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Much to discuss.

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We've got the post super Bowl wrap up,

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the Hall of Fame announcements now official,

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and the Bears dig into free agency

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and the draft. Welcome into another edition of

0:40

Bears Weekly with Super Bowl winning Bears guard

0:42

Tom Thayer and Jim Metal from Serious x MNFL

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Radios, moving with the chains, the ex Bear quarterback. We've

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got our helpers, of course, in the studio

0:50

at ESPN one thousand and our producers

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Jordan tread Up and Dan Brilly from the Bears and

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the executive producer of the Bears Ready Network, Eric Ostrowski.

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Tell us how we doing.

0:58

Jimmy survived, You've been traveling stop,

1:00

You've sprotted wings, You've been flying all over

1:02

America.

1:03

How did you survive Vegas?

1:05

I'll tell you what. I thought they did a great job.

1:07

Obviously, they had about three hundred thousand fans

1:09

come in for the game, and I thought overall

1:11

for the NFL, you know that these

1:13

numbers continued to go up. It was the most viewed

1:16

super Bowl, and I think the NFL

1:18

did it without a hit, without a hitch.

1:20

I think it's kind of a dot com bubble that just doesn't

1:23

seem to burst. But as for the game,

1:25

the game was incredible, and I thought

1:27

to go to overtime, and obviously Patrick

1:30

Mahomes doing Patrick Mahomes things had

1:32

to be pretty frustrating for the San Francisco

1:34

forty nine ers.

1:35

It was the second smallest crowds

1:38

and Super Bowl one at a little bit over

1:40

sixty one thousand people. So

1:42

the reason that the viewing audience

1:44

is so big is because they didn't

1:46

have the seventy five thousand seat you

1:49

know, eighty thousand seat you

1:51

know stadium that they probably would

1:53

have sold out equally

1:55

as easy.

1:56

Everybody's got different opinions and how it

1:58

was going to play out and what did play

2:01

out ultimately, and you know, maybe

2:03

I'm wrong. But you know, you keep talking

2:05

about you got to have special quarterback and I know

2:07

I said that on our podcast this week with Tommy

2:10

Jimmy, But you know, you also

2:12

got a factor in the defensive quotion

2:14

here, and Steve Spagnolo did

2:16

an unbelievable job throughout the entire postseason

2:19

and now the most decorated

2:22

defensive coordinator in terms of Super Bowls

2:24

and wins in the NFL history,

2:27

and that's Steve Spagnolo.

2:28

Yeah, he was tremendous. You know, they

2:31

were probably the most consistent defense

2:33

throughout the regular season and then got

2:35

even better in the postseason.

2:37

During the year, they were only giving up seventeen

2:40

point three points a game, and I think we

2:42

know why. Their offense was kind of a struggle

2:44

to get going. So the defense somewhat carried

2:47

Kansas City. And then through the postseason,

2:50

as I mentioned, you're facing the best of

2:52

the best, and they're on the road the entire

2:54

time, they actually got better. They were

2:56

only giving up fifteen point eight points

2:58

a game. That includes on

3:01

the Super Bowl as well. So and

3:03

they're the youngest defense in the league. Think

3:05

about that. They average twenty five years

3:07

of age, and so that's a credit to Steve to

3:09

be able to communicate to a lot

3:11

of young players who they had four rookies

3:13

that started on that defense a season ago

3:16

in the Super Bowl, and how they

3:18

really carried it over. So really a fine

3:20

job by Steve Spagnolo.

3:22

Yeah, but you know, the one.

3:23

Thing about that, Jim Man, Jeff, is that

3:25

if the forty nine ers don't

3:27

fumble on the first series of the game, and

3:30

say they just score three points out of

3:32

that possibly seven, then they get the extra

3:34

point block. If they go down and they

3:36

score that first series, then you got Spagnola

3:39

thinking about, okay, is my plan right

3:41

or else? It gives the opportunity for San Francisco

3:44

defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes to

3:46

be way more aggressive in

3:49

those first series if you're playing on a lead.

3:51

So there's a lot of different moments

3:53

in time that you

3:55

know, could change the thinking process of

3:58

the coaching And I do like what the Spagnola

4:00

did. Man, the guy's really a great defensive

4:03

coordinator. However, when

4:05

you have plays like that that take

4:07

away scoring opportunities, and

4:09

when you think about the game was

4:11

one by three and you left

4:14

at least minimum four on the field,

4:16

it could have been a different outcome if it was a perfectly

4:19

played game by both teams.

4:21

Jim, Andy Reid, You've spent

4:24

many hours talking to him over the course of

4:26

his career. When you add it all up, and he's been

4:28

to the big Game several times now, but

4:31

it took him twenty years to actually win a Super

4:33

Bowl, and it just emphasizes how

4:35

hard it is to win this game. Everybody

4:38

says, oh, you know, you want to compete for a Super Bowl,

4:40

and that all sounds good, but everything

4:43

has to come together.

4:43

We all know that. To me, you know, you.

4:45

Could talk about all the other sports,

4:48

but this one because of the threat

4:50

of injury at every turn,

4:52

on every single snap. How do you put

4:54

that in a frame and explain

4:56

his career, Andy Reid.

4:58

I think he's always been good really

5:00

assembling a good roster, you know.

5:02

I think even if you go back in Philadelphia,

5:05

you know, five times they were in the

5:07

NFC Championship game. Yes, they only went

5:10

to one Super Bowl, which they lost

5:12

to the New England Patriots. But you

5:14

know, to even get that far, to have that

5:16

many cracks at having an opportunity

5:19

to get to the Super Bowl. And I think the key

5:21

in that is one you've got to have good

5:23

rosters offense, defense, and special teams.

5:25

He's always had good offensive lines, he's

5:27

always had good defenses. Think of

5:29

the great Jim Johnson that was his defensive

5:32

coordinator in Philadelphia, and now he

5:34

had Spagnolo who's been with him five

5:36

years in Kansas City. And I think

5:38

he's got a great idea in mind

5:40

to identify his quarterback. Think

5:43

about what he learned in Green Bay

5:45

coaching Brett Fharr. He goes to

5:47

Philadelphia, he brings Doug Peterson

5:50

with him, and right away he drafts Donovan

5:52

McNabb. Then when he leaves

5:54

Philadelphia he goes to Kansas

5:57

City. He identified the quarterback

5:59

and that was to trade and get Alex

6:01

Smith. And now when he's got Alex

6:04

Smith, he has the foresight

6:06

to trade up in the draft because

6:08

he identified that Patrick

6:10

Mahomes was such a talent that

6:12

they identified him and then the drafted

6:14

Patrick Mahomes cultivated him the right

6:16

way. He sat for a year and Alex

6:19

Smith played. But I think he's really

6:21

got a good idea of the quarterback

6:23

that you need with the style of offense that he wants

6:25

to run. But offensively, he's

6:28

always been good at identifying his QB,

6:30

and he's got a good one.

