Jimbo Covert & Darnell Mooney Interviews | All Access

to really make an impact. Welcome back, everybody to another edition of Bears All Access. Here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The score were brought to you by IGS Energy with Tom Thayer, the Super Bowl Bear. I'm Jeff Joniak from News Radio seven eighty and one or five point NWBBM. We're really digging in now, buddy. Week two. Today's practice nonpad, but the next three days padded practices. Tom and Matt Nagge promising earlier this morning that there

will be some live Porsche. It there won't be a ton, but that's something we always get excited about. And that's about the running game. Yeah, you know it is. You know, that's one thing David Montgomery and the rest of the running backs want to see. They want to see how things unfold according to their offensive line in front of them, and then how they read the defense reacting to the

plays they're running. Again, Matt started this early by saying that he wants to get twenty carries a game, and so I think you have to emphasize the running game a little bit more. And it's also the physical element that's added to that part of practice. I think it's

really beneficial for both sides. Some of the COVID nineteen conversation you may have heard involving the reserve list with Edie Goldman, Christian Jones, Patrick Scales, and Elijah Wilkins here and there in the last couple of days, had a lot of discussion about it really from day to day, according to Matteggie, and not like last year when they would have to shut the building down and scramble at three o'clock in the morning. It's not something you overreact to.

And we don't know all the details. We're not going to know all the details. There are NFL rules regarding that, as he indicated this morning. But here is where head coach Matt Naggie is at this year. Zero panic. I mean, when stuff like this happens, we learn from that, and I think it's our job as leaders to make sure that the players feel that and know that it is

what it is. I mean, we're going to educate and encourage all these players to do everything the right way and what we feel can help us and help them as people. But at the same time, you're not going to get any panic from me, and you're not going to get away from it all at all either time. It's going to be a constant conversation throughout the league. An FLPA Wade and yesterday sent memos to players about it.

They're a little bit concerned. There have been some flare ups in the league in Atlanta, in Miami, Washington, Minnesota, but by and large, it's not just the players though like last year, He's got to educate the families as well, and so they're taking calls, they're doing whatever they can do, and every player is trying to adjust to it all. Well.

You know, that's kind of one of the elements that present itself on a team sport like football, because it's not only the pandemic issues that you're going to face now from last year to this year. But it's also the immediacy of an injury on a foot fall team that all of sudden you're looking for someone to fill that void. So I think when you listen to Matt and Aggie answer that question, you're listening to a voice

of experience. Now he's got a couple of years at the helm of the quarter at the head coaching position, and he realizes you can't panic in any of the scenarios like tackle. Right now, Tevin Jenkins has not practiced just yet, still working through back tightness. The list is long.

There were a lot of players out today, obviously Teriko and Eddie Jackson, Jamada Fetti still not able to get on the practice field, but a whole bunch of other guys, including Elijah Wilkinson, including Badara Tior who's also one of the tackles. So it's giving a great opportunity. Tim to Larry Borham, Yeah, well, he's been doing good things this whole camp, and he has a really positive attitude. He's extremely focused, he fits in well with the guys, and

he's coachable. So I was not surprised with him knowing that. Okay, hey listen, we just found out you gotta go in there now, you're gonna play this this practice here at left tackle with the ones and do your thing. Wasn't it wasn't big to him, He was not overwhelmed. The film proves it. He did a great job. But can you do a great job today? You know? The one thing about Larry Boram, the early indicator of Larry Boram is how he showed up at camp. He was in shape.

He completely reconstructed his body from the three hundred and sixty pounds he played at in college and now he's more of a fluid three hundred and thirty five pounder, very strong, good feet, good recognition of his assignment. So to me, I couldn't be more excited about any other player on this team than Larry Boram. And right now he looks the part. He really does. And we saw that early in the rookie mini camps with no pad, just walking around and running around out there and seeing

him do drills. How he works against Khalil mack Tom. That's a great test right there. You're right. You want to talk about something not being too big for him, it's the one on one in full pad opportunities to go against a guy like Khalil, and he held his ground, he was strong at the point of attack. He gave

a nice punch back to clill Max. So again, all indicators are that this job is not too big for Larry Boram and it's gonna make Tevin when he does come back, getting that competitive frame of mind and try to earn his spot somewhere on the offensive line. Three inside linebackers out this morning, Joel Ea, booney Way, also Josh Woods. They came down with some flare ups from the practice at Soldier Field, and then Kristin Jones out

today as well. So newbi alic Ogletree wearing number forty four, twelve career interceptions, four for touchdowns, and a swipe of Nick Foles who practice this morning. He took it to the house. Hey, this guy's a legitimate starting NFL linebacker. He's not going to be a guy that you're going to have to introduce the nuances of the opponent's offense. He's seen it all. He's got a lot of playing time under his belt, and he's a guy that could come in here and immediately contribute to the depth but

