Discussing Bears' salary cap | All Access Podcast

I'm Jeff Chariaker, brought to you by IGF editor MC broadcast partner from news radio seven eighty one oh five point m w BBM. Chicago Bears Super Bowl winning guard Tom Fair. How did that Super Bowl go for you? Buddy? Oh?

It was fun. I enjoyed it. Um. I had a chance to go to a charity event before a puppy ball kind of related deal and got to see some of my favorite companions, which are puppies, and as long as they all get adopted, and then you know you kind of watched the game with a little bit of envy after we've had an opportunity to play in the game and win it, but also broadcast the game and lose it. You know exactly what each team is going through, and then you know you think you're gonna kind of

sneak through the week. And then also I get a call from your good buddy Dave Logan and Denver that he wants me to come on to a show out there to talk about the Bears. So I mean, this is not only a local subject a local topic. This is a topic that everybody at the puppy event to. You know, people in Denver that are should be worrying about hiring their own coaching staff are concerned about what the Bears are going to do and what they're thinking. Gosh,

you just covered three topics right off the beat. But before we get into those, Jim Miller from Serious x M NFL Radio is moving the chains. Will come and join us at around six ten. We'll also be joined tonight. We'll hear from John Hook, the bears new cornerbacks and passing game coordinator, good friend of ours back with the organization, who's here from two thousand and twenty fourteen. He'll be

back after a couple of years in Atlanta. And then we'll also be jong by Brad Spielberger that will be fine to talk finance is the business season of football from Pro Football Focus and over Thecap dot Com. He'll be joining us as well, coming up in the six ten hour. All right, So you picked up the baton for me, okay, Dave Logan, you know they did. They texted me and I forgot to call him back. So

thank you for picking me up, buddy. I just remember because you know what, I honestly don't even want to talk about it right now, because it is we are hours removed from the end of this season, Kansas City wins the Super Bowl and we are onto the Bears. What do we talk about last week time? Well, we said this is the center of the football universe from this day forward. What can all right? Can you can sit there right now in that chair and you can

say the Bears will definitely not trade justin fields. And he caused down the table because that's kind of the topic that opened the door for Denver between Chicago to open up a little bit of conversation because people that I talked to outside the Bears are more concerned about the rumor mill of the Bears thinking about trading justin fields when it seems like they finally got it in place.

They got the quarterback, they got the offensive coordinator back on board, and that relationship is so important in the second year development of a quarterback that it seems like it's too much of a topic of interest. I'll tell

you this. I was on a podcast this week with Adam Johns and Adam Hogue and they asked me, and I said, the most significant development of the postseason, even though we've just started, is the retainment of Luke getzeeing the offensive staff for justin fields, because I don't want to see that change, and you know there are We'll get into it. Jim Miller later on of the program.

The number of offensive coordinator positions open and Eric b. Enemy apparently is the new Washington commander's offensive coordinator, but the movement at that position jobs still open. I believe there are five offensive coordinator positions still open in this league. Is the most difficult thing to fill in the NFL? Yeah, it is. It depends a lot on the quarterback. You

have the supporting defensive staff. You know, you look at a guy like Eric b. Enemy now going from having one of the best quarterbacks in the history the NFL, and the short term going into a team that has a lower drafted quarterback that's kind of in, you know, at the front of the line right now, with very little certainty. So you think about the decision where you're going with offensive coordinators, there's so many factors that come into place that you have to take into account that

it's just not a foregone conclusion. Oh, if you know there's eleven guys on offense and you know how to move the football around, you can be an offensive coordinator. That's not the case. You have to meet. You have to match the offensive coordinator with the talent. Part two of that is losing the two thousand and six Super Bowl. And thankfully, I guess this is a two pronged problem. One, you won the Super Bowl at eighty five. You didn't

go back, so you never lost one. But the losing of a super Bowl and the impact of that on your organization, the feeling of it is significant. And you know, we're watching that Super Bowl and watching it unfold, and it was a tremendous game. I thought it was. It was an outstanding game. I know a lot of people are saying it's one of the best ever. You know, I've seen a lot of super Bowls. I can't put

it in that category. It was fantastic. But the loss of a Super Bowl and what it does to you as a player and eats away at you as an organization. Even if you get to the NFC Championship Game and lose that, the trickle down effect of that which you have felt is really difficult to overcome, not only individually

but as a team in an organization. Town Well, I will say losing the NFC Championship Game as an active player to the San Francisco forty nine ers is the most difficult actual player loss that I've ever had in my career. But then you look at going through the loss and just the emotions that you go through after losing Super Bowl as a part of an organization, no matter what part you are, from equipment manager to broadcaster to chef to you know, security director. All Right, Puppy Bowl,

you gotta tell me about it. You are the biggest dog fan I've ever seen in my life. They are like little children for you, no question about it. You're three dogs. So tell me what you did on Super Bowl Sunday. No. I went down to a place on downtown Chicago. Was on Fullerton Street and got the name is skipping me and I feel bad because it was a great place. But they had a big outdoor part and the dogs are friendly all year round to go

there to the patio. But then they had a number of dogs that were up for the adoption agency in the Bears marketing department put together a event that was surrounded by the puppy Bowl but also had access to you know, donating money to the facility for adoptive pets, and so it was really neat um and um it

