T.J. Edwards on signing with his hometown team | Bears Weekly

the New Bears Radio Network. Nine nine new Bears added to the Bears roster after the first week of free agency, taking care of some needs, boosting the offensive weaponry and moving two new starting linebackers into the mix, and hopes of repairing the defense. Thanks for being with us here on Yes Ben Chicago and the Chicago Bears Radio Network. This is Bears Weekly. My name is Jeff Jonahiak and Sirius x MFL Radios. Jim Miller, the former Chicago Bears quarterback,

joins us tonight, Big Jim. Bears getting a lot of rave reviews so far on what they've done so far. I'm gonna go through them with you when we well, we have a minute here, But what's your overall impression? And good evening to you. Buddy, Hey, good to be with you, Jeff. Yeah, I think there's a lot of genuine excitement. One about the trade from one to nine and how they were able to pick up Dj Moore

and adding other pieces. Even when we did Bears all Access last week, you know, even that day from and New Billions, big run stuffing, defensive tackle. We know about the off the ball linebackers that are tremendous I mean Tremaine Edmonds and t J Edwards Edwards going to join us later in the program. I mean the guy who just has a breakout year last year, but the guys who are good fits in the defense. Tanyan also added, we know a couple of years ago he had double

digit touchdown reception. So I think you've got a good inline blocker and commit, you've got a good movement tight end. And Robert Tanyan and what he brings the table, not that Cole can't be split out and do the things that he does. He's a versatile guy as well. So I think overall, yeah, there's there's a lot of excitement. And of course you had an offensive lineman who probably comes in it as a plug and play player, and Nate Davis now how they put all those pieces together

and where they're gonna fit. I mean, I think that's really the fun of it all, because I do think they got better as a football team here in free agency. Yes they did, Jim. We've got to others helping us. Of course, We've got our Bears Radio Network executive Eric Ostroski, our AM one thousand producer Kendrick Smith, Nick Mogzilla helping us out as well. Bears producers Dan Brilli and Jordan tread Up. As we break down the Bears first week

of free agency and a lot more to do. But as I indicate, Larry Mayer from Chicago Bears dot Com pulled everybody, everybody that's been writing about what the Bears have done so far. Jeff Diamond from the thirty third team. DJ Moore grade A t J. Edwards A A minus for Tremaine Edmonds, B for Nate Davis. Vinnie Eyer from Sporting News, A plus for DJ Moore, A for t J. Edwards. DeMarcus Walker got an a field, They got an inexpensive, versatile pass ross Pop there for their defense. The athletics

Mike Jones A TJ. Edwards. Let's let's talk about because we're gonna talk to him shortly. But everybody keeps saying this is an underrated player, and he really came on strong after you know, he had to work to get there, man. Yeah, he was not given this job any means. This is a self made player working his way up from special teams, a guy who grew up idolizing Erlacker and Briggs. Yeah,

well and he should. Those are good guys to idolize and emulate your game after and obviously being a local kid and you're going to focus on at that point, or Lacker when I was here in Chicago was arguably between him and ray Lewis the best at their positions, you know, and obviously both in the Hall of Fame, and obviously Erlacker being a first ballot Hall of Famer says it all about his legendary career. So you try and follow the best at what they do. And for TJ.

Edwards and how he's worked his way up this list as an undrafted free agent, has a breakout year, as I mentioned, one hundred and fifty nine tackles that was

seventh overall in the National Football League. So this is a very active player that we that we know in Maddie Refluss Hits system, you need to fly to the football, and I think both he and Edmunds are really surefire indicators what their careers have done in a respect of whether it's in Buffalo or whether it's in Philadelphia, of what these players have been able to generate and what they've been able to do. And I think you hit

on it last week about body types. You know, we all know for guys like Lance Brigg, he's an undersized, running hit linebacker, and that's kind of what TJ. Edwards is. Tremaine Edwinds is the longer angular guy like Erlaker who is really good in coverage down the middle of the field. And I think that's those are kind of roots of this style of defense. We talk about Maddie Refluss defenses, and those are kind of the body types that fit with this defense and why it's had tremendous success in

the NFL. Yeah, I was listening to you guys a little bit on Serious XM earlier today and Pat went through the signings at the different positions, and so number one was linebacker thirty five players, he said full back for but running back twenty one running backs. Bears got a couple of um Travis Homer, who put on the Special team's tape of Travis Homer. He is insane. He's a really good a big guy and Deante for him

and also a big back. He has confidence in himself, said said as much he goes, Hey, I'm I'm competing to be the guy. Yeah. Well, I mean we all know when you're your second fiddle to obviously King Henry. You know his time in Tennessee and then went on to Carolina, and I thought he played extremely well for Carolina when he's had his opportunities to play, he's run like a bigger back and it is tough to bring down.

Think about the Bears last year, they had five one hundred yard rushers, all right, but it was broken up between all the running backs on the Bears. I believe Khalil Herbert had one. I believe. I think when you look at David Montgomery, I think he had two. If I don't quote me on that, but I believe I'm right on that. Uh. Dante Foreman, he had five yard rushing games alone in Carolina since Week six. Yeah, he said five of them. So this is a bigger back.

