Ryan Poles on free-agent additions | Bears Weekly

Jeff Joningac. Joining me tonight will be NFL Radios, Jim Miller from Sirius XM, the former Bears quarterback, and our producer tonight, Tendra Smith in the ESPN Radio Chicago Studios Downtown Special thanks to our Bears producers here at Halis Haut, Dan Briley and Jordan tread Up as well. And we will kick off the program tonight by introducing none other than Bears General manager Ryan Pole's kind enough to take

some time after what's been a whirlwind experience. Welcome to the program, Ryan, Thank you so much for taking the time. How are you feeling? First of all, all feeling good? How are you guys? Fantastic? Everybody's excited. I've been teasing you many times over the course of this process. Back before the combine that this was going to be the center of the football universe, at least for the offseason,

and that is exactly what has happened. I've seen your face all over social media, Twitter, you name it, showing you in action, still shots. You have had a lot of attention on you in this Bear's franchise. How you feeling about what has been a great process and what has transpired so far. Yeah, I'm feeling feeling great about it. I kind of talked about it in today's you know press,

are just really happy with my staff. We were prepared to take advantage of the situation where we were in I really take the organization to the next level, you know, by adding some really good players to our team and as well as some draft capital to help us continue our journey to get back to a championship caliber organization. Before we get into the details of what's transpired, I know you mentioned it in your morning news conference here,

the staff has been unbelievable. You've said this all the way back to when you first arrived here. But you know, I'm not going to name everybody, but yeah, the Ian Cunninghams and the trade Cozios and the Jeff Kings and the Chris Whites and the Jjkosh. But we got analytics, we got salary cap, we got a plan. Did you treat this very much like a draft board free agency? Yeah? To be honest with you, we treated this the same way we approached every free agency, regardless of you know,

what your situation is. You know, you should be prepared again, regardless of what the cap situation is or you know, any trade scenarios to you know, do things the right way. So we we executed that really well. We were prepared or everything to go down, and I felt like, uh, you know, we made some really good moves. You know, everyone assumes it was your intention to move the top

pick no matter what, but that's never the case. However, was it hard to remain patient because I'm sure you got a lot of potential offers and just resisting that urged to jump on a deal just because it looked good at the time when there could be others in the bullpen that you were yet to come or however

this process worked. How did you deal with that? Yeah? Again, leaning on the staff that I half here, and you know, we had some really good conversations about you know what should we do in terms of be patient or to jump on some of the opportunities that we had. We played those scenario games out and felt like where we were and how we felt about, you know, the environment in the draft. We felt like this was a really good opportunity. It covered a lot of you know, things

we were looking for in the trade. And then on top of that, when you had a player like DJ Moore into that before free agency, so you can make some adjustments to your plans. We capitalized on it and I think it turned out really well. Joining me tonight of course serious at m NFL radios. Jim Miller kind enough to join us as well. You take the floor, big jam. What do you got right? Good to talk to again, It was great talk to you and coach down at the combine. You were lying, you were a

bit burning the midnight oil. That phone was even ringing when you were on set with us, and as you mentioned, you talked through all those scenarios you and you mentioned the hall. The hall you got in return because some some would be cautious to go down to slot nine, but you felt good about it and pulled the trigger. Yeah, No, it felt good about it, you know, when you look at that one to nine spot and then you look at your board and you see, you know, the different

value buckets that you have. We knew that it would it would dry up, um, you know, the likelihood of it drying up a little bit quicker going to nine versus something earlier was the case. That's why it was so important for us to acquire a player like DJ Moore. Um that really supplemented any loss in that jump from one to nine. We knew we were going to get a good player that was proven, that's been consistent for a long period of time. So that that made us

feel even better about the situation. Well, you discussed too. I mean, you have all these things converging here in the business season as free agency kicked off this year, so you're you're keeping your eye on the draft and focusing on those draft picks in your board as you just mentioned. And here you've been busy in free agency, you know, with the guys, whether it's a Nate Davis who you brought in from from Tennessee and DeMarcus Walker

or Tremaine Edwinds and t J. Edwards. Just talk about specifically those linebackers and the expectations for them because Tremaine and both those linebackers really tremendous and really the face of the franchise when you look at Edmunds coming from Buffalo. Yeah, well, I can't tell you how fired up we are about

those two guys. You know, first of the process to get there, you know, with those linebackers, And though I've got a few questions like why, you know, you talk about value all the time, why would you start there? And maybe a non premium position, but really in fregency, when you look across the board, sometimes you know a need and a value matches and it marries up really well.

And we thought that that's exactly what happened at those two positions, where there were some other positions where from our valuations, the value of what it would cost to get it didn't match. So therefore we felt like those two things came together with the linebackers. M Tremad Edmonds is an unbelievable talent. He fits our scheme very well. He's gonna be a stud in Coachyclu's defense and All's defense. And he wanted to be here. I don't think we

talk about that enough. And free agency, you know, money does talk. It's a huge driver. Um. But what you can sense about guys that are passionate about the game are the ones that want to be there. Sometimes they take less, sometimes they don't want to hear from anybody else. They want to be a Chicago beart. Both those guys had that, and that makes me really really excited about you know, what they're all about and where they're going

to bring in this organization. And then even t J being, you know, a homegrown guy who's just from round the corner. There is no other free agent that's as fired up as him to play for his home team and to make a name for himself like the great that he walks grown up. This is Bears Weekly here on ESPN Chicago and the Chicago Bears Radio Network with Jim Miller, Jeff Jonah Yak. Our guest is Bears general manager Ryan pauls. Ryan.

