Santos on returning to Bears | All Access

Jeff Jonnyak brought to you by IGS Energy. As we approach Jim Miller's arrival as well and our next segment, he'll join us as our guests for a few segments. We got a full show again, did I? Kiro Santos, the freshly resigned Bears kicker, would join us at the bottom of the hour, and we'll touch base with him and talk about a lot of different things about the Bears moving forward. Good to have you alongside Sean Anderson, our producer tonight and our Score Studios. Good even Tommy,

how you doing? I'm doing good, Jeff. You know it seems like each week we get a chance to talk like this and the season picks up a little momentum and whether we're talking about the rebound from a COVID filled year last year, and maybe there'll be some fans in the stands, But now they're starting to talk about the draft and the Pro days that are going on at such a rapid rate, and free agency is still a topic. So there's a lot to talk about in

the NFL, a lot to talk about. With the Chicago Bears, they've brought on some new personnel that it's going to be interesting to put those guys in place and see how they fit in this team. And there's young guys that are still developing that it's going to be interesting to see how they come into their second and third years in their career. Right just in the last week or so, some names that will touch on and discuss.

But today we heard from new cornerback Desmond Trufon, was with the Lions last year, had a hamstring problem, so he was out after six games. But a veteran, a guy's on the other side of thirty. Earlier today, had a zoom call with the media and we were or not me, but they the media asked what the recruiting pitch was by the Bears. For this veteran player who took other visits as well, including to the Washington Football Club.

I mean, obviously they loved my game, but they say it ain't too many guys walking around like too little Matt, So I know you want to play with him, So I mean, yeah, that was right. I mean you don't get too many opportunities to play with a guy like him. You know, he's a you know, Hall of Fame type player, you know, so none but respect for what he's been able to do. I know he's gonna continue to do what he does, and that makes my life easier, you know, as a corner you know, when you got guys up

front that's getting pressure like that. So, like I said, I'm really excited for this opportunity and I'm gonna I'm gonna take advantage of it. For sure. Hey, when you got an asset like Khalil Mac, yeah, you throw that on the table. Because it's all about marrying pressure and coverage. And you get a primetime player like that, cornerbacks around the league certainly will get their attention. So what this means he's a you know, loved him coming out of college.

He's had a nice career He's had some good handles on the balls a ball corner, but he's also had some injuries. He's in his thirty plus age and a great experience with a young guy on the other side in Jalen Johnson. I'm sure they will do more to try and reinforce that position. You can never have enough depth at the corner position, as we know. But Kyle Flier was a very durable piece to the puzzle after a slower start to his career, but really settled in nicely.

But Toufont is a big corner. He's north to six feet. That's what I like, and he wants to be physical, and that's also what I like. You know, he's six feet, he's one ninety. He can run man to man coverage with you, with any receiver down the field. He has a good ability to work with defensive backs and multiple offensive receiver formations. He knows how to play his zone coverage. Nowadays, these defensive backs they got to be ready to be considered the point of attack at times when they throw

those screens at him. And he's got the size and the strength to withstand the types of blocks that he's gonna have to fight through and he's been around the league for a long time. I think the first thing when a cornerback compliments the outside rusher they're going to be working with. You know, it's it's pretty high praise for Khalil Mack, but it's also the defensive back understanding that the effect of Khalil Mack is going to be able to work some of these receivers into his skill set.

And you got to look for you know, health, and you got to look for interceptions. And I think the Bear Sports science department will get into that hamstring immediately. They'll know how to feed them, they'll know how to hydrate them, and out of the weight room, they'll know how to work that part of his body. So if he stays healthy, I expect him to pick up in this defense exactly where he's left off in some of his brighter moments. It was a discussion point today and

what hampered him last season? Yeah, I mean pretty much. You know, I just was dealing with the hemmy. You know, it's a it was just a lingering injury for me. I think I came back a little too early the first time I tweeked it and it kind of just lingered on play on a run of like four or five games, play pretty solid and then you know, and then it went out on me again. So it just

one of those years. Bro. It's hard to explain, but you know, I'm doing different things with my recovery and you know, just training those areas, my hits, my hamstrings, just a whole pelvis area, you know, to have more strength endurability. But you know, I'm healthy now, I'm working grinding, so you know, I'm I'm looking forward and ready to make an impact. You know what I like about this too?