Who's very productive, who can wear down defenses. And then you know, and I don't want to stick with the cliches, it's going to be the typical thunder and lightning. You know, Foreman is definitely the thunder. And I think Khalil Herbert with his burst, you know, you're gonna bring Foreman in as the meat grinder. He's gonna wear down defenses. Then you're gonna mix in Khalil Herbert. You got some speed, and then you bring in Foreman again, you'd start to

wear him down a little bit more. And then by the end of the game. You know, I think you got you know, the meat tender riser in the speed that just kind of wears down defenses. And I think they'll be able to do that. Foreman is a very good signing for the Chicago Bears in my opinion, at the right price. And that's doesn't mean the Bears didn't like David Montgomery just the money h you know, got

out of it. You know, he gets a great deal there for the Detroit Lions and what he signed for, But here I think he got a good bang for your buck, so to speak. With Foreman and what you're gonna be able to do in Chicago running the football and trustin Emner's in the mix too, And of course I love a little Kyrie blasting game. He did not have a touch last season. I remember, Jim, we talked about it, how many times that wheel route at training camp? Deadly right? He went, I think on one or two

wheel routes all season. But that's something that he's a leader to. That guy's an underrated signing. I love Karrie blasting game. All right, We're gonna take a break. When we come back, we'll be joined by Wisconsins and better yet, Lake Villas, Lake's high school product t J. Edwards Now is Chicago Bear Later out of the program as well. Sit down with a Bear's new offensive lineman Nate Davis.

Talk about our road greader on the offensive line. He loves them mix it up inside as well, blocking for a guy like Derrick Henry back in the day over with the Tennessee Titans. This is Bears Weekly on the Chicago Bears Radio Network. This is Bears Weekly with a voice of the Bears for twenty three years, Jeff Joniak on the Bears Radio Network, Getting you ready for what promise is to be one heck of a season for

the Chicago Bears. Jeff jonny Ac along with Jim Miller from Sirius Sex and NFL Radio's moving the chains the former Bears quarterback, and again thanks to our producers and most of all, to you for listening tonight here on ESPN Radio Chicago and the Chicago Bears Radio Network. I don't know, I don't know that I made my parents ever cry big Jim, but t J Edwards did, the brand new Bears linebacker coming aboard on a free agent deal. Got to meet him last Wike and just had a

great conversation with him. He's joining us now live here on ESPN. T J. Good evening. How are you doing, May what's going on, guys? I'm doing great. How are you? I'm fantastic and excited for you, excited for your family. Sometimes the family is well, we don't focus on everybody's only thinking about what happens on the field on Sundays and what what the Bears are adding, or any team in the league for that matter. But I am right right, you made your parents cry with the phone call that

you're a Chicago Bear. Tell me about that conversation. Yeah, it was definitely, definitely a special moment. Um. I called my mom first, just kind of hinting at it. I told her, you know, it's not it's not done for sure, just one of the UM make her away in case she saw it before before it kind of happened. And then UM, you know, once everything was setting done, I gave him that call and they were just they were

just excited. Man. I think, Um, you know, obviously, anytime you get to come back and you know, play for your hometown team, it's it's great, you know, and it's it's a big deal for um everyone that supported me along the way and now off my job to go play good football and UM helped his team win for sure. Well, TJJ Miller here, congratulations. It is always great playing for the home team. But you're you're not moving back in right, You're not going to live in the basement or anything

like that, right, Hey, rant would be cheap. It's not a terrible idea. But I'll be uh, I'll be getting I'll be getting my own place for sure. Okay, good, three hots and a cot and your laundry done. You know that's it is a good deal. There's no doubt

about that. But you know. But seriously, congratulations and what a breakout year for you last year, and just take us through your journey of how you've just you've kind of earned it the whole time, you know, and the times you get on the field, you've always made plays and then here one hundred and fifty nine tackles last year. Unfortunately you're a runner up in the super Bowl. But what a dream come true. Yeah, it's it's been special

for sure. I mean, um, honestly, my whole journey, I can you know, give credit to my parents and that that was something that was just filling us at a young age, was just you have to earn every single thing in this world. You know, nothing's given, you know, honestly on or off the field. And uh, you know I took that mindset coming coming out of college and

just ran with it. Man. I just scratching claude to try to find something to get better at every single day, try to, um do anything that's possible to you know, kind of show myself day in and day out. Um. You know that's just kind of doing all that, doing all the right things. And then you know, in that opportunity knots um as you know, it's It's one of those things to where you got to be ready for your moment to kind of take advantage of it. And I just thought I did a pretty good job of

that for sure, TJ. When was your moment? Um, Honestly, I felt like, you know, this year, this past year, um, kind of getting the you know, the green dot and being the mic from day one where I can kind of you know, assert myself in that role and just try to do anything in my power to be the best that I could be at it. And UM, you know, I think for me, it was just one of those things where I just wanted to be the same guy

every day. You know, I'm wanted to be reliable and consistent, and UM, I knew that would be that would be big things, you know, being in the middle of the field and just honestly, again, take advantage of those opportunities for sure. And it certainly doesn't certainly doesn't matter where you come from or how you get there, because it is how you finish. And you know you've paid your dues on special teams and you still I talk to you about this last week. Playing special team snaps clearly

is a coaching decision, but for starters. It's somewhat rare, not not in every franchise here here in Chicago, they do like to do that as well. They did in Philadelphia. Is that important for you also to do that aspect of your job on special teams just to be a

all hands on deck kind of guy. Yeah. I mean again, it's it's one of those to where whatever whatever those coaches see fit, you know, if they think that, um, you know, me playing on on special teams in some in some role will help the team win, and I'm all for it. Man. I just think you know, I'm you know, I'm in this thing. You know, I got you know, I got the deal sign and everything like that. So I trust these coaches to put us in the right position in order for our team to be successful.

