got more than one beer there or the uncles will fight over it. Oh, I just love a little uh. You know, even Shakespeare had some comic relief in his Shakespearean Tragedy statement. You know, with that being said, the eighty five team has had so many

events and books and obviously the documentary. So as we wrapped this one hundred and put a nice bow on it and kick off the one hundred season, this is not likely a celebration. Obviously it's ever to happen again. What's left to be said about, honestly the eighty five championship team? Wow? Well, Jeff, you know, you know how you classify monsters of the midway, and that's unbound since

nineteen twenty. You know how you classify them. They're characters with character, and boy, did we have a bunch of them on that team, didn't we. That's why everybody remembers that. I'm talking about everybody in America. I'm just not talking about in Chicago, because in America feel it's the same way about those characters because we weren't just football players. We entertained the hell out of them too, didn't We

certainly did, and you still do it. Hey, Steve, are you able to spend another few minutes with us after the commercial? Sure, I've got a great George Hollis story for you. All right, Well, we are looking forward to that. On the other side of this break, We're got a floor for the dramatic. Where was Where was George on that hundred lift? You know, just the old man that started the whole league and played, owned and coached. Where we he on that hundred hundred list? I don't know.

We'll tell you when we come back after this break. In Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. This goal I wanted to get your producer up and at him back back where our final segment. Steve McMichael kind enough to join us. We'll be with you to the top of the hour. Tom there, Jim Miller with you as well. In Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score, brought to you by

IGS Energy. You got a George Hallis story, but hold it for a moment, because I was just going through this with tom and over the course of the research Jim Miller. Also, the eighty five Bears is often linked to the eighty three draft, like all those players, but when you think about it, that was Tallis's last draft. He brought those guys to the team before he died. Yeah, but listen, already in place you Walter, Jay Hilgenberg, Oldis Wilson, Dan Hampton, Gary Fens, Van Horne, Todd Bell was on

that team. Al Harris was already there. It's amazing what you already had in place. Dennis McKinnon came in as a free agent. Yeah, we just needed a wacky quarterback to him kill out all the slappies. Yeah, that's right, it was great. But listen, I never I never mentioned this to Tommy either. Hears something he don't know when

George Tallis signed me. It was during the season, and because I was blackballed in New England for how I practiced, and because Tommy just thought I'd brought that had started that there in Chicago. It was part of the reason they said, yeah, you're not wanting us get out. Well. I came to Chicago in eighty one and six weeks into the season, George Hallis still in his office, still

running the team signed me to my first contract. But I walked in and he said, and he said, you don't need no agent's son, Come on in the office. And I walked in there and it was like I was walking into a nineteen twenty gangster movie. And he was James Cagney, you know the vernacular, good nineteen twenties talk like him. You know what he said to me, Jeff, He said, I've heard what kind of dirty rat jar in practice? Don't change? See well, you know you're going

up against John Hannah every day. But Hallis wanted me to come mix it up and practice. He was tired of the lollygaggin. You know, I gotta tell you a funny story. When I was a kid, I came up to where Hallis Hall used to be, and you guys used to practice across the street. They were going through the one on one drills and Noah Jackson came up there and no one wanted to go against him. And I hear this guy bellow, oh hell, I'll go against him getting the stands, And it was you going against it.

And I had a lot of respect for Nolah Jackson. He was a big, powerful guy. And that was the tone that I was intimidated by before I ever got to be a teammate of yours, because of with all the guys that didn't want to go against them, you were the guy that jumped up to the front of the line to go against them. Well, I was just trying to quote John Wayne who said, no brag, just fact. I'm up here. I ain't selling Wolf tickets. I'm coming

straight for you. Pal with it. Since you since you brought up Papa Bear, you know, and you brought up a great point at just his history his impact on the league. People don't understand like guys like or Paul Brown are just you know, they're so crucial and where the league is right now, and you know, I know where splitting hairs because all these Bears are great players and they're splitting hairs. But man, his impact on the league.