6:32

You know.

6:32

I think one thing about Andy Reid.

6:34

I think it's more amazing than the fact that he was

6:36

an offensive tackle in college and

6:38

then he's by you know,

6:40

known probably by a whole generation

6:42

that don't realize that he was an offensive tackle,

6:45

but being raised in the novel Edwards system

6:47

at BYU and playing around a quarterback

6:49

in college like Jim McMahon who

6:51

left college was seventy two records

6:54

and how successful they were and

6:56

the Mountain West back in the day that

6:59

he's he's had an understanding

7:01

of the importance of the development of the quarterback

7:04

position while he was an offensive

7:06

tackle, and I really don't see

7:09

a lot of other guys that have had that growth

7:11

potential to that position that didn't play

7:13

quarterback itself.

7:15

Many ways to skin a cat, but I'll tell you there's

7:17

only a few ways to win a Super Bowl, and you

7:19

gotta have certain elements, and we can

7:21

discuss you.

7:22

Gotta have a quarterback, no question about

7:24

that. We'll discuss more.

7:25

Brad Spielberger coming up from Pro Football

7:27

Focus to look at the Bears at the draft,

7:29

free agency and where they're poised to strike.

7:32

Here on Bears Weekly on ESPN Chicago and the Bears

7:34

Radio Network.

7:36

You were tuned into Bears Weekly with Jeff

7:38

Jonyak on the Bears Radio

7:41

Network. This is Bears

7:43

Weekly with a voice of the Bears for twenty

7:45

three years, Jeff Jonyak on the

7:47

Bears Radio Network.

7:52

This segment of Bears Weekly is brought to you by

7:54

IGS Energy. Jeff Joniak along with

7:56

Tom Payer, Jim Miller from Serious X and MNFL

7:59

Radio is moving the chain and Brad Spielberger

8:01

joining.

8:01

Us from Pro Football Focus.

8:03

He's been with us before, Glad, you rejoined us

8:05

because guess what, here we are again. I

8:07

thought last offseason was going to be the off season

8:10

of the Bears. Constant conversation. That

8:12

turned out to be the case with the big trade, and

8:14

here we are again, Brad. I mean, this is something

8:17

we have just been talking while we were waiting for

8:19

you, and it's just constant conversation

8:21

what they gonna do and from

8:24

the inside walls of Pro Football Focus.

8:26

And you back from Vegas at the Super Bowl.

8:27

What are you hearing?

8:28

What are you thinking?

8:29

Yeah?

8:30

No, it's funny, Like you said, we had this exact same conversation

8:32

last year, the Bears controlling the draft at number

8:34

one. I think this time is different though.

8:36

I think you are already going to see the Bears

8:38

take a quarterback at first. Overall, we'll

8:40

see who that quarterback is. I know everyone is

8:42

talking about Caleb Williams, but that is a

8:44

consensus when you talk to people around the league as well

8:47

in Vegas, which you can tell from my voice. I was just

8:49

in Vegas. That's what everyone expects to

8:51

happen. And I think you trade

8:53

fields, get some draft compensation there,

8:55

try to get some receiver talent, some trench talent

8:58

on.

8:58

Both sides of the ball.

8:59

And this is the off seas of the Bears, and then

9:01

we're done having this conversation about you

9:03

know what the Bears do it first overall.

9:06

Hey, Brad, you know a subject that I

9:08

haven't heard addressed once so far this

9:10

offseason. And when you think of the finances

9:12

and you think of the depth of a position,

9:15

where does.

9:16

Beijing fit into the discussion? Do

9:18

you have to have?

9:19

You know, I don't want to see him go spend a lot

9:21

of money on a quarterback just because

9:23

he's a veteran.

9:25

And now how does he fit into this? And your

9:27

thinking in the quarterback position.

9:29

It's a good question, yeah right, because in theory, you say,

9:32

hey, a lot of teams want to have that veteran leader

9:34

for the quarterback. He said, well, do you want

9:36

to move on from a really good undrafted free agent that has

9:38

probably proven he can be at least a backup in this

9:41

league? And if you you know, you're not going

9:43

to carry three quarterbacks, most likely if

9:45

you did wave him or something like that, try to get on the practice

9:47

squad, someone probably would pick him

9:49

up. So it's a very good question, you know. I think

9:52

maybe they're just trying to build this coaching staff nucleus

9:54

with all these you know, guys from the quarterback

9:57

Collective, which is where kill.

9:58

Williams is training right now now.

10:00

Shane Waldron's been involved there, some

10:02

of the other coaches they brought in Carry Joseph some

10:04

others have been involved there as well. So maybe

10:07

they're not going to have that veteran presence maybe,

10:09

you know, I know, it's been very very common. We

10:12

hear that it's helpful. It also doesn't

10:14

guarantee you success. As Bears

10:16

fans can attest having any Dalton

10:18

or Nick Foles or whoever hasn't

10:20

guaranteed anything in the past.

10:23

Well, Brad Jim Miller here and if they do go

10:25

quarterback one, as you suggest

10:28

other areas of needs that you've targeted

10:30

for the Chicago Bears.

10:32

Yeah, for me, a wide receiver is the next

10:34

need. You know, it's great to get Dj Moore. You have a clear

10:36

cut bona fide number one. I don't

10:38

really think Darnold Mooney is a Bear in twenty twenty four.

10:40

I'm not saying I would would't welcome him back, but I just

10:43

don't see it folding.

10:43

Out that way.

10:44

And I think they are sitting there at nine

10:47

hoping that one of Molik Neighbors

10:49

from LSU or rom A Dounza

10:51

from Washington are available at nine. I think

10:54

Dounsday's probably more likely. I really think Neighbors

10:56

and Marvin Harrison Junior are going to be top five,

10:58

top seven picks. But a donsay they're really

11:00

special talent big you know,

11:02

good of the contested catch player, good

11:05

route runner, late hands, late separations,

11:08

a lot of the nuance of playing wide receiver does

11:10

very very well. I think we'll hit the ground running immediately.

11:13

And then second for me is more defensive

11:15

line help. Whether that's on the interior of three

11:17

tech to kind of move Dravon Dexter around, making

11:20

more of a one technique or another

11:22

edge rusher opposite of Montes Sweat. I

11:24

think that's where I'm looking if I'm the Chicago Bears.

11:26

Brat Spieldberger, our guest here on AESPN

11:28

one thousand of the Bears radio network, Jeff and Tom

11:30

and Jim Miller from Serious x MNFL Radios

11:32

moving the chain. So with that said, we're always focused

11:35

on the big prize of quarterbacks in the

11:37

draft, but we got free agency before that. Where

11:39

do you see the Bears sitting in terms

11:41

of being poised to strike? They have salary

11:44

cap space. Again, maybe more

11:46

will be created here in the coming weeks, But that's

11:48

the most obvious attention

11:50

at the moment is what they might do in free agency.