And that's you know, my job and earth of the team's job and kind of follow that lead and then um, you know, make those roles our own and just just own those things. And um again man, it's it's all about the trust and trust and the whole organization trust and your team major coaches. Um. So that that definitely was big for me for sure. So I didn't I didn't blink an eye at that at all. Well, I think when you look at Matt Everfoods, they'd laid a good foundation. You even saw it later in the year.

You were able to pull out the victory twenty five to twenty over the Bears. But they play hard, man, they play hard and leadership like like you, leadership like Tremaine Edmonds. Take us in that Philadelphia Eagle locker room and why it was so special for you guys last year because even in that Bears game, you guys gritted it out. You know, you look at Jalen Hurts, he

gritted it out in that game. He got banged up and just said, no, we we ain't coming out of here with with a without a win, you know, and what that takes to to be able to do in the belief of every player in the locker room in order to get it done on Sundays. Yeah, no, no doubt. I mean that was again that that was a that was a tough game. Man. We uh again, we knew

it was gonna be hard. Fad just you know, watching the watching the tape on the Chicago team last year and just kind of understanding how they played and you know, all the all the players that they have on that team that can that can do some special, special things. So he knew it was gonna be a um, you know, kind of a hard file game and things like that.

But for us, I think the biggest thing last year, UM, that I truly felt was a huge you know, key to our success was just the chemistry that we had and um, you know even that that kind of started in an off season workouts of just getting to know one another just so you know, as you know, to get on that field and some things start to go you know bad, which which happens in a year, Um, you have to be able to rely on those guys and be able to you know, talk to your teammates

us out um you know, eagles and things getting in that way because you know it's coming from a coming from a good place. And I think that's something that we really had. And again I think that you know,

the leaders on that team are are special. You know, Jason Kelsey, Lane Johnson, you know, Brandon Graham, Fletcher Costs, those guys who who have you know, been to the been at the top of the mountain, So I understand what it takes and that that that really helped us towards the end of the year when those those must win games. You know, I mean, it might not have always be pretty, but you've got to find a way to get it done. And um that that really helps us,

no doubt. Well let me let me follow up with it. And then here Jeff brought up you know, I know you watched like Erlacer and in Briggs. I was fortunate enough to play with Erlacer and to have that type of bond as linebackers. And obviously Briggs and Irlacer had that bond. And how does that start between you and Tremine Edmonds. I don't know if you've ever crossed paths before, I've talked before it, but now your teammates and are

working together as co workers in order to have that bond. Yeah, no, it's it's it's big time. Um again. And you know, I just kind of met him, you know last week when we were in our physicals and stuff. That was the first time I met him. So it was talked to him for a bit and talked to him, uh, kind of out the day when we were signing and

stuff like that. But I mean, seems it seems like a really good dude, and you know, just knowing you know, his game a little bit, big big fan of what he does, and um, you know what he can do on the football field. So I just excited to get in that room, uh together, to start building that thing along with the other linebackers in there and the defense

and the team as a whole. Um. But yeah, I think it'll be, you know, one of those where it's just you know, kind of understanding how we see the game and um, you know how how we play to kind of you know, pair off each other and things like that. So I'm really excited, man. I think just talking to a bunch of the coaches, man, I think, you know, we're gonna have a good plan and I'm just excited to get in there and get this thing going,

to be honest with you. T J. Edwards our guest here on Bears Weekly with Jim mill Rahim Jeff Jonny Act. The crazy thing about it is, I almost had a look a second time. I didn't know this, but your new linebacking mate. There was a team captain for the Buffalo Bills at age twenty one. Now, I don't know that I've ever heard of a twenty one year old outside of the quarterback position, being a team captain that does speak volumes about what he brings to the table.

Do you feel his presence a little bit as a leader even in the initial conversations a meeting with him and and do you have those same traits? Yeah, no doubt I think. Um, you know again both you know guys who have played you know inside linebacker. UM, you know you're you're captains of the unit. So it's your job to you know, the be the stability, be the um, be the guys that you know that the team, the

defense looks to. UM. You know when when things are maybe not going so well and um when things are going great. You know that has to be that that stability that um, you know, that consistency that that guy that you know will get things going when it's needed and also keep everyone calming, um, not going too well. So again, I mean a huge fan of his game. UM obviously I just kind of seeing what he's what he's done on the tape and some highlights and things

like that. But um man, I think it's gonna be awesome to get to work with him and all along with all the other guys as well. Is it possible that this will be an interchangeable position at the either inside week side or is that yet to be laid out to you guys, because you guys could both do both positions. Clearly you could really make some matchup issues

