Dalton, Free Agency | All Access

now in place across the board. I think better than two hundred players already have signed contracts either with their own teams, extensions, moved in deals, or free agency, including Andy Dalton, the Bears starting quarterback as he announced today and a zoom session with the media this afternoon at around two thirty that he will be He's got the assurances and it will be the starting quarterback for the

Bears in twenty twenty one. Good to have you alongside with her Blawrence Art producer and in the Score studios. I'm Jeff Jony Acolong, my broadcast partner on Bears Game Day. The former Chicago Bear News Radio seven eighty and one or five point nine f w BBM timp there. So did that announcement that, yes, the Bears assured me that I am your starting quarterback in twenty twenty one take

you off off guard a little bit. Well a little bit, Jeff, because if I was the backup, I would want the assurance that I'm going to have the opportunity to compete for the starting position. And I would like to see what's the Nick Folds frame of mind in those terms, because last year you could see what happened with Mitchell Trubisky getting the starting nod because of such a condensed preseason.

But here, if you have the equal amount of reps for both of these quarterbacks, and Nick Folds really have in the upper hand because he understands this offense a little bit better. And that's what every quarterback needs to do is master the system that they're going to play. And so, you know, I want there to be competition. I don't want anybody to be handed a job. I want every player from a Kam Hicks to Khalil Mack to have to earn their job and not a right

to have it on day one. Dunton telling reporters today he had options, but certainly that's a big hook to be the starting quarterback. That's his experience. Nine years in Cincinnati, is the starter nine games with the Dallas Cowboys last year and his whole last year and a half or so. Kind of hectic, kind of humbling, I guess, And as he looked at it, he says he grew quite a bit because you know, it didn't finish well obviously in Cincinnati. Let go in May so who was behind the eight

ball a little bit, gets into Dallas. Grew up in Texas outside of Houston. You know, a lot of family and friends there, so it was intriguing for him to play there as Dak Prescott's backup. Dak Prescott, a durable guy, didn't expect to go out for the rest of the season. He starts nine games, suffers a concussion himself on a nasty hit big tim and then he also had COVID, so all sorts of things went on. He managed to go four and five through, fourteen touchdowns, eight interceptions, and

now he's a free agent, a real free agent. The start a free agency and there he goes right. You know, there's nothing I dislike about Andy Dalton. You know, he is the face of a football team for a lot of years in Cincinnati. I don't know if they necessarily surrounded him with top tier defensive talent to get the most out of him and have him the ability to

execute a career into more playoff opportunities. But you know, Andy Dalton is an interesting character when you have the pieces in place, and now all is he needs to do. He needs to accent the talent that they have in place. When you Alan Robinson, Darnell Mooney, hopefully Riley Ridley takes another step forward, and then you got to look at what they're offered in the backfield with David Montgomery and

Tari Cohen and then the tight end position. So I think Andy Dalton has the ability to kind of use his skill set with the good understanding of Bill Lazor and you know what, Bill Lasor can kind of force feed him into that quarterback position. So I think it's interesting to see how the competitiveness of the position, how Matt and Maggie factors in the career of Nick Folds, and how Bill Lasor filters factors in the career of Andy Dalton. So I think there's a lot of moving

forward here. But I think it's better to have the pieces in place this far in advance, especially if you have a normal training camp. I'm gonna tell you, folks, but a little behind the scenes in live radio, my system went completely dead. But Tom and I are looking at each other on an iPad and I just kept saying,

keep talking, my friend. I didn't hear a word you said, but I'm glad you informed everybody else in a plus TU form playing radio with this No, you know, I'm just saying, you know, the reflection I got from Andy Dalton, I thought when he was in Cincinnati he was never really supported by top tier defensive talent, and there's a

lot of obstacles to overcome throughout his career. The career there, but he was always considered a franchise type cornerback throughout the early parts of his career and when he took the Cincinnati Bengals over. It's just I do think there's a lack of a support system in Cincinnati over his years there that didn't allow him to take that next step. Well, there were time, you know, the fifteen season that he you know, there was talk of him be an MVP

at some point in that season. They had they did have some good weaponry butt over the course of Marvin Lewis's stay there, you know they were always hovering around. Yes, a playoff team four times anyway under Andy Dalton, but you know, never could really get over that hump consistently. So here he's got to say, you know, he's talking about the second half of his career. It's funny because he's already this is this is you, this is your number eleven. How long do you want to keep going?

And we'll hear from Andy Dalton as well, had a chance to visit him with him after that zoom one on one, so we'll play a chunk of that coming up a bit later on. We also got Jim Miller coming up from Sirius x MFL radio as one of our guests here in the next segment and for a few so Andy Dawnton certainly is the story. Lots of criticism out there from some of the fans, but it's what you'd expect when some of the talk was considered around guys like Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson. Those were

not a current possibility. So the Bears zeroed in on this. Andy Dalton zero down the Bears and the rest is history. You move forward now and you start going about trying to get this team to a super Bowl number one, and trying to get this team to get the offense scoring touchdowns. And that's building around whatever quarterbacks you have on this roster and using whatever assets you have left.