also become a starter. Coming up on today's show, We've got Darnell Mooney for a couple of segments, the second year Bears wide receiver out of Tulane, and then we'll be joined by Jimbo Covert going into the Hall of Fame on Saturday and that centennial class of twenty twenty. Nice long conversation coming up with Jimbo. A lot to discuss. This is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six

seventy the Score. The Chicago Bears, one of the teams in the Chicago Sports Alliance, are supporting Ready Chicago's gun violence reduction efforts. To learn more at Heartland Alliance dot org, slash Ready, Jeff, Joni Act, Tom there back with you on Bears all Access. Please to be joining Please to finally meet him in person. Second year wide receiver, Darnell Mooney, Thanks for taking some time and joining us. How you're feeling everything going well? Good? How about yourself? Yeah? You

know great? And we watched you this morning at practice make a great play catching the end zone and the man went gymnastics on us. I mean the summer that the back flip was just perfection. I'd give it at ten point ZERU. You know that just is this something that you do in practice. I mean, it just it just came upon you. We're just trying to show a little personality and uh so some different things that I can do. You know, I'm a man with a lot

of different tricks. So well, the one thing that's the gift of having great athleticism and harving harvesting all that because you've shown it. You've made some acrobatic catches. We've seen your college tape as well back there. But you're making a name for yourself in a real short time. I always I always like to say some guys they go from zero to sixty or they make they just make a big impact in a very short time and it's never a straight line. And I think you've already

done that and a lot more room to grow. And we know I no longer want to call you a fifth round pick because it doesn't matter, right, for sure, it doesn't matter at all. And you kind of intimated that when you met the media this year for the first time, that you want to you want to make some noise. Sure, going deeper into that tell us about

all that. So the main thing is when I was saying that, uh I want to I want my name to be known is more so of like getting respect from around the lead, and then not even just a respect around the lead, but in the locker room as well. So like with the quarterbacks, just knowing that they can come to me and knowing that I'll be able to make that play regardless of whenever it is, whenever you need a bell out, I can be that guy. But you know, Darnelle, last year you come in, we have

no expectations for you. Now this year, we have a lot of expectations for you, not only the Bears fan but around the NFL landscape. Was there anything different about your preparation or you know now that you got that

attention that there are expectations thrusted on you. I mean this year, I mean, I feel like it's more comfortable for the coach's wise of just being able to not put me, We'll put me in a play that they are comfortable with, and just being able to like, Okay, Mooney can make this play, not so of a it's not so if if like they we got to see what he can do on this play, or hopefully money can make this play. You know. Jimmy Graham was meeting the media and he said that he studied Tony Gonzalez

and Antonio Gay. It's a couple of famous tight ends in the NFL. Does your do you transfer? Thinking? Okay, I feel like I play like this guy or I have skills of this person. Are there any guys that maybe you'd watch a little extra tape on and kind of look at your traits similar to them. I'll watch a lot of guys, man, I watch I watch a Robins Will I mean obviously and Tyreek Hill, Desn Jackson, Jarvis,

Landry Adam. Feeling like I watch a lot of guys because they do a lot of things different and I want to put it all into one So if I can grab all those guys, you know, different things and put it in one one person, I mean, I feel like I'd be a great player, for example, out of those guys. Give me some traits that you want to pull from some of these guys, and I'm gonna throw one more on there, and ironically a fifth round pick

as well. You know where I'm going, right, Stefan Diggs, you guys are not that dissimilar in size and wait, and I don't know exactly what his speed is off the top of my head, but I think you're probably faster, but you know he's he's your rookie years statistically not that far off either. And then he took a big jump. But if you would pull all those guys and think in your mind's eye, what what's the trait that you want to inherit from some of these great players. Um, well,

we'll speaking on the Stefan Diggs. Um just him being explosive, like with his routes and uh, just being able to catch the ball and be able to go as soon as he catched the ball, he's getting hit the gas, yes, and then uh for example of Tyreek Hill, I mean deep threat for sure, the cheetah. Yes, if he's the cheetah, what are you man, he's yet to be determined and Adam feeling Adam feeling. Uh, his shiftiness and his routes is very very nasty, very very savvy, and uh it's

very explosive as well. And I think him and um, well watching some old family with him and Stefan Diggs together. I can watch Diggs one at the same time. I can watch Diggs one route and then rounded back and then go to Alan. When is the route one? When is it one? Yeah, I mean more so it depends

on the route. Depends on a lot route, the line of strimmage for sure, and then at the top of the route, so you can have you can be losing mid route, but as long as you give him, give him something, give him some swag to it, you'll be able to win it. And I do feel and yeah, I think you'd agree. And we go back to the Rams game against Jalen Rams and know that's always a big Internet sensation, but you smoked them. But it's the top of the route. Yeah, it's the top of route.