was a cool location. And yeah, I brought my uh one of my great nephews, John Henry, and oh he probably loved it, picked up and put it, you know, petted puppies and you know some of them, you know, they're sad stories behind him, but it's awesome how gracious the people are that come and adopt him. What did you think of the game? I thought it was a good game, I thought for sure, and I if I'm glad I'm not a betting man, because I thought Philly

was gonna win the game for sure. And I was amazed of the fumble that uh, Justin Jalen had when he was switching the ball from his left hand to his right and then when he lost control of it, how he kicked it forward and then the game was wide open from that point on. The biggest kick in the game wasn't the midst of the first field goal. The biggest kick in the game was the boot by Jalen Hurts that put it into a position that since Kansas City could re cover it, returning for a touchdown

and get right back in the game. Emphasizes once again because we all felt after playing them and losing twenty five twenty in that game a soldier field and as we find out, Jalen hurt says, hey, he really messed up his shoulder in that game. How difficult it is to win the bundle? Forget about all the Tom Brady New England years. They had something going on. The Steelers

from the seventies, they had something unique going on. Teams that have gone back to the Super Bowl after missing maybe a couple of back to backs, but boy is it hard to win. We both felt the Eagles with the most balanced team in football, I did you know? And going back and look at the analytics and the numbers of the eighty five Bears and this Philadelphia Eagles team. They were super similar and then you just look at the numbers that stood out about their ability for their

defense to get sacks and they were held sackless. I thought the biggest telling of the game was going to be the offensive performance of the Kansas City offensive line. They were great, Hell, they were great. The right tackle was awesome, and so you know, Handsas City was super creative when they got a turnover and they got down inside the red zone. Oh my gosh, creativity. Creativity where they had you know, uncovered or you know, you know, receivers going into the end zone. Yeah, I'll tell you

this too. The offensive line. You know, let's from keep in mind Ryan Pull's general manager of the Bears, had a lot to do with putting together that offensive line. He was kind of the guy behind it all in terms of draft and putting the thing that that thing together And I know I texted him this week about that and he just gave a thumbs up. You know, that was an impressive performance by you know, that defensive line.

We talked about eight to ten deep and the quick passing game and Patrick Machomes adjusting and morphing into what you need to morph into regardless of what your capabilities and traits are as a player and as an offense as a team, they got rid of the ball quick and used the short passing game to their advantage. I mean it was. It was impressive, no question about it. A big reverse field punt retire, Oh, which was an

amazing day. Yeah. You know, Dave is a great coach and just some pure athleticism on display to get the ball down within the five yard line. The longest longest punt return in Super Bowl history. Yes, and that always amazes me to all these benchmark moments in games. The longest punt return in Super Bowl history. You know, you think you've seen it all, but you never do in sports, that's for sure. Coming up next, we'll be joined by our friend Jim Miller, who is at the game. We

can talk more about that. Also, a new day is done for the Bears franchise with its open letter announcement closing on the three hundred and twenty six acre Arlington Park property. We'll talk about that all coming up next with Tom There. I'm Jeff Joniac here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Welcome back everybody to Bears. All access were 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. With

top there, I'm Jeff Joniac. Let's bring Jim Metal from Serious XM NFL Radio is moving the chains, and also Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus. He is a salary Cap analyst contributor as well to over Thecap dot com, a former Minnesota Banking's legal intern and Vanderbilt a lum to Lane Law. A lot on the schedule for both guys. Jim first Salo at Super Bowl with something else. Did you love it? Yeah, what a great week, So Jeff

toomm gonna be with you guys. Yeah, it was a great Super Bowl, great game and just very competitive and what can you say? Kansas City got it done. They made they made the most place and certainly you know everybody talked about in the trenches. You give up no sacks against that group, whether it's footing. But both teams had had to play in that but they made the plays that were necessary to get the win and couldn't be really shut out offensively that whole second half against

a pretty good defensive Philadelphia. So all the way around, a great game. All right, we will get in depth. I really want to talk about the field. Want to talk about a couple of things about the Super Bowl later in the program. But you know, at the game, men's celebrate the Chiefs. But Brad Spielberger, I keep saying it over and over again. Tom and I We've been doing this a long time. Jim's been a Bear, and it's we have a lot of invested here. We have

never seen what's about to trans form this franchise. Then here in twenty twenty three with the salary, cap space and the number one pick on the draft and what all that means. Welcome to the program, first time with us. You do a great job. But Bears fans are in a word you for it, Brad, and should they be thank you so much for having me. I appreciate the intro, and yeah, they really should. I mean you talk about

it being stored for the Chicago Bears. It's a stored for any team to have this many resources going into the offseason, extra draft capital from the trades of Roclan Smith and Robert Quinn, the number one overall pick and ninety four million dollars in cap space, they could set up the next five years, ten years of the team potentially with the big offseason, you know, brand I mentioned this to our director of Research and Statistics, Doug Colletti has been with us for thirty six years, a banker

by trade. Buddy does this for fun and helps us out with our statues in every week in our booth. And I mentioned to him this week about the next ten years, and I had to reel it back a little bit because you hit the nail on the head. It's really five years when you look at the Philadelphia Eagles transforming their roster, keeping some key elements of course, and doing it in two and a half years. Really,