And they are challenged by that right now with a salary cap and draft extremely well, and you just whatever's happened has happened. Now. You just got to worry about what's in front of you right now. Is the twenty twenty one season with a quarterback that has familiarity will

build laser. Yeah, you know the thing about it is really unfair to the Bears because everybody jumped to the conclusion as soon as they started the Russell Wilson conversation, and anybody they picked other than Russell Wilson was going to fail and was gonna kind of not live up to the excitement of what Russell Wilson's track record has

been so far in the NFL. But to think that you can bring in a guy lose so much talent on your football team and then have him have the production that he's you know, shown early in his career. I still think it's it's about a full team, the supporting cast, and with the weaponry the Bears have on offense, you know they do have an opportunity to move the ball. Other additions today before we get to Jim Miller will

take a breakcare the readdition again. Another one year contract for the long snapper Patrick Scales with the kicking operation is all in place. There and more moves to come as the Bears get ready for what is going to be an important draft for the Bears with the twentieth pick in round one and eight overall picks. Let's step away. Jim Miller coming up next from Serious x M NFL Radio. We'll hear from Eddy Dunton as well with Tom There. I'm Jeff Joni ak Hrbloer. It's our producer and this

is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Hey, welcome back to everybody to Bears All Access brought to you by IGS Energy. Choose clean energy for your home at IGS dot com because every good choice adds up to a better world. Jeff Joningac along with Tom Fair, good to have you alongside everybody, and now joined by our weekly guests from Serious ex M NFL Radio. The former Chicago Bears starting quarterback and had great two thousand and

one season. Big Jim Miller joined us for a few segments. Jim, it has been crazy this week. We thought it would be, and we thought the quarterbacks would be the big part of the puzzle, and it certainly has been the case. That carousel has been spinning and it spins into a new starting quarterback for the Bears today. How'd you feel about I don't I don't know if you probably on the air when the news conference happened on if you had a chance to listen to any of the Andy

Dawton introduction. But he said he's been a short he's been the starter and this is the team he wanted to be with theet other options, but he's excited about what's in place, excited about working with Bill Laser and Matt Nagge and the staff. Yeah. I think, well one, Jeff, glad you could join us. Don't worry, Tom, I won't let you down. But you know, I think you know the Bears are kind of they're in a holding pattern right now because I think we I think we knew

when we talked about it last week. You just worry that they didn't have enough ammo. I think you tried to take a swing at the plate. You try to contact Seattle and offer putting, you know, proposal offer that you think it is good enough. It's just it's not good enough for Seattle. I mean, realistically, I don't think the Bears had enough because they're sitting at the twenty

spot in the first round. If any team's got the ammo to do it, it's the Jets at number two, you know, because the Jets legitimately, if if the Seattle Seahawks thought Zach Wilson or whatever quarterback that they were looking at, they'd still get the three first rounders. They'd have a better picking spot selection that they think is the ammo to go up and get you know, your quarterback there. And so it's I just think it's kind of pieing this guy type of stuff. But they took

their swing. They did the best they could. They're doing their due diligence, just like every other team has done that. The Bears weren't the only team that called Seattle and they have. The Bears aren't the only team that is called about the Houston Texas and Deshaun Watson. There's been a lot of teams very open that they've contacted Nick Casserio, who's not taking any offers because they're not going anywhere.

I mean, those two good A quarterbacks for them to shuffle away from their teams, So I think the Bears are in a holding pattern. Now you got to turn to your next scenario. You had guys like Ryan Fitzpatrick here, you got Alex Smith that obviously has a background, and then they ultimately select on Andy Dalton, who's got a background with Bill Laser. Fitzpatrick's now off the board. He

signed early with the Washington football team. That's a one year, basically ten million dollars deal that kind of set the stage for Andy Dalton one year, ten million to the Chicago Bears. So I think they did the best they could for the standpoint it makes a good fit. I mean, clearly, Mitch Turbisky signing a two and a half million dollar deal with Buffalo, it tells you where his market was

at out there in the NFL. And I think you know, it doesn't preclude the Bears from drafting a quarterback or even if they have the ability to move up to maybe target a guy if they if they like a quarterback in this year's draft. You know, you know, to me, I think that you know, Andy Dalton because of his relationship with Bill Azor says he has a past relationship with Nick Folds. That isn't a it is a positive

quarterback working room. You know, Jim, One thing I was saying the different positions that you've been on rosters, and Andy Dalton did claim that he's going to be given the opportunity to be the starting quarterback here at the beginning of the season. What attitude do you expect out of Nick Folds in those terms, because I don't think no matter where you were on the roster at the start of the season, you never came in here saying, Okay, I'm gonna be content with being the backup, so I

only have to work so hard. So what do you think is the frame of mind between the two? Yeah, I think if you're if the coach tells you what your role is going to be, and you have to be acceptable to that like a new Like when I signed with New England. You know, obviously I was getting healthy, but you know, basically Bill Belichick pulled me in his office said, Jim, we kind of need you to be a sounding board. You know, you'll be the number two.

