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Yes, Bears et Cetera, brought to you by Miller Lte with the voices of the Bears, Jeff Joniac and Tom Thayer.
We look and.
Dealing in a crazy week over the NFL landscape, which includes right here in the great Midwest, where your Chicago Bears filled some key spots on both sides of the ball and locked up four of the ear starting cornerback Jalen Johnson on a long term deal as we get you said for the twenty twenty four season. Welcome into the Bears et Cetera Podcast. So much to discuss in episode fifty nine, and we begin with Super Bowl winning Bears.
Guard Tom Fair.
I'm Jeff Jonihac coming up my one on one interview with newly minted Jalen Johnson, and then Tom and I break down the deals that general manager Ryan Poles secured for the twenty twenty four Chicago Bears. They now are official, pending the passage of physicals, of course, but we're wide open, Tom, and I've always referred to Ryan Poles in the way that I've gotten to know him each week of the last two seasons, the quiet storm. He exudes so much confidence, calmness,
but inside that motor runs hot. And he continues with a very measured approach to free agency. Tom has promised when he was hired.
I've been impressed with Ryan since he's been here, and I hope with the signing of these guys, I'm continue to be.
So this episode of Bears, It's Better Up, brought to you by Miller Lyte. So he really strikes, in my opinion, Tom when he feels the need to adjust the roster and get ahead of the pack, so to speak. So you think about last year, who was the first free agent to sign in the National Football League.
It was TJ. Edwards at linebacker.
So he did a deal that this year linebackers are getting a similar deal, no question about it. Free agent period. The first running back and in what has been a robust running back mark, the first running back to get off the board was DeAndre Swift. So he focuses and he strikes, and it's not about anything other than fit a deal similar to last year's deals of James Connor and also to Miles Sanders in twenty twenty two when he left Philadelphia.
Yeah, and he fits the system that Shane Waldron's gonna run. And I think that's the key ingredient here. When you have a chance and you make an early hire of Shane Waldron, you have a chance to have conversation of what he specifically is looking for out of certain positions.
And when you go out there and you look at five nine two and fifteen pound dere Swift in some of the things he's done in the NFL so far, I think he's a, you know, a really perfect fit to compliment the other pieces that they have in place already.
Explosive thirst thing. I think of his speed, terrific pass receiver. In his career, He's had a lot of targets in the passing game, and that is something that personally I was hoping for a player that can both run the ball in this outside zone but also be a threat in the passing game. And Khalil Herbert is also that, and Roshawn Johnson is also that. I mean, you really do right now have a complete backfield. Now you're throw in Travis Homer, who's in the backfield, but he's a
special team's ace. He's still under contract, and of course, blasting game is your fullback still under contract.
You know the thing about the passing game that involves a running back, you'd like to see some downfield spark plays. And you look at DeAndre Swift. He's got four catches of twenty yards or more. He's got eight receiving touchdowns. And the thing about the Bears since nineteen seventy, they've only had four running backs that have eight receiving touchdowns, and that's Walter Neil Anderson, Matt Fote, and Terie Cohen.
So when you talk about what DeAndre Swift can contribute to the passing offense not only on third down, but first and second down, Jeff will possibly see the splash plays that we want to.
See out of the running back position.
All right, now, tight end, this is a position that the Bears definitely have tried in terms of backups, number twos and number threes behind Cole comet Gerald Everett comes aboard. He's going to have turned thirty in June. But the experience with the coordinator, Shane Waldern. He's been with him for five years and that included a stop in LA with the Rams where he was there for four years, and then with Seattle before he went over to the LA Chargers. But a two year, twelve million dollar deal.
There's a lot to like about this particular athlete because of his athleticism and speed. Even at his age now, he's had some really good successful runs. But knowing that that offense and what you know all these years under cole Comet, I believe the math is twenty nine catches by the tight ends behind him total in those three years. So this is something you've been asking for as well. A player similar in style the Cole Comet.
Yeah, when you look at two tight end formations, it's not going to be an obvious and a guessing game. You're going to see two tight ends that are quality pass catchers. And I think he can balance the offense. But to me, I like tight ends with the basketball background, and when you look at Everett in his high school years, he didn't play football till his senior year, but the thing that oppressed me most is he made the All conference team as a football player when he got into college,
so that learning curve was quick. And so you develop that footwork, you develop that body control, you develop the understanding of using your body as a shield, and then all of a sudden you take that and bring it onto the football field and to have the success that he's had, I'm excited about that, and I think that it was really it was a position that needed to be compliment in a template similar to Cole And in.