this league now has become the next five years. But it is it is a keystone moment depending on what you get just safe for example, you get your next great pass rusher, your next great cornerstone offensive lineman, or a alpha male on that offensive line, or a great corner you know, yes, you these guys will be here possibly eight to ten years, but really, in reality, it's

in the next five years. But it is transformation. Is that the range we're looking at here this kind of offseason, Yeah, exactly right, I mean, especially in the free agency you're usually looking at, you know, three four year solutions at past But then like you said those draft is, maybe you do land that blue chip player that sticks around for a very long time, hopefully playing with Justin Fields

for a very very long time. But the key for this offseason as well is, you know Justin Field going into the third year of his rookie contract, can you build a contender before hopefully, as we're all hoping, you know, he gets a huge payday. So there's a short window and a long term window and play here. You know, Brad, you look at the positions at the Bears need most

and you look at free agency. Do you have a dedicated amount of money that you would want to spend at a certain position to consider an upgraded or is it kind of fly by the seat of your pants. If this guy unusually becomes a valuable you got to take a shot at him. I do think it is kind of touch and go. You have to a plan in place. If you're gonna splash on a certain player,

then maybe you pivot elsewhere. But you know, one specific example, let's say to Ron Payne, the interior defender in Washington does not get franchise tagged. I unfortunately think he will. But let's say he doesn't, and all of a sudden, a really really good young player that can transform the tior of your defensive line, which you know, I think it was a bit of a week spot for the team this past year. You kind of have to rite, you say, hey, we have all these resources available. Players

like this don't really hit the market very often. And that's a guy I think he's getting, you know, twenty million dollars a year, potentially maybe even more. But you know, coming off one of the best seasons of his career, first double digits back season, can play nose tackle, can play three technique. You know, it's a really really good young player. Well, brave, go ahead. I'm sorry, all right, Jim, go ahead, Jim. Well, I'm just gonna as Brad. Because

we've seen teams go from worse to first. Obviously Jacksonville would be a team last year. But I want to focus on Cincinnati because they were targeted. You know, they signed Trey Hendrickson, they added Mike Hilton, they drafted Jamar Chase, and here they went worse to first and went to the Super Bowl. But you can't just be some drunken sailor out there. You know, when you have ninety four million dollars, it's got to be targeted, right, Maybe just touch on that of areas to target like Tom was

was talking about No. One hundred and ten percent. I think my favorite thing Ryan pol has ever said of all of his press conferences. We's about how free agency is not how you build a roster. It's through draft and develops. Free agency is for some you know, mid tier signings, adding depth, adding rotational pieces. Again, anyway, this funny situation, maybe you do make a bigger mover too,

but you couldn't be more right. It's about those mid tier deals, those mid tier guys, that's where you typically win in free agency. You mentioned Trey Hendrickson, Mike Hilton, great examples of Von Bella safety for the Bengals, and we can go on and on know Woose the either outside corner. None of those guys broke the bank. They were all you know, mid tier to upper mid tier signings.

But they make a huge impact if you then also, you know, hit on the draft and you want to save those big, big deals for your internal players that you hopefully develop into superstars. Hey, Brad, when you look at the combine coming up. So does Ryan Poles have a booth fair having interest from every one of the gms in the league to peak there, you know, just to peak their interest about what they think about the first pick in the draft or is it? Is it?

You know as it do you take a subtle approach and try to you know, sync into the free a jim market a little bit to see what veterans could come aboard immediately and help your team. No, it's a great question. You should just set up shop in the middle of the place and is that right? Everyone come in and give you your highest bit for this first

overall pick. That would be a great set up. But I do I think this is really when conversations start about free agencies and of course you know, can't be tampering or anything like that, but you can get a feel for maybe which players are available, how the market's going to play out. You know, you know which players are you know, view as scheme fits or team fits for whatever reason, culture otherwise, and you start to get

a feel for the market at large. Because even though every deal is of course unique and it's it's in its own right, you know, those things impact each other. Right, If you know certain players are not interested in going into your city or not interesting going to other cities and things like that, it can kind of sway the values because you get a better understanding of the entire market at large. All right, Brad, I don't know whether to ask you a question about Aaron Rodgers now or later.

But I think when you really you think about the money, and you think about the future, and you think about contracts, and you think about the uncertainty of the individual himself. Is that money movable or is it money that we're kind of all, you know, silly to think that he's going to be anywhere else but Green Bay. So it is movable. But I think it'll be interesting there is at the trade compensation. I don't think it's going to be as much as people expect. Like we're not going

to see the Russell Wilson trade two point zero. I mean the guys that sixty million dollars just for next season and a new team to say, hey, we're not going to bring this guy in for maybe and maybe one year sixty million then he potentially retired. Now, they can't, you know, make him sign a I promised to play two plus years or whatever. But so that's where I think it happens. I'll say this though, I do think

