Pace, Nagy Free Agency Conference Call

You know, as much of an unprecedented time period is that this is we were able to dig in on free agency make the Bears a better football team. Right now, we're taking this one day at a time, and that's our focuses on the draft, you know. I know we'll catch up with all you guys right before the draft, but I can tell you guys right now, we're ready for everything that's drafting from Hollis Hall. That's a remote location, it's from our homes. Whatever they tell us to do,

we'll be ready. We're just gonna follow the experts in that area. You know. In relation to free agency, we sign a number of guys, you know, understand the focuses on the quarterbacks. Addition, it's been a focus for us. With the addition to Nick Foles is exactly what we talked about from the starter. We've increased competition at a critical position, and we talked to both players and the way we view this is it's an open competition and

credits to both those guys for embracing it. We've also talked about this a lot, but it's the factor that I Sentuly lean on is the collaboration between our coaches and our scouts, the collaboration between Matt and I. I think that's a strength for us right now more than ever you. I'm also very proud of the entire organization, McCaskey family, Ted Phillips, how everyone in our building has

pulled together. Right now is the Bear's family. The best thing you can do is adapt and adjust to the situation. We've done that very quickly as an organization, and I'm extremely proud to be part of that. So with that, I'll turn it over to Matt stick a couple of things, all right, everybody, I hope everybody's doing well. Again, Ryan said, I want to reiterate, um, you know, these are very uncommon times, and I know that we're here to talk

about football. But again just echoing what he said. You know me personally, I don't want to take anything away from from the brave here is that we have out there on the front lines, and they're sacrifices that they're doing every you know, every day selflessly saving families from from this COVID nineteen. So to all of those, thank you so much. And also the brave employees UM that continue to keep our economy and great country running, Thank

you to them. And and then the other one too that I think sometimes gets remissed, it to all the local and national doctors and media UM for for keeping us educated on how to you know, how to go day by day on a daily basis. UM. I know for me, without the uh the news stations and outlets and everything, just trying to see how to do things, UM, it would be tough. So we appreciate that. And so I think it's our job now is what's real is to into the experts and fallow through with the recommendations.

And as I said the other day, it's it's important to stay home and you and you practice social distancing. So also, like Ryan said, through this all I think the communication collaboration in these truck in these times have been awesome with mccaffe family and with with Ted Phillips and everybody else that's been a part of their Ryan's been great. Um. In regards to the football, UM, you know, much smaller scale. It is oncommon constru us here too. We appreciate the hard work with our I T and

video department. They're they're studs. They've been they've been amazing. UM. Coaching staff person now, everyone's been really working hard together. It's been different but unique, and it's it's been fun finding out solutions and new ways of technology how to do things, whether it's through the draft or with the coaching staff meetings where obviously pumped up and excited about our resignings and our new additions to the team, which

we can talk about. And then, uh, the big one that that we're well aware of the Ryan just talked about is is uh, you know, this open competitive, open TV competition between Mitch and Nick and I think a couple of things as we look through this, and I know you all have questions, but um, you know, number one, what we're trying to do is what's best for the Chicago Bears playing is simple. That that's that's what it comes down to, and Ryan and I have had great

fuss with both of them. What's important and what y'all are going to find out in this process is going to be real simple. It's going to be very transparent and very honest. And so what I thought was really neat when we talked to mitchich which was which is speaks to who he is is you could feel how much of a competitor and you know it and you see it. He's a competitor. Now he's embracing it and excited to get back back to work. Um you know.

With that said, part of the conversation that that you know we discussed too was understanding here the big picture is, I know that Mitch, Mitch gets a lot of this, but you know, we have been a lot better coaching, uh schematically and I could have been a better head coach. And then we can we all as we all know, you know, we can always be better players around him as well. So that's the focus there. But but Mitch is, Mitch is really embracing it. He's had an unbelievable um

uh personality throughout it. He understands it. All he wants to do is be the best quarterback he can be for the Chicago Parson and that's what he's going to do as we move on here. Nick the same thing. You know, I have a history with Nick. I know who he is as a person. Um, he's been great as well. Uh, he's a special person. And Ryan and I looked into that knowing that, uh when when when this went down? And and I think that that's very important that we don't lose sight of that as we