for offenses. Yeah, I think, um again, just kind of going off of UM, you know what we know so far, don't really know the specifics of you know, kind of each spot that we're playing and things like that. But UM, you know again, I think I think there's there's nothing on the football feel that and neither of us you know, Canna can't do so um and again, I think that's just exciting. So we just kind of let the coaches take it from there and kind of play how how

we see how how they see it fit. UM and again, Man, I'll be excited no matter where I'm playing and UM playing alongside him and it'll be it'll be great. So I trust those guys again and to put us in there into the roles that will help this team win, and that's all that matters to me. Well, I love that that you talk. Both you and Edmunds have been the green dot guy as you talk to let our listeners take them into what that is. When you're much

like me. How I'm a quarterback and I say a play on offense, you're the guy guiding the defense as the green dot. To communicate what you're trying to execute and how you say it and how you convey it. I guess it is important you know that the energy, the leadership, the command of it, and why you enjoy it. Because for me, I always enjoyed that being able to do that, and I believe as well, you gotta way that and embrace that when you're the green dot guy

on the defensive side of the ball. No big time. UM, you know, as you know, I think, I think it's it's nice to again and um, wasn't wasn't the tier level. But I I played quarterback in high school, so I kind of been used to that. UM just kind of lead,

leading the huddle and things like that. UM. But you know, again, when you know you're you're getting the call from the decordinator and you're you're giving it to the to the whole defense, and um, as you know, those those scenarios sometimes get a little wild when you know the team's on the ball are doing hurry up and you gotta get you gotta get the call out, get the get the front set, make sure that the front end, back

ends all kind of playing the same thing. Um. I actually love that part of the game just because for me, you know, helps me understand kind of what's going on around me, you know, either behind me or in front, and then um allows you to kind of play fast and and you know, make those plays when they come to you. So to me, that's gets a huge part of playing the play in the middle is that communication aspect. And UM, I've really embraced that role as my time.

It's kind of gone on and it's it's exciting, man. So I'm interesting see how it plays out. T J. Edwards the newest Chicago Bear on this free agent Hall nine new editions. He's one of them, and a big one because he bleeds navy blue and orange. And I'll let you go with this. Uh So you were five when Big Jim Miller led the Bears to a playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Any chance, I know you were looking at the linebackers, but yeah, you remember you remember,

you know, pretending to be a you were a pistol quarterback. Jim. I don't know that uh could have done that? You know I'm not selling you short, might Jim. Uh No, I couldn't. I couldn't throw a party letting load of football right now either, TJ. So we're all good. Oh, but I say it must be uh more than we can even understand. How much of a thrill this is for you and your family. And it's gonna be fun TJ. On the on the ground floor or something special. Oh,

it's gonna be. It's gonna be great. Man. Like I said, those those offices in Worth House can come soon enough to meet every morning. Um, get into it, man, get into the good stuff. Time to go exactly now. I lied one more quarterbacks take wide receivers. They go down to Florida, they go out to Arizona. Where do linebackers do? Yeah, that's a good question. You see all those uh you see all those big off season trips and everything like that. Um,

it'll be it'll be interesting to see. I Uh, I'm a big golfer, so I'm thinking we gotta get the linebackers on the golf course, you know, on the off season, kind of see what's going on. Tremaine said, it is his games on the way. So I'm interested to you what that looks like I started out playing basketball. You know, I'll start the five, start the linebacker. You you can if the tight ends can do what you can too, not just for the specialist and side ends, we can

do it exactly. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. Congrats again, Thank you guys. Man awestin talking to you to J Edwards, Wisconsin's finest Here on Bears Weekly, We're gonna take another break more on what is going on in the division. Gotta take a look at seeing what's what's the latest on Green Bay to Trait Minnesota. From a man Jim Miller here on Bears Weekly. Here on the Chicago Bears Radio Network. Excuse Bears Weekly with the voice of the Bears for twenties. We hear is Jeff

Julian on the Bears Radio Network. This conversation with TJ. Edwards. You could feel the energy from the young man when you meet him face to face, a big grin out of his face. This is an awesome experience for a Chicagle area product, and there's several of them on the team now. Of course, Cole Commet also prominent in that regard. Jeff Joni actlong with Jim Miller. Welcome back to Bears Weekly, Jim.

We gotta look around the division a little bit. I'll tell you the team that's really got my attention right now is Detroit. They're making a ton of moves, They've got good draft capital, including two first rounders, and everybody's

got needs. But right now, if they truly believe Jared Goff is going to be fine moving forward here uh and not likely in this spot again to be high, you know, do they still go for a quarterback of the future or they just find the very best players and try to go and win a division and get into the playoffs. Yeah. I think when I talked to Brad Holmes, their general manager down at the down at the Combine, I think they golf their guy and they got him at a really good price over the next

three years that he's there. I do think potentially they would draft one to develop them, but I can see them signing a veteran backup, you know, whether it's a Teddy Bridgewater who spend time down there in New Orleans with Dan Campbell, or say even a guy like Matt Ryan who would have to go there as a backup, but as a midline pass or similar to to Jared Golf. But I think he's their guy. They made that clear that he's their quarterback, but want to upgrade their their

backup spot and then develop a young quarterback. But yeah, I think one it says a lot about what they're building. Guys are siding on for this project. Guys have resigned there like John Kaminski, ALEXANDZELONEI his resigned guys from the outside, like Cam Sutton. He signed a three year, thirty three million dollars deal. He's a versatile slot corner who he signed, and he pretty much made it clear that Dan Campbell was made Detroit kind of a really good landing spot.