I had a chance to visit with DJ Moore, with Edmonds, also with TJ, and also with your new offensive lineman as well. And I'll tell you the one thing that's stuck out in each and every one of these they've been They've been working for some good organizations, but when they walked in here. They even the studios when we're interviewing them, they said, Wow, we just cannot get over this facility. This place is beautiful. This place has everything.

And I had to ask my goat, they didn't have this, No, no they did, but it's not like this. How big is that now? Because you know we'd travels. These guys are gonna tell everybody else out in free agency. Hey, take a look at the Chicago Bears and the facility what they want to do for their players. Yeah, it's

a big deal. It's a really big deal. And you know, again as a topic we don't talk about a lot, but you know, if you think about some of the college facilities and what these kids are are in, you know, growing up, a lot of times it's a downgrade when they get to the league, which is interesting, but it's not the case here. We have a state of our facilities and really, to me, it's even more important. You know,

the aesthetics are cool, but the functionalities even better. Our sports science space are pre have in training space for these guys to make sure that their bodies are in great positions to be successful and healthy for a long period of time. That's to me. That's the cutting edge part that we have here, and a lot of people don't understand how nice this is. This has got to

be a top three four facility in the NFL. So when that word does get out, um, it's important because we're gonna ask these guys to be here to master their craft and being this building for a long time, so to be in a place that is comfortable and enjoyable. Um, it's really important. Ryan fans want everything at once, and I knew this was going to happen because the salary cap space, the draft capital that you have, the draft capital you've created with the move from one to nine,

and even what's gonna come around the corner next. But everything can't be done in one felt swoop. I mean, this is going to be a process and free agency, and I'm very proud to say this is how you've stated this since the time you got here. It is about value. It's not about just blowing out the budget. There is other needs coming down the road. You got to save money for a number of things, not the

least of which knock on wood. You hope it doesn't happen, but severe injury to a prominent player that you got to go and get somebody else you're looking at extensions, just kind of capsualize what that means from an organizational point of view, because while you have the assets, you gotta do things in a proper way so you can

have sustained success down the road as well. Yeah that's but I will say this to be like, that's why I have a really good team around me, because just like our fans, I want everything you know right now too, and I would love to spend every single time of it. But that's why I have an awesome team that allows me to see the big picture, um, to do things in the discipline way so that we can sustain this for a long period of time and be a healthy

organization both with draft picks and draft capital. Uh. And yeah, that's the thing is like you know, when we see you know, online and Twitter about where our space is, there's plans for that money. Um, it's not just going to sit there. Um, there's plans for it. There's emergency funds just like most of us should have just in case, you know, the car breakdown or the furnace goes like.

There's there's things that we have built in and reserves that we have so that we can do things the right way instead of panicking and have to do crazy things just to get buy an emergency situation. And then there's also opportunities that pop up throughout the season, if it's a trade or an opportunity to bring another player.

And then on top of that, there's there's guys that, um, you know, we're looking forward to you know, doing extensions with sometime in August I'm sure, and keeping them here long term. So there's a plan for all of it. Um, we're being disciplined with it. And you know, it is hard when those numbers getting published and everyone's like, wow, you know, why are you not spending it at all? But there is a plan in place as a process,

and we're going to do things the right way. Well, I think you said it earlier about the right price and certainly the character of the person that you're going to sign and bring into the locker room that you just mentioned, Ryan, And even today, you know, yesterday we saw a lot of the three in four year deals and then today even you know, with the signing of Andrew Billings and Robert Tonyan, the one year deals are already coming in and there's still really good players out there.

I'm not asking you for your plan, but how active we continue to be in free agencies? You just landed two more. It sounds like, yeah, we'll be active again. This really shows how good our prostas is. They've been doing those evaluations since September UM and and there's some really intriguing guys that will continue to seek and see if we can you know, find common ground with UM and get into our buildings. So, uh, there's there's value here,

and there's good players. I want to prove that, you know, they can they can do special things in the league and even go back to free agency again. So we're excited about that. And as I follow up, as you look at the trade and how you were talking to Carolina and how you were able to consummate that trade.