At times, We're gonna put Rohan Davy at number two because he may we want to may want to give him some reps in certain games. And I was fine with that because the coach laid it out for me and I knew what was expected. And I'm sure for the Bears to give assurances to Andy Dalton, I guarantee you Nick Foles in that release ship that he has with Andy Dalton, I think that role has been cleared up there too, because you know, typically for Nick Foles, his role where he's excelled in the NFL is coming

off the bench and he's been extremely well. And Andy's legitimately always been a starter until last year in Dallas until Dak got hurt and then where he's thrust in the lineup. I think he's a good point guard. I think he's a very good decision maker when you look at Andy Dalton, so I think the Bears did the best that they could do in a holding pattern. And what's Andy trying to do? And he's trying to play his best football? Why because he wants to hit free

agency next year. I mean, realistically, Andy could play another ten years the way quarterbacks are lasting right now. So I think for him, you're gonna get Andy Dalton's best football moving forward because a salary cap is going to go up next year, and maybe Andy Dalton can position himself where, hey, maybe the Bears want to resign me, maybe I can hit free agency next year coming off a good year. If he's able to succel as a

starter for the Chicago Bears. Yeah, he's also talking about, you know, if it works out, drop anchor here, never have to pack his bags again. That would be a dream scenario. That means things went very well. And you know a lot of these guys who get moved at the end of their careers, there's a lot of pride in here too, and they want to prove again that hey, I am still capable of leading a team to where

they want to go. And there is leadership qualities that we're very much discussed, because that's what Matt Nage talked about. He used it a lot just a couple of weeks ago. What he was looking for was leadership, not just rah rah in the locker room, but specifics in the athlene Is scrimmage on Mondays on Tuesdays on Wednesdays. What's everything gonna do to help this team move forward? And you know, what are we getting here, guys? What are we getting

here in terms of breaking it all down? Because I look at it as a he said, point guard. Indeed, because he's a he's a rhythm guy. Ye, intermediate to short or short to intermediate, whoever you want to phrase it. Can't can't throw a deep ball, but that's not his uh, that's not his Bailey Wick, so to speak. And he's gonna process quickly diagnosed it the line of scrimmage. And as long as you have those weapons that could take the ball and move the chains, guys to make things

happen after the catching. And I know Tim's gonna bring up the running game for sure. You gotta have it. You gotta have it. He's talking about it too. You gotta have that balance and not be predictable and be as versatile as possible. Fellas. Yeah, I think it's gonna change the philosophical approach of the offensive line because you lose the versatility in the athleticism of the quarterback when you had Mitchell Traubisky in there, a little different when

they had Nick Foles there. So you know, that's one of the preach elements of Juan Castillo is physical and finish, and I think that's going to be have to be the mantra of this offensive line because to get out of David Montgomery, who is a true asset in the NFL, you're gonna be able to have that power running game that computes in the play action passing, in the downfield passing game that Andy Dalton's used to throughout his career. I think the Bears third down offense is definitely going

to be better. They were thirty first in the NFL in their third down offense. And I think we know red zone has to be better. And he will make quick decisions. He's a very good processor of information and I'll tell you where he's going to help. Also from that standpoint, the development of the receivers. Okay, whether it's

Riley Ridley, go look at Cede Lamb last year for Dallas. Okay, granted Andy had the concussion, got back in there, a Cede Lamb finished with seventy four receptions, nine hundred and thirty five yards and I think five touchdowns. Okay, So Andy can communicate to the receiver this is what I need from you that experience. He's been around the block. He'll already get a great rapport with Alan Robinson and the veterans that are there, and they'll build one with

Mooney or say whether if Anthony Miller is here. A rumor is he's out on the trade block potentially, but maybe Andy Dalton's the guy to reach him. No, no, Anthony, we need this against this particular coverage. This is how I need you to come out of the route, your break, all those type of things, because Andy has been around the block, and I think if you go look at Dallas last year, look how Cede Lamb performed. When Andy

Dalton got into the lineup there, he excelled. And that was a rookie receiver grand a lot of talent, he's a first rounder out of Oklahoma, but I think a lot of that was having the veteran quarterback bringing that guy along. All Right, we're gonna take a break here shortly. Other news of the day, Mitchell Trubisky, the former Bears quarterback, now a Buffalo bill and a one year deal to back up Josh Allen at two and a half million, and Trubisky goes there. Brent Urban reportedly going to the

Dallas Cowboys. The Bears reportedly signed Angelo Blacks in a defensive lineman that has not been official by the organization yet. I mentioned Patrick Scales as well a lot of other things on the burner across the leagu We're going to dive into all of that. Mike Lennon with the New York Giants. Those veteran quarterbacks, Jim, veteran quarterbacks make a lot of money. That new TV deal came in today, Wait two years from now. Whoo oh, I know we'll

talk about that too, Yes, a blockbuster TV deal. And we'll hear from Maddy Dalton himself with Tom there, Jim Miller. I'm Jeff Joniac. This is Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy

The Score. Hey, The Chago Bears Network presents Inside the Bears, brought to you by Bryans Go Anthony Adams and Lauren Screed and cover the world of Bears football on and off the field, every Sunday night at ten thirty five pm on Fox thirty two Chicago, or watch anytime at Chicago Bears dot Com or on the Bears official app. With Tom Fair, Jim Miller, Jeff Joniac, Jim Our, guests from Serious x M NFL Radio, Moving the Chains with

Pat Kerwin. You guys have been breaking it down from d going through player by player, and Ian Rappaport reporting just moments ago that the Bears are releasing Kyle Fuller. Fellas the veteran cornerback and a salary cap cut. That's a big, big part of the defense. Obviously, the way he played in the last few years earned himself a long term extension with the Bears after Green Bay made a run at him and really did a lot of

good things. A tough, physical player and a lot of folks may not understand that move, but the cap is the cap. We'll start with Jim Jim m Well, yeah, I don't think they wanted to release him. I guarantee the Bears probably went to him and asked him to take a reduction or a restructure, and sometimes the players are not going to agree to that. That's why I think you're seeing a lot of players getting dumped right now, and that will be out there on the open market.