go through this this competition. He's been in this position before and you've handled it great. You know, I personally went through it with him in Kansas City a little different, but but I know obviously who he is. Um, it's going to be a process evaluated over time. And like Ryan said, it's a collaboration of Ryan, some of some of the guys on his staff, myself and then along with Bill Laser, taber Gun, John d Filippo, uh and those guys all have extensive background with quarterbacks and we're

looking forward to that. Um, you know, we're not there yet. You guys will have questions, but well, we'll have a great plan on how to evaluate it and then you know, ultimately what it really comes down to is winning scoring points. Um, you know, physical and mental toughness. Uh, and then obviously command and leadership with some other things. So with that we'll leave the questions. Okay, as coach said, yeah, we'll

get to questions now. Again, if your line is is muted, you'll have to unmute it when when you ask your question. If you're on the phone, you'll need to hit star six to unmute your line. Take your take your time. We have a lot of questions. We'll get to you all. I appreciate it, Thank you. We'll have questions. Hey, guys, big guys, rib thanks for doing this, Matt. How we go about we just starting quarterback kids for the regular season? And what are the challenges noting any idea the next

time you'll actually be on a football field with you guys? Hey, Dan, hope you're doing good. So you cut out on the first part something. Can you just say one more time? It was chopping in and out. Yeah, I just said, how how will you go about deciding where your starting quarterback is going to be for the regular season? And then obviously the challenges of evaluating the competition not knowing when you'll be on the field. Yeah, absolutely, so so

a couple of things. Number One, we have no idea moving forward here as to you know, when when things go move forward and what we'll be able to do in regards to ops or training camp, So that's up in the air. UM. Once we do know that and we'll have a plan in place. We're not even there yet. I mean we're we're you know, UM, I know that with the guys that we have on our staff. Uh, it's something that you know, we'll figure out, you know,

rep wise, equality wise, how that goes. It's just hard right now, just because we have no idea, um, you know what it's going to be. The only thing we can do is try to um simulate what we think could happen. And if it's you know, but if it's uh, you know, choice a choice be or choice C as regards to things that could happen, we'll have a plan for all those and then we'll put it in action. But uh, you know, again we don't. We'll see where it goes with preseason games. But that'll be something as

well that'll be important to note. You know, last year we didn't um, you know, we didn't play a lot of our guys, and that'll be obviously different this year. We're looking forward to them. Hey man, this is Kyllen Kane. Um, what qualities do you see in Nick that make him a good fit for this team? And this slide? Yeah, hi kl And so you know a few things with Nick, you know he uh, I think that the biggest thing with him as a quarterback, forget the person's side. As

a quarterback. You know, he does have some experience in this offense. Now, he's been through some different options as well. Something you know, Um, some people think that, uh, you know, these these offenses that he's just come from aren't exactly the same, and that couldn't be further from the truth. So there there's a learning for there a little bit. For the most part, it's a lot easier for him when he comes into it. So knowledge of the offense

definitely helps. Um. You know, this is a kid that uh has has been through a lot of different situations. He's been a Super Bowl MVP, He's been in pressure moments, and he uh, you know, he understands a lot of the things that that we're looking for. At the same time, I'm excited because I know that he's gonna you know, the person side of him. He really helped. He'll he'll be really helpful and supportive and competing with Mitch. Hey, guys, it's Jeff Dickerson. Um, hey Ryan, Uh, you know, you

guys were linked. I think every quarterback available when free as he first opened up. Uh, when did Nick becomes the argut for you guys? How did he When did he emerges as the player you were really trying to go get And how open were you leaving your options in the event that that wasn't able to get done. Yeah, Hey, Jeff, I think you know, we knew there were going to be a lot of options at quarterback in this free agency period. We knew we'd have an opportunity to increase

the competition. There were those options that existed, so we kind of went through through each one of those and talked about each one. I think when we got to Nick, it was really, you know, a collective effort. I think, you know, the grades kind of independently came in first, and they all came in very strong. Just a talented player. I think Match just said it. You know the fact that he's played in some big games, performing well in those big games. That carries a lot of weight then

you throw that in. You know, we have a lot of people in our building that are comfortable with him as a person and the makeup, which just made the decision easier. So I think, you know, that was all kind of that all kind of came together to make him a target for us and someone we wanted to

aggressively go get. Hey, guys, it's Adam hog here. Um, Matt. Obviously, Nick has a lot of connections with his coaching staff beyond you, Um, how much does that help you and how much did that impact him being a target for you guys, and considering the circumstances of this offseason, I imagine that has to be um, but an advantage in the fact that he kind of already knows the system.