Green Bay wants to move on. I think this is the off season to do it because if they keep him, these financial penalty is actually worse next year to move on from him than it is this year. So I really really do Maybe I'm just an optimistic Bears fan, I really do think he's going to be on a different team next year. Well, it's interesting because he's in the dark, and it sounds like that Bob mc an

article that came out today was in the light. So I don't even know if Aaron knows that what's been reported, but it should be interesting all the way around for the Bears. As you mentioned having that one number one overall pick for sale. You know, where does it start with quarterbacks? It could be the Texans that maybe want to trade up from two to one. You look at the Colts at four. Basically Jim Ersey, owner of the Colts, came out and said, hey, they're they're looking to develop

a young quarterback. He got the Raiders at seven, the Falcons at eight. I mean, what is fruitful for the Bears if they do decide to trade down to make sure it's not too far down to get the guy that they want to get, you know, if it's not a quarterback that they're thinking about. Obviously, Yeah, I think Colts GM could bowed. Almost had whiplash when you kind of look over at er say saying, you know, what are you talking about? Why are you giving out showing

our cards? You know? But I think that is the mark, right, is that you have two teams in the a F two thousand, mccolts and Texans, and if they both are in love with Bryce Young hypothetically, then you convince Indianapolis to jump up to one. And of course Chris Ballard and run Polls work together in Kansas City. There's a lot of connections, there are a lot of relationships, and then and then in theory, you still could get Jalen Carter from Georgia or Will Anderson from Alabama. I think

that is their ideal scenario. I know fans don't want to trade beyond I don't want to go to seven or nine. But the Raiders are told Panthers, I get that, I do. You do get way more compensation though, so it's kind of a you know, a cost benefit if you get more picks, maybe more future first round picks, but then you do maybe miss out on some of the you know, generational prospects we're seeing in those two

defenders from the SEC. Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus with Jeff Joni Actp there and Jim Miller here on Serious excuse me, serious Sex and Bears All Access on seventeen score brought to you by Idius Energy. Brat, you keep mentioning your Bears fans, so give us a little background. Your name is becoming quite popular right now because salary cap talk is now just like fantasy football talk. It's a big, big deal, and you are a cap specialist.

What's your history here with the Bears? What's your story and and what years were you with the Vikings as an intern? Oh? I appreciate that. Yeah. So I'm born and raised from Moneta. I went to New Trier. You know, don't hold that against me, but why would so? You know, I grew up on the North Side, you know, born and rais, like I said, Dinard bassement my entire life and then you know I knew I always wanted to pursue a job in sports So when I was in

law school, I went to Tulane kind of pointedly. They have a big sports law program, and I know they are the enemy in the NFC North, but the Minnesota Vices are a first rate organization. And when I was there, Kevin Warren was the president, and I actually was fortunate to be able to work with him a couple of times, go into his office and present things to him, and I could not be more happy. We're talking about spending

all this money and making all his draft picks. The number one edition this offseason very well could be Kevin Warren signing on his president of the Team'd you learn about him? You know, it's funny. He's just he's this guy that has this this gravity to me, walks into a room and almost the air kind of gets stucked out of the room, but in a good way. But then you watch him and he talked to us interns, you know as lowly legal intern the same way he

would talk to Rick Steelman. Like he's just a very very pragmatic and caring And you know, if you listen to you when you're talking to him, and you're in your mind, you're like, this guy is a hundred things more important on his docket to get to today. But he's really engaged in kids or what everyone is talking about and everyone is saying, and I think it just goes a long way and just establishing, you know, a good culture of respect and all these things. And the

last point, which I'm sure George mcceski loves. When he got to Minnesota, they were thirty first in revenue. When he left, they were in the top ten. So he runs a good business. He knows what he's doing. Hey, Brad, what do you start looking at some teams around the league that may be in uh salary cap or dead money? Hell, is there any a team out there that may be able to match up with the Bears because of it?

Either it's a player that they're gonna get rid of because they're paying too much that they just can't afford. That's yeah, there's a couple. I think you look around the NFL. It depends tobe what players the Bears, you know, position wise they want to go after. But you know you've seen and mentioned kid Keenan Allen, the wide receiver with the Los Angeles Chargers. I'm so they'll approach him about a pay cut and maybe he's unwilling to do so.

M we saw today Aaron Jones obviously taking the pay cut. Maybe a different running back, you know, says no to that proposition, and the Bears can add a you know, a Cap Titulty running back on the market, and then a couple other ones. You know. I think Russell Gage, who's had Bay Buccaneers, maybe gets let go. They're less tackle about him and Smith. I'm a big brex from Jones guy. But hey, it's a you know, really good left tackle comes on the market. Maybe you take a

look there. Um, those are some names I'm keeping an eye on. Um. If guys together, the Bears probably could use if they you know, if they do some available, well could you could you really clear up Brad? People hear so much about dead cap and the Bears took you know, a big hit last year dead cap. They

basically wanted to clear out the credit card. Atlanta has elected to go that route as well, where they cleared the credit card out because a lot of these teams they're kind of kicking the can down the road, and the Bears elected to take that hit, and why they have put themselves in the position to have the most salary cap space of any team in the NFL. Yeah,

so you nailed. I always like to use the expression the credit card, right, So you basically you can spend more cash in a giving year than the salary cap in that year. But what you're doing is you're pushing cap hit down the road, and like you said, then we're seeing you know, Khalil Max set the record for the most the largest cap hit for a non quarterback or a defensive player I should say, the largest cabit for a defensive player to not play on a team.

