Montgomery on playing with will not quit mentality | All Access

do a good Jeff. I'm kind of sad to say it's the last week of the season, but as a player, it's quite an accomplishment when you can get through the regular season, you can improve along the way, you can finish the season healthy, and now you can get ready

to embark on a tiring off season. Coming up on tonight's show, we'll be joined by Bears running back David Montgomery and one of the longest tenured sideline reporters in the NFL, Greg Coleman, a former punter and all around good guy the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network, retiring after long career in football as one of the Vikings greats. On their twenty fifth and fortieth anniversary teams, we'll talk Vikings

and his career. So the news of the day Justin Field looking forward to returning after missing two games with an ankle injury, and here he pops up on the COVID list, so not likely to play on Sunday. Super unfortunate. I was so disappointed when I heard that, because this is one of the things that I was focusing on

the last week of the season. I wanted to see what type of game plan they could formulate for Justin Fields in this type of environment, how he looked employing it, and then where do you go from the very first day of the off season till the beginning of OTAs. And with that said earlier today, Bill Laser, as you analyze the rookie year, and what's the takeaway for the young man that I want him to come out of

this with confidence. I want him to realize that, you know, we were behind against the Steelers in the fourth quarter and he was able to take the offense down and score. We were behind against the Ravens and he was able to go down and score. That he was on the big stage of Monday Night Football, of whatever situation we were in, and was able to perform. And I know it sounds silly because he's done it right for his

whole life, but still, we're all human. You get to this point and now, okay, here, this is my rookie year. Well I want him know what to step away and say yes, you know, just like they were telling me, I can do this and this is going to be a great story. You know. You use that confidence to kind of propel him into how the future goes. He is a confident guy to begin with. What would your

takeaway being what did you think about bills? You know, listen, I'm all about developing the self confidence of every single one of these young players that need to develop self confidence to really ultimately be as confident as they can be. But in Justin's case, it's gonna be about how does he assist with Chicago Bears in victories? And that's one of the defining lines for any quarterback in the NFL.

When you look at the first staff they put up after they've had a decade long career, it's how many touchdowns have you on? How many games have you won? So I think every one of these experiences that Justin has had throughout his rookie season. How is that going to compute and carry over to victories or you win the division and get your team to the playoffs. One thing Laser discussed was just the type of guy Fields is, how he's the same all the time we've heard about it.

Nothing rattles him, it appears and he is the same guy no matter what he thinks. That's a positive moving forward. Think of the people who are themselves and are sincere and authentic, and think of the people who put on airs when they're around the boss or act differently to

try to fit in with different groups. I think people see through see through that over time, and I think in the end, this guy's going to be in stressful, tough situations and if if you're not being yourself, you know, you're putting up some false persona, it's going to crack and then people will know that you weren't just being authentic.

So I think it's I think it's helpful and that when you're in such tight quarters and so often in stressful situations with your teammates and coaches, that they can trust who you are. And I think he's earned that as a guy who's been in many, many, many locker rooms over the course of a long football life. Would you concur with that assessment if that whole process is evaluate and explore during the pre draft type of exploration process of the individual, and then it is how does

that happen during the regular season. Again, we talk about self competence. We talked about the reason Justin was drafted where he was, and how highly thought of after his rookie year. All those things go into the mix. But listen, because of so many individual interviews that he's been through in the pre draft process, if he wasn't himself, he changed his persona in front of different characters of different organizations,

I think it would have been exposed at that point. Yeah, guys do it all the time though, you know, they get coached up or whatever. But now that he's here, and just from your own experience in locker rooms, what was your take on different types of players? Could you see through some of the Of course, you could see guys that were just happy to have a helmet. Then you can see guys that are happy to have a uniform and they want to be part of making the

whole organization better. And that's what I see out of Justin his winning experience up into this stage of his life. He wants to carry that over into his pro life. So I have way higher expectations of justin going forward, even though I did at the beginning. He's raised that bar. What do I expect from him and what his contributions need to be coming up next? David Montgomery joins the program. This is Bears All Access with Tom Thayer, Jeff Jony Keen.