Because I think the Bears they respect Kyle Fuller, they drafted him, they know how hard he's played, they actually resigned him to that big deal, so that probably as a restructure or reduction, and the player refused, and once you refused, and it's happened to a lot of guys, say Kyle Rudolph for the Minnesota Vikings, he was not going to take a reduction, thought he could do better out on the open market. Ultimately, ultimately they got signed

today with the New York Giants. So I think his nine million salary now was at seven million for the Giants. And that's probably the case with Kyle Fuller Bears. He knows what the number of the Bears would resign him at, but he's going to go shop his wearers to other teams hoping that he can do better. He's seen, you know, Patrick Peterson and some other corners today that got signed and they're one year deals or one year ten million bucks. And you saw a couple other guys get three year deals.

So it depends on what Kyle Fuller is looking for number wise. But I think we know a lot of teams are salary cap strapped and we'll see if you know, he's betting that he thinks he can get more on the open market. Or close to what the Bears were going to pay him here in twenty twenty one. Well, you know, if I was Vic Fangio, I would be

in his radar. You know, he likes whatever the impression that Kyle Fuller left on him, and what Kyle Fuller, the impression he's left on everybody in the organization because his work ethic and his work effort is second to none, and so his study habits are legendary, and so what he's been able to accomplish throughout the early portion of his career, he's got a really well respected reputation around the league. So it's not one of these guys that you're going to take a flyer on and see what

happens down the road or injury rehabilitation. This is a guy, if you bring him aboard, or if the Bears were able to bring him back aboard, that he is a day one starter. He's not a guy that you're gonna go and you're gonna he's gonna be in the back of the line at the cornerback position. He's gonna move right up to the front of the line and go and compete as a team starter. I know they're releasing

buster screen as well. So opportunities here for Kendallville Door and Duke Shelley right out of the gate and whatever the Bears may do in the draft and in free agency. So a change on the defense for the Bears. Maybe you're gonna get a little younger on the outside at the cornerback position with Jalen Johnson becoming the man coming

off injury last year. Also multiple reports that Kenny Galladay, the Saint Rita product and Northern Illinois product, finishing his career at NIU and a draft pick of the Lions, visited with the Bears reportedly yesterday visiting with the Giants today. How do you guys handicap that situation and what does that mean? Jim? I think for the market has been kind of slow for receivers, and we're starting to see a lot of one year deals coming in right now

for receivers. Clearly there's interests. Giants don't have a lot of salary cap money to spend either now, and these one year deals have been anywhere from one year five million down to one year two and a half million. I think Galladay will be a little bit higher. I think, you know, if I think he's hoping for, like anywhere from six to seven million a year is what he's

probably looking at. So there's interest. But I think the teams because with the latest deals that have come in, it's probably going to be in the three and a half four million range. I think for Kenny Galladay, I'd be shocked if he gets more in that. But you know, it could surprise you that he gets a three year because you have to worry about him because he missed

a lot of games last year. That hip injury was legitimate, So that's why I think it'll be more of a one year deal, prove it type of deal, and then maybe Kenny Galladay can jump back in free agency next year and hope he can do better. But Bars definitely should be interested in Kenny Galladay. Yeah, I mean, I agree, he's got all the talent in the world. He's a legitimate number one receiver for any team he goes to,

even if they have a bona fide number one. However, he's kind of at the opposite end of the spectrum of Kyle Fuller. He hasn't been healthy, he hasn't been able to stay on the field. He's got the most perfect of playing conditions inside the Detroit inside the Detroit Stadium in terms of running and speed and all that. So I would really hurt Une. Yeah, I would have to investigate his health though, because I can have a guy. I'm not gonna sign the guy that's gonna be active

for two to five games a year. I'm just not gonna do it. It tells you a lot that he moved on to the Giants, right, because if you want him, you don't let him out of your building, right. So they probably offered him. He's looking for more, So he's going to explore with the Giants, which the Giants are probably gonna offer something similar the Bears have offered, and it's not really what he wants it at this point for Kenny Golladay, So Cincinnati apparently offered him a one

year proved deal as well. So what what would the domino effect be if if that does happen? Um, how do we look at this with Alan Robinson be enfranchised at the moment? What I mean if you brought Kenny, if you brought Kenny Galladay aboard here at the Chicago Bears, I would expect immediately the point production on the offense that would go up. It would it would offer opportunities to the tight end position. It would help your running

game especial. Actually when you include Darnell Mooney and and Allen Robinson Galladay, three receivers set in Darnell Mooney and then the other side. So I would expect it to be able to be a super positive in the both of the red zone. But in points for this offense, yeah, I mean you lose Quardurell Patterson, you know, if they're able to bring a Gala day on board one, I don't.