Addition to Waldern knowing him, Chris Beatty, the Bear's new wide receivers coach, certainly was in LA with the Chargers over the last couple of years, overlapping with him, so there is a knowledge there, but a dynamic threat in the passing game and certainly run after the catch as well. Also the addition we touched on Ryan Bates obviously last week. That was a move the Bears made on the interior.
And then Matt Pryor on a one year deal coming out of the forty nine Ers organization entered the league in eighteen out of Philadelphia with the Eagles out of TCU. Really the only school that really was interested in him. He was a late qualifier coming out of college, but a huge guy. Tom six to six and three quarters three point thirty two. He's played a lot of guard, so you automaticlink he's just a tackle, but he's played a lot of guard. He had chances to start with
the Colts. Matt Eberflusse was there during that twenty one season, so he has familiarity with him as well. Didn't start playing football until his freshman year in high school, so a lot of experience under his belt already as a seventh year player out of Long Beach, California.
Jeff, So, if you have an opportunity, go back and look at the San Francisco Dallas game, because both offensive.
Guards got hurt for San Francisco.
Prior went into that game as an offensive guard left guard and was mauling people.
And so when you say, yeah, you know, he's got that inviting size of an offensive tackle.
However, if you want to increase the overall size of your offensive guard position, the power on the inside, the length of whatever side you put him at, you're talking about putting a massive human being in there that went and played against a Dallas defensive line that's pretty darn good and absolutely mauled them.
We still don't know what the quarterback carousel is going to produce for the Bears with that number one pick, Justin Field still QB one here until further notice, and the addition, well inclusion of Tyson Baigen in there of course, but now the introduction of someone else familiar with Shane Waldron with a one year deal for a veteran, Brent RiPP And. He's twenty seven, a five year vet, undrafted out of Boise State in nineteen by Denver Or. He played for four years. He was on the Jets practice
squad last year. He's been with Seattle the Rams as well, six two to two oh two, just four starts in his career. He is the nephew of the Super Bowl MVP quarterback Mark Rippin during the Washington Redskins slash now Commanders era Super Bowl twenty six. So another familiar face for Shane Waldron to install whatever offense he's going to install here for the Bears.
Yeah, you know, Rippin's got bloodlines and he's been playing the quarterback position his whole career. He's had a lot of opportunities to learn and develop in different systems, different offensive coordinators, and I think when you are as committed to the game, you know he's at ten, like you said, ten appearances and four starts, but he still has a positive frame of mind about figuring out what his niche is.
Is it that third quarterback Tyson Beagen is not going to be a pushover man, because I think Tyson Beagen is on his way to having a career in the NFL and we'll see how things work out. But when you talk about OTAs and you talk about training camp, and you talk about so many things that the quarterbacks need to do during the course of practice, you have to have multiple quarterbacks here to increase the competition.
Played a lot of college football. So in addition to those bloodlines, forty nine games at Boise State where he was thirty seven and twelve ninety touchdowns, twenty nine picks, the Mountain West all time leader in passing yards, among other statistics, tastes like Miller Time celebrate responsibly Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ninety six calories and three point two carbs per twelve ounces. So that's on the offensive side of the ball.
So far.
Let's go over to the defensive side of the ball, and something struck me real quick. In addition to Everett the tight end, he came out of South Alabama, You've got two players out of smaller schools. Kevin Byerd was not even invited to the scouting combine coming out of Middle Tennessee State, Yet Tennessee thought enough of him to pick him in the third round back in twenty sixteen. And he had been nothing but special in terms of
what he did for the Tennessee Titans. A leader, a ballhawk, and a guy who did a ton of great things for this Tennessee team. Was traded at the deadline last year to Philadelphia. They used him more of a strong safety. He is a free safety by nature, but it really the fit wasn't great. Eagles deployed him in a different way. I think this will be a perfect fit for him, filling in that Eddie Jackson role in the back end.
He's been an outstanding tackler. Pro Football Focus said he missed only four point seven percent of his tackles and over the course of his career has been steady in that regard. And so you gotta have a guy who's going to line people up. Want a ballhawk back there. Can he get off the hash and make plays with his feet, yes, but he also has to make tackles, and he can make tackle you know.
I think he's got twenty eight career interceptions. Maybe, but he's a player. He's an on the field guy. When you go back and you look at the success he had in college, and why was he recognized as an NFL player Because he was a player. He was on the He's got a lot of examples of playing time in the same thing.
In the pro game. He has been on the field type of guy.
And I really like that type of mentality, that type of character, character and attitude, because you know, you get these guys that sometimes they want to be on the sideline holding the helmet. Then you get these guys that
are committed to being on the field all times. And so when you look at a player like this at the safety position is such an important role because it organizes the entire defensive backfield and get him in place early, so he develops those communication skills with a couple of young defensive backs and an experienced guy like Jalen.