What was your impression when you were arrived and like you said, decided to to the first contract, but knowing what he stood for and what he was about, Jimmy, I don't know how you feel about being a Bear. But since the start of the league nineteen twenty, and you know how Hollis got the whole thing started because it was going to fail. The college was big back then, not pro ball. That was like just like Stay had a company softball team. I was his football team, you know.

But he signed the Gallop and Ghost out of Notre Dame and went on a barnstorming tour. That means you're on a train like you're in a carnival, and you're playing football's football games three or four times a week. Yeah, some back to back. Yeah you understand. That's greatness there. And he was number thirty seven on the one hundred by the way, Yeah, well I give up my spot for him, Jeff. You know what, my first year in professional football, I played for George Allen, and George Allen

used to tell me stories about George Hollis. He has so much respect for him, and he loved the Bears and he loved George Hallis so much and they worked. They you know, they butted heads a little bit because George had ideas of his own, but he was always the guy that said, man, I want to prepare you to go back to the Bears, and I want to be proud of you because of George Hallis. Look, George, I think I think it was the two Georges that back the nose guard up and came up with the

middle linebackers. True, right, Bill, George, George, you were giving them history here. Boys. Yeah, but you know as you oh sorry, give me the answer. Yeah, Millennials, you got to study well. And I respect the fact that players like yourself who had such a great impact in this league and in this city and this franchise cared enough about the history to talk about it like right now and know it. And Jim you've had to because you're an announcer now, you're you're a guy who's in the

in the in the broadcast around. You got to know the history. Yeah, well that's why Hey, I'm this is why I'm with with Steve on this because you know, just in terms of history of the league. And I know all those all those top Bears aren't deserving, but to me, Papa Bear hallis he is too low. He needs to be hired on that list just for his impact on the National Football League and what he alone

has done to take this league direction. You know it was called the Greatest Bears, right, Yeah, Greatness is entails a lot more than just stance, my friend, yep, absolutely well. The intangibles tell sometimes a much larger story, and obviously a guy like yourself had the intangibles. If there was one thing you want to be remembered by, and I know this would be a topic throughout the course of the weekend and conversations with all the players passed and

present coaches included how you want to be remembered? Because hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, because you've remembered in a very very different ways depending on what time of your career or who was watching when not just football but off the field. So how do you want to be remembered as a football player? Flat out? Playing? Simple? Jeff? You know, even though I went to Green Bay and played those last sixteen those

who weren't in a row too. So from the time I came to the Bears till I retired, I played in every game. Yep, you understand that. And it wasn't without injury. My friends, six knee operations, broken bones. I've got three ruptured disc in my neck and the nerves are all bundled up. And that's one thing I want to say to all the kids, Like you know, on that thirty for thirty when I took my helmet off and Covert Sucker punched me and I said, keep your

helmet on, kids, and everybody laughed. I want to say this to all the parents out there. Put a neck collar on your kid's shoulder pad if you want to do something for him. That's good advice. You know. I agree with that, Tommy, Yeah, I agree. I agree hundred percent.

But you know, Ming, I think it's also is the preparation that we put into the off season in order to make sure that we could play during the season, Because I remember walking into the training room where you were biting on three sticks, getting a needle shoved in your shoulder so you could come out and play. But you know, the dedication that yourself and Dan Hamptons, you know, showed a lot of guys. You know, it was inspirational to people that needed to see it in order to

understand your commitment to the game. Yeah, well just like that Sullivant related you know that center. Yes, they brought him there for one practice and he left. He didn't have the commitment. That's you know, when you see guys that's got the same commitment as you, you got something, baby, And I think this new bar team guy. You know when when Khalil Matt came in here and said, and

money's not but I want to be a legend. That's a guy telling you I'm gonna work my butt off and I'm gonna have a motor and you watch me play. You know that's kind of infectious to the team. Oh, it's manifesting. It's solf. These guys are working now. I'm telling you they're working. And so I asked Steve that, Jim,