Hey Adam, Yeah, you know, I think as you go through this, that's something that's really easy for a lot of people to connect his offs with and UM and that that certainly helps that. I think more than anything, it's relationships and being able to understand how these coaches teach. So Nick Nick knows that's you know, talking to him, he understands how how Bill Laser teaches and how and you know, Nick was the second year uh pro when he was with Bill and since then then he hasn't

been with him, you know. And then with John d. Philippo, he's been there with him in Philadelphia winning the Super Bowl, and then he's been in a different scenario with him as an offensive coordinator on a different uh, you know, in different scenario and in Jacksonville. So you build relationships through high times and load times and and so that's that's a part of it. But in the end, it's

about the player and it's about what they can do them. Again, my relationship, I've had two different types of relationships with him, One as a rookie in Philadelphia me as a quality control coach, and then another as a quarterback coach when he's coming in as a as a as a backup quarterback. So there's a lot of unique different roles and relationships there. But in the end, it's about who Nick is as a player, um, obviously what he's been as a person,

and just competition. It's gonna it's gonna be a you know, we really hope it's a win win for for for the Chicago Bears, and we know it's going to bring the best out of both of these guys. Just because of who they are as people and what their makeup is. So that's the exciting part. Hey, guys, Chris Timmer with a score this really appreciate it. Um, Ryan, have you reached the decision on Mitch sif your option? Hey Chris,

how you doing? Yeah? As we go through that, you know that's something Uh, we're not going to comment on right now. You know, we'll discuss it when we get closer to that point. You know, we got until really until made to make that, to make that comment, and uh, we'll talk about it as we get closer to that date. Hey, guys, it's Jeff again. Um, how is this Matt? This is Patitionley. I'm curious when either of you guys did talk to Mitch. What was his reaction you met? You mentioned that you

could tell he was competitive? How so I think I think, just real quick, you know, Mitch is it? This is the competitor? I think when you're built that way, you know, competition brings out the best in you. And I think you know, you know, Matt and I had that discussion with him, and and you could feel that didn't and right away just kind of that Okay, Hey, you know, let's go Um, you know what's best for the team, and this is going to bring out the best and

all of us. And I think the keyword is just that, you know, he embraced you know, he embraced the competition. Uh. And I think they're both looking forward to it. Yeah, I think I think Patrie the same thing, you know. And and the the unique part about football is there's one quarterback, right, and so human nature has you when when you when you sit down and have a discussion like this, you know that there's there's there's one starter.

And and so we're all competitors. These guys haven't made it to this point without being competitive guys, and they've been that way their their whole life. So, um, you know, I don't I don't care who you are. If you're a competitor and you care, you know right away you're gonna be fired up and you're gonna be ready to go. You're gonna embrace it. And there's a couple of ways to look at it and either do that or you

shy away from it. And um, the competitor that Mitch is with the way that he was with us was really neat to see because he embraced it. And it wasn't. It wasn't about excuses, It wasn't about anything other than Okay, I understand that I'm going to give you everything that I got. We're going to compete, and you're going to get the best that I got. And I think that's

what's pretty neat in this whole process. And so when we look at that as as coaches, that's all we can ask for is trying to make sure that we do everything we can possibly do on our end to make this completely fair. Let them go out play football and be the best quarterback that they can possibly be. If that's the case and that happens, we're going to

be in a good place. Hi, guys, this is Hub and I know you've said clearly open competition, but I just want to make sure reported absolutely right, because when we lasted visit in a different world, you said you wanted competition, but that Mitch was still the starter. Is Mitch still number one on the depth chart? Is there no depth chart right now? Yeah? Yeah, so so, And

that's a good question. When we walk out on the first day, whatever it is, whether it's OTAs or whether it's training camp, Mitch will be going first in the huddle. Uh and and and those guys know that that's not news to them, that's not something that they're here for the first time. The one thing that again you're gonna you guys will realize about Nick Foles is that he's very aware. He understands what's going on. He understands the situation.