Now as you have all this draft capital, you know, to to maybe to move up, to move down, do any of those discussions happen this early prior to the draft of you know, to have those relationships with other teams like you were able to forge with the Carolina Panthers. Yeah, I think you know, first, it starts internally. You start to uh, you know, when we get out of the combine. There's some some medical pieces, there's interviews, there's some things

that will slightly us the board. We'll look at numbers and how many guys we have in certain value sessions of the board, and in those brainstormy sessions start to kick off. And then as we get closer and then into September, you'll start to make those phone calls and see if you can set some things up. And obviously you just gotta stay, you know, pretty fluid because you know the draft takes you know, different shifts in turns that you don't expect, so you got to stay ready

and have kind of all those scenarios planned out. But you know, the relationship piece and anticipation part, that's something we'll do really well and be prepared. All right, Right, we're gonna let you go. Jim snuck a couple in there. Andrew Billings, big nose tackle, great leviash, stalemate guy takes on multiple blockers for the three technique and the linebackers to flow. And Robert Tuny and reportedly also joined the Bears.

Another local guy. You got several local guys, and they already I'll bleed navy blue and orange, don't they they do. They do. That's an important piece. They got a lot of pride and want to get this thing back like well do all right, Ryan, thank you so much. Good luck with the rest of the way. All right, thank you, thank you, Bears gentlemanager Ryan Poles. Coming up my conversation with newly acquired wide receiver DJ Moore with Jim Miller

from Syria sex M NFL Radios Moving the Chains. I'm Jeff Joniac and this is the Chicago Bears Radio Network is Bears Weekly with a voice of the Bears for twenty three years. Jeff Joniak on the Bears Radio Network. So far, so good, free agency building, some depth and some key roles for the Bears so far. Just a couple of days in to the free agent officials signing period, anyway, Jeff Joniak. Jim Miller from Sirius XM NFL radio's Moving

the Chains joining us. Great interview there, Jim with Ryan Poles. I mean, my gosh, how many offers do you think he had for that pick? And then just going after your talent and still trying to remain you know, consistent with the plan and don't overspend. You know, you've heard me say, there's many times I'm not a big fan free agency because it does get expensive, especially with a team right now that he's trying to be draft conscious moving forward and build that way with these young players.

But they've targeted a great age range twenty four, twenty five. Ectre may Edmonds came in the league at twenty. You got to remember that came in the league at twenty and this will be a sixth year. But he's twenty, he's twenty five. And you get a free agent like TJ. Edwards born and raised here, you get DJ Moore in a trade at the age of twenty five. I mean, that's outstanding numbers right there for what they're trying to do. Yeah, that's the cherry on top, is how I've stated about

DJ Moore. I mean, really, his first five years in league, he should have four out of five, should be over a thousand yards. He probably would have been over a thousand last year if it wasn't for the rotation of quarterbacks down there between Walker and Sam Darnold in Baker Mayfield. I mean, it was a revolving door and that's tough for any team to go through. I think the Bears

fans are more. You're well aware of that when you don't have that position solidified, and certainly his numbers suffered last year, but this is a top tier talent. He is definitely a true number one. So they've have helped themselves there and then obviously last year with Claypool and hopefully Darnel money will get healthy again. In the continued development of Velis Jones Junior alone with Saint Brown, it

is much better. And I think bringing in a veteran offensive lineman like Nate Davis and they're all in that range, that's that's what you want in free agency. You want those guys, like you said, in the twenty four or twenty five, twenty six, twenty seven year old range, where you know they're kind of coming into their prime, and that's where these guys are. And the Bears, I thought, have targeted those type of players that have helped themselves

early at the right prices. You know here he talked about, you know, you couldn't get a deal done with Roquan Smith a year ago, and that you know he wanted over one hundred million dollars essentially, So you get two guys really under that number that are both highly productive and still young coming into their prime their careers. So yeah, I think it's they've done a nice job. There's more work to do. I think everybody understand and said, I think Ryan Poles just said there is more work to do.

But already, Jeff, you're seeing a lot of one year deals out there, and there's some markets that have taken a hit. Look at the running back position. Man, they're getting diced and sliced out there in free agency right now. So there's some deals to be had and the Bears aren't done well. DJ Moore certainly a key piece to this whole puzzle. Earlier conversation I had with the newly acquired wide receiver from the Carolina Panthers. Well, first and

foremost welcome, Welcome, How does it Field? Hey, I'm glad to be here. It feels amazing. It's a new opportunity, new journey, new faces, new city, to bring the excitement and the fund that you have as a person and player to a new establishment and organization. Now I'm here, I'm here, and I'm grateful to be here. Does it sting at the beginning? Does a sting a little bit? Give that little initial sting, But it's the business and you just gotta go with the punch. General manager Ryan Poles,

he was gonna make a trade. It gonna be a big trade. It was. You know, I keep saying we're the center of the football universe this offseason. But you had to be in the deal to close the deal. So that's a big, warm hug from the big guy, isn't that? It is just to know that I was the exact player that the Bears want it and they

wound up getting it. Was just a big old bear hug. Yes, And I'll tell you there's a bunch of boxes that these guys want players, and just going through your history and talking to some folks that you know and have played with, you check every single box and the funny thing is here, Yes, you're gonna catch some balls. But the blocking and you're an outstanding block. You're like digging out dbs and everything else that is for They show highlights of the blocks here before they do the big

catches in your team meetings. So is that part of your big game? That's part of the game. You know, I do the dirty word before the excitement work that down the field, passes and stuff. Blocking is like a part of the game that it's going to excel the run game but also open up the downfield passing game. No, the thing about it too, it's just not getting the way. I mean, you gotta, you gotta. It is one too, and it sounds like everything you do is about one too. Yeah,