To Tom's point, he hasn't missed the game in eight years. What's that kind of plays, that kind of player, and you know Ryan again, much like the DeAndre Swift, this is super targeted because the safety class of veterans bloated here in free agency upward of twenty twenty five players that you could say, yeah, you know, this group is significant in terms of volume, but thirty starts the last two years for another safety that's coming aboard by way
of another smaller school. Jonathan Owens out of Missouri Western, was an undrafted player by the Arizona Cardinals back in twenty eighteen. He has really come on strong these last two years, not only for the Houston Texans, but also the Green Bay Packers, where he played seventy percent of his snaps last year on defense for that unit, setting career high in special team snaps by a big margin. He had never even hit a hunter special team stap.
He played two hundred and thirty three special team snaps last year. So this is a twenty eight year old player five ten and three quarters two ten Tommy, and now the Bears have two veterans in that safety room to help out your Kwan Brisker.
Yeah, you know, Coach high Tower is always looking for that guy. Who's gonna beat one of the captains of the special teams, who's going to be a core guy that takes part in every team in the fourth phase. In Owens is that type of guy. But he's got experience at the center position. He saw good, you know, time in the practice field up at Green Bay in Houston. So I'm excited to have him aboard. You know, at twenty eight years old, he's still a young guy and
has a lot of career left. But you know, when you look at your Kwan Brisker and you look at Bayer and you look at the other defensive backs they have here, that core group of guys that we saw last year developing training camp, I think they're going to play it equally as important role.
In the success of the defense this year.
And Tom, you're certainly familiar with who the man is married to, don't you. Jonathan Owens third.
Most of third most popular women in the NFL for try Vaccassie number one, Taylor Swift number two, Simone Biles number three.
I love that Simone Biles will be trying to win more gold in Paris this summer for the US and she On X has been tweeting her her love of the city at Chicago. She's very excited about joining her husband. They just got married last April, and she no doubt will be a popular figure at Soldier Field over the course of the fall and winter as the season progresses.
All right, let's take another look at that secondary of the time referred to We're brought to you by PNC Official Bank of the Bears because Jalen Johnson, a cornerstone piece for Ryan Poles and that defense for Matt Eberflus locking in on a four year, seventy six million dollar deal. I had a chance to sit down with him at his news conference afterwards at Hallis Hall on Monday. Here's
that conversation. First of all, congratulations, appreciate it, and you know we'll get to the nitty gritty in a minute. But how does it feel?
Man?
Feel good? Definitely.
It's our relief just have an opportunity to just I feel like, not only set my family up, but set my kids up and also just had my career. If I thought just having the contract that I have, I feel like it's very front loaded. I can make my money and then get back to the table as quick as possible.
And that's the that's the goal.
So I mean, I'm definitely happy and pleased with the structure, pleased with the opportunity to be back in the city.
That, seriously is how Ryan Poles has kind of structured all the internal deals.
You get another crack at it later. But it's funny.
You know, players come into the league, they get the first contract and you know that second one is going to be juicy, and here's you already thinking about the third one. That crazy, But that's the way the league is now, isn't it.
Yeah? I think for me as well.
I was saying, it's like the rookie contract that was what you did based on what you did in college, and it's like second contract based on what you did on your rookie contract, And now the third contract is gonna be what I do in these next four years.
So I'll be looking forward to that well a long.
Time between then, yeah and now.
And you know you've been talking really almost two years about the potential to get this deal. Did you ever grow weary because you were asked about it a lot and you were willing to discuss it. Some players I'm not going to talk about it, but you were open to talking about it with the media over time.
It's not like you talked it in existence.
You played it into it a stuff, but were you kind of weary of just talking about it.
I mean, I feel like the facts is the facts of it, the situation, it is what it is, and I think for me, it was one of those things where it's like I didn't want to shy away from it.
Like I mean, it is what it is at the end of the day.
And I think too, there is a way that to tell the story without I feel like, giving too much detail and still keeping a professional soft fly. For me, it was always something that I was open to talk about and I think people should know the truth. I f like for me, I didn't want things to be left unspoken. So I mean just going out there and being able to tell tell my part, like I said, and I still being able to keep a professional something that I've always wanted to.
Do from the moment you were drafted.
I remember you were working out the day after your draft, like you went right to the gym right. That work has seriously paid off over the course. You worked really hard at this in the off season, in season to make and fine tune who you are as a corner and as a football player and as a man, when you reflect back on those moments, that excitement of getting into the league and then proving who you are and what you're where you're going, can you conceptualize that, put it in context.