I don't anticipate that Alan Robinson would be traded. He'd have to sign his franchise tender in order to do that, unless his agent is in contact with where he would be traded to a team that he'd want to be traded to. So I don't see that happen. And I think this is more a Quardurell Patterson is now a free agent. You bring in a guy who is a size, speed type of receiver where you go opposite and then

you still got the speed of Mooney. So I think he'd definitely be a help from that standpoint, just from his size that he brings to me. I always wanted you know, like like when I was with the Bears, we had Bobby Ingram right, the quick slot guy, and then you know, for us, Robinson was the big guy on the outside, had a couple of thousand yard seasons and he was tremendous. And you know, to me, you got kind of role players in galadies that size, that red zone presence type of guy that I think has

kind of been missing for the Chicago Bears. Led the NFL and eleven touchdown receptions back in twenty nineteen, but the hip flix or knocked him out the end of last season with the Lions again, Saint rita south Side product NIU after North Dakota, big impact player, could be joining the Chicago Bears if all things work out all right, We're gonna step away when we come back. We'll hear our interview with Andy Dalton earlier today the Bears new

starting quarterback. As he says, that's the assurances he's been given. This is Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. This segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by Athletico Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot Com or request an appointment in clinic or virtually and start feeling better tomorrow with Tom there, with Jim Miller from Serious x MNF Radios, moving the chains with Pat Kerwin, I am Jeff Joniac.

Earlier today had a chance after his Zoom meeting with the media to visit with Bears new starting quarterback Andy Dalton. This was going to be the big quarterback carousel offseason, you know that talks of so many teams looking for quarterbacks or making changes. As you charted your future course here for twenty twenty one, were you excited about that carousel? And obviously in the game of musical chairs you landed here.

But what was that whole process like for you? Yeah, it was one of those things you don't know how

it's all going to play out. You saw that there's a lot of guys that have been on teams for a long time that could be traded in, getting released, getting you know, in different spots, and so with looking at the market and looking everything going into free agency, I was I was hoping that this was going to work out here in Chicago, and so m just going through the whole process of it all and getting to talk with Matt and Bill Laser and just Ryan and

just all the different you know, coaches and different things. I was glad that this thing worked out and this was a great fit for me and for this organization. All right, let's hit on some of those keywords. You said you hoped you liked the fit, and obviously the starting job is a big component of that. At this point in your career, those three words right there, tell us a little bit about that and why that was

a hope, and what did you like about the organization? Yeah, for me, you know, I went from starting nine years in Cincinnati to getting a release late in the process, and then you know, took the role as a backup last year and then you know, part of the season I get, I get the opportunity to play again with with Dad getting hurt, and so at that point, you know, I wasn't sure exactly how this whole thing was going

to play out. And so for me, going into the offseason, you look at the teams that you'd you'd like to go to, but there's got to be that mutual interest. And so going into this this thing worked out, you know, I was hoping that the like I said, I was hoping that the Bears were going to be a possibility, and as this thing got closer, realized that it was going to work. And so I'm excited about the opportunity

that I have here. I know Matt Naggie talked about leadership quite a bit in the in the search for a quarterback or a plan for a quarterback, whatever it was going to be entering this twenty twenty one off season. And leadership takes out many forms. It's not just a raw rod guy or a guy everybody looks to. That's almost a given at the quarterback position, but it's about leadership in the huddle, leadership at the line of scrimmage, leadership and clutch key moments. Why do you have that

leadership component he's looking for. Yeah, I think you named a lot of the things that you want as you want for your quarterback and you want to have as this a teammate, and so I think it won It just comes with how you come to work every day. Let everybody know that they can trust you. You're gonna know what's going on. You can always make sure that you can help anybody out with anything going on, whether

it be football related or something else. And you know, just kind of get to get to know your teammates and get to know these guys, and I think it's it's more than, like I said, more than just football. I saw on a personal level. And so when you build that trust and that with all your teammates, you can lead from a different perspective and lead from a different area. And so now that's what I'm excited about.

I'm excited to get to meet my teammates, get to be part of this thing, and you know, to really push this whole team to be the best that we can be. It's always good to have an advocate in the building where you're going to and you got one obviously in Bill Laser, a man you respect and worked with for several years in Cincinnati. Does that mean a lot to you right now? And is that short of shortened gap in digesting what you're going to be asked

to learn in this new Bears offense. That's been great to have Bill here and for us, we've had we have a great relationship from our time in Cincinnati together. We've stayed in constant contact even throughout the seasons that he wasn't in Cincinnati. And so I think that's you're

gonna make this whole transition easier. A guy that already understands how I work, understands how I operate, I understand how he works too, And so I think when you and you already have that familiarity with somebody, and especially as him being the coordinator and everything, I think that

just makes the whole transition easier. There's a lot offensive minds in that meeting room, and then you throw yours into the mix as well, because you got to tip the cap to any veteran quarterback that's put in a decade of work already and you've seen everything possible. Is that enticing as well for you? Because you know it's easy to characterize this offense is Kansas City or Philadelphia, but this is the Bears offense. There's a lot of

collective influences here. And is that kind of a pulpyri that excites you as a quarterback in this at this point in your career? It does? You know, being in Cincinnati for so long and then getting a going through different coordinators there and then being in Dallas this past year, it's like, okay, let's I love the part of okay, what can we do differently? Or what's something different that I haven't done in the past. I've seen it on film, I've seen these guys do it, But how is this taught?

