Thomas Graham Jr. talks debut | All Access

is such a thing. It's back from the eighteen hundreds. Workers would have the day after Christmas would get boxes their gifts from their employers, and they'd get these big boxes of stuff. So it's called Boxing Day. First I've ever heard of it. Well, I appreciate the explanation and the history class of that. I should have probably paid attention to an eighth grade or something, but that one went over the top of me. But so happy Boxing

Day to everybody and great Northwest. I'll be expecting the day after Christmas a big box or something from you, Tom. How about it? How about a Bears win? That'll be nice in a box? I take a Bears win in a box, in the bag, in a balloon and a shopping cart, anyway you want to deliver it to me, Big Jeff, I'll be right besides you, gladly to take it. Coming up in our next couple of segments, we'll be

joined by Bears rookie cornerback Thomas Graham Junior. And then later in the program, former Seattle receiver Michael Bumpus now on the Seahawks radio network as the pre and post game host, And we're gonna hear a little Bears defensive lineman. But Allow Nichols. He happens to be on the COVID nineteen list. It was an interview I did with him last week and news today a Keem Hicks goes on that list. Now tom So will not be in the game this week. A couple of guys come off, Andy

Dalton and Mario Edwards Junior. Sam Camara also off that list. He goes to the active roster and Ladarius mac goes to the practice squad. So again, a couple of defensive lineman against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks. Yeah, you know they're fortunate they did get back Mario Edwards Junior. I'm sure he's fresh and ready to play, and hopefully he can have the bounds to the defensive line that a Keem Hicks did last week against the Minnesota Vikings.

But what a shame, what a shame to him only be around for the Minnesota the Vikings game, and you know, hopefully he'll be around for the Giants in the next Minnesota game. But you know, the first concern of everything as a team's health. So that's all. I just wish the best for that. Already, Burns and Duke Shelley also coming off that list earlier in the week. So more options in the secondary as well. We're all interested. And

you know, jermainea. Fetti met the media to daytime and he talked about what he you know, he knows Russell Wilson, he protected him for four years. He's intrigued by the Justin Fields Russell Wilson matchups as he wishes who was a national televised game, because I think he sees similarities there, and that's been a topic all week. What are the similarities. I don't know what you feel about about it, because

they're different body types. In my opinion, obviously a guy in Russell Wilson established himself a Super Bowl champion, the whole bit, done a great job using that athleticism, but also just being able to pull the trigger from the pocket and lead his team, an outstanding leader for the Seattle States. Yeah, but Jeff, you know, we've been fortunate to have a long enough broadcasting career, but we've been around for the entirety of these players the length of

their career. And when you think of Russell Wilson, what he was doing to the Bears at the beginning of his career, how of a well conditioned athlete he was, how that took a toll on the Bears as a defense, and many opponents are on the National Football League. If Justin has the potential to grow into a player like Russell Wilson, I'd be good benefit Bears for years to come.

Offensive coordinator Bill Lazier also expected to be back this week earlier today, and what he expects to see and what he expects from Justin Fields in the final three games of the season, Well, I would go everything constant development. That would be the boring answer. You know, I think some of the stuff you see from the game is only learned from experience, which is here's the play. I don't like what I see right here. How do I keep my thread of running and make it really positive

for the offense? How do I make sure that worst case scenario i'd take, someone just gets lucky and tackles me for a very small sack and not a big one. You know, we just we just I just think as an offense, you know, you see the big errors that hurt us and so but no, I'm I'm I'm all excited about continued growth, continued development. Coach every detail. It is like I said that the first answer was the boring answer. It is a little bit boring because it's

just a grind, you know. Coach t Filippo just grinds them all the time. And that's that's how that's how we all get better. How did that conversation time? For me? What I pull out is too you know, if you are going to get sacked and seattle as a defense that can't sack the quarterback, you know, limit the damage, can't have the big fourteen fifteen yard sacks. Yeah, or

justin fall into the rhythm of the offense. You know your initial read, know your secondary read quickly and then if you you have to eject the pocket, use your god giving ability to make the most out of the play.

So it is a grind because when you look at a playbook and you hear Matt Naggee talk or any of these coordinators along the line, you have a selection or three or four hundred plays throughout the course of a career in a lifetime, and the grind is learning every one of those plays perfectly so you can master them and then used to the rhythm of the offense every time you call one. China say also a big

topic of conversation. It was real quant Smith, he's mythed He says, it's a travesty that he wasn't named to the Pro Bowl. I know how you feel about it. All pros better than Pro Bowl popularity contests, but there is something about it, you know, that kind of lingers with guys a like Ogletree, same thing. You know, they're

they're feeling there's an injustice here. Yeah, you know, that's kind of the feeling you're gonna have anytime you have a great player on your team and you feel that they're deserving of the Pro Bowl, but they don't make it. But you also have to face guys that have made it a multiple times over through the course of their career and they're the first on their list when some of these people are voting, or they come from a big fan a town of fans that really get involved

in the voting. I guarantee you if Roquan was on a team that had a ten and four record rather than four and ten, he would be one of the first guys on the list. And listen, if Roquan Smith plays football at the level he's been playing and developing at the develop at the level he's been developing, I selfishly don't care if he ever makes a Pro Bowl because he means a lot to the Bears and he deserves it. Unfortunately, he didn't get voted in everybody can't

Bobby Wagner did. Michael Parsons, the rookie in Dallas who plays all over the place, but Roquan a pure inside guy. The other topic is, you know, can that secondary replicate what they did against Minnesota against Seattle and Russell Wilson and those receivers. You know, Jeff, You've been saying it every time I hear you talk, and as we talk together, it's gonna the front is gonna have to help the back.

