Previewing NFL Draft | All Access

Physical Therapy and CDW. Hey virtually feels like football. The virtual offseason getting underway as the Bears and one of a dozen teams to get rolled in today with their players, and then the NFL had their virtual mock draft as they hired out some kinks, I guess and hopefully no technical problems when it starts on Thursday night, first round

of the NFL drafts. Good even everybody. I'm Jeff Johnny ACoM, I'm my broadcast partner from WBBM, mister Tom Fair, the Super Bowl Bear, and former Bears quarterback Jim Mellow Or from NFL Radio Serious XM's moving the chains with Pat Kerwin as we get you set on Draft week. We come to you tonight ten on Monday night with the draft preparations get under Wait, how's everybody doing doing? Good, you know, starting to talk to some people around the

league that have draft experiences unlike any other. So I went to look to talk to some older guys and talked about their draft day experience, but I was questioning them about, you know, what led them up to the draft, because I think there's a lot of uncertainty in the minds of the college kids that are about to be drafted, because really they don't know what's going to take place. Majority of these guys, just like Jim and I, probably watched the last five drafts and anticipation of us getting

drafted ourselves. So with a new era of drafting coming in, I think the anticipation of how it's all gonna look is interested is as interesting to some people that have been drafted before that that we're going to see for the first time. So you're talking about you you talk to ex players or scouts in the business, No ex players, older players, more of my generation players because again I keep referring to it because this is the draft that we live through during our time, so it's not really

that big of a deal to a generation. But then when they got to the modern era of drafting and the one big combine at Indianapolis, multiple visits to their pro team, just the exhaustive research that they did behind the scene and through scouting. It's a different ballgame today than it used to be. But it's kind of fun

that we're going back to it used to be. Yeah, but Jim, Jim Miller evening Jim, nothing about this is normal or in the past because of the television aspect of it and what's going to happen and what's going to be unfolding in the virtual reality as you take the athlete out of it and you put on the show. The show is vastly different. Yeah, there's no it's gonna

be a different type of draft. And you know, had some good conversations obviously last week on Bears All Access and you know how virtually they're they're going to do it, and they are. They're going to do some interesting things. It'll probably be incorporated for future drafts to come. You know. I think a lot of people are learning about different ways to communicate, different ways to adapt, different ways to adjust,

and that's what football is. Football is that way, pretty much on a weekly basis, how you've got to adjust against your opponent that you're facing that week. And I think the NFL is doing a good job of that. How they're going to adjust, how they're going to incorporate new technologies in order to pull off this virtual draft. One thing I think what Tom's going off of is you look at past drafts and how evaluators accumulated data.

It's going to be interesting for each team all thirty two how they draft in this year's draft, because you're going to find out how good some scouting programs are around the NFL. There are going to be teams that

are going to be exposed. I've talked to a numerous gms that here because you have no pro days where scouts historically will go out and they're with each other, and a lot of these pro days and they're sometimes exchanging information, grabbing tidbits from from one another about a prospect. That's not the case this year. So even the NFL

owners meeting that was a big absolutely. So now you, yeah, you as a GM, Now you are counting on that scouting staff and you're pro pro player personnel and everybody in that building, and you are gonna witness there are teams that are stronger than others in this capacity and don't be shocked if after this draft you're gonna see a lot of scouts fired or on the National Football League. Really, you make that, you make that kind of a pain, Jim.

You can't evaluate a draft until three years from now. No, I'm saying with selections, with where guys are rated in things like that. Look at last year's draft class. I mean, yes, we say you graded over three years, right, because you're going to decide about the fifth year option. Right. But look at the impact of players. There are teams like the forty nine ers, Jeff, pretty much all their draft

played last year, players that were drafted. Look at the Oakland Raiders draft that was a foundational draft by Mike Mayock. They had fourth round draft pick collect ten sacks last year. Yeah, med Max Crosby. So yes, you will be able to show how the impact of your draft class. And that's why I do think it's it's beneficial to have less picks. I think a team like Miami Miami, they traded away

all their great players. Now that they not only have to replace those with starters, they got to replace him with players that are better. I would hate to have more picks this year. There will be teams that will be exposed in this year's draft, Jim, do you think and two A status would be different if the teams that were seriously interested in drafting him had a hands on evaluation. Do you think that he would rise in some books in fall off of some Yeah? I do.

