Episode Transcript
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Is. No.
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Good chance lot so welcome in you
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get the coffee music the star. It's
1:37
been awhile since I'm been to a
1:39
long time. Live on a mutt with
1:41
a morning show which we usually do
1:43
a live shows for post games, But.
1:45
This just and feals straight certainly calls
1:48
for. A.
1:50
Big Live episode with you on a
1:52
Sunday morning. A happy St Patrick's Day!
1:54
Everyone. Same. the oh i'm
1:56
sure others quite a few people listening or
1:58
a an hour energy Enjoying a cup of
2:01
coffee or something like it after
2:03
a late night in the city. You know, it
2:05
was a beautiful day. Are you talking about me
2:07
right now? Is
2:09
that a McLovin mug? Actually,
2:13
I got this when I was in Hawaii. Oh, I thought it
2:15
was a McLovin mug. It'd be a lot cooler. It would be
2:17
a lot cooler if it was McLovin. Yes.
2:21
Yeah, I would have set the odds of me
2:23
actually being up and having showered before the show
2:26
started. Maybe plus 1000 last
2:29
night. But no,
2:31
we're good. We're showered. We're we're
2:33
we're I'm feeling great. Maybe
2:36
still feeling some adrenaline from yesterday because I was wild
2:38
trying to cover even though we kind of knew the
2:40
trade was coming. Like
2:42
perhaps I mean, I don't know about you. I
2:44
was kind of red alert all day. It seemed
2:47
like there was something to the Steeler stuff and
2:49
it might actually go down and I'm
2:51
just happy it happened in about 545 and not 845. Well,
2:56
some of us went out at like 130. Yeah,
2:59
you went to true St. Patrick's Day. Right
3:02
after the Keenan Allen press conference. And I
3:04
think there's a lot of us in
3:06
that media room who accepted some of the risk.
3:08
But we are human. We are
3:10
Chicagoans. We are allowed to enjoy a 55
3:14
degrees sunny day on St. Patrick's Day with the
3:16
river dyed green. Yeah.
3:19
Had a little fun. Changed my afternoon a
3:21
little bit, but here we are ready to talk about
3:23
it. Yeah, we are. And if you
3:25
missed it, we did go live on CSGO last
3:27
night. So you can always go back and check
3:29
out like for the rawest of raw reaction to
3:31
the trade. But we're happy to be here on
3:33
Hogan Johns with you this morning to
3:37
further digest this trade and what it all means. I
3:40
want to start there too. And make sure you're following
3:42
us on Twitter at Adam Hogue at Adam Johns. Our
3:44
show account is at Hogan Johns. Of course, you can
3:46
get all of our merch, which both of us are
3:49
wearing today instead of St. Patrick's Day colors. Check
3:51
out the walking bear t-shirt, the walking bear
3:53
polo. Today you
3:56
can get it all at hoganjohns.com. We always
3:58
appreciate the support. Please hit that. like
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button, please subscribe because you can
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check out the show on YouTube every time we have
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phone or whatever you're doing. Please
4:15
rate and review the pod if you do listen that way. Thank you
4:18
very much. Let's just start
4:20
with the train itself here. A
4:24
six-round pick next year
4:27
that could go to a fourth
4:29
depending on playing time parameters which
4:31
we don't necessarily know. Hopefully
4:33
at some point we'll have that. 51%
4:37
of the playing time, is it not?
4:39
Oh, is it? Yes. Okay.
4:41
Yes. Keep talking. I'll
4:44
get it up for you quickly. So basically if he ends
4:46
up playing more than Russell Wilson.
4:49
Long story short, it's a
4:51
six-round pick. Yeah. Russell
4:54
Wilson has to get hurt to change the
4:56
dynamics of the Steelers QB situation. Yeah, we'll
4:58
see. I mean, maybe we get into that
5:00
a little bit later on the podcast, what
5:02
Justin Fields could do. But
5:06
the Steelers did make it clear apparently to
5:08
Russell Wilson, there's been multiple reports out including
5:10
this morning, kind of double downing on that
5:12
that before this trade was made official and
5:14
public, Mike Tomlin called Russell Wilson
5:16
and said, hey, you're still our starter. Russell had
5:18
a nice tweet out there last night with the
5:20
picture of him dapping up Justin.
5:24
He had it ready to go. Yeah.