I don't want to do everything. I'm a man that's gonna do everything and are gonna I'm gonna want to do everything to help the team win. This has been an offensive starved franchise for a long long time, one hundred and three years, from the quarterback play to just scoring points. So the fan base is buzzing right now because they feel they got a number one receiver coming in here. They're doing the math and and they're thinking big. Your highlights are crazy. It's the desire and that's a

Chicago bread thing. Like the fans love your style of play. How would you describe it to those who haven't seen you play? Exciting, never knows to come go from a short play and could be a touchdown, it could be amazing like juke move or something. Just some of the excitement and get the fans out of their seats and hopefully the winds follow. Yeah, I've been doing some math, the yards after the catch, the yards after the contract, contact,

broken tackles. I'm a big guy about first downs, first times, leading the touchdowns. And I think you've had, you know, two hundred and fifty at least fifty to fifty five a year. Is that important to you to be known as a player that Yep, I'm gonna get in the end zone. But I'm gonna move the sticks for you too. Yeah, it's all about moving the sticks. Move the sticks, you stay on the field. Stay on the field at least

two points. So whatever I gotta do to get those points on the board with the team, that's what we're gonna do. What makes you such a dangerous runner and a nasty runner with a ball in your hands, just setting it up in my head before it even plays out in life. Just knowing where everybody else is on the field. So if I'm going across the middle, just know where the safeties and everybody is coming from, just to maybe spin out or juke the first person and

just onto this second. So you gotta have a plan. You gotta have a plan. You know, Devin Hester was here, so you always tell me all you know, when I see color, I go the other way. It was simple? Is that for him? But for you? It is it geometry? Is it angles? It's all this in a split second to think these things through. How challenging is it? And have you always been that way? I've always been that way.

I just don't like getting hit, So I'm I'm always making sure I know where everybody is to either spin out or make somebody a miss, or just run somebody over. I believe Justin and Darnell here in the building greeting you. How has that made you feel right off the bat? Because getting traded, you know, you get parachuted into a franchise. It's a little thank god it's not during the season. Now you get a fresh start with everybody else. I met those two head dinner with them. It's been lovely.

They both welcome me. Just met Chase today. So just gonna keep going off of that and growing with the team. Chase Claypool Grinders, Mooney, Justin Grinders. Are you a grinder? I'm a grinder? What are they gonna learn about you as a teammate? Sue down fun, push the envelope on everything, Just work hard, all right? You got a big smile on your face. But I've heard that you're on the quieter side, right You let your actions speak louder. Is that is that also true about Djmore? That's correct. Uh.

When I gotta talk, I gotta talk. But if I don't, I'm not saying much. This franchise is trying to build a foundation the right way. You have sustained success. You're on the ground floor or something special. You're getting that feeling. Yeah, I'm getting that feeling because you don't just move up to you know, move the number one draft pick to non to get a superstar and just go out there

and just poop the bed. They want to win now, Yeah, you know what, you are going to look back this This is going to be the most important and probably impactful offseason the Bears have had. And I'm going out on a limit saying in history just because of the assets, the addition of a number one receiver route of the gate before free agency even starts, before they even draft. Some buddy, want to be cool to tell that story one day, Hey, I was a part of something on

the ground floor, something spect. It's definitely be a part of something special. Is gonna be good. You know, here with the tradition. They want to win. We're going to win. The fans want us to win, so we go. We gotta bring it to it, bring it out right, Ye all right, Jim. I'll tell you seventy percent of his catches for a first down in twenty two. The yard after the catch average over the course of his career it was almost eight yards as a rookie seven six

five dip. Last year they had the quarterback issues. But what excites me is his football intelligence. Today we heard PJ. Walker, who threw him that unbelievable pass against Atlanta, said, you know, they call the play and two words in, he's already out splitting out into the slot, her in the flanker roll out to the split end position because he already knows what the play. He's just ahead of the curve a little bit on that. Well, that made it easier

for him to learn this offense quickly. Yeah, I think all the things you asked about. One he does take pride in is blocking people. Forget Carolina. Last year they were a top ten rushing team, so you need to have receivers on the outside doing their job. So he will get his hands dirty and stick his nose in there. People don't know how explosive of a player he is. And so, for example, when you were going through the interview, great interview, by the way, so I just thought I'd

look up some numbers. Okay, So when you look at DJ Moore and his explosive plays last year, he had seventeen plus twenty explosive plays and four plus forty explosive plays like the one you mentioned with p J. Walker, all right. So and that's with three quarterbacks where they didn't have any consistency. So, for example, other explosive receivers, people would probably say Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, right, he's an explosive player. How about Jamar Chase of Cincinnati. Compare

these numbers. Waddle he had twenty one plus twenty explosive plays last year. He had six plus forty, all right, and he's they had their quarterback issues, but they were an explosive team. Tyreek Kill had twenty five plus twenty seven plus forty. Jamar Chase with Joe Burrow he had