I think that's a big part of it. Is there a lot of teams own medical doctors haven't been able to get a hold of him, or say you personally, say as a as a GM, say if you're a Chris Greer of the Miami Dolphins, I would personally want to go put him through my own workout with my coaching staff, meaning Chan Gaily, the offensive cordiner. Chan put him through a workout of what you need to see him to be able to do for our football team,

you know, because let me interrupt you. Yeah, what so put yourself in that guy's shoes as the coach, the offensive coordinar, the quarterback coach. What do you if you had to put to a through a workout right this minute, You're gonna go out here at six out eight Central time and put him on a workout. What do you want to do? What do you want to do with him to prove that he's healthy and good enough to go well one. I want to test his endurance. Right,

everybody says his hip's good. He says himself he's one hundred percent. I may put him through an hour workout, Jeff, I want to see if that as that workout goes along, after about fifty drops, if he's getting fittigued. Is there a hitch in his gait? Is his hip starting to get sore. I want to see him rotate and how he throws a football with that hip. I'm gonna make the most difficult throws to make it, to force his hip to rotate, to put him through and then see

where he's at after the workout. You know, maybe there is a little hitch in his giddy up as that workout goes along and I stress him out more and more is that workout goes on. There's a lot of information that can be gained just putting a player through a workout. So you know, if your medical staff that almost right now, wouldn't you almost expect that with him right now? Because it's you know, why would I expect it? He said he's one hundred percent. Yeah, that's true, right,

both he does doctor say he's one hundred percent. So I'm about to prove it. So that's all I'm doing. I'm getting information. So all right, so let's put two in the rear view of mirror. What team in the first round is the most dangerous with multiple picks that could confuse the draft them most? Is it the Miami Dolphins. Is there a team out there that could really throw a you know, a wrench in this whole operation that because because of the multiple picks, you know, maybe they're

looked at as a little bit of a danger. Yeah. Yeah, you got Miami five, eighteen, and twenty six and fourteen picks overall. You got the forty nine ers reportedly shopping their thirteen and thirty one. But Jim, in these situations, you look for the teams that have ammunition to move up into the first round to go and snag somebody and run away with them. I mean, you've seen it over the years with multiple teams, Patriots, Chiefs, other teams

that have done. Is that Is that what Tom's referring to? Yeah, yeah, you've got teams that have Amimo, there's no doubt about it. I think forty nine ers, it is reported that they want to trade out of the first round. Again, go look at their last year's draft and the impact of players. They had a lot of picks, and they had an impactful draft last year. And it sounds like because they're earlier picks, they want to hover in the second to

third round. It sounds like for the forty nine ers where they feel there's still first round value, which is historically the case in the NFL, when you're hovering in that and you can get more picks, so you're getting technically more first round picks. For that say, if let's say if forty nine ers are able to trade their two first round picks and accumulate, you know, say seven second to third round picks, they equated to we're getting

seven first round draft picks. Is the world they're living in? Okay, So yeah, I think there's gonna be teams that are moving. I think there are teams that have the AMMO that you mentioned. Miami can pretty much do plenty that they want with the AMMO that they have, but they may not want to because they have so many holes to fill. I would think, you know, for them, they would not be trading up to lose more picks. They need everything

and they have to replace players that they lost. As I mentioned, they trade away a Pro Bowl left tackle in Laramie Tunsel. They traded away Minca Fitzpatrick, who's All Pro. That guy's in All Pro safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Why did the Steelers know how to use Mica Fitzpatrick and not the Miami Dolphins. They just traded away to all pro players, Which is if I would be unnerved if I'm a Miami Dolphins fan, so you know, but

you know, you look at Miami and Tim. Just getting back to your question about Tah, you can probably justify if Tah falls, say if he's in the teams or maybe does fall to the twenties and a team takes him, they just say, hey, you know, everybody else was concerned about the medical. We like the value of where we're taking Toah right now, and that could be the case.

That way, you can justify not only for the pick but to the public why the pit player continued to fall, but Nelly thought it was value to take a quarterback who's coming off an injury. History Jim Miller, Tom There, Jeff Joniak and Bears All Access brought to you by IGS Energy. A lot more coming up by tonight's program, including a visit from the NFL's Vice President and enough Community Relations Alexia Gallagher at the bottom of the hour, and our old pal Andrew Siciliano, who once worked in

this very town and worked for me. As a matter of fact, we'll have some talk about the last Dance and his coverage of MJ back in those Dames. I've seen pictures of him, Tom, I seen him. He's post pictures of his bulls days. And then of course from NFL Network, so getting ready for the draft himself. It's all coming up as we break down things ending into Thursday night start of the NFL Draft here on Bears All Access brought to you by IGS Energy and Chicago