5:27
So that'll be a, that becomes
5:30
now, this is not a Steelers podcast, but
5:32
that becomes an interesting story in the NFL
5:34
this season without a doubt. I'm sure we'll
5:36
be paying attention to it throughout the season,
5:39
especially if it ends up affecting next year's draft
5:41
capital too. So my most
5:44
instant natural reaction as
5:46
the news was breaking and I'm on my phone
5:49
exiting this this family house party that we're at
5:52
is it's just a sixth round pick. Like
5:54
it's kind of shocking, like absolutely shocking in
5:57
a sense. That's all they were able to
5:59
get. for quarterback who
6:01
has been electric in moments numbers
6:04
don't look great in certain situations especially in
6:06
third quarters in four thousand two
6:08
minute situations but who had with
6:13
so much potential and hope not
6:15
too long ago like even answering this
6:17
past season so much potential so much
6:19
hope all that it
6:21
was shocking in a sense like that's it
6:23
like that that's my honest reaction like that was it
6:26
and sometimes the market just you that's
6:30
it and I think the Bears eventually
6:32
had to act on that market like to me
6:35
doing right by Justin Fields is
6:37
not dragging this out because
6:40
the mate debate which team would be
6:42
best but not dragging this
6:44
out into April
6:46
into draft during the draft that's
6:49
doing right by Justin Fields by the
6:51
Chicago Bears yeah I agree
6:54
with you there and you
6:56
know I could they
6:58
have gotten more for Justin there's this
7:00
you know there's this question about could they have
7:02
gotten more if they moved earlier I don't I
7:06
think they would have if they you
7:08
know would
7:11
have gotten more earlier I just I just think they
7:13
didn't now could they've got more
7:15
if they held on to him longer and maybe
7:17
this got closer to the draft or during the
7:19
draft when the team strikes out on a quarterback
7:22
maybe but
7:24
for what like is that six-round pick
7:27
next year gonna suddenly turn into a third this
7:29
year I
7:31
mean that's a big gap so
7:33
I I'm with
7:35
you that just sort of
7:38
stunning how this ended up playing out
7:40
you know at
7:42
one time there was talk about if Justin Fields
7:44
could get you get a first-round pick for him
7:48
but the can I'm looking back at
7:50
that probably there's some silliness there I
7:52
agree but multiple times Adam
7:54
Schefter came out was like yeah teams
7:57
are saying second or third And
8:00
that seemed to be what was the
8:02
consensus so the fact that There's
8:06
and it's not only what happened in this trade. It's
8:08
these other trades too, and I think we I think
8:10
Kent has some of these ready so
8:13
Desmond Ritter goes to Arizona
8:17
in straight a player for
8:19
player trade Atlanta gets Rondell
8:21
Moore back who's been I guess the productions
8:24
with somewhat disappointing But he's still a pretty
8:26
electric player like I would
8:28
have taken a run down more on the Bears Kenny
8:31
picket in a fourth to
8:34
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh got back
8:36
a third and a seven so they move
8:39
up an entire round for moving can't for
8:41
moving Kenny picket That's in this
8:43
year's draft Sam Howell
8:45
plus a fourth and a sixth to
8:48
Seattle Got Seattle a
8:50
third round pick back and a
8:52
future fifth Matt Jones
8:56
Went for a six this year Train
8:59
Lance remember that one fourth
9:02
round pick for train Lance to go do nothing
9:04
in Dallas and just sit behind Dak
9:06
Prescott and then the one that
9:08
we've been bringing up for months now because
9:10
we thought there was a comparison for Justin
9:13
Fields was the Sam Darnell trade two
9:15
years ago and he went to Carolina and the
9:17
Jets got back a Sixth
9:20
but then also a second and a fourth rounder in
9:22
the next draft in 2022 so
9:25
all of these I think
9:27
we can agree on our Better
9:31
values or better returns
9:35
Than what the Bears are getting for Justin Fields and
9:37
I'm sorry But Justin Fields is better than every single
9:39
one of those quarterbacks that we just put up on
9:42
that graphic. I Would
9:44
think now the graphic would suggest that some
9:46
around the lake probably disagree with you though,
9:48
apparently It's
9:50
one of the hard realities of this is it not I
9:53
mean I Guess
9:56
it is. I I guess it is I and I think
9:58
there is a lesson here in maybe
10:01
a bigger lesson in what
10:04
teams prefer at
10:06
the quarterback position. Which quite
10:08
frankly has me wondering about Jayden Daniels actually going
10:10
in the top three all of a sudden. You
10:13
know like some of that trade
10:15
conversation like it deals with timing, leverage,
10:18
there's a lot of factors that come
10:20
into play like different draft classes, different
10:23
veteran quarterbacks that move. So there's a lot
10:25
of maybe
10:28
extra context to all those different
10:30
situations but if I'm drawing like
10:32
anything out of this it's that
10:35
the league feels
10:38
at this point in Justin
10:40
Fields career that that he's a
10:43
backup and that's a hard reality
10:45
I think that the Bears had to realize
10:48
and that has to be very
10:50
humbling reality for Justin Fields
10:52
that I imagine knowing him knowing we know about
10:54
him it's gonna be extremely motivating for him but
10:58
it's the hardest truth the ruthless
11:01
business side of the NFL rearing
11:04
its ugly head right now. I
11:08
don't you think there's got to be some teams like
11:10
let's say the Cardinals right now going wait we could
11:12
have had Justin Fields for a future six-round pick maybe
11:17
but if you're the Bears you want to do
11:19
him right like the further this conversation you
11:23
have Callar Murray they're kind of locked into
11:25
a contract at least with Pittsburgh there's
11:28
no quarterback under contract beyond this season.