11:52

And I know you dip into that quite a bit as

11:54

well. Where are they cap wise and how

11:57

do you see things?

11:58

Yeah, they're healthy on the cap and they do have more moves

12:00

they could make to clear extra room. I think

12:02

they'll again kind of be like quietly aggressive.

12:05

As Ryan Poles has mentioned, pick your spots.

12:07

Maybe had certain players like at Tremaine

12:09

Edmonds, you make a bigger splash, but more so kind

12:11

of just filling out starters. I think for me, center

12:14

is the number one choice here. There's a ton

12:17

of center talent available. It also

12:19

helps that two guys in Evan Brown

12:21

who started for Seattle this year, and then Coleman

12:23

Shelton who played for the Rams with

12:25

Shane Waldron. So two guys that ran Shane

12:27

Waldron's offense, you know, are available

12:30

at center. That could We talked about

12:32

having that veteran quarterback. Having a veteran

12:34

center that knows the offensive coordinators

12:37

offense would also help this hypothetical

12:39

rookie quarterback quite a bit.

12:40

So I go there.

12:41

I look at Bryce Off with the New York Jets is an edge

12:43

rusher. If you want to add a pure one

12:46

on one pass rush winner opposite

12:48

of Montes Sweat. I look at Bryce Off and then

12:50

the interior of that defensive line. There's so much

12:52

talent there. The big name like a Justin Metta

12:54

Bik from Baltimore, Christian Wilkins from

12:56

Miami had a really good year, or even further down

12:58

a list like a tight Year Tart from Tennessee or

13:01

a Grover Stewart from overrun stuff from Indy.

13:03

There's there's a ton of names there. So, like

13:05

I said, trenches, trenches, trenches.

13:08

You know, Brad.

13:09

Just to continue the narrative about the defensive

13:11

line, you think about what Chase Young and Montes

13:13

Sweat did during the regular season

13:16

last year and by moving to new

13:18

teams, and then you think of this year, a

13:20

guy like Chris Jones or Daneil Hunter.

13:23

Are those guys beyond their peak

13:26

and on the downside, even though Chris

13:28

Jones I think as a heck of a player and

13:30

Danielle Hunter is a guy.

13:32

That's in the division, are those

13:34

two.

13:34

Guys that you can still identify as

13:36

players that come in and be first ay

13:39

starters and immediate help.

13:41

I really don't think Chris Jones is done,

13:43

you know, ascending. It's remarkable how good he's

13:45

in the last couple of years. But also you see

13:47

the kids see now lotning him up as a

13:49

seven tech, you know, edge rusher,

13:51

and he's winning against good tackles, like

13:54

bending the corner, flattening his art, getting to the quarterback.

13:56

It's what he's able to do at six five, three hundred

13:59

is truly incredible. So I wouldn't be opposed

14:01

to it obviously. That's you know, it's my number one free

14:03

agent in the entire offseason, you know,

14:05

among all teams. But far be

14:07

it from me to be against adding Chris Jones Steel

14:09

Hunter. I think to a degree you probably could

14:11

make that argument. Still a very very good player,

14:13

the Vikings led the NFL and Blitz right by a

14:16

staggering margin, and so his

14:18

sack numbers are a little bit inflated to where

14:20

they're always bringing extra bodies. He's obviously

14:22

still a phenomenal football player, but yeah,

14:25

per PFF's metrics and all that pass rush,

14:27

win rate, pressure rate, some of those numbers,

14:29

he's not quite as dominant on a you

14:31

know, per play basis by himself. But again,

14:34

I would not be opposed to ring indidn't Hunter.

14:36

Final one for me? Brad Is I

14:38

would assume if they can't get a long term deal

14:41

done with Jalen Johnson, they would probably

14:43

put the franchise tag on him. But you know,

14:45

we'll see where that goes. But if they were to

14:47

lose Jalen Johnson, what other corners

14:50

out there in free agency on DC?

14:52

If they do elect to move on from I think he's a

14:54

blue chip player. I really like the year he's

14:56

at.

14:57

I do too.

14:57

I'm not even twenty five years old yet, so I think

14:59

the number one target there would be a guy you saw

15:01

play on Sunday Night, and that's Lugerious Neat

15:04

and those two are by far the best corners

15:06

available in free agency. Seems a little

15:08

bit older, but he has the inside, outside versatility.

15:10

You know, played outside this year for the first time for a majority,

15:13

Sticky in coverage, very physical. I

15:15

know we did have the penalty in the Super

15:17

Bowl, but I love about him as normally he

15:20

gets the offensive player to take a penalty.

15:23

He keeps his composure, so he's competitor.

15:25

He's a talker and just a really really good

15:27

player. Down the board, there's some more kind

15:30

of value options, but I'm with you, and

15:32

I think Ryan Poles agrees with us.

15:33

They got to do whatever they can to keep you.

15:35

Allen Johnson, Yeah, no question.

15:36

He really did spark and I

15:38

love the age part of it. Twenty five that's the wheelhouse

15:41

for me. My gosh, if you can get a twenty five signed

15:43

up, you're in good shape.

15:44

All right.

15:45

We're going to wrap up here, and we appreciate your time. What

15:47

did we learn from the Super Bowl,

15:50

regardless of who won or not, that

15:52

will echo in throughout the rest of twenty twenty

15:54

four throughout this league.

15:55

Do you think, Yeah, I think it's a continued

15:57

lesson, but really an exclamation point just on the

15:59

value you have interior pass rush and you

16:02

don't have to necessarily have you know, these incredible

16:04

tackles, incredible edge rushers, you of course want

16:07

them, but you look at this game and San frans

16:09

Interier offensive line kind of got bullied and that's

16:11

why Rock Purty was either under

16:13

siege and throwing the ball away or

16:15

not able to get the ball out at all. And

16:18

Kansas City didn't really have much off of the

16:20

edge, you know, with an injury to Charles Amene who

16:22

they just couldn't really win there. So I think

16:25

that's just the continued stories. If you can collapse

16:27

the pocket, and the fastest path to the quarterback

16:29

is you know, a straight line from point A to point

16:31

B. So I think more you know players

16:34

like that in this draft class, maybe a little bit earlier.

16:36

I think you're gonna see more and more investment on

16:38

those freakish three techniques that another

16:41

Bears are looking for far.

16:42

And wide at ten year NFL

16:45

guard just snickered here on our zoom call,

16:47

tut there about the quickest path to a quarterback.

16:49

He took exception to that one, didn't you tell me?

16:52

Now, it's the fact of the matter.

16:53

You know, I've been d down Street that's

16:56

resulted in a sack.

16:57

But I know the importance of interior play.

17:00

And you think about the Bears with Tavin

17:02

Jenkins and Nate Davis.

17:04

Are you confident or concerned?

17:06

So?