How is this run? All that kind of stuff. So I think that's it's gonna be fun for me to kind of dive into this offense, dive into the playbook and see, Okay, what do we want to be. I can bring some of the stuff from you know, my past, my experiences and things that I like, and uh yeah, I think that's just comes to the working relationship with all these guys. And so, like I said, I'm looking forward to this. It's it's gonna be fun to start

this whole process. And it starts immediately. It's already started. Jim, He's done a lot of work. He did it a lot in advance to find out exactly what the Bears were doing offensive. We watch a lot of tape and getting in this position to be a starter again. He's gonna be wearing number fourteen. I realized that has been his number in Dallas Sin Sincecinnati. So I asked him

about that. He says that's a significant number because his dad wore that number back and playing high school football in Texas and he's writing with that and uh and certainly the hair matches the orange right the orange c on the Bears logo and had a good laugh about that too. But Jim as a quarterback coming in through free agent, to put yourself in his shoes with this team right now as it's currently constructed, not what it's

going to be when they had the training camp. What is his big as hurder hurdle to adapt quickly or would you say there are any hurdles? No, I don't think there's any hurdles for Andy. You know, he's been around, He's learned a lot of football. He's been under a lot of different offensive coordinators that he's had to learn new offenses. So I don't think that'll be a challenge

for him at all. He's got a relationship and it kind of understands what the coaches want from him, and I think he feels that they'll have the ability to win. You know, Andy Dalton, I know his record is seven and twenty one in his last twenty eight games, all right, but it's really what's been around him. I think everybody knows that Cincinnati was deteriorating as an organization. You know, they made the playoffs five times, and he's experienced that.

He guided him there. He wasn't the reason why they lost all those games, let's just put it that way. He was actually the reason why they were in the playoffs and then signs the one year deal in Dallas, where I don't think anybody anticipated him playing. You know, he's just trying to hope for another opportunity in free agency this year that would come out and it probably

without anything on his resume. But he had the ability to play last year when he stepped on the field, he played, and Dallas was a better team with him guiding the football team. Now he comes to the Bears, I think there's pieces to the puzzle around him. He's a good decision maker. You got a good defense in place, that wasn't the case in Dallas last year. And I

think he feels he can win. He can win, and whether it's with the Bears that we mentioned earlier or with another team, he's trying to position himself to solidify a starting spot for you know, another long term contract, so to speak. So this is you know, to me, it's it's the best of the Bears could do. This guy will give the bears the ability to win, and I think it's just it's just his decision making and

his situational play. I kind of compare Andy Dalton to Alex Smith, meaning it's very rarely he's going to make a decision that caused you a game. He's just not that type of quarterback. He'll keep you in every game and that's all you can ask for is to have a chance to win. But you know, one thing I like about the relationship the quarterback room Nick Folds and Andy Dalton right now is everything that's coached and taught

is transferable to every guy. It's not like you have a rollout pattern, a rollout scheme that you want to put in for this athletic quarterback, and then you have this scheme that you want to put into a taller pocket passing quarterback. I think Andy Dalton and Nick Folds are so similar in their styles of play, their athleticism,

and their background that you're only teaching one system. And I think that's important because when you go for the limited amount of time that you have in front of these players, whether it's by zoom or in an actual meeting room, everything you're saying you only have to say it once and it's going to pertain to everybody in that room. And I think that's super beneficial to the quarterback coaches that are gonna have a hands on approach with these guys. Hey, you're looking at that too, precisely

about the offensive line, Yeah right, exactly, yeah, exactly. You're you're gonna you're gonna follow one scheme that best fits the quarterback that can make you the most threatening downfield in whether that includes a powerful running game that includes play action, or these guys develop a good relationship with all the receiver assets that the Bears have at this point. All right, talk about receivers real quick, because Jim pointed out the market down a little bit o receivers, so

it's a very saturated market, no question. There's a lot of guys thought there were gonna strike it big. I know Will Fuller was one of those guys. He settled in Miami. I don't know what he got today, Jim, But there really isn't the neat to overpay because there's a bunch of great receivers potentially coming out of the draft, so there's less tread on those tires. You can draft a young, fast talent and certainly in those upper twelve picks and maybe in the first to two rounds you

get about a dozen different players. You know, he talked about Jamar Chase and Jalen Wattle and DeVante Smith for starters. But is that part of this now? And I know people are upset about it, especially agents just reading on Twitter today some of the agents around the league, I know. I mean it's self motivated because they want to make their cash and get their clients the best possible deals.