And if the defensive line and can have that same aggressive approach, they can put the quarterback in a negative position when he's getting ready to throw the ball, then the Bears defensive backs are we'll be able to capitalize on that. It's no easy task, however, you know, it's kind of the opposite. It's gonna be quiet in there when Russell is going through his signals. If the Bears can kind of fall into the rhythm of his cadence, but maybe they can have a get off and really

challenge this offensive line. Half of it is good, half of it is susceptible. Yeah, they give up a lot of sex. Some of that created by a guy who holds onto the football a long time, as long as he can in Russell Wilson. All right, Coming up next, we're gonna be joined by Thomas Graham Junior. We'll talk secondary, We'll talk kid from Rancho Cucamonga, California. Thomas Graham Junior coming up next on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports

Radio six seventy to score. Welcome back to Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy, choose clean energy for your home at igs dot com, because every good choice adds up to a better world. With Tom there, Jeff Jonnyak counting you down to Bears and Seahawks, but please to be joined by Bears rookie cornerback Thomas Graham Junior. Thanks for joining us on this day as you get ready to go out to the Great Northwest. Uh your old stomping grounds out there, huh Oregon? Yes, sir, Yes, sir. Yeah,

it's kind of weird. I'd imagine we're wondering when you might get a chance to play, and then all of a sudden, you have this game that everybody's so proud to talk about, and you must be proud to have experienced with your performance. Seven tackles, three pass breakups, save a touchdown and just show big. And now now you're a center of attention. You've gone from virtually nothing to the center of attention. Are you cool with that? Are you? Is it enjoyable or is it easy for you? What's

your what's your thoughts? I think it's as enjoyable more for the aspect of as I just had so many people just cheer me on this whole time during the price of spot Joor that I was a table to go out there just let let all that out on the field and you're selling them one that I'm still here, but two also that like your supporting matter and it is the reason why I was able to still care around the confidence that I deal with and things like that.

So that was kind of just more for the people that's just always been there for me more than just myself. I'm thinking your parents and your family. That's the first place, because I hear a lot about Team Graham, righty, yes, but it's not just parents family. I have a really big community behind the end I'm very thankful for. It goes back to my old teammates at Orgon and my Ground zero, so those are my boys from seven on setting.

So it kind of just a really big community just to people of family, friends, and you know, I got to give all bloody gods. So I was just glad I had everybody on my side. As how many snaps did you play? I can't give you the exact number, but it was a lot, a lot more than I've experienced the last two years. Right. If you don't know the number, do you know your best and your worst? Just from this week's experience, like my best place in my work, worst place, just just one, you know, almost

at the opp sit end of the spectrum. Mark, I know this one good one that I had, and I know this one I had that I have to you know, learn from it or let you know, don't don't let it follow through? Oh yes, must definitely. Um, I know all my bad plays. I knew it before we even stepped up the field. You know, I was happy with the game, but like nobody's ever had a perfect game. So it's just like you just had to keep stacking those Western names and when you do make a play,

it's just like you know your defense one. That's the way you protected sixty four snaps and five special teams. You've got a good workout time. Wow. Nice, you know that double duty. I'm sure during your college career you don't have a lot of double duty of regular staffs and special teams. But I think when you're climbing the ladder of NFL success, it's a great opportunity to get your jersey on the field more than just your defensive responsibility. Yes,

I feel like it. That's big though, because also it's big plays made on most sides, and I think definitely being a younger dude and the younger guy like you gotta put him work to be able to only do sir bang stand you know, I'm here to pay my dues or the impressive things listening to yesterday were with Thomas Graham Junior or the rookie cornerback out of Oregon made a big splash last week in the lost to Minnesota.

Getting ready for Seattle. Was just how open you were about because you know, from my experience and it starts at the combine. I've gone to the last you know how many twenty seven combines or whatever, and horners are always uber confident, right they have to be that. You guys are on the island, and you admitted that, you know what, confidence took a hit not not making that final roster and then just biding your time working every day.

That's a that's an our honest and rare reflection from a player, young or veteran to say, hey, my confidence definitely took a hit. How do you frame that and put it in context? M It was it was just going from just like, you know, sick of my life, I've always been on top of everything. Is probably I

wouldn't say probably. The majority of time is always one on my side when it comes that God blessed me to be able to stay healthy, to the fact that going to places to where everything is in my favor, and I felt like this is an opportunity to where it just wasn't and I had to find my way and dig out and for me, my like, the biggest motivation was, it's just all every time I go home, all the little kids I work out with and stuff like that, What am I gonna be able to go

home and tell them. I can even tell them that I stayed and fault the whole time during practice spot, I can tell them I do what I had to do to get better every day, or I can tell them I quit. So it was either one of those three choices, and I wasn't taking the last one. Did you budge in the shade? Townsend zero lot? It wasn't more a bugging um. He wanted to see me get

better as much as I wanted to see myself. So as long as I went out there and reached out to him, it will be certain stuff could reach out to me. Are the pops And then I've already said it in pace would just kind of give me Valis film to watch that I felt me or my game, and he felt me or my game. And some of

them were the same, some of them were different. When you're on the outside looking in, you're waiting for your opportunity physically, you can work on your skills every day in practice, but were you investing personal time in watching tape of Bears Defense? So you understood whatever opportunity is presented to me from the slot corner to the outside that you know, being mentally ready I think is as much of an important role as it being physically ready.