You feel that is your ash in the hole right now? For sure? For sure. I mean I've been working on it with Alan a lot, just making them sure I'm pacing myself, not rushing myself regardless if I'm if I lose at the beginning, I can always win at the end. So you know, last year we kind of came became obsessed with you talking about the route tree. And so when you talk about the route tree at this part of your career, early in your career, is it something

that you have to discuss that with the quarterbacks. Andy Dalton's a new guy on the scene, Justin's a different quarterback than Andy, and you have experience with Nick. So is it something when you talk about route tree? It's something you have to have a conversation with the quarterback for sure, just because some routes I may get out

of my break faster than other guys. So, um, and I might give a little more at the top of the routes than other guys like guy I want to be is because people people understand that I'm fast and they want to back bell out of there. But sometimes they know that I'm going to break by just understanding the play and like the alignment of where I am. So I have to tell them, like yo, sit back on your back foot a little bit for me, because I might I might have to give them a little

something at the top. So when you talk about the top of the route and you have a quarterback that has the skills of Andy Dalton, then you have a quarterback that has the skills of Justin Fields. Is the top of the route different for a quarterback that runs as well as Justin as opposed to a quarterback that's

experienced as Andy Dalton. Um, I'm not. I'm not sure with the with the understanding a quarterback throwing wise, I just understand, well Justin could extend the play a little bit longer because he does have the traits in the four four speed and everything that's talked about. Yeah, I mean, well getting out the pocket wise, yes, I mean I feel like watching watching practice wise in the two minute

drill the other day, Justin went absolutely crazy. It was amazing to watch and just watching them move around and get out the pocket, extending the plays, it was amazing to watch. And then Andy as well, Um, just the way he was controlling everybody, getting people in the right spots and putting the ball on you and uh, letting us all know what's going on. Yeah, because as we talk with Darnell Mooney here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. This is Bears All Access brought to

you by IGS Energy with Tom there Jeff Joniac. Because the ball is gonna be there on your cut. But we were talking today, Tom and I just watch with from our perspective because we don't always get to be in the right place to see practice. Just you could feel Matt Matt Naggie always you can feel it, right, you can feel the heat coming off his missile. I mean that arm strength is pretty sharp. So do you

have to be ready for it in both cases? One because it's gonna be there on time with Andy, but this other guy, it's always gonna be there because he's got some mustard on here. For sure. You have to you definitely have to know who's back there for sure. And you have to definitely get on the jug machines if you're catching the ball from justin because nobody's on

the ball that hard unless it's a jug machine. And no one knows better than this man right here, Darnell Mooney, because one of his first purchases last year was that very thing, a juge machine. Is it in the house? Where's it at? Is it in your backyard? Are you using it off off practice days? I mean, is this a constant, constant thing for you? And give us the backstory on the jugs machine. I get it every I get it in every day, after practice, after meetings, after

I leave here seven thirty, get it in. I'm shooting it over my house to get some over shoulders and I'm shooting my backyard. Who's working with you on this, my chef, chef? Then hey, it's more. The more you can do in this league, right, even the chef. So the chef is this pre dinner or post dinner post dinner, so he fries you up, not fry. He makes you some nice food, which is right up Tom's jay because he's a chef from way back. He enjoys the culinary arts.

And then, uh, we've got some work to do on the bankers. That's hilarious. Are you willing to say who it is? Because we give the guy a shout out? Because that's who chef Kirk Swabby Kirk Swabie. How'd you find him? And what's the relationship like it has been the two years now? Yes, relationship is good. He's like he's not even my chef. Honestly, he's like another brother to me. So I actually found him in my apartment

complex WHENOW just walking around. I was looking for chefs and he happened to live in the same place as me, and we you know, that's unbelievable. Well, what's his best dish and what do you like him putting on putting on the table for you? Thank smoke salmon, it's the best dish man and exparagus. Have you physically have you changed anything about yourself since you've had. You know, you come here from college, you have the food that's offered to you upstairs, and now you have a guy that

supplies food for you. Have you changed anything about your body since you got into the NFL. Uh? Well, when I got in, I was eating way better I was in college. It was nothing but chicken wings, you know, fried food, and then uh, training for the combine, I was, I was eating very healthy. And then now if I eat anything fried and miss, my stomach go bad. So I just eat everything clean and uh just take care of the body as much as I can. Lean mass. Did you put some on from last season? Did you

put more armor on? Because man, you you absorbed some some pretty big hits and you will. I mean, that's that's the by virtue of the position. And Matt wants everybody to play all the spots, so you're gonna be taken on various sized cornerbacks and safeties and whatnot. So do you feel you put on some armor and how has it made you feeling? Is there a limit on how much you could put on to maintain your your sparkling speed? Definitely, I definitely put on a few pounds.