This is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Welcome back to Bears All Access. It's brought to you by IGS Energy here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy Score and 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, welcome again our third year running back David Montgomery. That Bears All Access. David, thanks for taking the time. How you doing, buddy? Getting ready

for the finale here? It's got to feel bitter sweet. Yeah, I'm definitely getting ready, but it definitely is a better seed at the same time, knowing that the season is coming to the end, um, knowing that I had help for us, Yeah, you know, the high hopes included h you know, not only personal a team, and you know the way the thing has gone this season, there's always been some start and stop of some sort yourself included with an injury and and just the news of today

the Justin Fields is in the in the COVID protocols, so an opportunity for him to leave one more last mark. But you guys have really pulled together as a team and really given your all here in the last a few weeks and have played some good football win or lose. Yeah, this is just really go back to us sticking together, you know, knowing that we got to finish this thing out, and you know it shows the kind of carricter that

we had with those with the guys on this team. Hey, David, I was reading a headline from a game, I think it was after the Arizona game, and it says Montgomery sets the tone with ugly, angry runs. David, I think that's the highest compliment of running back and get paid. When you talk about what's expected you and how physical that you do play, you do you just do you

consider that description a compliment to you? Uh? Definitely, Um, you know I want to kind of not kind of, but I definitely want to um follow the same footstep that Walter Payton has UM and just kind of you know, run angry and having that wild or not go down and wild or not quit mentality. UM that Chicago Bears you carry itself. So UM, I try to think about that every opportunity I get out there to kind of

on the ball. You know, it's kind of funny you bring up Walter's name because I was thinking about you and in Walter during in Walter's last game, he threw his last touchdown pass and it was last touchdown run into the stands, and then I saw a highlight of you handing a ball off to someone in the stands. Is that just anonymously picked? Because you're probably making the greatest day that person will ever have in their sports history. Did you do it? Did you recognize someone? Or were

you just man? This is Dave mcgomery and I'm complimenting a fan in the stands, the first in Arizona, the first one that actually score one. I gave it to a random fan just because you know they pay harder and ready to come see his play in performing. Um. You know, I try to make somebody's day every chance I get the second one that um, they said wasn't a touchdown, but it really was. I gave it to

my mom. Um. I had never gave one of my mom and I see my mom what she was and I was able to jump up there and give it a ball, which is what I wanted to do my whole life. So it was good to be able to fulfill that dream. And how did she responded that? What did she say to you? And was at a special moment for her? Definitely a special moment. Um she cried after just because she understood how hard I work and how hard I worked to get to this point, and

you know how hard I'm going to continue to work. Um, And for you know, her to see her son actually doing it was pretty good for her to see. So um, she she was just at all the understanding that she was happy they were able to happen. David montgomer I guest here on Bears All Access with Tom There Jeff Joniac. One of the byproducts of a team that really respects

it's running back and and it's died hard. Type of mentality that you have you do not go down easy, you never have gone down easy, is that they're starting too and have done. You know, more often than not, when you're drawing attention three or four guys trying to bring you down, they're coming in to push the pile because they're respecting you continuing to drive your legs and making that extra effort. Have you noticed that and is that a sign of respect? Definitely have noticed that. Um,

I think it's a sound of respect for me. But you know that we have for each other as well. Um. Of course the season it looks like how it looks in it, and it is what it is. But we all know that, you know, we were We don't fight for each other regards of you know, where we are in the season. And I appreciate those guys, you know, seeing how hard I try to go and they and they want to mess or even go over that. And it's a blessing to be a part of somebody or

be a part of a team who sees that. You know, David, another thing I was watching is you miked up in one of the games. Um. And throughout the whole course of my career, I always wish that I was miked up one game so I could have that track just to think about, listen back to and listen to me being me at that point at that part, do you listen back to any of the your micd up segments? And is that the Dave Montgomery Because Jeff and I are more exposed to you from practice we see all

the time. You know, you don't really know who we are, but we get a little bit more exposure into Dave Montgomery when you're miked up? Is that is that you? And do you enjoy that? Um? It definitely each time I've been mic up, like definitely forgot that I was

miked up. Um, But each time like it happens, I'm kind of it's a surreal moment to understand that this is the raw, uncontinuine David Montgomery that people you know, being able to show that showcase that without trying to Um, it's definitely good because most people are most fans say like they they don't know much about me. They always know that I'm serious. Yeah, I'm pretty serious, but at the same time, I have fun and you know, I understand what needs to be done, and I'm just a

hard worker. I want to come to work every day and try to help as much as I can so I can be a bear for the rest of my career. You know, David, I feel like I have to ask an Iowa State question before Jack does. But you know, when when we get introduced to day Monk, I'm Ray from Iowa State, and then we kind of pay attention to those college teams and we see a lineage of