And that's gonna That's another part of this too, is that and so um, you know, Mitch is going to be out there, but at the same time, it's going to be equal and we as coaches need to make sure we do the right thing in regards to equal reps uh and make sure that they're going against they're playing with similar or the same players on offense and going against the same players on defense. So there'll be

some juggling that we have to do. It might be a little different at times on how we do it, how we get to it, but I can promise you this, it's going to be completely fair. It's gonna be um, it's gonna be extremely competitive in a good way. It's going to be a healthy competitiveness and uh, you know, in the end for us, it's gonna be a collaboration of what we all feel and it's Uh. I think that that's all that those guys really ask for, and

one as competitors. And then the other thing too that I just want to say is it's easy to say, um, wherever this takes us, whenever it is that we end up naming a starter. Uh, you know, this is a process, and so with that becomes responsibility as of winning and playing well. And so we want to make sure that that as we do this, those guys know that and they already know it, so that that's that's where we're

out with that. Um, um, real quick, just with me, and I think when you stay open competition, Um, you know, this is an open competition. They've both been told that. I think it's the best way to do it. I think the good thing is just honesty and transparency with both players as we go through it. And you know, we want much best with the Chicago Bears. Is as simple as that, and that really applies to any position

on our team. And for this situation, Hey, let these guys battle that, let the process naturally happen, and over time that decision will be made. Hey, Ryan, it's Dan Reader again, and then got a quick follow up from Matt after this but what are your current options for offsite draft weekend locations if indeed Howise Hall is off limits? You know swee d Hey, Dan, We we've talked about that.

You know. Again, I think art ic guys in our video guys right now have been awesome through all this, So I think a Mike Santarelli just installed, Dave Henderson, Dan Twoey, Brad Goldsberry, h Simon Galan. They've been preparing us for all this. So we have a couple options right now, Dan, if if that's if that is a possibility for us, UM, you know, the first one would be Hollis would to the limited number of people and

using the technology in our draft room. UM. The other one would be an off site location, which we're establishing several options now. The third one would be operating from our homes remotely, which obviously there's some there's some challenges with that, so we're kind of going through each one of them. We do have some off site locations, UM,

but we haven't pinpointed one down just yet. And what are your contingency plans and the adjustments that you have to make for this offseason program given the likelihood that you won't have much if any traditional prints or meeting time. Yeah, you know what, Dan, it's it's a it's gonna be um certainly different for us. You gotta be tech savvy and that's why we rely on all those people that Ryan just mentioned. They've been amazing and communicated with us

on how the two things. Uh, you know, I have my office here at my house and I'm able to have four different computers rolling, and we've been having fall with it as a coaching staff. Guys have been very proactive and trying to get good at it. But we gotta adapt. We got to figure out solutions. We can't complain. We gotta we gotta make sure that whatever that we do from the whether it's teaching purposes, Uh, it's going

to be different. You're not going to be standing there in front of thirty to sixteen players or however many guys it is, uh speaking your your team message for the day is that you're going to have to rely on them possibly looking at it online, you know, with

with online installations. So how do we do that by being as clear as we possibly can, but also too making it be forever to where they get forward to starting on a train for a long time, so it'll be different, but we you know, we gotta, we gotta adapt intire ab solutions on I'm looking forward to. Dan, Well, I think it's been good. Just you're forced to quickly adapt to this changing landscape. So we talked about our

IIC and video departments. They've been us standing and the silver lining is that I think it's pushed us further from a technology standpoint, so you know, the virtual meetings, whether that's you know, skyper Zoom, and it's actually been highly efficient and in some ways, in some ways better, you know. I checked this morning. I think it's been

about two weeks since we moved out of Hollis. They've been working from home and it's really been seamless with the ability to watch video, the ability to have meetings and communicate interview players. That part's been really good. I think it's a credit to our staff. Dan. I'm like, I don't even go to the hit the green button anymore. I just go to FaceTime. That's all crazy. This has been so I've just been FaceTime and morn the phone calls. Ryan,

this is Hub again. Can you walk us through you're thinking on the Jimmy Graham signing and how you view your tight end roster right now. Hey, Hub, Yeah, but Jimmy, I think with Jimmy Graham, I think it's a good example where we're all connected on a vision for a player with our teams. So you know, it starts, Hub.