I NOCA is the first day I was like one eighty five and I stepped on the scout and I was like, WHOA, It's a little too fast for me to gain, but I felt great at it. So um, I'm looking forward to getting back to one eighty five and right now I'm like one eighty around that range. But I'm feeling good though, Feeling great more with Darnell Mooney after this break on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score this segment of Bears All Access is brought

to you by Athletical Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot com to request an appointment in clinic or virtually and start feeling better tomorrow with Jeff Joniac, Tim Thare, Darnell Mooney. Time, You've got the floor right. So your junior and senior year in college, you had forty eight catches each year, and last year you had sixty one catches. Did that seem like a big jump to you or do you see that's just scratching the surface and you have bigger

numbers capable each year you play. Yeah, for sure. Honestly, last year I didn't realize that I had sixty one catches. I thought of more than that, honestly. So I'm expecting more. I'm I'm able to take on more. Any role that's more,

I'm willing to take on. So hopefully, you know, Coachnagkin pans and creative plays out for MENI to get open and we can see those gor Have you developed a relationship with either receivers, coach or coach Naggy that maybe you have a suggested route or a play from your past that you know that the success raiders high for you. I mean, some of the offense that we have ran in college was from the Bear, so I've been running some of the same plays anyway, So I don't really

have to say too much. I'm comfortable with everything that we call just That's probably why I got a good pick up on the playbook lash Year. Are you Are you a fan of the game or me. I'm kind of obsessed with it after playing, and even while I was playing, I would watch tape. I would watch the games when they're on TV, and you kind of pick up little things. Are you that type of a fan for sure? For sure? Like I'll be watching with the family and they'll be like, who you're rooting for it?

I'm like, um, I'm really just washing and I like to play outs strategies throughout the game, like what do they have to do here? Do they have to score early? Here? Do they have to hold the ball a little bit more? I just like to pan out strategies of the game. Are you playing mad? For sure? Yeah? See it we're old. So have you ever played a video game in your life? I mean bad Back of the Day? Yeah, I mean I know, but you know all the kids, my daughters

certainly do. But um so it's interesting because I've never played it and I would get my rearend kicked by any young man playing that game. Uh, do you pick up some nuggets that might help you on the field from Madden? For sure? Madden is a definitely another practice. And then like that, you have to see the coverage and uh knowing where you want to go with the ball.

Some of the players that we run are on man, so you can run those plays and just uh you can see the see the defense that we were going against next week, and I'll probably just get on there and just play mad against those coverages and see how it'd be panned out and into that And from a quarterback view, now, are you as into it as well? When Kyle Long was here, the expert. He used to play all these different games with people from all over the world. Do you do that? Yeah, yeah, yes, tuik,

So what is that interaction like with you? Do they know who you are when you do it? Or do you go by undercover? Has I'll work? My name is a little different than the video games. Care to share that one. But you know when when you go and you play a game like Madden, and you can pick up different things if you're watching tape. But then when you have the human side of it out on the field, can you read a defensive back like going, okay, no, this guy is not confident and this type of move

or this type of pre snap movement and stuff. You can you read these guys now for sure? For sure the leverage tells it all. And then uh, just honestly getting in the film room and understanding what guys like to do and are reading what type of guys like um are not comfortable doing. So if guys are not comfortable, like you know, sitting back so far from from a blitz and they like to get over and in this cap, then you can just tell who who's not comfortable with

what they're doing. Darnell Mooney, our guest here on Bears All Access in Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score with Tom there Jeff Jonaiac. So, I'm gonna go back to the catch number. You said, we're surprising. Would it surprise you to know you had ninety eight targets? You did not know that? So between you and a Rob as I just fired up my computer, he's had one hundred and fifty plus the last two years and that's right at the top of the shelf in the National

Football League for a targeted receiver. So between the two of you, basically two hundred and fifty targets last year, and I'm assuming that's gonna continue in that vein. Although you do have complimentary speed with veterans that likely are going to make this roster and b impact players like Marquis Goodwin, Demir Bird and obviously das Knewsom coming off injury.