I mean, I think it's tough, just tough.
I think I think for me, it's just being built on the right things, just building around the right foundation. I feel like even like my brother, like I said about my brother, like he's he's somebody that's always put a lot into me. He's always shown me and led by example, like what hard work looks like. So it's like, no matter what matter what's going on, there's always work
to be done. And it's like, even coming in here this morning to talk about the contract, it's like, all right, now we know what we gotta do in the next three years, Like how we're gonna train, what we gotta do, the things that the thing that we got to accomplished on the field. So I feel like just staying true to that, just staying true to the work ethics, stand true to who I am, and just continue to get better.
And I feel like that's what all this is about.
It just continue to be committed to growth, and I think that that that's what gets you more deals and deals and deals iss just your growth, what you do of course on the football field, how you build the locker room, how you build as a leader.
I think it's just about complete growth. And talked about him.
You know when you look at how you have grown, where's been the biggest growth?
Oh, definitely spiritually, definitely spiritually inside Just continue to I think, humble myself, just continue to I truly be a God's feelix submit to him because I feel like when you operate in a sense of pride, that's when you kind of block your blessings.
That's when you don't let his life shine.
I think for me, just acknowledging him and where I'm mad and everything, whether it's high, whether it's low, and just continuing to let him guide me, let him lead me because I know I've made some bad decisions when trying to operate on my own. But just continue to look to him and and things that I do. Just continue to ask him for peace, asking for discernment, just be able to make the right decision.
So that maturity spiritually, emotionally, professionally. How does that translate to the locker room. How does that translate to Sundays for Jalen Johnson.
I mean, it's all all one and the same. I feel like there's there's a certain process I fire.
I just I go through.
I feel like when I'm best spiritually, when I'm best in my inner man, I feel like there's nothing that I can't do physically, because I mean I feel like for me, like I told people, it's the hardest thing is to go home look your stuff in the mirror and to critique.
Yourself is to be vulnerable.
It's to go out there and not even go out there, but just to be be who you are and continue to look at yourself and just continue to want to grow. I think that's the hardest part, is doing that work on your inner self and the work that nobody really sees, and then going out there on Sundays. It's like that's the easy part. I mean, I played football and done
it at a high level. I feel like since I was third grade, eight years old playing Pop Warner football, I've always been one of those guys that was always different. When it's like okay, like nah, he's gonna be somebody, So I fight for me, that part I've been blessed with. I've been blessed with that, And I think for me, it's just being able to win the mental warfare and go out there on Sundays and just play free, like nah,
this is what I've always done. And it's like I put in me and while about like ten thousand hours like we put in our thousands and thousands of hours working out TRAINSS and my body's gonna my body's gonna do what it needs to do as far as the football sort ever goes.
So with that being said, I said this on the radio. I think last week this is jailing Johnson's secondary right now. You know, out of respect of your experience, the way you're viewed league wide, you're a number one corner, You're one of the top corners in the National Football League. I know you feel you're the best corner in the National Football League. And that guidance now of helping what is man a great young secondary.
These guys are hungry and feisty.
They see you get paid their their next potentially guys on that secondary. Are you gonna are you gonna look at your approach to the locker room into that unit differently now that hey, you get that deal. That says a lot about what you're all about as a player, And now, how can I reinvest in this young group to make us the best secondary in the NFL.
I would say yes and no.
I think people, I think I'd be wrong if I change my approach and leadership because of a contract.
So I fly for me.
I've always been that later onfight because I didn't have the contract. Because of the things are up in the air, people kind of assume that I wasn't being a leader because I wasn't getting in the middle of the circle and breaking it down and telling guys, it's like, that's not you don't do that, not too much of that.
That's not. That's not because to me, it's.
Like, that's your wisdom. Yeah, yeah, no, that's not. I don't do that too much. I leave that up to certain people. I fly that up to certain people to do.
But I fight.
Guys that know me know how much I care, how much I talk to guys about building themselves up, how much I talk to check in with guys, how much I try to lead guys in life, because I mean, everything is just not about football and ex's and those But it's like, if I can build closure with my guys, my peers, the people around me, and people know that I have a genuine, loving heart, I think I can get guys to push themselves on the football side of
it. And when I do speak up in a certain way, if I do get on somebody whose somebody accountable, they know where my heart is. So I fly for me I do. I wouldn't say I do a different type of leadership, but it's like, no, I'm just I just am, Yeah, I just I just am who I am. I go about things the right way. I show everybody love and respect. And when I do speak, it make it makes sense. Guys understand what I'm saying. Guys listen to what I'm saying. A lot of times people I asked the question that
people don't want to ask. So it's like there's a former leadership and that because a lot of times people only want to ask certain questions or don't want to be looked at a certain way.