That is that what the approach you took. Yes, And I'm very thankful for DT because in our meetings he gets everybody involved. So no matter if you're on a practice s guard, no matter if you Eddie Jackson, you go get involved in. You go be involved in the meeting. And said, you got to know the game plan. We always have to bring in a tip of week, have to take our little weekly test. So it's like I've always always involved in the game plan in the scheme,

He's always been there. Since then, in practice, I kind of just said a focal point of just to one week work in that corner, then Nickel switching sides that corner and just doing as best as I can to make myself better. But also you can be following the card because that was on Scouts. What about Russell Wilson when you at Kirk Cousins, who you just hey, man,

you're you're starting, You're playing to night. You kind of know a little bit of the process to the plan, a little bit more versatility and a guy like Russell Wilson. Have you seen more of those guys throughout your college time or is this a unique challenge for you. I've seen guys like him a college time, but it's still one of Russell Wilson, and it's the reason why he's

Russell Wilson. So it's just I got to start seeing what and I've been doing the more on film, but just kind of seeing what's more him and what's certain stuff that I actually got to be rustening. And I think with him the focus point is just staying plaster because he can't make it, but he can't escape. Man. He probably has been the most beautiful deep ball in

the NFL. And then definitely outside the numbers. So if you have a quarterback like that that can throw outside the numbers and you're a corner, just get ready for a long day. What sticks out about that throw? I mean the thing is he waits, man, he does not he doesn't mind getting popped. So does that make it more difficult because you know, even with his finger injury, I guess Tom and I talked about this, he's not as willing to leave the pocket at least right now

in the last few weeks. And maybe that's just because of his finger or whatnot. But you know what makes him hang in there and make it difficult then on a corner, because you really do have to plaster that coverage, don't you. Um, Well, what makes it difficult is that he actually has those speedy receivers. So now he puts you and takes that that moment in the responsibility of a scheme to now out of it to where now

this is one on one athletics. And now he stayed in there for that extra half a second to take to throw that boss and now our balls fifty six yards down the field, and now let's attract me with you and DK metcalf for you and type of locke and with those receivers. I think those two combined are probably leading the NFL right now in deep ball catches and touchdownsince they have teamed up. So it's just like

you gotta be able to adjust to that. I'm smiling because you put DK Metcalf up there, and here's Tyler Lockett, who may have had the quietest three years in succession in the NFL. I mean, the guy's terrific. He's five nine, he said, three straight thousand yards seasons. But he's tucked away out up there in the Great Northwest, and I know he's been a Pro Bowl and whatnot. But then

you got DJ Metcalf. DK Metcalf, My goodness, I mean, this is like something chiseled out of some chemistry experiment. And we knew his dad he played offensive line here for the Bears, Terrence Metcalf. So but but what how do you deal with that kind of size, speed and height ratio who can just fly by it and is

very difficult to bring down to the ground. Um, you just got to come to there with confidence and just understand that everybody has a weakness and you just got to be able to either trying to find it or make him uncomfortable. And that's all you can do. You got to make it to where he can't use those abilities on you. And it's kind of hard because the Seattle does a great job of making sure that he can and that's is why he has been having success

in the same for time locket like that. No, I don't think anybody in the NFL can can really track the ball as deep as he can. He does a great job with Justin It's crazy to see some of the throws and catches that him and Russ have together. So it's just like when you have somebody that's a freaking nature and somebody that has a guy given gift

with another guy give and get it behind it. It's hard with Tyler and if I'm not mistaken, the chemistry between those two, he'll throw to an area and expect him to run and get it is that and that's gotta be really challenging. It's very challenging. It was one play to where I can't even exactly what team it was, but it was man to me encourage zero blitz and he just threw it up in the middle of the field.

He made probably one of the most adjustment plays I've ever seen in my life, Like as a receiver, He faded, He faded inside like he was gonna go in the over faded all the way back five yards and then over the shoulder catch and it was just crazy. You're dig in right, you can't wait in the challenge. Thomas grahamar guests We're gonna step away for a time out here on Bears All Access with Tom There, Jeff jonnyaka

Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. This segment of Bears All Access is brought to you by Athletical Physical Therapy. Visit Athletical dot com to request an appointment in clinic or virtually and start feeling better tomorrow. With Thomas Graham Junior, the Bears cornerback, the rookie making a big splash last week. Good to have him alongside. I'm Jeff Joniak and he's