There's opportunities here, Javon wims lots of different opportunities to will that benefit you guys, if you're not needed to be targeted, that often spread the wealth a little bit. With that open up the field for you and a Rod for sure, for sure, Mark Creas is already telling me the other day that I can catch one ball and it's over for for me for the rest of the season. They're going to respect it for the rest of the season. So just understanding that just just a

room in general, everybody's for each other. So um, I definitely think it would open up for everybody. All right, blocking or jet sweeps? What is the more physical element? Because if you don't block, you can't play in the NFL. And you do block, but you also run a lot of sweeps. So when you look at getting a ball at the line of scrimmage where you're the ball carrier or downfield where you have to make a block that's instrument instrumental and a successful play, what physical part of

it do you do you like the most. I'll take on I'll take on the blocking. I'll take on the blocking. The jet seems all like because I can run past the you know, the big, heavier guys, I have to worry about too much of them. But uh, I mean, if I can, you know, get a good block in, it'll get me ready for the rest of the game early on. So all right, we're gonna let you go. One final question. Uh, you know your late father worked at GM, your mom worked for good Year in Gaston, Alabama.

So are you in the cars because all that know what what what other hobbyish type things like music and like rooftops, rooftops, hanging out at some rooftops. You got some favorites in this fair city because there are a lot of the favorite one. Okay, can't beat that best view in the city right down the Chicago River, right that's at a boy. Have you been on a rooftop in this town? Oh yeah, okay, I don't know. You don't get on much. I was at a game at

regularly recently. No, not that kind of rooftop I'm talking about, you know, a restaurant, tavern. You know, nah, believe me. In my social life, I have not presently applied computing your major at Tulane. I was just what Matt Forte last week and he brought you up. Another Tulane grad And Matt his degree was financing. He's had a great post career because of it, doing all sorts of things. And no matter what, when your football career ends ten or fifteen years from now, you got other things to

fall back on, don't you. And that that was the value of that education for sure. For sure McMain goes be successful fifty percent each way. I know football is in the fifty percent. I mean NFL is in fifty percent, but Tulane has a powerhouse name. So I was hopefully whenever I can get a job somewhere, that resume will say two lane and it will be like, okay, we can just go ahead and give him the job, and then if I go to NFL, it was a plus. So absolutely well, we wish you nothing but the best

this year. Great to finally meet you face to face and have a great season. Thank you, Thank you. Darna Almoney our guest here on Bears All Access coming up, Jimbo Covert to Bears Hall of Famer going into the Hall of Fame this weekend. Great news and great conversation ahead. This is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. Welcome back 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. With Tom Thayer, Jeff Joniak and please to be joined by the Centennio Hall of Fame Class of twenty twenty, the greatest left tackle on Chicago Bears history, Jimbo Covert finally gets his coronation this weekend in Canton, and just like the igs energy read there, every good choice adds up to a better world. You were a great choice for the Hall of Fame and long overdue, and then on top of the Jimbo, you

had to wait it out because of a pandemic. But boy, when you get up on that stage and Canton in front of your peers and fans, it's going to be an emotional moment for you. How have you processed that

and how you how you feeling about it all. Yeah, it's definitely gonna be an emotional moment for I just think that that's been a while, and you know all this too, with everything that's gone on in in the world, pandemic and everything, it was the right decision to make to not get all those people together, and now getting all those people together and still having some difficulties. I

think it's a difficult thing right now for everybody. But you know, I think for people that are vaccinated and people who feel comfortable going there, I think it's gonna be one heck of a good time. So it's a little I think waiting that long just makes it that much sweeter. And it's gonna, you know, really, you know, looking forward to spending time with all my family and friends and teammates, and it's gonna be a good time. Hey, Jimbo.

So the other day, my friend Steve dial sends me a picture of his grandson going to his first football practice and he's sitting on the backseat with his helmet on. Tell me the story about Jimbo Covert going from that day to going on the stage as a Hall of Famer. Well, it's a long story, Tom, to take a long time. But you know, I first started playing football when I was eight and my brother was nine, and my and my we had to beg my dad to let him

play football, let me play football. My mom didn't want me to play, so my dad was kind of against it because of her, but he really wanted us to play. So we wore my mother down a little bit. But you know, I started Conway Raiders midget football or termites or wherever they call it back then, and I played fullback for one day and then I became a guard after that, and then a tackle and I never left a position after that, So I was destined pretty early

to play that left tackle position. I played it ever since. Uh, you know, midget football, so it but you know, all the hard work and all the people that you mean, I think that's the greatest thing about football. Football is you know, just creates memories for a lifetime and creates relationships for a lifetime at every level. You know, you'll see a lot of my buddies that are going to be there that I grew up with and went to kindergarten in first grade with and played football, midget football,

junior high football. You'll see all the guys from pitt in the Bear. So it's going to be a way to party and it's going to be a great scene everybody. Jimbo Covert our guest here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The score top there. Jeff joniac I wrote this last year. I went back in my files and I said, Jimbo grew up in a Pittsburgh area, steel Town built tough, and that's exactly how

you played the game. It's it's your roots that kind of built your foundation and your mentality and your desire. And Tom's told me many, many, many stories about a guy you don't mess with on a very tough team in the eighties, was Jimbo Covert? Well, yeah, I don't know.