But it's like, no, I don't mind. I'll ask tough questions. I'll get up in front.
Of the team or the CULTU or whatever and speak my mind and say how I feel and people all who have like we needed that or I thought the same thing. So it's like, I don't I don't think my leadership started just going to change now because I have a contract. I think maybe now I'll turn it to the new eddy as far as having guys over having upgrading housing and things like that, so I'll be
able to host a lot a lot more guys. I think maybe things like that, But that's fun stof I don't think that's leadership.
That's just building camaraderie.
So in your news conference with the local media this week, you did suggest that maybe you're not as respected by your peers on the offensive side of the ball around the league as you should be or will be moving forward.
Can you drill deeper into that for me what you're trying to say?
That's a lot there's always somebody that don't think you are who you are, and I think for me, it's just going out there and proving that. I mean, it's not proving anything different. I'm just going to prove to you that I know who I am, and I think a lot of people may not see me as how I see myself, and that's okay. But I know, hopefully you have to not even hopefully I know about the time the game is over, you you'll think the way that I think about myself.
Yeah.
See, I look at it. It's unbelievable.
Respect through your way too much, right, you know, and you know, maybe they'll start testing you a little more will mean more picks. Yeah, I mean, if there is an aspect of your game that you work on every year, I mean, continuing to take the ball away and shut down the best receivers in the game, they go hand in hand.
Right, Yeah, No, for sure, I think I think for me, the taking the ball away, I think that comes with more so opportunities comes with getting getting those targets and certain targets too.
So I like just only just learning. I like being sticking.
Coverage is something that I've been able to do for a long time, but I think now find it finding ways to take the ball away, trying to get creative of trying to really study film a little differently. The first it's like, Okay, what what routes can I jump? Or what's the favorite route concepts? And even taking a step further and it's like what to be aware of because I mean, you put it out there on film
at your jumping certain routes. You're jumper certain routes, it's like, now they're going to give you what you think you were seeing and give you a double move off, And it's like I've seen that, but it's like I haven't been beating on a double move because I think about
it already. So it's like kind of just playing playing a little bit of both playing cat and mouse, but trying to get them to do something and then also still thinking about how they can counter off what I'm doing, so kind of just expanding my IQ in.
The game as well.
Last one, Do you feel the surge of this organization right now of where it's.
As Yeah, I think for me it's one of those things it's like I've been I've been here, I've been here a while. I think I've been around a long enough time.
To really be able to see it.
But I think now for me, it's one of those things where it's like I I wanted to translate on Sunday because I've had into a few off seasons.
Yeah, I've had in to a few seasons. After the off seas, Oh yeah, we got all these guys, We got these guys and.
We pull a egg man. Nah, we can't. We can't keep doing that. I think for me, it's one of those things where I want to I want to see that next step being taken. I want to take that next step. I don't want to plan and everybody.
Be excited for all.
I mean every offseason we come into it, Oh yeah, this are ye, this our year, and it's like it's not it.
So it's like for me, I don't want to talk about it.
I don't want people to keep saying, oh, yeah, well this our year, we got to do this. It's like, nah, let's go out here and show it. Like, let's go out here and be who we know we are. And I feel like that's how I live my life, That's how I go about doing my businesses. Just be who you are, be who you know you are, and I fly for us. I don't need, no want money out there on the table. I don't want us to get off to a slow start and oh we weren't healthy, or we weren't at this we didn't.
No, we gotta go out here and ball.
And I think that's the biggest thing that I'm focused on this year is just going out there and winning. I mean, I haven't won too many games since I've been here, so I think I mean.
The contract cool.
I want to win from one j the other.
Great buddy, appreciate you, thank you what I pull away from this thing. And we mentioned this, I think on the Varius Weekly Show, which will here again on Thursday night coming up this week with Jim Miller, is that Yes, you got Kevin Byern back there in the back end, but I'm looking at Jalen Johnson to be the leader of the secondary. He's been here the longest, He's got some pelts on the wall. He had a terrific season
last year, his best season as an NFL player. He bet on himself, he cashed in big, and he's thinking big about where he's at. He's still a young player with a secondary. I'm telling you they will be popping. They will be popping. Kyler Gordon Tyreek Stevens and Terrell Smith, Jawalm brisk or Kevin Byern, Jonathan Knowings, Elijah Hicks. I mean, we got names back there that are growing together, and the influence of that veteran leadership will be significant.
You know, that's one group that can never do it by themselves.
So you you say all the names of all the defensive backs that are going to come and contribute and be playmakers and ballhawks. Then you think of the second level of the linebacker position here and how much effective they are and how much they complement the defensive backfield.