You had the physical evaluation on the player, obviously a guy you know we know well, but then you had to fit within our offensive scheme and I just think there's a lot of discussions on how to best maximize Jimmy Graham in this offense. And uh, that's that's with Matt and all of our offensive coaches in our scouts, and we're all really excited about him being a Bear and how we're going to maximize him. So it was just a thorough process into how he fits. When you

talk about the tight end room in general. Uh, you know, look, we know we have a lot of tight ends on the roster right now. It's something we're working through. We know we have some decisions to make across the board really at that position, um, but we aren't there yet, but we're definitely happy to a Jimmy to this offense and also Demetrius Harris to this offense. You know that was a while ago, but that's a good addition for

us as well. Hey guys, it's Jeff again. Um, last time we spoke at the Combines, Ryan, you know, there were a lot of players that we're going to have offseason procedures. You know, Mitch had his, Trey Burton, Anthony Miller. Um, how are you able to keep tabs on those guys and their recoveries and will the fact that the facilities are are clothes, well, that's pushed back any of their returns in any way, Jeff, good question. We're still able to work with those guys from a rehab standpoint, that's

the one exception. So those guys you know, you know Anthony Miller, Uh, you know Roquan Smith, you know Mitch, Trey Burton, those guys are still able to work from a rehab standpoint. So we've been able to keep close tabs on that. And again, we feel really good where those guys are heading and nothing has changed from an injury update standpoint. We expect all those guys to be

ready to rule for training camp. Hey Ryan, Ryan, this is I'm curious when you guys knew or when it became apparent right before the started free agency that your off season might be truncated in some way. Did that influence which players you pursued or how you looked at those players in terms of familiarity with your playbook, your system,

your coaches, et cetera. And that's a great question, and I know it probably feels like it it happened that way, But to be completely honest, that wasn't a complete focus. It was, Hey, let's just go acquire the best players that we feel fit us. You know. I think, you know, sometimes when when there's background with a player, it just helps because there's risk in every movie you make, and the more background and intimate knowledge you have of a guy and his makeup, you know, I think that helps

a lot. But to answer your question, it just kind of came together that way. Uh, you know, from a positive standpoint, But that wasn't a focus. I think, you know, when these when these things go down, and you know, I know Matt talked about you know, it could be with a quarterback and it's Bill Laser and we're going and and flipped and and I think on the personnel, and you know, you got Josh Lucas and Champ Kelly

and Jeff King, just to name a few. It's a it's a very collaborative effort um for that whole thing that came come together. But there wasn't a focus on, hey, let's go get these guys because they know the offense because it's going to be a short offseason. Was Hey, let's just go get the best players. Hey, hey guys, this is Stacy Dale's um coach. This is for you. What really is the depth of Nick's knowledge of this offense?

And you know, for all intents and purposes, if the season started tomorrow, could he go out tomorrow and play right now because of his knowledge? Stay, Stacy, how are you? Yeah? Uh, Nick is at a point right now where he should get by and get through a game, because it would it would uh you know, he would understand the words and the concepts, but not fully to where you know he needs to be. So there's and again it's kind of like riding a bike. You're able to, you know,

and you get back onto it. You hear some words, some plays that that you've heard in the past, and you remember all of a sudden, and it's different languages. You know that that he's been in the last couple of years, just some tweaks here or there, nothing major. So uh, but but right now he should go out and play, and I think, uh, you know he would he would do well just because we'd have to to keep it simple and let him just uh you know, do his thing by by by playing, um, you know

and playing football like he normally does it. Here, UM, do you do you have to have a contingency plan in place in case you have a short training camp that this quarterback battle might extend into the season, or when you name a week one starter, you want that guy to be your guy for for the whole season and not really challenged. Well, we definitely need to have that. That would the contingency plan, you know, that would be

one of our options. We have to make sure that we kind of go through, UM communicating now, so what some choices could be from now until the start of the season, and what that is, and then we have to figure out if it's expedited because it's shortened, UM, the best way to be able to decide that and evaluate that process. So we'll have that ready that that part won't be hard, UM. And then we just got to figure out as we do that, UM, what's what's what's the most fair way to do it so that

we can understand it. It's the best decision for us. I think, like like a lot of things, um, it'll it'll all just kind of naturally happen. Uh. And and that's that is the challenge that we're at right now in this situation. Not knowing um be unknown is a challenge, but we'll be ready for it. And and then once we do that, like I said, once we do name a starter, you know, we're playing football and what we want to we want to win games. And I have

no idea how it's going to go from there. That moon here just to clarify something earlier, can we assume and if there is a preseason that both Nick and will play in preseason, absolutely yeah, they're they're they're going to play in preseason. It'll be equal reps and it'll be a good competition for them. Um. And you know again that that kind of goes in tune with what we're doing really with with our with our whole team.