I just think thanks Jeff, I just think that, you know, and Tom and I hacked a lot of conversations with this, you know, when I first got to the Bears, you know, pulling me back up when I was a pit, you know, the the offensive line where the guys are kind of set practice tempo and you know, step kind of the speed of practice. And you know, I'm sure it was the same way at Notre Dame. When I got to

the Bears, it was completely the opposite. You know. It was a deep tons of line that set practice tempo and set set kind of game, you know, speed of practice. And you know, I just wasn't really comfortable that because I thought they kind of, you know, were guys that you know, had an advantage and they took advantage of it and you know, push some people around, and you know,

I wasn't used to that. So you know, I wanted to make sure when I get in there that I set up for myself and showed people I wasn't going to be pushed with or messed around, and you know, I think that just creates people that respect that. You know, I don't know if if you didn't do that, they wouldn't respect you at all. So you know, that's just football. That's just being on the field and earning respect and you know, having guys that if you play with, respect

you and that's a big deal. Jim Malayah, you know the common ground between you and Mike did he went to pitt You went to pitt He's from the Pittsburgh area. Year from the Pittsburgh area, So that the initial relationship between you two as coach and player. How how did that start, How was that relationship develop and how did it kind of mold your attitude in your career. That's

great time. When I first got there, you know, mini camp, my rookie year, I was named the starter before Avon walked on the field, you know, and and I went in there didn't know the players, didn't know the system, and you know, it took me a while to kind of get up to speed. I think, um, there was a lot of expectation that I would play at a at a you know, a high level, winning football level, and right out of the gate when you're not used

to the system. You know. There was a couple of times where I wasn't you know, I don't think I played as well as I should have, and he let me know about it, especially down in Baltimore when when he uh when he broke his hand on that locker, and it was probably my fault because I was the first game I ever got pulled out of because I missed about three assignments, and he let me know that. He challenged me the next week and said, you need to play at an all pro level. I don't care

how old you are, and that's my expectation. And then the next week against Denver, we played really good game and I got a game ball. So I think that's when it kind of started that I had to challenge myself as well. And I just couldn't say, hey, I'm a rookie and you know, you know, if i make a few mistakes, that's okay. I wasn't allowed to make any mistakes, and so I had to put the pressure

on myself and it all worked out. But that relationship started I think basically saying I'm going to challenge you to be the best player you can be, and I'm not going to expect anything less than perfection, and that's what he wanted for those Bears fans out there that enjoyed watching Jimbo Covid and those that never got the opportunity. I always find it fascinating to go back and just read and this is why guys getting into Hall of Fame what they did and in terms of dominance or

change the game in their era. And it's really when you see it in print, it's a mind blow because this is Dan Pompey's research, and Dan, the great Hall of Fame writer, helped you get in there. Obviously, he's standing on the table for you. Seventeen games in your career against current Hall of Fame pass rushers, four and a half sacks allowed. I wonder if you remember all those four and a half sacks allowed, because Tom remembers everyone he may have given up for every offside yet

and then the other angle of it. First four years in the league, Bears led the league in rushing with Jimbo Covert leading the way and seven one thousand yard rushers. Yeah, everybody knows Walter Payton, but also Neil Anderson three times. So this was bigger than just the guys in the backfield toting the rock. It was what you did all that, all you guys on the offensive line, but in your era. So those are some significant reasons to put a man

in the NFL Hall of Fame for sure. Yeah, I think I'm most proud of Jeff is just you know, our offensive line and you know how we came together. And you know, I can't think of four better guys that I would rather line up next to on any Sunday. I mean, we were very fortunate to play together for a long time and that's a big deal. And I think that's a big deal for offensive line lineman to be comfortable with each other. So you know, we were.

And you know what I'm most proud about is is that, you know, setting a record like that, you know, really

kind of went unnoticed for a long time. And it was really unfortunate because if you can lead the league in Russian four years in a row, I mean, it only happened one other time, and I think that was in the forties from the Bears in the forties, and so and you think about guy, you know, teams that have Hall of Fame offensive linemen, right that have several Hall of Fame offensive linemen that in that era, their team's never led the league in Russian And so when

you think about that, you know, how does that go unnoticed all those years? And I think it was basically because you had to be had such a great defense and h and I think a lot of that was kind of attributed to Walter Payton, and rightly so, but but you have to have an offensive line without they're blocking for him, right And I think finally to get that recognition, finally, after all these years, it was kind of surprising to me that it didn't get recognized earlier

on JAMAI. You know, your college roommate Dan Marino says you're the best left tackle he's ever played with him for a former Hall of a Hall of Famer Richard Den says you're the best left tackle he's ever played against. That's pretty high praise for for you and for the

compliments of two Hall of famers. What's that mean to you that after all these years, that your your name is still at the forefront of both of these guys career Well, Danny, you know, I just um, we played together for three years and I protected his blindside and uh, you know, he always says that that he made me a better left tackle because you get rid of the ball. So that's interesting. He'll say that to me. He won't

say that. But um and Richard, I mean, you know, we came in together, and we practice against each other every day, and you know, maybe we weren't sometimes very fond of each other and because of practicing like that, and uh, but we were always friends and he means a lot to me, and you know he made me better. I mean, you played against some Tom I mean he had one of the best first steps of any player