And then you move at one level up and you go to the defensive line.
And how quickly they can put pressure on the opponent's quarterback that results in those touchdowns.
But the thing are the interceptions.
But the thing that I like about Jalen I think it's sent such a positive message to the locker room. You're a home pick guy, which I mean you were drafted by the Bears, and you grow your mature, you productive, the Bears are going to reward you with the contract. And I like to see that because I think it creates a lot of incentive in the locker room when you see what Cole Kmet is able to do. Now Jalen Johnson, what he's able to do, and you see these types of guys that do everything that the Bears
ask them to do, improve and show leadership. You know, this is what everybody looks for in the second contract, in anybody's course.
Well, you talking about chemistry and the locker room and the mood in there and culture and all that, and it is set by the players. Yes, it comes down from the coach how he wants things to be in terms of character and how you operate every day, how you work, how hard you work, are you first in, last out type of guy? All that stuff and just being a good teammate, helping your fellow teammate out.
But when you get.
Rewarded, now there's a responsibility with that. So the types of contracts that Ryan Poles and Matt Feinstein, the chief negotiator up at halisaul is, they're not like they're four year deals. Well a chance if you do it well, you got a chance to do it again with the Bears. So we're talking about Cole come out. We're talking about Tremaine Edmonds, We're talking about Jalen Johnson, We're talking about
Montes sweats deal. These are all four year deals. I know I'm missing a couple, but it's in that wheelhouse for these guys. They stay hungry that way. In my opinion.
You know what's in neat about it too, is when you look at I think it's pro football focused.
The top one hundred and one players in the NFL. You have TJ.
Edwards, you have DJ Moore, and you have Jalen Johnson I think at number thirty. So when you look at Ryan Pauls targeting these free agents, he brings them in and then they climbed to the top of the ladder in respect of their position and all around the NFL. And then you have Jalen Johnson, who you know, had the opportunity to earn another contract with the Bears. And just look at where how they're thought of in the in the Land and the NFL and all the players are out that are out there.
Steinhoffels is an employee owned furniture and mattress stove. Is it any of their for Chicago Land locations in Vernon Hills, Crystal Lake, Downers Grove, and Harwood Heights or shop online at Steinhoffels dot com. Jeff and Tom on the Bears, et cetera podcast. We're brought to you by Miller Lyte.
So the Bears did lead the NFL in interceptions over the final ten weeks, and it kind of tied into the arrival and the uptick on the defensive line with Montese Sweat and how it impacted everybody along the defensive line. All right, one shout out to special teams because a re signing as well for long snapper Patrick Scales.
I think that's his eighth one year contract.
He keep betting on a himself.
I have it written down on my wrote my notes, and I think he says that he was a high school All American tight end as well, so just capitalizing on his overall athleticism.
He does a great job. I mean, there's no secret behind it.
When you look at how well Cairo is doing, how well the punting game is doing, how efficient that the timing of that game is.
The kicking game, Patrick Scales is a huge, huge part of that.
All right, Now, let's talk about what is still yet to come, and there is still plenty yet to come. So I took a look at this and just penciled in, let's start with defense to two be determined. Okay, Because we always use the QB one to describe the starting quarterback, I'm going to do the same with all the position groups. Tommy, So you know who the defensive end one is, it's Montese Sweat. We don't know yet who defensive end two is.
We got defensive end three at a minimum in DeMarcus Walker still on the roster, Khalid Kareem and domra Ubinson four and five, five and for whatever you want, that's your deal. So the need for another edge rusher, there was all sorts of talk about Daniel Hunter landed a whopper with the Houston Texans and clearly it's where he wanted to go as well. A lot of players are
wanting to go to Houston right now. He got a forty nine million over two years at the age of twenty nine, and and God bless him because you know, he came off a serious, serious injury and managed to put together sixteen sacks for the Vikings last year.
So edge, edge.
Rusher, defensive end that that is a big one yet to fill, and it's likely going to come in the draft.
I would think, well, you know, the thing about it is Matt Bieberfluss always says he likes playing young guys. So there's some young guys in this draft that have showed some explosiveness in the combine that you're going to have an opportunity to pick them if they're where you
need them. But you know, I like some exploration also, I would like to see a guy like Jervon Dexter be able to use his length and get a couple of rush from the outside, because I think he would be an interesting candidate at that position and throughout my time when they started playing bigger bodies at the defensive
end position. Givon Dexter has the athleticism, he has, the length, he has the arm contact where hey, if you get a couple of extra reps during the course of a pre season, why not try him out there see what he does. But I also want DeMarcus Walker to stay healthy during training camp because I like the his attitude, I like his enthusiasm, I like would like to see him getting a chance to develop a nice repertoire with the rest of the defensive linemen that are going to
be out there. And uh, and you you mentioned the other candidates as well, but one guy that would interest me out there would be, uh, Javon Dexter Junior.