Tom There. You know, Thomas. Right before the break, we you were kind of talking about the long ball that Russell Wilson throws and kind of what an art that is. The One thing that impressed me most about justin fields when he got here early is his passes over twenty five yards and how accurate they were and how easily they seem to come out of his hand. You've had opportunities to practice against them, even when he's being prepared for the opponent. Have you noticed anything like that out

of him? And is you know the unique quality that we're talking about, Yes, it is. I think both of them see are in factor, and I think that's kind of what helps with that bomb because with the fact that they act trust their right receivers and I think that comes to like very big because they allowed him

to make that play. So sometimes they'll throw that deep ball and it's out in front and then they play mind games with the quarterback as itself, so with the cornerback as the quarterback, and which is crazy because sometimes over the shoulder the back shoulders, so it's just like you don't know which one to play, and when he gets to the point, if you don't know back shoulders coming,

it's rap. So just like with justin development, definitely over time you can just see the more comfortability, the more trust he has with the receivers in being able to make those throws in It's gonna be a very special future for my boy one. All right. It's interesting too, not the loose sight, but a guy like Darnell Mooney and having a chance to watch his development, and he, to me is one of the more creative ball kick

after the catch ball carriers in the league. The way he can get you off balance, out of position, he can turn a two yard catch into a ten yard catch. Is it's kind of interesting to be able to go against Russell Wilson and what he's offering you, but you've also had an comortunity to practice against the guy that

has feet like Justin and passed route running ability like Darnell. Yes, it's very I think it's very good, definitely when it comes to my development too, because I'm actually punning against two people that are putting themselves to be in the same shoes as a Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett. That's already an established relationship like that, just the two dominant

force a quarterback and receiver. But they're just younger now, so it's just it's just the things that they have to adjust from and add to stack to their skill they're already minding. But it's great to be able to go through that because it's helped me do the same with Tom There Jeff Joniac and Thomas Graham Junior Bears cornerback with you on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the score. Let's go back into last week's game, because I felt that the dbs were flying around. You guys were hitting

flying around. It just looked fast, ud the impact of the front seven, A keen being back and Robert Quinn getting so much attention now and Roquan out of his mind, probably ticked off he didn't get named to the Pro Bowl. Just took it out on the vikings. Uh what was different about you guys? Uh? Is it the new blood? Is it just the opportunity? Was it the game plan? Was it a mix of everything or did you feel the same way. I think it was a mix of everything.

The game plan fits us perfectly. And then just opportunity. We all we all have opportunity. I feel everybody on the team, UM, from practice squad all the way to the start. It feels like that they either want to start, they want to play the game. So it's just like we have the opportunity in front of us. And that's

kind of all we talked about. Definitely Sunday and then Monday, it's just a keen rob They said they're going out there and they planned they playing like it it's their last time playing, because at the end of the day their bets, so they understand that this game and get taken away in For us, it's like we're playing because

we want the opportunity to keep playing. And I feel like that was kind of just the whole mindset of the defense um Monday night was just go out there or take advantage of your opportunity, rob I said, Bro had said it in another before we had walked off, just like it's some of you guys are the first opportunity, but as bets, we get the same opportunities, So now

let's go out there or take advantage of it. Did you guys get any emotional bump when Naggie went to bath for Dion Bush and Uh kind of made it how aggressively he made it known to the officials that he completely disagreed with the way you guys were being treated, because it seemed to me that emotions emotions raised a little bit. After that, it just felt good that that the coach here is as much as us. I think that's that's meaningful to just any any relationship that you have.

And when he does that, we go show him that we got your back on the field too. For many people, it's like, oh, there's nothing left but for you and some of your other guys that got some opportunity, You're just starting your season, you know, in a sense, not to dismiss what you did do in practice and what you've done throughout the course of your time to get ready, but do you feel re energized as a guy, and do you feel the team will also carry that bump

into the into the rest of these three games. I think the team is just gonna do that, just mainly because of the opportunity. I would say it was big on our team this year just because of the injuries, Like we've seen a lot of our players go down, from Khalil Mack to DHC just receiving any injuries. So it's just kind of just like everybody just like, wow,

like this to get taken out somehow, some way. Majority of everybody has missed some either time at the facility or seeing d either do the COVID or do the injury. So it was just more our focuses and just take advantage of this opportunity. But for me, I do feel a little more reenergized just because I'm actually able to go out there on Sundays and see that it's just for me. It's a dream come to you. And it's just like take advantage to enjoy each moment because you

never know when I'm gonna get it again, Thomas. When you got a young group of corners on that team, and some guys have experienced, some guys are just getting experienced. When you come off the field this past week and the offense was on the field, who did you gravitate towards or who kind of you know it was your comfort zone to stay prepared to get back out there.

I was around Kendall, uh Teas and Bush Marquee just to start in like five and Nicol Uh and we're just all just around each other, just giving each other motivation, telling each other what we've seen out there, communicating on certain routes. And I'll probably say Kendall, but Kendall was. I was that way all year. Were Kendall from from game one to now. When he came off the field, I always ask him what he's seen, what he would

like me to see, and stuff like that. So it's kind of just good to take the field and now I can tell him what I see too. All right, we got to get into your background a little bit. So you're you're California cool. You got that uh California bloodn't you? You get your parents that It sounds like your parents Thomas Senior and your mom to Misha, is that how you pronounce your name? Yes, they demanded excellence

from you and your sister. And your sister is a great athlete in her own right, Jasmine and elite hurdler in college. Now I haven't followed up on that where she's at, what she's doing. But you know what did these parents of yours impress upon you? And do you think they made a difference in you getting to the NFL? I think I can't get here without all three of them in three different ways. My mom just for she

given me the fight to never huit. She's probably went through the most trauma and through I say, all of us when it comes to losses, when it comes and when it happened, and just when it comes out. Actually treated up in my family aspect and dynamic just because certain stuff that had happened in her life. My dad was just because he's surrounded. He made sure it's just always surround me with excellence when it came to being

a kid. No matter what, every age of life that I've been around, I've seen somebody make it professionally at the next level when he made sure that I've seen that. So I've always had great and good role I was in my sister because I was the one person that I could never no matter what I did, I could never be. I get an A in school, she gets an A plus. Were on the track, I run a