I've ever played against. It. If you didn't have a good pass set coming up the ball, you were dead already. I mean he was already passed. So and playing against our offensive line, I mean we weren't, I mean our defensive line. We were never going to play against anybody on Sundays it was any better. I mean, you had Steve McMichael, who I think should be in the Hall of Fame. Dan Hampton is a Hall of Famer, Richard Dent,

you know the Fridge, you know, Mike Hardenstein. I mean these guys were players now, I mean they were some of the greatest players of all time. So you know who were we going to play on Sunday in a scheme that was going to be better than those guys.

So our practices were more intense than the games. Here and Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score our special guest, Hall of Famer Jimbo Covert, the Bears left tackle with Tom There Jeff joniac So NFL Lineman of the Year in eighty five, one hundred ten games in a career, slugging it out in the trenches, four all Pro seasons, and uh one of the premier players in Bear's history, regardless of position, a lot of accolades.

So when you had to put pen to paper and now I don't know how many times you may have rewritten it or have you written it? Are you gonna speak off the cuff? What's your plan for Canton this weekend? On your acceptance speech? Yeah, there will be no speaking off the cuff because they got the chain on us out there. Oh yeah, that's right. How many minutes? How many minutes they've given you now? Eight six? Now, how

can you capture your life in six minutes? Well, they made sure that, so I had to submit it and then they wanted you to work with a speech coach who was great and kind of move some things around. And then, um, you know, I timed it and I said it was under six minutes, and she timed and said it was over eight minutes. So um, then I added some things. She had took some things out, so then she had me read it in front of her

own zoom and time. So yeah, so it's hard to capture your whole life in six minutes, you know, and so um, that was hard to do. But I I just didn't want it to be you know, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for six minutes. I tried to weave some things in there that I think we're important, that people have huge impact in my life. And so I'm hoping with six minutes it doesn't justice

and that's all we can hope for. One more thing about that, though, Do they factor in the tears, because I don't know how an emotional man you are, but we've seen I've been many and the tears start flowing, and you you know that that's going to eat up some of your six minutes. Well, I hope they stops o'clock with I don't know if they will, but the rumors are since I haven't seen you have, no one's

ever seen this before. Six minutes you get a light like a light, seven minutes you get like a red light. And then eight minutes are going to play music. Look like it's the Oscars. They're gonna give you the hook and take you off stage. So I think, God, no one wants to be the first guy that you know, um,

so I'll get through it rather quickly. So we'll see all right, last thing with Jimbo Covert bears Hall of Fame left tackle, gets his induction speech in place, and his bust in Canton, and it's just an amazing accomplishment for any pro athlete to get to the Hall of Fame and be considered one of the best of all time in this great game. So, Matt Suey, your presenter, I know there have been some stories written about that, but explain that choice before we let you go and

enjoy your trip down to Canton. Well, Matt and I were roommates. M Willie Galt and I were roommates for the first year, and you know, um, but you know Willie, Willie like to have people come up to the room. You know, like we go out and play la and the you know couple of the Jack and Bib will be up in our room and h we go to another place and he'd have other celebrities up there. I said, Willie, I love him, oh man, but I can't. I can't

take it anymore. I got to get into so so I went to Matt and uh, because I think he had Roland Harper and then Roland retired and uh and then uh, and then I got Matt. So I'm out in our roommates for seven years. And he was such a great mentor. And it was funny because we used to laugh. A was a pitt and pin stake guy

in the same room together, you know. But we got along and I really had a tremendous amount of respect for him, and he became a mentor of mine, and you really gave me a lot of advice later on in my career about what I was supposed to do kind of do after football and what his thoughts were

and really meant a lot to me. So UM, And I think it was a way of also remembering Walter because they were so close, and having Walter be part of this thing as well, because we all miss him and he meant so much all of us, so he'll be there as well in spirit, and that's what I kind of wanted. Well, Jimbo, we really I appreciate you taking the time in a busy week for you. Congratulations again, enjoy the entire process, this once in a lifetime moment

with your friends, your family, and teammates. And couldn't think of a better man to be representing the Chicago Bears in the National Football League and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Numbers twenty nine and thirty. Ed Sprinkle, a forties and fifties era Bear defensive lineman, also inducted this weekend as well. Jimball, congrats, buddy, Thank you, Jeff, thank you, Tommy, Thank you jim Ball. Take care yea you buddy. More Bears All Access coming up after this break on Chicago