17:07

And you talk about the center position already,

17:09

so you know it's you know, that's three positions

17:11

that you have to take in, you

17:14

know, into your thinking process going through

17:16

free agency in the draft.

17:17

No, that's the good counter as well. Those guys matter a ton

17:20

too.

17:20

The guard market has exploded, and it should have because

17:22

defending those guys defending Yeah, there

17:24

you gow you like that one.

17:25

Yeah, a little past

17:28

this time, we just talked about salaries in the NFL,

17:30

and it's crazy what what even backup

17:32

quarterbacks are earning compared to what a ten year

17:34

NFL guard who never missed a game

17:36

made back in his day. Anyway, Brad, we appreciate

17:38

the time. Hope to have you on again. You have a lot

17:40

of knowledge and you just banged it out.

17:43

Loved it, appreciate it, Thank you, Thank you so much.

17:45

Back with Mar with Jim and Tom.

17:47

After this, you were tuned into Bears

17:49

Weekly with Jeff Joniac on

17:51

the Bears Radio Network. Is

17:54

Bears Weekly with a voice of the Bears

17:56

for twenty three years Jeff on

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18:15

Jim Miller, Tom Thayer Here on Bears Weekly

18:17

out ESPN one thousand of the Bears Radio Network.

18:20

There is no franchise in the National Football League

18:22

with more Hall of famers and more added to the bunch.

18:24

After the addition of Steve McMichael,

18:27

the great and legendary defensive tackle of the

18:29

Chicago Bears, and Devin

18:31

Hester, the all time leader in funt return

18:33

touchdowns and by far the

18:35

number one return man in NFL history,

18:38

had a chance to visit with him after

18:40

the announcements and get his thoughts. Devin,

18:42

good to see you and congratulations.

18:45

First and foremost, I know, it's

18:48

been a long wait, and

18:50

the obvious question is how

18:53

does it feel to be a Hall of Famer?

18:55

I mean it, it feels

18:57

great, you know, this morning waking

19:01

up to all the table, the whole

19:03

night of trying to ignore all the

19:06

text messages and all the phone calls. Man,

19:08

it was a great honor to

19:10

wake up this morning to really officially

19:12

say that I am twenty

19:14

twenty four Class Hall of Famer.

19:17

So we're gonna take this in

19:19

steps. Tell me how you found

19:21

out Edri and James

19:23

showed up at your house.

19:25

You guys are gonna be going driving

19:29

cars, right his old cars? Yeah.

19:30

So edgend called me about a week prior

19:33

and was saying, Hey, Die, I be in town.

19:36

You want to get up and go ride the old schools a little

19:38

bit right around town, go grab some lunch, breakfast,

19:41

whatever. And I was like fine, And so we

19:43

planned for Thursday around

19:45

about ten o'clock, and So gave

19:49

me a text message let me know the night before the

19:51

Hey, I be around there. Make sure you have your car

19:53

clean. So I'm

19:56

up cleaning the car late that night, trying to get

19:58

ready for tomorrow. He

20:01

came pulled up at the house and I didn't get the knock.

20:04

I got the horn, so he beat

20:06

the horn. And when as he beating the horn,

20:08

I you know, ran to the door and

20:11

just seeing all the camera guys and Edge

20:13

James with his Hall of Fame jacket on, and

20:15

that's when I knew it was official.

20:18

Do you remember how you felt that in

20:20

that instant?

20:21

Most definitely? Man, it was it was like, as

20:25

I was going to the door, that's when it really hit me

20:27

and I seen the camera guys racing to

20:29

the front door, and it was like, wow, man,

20:32

like it's

20:34

all said and done, Like it's finally

20:36

here.

20:37

Devin, who was the first person you called?

20:39

So the first person I called was my mom. And

20:42

when I called, I let her know, Hey, Mom, I have

20:44

some news to tell you. And I was like, Mom, you

20:46

know, out of

20:49

all the women in the world that

20:52

have sons that played the game of football,

20:55

I can just sit here and tell you today that you were the

20:57

three hundred and seventy fourth mother, Like

21:00

they said that son is a Hall of Famer, And

21:03

she just busted out crying and yeahing

21:05

and stuff, and it was just it was overwhelming.

21:08

I'm assuming you cried as well.

21:10

Yeah, yeah, I cried a couple of times.

21:12

I actually cried this morning as

21:15

I was scrolling looking at the text message and stuff

21:17

like that, And

21:20

of course I hopped on Instagram

21:22

and the first first

21:25

thing that popped up was my son and

21:27

he's home now in Orlando, and

21:29

he posted a picture of me in the Hall of

21:31

Fame, and then the song that he put

21:33

on it.

21:36

It was just a testimonment

21:38

how grateful he was that I

21:40

was his father, you know what I mean, the

21:43

way I opened up the opportunity for him.

21:45

You know, that's a great point, Devin, because

21:48

not every Hall of Famer has been.

21:49

Able to share with their own

21:52

children.

21:52

Some have passed on already and were

21:56

posthumously honored.

21:59

How important is it that your kids, at

22:01

their age right now are

22:03

watching this unfold for you?

22:06

It's very important because me as a father,

22:08

I always wanted to set a good role be a good role

22:10

model to them, and to have them

22:12

to be able to say, you know what, my father is a great

22:15

role model and someone's look I can look up

22:17

too, and everything

22:19

that he does, he tries to make sure that it's

22:21

the best and it's the right decision. So

22:25

I leave a great platform for those guys,

22:27

because I know eventually, one day I won't be here, and

22:31

the moment that happens, you know what I mean. I hope

22:33

that the foundation that I built for

22:35

my three boards, that they will be able to

22:37

continue the legacy, and you know, in the name and

22:40

to say that one day, you know what I

22:42

mean, with their kids and their kids that you

22:45

know, you guys know that your grandfather

22:47

was a great person on and off the

22:49

field, as well as the Hall of Famer.

22:51

Back in September, you and I spoke

22:54

at your home in Orlando and

22:57

we talked about the fact that you were not

23:00

a first round draft choice, you

23:02

are not a first ballot Hall of Famer, which

23:05

was upsetting to you.

23:07

But now you're the.

23:09

First return specialist

23:12

in the Hall of Fame. So as

23:14

you look back at all those emotions

23:17

and now where you're at, how would

23:19

you frame it?

23:19

How do you feel about it?

23:22

I feel, you know, I feel blessed.

23:25

And when I sit back and I look at it, when

23:27

you go down the list of not being a first

23:30

rounder, not being the Hall I'm in

23:32

a first round, and not being

23:34

a first ballot Hall of Famer, But

23:36

then I look back and you know what I mean, you think about

23:39

the position that I'm in right now, and

23:43

it's probably about

23:46

I can't. I don't even think it's more

23:48

than one person that can really say. Besides,

23:51

right now my situation that a I'm

23:54

a Hall of Famer, but I'm

23:57

the number one Hall of Famer in my category

23:59

and my position as a Hall of Famer.