You know, that was a record you set last year. So I think it was smart of them to do, you know, take all their lumps in last year. Don't spread it out because you can't spread it over two years. I think it was smart to say, let's just let's just take the hit now and that way we can have the flexibility going forward and we can spend in the short term because we don't have any of this there's dead weight. I think it was the correct approach

by Ryan Poles and the Bears. Brad there's a big faction of fans that he say, listen, hey, listen, it's not my money. I just want to spend it, right, it's fantasy football. But I am not a huge proponent of a free agency I've said it at many times on every single show. I want to build through the draft. That's why I love what Ryan Poles's philosophy is and what he wants to do. But at the same time, this team has to spend a certain amount of money.

You understand the cap better than most explain that aspect of this offseason. Given the cap space of ninety four million, what they have to send spent from a percentage basis or a particular dollar figure just to get through the year. Yeah, so we totally agree there, right, Like I always view it, as you know, we do research on these things, and the end, what happens when you spend at certain positions

and how big you spend. I'd like to say you should go after non premium positions because you should be drafting, you know, edge defenders and tackles and quarterbacks and wide receivers them to you know, go after centers and line off ball linebackers and safeties and things like that. In free agency, But there is actually a cash spending minimum, and so it's tied to the salary cap, but from

twenty twenty one to twenty twenty three. For every team, they have to spend at least ninety percent of the cumulative three year salary caps. So the Bears were way below this past year, and they were a little bit below in twenty twenty one, so they kind of have

to spend to a degree this off season. Again, you don't have to make these splash moves and go make the biggest free agent acquisition around, but they are going to be, I'll tell you right now, one of the biggest spenders, one of the most active teams in free agency. But of course you can also you know, extend guys like Cole Comment Darnell Mooney. That of course counts in

the cash spendature as well. Hey, Brad, when you think about the future of the quarterback position here and you think about the decision the Eagles are going to have to make with Jalen Hurst, is this a template that the Bears are most likely you're gonna have to follow with accordingly? If Justin has the success that Jalen has had, Yeah, i mean you're seeing a league watch. Yeah, these teams are going to go all in and maybe trade picks.

We saw honestly with spliac with the Chicago Bears, where when you have the rookie contract quarterback that you believe in, that's when you can make these splash moves and spend elsewhere. And then when you get to start paying that guy, you know, forty five fifty million dollars a year. You see like with the Kids Chiefs where they trade away Tyree Hill. Look, could they have afford it, Yes, but the Chiefs were twentieth and cash spending this year and

just won the Super Bowl. I mean they they should terrify teams across the league because you know, as they started their parade, this is a rebuilding year for them. But yeah, kind of everything follows from the quarterback. I think the Bears will spend this offseason around Justin Fields because if he has the year we're all hoping for, he's going to be looking at that that monster price tag as well. And that's my final question is do you stick to one side of the ball free agents, say,

on offense. We've seen use the other teams use this template. They'll draft one side of the ball, i e. Defense and bringing a lot of veteran free agents on the offense to really supplement, say a young quarterback like a justin Fields. It's an interesting point. I think they could to a degree. I think they also realized last year that drafting defense. I don't know if this was their thought, but we've done some work in the past on a lot of defensive players can take longer to impact your

team in the win lost column. And so if you draft a lot of defense early on on the build, like they obviously did, and then you kind of pivot to drafting some impact offensive playmakers like all these wide receivers we've seen come in and be immediately very very important to their offense, and then pivot to, yeah, getting some short term answers on defense and free agency. That's why I would do it this offseason, and I do think they might do it, you know, to a degree,

focus their resources in that capacity. Most significant offseason for the Bears. I don't know since when I mean, my goodness, Brad Spielberger, we'd like to have you on again as this unfolds. Outstanding insight, love how you look at the game. Appreciated buddy, Thank you very much, Brad Spielberg, Pro Football Focus. We'll continue on with top there and Jim Better here on Bears All Access. We're brought to you by Just

Energy at Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. This segment of Bears All accesses brought to you by Athletico Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot com to acustant employment in clinic or virtually didn't start feeling better tomorrow Jeff Joniac along with Tom Fair and Jim Miller the former Chicago Bears quarterback John Holk. I did a sit down interview with John yesterday, but Alisa will hear that coming up shortly. But Jim loved with brand. Spielberger had to say, I

love the fact he's a Bears fan. I didn't know that. I didn't know that. There's a great job in pro football focus. But the fact that continues to get emphasized here is the Bears do have to spend a certain amount of money, and I think that's significant. And Tom in the break and he and I were talking about where you want to spend your money, and I said earlier on this program weeks ago, I'd like to invest in the offensive line through the draft and invest in

free agency on the defensive line. But if there's an alpha offensive lineman out there, I don't care if it's outside or inside, interior, offensive linementer or a tackle. Then if it's possible, and those guys are rare, they don't come around much. I'd like to get that too. So it's it's shopping. It's a shopping spree. This is what's I'm out shopping through the draft and shopping through free agency. Yeah, there's no doubt. It's got to be targeted. And certainly

you don't want to overspend. But let's be honest. You don't get fired for spending money. You get fired for losing. Yeah, right, so that's the reality of it. But you gotta be targeted. You gotta be smart, and I think they will. I think they'll be fisically responsible because you know, that's why I used to and ask Brad about the Bengals, because they were really targeted. I mean, look how good Trey Henderson has been for them and Mike Hilton who was

in division. They didn't have to break the bank. And he mentioned Von Bell there was another guy, big playmaker, right, he had the big interception in the championship game for for for Cincinnati to make it to the Super Bowl.