Would just word out of around the league from players that have really praised Dan Campbell, how he's really straightforward, he's upfront with them, treats him as men. But you know, he's a hard nosed coach. I think everybody knows that, and he wants hard nosed guys and so those type of guys are on board for that type of stuff. And you know they landed CJ or Chauncey Gardner today. That guy, he is trouble with a capital T. He gets under everybody's skin and now you get him twice

a year in the division. He is, He's a tough, hard nosed player that does. He ruffles a lot of feathers. And guys have come back. You know. Here Graham glass Scott, who signed a good deal out there with Denver, that was a free agent. And why do you resigned with the Lions? Here was his reasoning. Yeah, I just wanted to be back with my buddies. How about this one? How about this one though? How about this one? Romeo Aquara took a nine million dollars pay cut essentially, And

again some of this financial gymnastics tell different stories. But Charles Harris, he took a three million dollar cut. Guys are taking pay cuts to stay that. I think they feel something's brewing there in Detroit. And and you know what's preventing them say say that, you're you're you're saying what is true from Brad Holmes. They don't try to get a young quarterback with one of these Well, certainly with the sixth pick. You know, a guy like the

Georgia defensive tackle could easily wind up there. They they've remade that defensive front already. They could use. You know, you always can have a great player. I mean, they could be really in a great position at the number six pick or yeah, you know, we'll move out of it and get something down deeper. Yeah. I don't see Jalen Carters still getting out of the top ten, you know. I know is a tragic event that that happened out

outside of football. Um. But even though he kind of was winded and out of shape on his pro day, Yeah, there's gonna be some question marks about that. Hey, you knew your prode was going to happen, you didn't do anything at the combine, then you show up out of shape. But he's still go go put on the tape. Man. The guy is the best defensive tackle in this draft, and the coaches and gms that that need one and believe that they can coach him to get it out

of him at the end of the day. Um. So he will not have to be under any discipline from the NFL because it happened while he was in college, and so there won't be any limitations on him other than you need to know about him his work ethic and that you can coach him up and you're going to get the most out of him. And teams will still believe that they can do that, because again, it's the planet theory. There's only so many men that big with his talent that are that are walking the planet.

And he is a really good football player when you when you are on the tape. So I don't see them falling out of the top ten. And you're right, what would stop the Lions from taking them there at six where they're picking, because I do believe they need a defensive line help as well. All right, let's look at the Vikings. Eleven and oh and one score games in the regular season last year. Eight fourth quarter comeback wins tied an NFL record. They got a new number

one corner, they found an edge rusher, Marcus Davenport. I did some things on the offensive line. They've got the number twenty three pick, and they've got Kirk Cousins. They are they okay, Yeah, I think they're Offensively, they can put up points. It's all about the defense. I mean, they finished twenty eighth and scoring. I believe defensively, it just was not good enough to me. You know, I saw him just rework their their safety. Harris renegotiated his deal.

He took a haircut there. They lose some other guys. Obviously. Patrick Peterson moves on to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the reason why, I just think they're old, you know, no offense. I love Patrick Peterson as a player, but he does not run like he used to. Harris is a safety and the reason why they probably asked him to take a pay cut. They don't want to insult him, but he can't run anymore like he used to it. He's been beat up as a safety in the NFL. So

you bring in Flores as their defense. According to me, they have still more work to do on the defensive side of the ball. But their offense is legit with you know, Jefferson on offense, and it looks like Delvin Cook is going to make his way out where he doesn't have to take a haircut. I believe they approached him on it and he told him no. So they may, you know, think about doing something there, but I doubt it. I think that time has come and gone for him

and he's going to be safe. But they've got a powerful offense, but defensively, they've still got some work to do. You being out with all eyes on the national focus every day, what's the latest up in Lambeaux. Well, I think everybody seems to think that because Green Bay has

this option, right, they can. They've got this fifty eight million dollars option that basically they can activate at any time, and they're going to choose not to activate it knowing that at some point that Aaron Rodgers is going to be traded. Supposedly they're holding out for compensation. Everybody thinks that all the leverage is on their side, but at some point in time that's going to have to be activated.

It can be all the way up to week one that they're going to have to work out a trade with only one trade partner, and that trade partner is the New York Jets. Right, no other team has approached the Jets. I don't know why. The Jets, while they're flying out to see Aaron Rodgers out in California, you stop into Green Bay and you say, hey, what's the trade compensation? We need to agree to that before we

make a trip out to talk to Aaron Rodgers. So somewhat clumsily handled by the New York Jets, and why now they're in this waiting game. Okay, And so I think the Jets are not going to give up their thirteenth overall. If green Bay's asking for one, I don't think that's going to happen. I think ultimately the compensation package will be two twos to a year, second round pick this year and possibly a second round pick next year. I think ultimately we will spur the deal because who knows.