PR She breaks the national record. So it's just like nothing I ever did was ever to be at a match and I finally I can say I can't but to me, she's the greatest thing ever. To me, that's my little minor who's faster on a flat surface over a sixty yard distance over a sixty yard distance me. But if you thought any hurdle and any obstacles, she probably for sure. But right now she's actually the sprint coach at the University of New Mexico. Oh wow, fantastic.

So this athleticism is in this family clearly. Hey, yes, yes, it is some good stuff. So team Graham you fill in the phrase what do Grahams do? Give one hundred and ten percent. That is the theme, right, And have

you been hearing that since I can remember. I'm very going to youth football games, going to track needs basketball tournaments as a kid, just anything we did sometimes, like if he took us at school, because it woul usually my mom, But if he took us to school, we'll say that if we're on the phone him before we left the car with my mom, he'll be like, they're like, who are we Grahams. We do give one hundred and ten percent. And it was just something we always went

by and it's something that I live by. Any like surprise contacts, anybody to reach out to you in a social media way after you've been on the national stage and all the success you had on Monday Night football. Yeah, it was a lot of people, but I'll probably say one person that I really haven't talked to and too long that it was a Sante Samuel Junior and Greg Newsom, both of them Ricky's in my class, so it just

kind of just feel respected. I met Greg in the process, and then me and a Sancee when he was he was easy year younger than me, so when he was in um, I want to say, a junior high school, I was in my senior year was at a camp together and it was on the same team. So it just it just feel good to be around. I mean people that are your mutual appears to give you that respect, and definitely when they're doing that, they thing that they

places too. Lombardi's product. Greg Newsom here from the Chicago area. Okay, a couple of things to wrap us up. We appreciate all your time, like that phone with the guys a little bit, but it is Christmas, so we got to go down this path. Favorite Christmas gift ever that comes to mine, I'll say my favorite gift ever, I don't have it all right now, but it was a chain that my dad got me my fresh year in college. Favorite Christmas movie, Oh This Christmas? All right? Or Home Alone?

Home Alone is a closing. If you're sitting at the Christmas dinner, what's your favorite Christmas food? I'm going with the mac and cheese, all right. Do you have a most memorable Christmas and it may have something to do with sports. I don't know. Uh, my most memorable Christmas with Holly b It was even two thousand nine and two thousen but it was just kind of our whole family was at our house Arena Valley, so it was probably last Christmas we have with everybody the other And

have you done your shopping yet? Even though I know my family is listening, but no, I have not time. Time's always telling me there's no time for holidays during the football season. So you could take care of that later, right down right, stay out of all well though I don't want to say that. Yeah, we could be careful and we wish you continued success. You'd get a bright future. Thomas, thank you so much. Thank you. That's Thomas Graham Junior,

our guest. Tom and I will continue our conversation with Michael Bumps, a former NFL receiver and prem post game host for the Seattle Seahawks Radio network when we return on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Download the Chicago Bears App to play our new predictor game risk It brought to you by Bette Rivers, for your chance to win two hundred and fifty dollars in free bets and a customed Bears jersey back on Bears All Access here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score with

top there Jeff Joniac breaking down Bears Seahawks. We'll get a Seattle perspective now from their prem postgame radio host and former NFL receiver, Washington states very on, I see, I see the dependant in the back gokubs. However, Michael Bumpus, Michael Bumpus was a record setter in college, and I had some time with the Seahawks and the Canadian Football League kind enough to join us. Michael, how you doing, brother, I'm doo well man. Thanks for having me on and

on my coogs some love. Man, Hey, one hundred ninety five receptions? That is that still the record there? Oh? Man? I held on for ten years and then Mike Leach came and we got running backs with more receptions. Now I should have assumed that. Right, we'll tell us about your gang. I mean, this is unusual territory, not going to the playoffs, certainly with a quarterback like Russell Wilson. That is not happening until this time, at least a

winning right. I mean, you're still alive. There are twenty seven teams still alive. You know, it's it's it's a tall order. But the losing record is not something that you're used to over there in Seattle, how's it being received? Yeah, unfamiliar territory. Over here, the sky is falling. Twelves are asking for Pete to go and Russell will go. It's almost like I was telling my buddy, I'm like, you guys have been spoiled, man. I mean, you don't know how good you having and how hard it is to

find a franchise quarterback. Just ask the Chicago Bears, you know. I mean, I haven't had a quarterback through over four thousand yards. Ever, I believe what twenty nine touchdowns is

the most quarterback is thrown over there. But for the people who who aren't twelves, the guys who have been fans of this team before twenty twelve, before this Russell was an era, they understand that this dude is allowed one or two tough seasons with the injury he has, with the moving on the offensive line, the running back position has been shaky. It's just one of those years, man.