So at a minimum, we're talking about three technique for Javon Dexter right now. That that you know that that is where I have him penciled in at at the moment as that position. And then the nose tackle, you know, that's that's locked up with Andrew Bildings and Zach Pickens right now as the roster currently stands, uh free safety. We realize that now in terms of Buyerd also the addition of Owens Nickel locked up with Kyler Gordon, who competes for that second spot in there. Jalen Jones still
on the roster as well. All right, not a offense because the linebackers are set as well. Edward Samborn and Noah suwell in there. Michael Baskerville is somebody they liked, but you know they can always add their to offense though to be determined. The quarterback position obviously, Uh, if you're if you're fine on the offensive line the way it was constituted at the end of the year, then uh, you know who will be competing for that swing tackle now? Is it going to be Matt pryor with Larry Borum
offensive center? Is it gonna be Bates or is that still yet to determined? And then you know you got Dj Moorett receiver, and then numbers two, three, four, and five to me are all up in the air.
I agree, you know, you would like to see.
Some of the young guys come aboard and maybe upgrade what they started last year. But you're gonna have to go out there and you're gonna have to find a veteran that brings experience and leadership to compliment DJ Moore because you need someone across the field from DJ Moore to keep him a realistic target. And so you don't want to be just a one, you know, a one A team with just one quality wide receiver.
You want to have probably three inside your Arsenal.
Tyler, Scott Vaalis, Jones among those young players at times referring to right now, tight end one Cole Comet with Gerald Effort. Stephen Carlson is still on the roster at tight end. Now we mentioned the running back position. To me, it's pretty locked up. It's pretty locked up right there, with some room for competition as well with those top
three in terms of snaps, and it'll be interesting. Obviously DeAndre Swift has been a back by committee until last year in Philadelphia had the most carries in his NFL career. Let's see what the plan is for Shan Waldron And do you have any other thoughts in particularly about the offensive line.
Yeah, I just don't want it so drama filled and I think you know, last year, we never really got to be introduced to Nate Davis until the eve of the regular season, and then you know that also slows down the process of the development of Darnell Right, the new the drafted right tackle, and then we didn't know who this what the center position was going to be because there was competition going out on there between Cody
and Lucas. And then Tevin Jenkins had some injury interruptions during the course of the season and he pulled his calves at the end of training camp. That was a setback to him, and brax and Jones missed some time during the course of the season with the neck injury. When you look at the two offensive tackles, you have length,
you have athleticism, you have intelligence. To me, if brax and Jones invests a considerable amount of time in the weight room and he can go out there and be a guy that can be a more formidable one on one pass blocker, maybe you have your two offensive tackles already set and then it's up to Chris Morgan to figure out how your middle three.
Fit the best.
But listen, if Tevin Jenkins could stick a couple of years in a row together and to be out there every game.
He has an opportunity to be bet.
One of the better, maybe one of the better offensive guards in the division, and a highly thought of offensive guard in the league. And I like what Nate how Nate Davis plays, but I need I need Nate Nate Davis to play, and I need him to be more of a of a leader by excitement, enthusiasm and example. And if you could get that out of those two offensive guards, you would have a solid offensive line and then figure out how your center position is gonna work
itself out. And there are draftable guys out there that can come in and be day one starters.
Busy Heart, Seltzer Flavors for every Vibe, Celebrate Responsibly, Molten Cores Beverage Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Episode fifty nine of The Bears, Etc.
Podcast.
All Right, so let's look around the league at what's going on. So when the Patriots dealt Mac Jones to Jacksonville to back up Trevor Lawrence for a sixth round pick, that was significant apparently in the quarterback math and the musical chairs that are going on. Obviously, Kirk Cousins going to Atlanta as well, which opened things up for Minnesota to go and get Sam down to We're not gonna go through every quarterback, but it does kind of set the draft board. You kind of know what teams are
for sure, barring trades up, are going for quarterbacks. It's likely the top three, and then I'm certain that there's gonna be a couple guys that will sneak in the top ten as well. What has been your analysis? And Makefield a striking it rich and.
A hundred million dollar deal.
He's got a different outlook on life right now and things have changed for him significantly, and certainly Kirk Cousins has taken advantage of every opportunity to earn a maximum amount of dollars in his NFL career.