He says he's hungry and that that's what I You know, you gotta now back it up when you show up a training camp and the way you play anching every week. But you know, from Atlanta now to Detroit now, Bear, I'd like to hear that hunger still be there for a guy who's you know, just hit thirty years of age. Oh me too. You know one thing you understand, you have to have balanced body and strength if you're going to stay away from those types of injuries, especially when

you do get on the other side of thirty. And I think sometimes nowadays in the NFL in the offseason, you have these guys that work with these talented body personnel, that they understand how to get an area of in m in tune to go through the rigors of an NFL season, but how to get your strength and balance. And I think that's it's better that you know it well in advance so you can put yourself in a position when training, training camp starts. You are a competitive

cornerback in this team. He's gonna lead by example, he says. And that's exactly what your your role is as a veteran player and a guy you're replacing in Kyle Fuller, who definitely led by example. Less about his voice and his style which was one to be one in his iPad constantly and that's how he led. And many people that have played with him say the same thing about Kyle Fuller. Wish him well in Denver. All right, well

come back. Jim Miller would join the program This is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score everybody, Welcome back to Bears All Access or a brought you by IGS Energy. Choose clean energy for your home at IGS dot com because every good choice adds up to a better world. It's a better show when Jim Miller drops in our weekly guest here on Bears All Access. Good to have them along from serious x MFL radios Moving the chains with Pat Kerwin. What was

on your docket today, Big Jim? What was the big topic? A lot of one year deals be inside right now, That's what's going on. So but you know what, there's no surprise about that, you know, I'm really you know, it's interesting because obviously this is a whole this is a domino of the salary cap, but it's not just this year. Maybe a little more acute here because a lot of deals now it's it's gonna be a one

year deal. That's the way it's gonna be. And I feel bad for veteran players, I do, but we knew it was coming. The agents shouldn't be surprised yet I'm reading and hearing a lot of discord from them, But the fact of the matter is everybody knew what the score was here. Yeah, I mean, and it's you know, because you know they're going to sign a one year deal.

And I think for a player you do, you want to secure yourself, at least secure yourself an employer and hopefully you can get you know, as much you can get guaranteed deal if that's the case, so it guarantees you a roster spot, and some players are able to do that. But you're just trying to get to free agency next year. I mean, that's really what it is. And you hope that the market forces may be changed a little bit a year from now. The landscape is

different with the salary cap going down. And you're right, I don't think it's a it's a surprise at all. I mean, look at some of the guys that are still out there right now. Look at the running back position. You've got Leveon Bell, You've got a ton of guys that are still out there looking for work. And you're probably going to see some more players released here in

the next couple of weeks, you know what. You know, it seems like it's interesting because when you look at some of these one year deals, the guys like somebody has sent a benchmark whatever position we're talking about, And I know there's a fluctuation between Mitch getting two and a half million and some of these guys getting ten million per year. They're a little difference of an opening there.

But when you talk about the receivers, and you talk about the running backs, these guys have to be willing to accept a certain amount because they're not going to break the bank. But but some higher profile players in front of them have already taken deals that they're not going to get more than. Yeah, I don't know about you guys, because I know the Bears were in the mix for Kenny Galladay. I was shocked at what he got from the New York Giants. Absolutely shocked that deal

where he got eighteen million, this guy coming off an injury. Now, I do think he's a really good receiver, and I think the Bears were in the mix for a one year deal, but for him to get the multi year and what the well just and it tells you that they had targeted a certain guy because Daniel Jones need needs help. I mean, I think they're more desperate for that situation, probably why they were willing to pay more.

But I think at some point they were kind of bidding against themselves because I don't think Baltimore or Chicago We're going to go any higher with with their offers were what I thought were fair offers. You know, one year tend to tend to eleven million, dollars from a guy coming off injury. I think that's a pretty good offer for a guy who who has to show that he's healthy and can prove himself. And and that's why I thought it was going to be for him a

kind of a prove it deal. But the Giants ultimately ended up paying him, and I thought overpaid a little bit for his services. Jim and Jeff. I would have a question for both of you guys, do you think that he could have possibly gotten more money if they would have had a hands, hands on approach to the evaluation of his injury, because I don't know how investigative and how in depth of that investigation that they can get with these players through the COVID situation and free

agency as it is today. Yeah, well they did. I mean he did take visits, visited the Bears, he visited the New York Giants. I don't know if he want anywhere else, Jim, but yeah, they did have a chance to take a look at him. I don't know. Are they giving him physicals, well, that's what I'm saying. Are they are they putting him MRI too? Yeah? And X rays and everything that they used to do years ago. If you're in the building, they can give you a physical.