But they're hanging in there. They're technically not eliminated from the playoffs, which I don't think they're gonna make it. But it's weird. And then you have the Chicago Bears coming in and you can't overlook them. You look at the record, you go four and ten. Okay, well shoot we're five and nine. You know, you can't turn your nose up at anyone in this league. So interesting times. I've been covering the Hawks for five years. Never been

in this situation, Michael. So when you look at Seattle Seahawks every time we come in, we probably talk about the noise for a week. How do you beat the Seattle Seahawks at home? How do you beat them? One? You don't have to crowd affect you, obviously, But this year, I'm telling you, man, there's been more empty seats than I've ever seen, and there's been more other color jerseys. I think our last home game was the forty nine ers. See of red out there. It was. It was crazy

to be so one. You got to be disciplined, and you have to force Russell Wilson to turn the football over. If you win the turnover battle, you're probably gonna win this ball game, and then control the run. With Chris Carson not being in the backfield, they're gonna rely on Rashad Penny, Alex Collins, and DJ Dallas. I can say those names to a Chicago fan, they probably don't know who those guys are, right, Maybe Alex Collinson, he had

a good year in Baltimore. But it's all about the run, and you can't allow Lockett to have one of his Lockett type of days where he has ten catches for one hundred and twenty and two touchdowns. You have to neutralize this offense who hasn't been great this year. I mean it's weird saying that at Russell Wilson's offense with all the weapons that they have, have not been great this year. But you hold them to twenty points. That's the key. These guys have not scored over twenty points

in seven games this year. If you can keep them under twenty, you're probably gonna win this ball game. You bring up a great point. Michael Bumpashar at guest here on Bearshall Access, San Chicago Sports Radio six ten and the score. I stepped on time here because I just finished doing the offensive statistics and the deep dive and I thought, wait a minute, this can't be right because they're not dissimilar to what the Bears have struggled with.

Not that anemic in terms of getting in the end zone, but it's not far off and the Bears run by a rookie quarterback and a bunch of injuries. So wow, I just I really was startled by it. Are you because you have talent? Man? I mean you got two of the best receivers in football and let alone Russell Wilson. That's why it doesn't make sense, right, That's why people being this guy has following me because they see DK Metcalf, who is i'd say a top ten receiver in this league.

Tyler Lockett numbers wise as the top ten receiver in this league. And then you have a quarterback who's destined for the Hall of Fame. But there's been some changes on this offense too. Man. You're bringing a new offensive coordinator and I think it takes a while for those guys to mix in the blend. You lose your quarterback in the middle of this season, so the learning curve has just been increased a bit. You look at the roster and this team looks like a Super Bowl and tender.

But this is the NFL. You cannot just show up. You gotta stay healthy and you gotta get lucky, and unfortunately they've been unlucky this year. You know, Mikealy, you talk about the effectiveness of their running game. All right, Now, put you in the shoes of a receiver. You're working with Russell Wilson and you're gonna go against possibly a cornerback that's starting his second game in his NFL career.

Tell me a little bit about what how you would talk to Russ how you would go about trying to get after Thomas Graham Junior if he does start after starting last Monday night. Well, you know, one week you have to make him aware, which I'm sure Russell is aware of who's out there and who has experienced or not. And then you have to really communicate with your receivers. You know, the first series, you're testing him out. You're throwing those jabs, How fasts he how quickly does he

turn his hips? Is he aggressive at the line of scrimmage. So after a couple of series, you go back to the sideline, You're like, look, can we take this guy? Not. Something tells me DK is always going to say he can take this guy no matter who it is. You're gonna be is Jalen Ramsey last week? You can have him beat a couple of times, rusts through the ball short, but you have to go at the guy experience is

key in this league. We just talked to Kobe Parkinson on the Day Wyman Show today and he's talking about how later in the season now he's getting his feet wet, but he still feels like there's some things he has to get better at. I mean, that's just the life of an inexperienced guy in the NFL. But you test him, you take him deep, you take him sure, you throw screens, can't tackle, you process all that information you got what you got on film, but there's nothing like the real

thing and being in it. So yeah, I would if I were Russell and Alur deck Kan Shane waldron Man the first couple series, I'm just going at him to see what he got and then let dake it under skin a little bit. You know, you can't like to talk, so I'll see what he does. Let's go to the other side of the ball. On both teams. Carlos Dunlap comes in with three sacks last week after we haven't coming into with the one and a half. You got Robert Quinn at sixteen. Two of these guys over thirty

good pass rushers, being a lot to their team. Is done Lap on a map and is he gonna continue this or was this just a one game wonder? And when you look at Robert Quinn and what he can do too, if you if you have susceptibility in an offensive tackle, what do you think about the battle between these two guys. I think it's gonna be great. I just did a film session and broke down Robert Quinn and it's amazing the year that he's having opposted a year he had last year. I think he only had

two sacks. This guy is long, he's strong, he gets off the football and he has great ben that's what you want getting around the corner. He's gonna give Dwayne Brown and Brendon Shell if he plays a lot of trouble. Now you flip bolder Carlos Dunlap. One, let me say, I'm happy that an eighties baby is still in the league. Produce we are a Guyan breed. Thank you, Carlos Dunlap. But man, he hasn't been playing a lot as of late. There's games where he had twenty twenty reps, seventeen reps,