Rogers is a quirky cat. Now he can say his intentions are to play for the Jets, But the last thing green Bay needs is for the opening day of offseason program, Aaron Rodgers finds himself up in the building. Hey, I'm under contract, I want to be protected for injury, and I'm just gonna go ahead and work out here. That's the last thing that green Bay Packers want is him in the building because they want to rid themselves

so that sixty million dollars salary. So I think cooler heads will prevail and it'll get done before the draft. But it'll be for two twos, a two this year and a two next year. Oh interesting stuff we look in the division, Not that we care so much about that. Bears gotta do what they gotta do, full steam ahead on what they'd like to see their future look like, and so I look at it that way as well.

I don't know if you look at that Wayne. When you look in with a division, you gotta win your division. You gotta beat the teams in your divisions first and foremost to go to the playoffs. But I care about what my team is doing, what they want to be in the bigger picture. Yeah, I think that. You know, the NFC North is wide open. A lot of people

are kind of favoring the Detroit Lions right now. Everything seems to be going in the right direction that they're scoring points, but they still got more work to do on defense. Bears will be right in it. In my opinion. A lot of things need to come together. They still need more pieces to the puzzle. And that's why you go out and acquire the assets that you have and why everybody's given Ryan pulls the A plus that he's had here this offseason, you trade down. They still have

a lot of needs they need to fill. And again, the young players that played last year they need to build on that, and the young players that are coming in this year, they need to start their ascension pretty quick because they're going to be thrown out there too now. And a lot is going to be expected. There's a lot of pressure on those kids last year, and they'll be pressure on the young draft picks this year to come in and perform. So they'll be competitive and just

like they were last year. They really the only blowout game was Dallas, and that was a game until the until the fumbled return for a touchdown that it became eventually came a twenty point blowout. But the Bears were pretty much in every game but one. I thought they were competitive, just didn't have the horses necessary for the full sixteen minute battle, and that's what they're in the process of acquiring right now. Tiber a break. Coming up.

Out of the break, we'll have a conversation with fifty year guard the newest Chicago Bear offensive lineman, Nate Davis. This is Bears Weekly with Jim Melihim Jeff Joniak here on the Chicago Bears Radio Network. Is Bears Weekly with a voice of the Bears for twenty three years. Jeff Joniak on the Bears Radio networking seventeen games in twenty twenty, final fifteen, and nineteen and made thirty seven of his

forty starts in college and the University of Charlotte. Last week, I sat down with the newest Chicago Bears guard Nate Davis. All Right, Nate, first of all, welcome to Chicago. You big smile and that's what you know. Free agents coming in? Uh, what are your initial impressions of being a Chicago Bear? Gratitude? Happy? UM's excited. I can just I can feel the energy here.

I can, you know, just being around as new facility, seeing all the things they put in here just for players, me and some of the players, mean the staff, you know, I can't ask for anything better. Yeah, that's the first thing I always hear from guys. Wow, this place it does look like a museum. Right, So charter franchise in the National Football League? Do you get that impression? And

that kind of stoked the flames a little bit. Yeah. Percent, Like you walk in and you know, before you get into the team room, we see the super Bowl trophy. You know, that's that's what we work for. So as what I'm saying, you see all the you know, the history, you know the guys who you know have put the blood and sweat and tears it before us. You just kind of look around It's like, Wow, I'm really I'm really here. I'm really in a Chicago bear. What is

your story? What is the big takeaway and how you got here? Uh, someone who is very determined, who's one resilient guy. That's that's the That's the easiest way I can say. You know, a lot of things have been thrown at me, but every single time, the able to accomplish what I need to accomplish to get to what I need to get to. So it's it's very you know, it's very so real. You know, one of the most difficult things for players in schemes is the change of coaches.

And you had five different offensive line coaches in college, You're now going to have your second different offensive line coach here in the NFL. How'd you get through that just to get to the league, Because that's a lot of different teaching. Everybody's got a little something different they want to teach it. Yeah, I would definitely say a support system. Um, having you know, the right people around your circle. That kind of keeps you on that straight

narrow path. I really do have to give him a lot of credit for that, because it is tough having a new coach every single year, not knowing what to expect, but it makes anybody person when you come out of it. What's your best attribute? If you were to tell Bears fans, hey, this, this is who I am as an offensive line, the first word comes mine's physical. Um, bring a different type of asic count of the game. Consistency too. Um. I

really like that us to ask for one word. So yeah, just because a county that's good, don't get fulled by the big smile right here in a nice demeanor, right when it's Sunday and you're ready to go put the hand in the dirt. It's it's trouble, isn't it. We got we got some guys on this team that way already, so I know there's gonna be more additions probably, But this team led the NFL and rushing last year, and

you're familiar with that too down in Tennessee. What did you and that maybe you've already seen some things on tape that you know showed what kind of physicality this team wants to bring in the tape, right, I mean obviously just watching Oline, I was here before it pops out of the field every single time you watch it. They're already physical guys already. And then obviously got Justin Fields back there who will do anything, you know, put

his body in the line to winning game. And that means a lot just as someone who's blocking for him, but also the teammates. So, like I said, it shows all over the film already the type of team that says, you blocked for Derrick Henry and put up over six thousand yards rushing just by himself with with you guys up front, and you are part of that. Was that special for such a unique player like that. Yeah, that's something that you know, that's something you can't take away