Because I can give you an example because Kyle Rudolph, who was also signed by the Giants, he did not pass their physical. They found an injury to his foot that's going to need surgery. So if they're in the building, you are able to give them a physical. And even prior to them signing. Say, if a guy's not visiting your and you strike a deal, that deal, even though the players signed it, it is not official until the team gets the full physical on the player and then

it's basically you know, completes it. The completes the contract from that standard. He here's the weird part of this whole thing because obviously with a second wave of free agency and the visits, you can do that. The first wave you're just you're not You're hoping you're getting good merchandise and that they are but a pass your physical

before they make that contract official. But it is really an interesting thing when you come down to it in free agency because you're you're circling some guys and you're hoping your agents are telling the truth. Right. Yeah, But I think first and foremost, I mean every player, even in the first way, they will get a physical by by the team that signs him. I mean that this goes back to even remember Roger Saffold of the LA Rams.

He signs the big deal with the Raiders, and I think, uh, you know, mister Davis, Well wasn't Al Davis at that point. It was his son who took over the team. At that point, they were getting killed because they gave a guard and tackle money and I think Davis started to have buyer's remorris and so they didn't ask Roger on his physical and his rights went back to at that point, the what were the Rams back in Saint Louis, And

they ended up giving a long term deal. He didn't get near as much what he got for the Raiders, but he got close. But stuff like that happens all the time. Happened last year or two years ago with Michael Brocker's Baltimore signs him to a big deal, They find an injury, he didn't pass his physical, thus his rights go back to the LA Rams. He ended up signing a big deal with the Rams, and thus he was just because they have no salary cap room, they

just traded him to the Detroit Lions. So the Bears will be facing Michael Brockers on the defensive line of the Detroit Lions this year, so it definitely happens. All players will get a physical to make sure that deal is good. You want to make sure your goods that you purchased are wholesome. How do you guys feel about the addition of Damian Williams, Because when he was let go by Kansas City, and not just because he was familiar with the chief system and whatever the Bears are

planning on doing. And Matt Now he did not coach him in Kansas City. He was there in eighteen with the Chiefs. I thought that was an ideal got to go after because he did opt out because of COVID concerns. So the tread on the tires. He's gonna be a fresh guy who can do multiple things, very productive in both in the ground game but also as a guy out of the backfield catching the football. Will start with Tommy, you know, I like it just because he is a

running back. That's exactly what he does. His skill set is very similar to David Montgomery. He's not an investigative Swiss army knife like Cordarrell Patterson, where you don't put him at receiver as much as we liked him, And then when you put him at running back, he's specific about what his role is at that position. So I think that you have two very similar players in Williams and Montgomery that can be interchangeable. I don't think that you're going to fall into a pattern with one of

these guys or the other. David Montgomery is still going to be the workhorse. However, I think that makes a position more powerful when you have two guys that you're not giving indicators to your defensive coordinator when the player comes in the game. Yeah, would he elected to opt out last year for the Kansasee Chiefs. We a pet Kerwin, my partner on Serious sexm We interviewed Damian the next the next day, and I just want Bears fans at all of Chicago to know the type of player that

you're getting, what a high character guy is. He didn't opt out because he didn't want to play football. Okay, he opted out because his mom had stage four cancer. This guy has his priorities in order, and realistically, I know Patrick Mahomes got the MVP of the Super Bowl. Damian Williams was the MVP of that football game. He drove it home, he sealed the deal, and he drove

that team through the playoffs. It's a quality player, quality football player, a quality man who definitely has a great head on his shoulders and that his priorities are in line with what he needs to do. And I think he'll come back and be a focused player and Bears fans are gonna like what they get out of this player from Kansas City. One hundred and thirty three total yards in that game and two touchdowns and a big run that will go down in Kansas City, Laura for

sure for one of that Super Bowl. But I love what he does in the passing game as well. He's been very productive and a nice thick back and he's not he's not small. He's a two hundred and twenty pound back. Love the size, love the grind, love the grit. An excellent addition Tommy DeAndre Houston Carson keeps coming back

my man as now it's gonna be six years. Does an outstanding job on special teams, but really made some key key plays as a dime defender last year in back to back games, we complimented his end of game play and that's somebody that's going to be quite useful and familiar to Sean Decay, like an extra coach on the field and a very smart player, you know, But he's come to a pivotal point in his career. The

Bears did go and signed DeAndre Houston Carson. But if you're ever really going to be considered to come in here and compete as a starter, then this has got to be the year. He's got plenty of experience in the NFL around multiple defenses, around the coaching staff, and they've seen what his traits and his qualities are, so I think he's got he should put a lot of pressure on himself, just like other players that do that want to come in and be considered to be competing

as a starter. He is a starter on special teams on all on every special teams the Bears have, and he's super competitive. And then what he does have an opportunity to play regular snaps. He's always mentally and physically prepared. But you know, just like every other guy in the NFL, when you sign them to your team, you want these guys to have the attitude to come in here as a competitive starter, not being content with having a role

on special teams and being a backup. Yeah, and you know right now to Sean Gibson is still out there, right, so you got you need some safety help to protect yourself.