seven reps. And I talked to one of my colleagues about it. I'm like, you know, what, what do you think it is, and it's situational football when he comes to Dunlap. But after the week that he had last week, you have to see this guy. Three games left, you're not gonna make the playoff. You have nothing to hold back right now. You're playing to keep Russell Wilson happy and to keep the organization happy. So with these two guys going at him, and the older I get, the

more I love the battle in the trenches. You know, as a young man, you want to and it's cute. You know. Now as I'm getting older, I'm like, I love the battle in the trenches. And I'm looking forward to him. Man, I'm just looking forward to a good game because I think both teams have a lot to play for. Justin Fields. I hear he's a great leader, even killed he's starting off his career kind of rough,

he has something to play for. And Russell Wilson. Man, I think we're playing now to keep Russell happy, and Carlos Dunlo can really help if he if he performs all right. Remaining moments with Michael Bumpers, the pre and post game host of the Seattle Seahawks Radio Network. High school football coach there In Washington as well. It's deep in his blood, all right. So let's get your take.

You're watching all these inside linebackers in the National Football League, and you got the premiere one in many people's estimation, Bobby Wagner coming down on the other side of thirty now but still getting those Pro Bowls. There's a big roar hear in Chicago about the fact that Roquan Smith was not named to the Pro Bowl. But there's a lot of good inside linebackers. You're shaking your head. You feel ro Quan deserved it most definitely. I mean it.

It'sn't a shame this dude didn't get one hundred and forty tackles. You talk about a great Bears defense, and he's the name that that pops out. I mean him and Quinn. But that's that's that's what happens when fans both though you know they honestly, I think Bobby has had a good year, but he hasn't had a Bobby type of year. You look at the stats and you're like, Okay, he's a Pro Bowler, but you look at the film

you know he's getting older. So I was I was disappointed for smith Man tell Us more about Jordan Brooks too. That's your second round pick from a couple of years ago. As a tandem, they put up a monster tackle number. Yeah. Jordan Brooks, he comes from a defense at Texas Tech where he was pretty much allowed to freelance right, he drops back, he's reading the quarterback. Now he has responsibility, and as the season progressed, you see him diagnosing plays right,

He's reading the lineman and what they're doing. He's setting the edge. He's a for sure tackler and plays with a speed and intensity that we're used to see him from Bobby Winner. Bobby's just older now, you know, he makes calculated decisions to where Jordan Brooks and his youth you just throw your helmet in there and try to blow stuff up and make a play. With Jordan Brooks being here, I feel a lot better once it's time for Bobby to hang him up. Before Jordan Brooks, you know,

we're looking at that second level. And Cody Barton from Utah good player, but probably a special teams guy. Ben Burghurber from dub good player, probably a special teams guy. I think the Hats have finally found a guy who can kind of hold down that second level once Bobby's gone.

When you look at the athleticism, the comparison of Russell Wilson to Justin Fields, and when you see the young Justin Fields, do you see what the building blocks of success could be for him to eventually be Russell Wilson. And if you recognize those types of things, what is level too for Justin Fields in the pursuit of Russell Wilson. Well, let me want to say, I think Justin Fields is a better overall athlete than Russell Wilson. Even in Russell's Hey,

they Russell could run. He's a great athlete. But when you have the frame, the size, and the speed of Justin Fields, I mean he just he just looks good in a uniform. Man. I think his mechanics around point. I love watching him throw the football. And I think for him to get to a Russell Wilson type of level one, you need a good defense. He has that right now. I mean, wait until Khalil Macket is healthy.

Right like, this defense is setting ready to go. He's on a rookie contract, he has a small window to really play. It is done. How does he reach Russell Wilson's success level? He has to be a true student of the game right. He has to be able to go through his progressions and then make the incredible play. Russell made a living off the pirouete in the backfield, rolling outside, tossing a bomb. All about the long ball

with Russell Wilson. The way this game is going, justin fields is gonna have plenty of opportunities to do that because this game is just opening up. You know, everyone wants to throw the ball forty five times. I think he has all the tools, but as you guys know, if you don't have pieces around that are consistent is going to be tough. Russell's had Doug Baldwin, he had Jimmy Graham for a little bit, you know. Now he has Tyler Lockett in DK. I like the kid, Darnielle Mooney.

I think he's gonna be good to go for him. I like Alan Robinson, he struggled with injury this year. You have a good run game on paper. I'll look at the Bears. I'm like, this team might be turned a corner man. I think people are sleeping on this organization right now. But it's all about being available too. That's what it helped Russ grow. He played one hundred and forty seven consecutive games without getting hurt. So when you're getting all these reps, getting all this experience, you're

allowed to kind of grow faster. So if he can stay healthy and the pieces around him can stay healthy, you match him up with that that tough defense he got over there. I don't see why not, man, I love Justin Field's game. What's next for the Sheathhawks with or without Russell? Yeah, it's um. These next three games are gonna be really telling. I just talked to John Clayton and he he yelled at me. He goes, stop asking me about Russell Wilson not being here. John does

not believe Russell is going to leave me. On the other hand, I'm like, look, if we in this season, a three game losing streak, four game losing a streak, and you don't give reason for Russell to be here, why not? I mean, he's at the point of his career where he's done everything he can do here, He's won a Super Bowl, hasn't won MVP. I don't think he'll ever win one. That's just the luck of the