what's it meant for you? And how do you want to be remembered as a Bear And you know, unfortunately you weren't here that long, but you've clearly attached yourself to this organization as an announcer and on this show and whatnot. Well, I just see you know, it's the relationships you have developed. You know. I bring this up all the time. Playing for family organizations like the Steelers

and like the Chicago Bears. You know, these are lifelong relationships, you know, whether people in the you know, in the you know on the staff there, you know, in the front office, in the equipment room, even the grounds crewment you know Kenny Murroc and that that whole group. I mean, you know, I think loyalty is a is a very

special trait to have. And I think the really the when you look at the mc caskeys and everything that organization represents, loyalty is a good quality to have, and I think they represent it and why people have been attached to that organization for so long, and just like it represents certain things that they stand for. Toughness, and I think whether it's the eighty five Bears or even some of the teams that I played on, a lot of tough guys that have left me a lot of

memorable moments. So that's what I want to be remembered as that, Hey, I was tough, I was a good teammate. I tried to be there for my teammates every time I lined up, and it showed the commitment that as Steve McMichael and Tom Sayer have been talking about, that's when you win, baby, that's when you go thirteen and three as a starting quarterback of the Bears. That's right, buddy, Hey, baby,

go ahead, Tommy. You know. For me, I'm just I'm just I'm proud to be a hometown guy that had an opportunity to play for the Bears, because I always brag about Chicago in the sense that you have guys like Steve McMichael and these guys that are from different areas of the world, but they stay in Chicago because of the support of the fans and the communities that they grew up in as a player or they grew

up grew through as an adult. Yeah. I come from Friday night lights in Texas, and let me tell you what up here in Chicago. This is like mecca for pro football because it started here, didn't it. Yes, And I'll tell you what going through. I told Tommy to go watch the nineteen sixty three championship game. You can watch it on YouTube with commercials. The whole bit Pat Summer is doing analysis in that game. You go to nineteen forties, you can see the highlights. There's one common

thread and I can't get enough of it. First of all, I can spend an entire day watching every single clip of Dick Bukis play football, period. But I mean when Steve come on, now, I mean it's not even close and he's limping around doing it on bad knees, on bad knees, but he drives his body into anything moving and breathing. I honestly, that is it right there. But you know what, the sixty three guys hit, the guys in the forties hit you, guys hit hard. These guys

are hitting hard again, these new monsters. It's the way Bears football has to be played. It must fit the fabric of the organization and the city in which it thrives. True or Fox if that family wants to keep those seats full, because you know that Fox last game half a house. Now, you know, if Dick Buckas was on Fox's team, that have been their full house to watch him. But because Fox didn't have that going on, they wouldn't coming to the game, were they. I mean, honestly, we

gotta go. Wouldn't you have loved to share the field for one game with Dick buckas. I would have loved have done a throwback game with Budcas and both Dog Turner and run into that I wo. I can remember walking out of the locker room and Steve McMichael saying, okay, half, let's go out here. Make singletary and all Pro didn't. It was the defensive tackles too. They need they deserve some credit for the greatness in the middle linebacker position

of the Bears. Steve, thanks for walking down memory lane. We'll look forward to it on the weekend. Guys. Appreciate you. Guys. Yes, we do get it. We do get it. Jim, are you coming down? I won't be there so booked at today. I'm bringing my son, Manny. So we're looking forward to it. Man, We'll be looking forward to seeing you. It's gonna be a fun weekend. Bears fans, come on out. Appreciate everybody's time. Bradley South, Steve McMichael, Jim Miller, Tom There, our producers,

Mike Chennen, Herb Laurence time, Jeff Joniac. Thanks for listening on another edition of Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. Good night, everybody. Thanks for listening to this Chicago Bears Network presentation of Bears All Access. Podcasts are available on Chicago Bears dot com and on iTunes, or download the official Bears mobile app. Bears All Access has been brought to you by IGS Energy and sponsored by CDW, Athletico Physical Therapy, and Ford