And with resigning to Dion Bush and now DeAndre Houston Carson and what he does on the special team's aspect of it, I don't think the Bears are done there, but uh, you know, we'll see what'll work because that's you know, because I think as the draft approaches, you're starting to see that some positions that need to be dressed, and I would think that secondary would be one of them.

So we'll see what work they do prior to the draft, but we'll see what happens during the draft as well, because I think corner safety definitely is maybe in the mix for from this where it stands at this point right now. Yeah, outside of things like the quarterback position, the full back position in the league I'm talking now, kicker, punter. The list of unrestricted free agents on the street right

now is still a significant number. There's a lot of guys out there that can fill some some holes on your roster still if you're having the room and you can really get some good deals out there on some still some really good football players, many of which still intend on playing here in the National Football League. Weren't oh you want to say one more thing, big time see, I would be interested. So if last year's um taxi squad was going into the future, you know you're really

sounding old right now when you call it the taxi squad? Well, I right, Okay, practice when you have to practice squad like last year, where you have a veterans on the practice squad that they could become a valuable immediately. Would some of these guys fill those holes if they went back to that plan of the practice squad? Yeah, everything you're on table. I don't know what the eligibility will be and if the COVID protocols will extend that opportunity

even further for the Bears. We'll get into all that

coming up next bottom of the hour. Cairo Santos joins the program as well with Jim Miller in town there, Jeff Joniak, And this is Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score Chicago Bears Network present Inside of the Bears, brought to you by Verizon and Anthony Adams and Lauren Screeden cover the world of Bears football on and off the field every Sunday night at ten thirty five pm on Box thirty two Chicago, or watch anytime at Chicago

bears dot com or on the Bears official app. With our guest Jim Miller, my broadcast partner from WBBM Tom Bear as a Jim good news. Oh no, not good, not good news for you if you had FI aspirations my bed, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Let me rephrase that you're out of luck on the big CBS gig. Jim Nance's resigned, So no no super Bowl on TV for you. Why am I not surprised? You know, all the rumors were he one come back, not gonna be able to

make a kind of money of Tony Romo, your quarterback buddy. Yeah, yeah, good good luck to Jim Nance. I think of the deal that Romo had signed, uh, you know, and good for Tony. He's done it, and obviously Jim Nance didn't like that aspect of it. But I'm surprised at the money being thrown around. I think there's a market correction going on there as well. Well. I thought it was gonna be big ten NCAA basketball tournament. Wow there too. I thought you were buttering them up. Yeah, that that

that was tough. That was tough. Your brackets probably blown out of the water. You got loyala in the sweet sixteen. I don't know. I was out early. I was knocked out early. You guys know my Spartans were knocked out, and then Ohio State and now the you know, Oral Roberts and all these upsets and my my bracket got blown up pretty quickly. Let's just put it that way, right.

I mean, it's been a heck of a tournament, always fun, and I think this year there were so many unknowns and however got to where they were that you never knew what was going to happen. All right back here on the Bears all actually show kiro Santos coming up in moments touch on the offensive line. They went out and brought into Elijah Woke and Tom what do you know about him from Denver? He's good, plenty of starts in his career and nearly fifty games over on that

all starts. But with the Denver Broncos, both at the inside and outside positions, you know, he's an interesting guy because he just recently had a newborn, so he's taken that as internal pressure on himself to be more dedicated and successful as a football player. And sometimes you know, young fathers can go a couple of different directions. And I think he's amplifying how much important it is for him to be a good provider and his way to being a great provider as being a great football player.

And I like to see that dedication in him in an interview. But here's a guy that he's really got the skill sets to play on the inside, you know, at right or left guard, probably more balanced to play at the right guard position. He does have some experience at the tackle position, and you never know how an offensive line coach wouldn't want Castillo asked he as he gets to see him on his feet a little bit, then he's got a better understanding of where his skill

set will fit in. He's almost six six three twenty pounds. He's a big guy. You know, you see the highlights of him on YouTube where he's in the weight room, and he knows his way around the weight room, and that's another element that you want to see. I always say, you don't want to have to introduce a free agent to the weight room. That's not the guy I'm looking for. So I like his attitude, I like his work ethic.

I like the fact that he's versatile. But he's coming to an offensive line that has a lot of talent on the inside and it has versatility. So it's going to be interesting to see where Juan Castillo feels his role is going to be. And go ahead, Jim Well, I just think for him, Yeah, I just think he's played both garden tackle and I would think he would be signed to be a swing tackle for the Bears. That's where I seem for all the things that Tom just said on the inside, and here's what I'll say too.