But it is what it is. And I know with the new TV contracts that we'll get into in a minute, that it looks like things are better off than what they're dealing with right now. But those TV deals don't go into effect until twenty twenty three. Yeah, I think that's what the agents are barking about. They think now that they know that what that was going to come in at ten billion a year, Hey, why couldn't the KAPA been over a little over two hundred million? But

the NFL had already agreed with the NFLPA. No, we're going to take the hit early this year, and next year they'll take a hit and then it'll finally settle back out and I think that's what the agents are upset about because now it really constrains them of what they can do for their clients since everybody's trimming the fat, so to speak. So I agree with you those market forces are there. I mean, Darnell Mooney is a case in point. He's a fifth round draft pick. Look how

he performed for the Bears. And there's a boatload of great receivers in the in the NFL. So first round I brought up Ceedee Lamb. Look at the guy up in Minnesota, justin Jefferson. How did he play as a rookie. And you know, there's going to be a lot of receivers in every round that teams will have the ability to pluck. And then if they don't get one in the draft, then there'll be a second wave of free agency after the draft where teams will say, oh, okay,

we need another receiver. Let's go sign so and so is still on the street and be able to bring that person on a one year deal. All right, we'll break into this in great detail a little bit more about the TV deal and what it means moving forward as well. If you're just joining us, we got news

that Kyle foot are. According to Irrappaport of NFL Network, that the Bears have really East the veteran cornerback for the number one cornerback on the Bears in the last few years and not able to get a deal on a trade to to get something in return, so he is a free agent. Reportedly, according to Ian Rappaport, with Tom Fair, I'm Jeff Joniak and Jim Miller from Serious

Sex m NFL Radio for a few more minutes. When we come back after this break with her Lawrence our producer, This is Bear Song Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score Fresh Cut, Fresh Perspective book an appointment with Chicago Bears Small Business All Pros winner Principal Barbers visit Principal Barbers dot Com. Guess that doesn't include my man, Tom Bear. He does his own. Let Jim Miller, Now you still have a good mop, don't you? Yeah, head

over to Principal Barber's baby luckily. Yeah, I'm well, I'm due for cut. You know, we still spent a little draconian up here in terms of the rules. We're not allowed to get out in the boat, so I may have to take the take you up on that offer. There you go. That's Jim Miller with Tom Fair. I'm Jeff Joniak. A few more minutes with m before we cut him loose, and thank you as always from Serious

x MNFL Radio. As you guys heard about the one hundred ten billion dollars deal earlier today, as you talked to folks around the league overall, what's your impressions of that? Yeah, hey, it's gonna make everybody a little happier in the wallet, obviously, that's number one. The TV networks are gonna dish out a lot, but they're gonna expect a lot. So there's little things in this deal that spread over multiple platforms. Obviously Amazon's a big part of this. ESPN gets a

Super Bowl, but also there the Monday Night package. They're gonna be able to flex games that they don't want. That's a big difference this year, all right, and they when it takes effect in twenty twenty three, well you know really quick. I know Jim knows a lot more about it, but I'm kind of interested. The last year's pandemic scheduling actually help the negotiations because when they went across the board and they were able to use almost

every day of the week. They saw a little bit the role of the NFL in the times when they need it most, and the viewing audiences that they had in some of these games, whether they're played on Tuesday or Wednesday. So you always knew that there's gonna be big, big dollar figures with all the different players in place

now that can help the negotiations. But I do thought, I do think that they got a little bit of an understanding of the role of the NFL through the crisis that we lived through last year and how much relief it gave people. Yeah, and well, I just think

obviously streaming is different and how people consume games. So Jeff, when you're at the local hardware store picking up two gallons of paint, maybe you got to sit there on your iPhone where you're checking out everything out, and you know there are some different players where they think it

can expand. From that standpoint, Amazon is obviously one of them, and I wouldn't be surprised here in the near future if Amazon is probably going to purchase its own broadcasting network, whether they buy out somebody or something like that, which will boost it from that standpoint. But in terms of the calculations and how it affects the players, and this will blow Tom's mind, probably blow your mind. It blows

my mind. So imagine a salary cap next year that will probably jump from one eighty five this year up to two twenty one, and then the following year it's going to jump up to about probably two seventy five two eighty and then the following year it's going to

jump up over three hundred billion dollars. So about three years from now, there will be a salary cap of about three hundred and twenty million, and the prices are just the salaries are gonna explode through the roof, which the players are gonna love, and you know you're gonna see legitimately fifty million dollar quarterbacks, you know, if not more than that. So it's it's definitely this is an

incredible deal. It's it's an incredible deal, Yes it is, And it just sounderscores what this league is and the health of the league in general. If they're still willing to pay that kind of dough certainly out of a pandemic and a lot of uncertainty in the business world and in people's lives. It's it is crazy. The numbers are going to be eye popping. So whatever the players are giving up a little bit, now, I get it.

Some of these guys won't be around and there are going to be a lot more st that's the problem. The next player voting on the next uh labor agreement, Well, he's he's in junior high right now. Okay, so let's just think about that. That's who's that's who will be voting on the next collective bargaining breem He's not even in the NFL. And so you know, you got to keep that in perspective because that's you know, that's just the way it works. You know, Tom, I'm sure you're

you're where you know. When I arrived in the NFL, I didn't get to vote on that collective bargaining agreement. Those were the players before me that voted on it. So I kind of had to live with it, you know. And then then when you're out of the NFL another collective bargaining agreement in the last two to be ten years. It's surprising that from the NFLPA side that they'd want

such long agreements. That's that's really was what's surprising. When you go back and look at this deal, and a lot of labor law lawyers that are out there that'll tell you this is one of the worst deals in sports history from a player's side of things, But it's looking pretty good for the players when you're getting this type of big of a salary cap and how the pious split. It's just a lot different than what it was, and it definitely tilts in the owner's favors. You know.