Sports Radio six seventy to score. This segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by CDW. People to get it. Jeff and Tim wrapping up. Today's show. Been a good one with Darnell Mooney and Jimbo coverd Lots of great conversation, lots of great storytelling as well. All Right, I'm gonna hit you with a bunch of stuff here, Tommy, let's talk Cole comment boss coming at him quick from Andy Dalton. It's coming there fast from justin field because

he's got heat on his missile for sure. When he adjusts. What are some of the things he has to take into account as he tries to catch that football, because it's coming at him in very different ways, and it is going to be coming to him a lot here in twenty twenty one. I think with colcome at the thinking process. As soon as you break the huddle. You listen to the terminology in the huddle and you see, am I the first, second, or third read on this route?

If I'm the first read on this route, and I win my battle at the line of scrimmage, and I got to look for that football to be there by the time I'm out of my break. It's not a chance where you get to recognize eye contact and then throw the ball. It's about having a sped up process. And again, another thing Mats talked about with Andy Dalton

is the ability to anticipate the throw justin fields. He's got the arm strength to contribute, and he also adjusts those speeds he can feather it in or he can rip it over the middle in tight coverage. Some big plays made today in the back of the end zone. A lot of red zone work here today. I'm impressed with the type of speed on his fastball, and you know, sometimes you're gonna need it, but sometimes you gotta take

something off on that fast bawd throw a change up. Yeah, But you know the way justin runs, he's got a lot of different arm angles according to the type of pressure he's facing. It's not always just gonna be an overhand throw. There's a lot of times that he's going to have to adjust to either defender near him or the conclusion of the route. All right, Tommy, if you had to summarize so far, what has been the most enlightening development of camp for you and maybe what has

been the most disappointing. Well, the most enlightening thing is I'm really impressed in the effort that the defenders are given new defensive coordinators Seawan to Si. These guys are playing enthusiastically and they're playing fast, and I think it means a lot to the overall scheme because you have the continuous development of guys like Blom Nichols and a Key Nicks and you know the outside rushers that we

know about. But it's the overall team enthusiasm on the defensive side of the ball in relation to Sean to Si and maybe a little disappointing. I'm disappointed in some of the marquee names not being out there, and I'll you know Eddie Jackson and you know Tevin for that part. Robert Quinn missed a practice, So I know it's far away from the first game and the Dolphins are getting

ready to come in here. But it's about these guys being healthy and being on the field because that's when you're really going to be able to put all of your scheme in motion. All right, Have you learned anything about Andy Dalton and justin fields that you didn't know before,

It didn't anticipate before. Experience makes you a smarter quarterback, and I think that's what you see out of Andy Dalton when you see a formation that he knows that someone's in the wrong position, he can make the adjustment immediately.

He can make the alternative play decision at the line of scrimmage to keep the offense in the in the right play and he's got really confident arm strength, and he knows how to He's getting to know his assets better in terms of their development, but justin you know,

it's it's all about confidence in his ability. If he feels that there's a free run, sure, he knows that he's a better athlete to make a miss in space and either converted into a solid run by a quarterback or taking advantage of a receiver that's just coming open later in the route. All right, here come the Miami Dolphins next week. A couple of practices, then I walk through day, and then they play at Soldier Field on Saturday at noon on the fourteenth. I think there's a

lot of excitement about it. How do you feel about what you can see in terms of the work that you're going to get in the evaluation you're going to get going up against Miami Well, and as when I went through training camp and we brought in a different opponents, it was all about making sure that you trust what you've been coached up into this point, because you're not going to have a lot of tape of evaluation before you get into your first one on ones or nine

on seven or seven and seven. So it's about listen to the coaches, listen to the critique and the fundamental criticisms and improvements that you've been able to make, and use those tools that they've given you thus far. All right, Tom, we're out of time, man. We're gonna talk to you next week, and we'll be talking about those Miami Dolphins and getting ready for the first preseason game, one of

three on the schedule. Exciting times for everybody involved, Exciting times for Bears fans as well as they get to see it all unfold with Tom there, I'm Jeff Jonnyac. Thanks again to our guest today, wide receiver Darnel Mooney and the Hall of Famer left tackle Jimbocover from that great Bears offensive line from the eighties into the nineties. We're gonna talk to you next week. Thanks again to our producers Jordan tread Up, Dan Bailly and the folks

at the Score. This has been Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. 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