Obviously was coached well out there. You gotta believe Mike Munchak. Look at how that offensive line has improved for Denver. And Tom can probably speak more about Mike Munchak and the Hall of Famer and how good a job he's coached, because look at their left tackle, Garrett Bowls. I mean, many considered him a bust. He probably had his best season as a tackle in the NFL. Actually, many thought for him. He could have been easily been on the All Pro ballot. That's how well Garrett Bowls played at

the left tackles. So I do think k Munchack his coaching definitely definitely reflects on the players and how they respond. And here I think Elijah really was soaking that all up over the past couple of years, and I think it'll be good now. But I see him in more of the swing swing tackle roll. That's how i'd see Wilkinson. All right. A lot of reinvestment on the Bears here in twenty twenty one, and one of those guys that they have reinvested in is joining us now, is veteran

kicker Cairo Santos joining Bears. All access here brought to you by a GS Energy. Cairo, Good evening, you're with Tom there, Jim Metter and Jeff Joe Good. Good to have you along and congratulations once again. And for you, you know, this is a perfect example of opportunity, you know, taking advantage of whatever opportunities could go for any walk

of life, let alone NFL football. But you've had quite the journey coming back from injury to secure the opportunity to try and prove yourself all over again, knowing full well that you could do it, but you still got to convince people, and then you did it in a grand way. How does it feel actually to anchor down now here with the Chicago Bears. Good evening, everyone us. Always a pleasure to talk to you, Jeff and all

you guys, So thanks for having me. Yeah, and you mentioned exactly what was in my mind a year ago when I was released from the Titans mid season in twenty nineteen, and you know, just kind of waiting for a call that never happened in twenty nineteen, and then the pandemic hit, NFL wasn't allowing workout, so you just kind waiting for that opportunity and uh, and you just have to have faith that when it comes, Uh, it's gonna come, and when it comes, you have to be ready.

So that opportunity, first, it came at a kicking camp that John Carney, uh kicking legend U put up in San Diego and a lot of free agents went out there and the Bears were one of the teams that were scouting in the camp, and I did really well. And then a couple of days later, I got a call that they were assigning me. They needed, you know, a COVID guy and in the NFL had allowed workus and then that was the opportunity that was looking for

right there. And for me, it was a very familiar face organization, obviously from being back there in twenty seventeen with Um with Ryan Pace Uh, you know, still still there as a gym and Maggie as a head coach,

new coach Tabes and o'donna in scale. So it was a very familiar spot to to step in and which allowed the process of entering as late as I did in the process, and you know, a couple of weeks later you're told that you'd be the guy, you know for a couple of weeks giving them Eddie's injury, and every game was an opportunity for me to show the league again that I was I was. You know, that was just a hiccup what happened to Tennessee and then, and it didn't define my career. How it was the kicker,

and I took each game to prove that. In Chicago just more and more starting to become a very special place in my life, you know, given that career, the year I had there and records I was able to break, and my son being born in Chicago in November, So everything I was rooting for to fall into place and be back there as the Chicago Bear for a couple more years. Yes, congratulations on fatherhood for you as well, Cayro.

You know, it's interesting because when injuries hit a player, some guys don't bounce back from that because there may be opportunities, but they don't see the opportunity, or maybe they just to feel, you know, if there's some swings and missus M and yours is a unique position. Obviously, with the kicking position, you guys are never truly locked in, apparently because you always have to be ready for the

next move. Um, but did you ever at any point, honestly, did you ever think you were going to be the kicker? You were in Kansas City and there were there any down moments when you're like, oh man, I don't know if this is gonna work out. Um. You know, it was more physical, I thought, than than mental or technique like for a lot of you know, years after my I tore my growing there in Kansas City and Chicago, I saw, you know, there's still the good kicker, accurate

but good ball striker in me. But it's just the body which is sort of know, kept tearing apart with the scar tissue that I had with you know, just losing a lot of power because of the surgery. And it's just a grind to get myself physically to the point where I was at before. And I had to

so to overcome UM. You know that that thought of like my ever, is my body not going to be the same I'm not going to be able to work with the same machine that I was able to work And can that allow me to be as good as I was? UM? And I had to try to, you know, I try to change steps, try to do things that would take less pressure from the growing UM as I was to continue to fight for jobs out there with the teams, and I was being able to get the

opportunities to to to sign and play for UM. Yeah, I had a lot of doubts if I was ever ever physically going to be able to get there, because I knew if I did, I could get back to you know, being even stronger mentally, kicker, uh and physically because of all the lessons I learned through UH, through having those UH down years where I you know, I learned how to take better care of my body, how to get stronger and kick more quality practice sessions instead