Sports Radio six seventy The Score. Welcome back to Bears All Access, brought to you by IG Energy, a proud partner of the Chicago Bears, providing electricity, natural gas at home warranty products to over one million customers across the country. We learn more about IGS Energy at igs dot com. Jeff Joniac, Tom Thare, Jim Miller with you as we

break down the NFL Draft coming up this weekend. Be joined by NFL Vice President of Community Relations, Alexia Gallagher at the bottom of the hour, Andrew Sicilian from NFL Network to join us later out of the program, as well m News of the Day guys. One nice job by Khalil Khalil Mack donating three hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the Emergency Relief Fund of a Better Chicago, a nonprofit providing critical support to vulnerable communities during the

COVID nineteen pandemic. Another example, in addition to the one point nine million dollars, the Bears are contributing in individual players things we probably don't even know about, but around the league, fellas, every team and big name stars are are digging deep to help out. You know. I think when you have a guy like Khalil Mack, and I think all the other players on the under team, they understand how much money he made, the bonus he got,

what he's gonna make in the future. But it's a super super generous, you know, thing that Khalil Mack did, and I think it also inspires the rest of the guys on the team, and you know, take stock of what you have, take stock of what you have the good fortunes to be able to donate to these people, to these front liners, to these people that need any type of help and support from every avenue they get.

Because when these people they hear the name that has been supportive and a guy like Khalil Mack, it doesn't expand his brand, It just grows the appreciation they have for his generosity. And so yeah, you hear of a salary, but then you hear how generous he is. You know, I really, I really applaud these guys that are going above and beyond to how they're trying to support the less fortunate around the country. Yeah, I do too. I mean, guy players continue to step up all around the league.

And obviously with the fundraising that's going to happen during the draft, we know about that for COVID nineteen, and I do. I think players all across the league from all thirty two cities have stepped up and just tremendous ways and the league, I think, from ownership to players to how the league is going to have this FLUS fundraiser, it's unprecedented. Man, it really is to help out your

fellow man. So kudos to all those players, all the organizations out there who continue to do just tremendous things. They always have and they always will. The NFL has always been that way, but man, this has really been an eye opener. How big the what should I say, the support, the generosity and everything that has done to

help out everybody in their community is truly tremendous. And today, five years ago today, Doug Buffone, number fifty five, great Chicago bear and a popular radio host right here on six seventy to score. One of the nicest human beings, one of the best and underrated linebackers, and at the right time, he just makes you laugh. Everybody misses Doug Buffone. Boys, Yes, that's true. You know it's It's interesting because you hear people that have passed on and you eat it immediately,

have an expression to your face. And for some reason, when I talk to people about Doug Buffone, I always smile first, because I have a couple of jokes in my head that I used to listen to Doug tal on the air, and they make me. They still make me laugh. I still tell the jokes, but I also have a great appreciation for the man that Doug Buffone was.

He was a great football player. I hear stories of Doug Buffone throughout his career from Clyde Emrick, who was the strength coach at the time, and he tells you stories of an admiration and appreciation for Doug Buffone. But it's it is interesting to you know, when you hear a person from the past, and what is your expression as soon as their name comes up? And when I hear the name of Doug Buffone, it's always a smile because he makes me laugh when I when I think

about him. Yeah, that's the funny thing, Tom. I remember after all the TV shows after the Bears games that we do the post game and I'd hop in my truck and I'm driving back to Michigan, and I and on Big Ed O'bradovitch and Doug Buffone and I'd be driving home listen to those two guys, and I it

always strikes me. I'm thinking about grump the movie Grumpy Old Men with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemon, and those two were the two funniest guys I have ever heard, and just how they broke down the game and saw football and hey, we need tough guys, and they did. They always made you laugh, and uh, you know, God bless Doug Buffone. He because he was truly hilarious. Now I'll never forget the one I was driving home and he brings up the show Ancient Aliens. He's like, you know,

I'm really getting caught on the show Ancient Aliens. I'm really beginning to rethink how we are here on Serve. And it was just off on a tangent from nowhere. I'm like, this guy is unbelievable and so didn't know him personally, but boy, he truly bought brought a lot of joy in my life. I can tell you that. Yeah, pure pure passion from both those guys. We didn't get a chance. So this happened after our show last Thursday. But the Trey Burton, it looks like was a failed

physical designation and his release from the Bears. Thoughts on moving on from Trey Burton after just two seasons, I'm disappointed, you know, because I kind of, I don't know, probably led myself to believe that he was on the mend