thirteen plus twenty and three plus forty. The Bears will get explosive plays because that's that number for him is a really good number, and he's probably better in that if they get if you get consistency at the quarterback spot is my point for him. And he's much bigger than those receivers that I just mentioned. He's just over six foot in two hundred and ten pounds. So this is a very explosive player that takes pride in all

aspects of the game. And I think he comes here, as Ryan pull said, just the character side of it. You know. You know, we've we've seen players when they go to a different team and they don't fit. You know. I talked to Packer when all the time he said he signed a couple of Steelers players and he had to tell one player to quit wearing black and gold out to practice. He said, you're a jet pounder. You need to wear jet colors, you know. And so you have to have the right guy that you're welcoming in

or can be disruptive to a locker group. And I think the Bears have done a nice job of targeting those type of players here. All right, we need to step away. Great great job with Dj Moore, country strong and then he runs that ball like a back sometimes when he gets into the open field and be fun to watch we'll continue our conversation. This is Bears Weekly on the Chicago Bears Radio News. Bears Weekly with the voice of the Bears for twenties. We hear is Kill

Junian on the Bears Radio Network. I mean things are moving at a fast clip, that's for sure. Free agency continues for the Bears. They keep adding bodies here. Even in the last couple of minutes, Jim Beller from Serious Sex Im out of our radios moving the chains, and the former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim the Bears led the league in rushing last year. David Montgomery moving on to Detroit. They've already ran a Travis Homer, outstanding special team stud and a guy can help out I'm sure in many

different ways offensively. But now, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, dont To Freeman sixe two hundred and thirty pound running back coming aboard on a one year deal. Yeah. I mean, and the money's right because this is a very deep draft class for the running back position. I mean, you can get guys late in the draft that you know really are going to contribute for a lot of teams out there, and so you know that's why you're getting

a lot of one year deals right now. Look, and there's still big guys out there, right You got Leonard Fournette, he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But this offseason leading into free agency, you had Aaron Jones, he took a pay cut up there for the Green Bay Packers. Ezekiel Elliott he just got released by the Dallas Cowboys.

Other other running backs have had to rework their deals to restructure money so that that that market is getting hit hard with all the market forces out there, and you can get these one year deals because they were going to want to come in, prove it and then hopefully to get out in free agency next year with a one year deal to hopefully put themselves in a better position. So it's really a buyer's market right now at the at the running back position. And certainly the

Bears needed a bruiser. And we know how great a running back David Montgomery was for the Bears. And I think that's a good deal for the Detroit Lions because he's a rugged back, but yet he's got more wiggle than Jamal Williams. You know, there's no doubt about that that he's better in the open field and his ability to catch the football. So I'm happy for David. I think he ended up in a good situation, but the number really dictated I think that for the Chicago Bears.

Three years, eighteen million and good for him. But the market really is setting it where you can get really good guys on one year deals for petties on the dollar. And this deal reportedly a three million dollars deal for one year. Hit nine hundred and fourteen yards last year on two hundred three carries four and a half yards to carry along as sixty five touchdowns, a career high. So two years, one of Tennessee and one of Carolina.

So there's a linkage here to what the Bears brought in on the offensive line with Nate and then with the quarterback and PJ. Walker. They know this guy and uh, he's put up some good math here in the last two years. So now and tell us about the impact of a guy like Robert Tonyan who was outstanding when healthy and Green Bay. Yeah, you know, when he tore

his ACL. He's coming off one of his his best years obviously, you know, had the double digit touchdowns, became a really a priority target for Aaron Rodgers, so I think, you know, he provides that ability. I don't think the Bears are done again. I think this is a very deep draft. He had two guys out of contract in trey Von Westco and Ryan Griffin. But I do think the Bears will address that position in the draft again.

So cole Comet, Robert Tonyan comes with a lot of experience, knows the division, knows the offense obviously with Luke Getzi. Thinks he's going to be advantageous in this lineup, and so all Ford, I think Tony it's a very productive player. Hopefully his best football is aheadable eleven touchdowns in twenty twenty fifty plus passes in two is five years fifty three last season with a couple of tuddies and a four hundred and seventy yard season. But that relationship with

Luke Ketzy is key. So we look at the tight end position. That's another veteran added to the mix and another local guy from mckenry year in the North suburban area to go with cole Comet. Jake Togas the rookie from a year ago, Chase Allen, who I like very much, not just because he's a Cyclone, Big Jim, but he's a solid guy who showed a lot of spunk during the practices on the practice squad, got a chance at

the end of the season. Now you add Freeman with Herbert Homer, trust and Ebner in the backfield, you got Justin Fields. PJ. Walker, would you suspect the Bears before we go to break here to take a gander with all their draft capital. I don't care what round it may be to look for another developmental quarterback in the draft. I don't think it's out of the question, you know.

I think with you know, you want to have a veteran leadership there, I still think, you know, we know that Justin Fields hasn't arrived, hasn't arrived yet completely, but I think we feel encouraged about where he's gonna go. PJ. Walker brings a little bit of experience with his background.