great running backs that come out of Iowa State. Is it the program that brings the Iowa the running back to Iowa State or is there a really good recruiter that identifies quality talent that brings you guys in one after another. Well, I definitely think it's a little bit

of both. M definitely a little bit of both. Understanding. Uh, you know there's somebody there who's always willing me because I wasn't highly recruited coming out, and most of the guys can go to Iowa State weren't highly recruited, um, and you know they come in with chips on their shoulders, just like Brief. He's a great talent coming out this year, and I think he'll be the first BAC taking But you know, you got that chip in that edge on

your shoulder. You know that you want to prove everybody wrong. I mean, you know, I kind of that's what I lived in and I still live at this moment right now. Understand it. I know my capabilities and what I can be for you know, Chicago Bears, and I understand what I can be. I have any scratched service or what I can be, but I will be that by time I'm done playing ball, and I decided to understand that I get to do that for you know, the organization

and for myself as well. David montgomer here with Jeff Johnny Ack in Time there and Bears All Access in Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score another one of those running backs can a wand Will from the Minnesota Vikings who burst down the scene as a kick returner of note here this season the Bears and Vike. He's coming up Sunday at Soldier Field have the pregame and nine kickoff a new nine News Radio one or five

nine w BBM. David, this is something you and I talked about, but you know, going back to your high school days and it'll be a part of a feature you'll see on Bears Game Day Live on Sunday morning at ten thirty. Is that you're you were you were basically justin fields in high school, running that read option

to a spectacular version and throwing the football. You know, this week on the Bears Coaches Show, I alluded to you that Bill Laser says you have the best arm on the team, regardless of who, and he's insistent upon that. And I could see why because your accuracy the few times I see you through it. But the ability the magician that was David Montgomery to get out of trouble when seemingly you were penned in five or six guys

ready to attack you. I know it's high school, but that's hard to do no matter what level of football. You were really something. You were really something in high school, and I could see why you are who you are. But I don't see why you weren't recruited very highly. I just don't get it. O. Yeah. Um, first, I would like to say I can never Justin's He's a different kind of beast, so I wouldn't even you know, I think I was pretty good, but Justin I wouldn't

say anywhere near what he was in high school. Um. But um, yeah, in high school when I was playing quarterback, it was definitely fun and it's pretty iron And you asked that because on Sunday last Sunday, I wasn't able to showcase how good of a quarterback I was going. I knew that that's the role that my coach needing me. He was the quarterback. I had a leadership, you know, attributes.

I guess you could say the characteristics, and I kind of just ran with it, and I'll played with it confidently, and I just was able to go out there and just kind of be me and have fun doing it. Well, you certainly show that you have fun playing this game. Will continue our conversation with David Montgomery after a quick break here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Welcome back to Bears All Access. You're on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. This segment brought to you

by Athletical Physical Therapy. Visit athletical dot com. The re question in pointment, didn't Clint or virtually and start feeling better tomorrow? With Tom there, Jeff Joniakin Bears running back David Montgomery. You know David, and it seems like after every game I always asked Matt Naggey about the amount of carries that you got in the running back as

a whole but carries or catches. What does David Montgomery want more as your career goes on, Because you know, David, I think that you have the ability to be a wide receiver from the line of scrimmage and be number one in the progression of the read. But I also love running back. So what does David Montgomery want out of his future? Really to be available, you know, as much as I can and as best as I can

for my teammates, or be reliable. And while I'm here in Chicago, hopefully hopefully for my entire career, I want to be able to grow into that that person who you know, just reliable and get the job done. When you look at the atmosphere this upcoming Sunday in Minnesota, does that does the atmosphere, the warmth the stadium itself? Does that open up your body more? Because you know, when we talk about in the off season, you spent learning how to be a better runner. Does this type

of atmosphere this late in the season help you be that? Uh? Definitely, even coming into this season. That's kind of how I try to view myself and just kind of trying to work the corrrespondent of the off season work to put it in to transition for the season. I tried to do that throughout the whole year, and you know so I kind of look at it like everything that's going in and being investing, I can be trusting myself, being confident in every run in every past that I did.