from from us. And it was a special moment. Uh, definitely a lot of gratitude, a lot of great moments, and just something proud of. Something was that when you get a guy like that, it can get a lather going throughout the course of the Game's harder to bring down as a game where he's on. So that make

you guys just more dominant. I mean, you don't feel the fatigue so to speak, because you got a guy back there just tearing it up right right, you're in the huddle, you see him, you know, don't he doesn't never get tired, you know what I mean. So you can't get tired. It's what I'm saying. If you keep on turning those wheels, you gotta keep on doing it with them. So just being able to kind of upload to each other no matter what and continue, it's telling

that path of h you know we're gonna dominate. You know, you can't be the one, you can't be that one guy out of that. How exciting will it be to block for Justin? I mean now he wants to throw the ball more and be in the pockets, so he just din't want to run all the time. But boy, dynamic and unique. You gotta say he's the most dynamic runner in the league right now, with all do respect to the other mobile quarterbacks. He just did it differently with a big body, and that probably changes a lot

for an offensive lineman who's not used to that. For a guy just sitting in the pocket, that's just somebody who you want to block for, you want to play for. And like I said, he is a leader and he's just easy to be around, just by talking to him just for a little bit today. So yeah, I'm excited. I'm definitely looking forward to it, and you know, I'm just I'm just happy to say, he's my quarterback. So you started on a ground floor opportunity at the University

of Charlotte. You know, started football I think in the four restarted football in twenty fourteen and you I think we're red shirt of that year, right, So this is another ground floor opportunity with a team that you know obviously finished three and fourteen. They're trying to build something here. What'd you learn from that over the all that time in college age you can apply now in the NFL.

Just you know, the dedication in the coast city that takes day in and day out to become successful, especially in this league of NFL. Every nothing was given to you, everything's earned. That's a you know, easiest way I can really say. It's not gonna be easy, but it's gonna be fun. And you did a heck of a job at the senior boat to get you here. It's often strange for me when a guy just built like you, but he's a lot of good football can get overlooked

a little bit. But do you think that process put you on the map for teams to say I can I can play at this level. And you've proven that obviously as a long time Starner. Yea percent, because you know, come from a small school, especially an unknown school. You can see Charlotte, I didn't know if I can play with guys who were, you know, the bigger D one schools. So being out there and being able to compete with them and honestly being able to dominate while I was

there definitely helped me out. I could definitely say that, well, we're excited to have you. I couldn't think of a better opportunity right now. Congratulations, nothing but success to you and rest your family as well. You're gonna love Chicago. I appreciate you, Thank you, thank you. That's big name. Davis Jim Miller out of Charlotte, the fifth year six

three three out six crazy to hear, you know. You know he faced in at least in his early days because Larry Ogan Jobey with the Steelers was also at Charlotte at that time, so they were the best two players on that team. And boy, he learned a lot from that. And he also he arrived here in the NFL with like a frogman stance. He didn't yet. He had to get his butt up in the air a little bit, but he learned over time to adjust and look he just got a thirty million dollar contract. Yeah,

and this a rugged blocker. Right. We know the style of football at Tennessee, and the Bears are going to continue to run the ball, right. They were number one in the league last year and want to try to improve and be even more effective here in twenty twenty three. Uh. You know, certainly when you get a big back like Foreman into the mix, he's used to blocking. He's been blocked with Foreman obviously there for Tennessee, and that style

of rugged football is going to continue. You know. I just think also too, it just gives the Bears flexibility up front on their offensive line. You know, I know everybody's got him plugged in at the right guard position. Maybe Tevin Jenkins kicks out to right tackle. But part of me thinks that you could plug Nate Davis in it at left guard, kick Cody back to center if need be, and they could be formidable that way as well. Because I thought I thought Tevin Jenkins played pretty well

last year. I don't know about you, Jeff. I really thought he was muscling some guys and he was playing some big boy football too. So you get to two big guards and then you could always kick Cody back in the center and then go out and probably draft a right tackle. You look at Dawan Jones from Ohio State and everybody he was dominant there. He was dominant down at the Senior Bowl, and everybody believes he'll be a starting right tackle day one in the National Football League.

All right. Also, lastly, Davis played for current Bears assistant offensive line coach Luke Stackle in Tennessee. So familiarity also breed success often with coaches. So that's a that's a big addition to the Bears offensive line. One break to go and then we'll wrap things up with Jim Miller. I get a quick spin around the league, see what's going on with the commissioner of the NFL. That's all coming up next here. I'm Bears Weekly here on the

Chicago Bears Radio Network. Excuse Bears Weekly with the voice of the Bears for twenty three years, Jeff Julian on the Bears Radio Networks. Thank you joining us tonight, everybody. Jim Miller from Serious X and NFL Radio's moving the chains. The former Chicago Bears quarterback. I'm messing with fire, big Jim. I'm Jeff Joniac when I often put you on the spot.