It's going to be some of the things we discussed and talk about when we're able to do that with the team. But I think it's I think that part's important and they'll be a big part of that. Hey, Ryan, what what went into the decision to move on from Leonard Floyd and then signed Robert Quinn in that spot

who's a little bit older. Hey, I think Adam, I think when you talked about, you know, free agency in general, first of all, we wanted into this free agency knowing it was going to be I guess pretty technical would be the word to say. I think, you know, with a quarterback trade and the outside linebacker edition Wayne, Leonard Floyd, sit your option, the decision on Trivasion and Quikowski, you know, I think we knew it was gonna be a technical, uh,

free agency. That's why I think the collaboration with the scouts and the coaches kind of helped navigate us through this whole thing. Um. I think one thing we did feel is the people wanted to be here. That's been a couple of years in a row now where we you know, there were recruitman was pretty easy. I think when you talk about Quinn and Leonard Floyd, I think, you know, first of all, with Robert Quinn, I think

the obviously it's a position we value. Um. One of the you know, the first things that comes to mind as your strength and your team is your pass rush affecting the opposing quarterback. And we just feel like Quinn's

approven pass rusher. He's got excellent edge speed, he's got outstanding ability to bend the corner um and I think, you know, we take a position of strength on our defense and we make it even stronger and more dangerous when you add Quinn, and you can buy them with the players that are already up there, especially up front. And I think when the Quinn, uh, you know, Leonard Floyd decision, you know, look, Leonards has some very good years here. He's a key part of a top defense.

And I don't think acquiring Robert's not necessarily a knock on Leonard. It's just doing what's best we feel's best for our team. And I think you saw how quickly Leonard signed elsewhere, you know, pretty good contracts. We're happy for him, um, but for us, it was just, hey, you know, we're anesomely tweaking and trying to upgrade our roster, and we feel like we've done that with our pass

ups with Robert Quinn, Ryan Matt Smart Potash. Ryan is curious, well, how certain are you the Quinn will be as effective and in year three four as he was in the Cowboys four to three, because even he has said he's, you know, much more comfortable in the four to three going back to two when he was with the Rams and Mark Yeah, good question. No different than the Jimmy

Graham conversation. This was something that was talked about their leagues, you know, with our with our coaches and scouts and Pagano and Ted Monicuino and and how we're gonna make it make it all work, because I think you do have to look at it and say, Okay, how has this player had success in the past, and how can we make sure we maximize that? And so that was discussed. Um that the schemes he's played in, Um, you know, he's played a lot on on the right side of

the defense. Uh, And so hey, let's get everybody in the spots uh or their best, but without being predictable at the same time. So we feel very comfortable with that. Um, you know, I know our defensive coaches and match does too. Just to put him out there in the best positions to succeed. I mean, he's a he's a really natural pass rusher, He's one of those guys where you could be watching other players on other teams and you're just crossing over Cowboys cowboy tapes and you can't help but

watch him. I know when we played him this year, we had to have a plan for him. UM, combined with their other defensive end, I just think it makes this really hard to defend on defense when it's when it's hard to double one guy because you've got multiple guys coming at you, especially when you throw in a

Keen Hicks to that mix as well. Hey, Ryan Arthur Arkish, how much does the Roquon turves and presence inside and their coverage ability allow you to switch out someone like Floyd for someone like Quinns who may not give you as much in that area. Yeah, we you know, we talked about that. I think you know, a strength of

Leonards was was no doubt that the cover ability. And I think we look at our inside linebacker rooms as a strength UM and and not Turvasan and Roquan and then just the depth of that room UM as a strength as well. So I think what you're saying is accurate. UM. Now, when you know and and Khalil, I mean you want those guys rushing the quarterback as much as possible, um, but they are athletic enough to do different things on

defense too, just to keep as flexible. And then we've added some depth to the outside linebacker room and in recent weeks that we feel also can provide some of those coverage things you're talking about. Hey, guys, it's Brandon. We got about five minutes left here, but go ahead with with questions. Hey guys, circling back to Jimmy for a second, what gives you fall the greatest belief in the two and twenty version of Jimmy Graham that made him a priority for you? Hey, Dan, Yes, there's a

lot of things that go into this. Was this was something that, like Ryan said, we all saw a lot of the same things. And what's exciting is when you look at this, you have to be able to look at this with the ability to see how could he or how does he find into what you want to do? And so there's a lot more to that than just looking at numbers, like you know, the stats that you

see and where he's at. He's obviously had a hell of a career and with that he's also grown older, but at the same time when you look at the stuff that he's doing, maybe when he's not catching the football or maybe when he's not making a block, but you see him within the play doing something that you like, and then you visualize that what you can do with him and what conceptually what you do, how it fits