David Montgomery, our guest here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score before the Cleveland game, we said, now we did a long form feature on you, and I wrote as the intro, I said, two hundred and fifty miles south of Cleveland, started molding himself under the young man he years today. Nothing easy about growing up just outside of sinc but callous to meet the

rigor demands tied to achieving greatness. An emerging leader and a go to talent, Montgomery fills his role with a seriousness, save for old school NFL running backs on uncommon relentlessness. Did I capture the essence of you? I think you did a pretty good job. You know, a pretty good job. You know he did a great job. What would you add? Selfless? Really don't want the attention or want to be the best person he can be every day and help everybody

else around him. But let me ask you this, how do you balance being a leader, because with leadership comes opportunities like this to visit and for people to hear you and your voice to be heard with not wanting the spot. Like that's an interesting dynamic, there isn't it? Definitely? But you know every great leader, you know, I had to learn how to follow first, and you know, even with the opportunities for me to lead now, I still

know when to follow now. So I'm I'm just you know, taking it one day at a time and just trying to grow into the leader and the person that everyone needs them to be. Well, what's what do you have when you look at a season and you look at it behind you, what is your off season going to be? Like? Are you still concentrating on a running program or are do you think of different values that you can contribute

to yourself by what you do in the off season. Yeah, this season will be a lot similar, but I'll be implementing a lot more different things as far as I strengthening and a living stuff like that, for like injury prevention kind of things so that I can you know, be stronger and other places so that I can go through a whole entire season. You know, it's unfortunate that I missed those four games and being absolutely in my team, and I don't never want that to happen again through

my career. So I just need to figure out different ways I can just stay healthy and strange and different areas of my buddy. You know, when you look at a guy like you said, you're not comparable hold to Justin from your quarterback background to what he's been able to show you in the time you've been together. What is this offense? Is this a more movable offense? Is

this is a point of attack offense? Or is this a you know, a wide open offense with a guy like Justin and the other examples of quarterback play you've seen around the league of with the players of his type of traits. Oh yeah, definitely, Um, Justin especially like I said before, UM, you know, just having him we can do we can do a whole lot of things. And you know he's a rookie. Um, so you know

rookie has a rookie moments. But um, I think next year with us coming back, UM, he'll get completely different person and he'll help his beastly be the leader you know that we need is gonna be fun. David Montgomery, our guest, Our final Moments. David, you know, Justin's been so successful his entire life that I saw something about his competitive us and how he does not like losing.

Have you in any way help pick him up because of the losing that young men experience on teams sometimes, Uh yeah, definitely, UM, understanding that, Um, there's season is in your life. UM, and God places different moments and UM situation and life that you just got to learn how to handle. And you know, you go through it and you learn from it, but UM, you just grow. You just continue to get better and understand that. UM.

You know you want to be the winner. You gotta have that winner mentality, but you also gotta there's just rare cases where you gotta handle losing. And unfortunately we had to handle a lot more than this winning this year. It was new and it was different for all of us. UM. But you know, I'll just continue to let him know that, UM, we need you. We're gonna need you, UM for this, for this franchise and for this organization, and you gotta lead.

And he took charge that he's coming here every day with a great mentality and great attitude and and to smile on his face. Who motivates who? Because you know you're obviously a self motivate, motivated guyles you wouldn't be able to experience what you do. And Justin seems like from the first day we were we saw him in OTAs and stuff, he's a super motivated guy, and you know that's the type of energy a football team needs. And who's picking up? Who? Here? Are you picking up Justin?

Or is he starting to pick you up a little bit? It definitely goes both ways. He picks me up and I picked him up some situation streeting him being able to be so young and doing he's definitely especially well. So I'm excited to see what he's becoming. I'm excited to be able to, you know, be here and go through with him. All right, David, we'll wrap it up with a couple of quick hitters whatever comes to your mind, and will say goodbye. You got some work to do

here today, all right? M biggest pet peeve? What would it be when people need a toilet seat up? Guilty pleasure? Do you have a guilty pleasure? I do, none? Do I don't think I do a prized possession. UM prized possession my first touchdown football that I got here when I was I scored in Denver. Do you remember the play? Yes, tell me about it. Way it was, I jumped over the pow. Probably they said I didn't score, but I definitely didn't score. UM first record season game. It was

like an inside own play. I didn't have anywhere to go, but I'm thinking, like I cannot not score, so I jumped over the power and happened to get in. So it was pretty It's pretty aad great moment to Walter Payton asked diving over the top. Have you ever had a starstruck moment in your life? In my life? Uh? Yeah, I guess you could say a couple weeks ago when we played Seattle and I was able to go a Bobby just growing up watching him playing, being able to