But yeah, I think you especially now, I think they're going to change that quarterback rule where you're gonna have three active on game days so you don't have that situation happen that happened in the San Francisco Philadelphia Eagles game. So yeah, I think the Bears aren't done there. I think they'll draft a developmental guy and they may sign another veteran to come in and compete with p. J. Walker. All right, Coming up next, we'll be joined by Tremaine Edmonds.

My interview with him, the sixth year of Virginia Tech, two time pro bowler, A delight to talk to here at HAISAW. Today. This is Bears Weekly with Jima. I'm Jeff Joniac here on he asked p in Chicago and the Chicago Bears Radio Networks Bears Weekly with a Voice of the Bears for twenty three years, Jeff Jony on the Bears Radio Network. Got to be strong down the middle of the defense. Three technique defensive tackle guy can plug up the run game, middle linebacker, and of course

the safety position. Jeff Joni, KJM. Miller back with you here on Bears Weekly. Tremaine Edmunds Auto twenty five. It's six five, two fifty three before we get to the interview. Jim, you think about this system and you go all the way back, you know, sitting with love you Smith all those years looking at the Buccanteers defense. They didn't have a er Lacker, but they did have a Derek Brooks Erlacker had a Lands Briggs. Carolina Panthers had Luke Keekley

and Thomas Davis when Ron Rivera was over there. The Colts. You look at Shack Leonard, Anthony Walker, Bills, Matt Milano and of course Tremaine Edmunds, Jim those are pairings that are going to be very interesting for the Bears now that they have a TJ here as well. Yeah, and I think, well, body types two is what you're referring to. I mean, Tremaine's a taller, angular guy that's kind of like how Erlacker was. He was big for for a middle backer when you look at six to five, but

it's because he could run, you know. Then he mentioned Lance, who's who was a running hit guy, and I think these are the guys they got. Shack Leonard is basically that same deal. There was something that thought maybe he was going to be a safety, you know, almost like a Jeremy Chin type of player. Look, how Carolina has used him sometimes at safety, but he started out at linebacker. But I think we look at Edmonds, he's got the levers,

he's big four and mike backer. But the body types are very similar with what it sounds like Eberflus wants to do with him and TJ. So I think it's a good signing for both of them, and it's again at the right price. It's it's less money than what they would have signed Roquan Smith for m and Roquan is a great player. I think we understand that, and he got his deal done with Baltimore. But I think these guys are really good fits in this Bears defense

for what they want to do at that position. Heckway back in the day, I mean, Jack Lambert played that drop all the way down the middle. They call it the mic down the pipe right there. He was six four and I can't believe he's seventy. By the way, Jack Lambert one of the nastiest linebackers in NFL history. Anyway, I sit down earlier today with the newest Chicago Bear, Jermaine Edmonds. This morning, you are a Chicago Bear. How's that hitting you? Man? I'm still taking it all in,

you know. I think since the day that happened, man, you know, my phone's been going so crazy. It's kind of like I'm trying to reply to everybody without sitting down and like reflecting. Like man, like this is real. But I mean it seems it's so real now just walking into here man and saying, all the history of that's in this bud And I think that's the biggest thing. And you know, sitting there, my family is excited, man,

everybody's excited. Man. I'm ready to you know, to come here to Chicago and just you know, make my own story, man, write my own write my own legacy. And that's key because this place is like a museum. Right. You walk in, your head spins around. And obviously you were born into this game. Your dad was a great tight end for the Miami Dolphins back in the day. Your brothers all played in our still playing obviously, But you come in here and if you want a piece of this, is

it where it all began, right. So you know a lot of guys sometimes don't realize that until they get here. As you were walking through the building, and you've been here before too, when twenty eighteen draft process, what sticks out about it? I think the biggest thing is, like I said, just seeing all the faces and seeing how many legends you know play for the Chicago Bears. I mean, like you hear about it, but to actually come in

here and walk around and just look around. I mean, if you're a true competitor like you would want to play here. And I think that's the number one thing that sticks out. I mean, the facility speaks for itself, top of the line. I mean everything that you can ask for, from the equipment to the weight room to the you know, the all the people that's in here. They disagreeted me with open arms and you could just tell, like the culture here and you know how they built

this thing up. Man has the right people in here. And I think that's the two most important things in the game is the ball and the people. And you know, obviously once you have those two, I mean, the sky's a limit for the program. Get ready, know who the Hall of famers are because coach Heberflus in his office, he's got a list of them all and give you a quiz every Yeah you go in there for sure. Yeah, I don't know if you've heard about that alreadybody he

appreciate embraces it too. And I think in this town as football crazy, no different than Bill's Mafia was. Um. They're just starving for a winner here and they appreciate guys who do wrap their arms around the history of this franchise. So we go right to the linebacker position. You've had some great ones here, so obviously you know who they are, and now you're going to be one of those guys following in their footsteps. But as you say, creating your own path as well, what do you want