You know, I think anytime throughout your career, if you're involved in a collective bargaining agreement negotiation, it's always about paying it forward because you know, a lot of the guys that are making the decisions on behalf of the players. They're usually well respected, super educated players within the locker room that are helping bring that information to the rest

of the guys on the team. But you know, a lot of it is we're gonna be out of the league by the time that these things really start paying dividends to, like you said, Jim, to the guys that are in junior high right now and waiting for working for it towards their opportunity. Hey, Jim, before we let you go, and appreciate it. As always, each week making yourself available, broad Sculp. Let's look in the division with what's been done in free agency, what's been released and

brought in. Let's try to tick through the teams quickly because I know we're on a time crunch here. Let's start from your view on what the Minnesota Bankings have done so far. Yeah, I think when well they added Patrick Peterson today, I think they wanted the veteran there to help out some of the younger players in that secondary that struggled last year. You know, think of Jeff Gladney, he was a rookie. Cameron Danceler was also a rookie.

I mean, literally, Green Bay, it's one player, it's Aaron Jones, right. I mean, because they have no salary cap room, they're actually gonna have to they may have to think about extending Aaron Rodgers to get more salary cap. From that standpoint, Delvin Tomlinson, I do like that signing for Minnesota because they'll have Michael pierceback. They're going to be a tough team to run the football against. So like what they've

done and Detroit's they're just reshaping everything. You know, with Jared golf in that trade finally going through they've signed some marginal players. Oakwara is a good player that they basically signed a three year deal too. He's been kind of their key sack guy, uh there, and so they're they're you know, this for them with having a new coach and everything is kind of the foundational year. So there, they still have a lot of work to do to really see what they're gonna come down to and really

what they're going to be as a team. But I think the Bears are right there. I think the Bears have done fine. None of the other teams, especially Green Bay, really can't break the bank because they've got no salary cap space to move man. Troy brought in Michael Brockers also, didn't they Yeah, yeah, Brockers Rockers Jamal Williams from Kansas City. You know, that's a excuse me um from the Green

Bay Packers. So that's a very good pick up right there for a team that we always talk about doesn't run the pall the way we envision for to help out their quarterback in the years in the past and Matthew Stafford. Now will they do that with Jared Goff and the backup quarterback of the Packers, Tim Boyle is now a detroit lyon back up and Chase Daniel is out of there. So a lot of interesting things done overall. Who's hit the home run, Jim, and I'll let you go,

Tampa Bay keeping the band together in New England. Man, New England. I've never seen this from Bill Belichick's spend two thousand since they dove into free agency this much. They've already got one hundred million dollars and guaranteed contracts that are out there. So they are looking to rebound in the AFC's but definitely for Tampa to keep and they'll get him Dominican Sue back, and I wouldn't be shocked if they get Antonio brownback. That team will be

exactly what it was from a season ago. With all the guys they've resigned. All right, Jim, we'll let you go. We'll talk to you next week. Appreciate it. You bet guys. Have a good one, Jim. Jim Miller form Bears quarterback from Serious XM NFL Radio on with his host guest host as well here on our Bears All Access show, Tom A couple of minutes to go real quick. Um, let's go back to the report on Kyle Fuller, because you know, we got to know him earlier in his

rookie year, we did events with him. We understood he's all business there. He's all about preparation. He's not a guy that's gonna put himself out there on the in the public eye a lot or with the media. Very quiet guy, humble guy, but very respected in that locker room. But just if in fact, this is an accurate report by inter Rappaport from NFL Network, and I don't doubt

that it is. But putting his career in perspective, nineteen career interceptions, he had seven in that twenty eighteen season that was so good and went to the Pro Bowl. Very important player in that defense. Just what his impact wound up being here for the Chicago Bears. He had a salary cap hit at twenty million, so right now that's the only salary cap cut the Bears have had to make. Yeah, that's unfortunate because the person Kyle Fuller, I've really grown to admire over the last couple of

years being around him. When I go back and I think about the Tampa game this past year and his legal hit on the wide receiver, that kind of changed the entire flow of that game, and the Bears dominated from that point on. He's super willing to be a physical cornerback. That is one thing that avoids most guys at that position because they don't have the physical willingness that Kyle Fuller already always has. So whomever signs him is gonna get a quality locker room person. He studies hard,

and he's a heck of a player. So he's the type of guy you'd come across throughout your career and you always wish the best for. And lastly, so Brent Urban's gone, Roy Robertson Harris, you get Eddie Goldman coming back. Your Resa Murray Edwards Junior. There's a report the Bears of San Angelo Blackson. He's a six year VET, played with Houston and Arizona. Big guy six four three nineteen. Pushed the pocket a little bit, pressure of the quarterback.

You just want to keep that defensive line rotational pieces Tom because that is as important as anything obviously on that d Yeah, and the Sean new defensive coordinator, Seawan Decay, that's what he needs. He needs an aggressive front so he can get the linebackers attacking the quarterback. All right, that's gonna wrap us up tonight's show. Appreciate your time, everybody, Thanks for listening. For Tim there, Jim Miller, I'm Jeff

Jonahjac Shady. We'll talk to you next week on Bears on Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Thank you heard, Lawrence, Jordan tread Up and Dana. Really, 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 Miller Lite.