and that he was going to be a contributor. And I had visions of New England with two big tight ends when they signed Jimmy Graham and they had Trey Burton, and then you know the possibility of development of inside tight end help and you know it's it's it's unfortunate for Trey because he's a guy that had success in Philly and he was in a long line of great tight ends there came here to be an intricate part of this offense at the U tight end position. Never

was able to a company. You know, twenty eighteen he played eighty percent of the snaps and twenty nineteen he played twenty six percent of the snaps. So you think about a coach that goes with the drawing board, Okay, eighty percent of the snaps Trey Burton, let's design our game plan against these teams with a high inclusion of Trey Burton in the passing game. Then you go to

the actual game and he's not in the lineup. It's a really difficult obstacle for coaches to overcome when they're losing a guy that played eight hundred and sixty snaps in twenty eighteen down to two hundred and eighty three and nineteen. Yeah, unfortunately, it's a part of the business. We always talk about ability and its availability. It's a big part of it, especially for that position. In the style of offense that Bears run. So wish Trey Burton

the best. Hopefully he can heal up and continue to play football, but unfortunately it became too much an insurmountable to be with the Bears. This is Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy, Jeff thom and Jim with you once again leading up to Thursday's NFL Draft. You know, with that a lot of folks and friends or people who just love the Bears. You know, they texted me today, Oh, it's just mean automatically the Bears are gonna dig in a round two for a tight end.

And I say, no, that doesn't that doesn't necessarily mean that whatsoever. Doesn't mean they're not going to get a tight end at some point in this draft. But I know after thinking about it, and I ask you guys too too today to focus on what you would need to see or you hope to see, and in a group of players in Round two at forty three and fifty, should they stay at those spots that you feel you

need to come out of this draft? For me, the number after totally thinking about it for the last two days, three days and studying and just trying to pinpoint. I'm going, yeah, one of these two picks, you've got to get a start in caliber cornerback because right now at that position, there's a lot of bodies but not a lot of experience playing, and a lot of guys you just don't

know yet. The new guys you're brought in, like Already Burns and Trey Roberson, yes they have experience, but do the you know, if something happens at the cornerback position, to Kyle Fuller, you know, now you're looking at needing to you just need a really young, high end caliber cornerback. That's my opinion. What do you guys feel? What do

you guys feel? Well? You know, to me, I'm looking at what's what are two positions at the Bears have been successful at drafting immediate starters and that's safety in guard. So to me, there's a couple of safeties that I'm interested in that they have size and they have speed attached to it. Do they have the instincts? Are they physical enough to play at this level? And then when you look at some of the guys at the offensive the interior offensive guard position, I do think there's guys

out there there may be. You know, Jeff, you just look at Michigan. There may be three guys at Michigan at different levels of this draft that you could bring in and listen. One thing I know about Jim Harball is his work mentality. So if you have a guy there, there's a guard at all there that started all four years at Michigan. So if you get a guy that's been cultivating his talent at one position consistently on a

big stage like Big ten football. And I know Jim hasn't had great success in Michigan, but I know his work ethic. So this is a guy that's gonna come along and earn a position early in his career and keep it till the end of his career. I gotta show some interest in that guy because it's almost a measurement of his desire and his competitiveness when you still have the job at the end of the day. So safety and offensive guards are two positions. The Bears showed

me that they can draft starters. Yeah, and well, I'm with you, Jeff. I mean there's a clump of players in all those positions that could be available where the Bears pick. I think wide receivers, you got t Higgins from Clemson, Michael Pittman USC Denzel Mims out of Baylor. He's gaining a lot of steam corners that you mentioned. I think Jeff Gladney is a player that a lot of people are liking right now. I know he's recovering from a meniscus tarret. That guy played the whole year

with a torn meniscus and was awesome. That guy shut down Cede Lamb and he shut down other receivers as well. But Jeff Gladney out of TCU is a player at the cornerback position. Jalen Johnson is another corner out of Utah, very fluid athlete who's a player. But you've got offensive lineman that Tom just talked about, Ben Brotison out of Michigan. There are some other guards that are scheduled to go

in the second round. In the safety position is solid Ashton Davis out of California, Antoine Winfield safety out of Minnesota, and how about Jeremy Chin out of Southern Illinois. A lot of people got a buzz around him with what he can do. There will be good players there for the Bears at their two second round picks, and have both Chin and Antoine Winfield four for five forties and interesting players one big one, not so big, but boy feisty,

a mighty mite. I'm sticking with it. I love Antoine Winfield, but I'm also intrigued by Jeremy Channets and Mothers. Coming up here at the bottom of the hour. If we come out of the break, we're gonna be joined by NFL Vice President of Community Relations, Alexia Gallagher. This is Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy in Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. This segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by Cdwpeople will