24:03

When you look at everybody else, it could be an argument,

24:05

you know what I mean, who's the

24:07

best quarterback, who's the best running back, receive,

24:09

a defensive back, linebacker. But

24:12

to sit in my position, and it's a specially

24:14

unique situation where I can only say that

24:18

I'm the best to ever do it. When it comes to kickoff

24:20

and part return, I'm the number one kickoff

24:23

and partment returner in the world. And

24:25

it's a fact right now.

24:27

So you're going in with other

24:30

Bear ties Steve McMichael,

24:33

the legendary defensive tackle, and

24:36

Julius Peppers who played four years.

24:38

With the Bears.

24:39

How important is that as well to you?

24:42

As this summer is going to be a summer of Navy

24:44

blue and orange.

24:47

Hopefully man that they see this trend,

24:49

man and they make sure that we have this

24:52

game be the Bears have

24:54

to play in this game. You know what I mean, This is

24:56

a no brainer, you know what I mean. I don't know who the other team

24:59

we may play again, but the

25:02

fans have to be out and be able to see this

25:04

game in Canton and

25:06

to be able to sit and witness three

25:08

great legends that came through the

25:11

city of Chicago and to be

25:13

honored us three guys

25:15

as a NFL Hall of Fame

25:18

that actually played for Chicago Bears. That

25:20

is, that is the moment that the city

25:22

of Chicago needs right now.

25:25

When you walk down of the stage at

25:28

honors and the curtain came up

25:30

to present the Hall of Fame

25:32

Class of twenty twenty four and

25:34

your name was announced, can

25:37

you tell.

25:37

Me what your emotions were like?

25:39

What was going through your head when you walked out there

25:41

with all those guys?

25:43

It was, it was, it

25:46

was. It's so hard to descrive

25:49

it, you know, because you

25:51

know, as a kid growing up, we don't think

25:54

about when you when you eight ninety

25:56

ten years old, you don't think about the Hall

25:58

of Fame as a kid. You know, you think

26:00

about what high school I'm gonna

26:03

play for, what Pop wanted team? You

26:05

know what I mean? And then maybe what college

26:07

I'm playing for, and

26:10

so to look

26:12

further down in the future and to say that whow

26:14

you know what I mean, those courages

26:17

open up like this

26:19

is the best award and pretty

26:22

much the last award you can honestly get

26:25

playing football. Is no other awards

26:27

I feel like you can achieve, you know what I mean.

26:29

This is.

26:31

The end of the road. This is like playing Super

26:34

Mario and you being

26:36

King Coopan and you jumping on the flag. It's

26:39

no more plans. It's pretty much over. And

26:43

that's how That's pretty much how it is.

26:46

There's also some special teammates,

26:48

and you played with a bunch, but you

26:50

know the names that pop into my head that were on those

26:52

returns with you blocking for you,

26:54

you know they pop up from Israeli Donna

26:57

Jay to Charles Tillman to

26:59

Riskshid Jason McKee.

27:01

I'm missing guys, but a

27:04

piece of them are.

27:05

Going in with you to the Hall of Fame. And

27:07

I know they realize it and

27:09

they have pride in it. What would

27:11

you say to those gentlemen and the coach

27:13

Dave Toad and the general manager Jerry

27:16

Andrelo and coach love E.

27:17

Smith, and that whole group.

27:20

So, Man, that whole organization on DWN, from

27:22

love Smith and Jerry to

27:24

coach Dave told Man, I appreciate

27:27

the opportunity of jumping out

27:29

on the limb. I know it was a big hesitant

27:31

about me in the draft, and like

27:34

you said, this kid here great

27:37

talent, but doesn't have a locked position.

27:39

And to really really take that chance and

27:41

pull that trigger

27:43

in and draft me was a great honor.

27:45

And I'm hopefully that I made

27:49

them proud for the decision that they made.

27:51

You know, some draft picks, you know, some of

27:53

some of the coaches that the GMS could be

27:55

scratching their head right now four or five years from

27:57

now, saying why did we pick this guy? So

28:00

I'm hoping that I made them proud and as well

28:02

as the city and to go down

28:04

to all my teammates and to

28:07

sit back and say, wow, you know what I mean, This was

28:09

a team effort thing. And I know at the end

28:11

of the day, none of these were returns up

28:15

in Chicago or just end of the accolades

28:17

of the awards wouldn't be possible

28:20

without those guys at the end of the day, Man, and

28:22

and I just loved that I was had

28:24

an opportunity to play on a team like that where

28:27

special team wise, we really really took

28:30

special team series and we valued it and we made

28:32

sure that this was a key three phase of our

28:35

our system and our team. Oh

28:37

yeah, and most definitely, Man, I wanted to give

28:39

a shout out to Mark Tudaski, man,

28:41

because I know the story of Mark and what happened

28:44

during the draft day in the room,

28:46

and Man, I know that this guy here was

28:48

was probably

28:51

about getting a fight with three four guys in the draft

28:53

room, man, and for them guys to

28:55

go ahead and say, hey, man, this is your draft pick.

28:57

We go we this this is gonna fall on

28:59

you, man, And I'm hoping that man. Listen, I

29:02

made moren't proud as well?

29:03

Yeah, Mark Sadowski for sure.

29:06

Well you're very respected.

29:09

Young players want to be you,

29:11

Young players want to play like you, and

29:14

young people want to be where you are right now. Congratulations

29:17

very much, Pro Football Hall of Famer

29:19

Class of twenty twenty four.

29:21

Thank you, Devin pre say

29:23

so much.

29:24

Appreciate too so much, Jeff for all the

29:26

amazing lyrics

29:28

and just going crazy in

29:30

the boot man. And I was telling everybody this morning,

29:33

I say, man, whenever I hear you talking

29:36

or yelling, I feel like you're talking about

29:38

me.

29:41

Well, you gave me a lot to describe.

29:42

I took it as a challenge every

29:45

single time you touch the football. And

29:47

as much as those guys got up off the bench

29:50

to watch you, you

29:52

got to imagine what I had been going through because

29:54

I had to capture that moment.

29:56

I captured all but one. All but one.

30:00

I'll take it. Man, you really you

30:02

help put me on the map too. So I appreciate

30:05

you, and I love you.

30:05

Brother.

30:06

I love you too.

30:07

Jeff Man heartfelt from Hester,

30:09

heartfelt from me to Devin as well. Along

30:12

with Steve McMichael and Julius Peppers,

30:14

who spent four years with the Bears, including the twenty

30:17

ten NFC Championship game,

30:19

all will be inducted this summer August

30:22

in Kanton, Ohio. The likelihood that the Bears

30:24

would get the Hall of Fame game as well.

30:26

Well return with Jim Miller and Tom Thayer.

30:28

After this on ESPN one thousand

30:30

and the Bears Radio Network.