to show the fans of Chicago? Man? I want to show them who your mainems is, you know what I mean. I pay respect to all the guys they came in front of me. You know, you have some great guys. I actually watch Fan one a lot of those guys you no believe it or not, but I guess the most recent one that you can easily say is Brian Urlacker. You know, obviously my old coach, you know, coach them, So it was always a connection with me, you know, just as far as going back to see some of

the things that he did. And I think anybody that's striving to be great, you have to watch the great guys that caming for you, because that's what you're striving to be. Lot. You have to compare your game to somebody, and obviously you want to compare it to somebody that's

been there before. Somebody that's done it at a high level. So, you know, just going back and I saw the Bears tradition for a while, you know, just looking at it and looking at the ways that he made plays and just kind of nitpicking, you know, taking a little thing from here, taking a little thing from there, and adding it to Jermaine Atmos game. And now it was about me, you know, writing my own story and and and telling the world and showing the world who Jermaine Atmos is.

And I know that coach true coach, And of course Coach Babbage just saw him last summer and he talked a lot about you. Honestly, he loves the way you played the game. And Arlacer love Coach Babbage as well. That Mike down the pike and the cover too, right right, yeah, you know, yeah, that's that's that that would be you

right now at six five. What does that do to obliterate the vision of a quarterback, a guy of your size, a guy of lackercise in this particular scheme, While it does evolve out of cover two every now and again, and you know that's not just the only thing you

guys are gonna play. What's been your experience with that. Yeah, I think just having a guy that can you know, run with tight hands, run with receivers, and that can move because I obviously Cover two man, if that Mike linebacker's outside, it can move around, you can make a lot of plays. And obviously when you turn on that fan with Brian her Lacker, he made a lot of

plays in particularly Cover two. Obviously he made a lot of plays on a lot of defenses, but you know, he perfected that Cover two and he perfected you know, the system that he was in. So just being able to have a guy that can move around, Um, you know, I'm that guy that can you know, can run with receivers, can run with tight ends, are able to match up with certain guys. Being six five, obviously you're getting you're getting quarterback windows, you're getting receiver windows, and you affect

the passing game a lot. So you're gonna be teamed up with t J Edwards, Jack Samborne as right now, two Wisconsin guys, what do you know about TJ? What do you know about Jack? Yeah? Man, I'm a big fan. I think obviously just watching TJ and the success that he had with Philly, and I mean I've been a big fan of them. For a while, I was like, man,

this guy's lying around like that. I started acting people on my team about him and just seeing him flying around, you know, both of them just flying around and making plays, and you know it hats off to them. They come from a good program and I think it shows it's showing in the NFL. You know. Obviously I had a chance to watch t J more just as far as the offseason and Super Bowl and everything like that. So

I'm excited to get to work with him. Man, he seems like, you know, the the right guy that you want to work with. Good identity. Man. He plays with a lot of passion and that's what you gotta have obviously at linebacker. And you know, seeing the things that he did at Philly, I'm excited to team team with him right beside each other. And he's already bleeding Navy blue and orange. Case he grew up a Bears fan, lands Briggs lover or lacker. I'm assuming there was a

big market for a man of your skill. Bryan Poles clearly invested in somebody significant. I think you're the highest paid for year contract inside linebacker in NFL history, which is outstanding. Great platform for your future. It clearly means he wanted to embrace you. How important is that to you, from the top down to the front office that they

want you. Yeah. Well, first I just want to say thank you just for them giving me this opportunity, you know what I mean, just to be able to come in and display my time to the city of Chicago. And you know, everybody just embracing me with open arms truly means a lot. I understand. What's that? What's that hand? I understand. You know, obviously, when you make that type of you know, investment in a guy, you know, obviously you're demanding a lot. And I understand that. And you know,

like I said, I appreciate them. But like I said, man for me as a person, my character, what you see is what you get. Like I'm a man of first of all, a man of faith, you know what I mean. I believe that's you know, I believe in God, and you know, I've believed that it's a reason that I'm here and i'm and I believe that it's a reason that they got me here. And so I'm ready to I'm ready to embrace that. I'm ready to attack that. And I got my heart hat on, man, and I'm

ready to work. And that's all Bears fans want to hear, teammates want to hear. Jimmy He says he really does want to be a leader on this team. It doesn't happen just because you get a big contract, though, you gotta earn it a little bit. But this young man, well, again, the age says one thing, the experience says another. Yeah, well I did that first training camp in Buffalo when Bob Babbage was there and his son is still on that staff there in Buffalo. This guy was a green

dot right from the beginning. So he was calling the plays, making all the adjustments, making up, making all the checks. Is it probably his football background with his family that you brought up. Yeah, I think that's a big part of it. It's been instilled in him his whole life. But I mean, he took it over right from day one in Buffalo. And I remember talking to Sean McDermott

about He's like, you're not gonna believe this guy. You know, we we couldn't believe it, just where his football intelligence was and how much we could put on his plate so early there in Buffalo. And as for TJ. You know, one hundred and fifty nine tackles last year. I mean,

these guys are very productive guys, high character guys. It's important to them and again the perfect guys that you want on your team character wise, that will fit in the locker room and really be leaders from from day one one of what's to be expected of other players around them. High character, great families both of those players.