draw for Russell Wilson. But it's going to be some interesting times this offseason, and no disrespect to the Bears. If the Hawks all lose to the Bears, everything is on the table. It's just Pete's getting Alady's seventy years old. And if you get rid of Russ. I think or Russ asked to get to get traded. He's under contract. He has to be here, but if he wants to go, the Seahawks are gonna let him go. And I think Pete's gone. If Russ has gone, Pete seventy years old,

he doesn't want to rebuild. He didn't have the time to do that stuff. So yeah, it's um. There's a lot of questions that needs to be answered here. In the short term. The best thing for the Hawks to do is to win and look impress up doing it to give Russell reason reason to stay. Good stuff. Michael bump Is, good luck with this off this week's game, and Mary, Christmas to you and your family. Appreciate the time. We'll see you in Seattle. I guess appreciate guy. I'm

going with Tom there. I'm Jeff joniac Our final thoughts for the Bears and Seahawks Sunday after this on Chicago Sports Radio, six seventy the score. This segment of Bears One Access is brought to you by CDW people to get it with Tom there Jeff Joniac wrapping things up on tonight's show here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the score. So the injury report today, you know Justin Fields did not practice todaytime with that ankle. He was

limited yesterday and their walkthrough. Is this a red flag for you for Sunday? Well, it is only in the fact that if he did go through practice yesterday and he reaggravated it somehow, and it's more tolerable than you can go out there and play a game under those circumstances. He's the coaches, the organization, and he has to protect himself. He cannot go out there under you, under with the physical ability to run away from what's what he's gonna face in this game. So if he's not ready to play,

I hope he doesn't play. However, there's still a couple of days to be able to recover. Another guy who won't be able to be in the lineup is Blown Nichols on the COVID list. And if you just joined against the Keem Hicks entered that List Today recent interview with Blown Nichols, we discussed his future with the Bears and much more. Here's a little snippet you'll hear Sunday morning, ten thirty on Bears Game Day Live on Fox thirty two Chicago. And you appreciate the journey you've traveled here.

Oh yeah, one hundred. You know what's funny is that, uh, you know a lot of times things don't always go as you playing. Um, so you know, just being through what it is that that we've been through as a team, that we've been through as a defense. Um, you know, it just it just kind of show your character as a player and as a person, and uh, it just kind of makes you appreciate all the good times that

you do have. Um. I feel like, you know, everything that we're going through right now and sharpening us for a better future. And um, you know, every day we just got to continue to work and at the end of the day, like tough times don't last forever. People do. And that's kind of like my mind process on it just continuing to just come in with the same mindset no matter what it is that's going around me, going on around me, and just continue to keep getting better

and better. What do you see for yourself? What do you want to be? I want to be an All Pro player. That hasn't changed. I mean that's been a dream of mine since I was a kid, and it's something that I definitely think that that's attainable for me. You know, I feel like I have the work ethic for it, um and I feel like I have the promise and you know, it ain't nothing gonna stop me from getting to that goal. I don't care what it is.

I don't care. I'm gonna work to it. That's always been a dream of mine, and one day I'm gonna reach it, no matter what it is that's going on around me. Uh, That's that's always gonna be something that you know, I'm always chasing. It took a lot for you to get here, didn't it? Oh man, it took it took so much for me to get here. It's crazy because you know, you sit back in and you reflect on everything that you've been through, and you know everything that it took to get up to at this point.

It kind of gets you emotional, you know, because you you know, I battled so many things to get to this point, and you know, my family didn't sacrifice so much to, you know, help me get to this point. And you know, I just I just want to at the end of the day, I want to look back and not have no regrets. And I just want to know at the end of the day that I made everyone proud and I set a great example for my daughter to you know, for her to see how it is to be successful and how it is to do

things the right way. And you know, that's pretty much that's pretty much the type of legacy I try to leave day in and day out. So its a Delaware Blue hen you got a big old chip on your shoulder that you carried into the league. Is it still there or is that a dumb question? No, any question you asked is never a dumb question. But but you know, it's still there. It's still I think about it every day. I think about it every day still to this moment, and I still feel like I got so much approved.

You know, I wasn't I wasn't the highest recruiter guy coming out of highest school. You know, I wasn't the hot, you know, the most sought out guy coming into the draft. You know, I had to really go out each and every day in ground for everything that I have up until this point. And you know, it makes me proud just to note that I got everything off the strength of me just grinding. Nothing was ever handed to me. And so that chip gonna always be there. It's gonna

be there for the rest of my life. Tom, what do you see is Blown nichols future with the Bears. You know, I hope a lot Nichols is willing to negotiate and stick with the program he's got going here because he's been developed a year in and year out. He's got a really nice relationship on the defensive line of scrimmage going with Robert Quinn. He's a good leader in the locker room by example, and so Blown Nichols, you got a great future ahead of you in Chicago.

If you could be an invested, long term player in Chicago. Do you have You've seen it throughout your career. That's why guys stay in the Chicagoland area when they're done, because they're accepted in their community and they're accepted into their organization. Tom, that's all the time we got. We will talk to you on Sunday. That's Tom there. I'm Jeff Jonnyak, thanks to our producers and everybody at the Score.

Thank you so much for listening. And thanks to Thomas Graham Junior and Michael Bumpus of the Seattle Seahawks Radio Network. That'll do it for us. Have a great night and Merry Christmas. Everybody, Happy Holidays. This is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score. Good night,