30:33

You were listening to Bears Weekly on the

30:35

Bears Radio Network. This

30:37

is Bears Weekly with the Voice of the Bears

30:40

for twenty three years. Jeff Jonyaik

30:42

on the Bears Radio Network.

30:47

Segment of Bears Weekly is brought to you by Athletico

30:50

Physical Therapy. Visit Athletico dot com to

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request an in clinic or virtual appointment and

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start feeling better tomorrow. Jeff Joniak

30:56

along with Tom Thayer and Jim Miller from Serious

30:58

x MNFL Radio's Moving. I

31:00

just heard from Devin Hester the Hall of Famer

31:03

our interview last week, and let's

31:05

dip into that because Steve McMichael, Devin

31:07

Hester, we talked about the likelihood

31:09

they were going.

31:10

In and our last show last week.

31:11

Now we know they're headed to Canton in the summer along

31:14

with Julius Pepper's the four year Bear. Jim

31:16

the Hall of Fame class in general, what did you think

31:18

of it? What will this potentially do

31:21

in some weird way when they

31:23

get together to talk about kick return

31:26

in the NFL owners meetings coming up in

31:28

March, Because it was a real bummer

31:31

again not one kick return

31:33

in the Super Bowl touchback City and it just

31:35

is a play. These guys are running down the field taking

31:38

win sprints. I don't get it.

31:39

Yeah, Yeah, it's become an inconsequential

31:42

play. So I'm with you there. I do think

31:44

they are going to address it the Competition Committee.

31:47

You know, they may implement. Well, now it's

31:49

called the UFL. Obviously the XFL

31:51

has merged to create the UFL.

31:53

But the XFL used a

31:56

unique kickoff return and it did invite

31:58

kick returners. So basically, the back

32:01

line would be moved to like the fifteen

32:03

yard line and the coverage team would

32:05

be about on the twenty five yard line, so

32:07

there's only basically ten yards

32:10

where they'd be able to get to kickoff covers.

32:12

The kickers would be in his normal spot where

32:15

he kicks, but the

32:17

coverage team can't start going till

32:19

the returner catches the ball. So

32:21

it does encourage kick returns.

32:24

I talked to who is an Anthony

32:26

backed. He coached the Saint Louis BattleHawks,

32:29

and he thought it was a very effective way

32:31

to you know, let's not take the foot out

32:33

of football. Where they did have returns. It

32:36

was an exciting play where you could have a

32:38

kickoff returns. Otherwise you'll

32:40

never see a Devin Hester again. I mean

32:42

you just you won't see it. Teams won't invest

32:45

in their kick return a coverage game

32:47

and then they'll they'll move on again. The statistics

32:50

are probably going to drive it. As

32:52

for the Hall of Fame, I

32:54

know we're splitting hairs here. I thought

32:56

Antonio Gates was going to get in. I

32:59

really did. And that's no offense to Patrick

33:02

Willis. But I look at Patrick Willis somewhat

33:04

like Terrell Davis of the Denver Broncos.

33:07

Right, Patrick Willis had a shortened

33:09

career and he did you

33:11

know, he would have an opportunity to make the Hall.

33:13

But Terrell Davis had to take a little bit of

33:15

a wait before he got in because

33:17

of his shortened career. That's why he didn't get

33:20

in so early. So I thought Antonio

33:22

Gates was going to get in, but didn't

33:24

happen. Hopefully it'll happen the next time.

33:26

And the only other one I thought Tory Holt. You

33:29

know, obviously Johnson made it in for the

33:31

Houston Texas, but there's a

33:33

log jam at the receiver position,

33:35

and I just thought maybe Tory Holt would

33:38

would have had an opportunity to creep in there.

33:40

But again we're splitting Harris. They're all great

33:42

players.

33:42

Ye you know, I like say one thing about the kickoff

33:45

return because the traditional kickoff return

33:47

that we.

33:47

All known throughout the history of the NFL,

33:50

it's.

33:50

One of the most difficult designed plays

33:53

in all of offensive football because

33:56

the length of requirement

33:58

of assignment in the traditional

34:00

kickoff return is difficult

34:03

and guys are never committed to

34:05

their lanes where you can count on. The

34:07

guy you're counting out at the start of

34:09

the return is the guy that you're going to block at the

34:11

end of the return. But the

34:13

way that the USFL UFL

34:16

have changed the kickoff coverage

34:18

design, I think there's more designable

34:21

returns when you have that distance

34:23

of personnel. So I think it

34:25

can be more creative on the

34:27

kickoff return if they did have

34:29

that shorter distance between the

34:32

defenders coming down and the offensive

34:34

players waiting for the ball to return. So

34:37

I think it is an exciting and not listen

34:39

man, I'm a traditionalist from wayback,

34:42

but what the examples I saw

34:44

on the field, I think it is something

34:47

that needs to be explored to keep

34:49

that exciting play in the game.

34:51

I just want the third phase to still be the third

34:53

phase completely. It's how you

34:55

build rosters. It's part of the process

34:57

and the challenge of building a roster

35:00

that includes your kickoff coverage

35:02

and your kick return team, and the unit is

35:04

you know guys that can do more

35:06

than just one thing, and otherwise.

35:09

You're going to be eliminate.

35:10

You are already threatening to eliminate the running

35:12

back position in a weird way, and

35:15

you're going to threaten to eliminate even

35:17

more jobs in the return game.

35:19

I just I find it odd. I just

35:21

do well, Look, it's not.

35:22

Don't even invest teams, don't even invest

35:24

in returners anymore. Jovin Hester, obviously,

35:27

the Bears invested in him. Think of the Cleveland

35:29

Browns when they had Joshua Cribbs they

35:31

invested in him. Or Kansas City

35:33

with Dante Hall. These guys were

35:36

kick return specialists.

35:38

And it is to me it's the most exciting

35:40

play in football that will really get the fans

35:43

at a stadium to jump out of their seats when

35:45

you see one go the distance and take

35:47

it to the house.

35:48

So we heard Brad Spielberger earlier, I'll

35:50

get your thoughts. Because the Bears right now have sixteen

35:53

free agents. Two of them are josh

35:56

Blackwell and Joe Reid, a wide receiver.

35:58

There are excluded rights free agents,

36:01

so they can retain. I hope they do retain

36:03

blackwell, but I mean it's a

36:05

small number. They had

36:07

a lot of one year contracts again last year,

36:09

and that's the process of rebuilding a roster

36:12

to plug some holes. But I'm

36:14

interested to where you guys are feeling about Justin

36:16

Jones at defensive tackle. To have

36:19

that rotational guy, he gives full

36:21

effort. I like the way he plays. Would

36:23

that be somebody you'd like to keep on the roster time

36:25

We'll start with you.

36:26

Well, I'd have.

36:27

To see what is my feelings

36:29

on the future development of Zach Pickens and

36:31

Javon Dexter Junior, a couple of guys

36:34

that they brought in last year because now they're going

36:36

to be considered veterans even though they're only

36:38

in their second year.