play getting was pretty cool. And then lastly, give me one bucket list item, one bucket list item to play with the Bears my entire career. Awesome. That is a great way to end this interview. We all that comes true, my friend. I know you're gonna do everything in your power to make it happen. Appreciate it all the time. David, very very happy for you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Benntgomery our guest here on Bears All Access. Coming up, Tom and I visit with Vikings analysts Greg Coleman as the Bears get ready to meet the Vikings Sunday in Minnesota. This is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. This portion of Bears All Access is brought to you by CDW. People to get learn more at CDW dot com. Jeff joni Ac along with Tom there here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to Score. We got a special guest this week. Usually we talked to our guy because he's

from Chicago. Greg Pete Burr stitches out all the time. We shoved him to the background because it's a proper goodbye to a veteran voice of the Minnesota Vikings, not only as a player, but as a long time broadcast and sideline reporter. Greg Coleman. Thanks for joining us, Greg. These are the final final minutes in days of your football life, at least with the Minnesota Vikings. How is that?

How's that coming along for you? Because when the end comes, we are so addicted to this game, no matter if you played it or you talked about it, that it's hard to say goodbye. Jeff. You know, there's nothing like the National Football League, and obviously there'll be aspects of it that I'll miss, the same as when I was a player, but this one is a little bit different because you know, the journey of a broadcaster lasted a

heck of a lot longer than the player. But also in life, there's a lot more journey behind me than it is ahead of me. So I want to make sure that we do some of the things that we want to accomplish that the Good Lord has called us to do. There will still be a voice that will be heard, but just in a different arena. But there is nothing like the National Football League. And as as you mentioned counting down the last days and moments, I

don't know what they're going to be like. I'm sure they'll be filled with emotion, elation, and sadness in some aspects, but also some joy in excitement looking at the next chapter of our lives, just the transformation of the Minnesota Vikings and the time you've been there, to where they were when you got there, and to where they're at right now when you see the difference in the stadiums, the difference in the crowd support, the different types of

head coach is that this team went through. Are they stronger now when we're at this end of the Vikings or do they have a stronger reputation when you came aboard the Minnesota Vikings, Tom, That's great, that's a great question. I'll put it in this perspective. In terms of success on the field, I think there were some amazing runs

with the earlier days with the Purple People leaders. I got to play with some of those guys at the beginning of my career in Minnesota, talking about the Tarkington's and Marshals and Ellers and Rashads and Tingle Hawfs and all of those great legendary players. But in terms of facilities, I mean, when I got to Minnesota, we had one universal gem and I said, man, is this the National Football League? My high school has more stuff than this.

But as you tend to migrate over the years with the Metrodome, then US Bank Stadium, the TCO Training facility, in terms of facilities in technology and all of those things, it is second and then but I will say this and this is one of the things that really made me pause and look at time I have been associated and had a relationship with every head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, with the exception of Norm Van Broccoli, and that that kind of put it in perspective for me.

And you're talking Bud Grant, Jerry Burns, Less Stecko, Denny Green, Brad Children's, Mike Tice, Leslie Frazier, Uh, you know in Mike Zimmer and it's it's it's just been a blessing to see the evolution of the organization, the things that

they have stood for in the community. When Denny Green came on and started to put in community Tuesday, that was something that the organization had not done, and that meant that every player and coach would get out into this community and give back something in the place where they call home, even if it was not their permanent home. But I've seen so many amazing things, and I've seen this the will family just really take the reins of this organization and take it to a whole other level.

Thirty two years as part of the broadcast twenty one as a sideline reporter punter from nineteen seventy eight to nineteen eighty seven. But that's putting in a box because you're a heck of an athlete who could throw the football as well and dropped that coffin corner punt. But when you think about it, you've been touched by royalty in National Football League terms, because you were drafted by Paul Brown and then you and you played for that blue eyed wonder Bud Grant, I mean, and a lot

in between that you saw. So we don't have enough time to tackle your journey. But what was that like to deal with those two gentlemen first and foremost? Well, obviously with in Cincinnati, things didn't work out the way that I wanted. I made a mistake of running the forty and I was just coming off a track season, so I clipped out of fourth four and I ran everybody, with the acception of maybe Isaac Curtis and Archie Griffin

because we were drafted in that seventy six class. So Paul Brown sees this and he says, hey, man, we gotta try you at wide receiver. It's a guy, man, I've never played wide receiver. We'll go over there with Chip and let Kenny Anderson throw the ball to you. As a courtis, teach him how to do a fly rodding, you know. So that didn't work. And then they switched

him to the defensive back. And you know Ken Riley, the rattler who I happened to drive up to training camp with because he was from Jacksonville at that time, and he said, teach him how to how to back pedal. That didn't work. And after all of those things, I still had to compete with the other punters and kickers. Long story short, didn't work. Got a shot with the