And so if you're targeted and you can you can build your team with mid level players that are that are sending, that are still young, that are you know, going in the right direction, and then uh, you know, sign him for modest money and not have to break the bank, but yet are going to impact your team and the right way. But it's got to be everything else that we talked about. Character wise, Do they fit in the building? You know, how are they as teammates?

It's it's a certain guy, a certain individual you're you're going out there to get that really is going to be a fit of what Matt Eberflus and visions and what Ryan Eberflus in visions of the type of guys that they believe can win. But certainly there's only so much pie, piece of the pie that can go around,

you know. I think one thing about the Bears, fortunately unfortunately on defense, there in such desperate need of personnel at any position that if they went out and they identified the most alpha ish type of player out there on the free agent market on the defensive side of the ball, could you go out and set your sights in that guy? And you know, I remember when Reggie White was a free agent or Wilbur Marshall became a

free agent. And there's periods of times throughout NFL history where there was a star quality guy that just became unaffordable to the team they were playing for, and you had to go out and you had to man come in here and bring this guy in with all the fanfare possible. And then you see what ended up happening

to Reggie and Wilburn, guys like that. So, or is there a player position out there, no matter first, second, or third level that can come in here and want the pressure of being brought in as a high price free agent and be responsible for changing the attitude inside the locker room and the results on the field. And I'll amplify that a little bit, Jim, I I don't want I want young guys. So you know we're talking about twenty five, twenty six, twenty seven. I don't I

don't want the thirty somethings. No, don't, no disrespect. Certain situations command the thirty somethings. Right when you're ready to win a Super Bowl, you go and get Simeon Rice in Tampa Bay, or you go and get you know, a player that we've seen like Von Miller trade for

him or whatever the case may. I then this was a young team that got a lot of snaps out of rookies and they're developing, and I just want to get this is my hope that they continue to build it the way that you would envision a perfect scenario, because they nearly have a perfect scenario in this current situation.

Would you agree, Yeah, I think you're right. I think you want to you want to diagnose the guys that are on this side of thirty, you know, the twenty six, twenty seven year old guys that are just coming out of their first contract and are moving on and testing the free agent waters that they're going to dive into because the Bears want to build a nucleus here. They want a strong, young football team that will carry them

moving forward. Um, you know, I said, you know, it's funny because Pat brought peck her when my partner on Sirius brought this up. He when he was with the Jets, he had the opportunity to sign Reggie White. He said, but you know the problem with the Jets is getting them in the building. We needed to get the players, like right now, Derek Carr is there in New York and they this minute. Yeah, like this minute. So the Jets don't want to let them out of the building.

Pat said, you know our problem was we weren't you know, a high, high free agency destination when you look at the Jets, and but just to get the guy in the building was a big thing. But for Reggie, he did want to move on, he said. Pat knew it. He was trying to get the deal done. He has his agent there with him, and it's kind of the the moby dick that got away, he said. Once he left that building, Pat goes, we we got no shot because once he went to Green Bay, they threw everything

at him and Pat and it was over. And but the Jets were right there, you know, trying to get the deal done. And that's typically what happens. You don't want to let the guy move on to another destination. You better fly him in a private plane then, because you want to be in control of it every exit possible. That's why they call him the Reverend. It's called in God, we Trust Decided gree Bay. Yeah, exactly right, we're gonna

we're gonna take a break. Coming up next, my conversation with New Bear's cornerback coach and passing game coordinator John Hook. It's all next here on Bears All Access with Amstezinski, our producer from the Score Studios, with Tom There Jim Miller. I'm Jeff Act at Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. This second of Bears All Access is brought to you by cd W. Be able to get it. He is

back with the Bears. Earlier this week, sat down with my old friend and Bear secondary coach John Hook's third stint with the organization. He was a Bear in nineteen eighty. Much more to discuss here we go. I guess once a Bear, always a Bear, because, as people may or may not know, because you've been gone for a bit here, this all started in nineteen eighty when you became a Bear with Walter Peyton and Dan Hampton and the great Alan Page. How's a field. It's great, It's really been.