of quantity. Do a lot of mental work to prepare just for a little moments at a time instead of no just having to be relying on a long warm up to get myself ready. You know, just kind of every every moment when I'm up there and out, it's like, you know, every kick, it's like I take it as a as a game kick. So I'm always fired into

perform in an least amount of kicks if you will. Hey, kyro Um, you know, since Jeff and I and Jim haven't had an opportunity to meet you, we have never interviewed at you after a negative moment from NFC Special Teams Player of the Week to big kicks that you

may now getting earning a new contract like this. So when you go back into Soldier Field and it's a regular season game and now you're absorbing the excitement of the crowd because the crowd's waiting to see a kicker like you now for a couple of years, how are you going to keep from being too excited and over kicking it or just you know, you're not. It's a different routine than having a crowdless stadium that you face

this past year. Yeah, I think, you know, I'll just rely on the routine that I put on put in at work a practice every day, you know, just from a moment really I run onto the field, I'm replicating

something that I practice over over during the week. It's just like, you know, how I go in and kind of you know, pick the spot with with O'Donnell and we'll talk about the wind briefly, how I want the ball lean and so all that is just part of the routine that kind of isolates my thoughts, you know, towards the crowd, the noise, the pressure, and just like it's something that I'm doing that I do every day at practice, So when I'm out there, it's just a

part of a practice routine, so it just doesn't feel different. So I think it's important to keep focus on that because I can't control that the crowd. You know, I've done it enough to to to know how to perform in those moments. Um, it was very weird you this year, not having um that crowd noise, but we also had a lot of uh, you know, trash talk from the players that we didn't normally hear that close from the sideline that we didn't normally hear, so that all that

was different too. And then he kind of tested you in a in a different way that you weren't tested before. So uh, and that put a lot of more answers into and just know you try to stick to your routeam to you know, the thoughts that you can control. Um. I'm looking forward to the fans because you know, I didn't get to be a part of the you know, the Chicago Bear fan base when I was your back in seventeen. Just played for two games, um, and I'm

looking forward to the atmosphere. So I think it's gonna be something that it's going to be more exciting than than daunting us. And I know that I have it in me to the form at the same level, and I just got to take care of that and keeps them happy. Well, Tyro Jim Miller here, welcome back. I'm sorry, Tom, but uh, I just want to go back because here, like you said, you're coming off injury. It's an opportunity for the Bears. Did you realize the situation what was

going on? Because I think you're going to get a thunderous applause from Bears fans and here's why, because twenty eighteen we all know the double doin right, and Cody Parkey unfortunately had had a rough year that year, Bears trade for Eddy Pinero. He comes in, he has he's got the nerve issue, and then last year he's got the growing issue, which gives you what your opportunity to kick. And you know here you you plow through and you have a terrific year and you resign for the Chicago Bears.

What I'm asking is, did you did you realize because Bears fans were at their wits end? Bro, is my point to you in terms of the field goal and here you had such a great year last year. I think you'll get a thunderous applause. Did you did you realize what the situation was when you stepped in as a kicker for the Bears? Um? So I did, because you know something that it happened to me. Um, you know in the opposite side, back in with the Chiefs.

You know, when I got hurt, they brought in Harrison Butker, Um you know it was it was they're gonna they're hoping just to get them because they got him off a practice squad at least three games and kind of judge from there, um, and and I was released, so I was like, man, like, you know, it kind of stinks just to lose your job because of the an injury.

So I felt for Eddie there, but also felt that, like it was for Harrison back then, um, an opportunity for just to kind of prove one game at a time and then if it's not with the Bears, it could be with another team. But whatever how many games

I'm given, UM, I'm gonna take that opportunity. So it's kind of like I could see what could beat the end, you know, maybe I could make myself in Chicago at home for me, but ultimately it was just I just needed to focus one game at a time because he was just like at that point, it was just building one week resumes that would help me get back on track and to keep playing the NFL. And so I wasn't rooting to take anybody's job per se, but it was like, you know, I just wanted to kind of

take care of my opportunities to land somewhere. And they turned out that I really enjoyed kicking for the Bears, kicking in Chicago with that group of men and women in the organization. So that was the main thing about coming back was a getting to work with those people. Well just about your position in general. And Jeff and Tom and I have had this conversation. Are you surprised more kickers aren't in the Hall of Fame? And here's the reason why. Who decides more games? Who decides the

outcomes more than kickers in NFL games? You your thoughts absolutely, I think uh and and two with the you know opportunities that you know receive many great quarterbacks, receivers you know, and that have beautiful careers, um and you know they can drop a pass here and there, can complete a pass interception here and there. But they've given so many opportunities that it can kind of wipe out those no bad you know games and years of their long careers.