You know, I kind of killed you earlier that you couldn't have been a pistol quarterback with the threat of a you know, maybe some some running around back there, some rpo. Now, Hey, you were drafted major League Baseball as I learned, U did you play basketball? Yeah? I play Oops. Any good small scholarship offer wasn't really you. You you're telling me you got small scholarship offers for

that too. Yeah, yep, I completely underrated your athleticism. Buddy, yell you you got to take me into the woodshed. That's what you gotta do. Anyway, I'm just having fun with you. I love I you'd be a point guard. I don't know, but I loved watching you play Bears football because you were gritty and you handle that position the way it needs to be like a leader that you were. And that's that's what I that's my hopes

for for Justin Fields. You know, continue to bang that drama being a leader and he got better over the course of the season, and take control of the situation. Once you experience a little success, I think you kind of settle in a little bit. Now it's his team yeah, no, he will. I mean I like him because he's tough, and that's you've got to, you know, in order to earn respect in the in the locker room and amongst

your teammates and your coaches. I think when you show you your tough and you put that out there for everybody, that they respect that. And I think Justin does that, you know. And it's not just you know, his toughness as a player, meaning taking hits and all those type of things. It's just his approach. He's got that that toughest nails attitude that he's going to work day in and day out to get better and there's a resolve

about him. And I think that about say Jalen Hurts, you know, whenever you see Jalen Hurts speak, you know, post game, and just how he conducts himself, how he how he commands himself, and how he carries himself. I think carries a lot of weight where people believe in you, and I think Justin has a lot of belief in him because he's earned that. He's earned that and he's going to continue to improve. He's going to continue to

get better. But he's got all those intangible qualities so to speak, that you know that you're looking for at that position. It's not just at that position, it's at every position. You've got to have the heart of the desire, you know, the willingness to get better every single day, and also have the humility when you make a mistake that hey, I need to improve this, I need to get better at this, And I think justin displays all

of that. All right, a little whip around time here in our final moments, Jim, if you had to pick one pro day this week to go to, Iowa had their's today, you got, let's see, Ohio State is Wednesday, Alabama Thursday, Penn State Friday, Notre Dame Friday as well. Which one would you want to go to? Oh? Well, all of them, of course, but I mean I would Allama, right, Yeah, I would have liked to see the van Esque kid. I mean, here's as a pass rusher. The guy's never

a starter. I think we know what's about earning it, and the senior who played ahead of them obviously gets the nod. But this is a very interesting guy that everybody has going in in the first round, certainly Alabama, Ohio State, everybody's there because of the quarterback in the tackles right, both the tackles Johnson and Jones, who we talked about earlier, those guys are going to be top picks as well. C J. Strout, I personally think he

will be the first quarterback taken Alabama. Take your pick. They got all kinds of positions there that are going to be great, and you know they've got a great coaching staff that comes through. But certainly Bryce Young is going to be the guy everybody's raven back. Because here's what you like about Bryce Young as he's well coached under Bill O'Brien, who was there for two years. He's called an audibles at the line of scrimmage, multiple plays protections.

But his frame, his frame does scary. I mean he's five ten, and let's face it was kind of manufactured weight at the combine, right, he weighed in at two or four. He played at one ninety. And everybody thinks he's a dual threat. I watched tape on him today. He is not a dual threat quarterback, and I don't think you want him to be. I think you know when you watch him play, I mean, he would get bent in half if they were to do an RPO type of game with him at the at the next level,

he he a lot. He reminds me a lot when I watched tape on him today. He reminds me a lot of Ten Bridgewater. Even though he's not as tall as Teddy. That he's got that slight frame like Teddy. And I think that's what got people concerned. It's got It's nothing against his ability to throw the football. He's got uh, you know, he can throw the football. He's accurate, he's got the acumen. He makes really good decisions. That's

what you love about him. But man, that that frame has got to be concerning, and he does not run as well as what everybody thinks he can. Is it Quickly? Roger Goodown and the owners backed to make a multi year contract extension for the commission next week. It'ld be his fourth extension. Uh. And he's he has certainly done a heck of a job making a lot of dough. There's labor piece and there's people making money, so everything's good, right, Yeah, Yeah,

two labor deals that you get done. And to have him ten years long, you know, it's you say this about the NFL is kind of a dot com bubble that that just doesn't seem to want to burn. And they continue to really build the game internationally, obviously with the games in Germany now, and that's going to continue. So the game is growing and Roger Goodell has really done a a nice job to keep that labor piece, to keep it intact. Yeah, don't talk about a bubble

in the NFL. Gosh, I mean, it's this sport is uh, it's it's a great sport. Let's keep it. Let's keep it humming, big Jim. Let's keep it humming. All right, let's get in a pandemic. Think about that. Not one game during the randem right crazy that they were hold it off. All right, Thank you, buddy. We'll see at the NFL owners meeting next week. How about its good friend, all right, Jim Miller our guest here tonight Tonight was

a T. J. Edwards. Thanks to our producers. We got Nick Astrotski, the Bears Radio Network producer, along with Kendra Smith, Nick mcdala, Dan Burrelli, and Jordan tread Up from the Bears. Thanks for listening, everybody on the new radio home of the Chicago Bears, AM one thousand, the ESPN Chicago Black and Abdalla Our Next. We'll talk to you next week. Goodnight, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Chicago Bears Network presentation

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