I've been blessed through my whole career actually to play here back, you know, as brief as it was, but to be here and get the field for the tradition, and then get to coach here with some of the players that were on the team at that time, special memories, special coaches, and then to be able to come back again at this point in my career with this coaching

staff and the ownership obviously and Ryan Poles. It's it's really special to me and in my family two thousand and nine, at twenty fourteen, here with the very secondary coach and the first thing it pops in my head because it didn't happen very often. It doesn't happen very often in the NFL. At twenty thirteen season, Peane Tillman Tim Jennings starting Pro Bowlers for the NFC coach by John Hope. That was our great memories even then, Yes, oh absolutely. And you know the great thing about those

two guys, they pushed each other. And of course Charles was a he was a he was a force to be, you know, he he pushed it and Tim, you know, Tim wanted to be He did not want to be left behind. So you know, they pushed each other. It was pretty cool competition. Yeah, and to this day you're tight with both. Yeah. Yeah, it's it's been. It's been pretty neat. So I was in Atlanta obviously before I got here, and it was my first year and we were kind of an up and down team and DBS

were playing okay. So I'm in New Orleans and I'm going out to dinner because we had had our meetings and everything, and I'm gonna grab some oysters at dinner. And I get a text and the text says, hey, do you get up early tomorrow? I want to be at the game. And it's Charles and I quit. I text him back, are you in New Orleans? He goes, yeah, I am in New Orleans. I'm here for there was a safety that was being inducted into the Ring of Honor there at New Orleans and he was there to

support him. So I said, yeah, I'll be upeven thirty. He goes, sounds good, I'll meet him the lobby seven twenty five. I get a text. I'm here, so, you know, for him to take the time before the game that early on a Sunday morning. He came. I got him some passes to the sideline and all that. But it was awesome. And then Tim lives in down and suburb of Atlanta and Gwenette County and he would come to

the games. This past season we played the Bears. He was there and he sat with my wife, and he sat with my two daughters and they had a great time. So they have both stayed in touch more than I would ever imagine. So you're in the family of defenses that Maddieberflus is, so it's a natural connection. But it goes deeper in that because you were born and raised in Kettering, Ohio. When the boss stay, you're a mad guy. He was Toledo obviously played at Toledo, but you guys

also both coached at Missouri. There's connections to Gary Pinko. I mean, is that the relationship quotient to this whole thing or does it go deeper in Then that's part of it for sure. You know him being in the same system, him working with Rod my brother, and Elli my brother coached him at Toledo for one year. By yep, oh wow, that's interesting. Yes, So we have deep connections.

And then obviously through coach Marinelli and just the systems and belief system and how you play defense and what it takes, the standard, what it needs to be to be great, and we've all gone from him and I have learned it the same way and so we have a lot of similar beliefs for sure. So it happened quickly. Boom cornerback coach passing game coordinator. It's a kind of a phase in this era of football to have on both sides. You know, you could have an offensive coordinator,

but you could also have a run game coordinator. How does that look for the Bears in twenty twenty three? Well, right now, I'm just kind of learning and getting to know who the players are, watching them on video. We're going through cut ups right now. The defensive staff, coach Williams and those guys, they do a great job of taking me through what explaining what they're trying to get done, how you want to technique this certain coverage or that. So I'm excited about it and it's been a good

experience so far. Man he Reflus has a very specific set of guidelines and he stays within those rails about what he wants in a player. And knowing you and how you coach, you feel right into that. What was that conversation like when you guys interviewed and spoke and also with Alan wams Well, it was you know, an Alan has been a little bit has that background as well, and so it's those are easy conversations because it's about you know, assignment, alignment, technique and key and those four

things will drive every player on defense. And I believe that when it was taught to me here and I still believe it to this day. Those four things drive every player. And when you get those and your players are able to execute and understand those four things, it goes a long way. Also the toughness aspect of it, because you you coach hard, oh yeah, yeah, yeah yeah,

and coaching hard and it's never personal. But all we're trying to do is make them the best art It's my responsibility to make them him or whoever the best player they can be. So, which you've already watched on tape, there's a four pack of guys right now that really get everybody attention and that it includes Kyler, Gordon, Jiculon Brisker, Eddie Jackson and Jalen Johnson. These four players, uh, what have you seen on tape that sticks out to you?

And three of the five leading tacklers for this team last season we're defensive banks. Yeah. Well, a little bit of that too is evolution of offenses. Um, they're more perimeric stuff ball gets on the edge sometimes quicker. But they all have good skill sets. They all have unique

skill sets. Eddie. You can tell he's a veteran players understand the games is slowed down for him from when I remember when he first came into the league, Jenny, when you can see his growth process through this Kyler, it was fun to watch him, just because I didn't even Atlanta last year coming out for the draft, and uh, he's exceeded. Uh. You know, for him to play outside and inside as a rookie, that's that's a difficult task.

And you know, you saw him grow every game and so you know, I think it's, uh, it's pretty encouraging. And then with Brisker, I did him also coming out. I knew he was physical all that, and then we happened to play the Bears in Atlanta. I had no idea how long he was, how big he was, and he is a presence on the field and he's got a bright future ahead of him as well. Yeah, you know, the combination of those guys and just the Gordon aspect of it. To go to that nickel spot as a rookie.