One thing before we go to breake Edmonds his family, his mom Cookie as Dad Farrell, who played in the NFL, not only raising three boys who all made the NFL, but foster parents to about twenty two children over the past twenty years. So that speaks a lot right there about that family. All right, one break to go here and we'll wrap things up with Jim Miller, Bears quarterback from Sirius XM NFL Radios. Moving the chains here on

Bears Weekly with Jim Miller. Back in a second sees Bears Weekly with the Voice of the Bears for twenty three. Here is Jeff Julian on the Bears Radio Network. Don't you just love legal tampering. I Mean, we knew what was going down Wednesday, everything became official. We would call that a flurry of activity Jim Miller, but still plenty available out there, a lot more to be done. Bears have many roster spots to fill, and we gotta start

turning our attention to the NFL Draft quite soon. It's coming and there'll be a lot of discussions on what they'll do with that ninth pick. Hey, I say, everything's on the table Jim for that ninth pick. And who says they're gonna stay right there? Yeah, they may move around. I mean you can trade down get probably with the best right tackle in the draft, if that's the direction they want to go in. But it's interesting the events that are happening with Jalen Carter, the d tackle from Georgia,

because yeah, what do you think? What do you think from the combine and his pro day workout which did not go well. I mean, he could be falling right into the Bear's lap at the number nine spot, and the guy moves like a player who's a lot lighter than what he is. He was nine pounds heavier at his pro day, was out of shape obviously, and you know it's but he's still going to go in the top ten, sobody he may fall right into the Bear's lap, but certainly they'll have to do their whole work on him.

The unfortunate incident that happened off the field and everybody's you know, really getting all the information that they need on him. But right now, it's uh. He was he was probably considered the number one player in this draft, and he's not doing himself any favors and could fall right to the Bears, and he is definitely in need for the Bears at that position. You know, I know a lot of folks are concerned about the defensive line

and what is becoming in terms of the Bears. However, they've added, and this is a defensive line most teams want this, right you'd like to have eight or nine deep, So start continuing to add positions like you did today earlier today with the big guy at nose tackle. There you've got DeMarcus coming aboard from Tennessee. So those are pieces to go with what you have. But I don't really want to spend crazy money at the edge position in free agency. I'd rather get one in the draft

or to grow those guys. Not dissimilar to what the Detroit Lions did last offseason. Yeah, I agree with you. And right now, there's only one guy out there that really fits the Bears age range because we know they're going younger, and that'd probably be on a Kingakway, you know, as he's twenty seven years old, very you know, another high character guy, but everybody else is pretty much already gone.

You know, I don't think the Bears are going to look at players older in the tooth like Saya, Melvin Ingram or a Frank Clark who's thirty. You know, you want to be rating at twenty six to twenty seven age rage, like I said, And I do think the Bears will target and there's some good edge rushers in this draft and it'll be right in the Bears wheelhouse for them to select him. And if you're just joining us.

Over the course of the last hour, Robert Tunyon reportedly coming on board on a one year contract with the Bears. The mckenry product and former Green Bay Packer Deonta Freeman. I've been running back last year with Caroline. I had a very strong year career. High for him, big back, a rugged guy there. And those are the kind of deals we're going to see here, these one year deals, finding players to fit into the puzzle here, because there is a big puzzle also the Baylor Bear now Chicago

Bear with nose tacker Andrew Billings. We should probably expect more, all right, in the final thirty seconds or so, Jim, we got to give a quick thought. What's happening between the Packers and Jets with this Aaron Rodgers man there, it's gonna be a waiting game, you know, and nobody knew about the fifty eight million dollars option that is in place as smartly structured by the Packers that they

can wait till week one of the season. And so for me, for me, would I do, Jeff, if I'm Aaron Rodgers, I show up on the Packers doorstep the first day of Phase one of the OTAs this offseason because they may not want that to happen, and maybe that would spurn them to maybe get realistic on the compensation they're looking for for Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, it's gonna

what do you think is fair? I think it should be a second rounder quite frankly, I think Bill Polian said a second rounder, maybe two threes at the most. But they seem to be animant that they want a first round pick and I don't know if that's going to happen all right, Jim, appreciate it as always, that's going to do it for us. Want to thank our guest,

Bears general manager Ryan Pauls. We got the executive producer of Bears Radio Network, Eric Ostrovsky, AM one thousand, producer Kendra Smith, our Bears producers Dan Brilli and Jordan tread Up. For former Bears quarterback Jim Miller. I'm Jeff joni Ak. Thank you for listening, everybody. This has been Bears Weekly on the new radio home other Chicago Bears AM one thousand, ESPN Chicago. We'll talk to you next week. Coming up the Voice of the Cats, Davennett, and Northwestern basketball in

the NCAA tournament in progress. Have a great night, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Chicago Bears Network presentation of Bears Weekly. Podcasts are available on the Chicago Bears Official Animal brought to you by Verizon and Apple Podcasts. Bears Weekly has been brought to you by bet Rivers and Miller liked