Cleveland Browns. The following year, had a fairly decent year, but al art Model goes back into draft and drafts another punter by the name of Johnny Evans out of North Carolina State, but the previous year he drafted Tom Scola Daney out of Ohio State. He didn't want a punt in Cleveland. Forrest Brown said, Forrest Gregg, who was a coach of Cleveland, said hey, can you handle this? I said, Coach, all I need is an opportunity, So I put it for the Cleveland Browns. In seventy seven,

Forrest gets fired. Sam Martigliano comes in. I said, Sam, please let me go out. Know how this thing goes, Let me try out with somebody else. He said, no, the best guys to get the job leading the entire league that preseason. The Friday before the first game, I get cut. I say, Sam, I told you, okay. So I tried out Jeff with four or five other different teams, never got a shot. I watching a game. We're still

living in Cleveland, my ninth floor apartment window. I go to my ninth floor apartment window after watching the game between the Rams and the Vikings, and I opened the window and I'm screaming at God. I said, you lied to me. You said that if I would pray and I will do the things that you would give me the desires of my heart. Where are you? I said, I want to play football, and I want to play football so bad that I'll even play for the Minnesota Vikings.

And I closed the window, and I got a call from the Minnesota Vikings and I spent the next ten years as a punter. Unbelievable story. So let's greg. Let's speed up to modern day Minnesota Vikings football. Because I look at the team and I see talent. You know, at every level. Who's the MVP of the Minnesota Vikings going to the last regular season game. Oh Man, that's a key question because Budd always talks about being durable.

If you durability is the most important trade of a football of a football player, and if you're not durable, I can't count on you, I can't depend on you. And this year for the most part, I would say Dalvin Cook for the most part. But I have to lean toward Justin Jefferson because he has not missed a game. He's been ready, he's been prepared. Fortunately, you have to depend on a quarterback to get that receiver of the ball. But I would think that Dalvin Cook is a straw

that stirs the offensive drink for the Minnesota Vikings. We've missed him because of injury a few games. Also, he got bit by the COVID bug. But man, the disappointing part of it is that there's so much talent on this football team, and you create habits when you don't win early on those close games. They're fourteen games that have thirteen games that have been decided in the last play or the last quarter of the game, and you either develop habits of winning the close games where you

develop a habit of losing him. Unfortunately, they've migrated to the latter, which is unfortunate. You know, Greg, you bring up the word COVID, because I mean, there's a thousand conversations we could have. I don't think you and I ever came from an era that we left football with enough money for generations to come, like the quarterback position can.

So you have a quarterback that's not vaccinated. Now he can dictate the fate of the money other guys can make if they don't make the playoffs, if they make their bonuses, all the complications that involved. So going to Green Bay last week and knowing that your quarterback, one of your team and MVPs is not going to be there, how did that resonate in the locker room? And you know,

how did you feel about it personally? I think it's been an issue all year because at the beginning of the season, Mike Zimmer talked about that, He addressed it, the team talked about it. He's respecting the rights of players, but also looking at the overall picture of team and this is exactly what he did not want to happen coming down the stretch, that some of his key players would get bit by the COVID book. Harrison Smith unvaccinated,

got bit by in Baltimore. We lost that game. Dalvin Cook, we got bit by in the Rams game, we lost that obviously. What happened last week in Green Bay bit again. So those are three Pro Bowl players, three leaders on your football team chose not to get vaccinated, got bit

by it, but cost the team. I think it's unfortunate because Jeff thom As, you know, there was a different level of belief, there was a different level of trust with the men that you played at because you depended on each and every one of those guys to do whatever it took that was for the best of the team and to have guys, for whatever reason they believe

that they have the right. I look at it as as a selfish piece, because if if you're so concerned about the COVID vaccine, then why do you take ask for when you have a headache, why do you get a flu shot during the winter, because those things are done to protect you. Granted, it's been politicized like never before, so a lot of it got caught up in politics, personal beliefs, and all of those other things. But ultimately it cost a lot of teams a lot of games.