36:39

And is there another guy out there?

36:41

And they did sign Billings and so is

36:43

there another guy out there that gives me more

36:45

explosiveness at the three technique

36:47

defensive tackle. I have all the respect

36:50

in the world for Justin Jones, the guy.

36:52

I think he played better his second year than he

36:54

did his first year once he got complimented

36:57

by more.

36:57

Concerned at the defensive end position.

36:59

However, if I go out there

37:01

and I can find a guy that has that extreme

37:04

three technique explosiveness

37:07

and wins the game of leverage, I will

37:09

have to explore that. And I'm not it

37:11

because Justin Jones listening, if you let him

37:14

go, he's going to be signed in a minute. But

37:16

if you find that guy that really fits

37:19

what we all think is needed at

37:21

that specific position, I have to investigate

37:23

that opportunity.

37:25

Yeah, I think price will dictate it, you know, And

37:28

you know, I believe when you look at Brad he said

37:30

to a guy like you know, say, like last year Javon

37:33

Hargrave was was out there in free

37:35

agency for the Philadelphi Eagles in San

37:37

Francisco, signs him to a pretty

37:39

big deal. And why maybe the Bears weren't

37:41

involved in bringing in Hardgrave a

37:43

year ago. And I think a guy like Justin Mattabuke,

37:46

who had just a terrific year double

37:48

digit SATs sacks, is an interior

37:50

guy for the Baltimore Ravens will

37:52

have to explore and see what the prices

37:54

are out there for his services. I

37:56

assume Baltimore is going to want him back, but

37:59

you know, again, finances are going to dictate

38:01

them.

38:01

Yeah, franchise tags will be going out as

38:03

well. All right, what type of receiver

38:06

would you like to see the Bears add?

38:08

Not a name, just the type. You know.

38:10

The thing about it is is right now, I'm not infatuated

38:13

with these six five receivers or that

38:15

you know that height as a requirement, and

38:18

it's probably because of DJ Moore. If

38:20

you get a guy that has the ability

38:23

to catch the ball in traffic, does willingness

38:25

to go over the middle and make difficult

38:28

catches in the red zone and in the end zone,

38:30

that's what I'm looking for. Jim can address that

38:32

more intelligently than I can.

38:34

Yeah, I think for production, I think they've they've

38:37

got you know, good body types as it

38:39

sits right now. But obviously with three guys

38:41

being a free agent, that's an area

38:43

that they're going to have to tap into. Obviously,

38:46

like you said, productive route runner, very

38:48

disciplined. But I want to see production

38:51

a guy that can separate, get open,

38:53

a discipline, a route runner where

38:56

quarterback, no matter who it is, is going to have

38:58

confidence to throw him the ball.

39:00

And I think sometimes that wasn't always

39:02

the case of this past year for the Chicago

39:05

Bears and why DJ Moore kind

39:07

of was the favorite and targeted

39:09

so much. Obviously he's the best player. He's going

39:11

to command that, but we need a number two

39:14

to command that opposite Hid.

39:16

No matter who it is. That the Bears

39:19

sugned.

39:20

Separation with physicality, That's what

39:22

I'm looking at. The separation is the

39:24

critical component. You got to run a perfect route

39:26

and you got to do it every time and sell

39:28

it like hell. All right, we're gonna step away.

39:30

Our final segment coming up with Tom Thare Jimiller.

39:33

I'm Jeff Joniak aran Bears Weekly on ESPN

39:35

one thousand and the Bears Radio Network.

39:38

You were tuned into Bears Weekly with Jeff

39:40

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39:42

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39:45

Weekly with a voice of the Bears for twenty

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39:54

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package this season by this at in Chicago Bears vip

40:01

dot Com. Remaining moments with Jim

40:03

and Tom. I'm Jeff Joniak here

40:05

on the SB one thousand and the Bears Radio Network.

40:08

We touched on free agency.

40:10

We wrapped up the Hall of Fame, but

40:12

before we do just I don't

40:14

know, Jim, if you had time to watch the nine

40:16

and a half minute video that ESPN's

40:19

one of their writers put together interviewing

40:22

folks about Steve McMichael, it was a

40:24

tear jerkerr I know, Tom and I both saw it.

40:26

Tom's got his thoughts as well, but just.

40:29

Grateful that he's he's alive, got

40:31

the knowledge that he's in and

40:33

hopefully he can make it to the summer in Canton

40:36

there because that's the plan.

40:37

That's the plan. But it was moving, man.

40:39

Yeah, no, I know, it's obviously very

40:42

emotional. I've talked to his wife,

40:44

Misty. She was out in Vegas

40:46

as well, and we've done some things prior

40:49

to going to going

40:51

to Las Vegas to see the Super Bowl, and

40:53

you know, this has been you know, obviously

40:55

a goal, a goal that you know everybody

40:58

wants to score and get across the finish

41:00

line to get him at for that special

41:02

moment in Canton. I know the Chicago

41:05

Bears organization has stepped up. I

41:07

know his former teammates have stepped up. Obviously.

41:10

Misty's got a lot of friends

41:12

and loved ones that want to see her

41:15

accomplish this goal for Mongo McMichael

41:18

as well, and hopefully everything will will

41:20

work out exactly the way everybody

41:22

wants it to. So, you know, he's well

41:24

deserved to get into the Hall of Fame and

41:26

hopefully he'll be there to really experience

41:29

it.

41:30

Listen, man, me is a guy that

41:32

carries so much clout and respect

41:34

in the in the weight room, in the locker

41:36

room, in front of any coaches that

41:38

he's ever been had a chance to talk

41:41

to, how dedicated he is to

41:43

making other guys better.

41:45

And I think that's kind of one of the tribut

41:47

you know.

41:48

You know, a lot of guys aren't attributed

41:50

to that so much as a guy like

41:52

Steve McMichael, and you

41:54

know, like Jim says, and we all think that he's

41:57

he's earned the opportunity to be in the Hall

41:59

of Fame because of commitment and

42:02

results. And the

42:04

only reason I feel bad about Steve

42:07

getting in the Hall of Fame now is

42:09

because I think twenty years ago he would have

42:11

given one of the greatest speeches on the podium

42:13

at Hall of Fame Weekend that you would have

42:15

ever seen from any other player in

42:18

the history of Hall of Famers. But

42:21

I think the love and the dedication that

42:24

the teammates have for Steve McMichael, it's

42:26

evident and obvious by the train of people

42:29

that go and continuously visit him.