The kickers, you're given them. You get that one shot to to do your job, and it's terribly when you don't. And you may not get in on the kick that that week, and you have to wait a whole week thinking about that miss and and and that can go on if you just don't catch a streak. And then that's something that I I talked to my my kicker buddies that I you know in the league that I

we kind of have a um a group. We've had this group going the chat, going for it for years and and we talk about each other and and we always thought that, like, man, I just speaking for myself, I just needed a streak to get me going again. Sometimes you just like, you know, you have to do games one BA game to good games, and that's just kind of like you just need to catch fire to

just keep keep burning, you know. And that's that's what I was sort of searching for, um, you know, since my injury, just to get an opportunity that I felt, you know, comfortable to catch a streak and then I think that would just kind of sort of propel my my career on track again. Um. But I think, yeah,

kickers should get more credit. Um just how important are you know, our jobs are, and in the stress and the pressure that you know, the task is given at the same time, you know, we don't need to learn a hundred of plays you know, a game and and that sort of deal. And so I'm sure you know that takes a lot of pressure in itself too to

be able to remember all that. The quarterbacks, so they get all the praise and then they deserve it because you know, there's a lot that they need to carry to h you know, to get to the team, to

to perform at the full capacity. So um, yeah, I think there's a lot of perspectives that you can look at and as far as kickers being the Hall of Fame, but I think you got to respect, no, what what we need to do to h to perform as you know, when when performing well, Hey, kiro So, as an ex offensive lineman, every offseason you try to get bigger and stronger and it kind of adds confidence to the game

that you want to go out and play. As a kicker, what are your benchmarks for you know that you're getting better or you know that your body's ready to go to work for a full season. Are there different plateaus that you want to reach? Um, I don't. I'm not talking about like an offensive lineman trying to bench five hundred, but it's what are the what are the marks that a kicker looks at to know he's ready. Hey, don't

sell Cairo word on the bench. I'm not I know it. Yeah, I'm I'm I'm on the gunbelt bench and roaching coaches are kind of I was going too hard on the bench press, so they kind of uh, down me down to the dumbbells. But um no, I think for me it is a I've been able to learn to take care of my body more to you know, wait till I start kicking more in the mid April um to late our yeah, mid to late April um just because you don't use this time to to get stronger to

and add masks. I think that helps me kicking and and I can really feel it when I start kicking the ball um where I want to be noticed as far as how I feel like my leg is starting to fatigue at how many balls H in that session and if it's getting fatigue too too fast, I probably need to do more cardio and you know kind of leg speed things. Uh. If I want to and I feel like kickoffs and not reaching where I wanted to reach, probably need to bump up the squats a little more.

And that that can be done, you know when I start kicking, and because we have probably another month or two before, I think the focus should just be to maintain the body and just kick. So I think by nowledge, just trust they you know that you have to put an be accountable that you're going the weight room and

you're getting stronger every day. Um. But the real test I think is U. You know, when you start kicking and you see how far, how far the ball fly, how how fast your leg is moving, how much you're being your in burns uh is holding it up throughout

the kicking sessions. Um? Yeah, So I mean I I don't go to too crazy in the weight room to avoid getting hurt, but I'd like to push myself every year and every off season to um putting the work now, so when I start kicking, I surprise myself to know how farm stuff all right, Kiro, thank you so much. Great year thirty to thirty two, ninety four percent of franchise record for consecutive made field goals. Got the twenty seven and one of the playoff game. Pick up where

you left off man, Thanks for joining us. We'll talk to you down the road. Thank you, guys, see you a couple of months, Yes, Sir. Cairo Sanchos, the veteran kicker back with Jim Miller in time after this break on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The score this segment of Bears on Access is brought to you by Athletical Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot com to request an appointment

income or virtually and start feeling better tomorrow. Jeff Joniac along with Tom There Jim Miller from Serious Sex m NFL radios moving the chains back with you a couple segments before let you go. Jim A couple of thoughts. So, the NFL not requiring at the moment of COVID nineteen vaccine, but it sounds like much like the NBA trying to incentivize everybody to do it. How do you think that's all going to play out from a player perspective and

what you're thought on? Yeah, I think, you know, like anything, I think most players will come down to their own personal decisions that they'll be allowed to make. I mean, some won't take it for you know, their specific reasons. You know, if they don't feel that they're at risk, because again, there a lot of these players are young, they're healthy, all those type of things, and some people

are just flat out against getting vaccinated. I think everybody respects that from that standpoint, but you know, they'll try to do things to promote and I see they're doing it for the draft as well, teams that will be able to have ten people in their draft room if

they're all vaccinated. They'll be different protocols. If teams have the vaccination and then guys that are allowed in that draft room and what they'll be allowed to do versus teams that won't that don't have that, and they'll have to go buy a different set of protocol guidelines like eating, drinking, those those type of things in the social distancing aspect of it. But you know, I mean from my perspective,