Great Coleman, our guest here on Bears All Access with Tom Fair, Jeff Jonah on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the score. Where is the meaning in this last regular season game? From a Minnesota perspective? Obviously, wins of change are flying through the air everywhere in a lot of NFL cities and including Minnesota's Mike Zimmer that question post game, and he said, these men are professionals, and I understood.

I didn't want to dig too much deeper than that, this is a profession that you don't win, not played because but would always say Greg, I can get anybody to come off the street put on a purple jersey and a helmet with horns on it. But we're in a sports entertainment business and we're paid to win games. And when you don't win changes or me. Unfortunately, that's the nature of the Beast. And these guys are playing for their future, they're playing for their lives. Coaches are

coaching for their lives. But there will be changes with players, with coaches, with staff. That's just the nature of the Beasts. It's unfortunate. I'm not sure what the wills are going to be uh, you know, thinking about after this game, after this season. But obviously there's been a lot of conversation about changes being made in Minnesota. Greg. Because of all your experience in the punting game, I don't want to let you retire without asking you this question. The

way the punting game has changed in turns hated. I hated all right, you know, because Jeff brought Jeff brought up the phrase coffin corner, and that was some of the most exciting punts that I've seen grown up as an NFL fan. Now they have the Rugby style version. So I guess you gave me the answer that I was anticipating. Jef. Here it is time. Here, let me lay it out for you. Putters are paid according to averages. If you go to the corner, simple, plain and simple,

you sacrifice average. So I don't fault they Assi rule punters because Darren Bidet bought it in from San Diego many many years ago. It affords a guy just to put a backwards spin on it, just like him. You know, a crisp pitching wedge with a little backspin on it, and hope that you get the nose down first to get the backwards rotation, and that's why a lot of kids have gone to that. It really is a lost art of going to the corners, getting that nose over,

pointing it down. I used to call it a pass off of your foot to the left corner or to the right corner. Had a special team's coach at Florida and m by the name of Pop Kids in practice one day down at FAM you just put him down the middle. He's said, well, baby, why are you kicking it right to him? I said, well, hell, Pop, that's where he's standing. He said, well, baby, don't make it

easy on him and make him earn his supper. Take it to the right, take it to the left, And if you do it on a consistent basis, I guarantee you they'll find a place for you at the national in the National Football League. And I was stupid enough to believe him. So that was my fourteen kicking it to the right and kicking it to the left. Outstanding story. So why didn't a lot more punters make Devin Hester

earn his supper? Because they kicked it right to him a lot and he and I want to know what your Hall of Favor thoughts are on the revolutionary impact he made on the game, and how teams then built their special teams units to try and stop him from doing what he did, and they still couldn't do it. You know what, I wouldn't have needed a team. All I wouldn't need was a sinner on my punt team. Everybody else could could have sat down because I am not putting the ball in the field of play against

Devin Hester. Okay, you gotta remember I came up during the days of Billy White, Chiefs Johnson in some of the great return men, and if you could catch it out of bounds and run with it, that's what you were gonna do. I never would have kicked the ball to it, no way, shape or for him, but this man deserves to be in that final group in Canton. He changed the game. You also had another young man there whose career is not over, Corderell Patterson, an amazing

kickoff return didn't return punts. But I wouldn't have kicked it to him as well. I would have kicked it out of bounds and taken my chances on the thirty five. Because those game changing plays, they make all the difference in the world. They can flip the field and change momentum in a New York minute, Greg Coleman, our guests gonna wrap things up here, Greg, appreciate it a lot on your resume and good luck in retirement. How are

you gonna do some public speaking? You've done that in your past as well with a professional speaking business, and do some work. But the traditionally black college universities where you came from, obviously, and remember of the twenty five and fortieth anniversary teams in the Minnesota Vikings and a long established prominent career and broadcasting as well. You've done a heck of a lot. So congratulate, Thank you so much. Thank you, Tom. You appreciate your brother. Thank you. That's

great Coleman. Tom and I continue our conversation on Bears Vikings after this break on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score download the Chicago Bears have to play our new predictor game Risk It, brought to you by bet Rivers, for your chance to win two hundred and fifty dollars in free bets at a custom Bears jersey with Tom there Jeff Joniac. Great conversation with David Montgomery, one of the future pieces at least he hopes. I love what he said at the end. Man he wants to be