We didn't play it that much at University of Washington. We both know that's one of the more challenging positions on either side of the ball. In this league, so many responsibilities and you got to be a willing tackler, which he was, but then to kick outside and it kind of just kind of took a deep breath, and you know what, I'm around the ball a lot more

so the ball hawking aspect though. That's that's what this organization wants, us with this franchise wants, that's what either Fluce wants, just to hit the ground floor running like that. How much progress do you anticipate from these two young guys, Oh, they'll grow, you know. The biggest growth jump you know you'd like to see and you usually do see is between their first year and their second year. You know, they're just trying to catch their breath. I mean, it's

it's getting ready for the combine. It's headed into the draft, then you're headed into mini camp, then you're headed into OTA's and then you're you know, a brief break and you train and then you're headed into a training camp and then all of a sudden, it's preseason. All of a sudden, it's real ball and it just goes. And so this will be their first time where they're not

preparing right now for a combine. They're not you know, they got a chance to take a deep breath, get their bodies back to where it and they need to be get their brains back to where they need to be. And so you'll see growth because they have a chance to hit reset, refresh themselves and then get ready to go again. Brisker is a heck of a blitz heer and he has been all the way back to high school, Lackawanna Junior College. And you know from our conversations over

the years, I don't care what coaches sitting in. I love the corner blitz. So you know, hopefully you can put that in the program. They have plenty of blitzes. They do a good job here and you know a lot of the things that we did in the past they still do because Matt's run this system before and he's he's added his own twist to it. Alan's added

some things and it's pretty fun. It's it's neat to see have you evolved from the time you got into the league with the Houston Texans when you know that was Tom Capers it was an expansion franchise as a coach, because the game has changed since then. It's as we can see in the Super Bowl with the kind of quarterback the Bears have with Justin Fields, how have you adapted as a coach. I've adapted because I've had to

adapt the positions had to adapt. I was fortunate I had an experience where I was got to be the coordinator for two years at the University of Maryland from Mike Locksley. What a tremendous experience that was because I really understand I don't know if I really but I have a better understanding of college offenses and how these quarterbacks are trained and what the offense is trying to do with the with the RPO game, with the zone

read part of it. There's things that I didn't when I got there that I was able to learn because coach Lotsley did a great job of allowing me to listen to how he taught. He's a big RPO guy, so there was a lot of good things from that experience that helped me grow as a coach as well. Now you're back with the Bears organization that finished three and fourteen last year, but they have the talk of

the league right now. Number one pick, draft assets, financial assets for free agency, and a roster that is going to look vastly different than it did a year ago. It almost feels like another ground floor opportunity foundation already laid. Are you excited about that aspect of this franchise? Oh? I am. You know. I think they've done a good job. They know what the culture they want. They've set the culture, players abought into the culture, and I just see continue

to grow. All right, So exciting stuff with John Hope, Bears new cornerback coach and passing game coordinator. We'll get time and Jim's opinions on that and more as we wrap up tonight's program. Bear On Bears All Access. It's

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Solutions Adviser of the Chicago Bears. Caligo Bears fans get the ultimate VIP fan package with Chicago Bears VIP security, game ticket and appearance from Bears Legends and more. But visit in Chicago Bears VFP dot Com Final two minutes. This is the rap session, Buddy, Here we go. Tom fair Jim Miller. First of all, John Hoek glad to have him back, Big Jim. Yeah, great coach. He's been around for a long time, a ton of experience, and like you said, recently with the college game and how

this RPEO game unfolds. He mentioned like Mike Locksley there at the University of Maryland, so he's tuned in. You know, he's tuned in. And I thought even last year, you go look at what Atlanta did defensively because they again they were salary cap strapped much like the Bears. They haven't been able to really spend, and how they had to generate pass rush and do the things that they did. And they've got some young secondary players that are really

coming on strong. When you look at Alan, who I think is just Terrell excuse me, Who's just going to be a terrific corner when it's all said and done. You know, I like John Holk because I don't want some of these young guys to think that the game has come easy to them. He's a no nonsense coach and he has eye expectations for the physical contribution of the position. So that's why I'm excited about John. One minute to go from a franchise perspective, much more must

fall into place, Tom. But the announcement on the three hundred and twenty six acre Arlington Park property closing still a lot too, doesn't mean they're going to develop it, but they own it now Here we go. It's it's exciting. So the Bears, in the Chicago Bears, you know, get involved in the stadium mix like we've grown to appreciate around the league league wide. All right, Jim, we go back to the Super Bowl. The turf? Can that ever be fixed? Once and for all? Well, I just go back.

You know, they basically roll that out, you know, because it's an open door stadium when they open the thing, but that turf is outside. They water it and do all the things, and then they roll it back in. And that's what the players said. It was like it was like playing in the water park, you know. So it wasn't dried up enough. So and what do we say, it slows down? Pass rush? Well, it slowed down, Philly, Let's put it that way. Zero sex give it up

by the Kansas City Chiefs Office. Tom shaking his head, because cleats make a difference. Stand your feet right, that's right. Keep your feet under your body. That stop there, Jim. We'll tuck to you next week. Thank you so much. Thanks to Adams Zinski, also to our guest John Hook and also Brand Spielberger from Pro Football Focus. Have a great night, everybody, stick here at the school or more coming up. This has been Bears All Access. Thank you

for listening, everybody. We're brought to you by IGS Energy at Chicago Sports Radio six seventy eight SCORE. Good night everybody, Thanks for listening to this Chicago Bears Network presentation of Bears All Access. Podcasts are available on Chicago Bears dot com and on iTunes, or download the official Bears mobile app. Bears All Access has been brought to you by IGS Energy and sponsored by Miller Litte