get it learn more at CEW dot com. Jeff, Joni Eck, and Tom thare the Bears broadcast crew, with Jim Miller from sirius XMFL Radio and now joined by Alexia Gallagher, the vice President of Community Relations at the NFL. Good evening, Alexa, thank you for joining us, and thank you for taking the time. What a week. This is groundbreaking really when you think about it, with the draft and how it's going to be unfolding. We talked to Peter last week

about it. But there's a component of this that is extremely important and it's extremely beneficial to everyone involved, and that is the draft, the Thon portion of it, and the fan participation, and where all the good work being involved with all the different social and digital platforms will come together starting on Thursday night. Tell us more about it. Yeah, absolutely,

thank you for having me so. Really, when the decision was made to cancel a love of events and Las Vegas, including all of our community outreach events, it was clear

to us that we had to do something different. We couldn't proceed with business as usual, and we really wanted to ensure that the draft had a philanthropic tie to it to help bring people together and find a way to help people on communities, those who are really hurting right now, and just felt like these are unprecedented times and such times call for unity and huddling for good.

The NFL has a big platform and we want to be able to use that platform too good for good and to raise awareness and give back and help those people who need it most right now. And that's really how Draft it is On came to be. Lexie. You know, when you look at the Bears one point nine two one million, nine hundred twenty thousand or two hundred thousand,

one hundred thousand Bears care. How important is it for the team's de spear had their giving effort to show the fans, show the support, show the first responders how important they are to them. Yeah, it's incredibly important. And the Bears really have been philanthropic leaders. Uh, you know really since the beginning. We're really proud that the NFL family at this point, we're over fifty million dollars and contributions made by NFL owners and clubs and players, uh

and and the NFL family as a whole. And I think it really speaks volumes to everyone who is part of the league. And again that you know, the Bears are really leading the charge and uh, you know, we're really really proud to be partnering with them on this. And you know that with drafted on, we're going to

be supporting six national charities and their local chapters. Um. And with that, you know, each club they were um asked to take a look at the national partners and see which ones they wanted to sup port on a local level. And UM, you know it's great that that the Bears are doing that with Meals on Wheels and the Salvation Army and uh, you know, the funds that are raised are really going to go a long way in the in the Chicago community. Well, Alexia, jim Miller here,

thanks for joining us tonight. How I mean, how is it going to look at much like when I was growing up as a kid, I used to watch Jerry Lewis and the telethons that he ran for muscular dystrophy, and you know, well it have that type of feel to it. Will you have guests that you'll be going to and all those type of things. What can we expect as viewers in what we're going to watch in order for us to help out. Absolutely, it's it's going

to be a lot of fun. Um. You know, we're we're going to have um and again this will be streaming on all of our different NFL social media platforms. But you know, Rich Eyesen and Deon Standers will be co hosting. Kevin Hart will be hosting with them as well. There will be different players and legends and celebrities popping out, popping in and out over the course of those three days.

There's going to be musical performances as well. Jennifer Hudson on Thursday night, she'll be part of the pre show, Luke, Bryan Kelly Clarkson. You know, we're really really excited, you know the fact that we will have all of these players, legends and celebrities again popping in and out and talking about how these organizations are making such an impact in

communities nationwide and the importance of giving back. So it's it's going to be a lot of fun and fans will be able to contribute as well, and you know, whatever whatever it is, however you want to engage. You know, this is a way to um, you know, also help recognize first responders and other charities that are doing in credible work across the country. You know, in addition to these six national nonprofit organizations, and uh, you know, fans can go to NFL dot com, Backslash Relief and make

some contributions. Um. Honestly, you know, whatever you can donate is fine. You know, we know that people are really hurting at this point, um economically as well, and uh, you know, just to be able to engage fans and know that we're all in this together. Uh, you know, it's just that's that's really important to us. This is

Alexia Gallagher or the NFL Office Vice President of Community Relations. Uh. Those six nonprofit American Red Cross CDC foundations, all of US Meals on Wheels, COVID nineteen Response Fund, Salvation Army, and United Way are the are the big six that you're working with, and the Bears directing their funds also to Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels and Bears care of the team's charitable I'm going to match the first one

hundred thousand dollars in donations. You can start donating today at NFL dot com, slash Relief or text to donate option during the live stream that will take place. So when these teams that did you guys work with each team individually, did everybody get on a conference call like they did today in a mock draft and say, hey, how are we going to do this? What are your