a bear. He really is. As long as I've talked to him as a bear, He's always brought up Walter, and that must that must warm your heart as an ex bear and a good friend of the late Walter Payton. I think of a list of running backs that we've been around with the Bears, the dearly departed Gael Sayers, Walter Payton, Neil Anderson, Thomas Jones, Matt Yes, Mad four takes. But that whole of guys that are three down backs

are dedicated professionals. Beck and Harry Beck can carry, you know, two hundred times plus, have all the receptions during the course of the year, all those types of benchmarks. David Montgomery is right there with any of them. Heard from Seawn de Side today. Talked about a lot of things about the flexibility of the defense, what he's learned over the course of the season, about being flexible and just playing to win every week. It's been good of late

Eddie Jackson in particular. He got a lot of praise from the Bears defensive coordinator today. I think it's been awesome. I think like you said, you know, he's made a conscious effort at it and it's shown up in a positive way. His play speed, I think is helpable on the tape over the last whatever six or seven weeks, you know, since he's been back, which is a credit to him. You know, the consistency at the effort at which he's running to the ball, and we've seen it.

He seems reinvigorated and at the outset of that. Obviously talking he was asking about his tackling, which has improved. He'd be flying around right now. Yeah. You know, the bears of the nice job, including Sean de Si and Eddie Jackson, putting the self in the position to succeed against the quarterbacks they're playing against and the conditions they're playing in. In Seattle a couple of weeks ago, Seattle was trying to run the ball, So Eddie Jackson played

at or near the liest scrimmage. You knew what you were getting with Mike Glennon and the New York Giants, and Eddie Jackson played a lot about that linebacker depth. But he did it physically, he did it immediate, and he was still able to get back in his pass coverage lanes. When he had those responsibilities. Certainly three weeks ago, Seans I put together a great game plan against the Vikings and not prevail, but they did shut them down. They got nothing in the passing game, and they held

Dalvin Cook in check. And that was without any starter on the defensive secondary, including Jalen Johnson who gets a second crack of Justin Jefferson, who was held on ten targets to just four catches against the Bears. He did score a touchdown. I mean, I feel for us, it's really impressive just to keep get better throughout the year, and I mean I was a goal that we wanted to set and just really being able to find again where we put four complete quarters together and I thought

that's what we did this past weekend. So I mean, just being able to continue to prepare the right way and just keep attacking every opportunity that we have. I mean, we don't have too many left the season, so just enjoying the moment with the guys, and I mean just really standing in a moment. He did a lot of work on Jefferson that he did in DeVante before the season. He knew you you know, as it turns out, the Bears have faced a lot of the top receivers in

the league. I think the top five receivers in the league they've played seven times when you consider Jefferson and DeVante Adams twice. And they faced top running backs, some of the top quarterbacks, almost all the top quarterbacks, including Aaron Rodgers in terms of passing yards anyway, so he's faced a lot already. Well, I'm interested to see how Jalen Johnson reacts to the competition on Sunday. It'll be interesting to see how he if he follows around Jefferson.

But I'm also interested to see Thomas Graham again because that's when he burst out of the scene being knownst to us, getting an opportunity to play. He really had a game that everybody else in the national media talked about all week. But now, Jalen Johnson, if you're gonna be the number one for us going forward, if you're gonna be the reason the Bears defensive backfield is so

solid next year, it begins with you, young man. So hey man, I'm interested to wait on how you finish up the last game of the regular season, because you are on a major stage and a major fast track against one of the best receivers in the National Football League the last two years. Limited cantry it allowed this year by Jalen Johnson had to pick against Cincinnati. I know he wants more hands on the football quickly. Just three things you want to see you have to see

on Sunday against the Vikings in the finale. Number One Darnell Mooney and Kolcomet getting some positive touches. Number two Jalen Johnson and Trevis Gibson making some big plays when they're giving the opportunity to accord the defense called number three Tevin Jenkins Larry Boram. I want to see if they're our future. Well said. We will talk to you on the radio on Sunday, nine am pregame noon kickoff on WBBM. Enjoy the rest of your evening, and yeah, it'll be sad to see the season put to bed.

We'll have a lot to look forward to in twenty twenty two. Gold Bears for Tom There, David Montgomery, and Great Coleman. I'm Jeff Joniac. Thanks everybody for helping out tonight, all of our producers, and thank you for listening. This has been Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio. Six seventy to score good Night Everybody,