42:31

Kay Channel two did an interview with

42:33

Bears President and CEO Kevin

42:36

Warren this week. Just over a year ago,

42:38

he came to the Bears and he

42:40

talked about the quote decisions

42:42

that will resonate over the next fifty years,

42:45

and some of those decisions obviously surround

42:47

a stadium, a new stadium, a dome stadium

42:50

here in Chicago, or on any

42:52

of the other properties that they're exploring, including

42:54

what they own in the three hundred and twenty six acres

42:57

in Arlington Heights. Tom will start with you, it's

42:59

just an exciting time. He's building relationship

43:01

with Mayor Johnson in the city. The

43:03

staff's working tirelessly on this

43:06

and we should be learning here, I would

43:08

think in the short term what the plan is

43:10

going to be. And

43:11

he's putting full support also

43:14

in building this team and

43:16

giving Ryan Poles and his staff

43:18

exactly what they need to get it done.

43:20

Well.

43:20

As a Bears fan, priority number one is

43:22

figuring out a way to get this team into the playoffs

43:25

and deep into the playoffs and then.

43:26

Compete for a Super Bowl.

43:28

I think if anybody loses sight of

43:30

that, then you know they don't really

43:32

know what's important to sports franchise

43:35

of any sport. Number two is

43:37

being a lifelong Chicago Joliet,

43:40

Chicago residents. And from the time

43:42

I used to drive into the city and

43:45

I used to see that stadium sit dormant

43:47

for four months a year, it kind of

43:49

frustrated me because you took in consideration

43:52

what could be going on in there between

43:54

February March, April into

43:57

May and now which you think all

44:00

the stadiums at all of us, Jim, you

44:02

and Jeff and I we've been in all the stadiums

44:05

around the NFL landscape, and you

44:07

think of what the city is capable of bringing

44:09

twelve months a year, not only

44:12

eight months a year. So the vision

44:14

and the insight and know

44:16

what you think could happen in that stadium

44:18

between Super Bowls and Big Ten championship

44:21

games, in final fours and all

44:23

the other things. The Dome stadium

44:25

isn't obvious. And if it happens on the lake Front,

44:28

I think that will benefit the city of Chicago.

44:32

Yeah, I just think from that standpoint standpoint,

44:34

they won't be shortsighted like they

44:36

were last time, because I think we all agree,

44:39

how great would Chicago be. You've got all the great

44:41

restaurants, You've got the hotels that

44:43

can accommodate fans coming in, just like

44:45

what Las Vegas experiences

44:47

past weekend. To make Chicago,

44:50

the city of Chicago a show piece. Think

44:52

of all that revenue that Tom just mentioned,

44:54

Big Ten championship games, final fours.

44:57

He's got to be multi purpose facilities

45:00

that really you can generate revenue all

45:02

year round. And what better place to really

45:05

have that revenue infused into it than

45:07

the city of Chicago. But first

45:09

things first, as Tom mentioned, it's

45:11

to get to you know, if you build a stadium.

45:13

The NFL has quickly rewarded

45:16

the cities that have built the new stadiums

45:19

to host a Super Bowl. And what better

45:21

city would be better to host a Super Bowl than

45:23

the city of Chicago. They've got everything there

45:25

to just be a great place

45:28

to host one.

45:29

All right, wrapping up combines coming up

45:31

here a couple of weeks away, and this is one it

45:33

gets real serious.

45:34

Jimmy A.

45:35

Lot to discuss. I mean, everybody's got their

45:37

top one hundreds. And it's

45:39

interesting because Dan Brugler from The Athletic,

45:41

who I have a lot of respect for his new top

45:44

one hundred. It is offensive

45:46

heavy.

45:46

I always believe this. I think

45:48

need Trump's everything. Okay, you know I don't

45:51

teams say, oh, we're here to take the best

45:54

player available. But you

45:56

know why are teams trading up to grab

45:58

a quarterback because they need a quarter He

46:01

and Carolina needed a quarterback.

46:03

They traded up from nine to one because

46:05

they didn't have a quarterback. So I personally

46:09

believe need Trump's what

46:11

the team is going to take. And

46:13

so you know, you look at Houston

46:15

last year. They needed a quarterback and they needed

46:17

a pass rusher. Here they traded up so

46:20

that they could get both both a quarterback and

46:22

obviously Will Anderson who won the defensive

46:25

Rookie of the Year. So I believe

46:27

it's need and by that definition alone,

46:29

it won't be just offensive dominated. If

46:31

a team needs a defender, they'll justify,

46:34

you know, making the selection and say, no,

46:37

that's where we had him greater that Remember Tyson

46:39

and Lululu who got drafted by the Jacksonville

46:41

Jaguars. He went top ten and everybody's

46:43

like, Oh, that's a reach, that's a reach. They

46:46

needed a d tackle they take. They took

46:48

Tyson a Lululu.

46:49

Tom eight offensive linemen in his top twenty.

46:52

Yeah, glad to see that because it's a it's

46:54

a position of importance. But I both

46:56

of you guys, and I blamed both of you guys

46:59

for this. I used to love

47:01

watching the Senior Ball and the Senior Bowl

47:03

practices and then you kind of carry it through

47:06

to the Combine. Now I'm so disappointed

47:09

of what I've seen out of the Senior Bowl.

47:11

And now I got to re see.

47:13

The Combine because watching

47:15

the quarterbacks throughout the week of practice

47:18

at the Senior Ball, I didn't see anything

47:20

in the game itself.

47:21

So now even though you

47:23

know it's the Combine, I need to go

47:25

and re.

47:26

See all the quarterbacks arm strength,

47:28

decision making process, accuracy,

47:31

the difficult passes that they make them throw

47:33

repetitively. So disappointed

47:36

in what the Senior Bowl showed me. Now

47:39

it kind of reignites

47:42

my interest in the Combine.

47:44

But that's the definition of scouting. Why are

47:46

you blaming Jimini. I don't get it.

47:48

I'm blaming both of you guys for what reason the

47:50

hand in broadcasting that

47:52

game, and I spent hours

47:54

throughout the course of the week watching and rewatching

47:57

the practice.

47:58

You see guys bailing in the midst

48:00

of the game.

48:01

Jim, I'm confused.

48:02

I'm confused.

48:04

Michael, Michael Panix was my first

48:06

interview before kickoff. I was twisting

48:08

his arm to get in there. I said, you had

48:10

a great week, just don't play.

48:13

Uh, well, we're gonna We're gonna have a

48:15

lot of fun this offseason.

48:16

I can guarantee you that.

48:18

Boys, we gotta run. Jim, thank you as always.

48:21

Take some time off now, just just leaven a

48:23

day, just to regroup. Well, you even working.

48:25

Hard when I'm not doing that, Jeff, I'm gonna reintroduce

48:28

myself to my children.

48:29

Yeah, there you go. We'll figure it out exactly.

48:32

That's gonna do it for us.

48:33

Appreciate all our help from our producers, and

48:35

most of all you for listening. For Brad

48:37

Spielberger from PFF, for Tom

48:39

Thayer and Jim Miller.

48:40

I'm Jeff Joniac. Have a good night, everybody.

48:42

On the new radio home of the Chicago Bears ESPN

48:45

Chicago.

48:45

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48:46

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