And that's the exciting part. When you talk to him as well, you understand the knowledge that he has for the game. He's very very motivated right now, which which I love. And so it's it's just a fit for us, a big size you know, you know, six six playmaker that you can get some mismatches with and uh, I know me personally very very um looking forward to being all to put him in some great situations. Hey guys,

it's Adam Hogan again. Um. On the offensive line, do you guys, uh imagine or envisioned Jamaine Effetti kicking the inside to guard? And what did you like about? He's a Adam you know he's obviously he's played both right tackle right guard. Right now, we do envision him kicking inside the guard, uh and just engaging no different than the quarterback, just adding competition to the right guard position with a fetty Um, he's a guy. You know we

liked coming out in the draft. Um, we've kept close tabs on He's a talented player, thirty six inch arms, highly intelligent. I know Juan Castido is really high on this player too, and and how he feels he can make him better, which we're confident in. Um, so we're excited to get him where we got him. Just that, just to really add competition to the offensive line. You know,

that's important. That depth there's important. We'll let that play out, okays, Andrew Salidman um telling you when during that players are working out the way you wanted and following the program

you want them to follow. Yeah. So, so one of the things we're doing, and I want to give a lot of credit to our our our coaching staff along with Jason mo Scalville and our assistant coaches UM in the in the strength program and Andre Tucker and Jane Gibson, they're all doing a great job of staying on top of them and making sure that we communicate with them to make sure that they're um, they're doing okay, number one with with what we're going through, which is very important.

And and number two, you know, staying you know, figuring out different ways of how they're staying in shape and stay staying strong and so a matter of fact, I got a picture last night, UM, from our strength coaches. We got a player that he built out of wood, his own his own squat rap and bench rack. So I thought that was pretty pretty neat to see. Some people are adapting and they're coming up with solutions, but

we're staying on top of them. We're making sure they're healthy and uh, you know, we're excited to make sure that they're doing okay, and they all are. Right now, we got time for two more questions. Stacy, go ahead first, and then we'll get the last question after Stacy. Thank you,

Thank you. Brandon. Um, you know, clearly with all of the uncertainty for both of you, UM, not really knowing when your players can actually take the field, UM, sort of, what what is the plan in advancing your playbook too, especially with a new quarterback on your roster, to make sure that these installations are up to speed if the season does start on time. Yeah, Stacy, that's a great question. I think that for for us, once we're once we're given a time that we're able to rock and roll

start talking in football with these players. Um, we're gonna have to be make sure we're very, very efficient with if it is video insults. Um, I think you're going to see. We were talking about this last night with some position coaches. There's going to be a lot more time for these players with position meetings and position um uh, you know virtual meetings where you might have four or five guys that are talking with a coach and it might be more specific than it is ten or eleven

or twelve guys or thirty guys together. So we'll be efficient with it. We'll make sure that we're doing everything we can. And then at the same time, you know, in a good way. It's going to make you as a coaching staff too, probably limit the amount of volume that you usually try to get in in a normal situation. So I look at it as the positive. Guys, it's how but I'm really sorry this wasn't the first thing I said, But yeah, it's is for both of you.

Really hope that your families and extended families are all doing well and healthy and safe and curious if either of you had any firsthand experience with anyone you know or that you're close to who's contracted the virus and if so, anything you share about how you handled that. Hey, first of all, thanks for saying that we feel the same way about you guys, So I think that comes first and foremost. You know, Fortunately on my end, it's been pretty good thus far. But I'll let that chuch

on his own. Yeah. Hey, thanks, thanks again again for taking of us, and it's it's back to all of you guys. Are everybody in there is? I know we can sometimes. I think this is a good step back for all of us to be able to really realize how important family time is and also look out for for lovel and I have a great pan of um who's in Pennsylvania that that I was told through family that she's in her nineties that she has uh has

contracted it. But other than that, no immediate family UM or no one, no one else that I know of, And so I know it's uh uh, there's a lot of people that have been through it and we just we're thinking about them all and so we appreciate you saying that about us.