I think players it will be their personal decision. Is my take, Tom, What is your best advice for players who opted out and returning this year, because you could look at it like as if they suffered an injury, but they're not rehabbing the injury. They're staying in shape. And but what are you expecting from that group of players, including Eddie Goldman. You know, they they got to be ready. They have to be ready to go as if they're you know, day one of the future of their football career.

And if they're young guys, no matter how old they are, how much experience they are, they have, they have to make sure when they get in front of the rest of their peers, coaches and players that they show evidence that they've been staying prepared for whatever team they play for. And you know, however, you may do it every offseason you go through getting back into the work shape with

the rest of your teammates. There's nothing like So it's gonna be hard, it's gonna be strenuous, but you got to put an effort to show the team that you're you're prepared to put yourself in there. Sho say you had to step away for a personal reason and could not play a season, Just play with me here. I know you wouldn't do that because you always put football first no matter what. You're one of the rare guys

that way, That's for sure. That was your mentality. Would you feel rusty or would you feel fresh to play that next season? You know, I in terms of the weightlifting part of it, the running part of it, the conditioning part of it, I would feel fresh. But as soon as I got in a three point stance with equipment on, I would feel rusty. I would feel like the speed of the game has changed. I would feel like I've gotten slower and the players have gotten faster.

And then things would start to even out a little bit, the more reps that you could get underneath your belt. But you know, you have a guy that you know four months ago, you know he was playing competitive National Football League play, and now and and you've been working out and doing less, it would be different. Jim, how about yourself before we let you go, how would you be? I think the younger the player are, you could probably

respond pretty quickly. Like down at the Reesas Senior Bowl, those players had opted out as only took him a couple of days and they were back in the mix. And then look at older players Alden Smith, remember he dismissed five years for the Dallas Cowboys with all his troubles off the field, he started with the you know, just broke out of the blocks fast. He had five sacks early in the season. He sputtered off down the stretch. So I think it had affected him in terms of

the conditioning of the long haul. The older the player you are, Jim, good to have you along once again. We'll talk to you next week. Appreciate it all right, guys, going to be with you. Dad's Bears quarterback Jim Miller and Sirius Sex Sam NFL radio host Check him out on NFL Radio with Tom Bear. I'm Jeff Jonny Ac. One segment to go here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score, Fresh Cut, Fresh Perspective, book, an appointment with Chicago Bear, spall Business, All pros. When are Principal

Barbers at Principal Barbers dot Com? Jeff and Tom wrapping things up before we turn it over to the score. Desmond troupon Today Tommy on what he is bringing to the table as a Bear's cornerback. I got a lot of experience in this game, played against a lot of you know, great players, had had a lot of success in his league as well too, So anything that they need as far as you know it's technique, you know, just anything off the field, just you know, the longevity

at the game, you know, just anything. I'm here, I'm a resource for them, and that means the other cornerback sound the team good to have a veteran influence. Oh, it is, especially with that type of speed. If you have a guy that wanted to travel with both sides of the field and cover the bona fide number one receiver of the opponent, especially if he has extreme speed, Trufont can do that responsibility, and then maybe you give Jalen Johnson a variety of opportunities and options depending upon

where you want him in the defense. It's going to be interesting to see the structure of the defensive backfield and how new defensive coordinator Seawan Decide distributes his personality if they're more movable than they've been in the past couple of years. All right, seventeen games season, aren't Rooney the second of Pittsburgh basically saying yep, that's going to be the case. With one less preseason game doesn't give a little breathing room to the season for players and coaches.

If you know what I'm saying, No, it just amplifies, it just adds up. Jack's up the pressure. Now you need to be good for seventeen games, get yourself through training camp healthy, and when you hold down that starting position, try to be there week one as week seventeen. All right, that's our traveler music, Big Tom. We'll talk to you next week thanks to Jim Miller and our guest Cairo Santos.

Appreciate Sean Anderson spending the dios as well. Coming up next, the best of score replay and then Cubs Baseball at seven fifty five against the L eight Dodgers with Zack saman and Sean Marshall on the call. That'll do it for us this week. This has been Bears All Access, brought to you IGS Energy at Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. Good night, 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 Litte