Well, you think about the money that Baker Mayfield season made for Mike Evans, and now you got Evans on a two year deal at twenty five million dollars per season and Baker Mayfield gets hit his one hundred million dollars.
I always like Baker. He's a gutsy guy.
He goes out there and he gets fully involved in his football team, and you know he earned that opportunity Kirk Cousins and Darnell Mooney.
You're talking about two hundred and twenty million between the two. That's a lot of money.
Over their period of time that they're going to be working together as a quarterback, receiver and the rest of the parts that the Atlanta Falcons have. And now, when you invest in a thirty plus year old guy coming off in a killer injury. Back during my time, achilles injuries were almost a career ender. Nowadays, it's miracle science. When you look at what's expected out of Aaron Rodgers and what's expected out of Kirk Cousins.
You know these guys. When you're signed to that type of deal that Atlanta deal with Kirk Cousins, you need to be four year healthy when it's tech go out there and have an injury early.
When it's time to tackle some game day deals. Then go with the grocer who's been a part of Chicago since eighteen ninety nine, jewel Osco, the official grocery store of the Chicago Bears. Other notes going back to the Daniel Hunter signing, it's additioned by subtraction in my opinion for the Bears in the division because seven and a half sacks, eleven quarterback hits in a farce fumble and injured Justin Fields last year. In his seven years against
the Bears, he was a terror. So that's addition by subtraction in my opinion.
Yeah, but you know it is.
But the Minnesota what the grenard is that the guy who good run stock, Yeah, a run stopper and trying to you know, put these pieces back in place after you kind of probably they probably thought or knew they were going to lose Daniel Hunter and worked didn't want to pay him what he was demanding at that point.
And so you know, Daniel Hunter, when you pay him that amount of money.
At this type of age, you have to have, you know, everything work out perfectly, because there has been some issues with him that he you know, he missed some games. So he hoped perfect case scenario for him that he's healthy for the two seasons that he did sign for.
And the Arizona Cardinals investing in both ex Bear defensive tackles Tommy Balil Nichols and Justin Jones.
I'm happy for both of them.
Yeah, you know, good for them.
You know, Blile is really, you know, kind of was an untapped potential when he came to the Bears, was able to increase his playing profile each year that he was here, got a free agent.
Deal, and then you know, now in Arizona. Congratulations to him.
I admired these guys that you really don't know a lot about them when they come from a smaller college program and they're able to develop into a quality football player who ended up getting an interception for a touchdown while he was a member of the Chicago Bear defensive line.
Right leaves the Raiders and we'll be facing the Cardinals in Arizona this year, and we'll be facing the Texans in Houston, so we're not quite rid of Danil Hunter just yet. So I just I just had to do a quick gander, like, Okay, what are we dealing with here on the schedule, But.
I'll put my money on Darnell right here too. There you go, There you go.
I like the way you're thinking.
They're also in terms of like a perfect fit in free agency. If you're closing your eyes right now, and I know I'm putting you on the spot, a perfect fit doesn't matter what team in free agency, And one just stuck out to me like a sore thumb. It's just it's a perfect fit.
You know.
It is Derek Henry in Baltimore, a team six times in the AFC Championship Game when they built their you know, they're a running football team and they want to come downhill and smashing them off. Derrick Henry leaving Tennessee for Baltimore, that's one.
You know.
Now, these guys, they all they tape themselves working out in the weight room, and you know me, Jeff, in the weight room, I don't want a guy that needs to be introduced to the weight room. But when you look at some of those YouTube videos of Derrick Henry working out, the dude is legit. And he's the type of guy that can carry that entire backfield in Baltimore when you have a quarterback as dynamic is Lamar Jackson.
So it'll be interesting to see how that works out.
And so yeah, I mean, Derrick Henry I think led the league or one of the top two in the rushing for out of the last five years.
And now he goes to a team like Baltimore and see what happens with him.
Yeah, and a lot to happen yet in this offseason. We're a long way from the draft, although I think we're under fifty days now. More decisions to be made up at Hallas Hall, and we'll hear from some of these new editions later in the week. Bears Weekly on Thursday night at six thirty on a ESPN one thousand and the Bears Radio Network.
That's going to do it for us.
Thank you, Miller Lite because it tastes like Miller Time. Go to millerlt dot com slash Bears Pod to find delivery options near you. Celebrate responsibly Midller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ninety six calories and three point two carbs per twelve ouncers for Tom Thayre, I'm Jeff Joniak, Thanks for listening. Please subscribe now the Bears Official app, Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever get your podcast.
Tom, do the honors bear down.
But I was dedicating the number of the podcast. I was going to dedicate that one to Ron Revere, number fifty nine.
You got it. That'll do it for us.
Thanks for listening.