ideas or how did it all start? Um? If you know? So, we really had been carefully considering a lot of different national nonprofits and there are so many serving medical, many critical needs during this time, and it was important that we considered organizations that had a national footprint that have the ability and the capacity to do the work on the ground and support those who need it most in the communities nationwide, and you know, we narrowed that list

down to six of the largest nonprofits who are focusing on providing food, shelter supplies, medical research UM and you know, with that, we really had been tracking what NFL clubs and owners and players had been doing and the types of organizations that they were supporting as well on the

local level. And that's really, uh, you know that a lot of different organizations, but that that's had a lot to do with the six that we chose, And you know, we really wanted to ensure that we're meeting the needs of you know, the most vulnerable populations out there, students on sprand reduced lunch and proverished communities, the homeless, at risk, elderly population, first responders, and the clubs had a lot

to do with that UM. So we've really been very careful about all of the decisions that we've made to do this UM and and again, the clubs played a big, big part in that. Alexia. We've seen a lot of celebrities around the world show their concern for the people around the world. So when you try to attach a celebrity to this draft of thought in an event as big as the NFL draft. Were they excited? Were they chopping at the bit to uh for an appreciation to show to the to the NFL fans, the people all

around the world, and the first responders their appreciation. Was this an easy gift for some of your celebrities, is what I'm asking? Yes? Absolutely, And I think that that speaks to the crisis bets at hand. This is something

that is touching absolutely everyone UM. And you know the fact that we have NFL players and legends and celebrities who really are chomping at the bit to help here UM and you know, speak on behalf of the nonprofit organizations that they do work with UM or just really help UH, you know, sort of elevate the awareness of what's going on here and how others can help, how they've been helping. UH. It really has been an e The ask for me, Alexei last one is just you know,

how challenging has this been. We always know the NFL is very creative and how they go about things, they adapt, they adjust, and much like we talked to Peter last week, how has this been challenging for you? Granted you're you're doing always still doing the community relations, the great stuff you've always done, but it's been in a challenging way. And all the logistics that it takes to pull an event like this off. How how has this challenged you

and your staff to complete this project? Um, it's it's a pretty incredible challenge. We have been working day and night on this, um not getting much sleep, uh you know, and obviously trying to balance that with working from home and raising kids and that sort of thing. But you know, the cause is just something that you know, to say it.

I don't think that that there are words to really describe the importance of all of this and how committed and passionate we in the office are and the clubs as well, UM, making sure that this that this works, so yes, a lot of logistics and building platforms and uh, you know, making sure that the technology works and working with all of these incredible nonprofit organizations. UM, it's it's

definitely challenging. But again we're up to the task, and uh it's something that we're passionate about, something that we're excited about. Uh, and we really can't wait for for Thursdays to see this all uh go live and uh you know, really see how the country is going to come together and um, you know again, help those that meet it most because we really are all in this together.

We'll actually we do appreciate you coming on tonight. One last thing, so the drafted than portion of this, so it'll be a live stream done your social and digital platforms, featured on the live draft coverage on ABC, ESPN, NFL Network and ESPN book deportees. How easy will it be for people to donate? Very easy, Just go to NFL dot com backslash release and you can make your contributions there. We'll have a text to give number as we get

a little bit closer to the draft as well. But easy to do, easy to engage, and we really just thank everyone support. All right, well, we thank you and keep up the great work. Alexia and how often do you get this because my Alexa it keeps going off when I say your name, so I get it all the time. I mean, we got to come up with something different for you in your home with all this smart stuff. Anyway, we really appreciate it. Good luck with everything.

Bears are also doing a great job committing one point nine two million dollars to COVID nineteen relief. Is Tom pointed out and join it forces with the mayor that we're not playing a PSA with players and alumni and coaches and encouraging fans to follow your health guidlins and

keeping us all safe out there. You've been hearing players on WBBM and here on the score from the Bears head coach Matt Nagee, and of course the appreciation Twitter that featuring community partners, sponsors and other community members doing great work during this time. Coming up next, we'll be joined by Andrew Siciliano from NFL Network. This is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. Hey, Bears fans, it's important to stay connected now more than ever,

and at Motorola we love making that possible. With the new Razor, you can enjoy staying connected a little bit more. It's a phone, it's an accessory, it's an icon reinvented. Hello Moto, and hello to Andrew Siciliano from NFL Network. As were welcome back on Bears All Access with producer Adams Didinski tonight and our Score studios Jeff and Tom and Jim Miller. Andrew, how you doing, my friend? Getting ready? Yeah? No, I don't think I'm ready whatsoever. But it's a lot

it's allowed to go through. It's a lot to go through, isn't it. I mean, I think this year everyone I don't know. I can only speak for myself. I think the draft kind of almost caught, kind of snuck up on us like the quarantine hit, and we all kind of paused for a couple of weeks to try to get hold of our lives and adjust to this new world. And then you walk up and I know you had the drafts about to happen. So that's where I am.

And you know, you sit in a building at the NFL and Network, and you have probably more information given to you than a lot of other people in the business. Scouts included, how do you filter rumor through facts? You know, it's Tom, It's a great question. And this year is a little bit different. I mean our building, so a little backstory here. Our building for NFL Network has been

closed since March nineteenth, or no March twentieth. So Tom Brady agreed to terms of the Buccaneers on Wednesday morning, that was the first day of the new league year, and by Friday we were out of our building and we have not been back since. So everything on the air. We've kind of been, like everyone in any other of the thirty two NFL buildings, kind of trying to piece our lives back together. And I actually think that this year.

I think that this year there are more smokescreens than maybe in year's past, because I think everyone's spending so much time on their phones and facetiming and zooming and whatever this new world is we're living in that I think there is so much gossip that I don't know what to believe. And I also think that because no one's hanging out at pro days that there's they're going

to be just divergent opinions on so many players. And I think you're going to see guys sneak into the first round that not a lot of people saw it coming. And I also think that you're going to see I don't know, maybe safer picks, like a guy like take Kenneth Murray for example, Right, He's probably a lower third of the first round guy, but maybe he goes higher

just because you know what he is. He's a high character player, he's a productive player, he has no blemishes, and maybe I take him higher than I would have taken him in drafts past, because I know he's safe. Andrew, Jim Miller here, always good to talk to you. I love watching you on the Red Zone when I get to tune in, my friend, nobody more versaile of you

because you can just roll with the punches. So that's why I think this draft is gonna be perfect for you, my friend, because it's gonna be produced differently than it ever has and just maybe talk about your adjustments and how you prepare and kind of just gotta go with it sometimes is what it's going to be. Well, Jim, you're way too pine. Number one, Number two. I think

it's it's different for everyone. I mean they sent they sent fifty eight care packages to would be draftees with two iPhones, a light power like, I mean, all this stuff for everyone to just set up. That doesn't even count the fact that every coach and every GM has a similar package and now a camera set up for them in their homes. I mean, we just did a two hour show. I'll pull the curtain back, a two hour show on NFL network. I was in my house, Mooch was in his house, Steve Smith was in his

house in Charlotte. Charles Davis was in his house in Orlando, and multiple times during that two hour live broadcast, which was, by the way, the first two hour live show like truly live, Live Live that our network has put on in a month. Comms broke down, but we just kept on Roland, And I think that's kind of what everyone is looking at for Thursday. There may be bumps in the road, but you know, went in doubt, pick up the phone and call Ken Fiori and sending your pick

to New York. And and you know, if if a bunch of kids in the basement can do a fantasy draft in instant message windows, then the league can figure this out, all right. Andrew Ceciliano from NFL Network in the Red Zone as well as Jim, pointed out, good to be with you. And the thing about this it is unique in that, yes, there are makeshift offices going on right now in basements, bedrooms, kitchens for crying out loud home offices. So some of that mock and stuff

was taken care of today. They hope, maybe a little bumpy, but you're you're also you can't predict what's going to happen because you got thirty two teams in thirty two different cities with a multitude of different homes suburban or city, and whether could play a factor. Who knows what if the lights go out. I mean, there's so much that we're not even considering that. This is why this is such an intriguing endeavor. And while teams have experienced this

in the XFL, they did it. WNBA just did it. This is this is the National Football League. What you hear about today, both you and Jim, you know, you guys doing your shows. What'd you hear today about the dress rehearsal. I've heard that it did not go as you know, as poorly as had initially been reported. From what I understand, the league tried to go through a whole bunch of trade scenarios early. So you know, this

this idea that it was chaos. It was kind of organized chaos from what I understand, because they wanted to see how trades would work. I honestly think it'll be okay because you know, you guys know that you pull back the curtain a little bit. It's not as if Roger is handed a card and nobody knows and during a normal draft he walks up there and reads it

aloud for the very first time. I mean, that's just the final stage where the pick has already been called in usually be a like hardcore telephone, old school telephone to New York and then transmitted back behind stage. I think they're going to be okay. But like Chris Ballard went out and bought a generator for his house, he has a thinking. I think Eric's accosted to the same thing this morning on the Titans zoom for the media

where they had Rabel and John Robinson on. About three minutes in Mike Rabel's zoom went down and he just tapped out for five to six minutes, and John Robinson took the whole thing. So that kind of stuff is going to happen. But most teams are using Microsoft Teams and they're working internally just fine. I think they'll be fine because there's going to be a failsafe, Like most teams will have three people who have the go ahead

to make the pick. It'll be GM maybe team president and coach, and the idea that all three of them would be down and unable to communicate with New York I think is a long shot. Hey, Andrew, when you go through that mock run through. I was asking Jim and Jeff a little earlier in the first round, with these teams that have multiple picks, who's the biggest unknown

right now? So when you had these fabricated trades going on, were you approaching a team that you really feel could make a trade in the first round or at some time? So I wasn't on it, Tom, we were on the air, but I think, you know, I've heard from a few gms that the one thing with trades this year, you guys know this. Usually the groundwork is laid down before you get on the clock Thursday, especially those trades in the first half of the first round. I mean, rarely

is it. We're on the clock, pick up the phone, let's move those seeds had been planted. I think this year, more than ever, those trades early will be trades that are well down the road towards getting done if they're actually going to be done when a team is on the clock. And John Robinson back to him today, he would say, listen, most of these trades, I'm texting with the other gms anyway to get the ball rolling, and then once we figure it out, other people can get

on the phone and do all that legwork. I think that's going to be the same this year as opposed by like, who do I think it's actually gonna move. I wouldn't be funned if the Niners not only moved out of thirty one, but moved out of thirteen as well. Depends on if that run happens with wide receivers. I wish we could have add more time with the NA Jim had another question for you, but we're out of time, my friend, and we could even walk down memory lane

from the last dance. Were you looking at night Wind? I'm lost, and yet it's amazing last night and I'm sorry it was. It was amazing. Well, Hevyan again, Andrew, thanks for joining us. Final segment with Tom and Jim coming up after this on Sports Radio six seventy to score. Athletico Physical Therapy, the official physical therapy partner of the Chicago Bears, remains open is safely provide physical and occupational therapy treatment options in clinic and online during COVID nineteen.

Visit athletical dot com to request an appointment in clinic or virtually and start feeling better tomorrow. Final Moments with Tom and Jim Miller. Jim, we couldn't get you in asking Andrew a little bit more. But as we move forward here with the draft, what do you need to see the Bears get out of it, even in the later rounds that will make you feel good about filling whatever holes there are left in the roster. Yeah, I do think this is more of a veteran year. I

feel very comfortable that the Bears have less picks. I think that's a good thing in this year's draft because I think it's going to be a veteran year. A lot of coaches and gms have already said that. So you know, obviously you want if they stick with their second round picks, you do want players that are impactful that you know, if they are called upon, that can come in and contribute. I think those are still first

round talented players from that standpoint. So whether it's the positions we talked about, whether it's a corner or secondary or safety or whatever area they target, you know, I do think those can be contributors minimum on special teams. I mean, Pat and I went through every division. You had some teams that had over players that were drafted last year for the season, over a thousand plays they contributed on special teams alone a thousand plays. So I do think you can still get a minimum of a

couple of starters potentially with those second round picks. And then I think the later picks are going to be developmental players, you know that I don't think are going to be asked to be contributors this year, but you feel that they can be players down the road, guys that can come in and you know, and be a backup so to speak, and you know, and contribute on special teams, but they'll be developmental players that you're not

expecting to have a huge impact this year. When I saw a David Montgomery so far, I'd like to see a big power back to back him up. Get that third and one, that fourth and one type of carry, because Aba Montgomery, he's as talented as back as you can have. He's ball, he can beacon block, he can catch, he can run. Give him a little bit of assistance.

All Right, we're gonna have fun week, guys, have fun with the draft, Jim and your coverage on Sirius sex M. We got a big show planned on Thursday, Friday and Saturday right here on Stick seventy the score. We got Tom, we got Hub Arkish, we got Damn Pompey, Pat Man Only, David ha Olden, Cruz, Mark, Rody, Chris Emma. Cast of thousands all gonna bring you all the news this week. Alexia Gallagher, NFL VP of Community Relations, join us tonight.

Andrew Siciliano from NFL Network. Thank you, Adam Stadzinski. That'll do it for us. Enjoy your Draft week, everybody, and enjoy the rest of your evening. This is Chicago's Radio six seventy to score. Goodnight, everybody, Thanks for listening to this Chicago Bears Network presentation of Bears All Access. Podcasts are available on Chicago Bears dot com and on iTunes, or download the official Bears mobile app. Bears all Access has been brought to you by IGS Energy and sponsored by Miller Lite