11:30
So do you think that the Bears
11:33
did you know perhaps did turn down
11:35
some other offers? I
11:38
can't say that for certainty but if
11:42
if you want to do right
11:44
by Justin Fields. Yeah sending him to
11:46
Arizona probably wouldn't have been great. No
11:48
no no you're sending to an
11:51
organization that has been consistently just like stable.
11:53
Yeah I mean they've had three coaches over
11:55
the past what 100 years? Well,
12:00
what about only light exaggeration there
12:03
Seattle, but did they just trade for their
12:05
own backup quarterback? What's what I'm saying? That
12:07
was that we're saying there was
12:09
that the key put the graphic back. That was the same
12:11
dot Sam Howell trade, right? He's the one that went to
12:13
Seattle. So Yeah,
12:15
so Sam Howell fourth and six to
12:18
Seattle I
12:22
Think that actually we had the graphic wrong. I
12:24
think Washington got the third right? Washington
12:27
got the third round regardless
12:31
Yeah, so it sells Washington getting back to third
12:33
round pick so they moved up
12:35
an entire round Regardless, it's like
12:37
I mean that could have been an interesting
12:39
spot for Justin to compete against the Geno
12:41
Smith and again, I'm
12:44
just like At
12:46
one point though Sam, how led the league in passing? And
12:49
ours and that's just gonna be a matter of
12:51
situation like here's another interesting thing about least if
12:54
I'm gonna criticize the
12:56
Pittsburgh destination His
12:59
offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was
13:01
part of an Atlanta regime
13:04
that passed on fields The
13:07
top 10. Yeah in 2021 It's
13:10
almost like there is no perfect situation for Justin Fields out
13:12
there Like even the one that he's it now Where
13:15
you have Omar Khan who believes in him? You
13:18
have Russell Wilson a? mentor
13:21
like there now in the same room as him, but
13:24
now you have Arthur Smith who was part of the
13:27
Atlanta brain trust that passed on him
13:29
in 2021 and You
13:33
know was it Josh Kendall we had on before
13:36
the Falcons game? It was I was just
13:38
thinking about and I think about that interview
13:40
a lot whenever the Steelers were coming up
13:42
as a destination Because he was Josh Kendall
13:44
covers the Falcons for the outlet athletic We
13:46
had him on late in the season before
13:48
the Bears played the Falcons and
13:50
he you guys listening might remember this
13:53
I mean he was adamant that Justin Fields
13:55
was not a fit for Arthur Smith
13:57
because it was at that point we were talking about
13:59
hey Justin getting traded to the Falcons this
14:01
offseason is a possibility. And then Arthur
14:04
Smith got fired, ended up as the OC
14:06
in Pittsburgh. So every time the
14:08
Steelers have come up, I'm like, well, if
14:10
what Josh was telling us was right, I don't know. And
14:13
maybe that maybe what he was saying, you
14:16
know, was accurate and why they didn't
14:18
like him as the starter, but perhaps
14:21
different conversation is the backup. Well,
14:24
circumstances change too, right? The
14:26
D picket was
14:28
apparently pissed off. Also
14:31
Wilson has arrived. Don't want this
14:33
competition. Trade me. He's
14:36
gone. Quarterback spot opens up. And now
14:38
the market is
14:40
just like the Steelers. And
14:43
you're not trading a second round pick. You're not trading a third
14:45
round pick. You're not trading a fourth round pick or
14:48
fifth round pick. You're trading
14:50
a 2025 conditional six round pick.
14:54
To me, that's an easy decision for even Arthur
14:56
Smith, despite his potential
14:58
criticisms of Justin Fields to
15:01
get behind. Now
15:03
one point I did want to make on
15:07
what year this
15:09
pick is coming in. Because
15:11
at first you're like, and I certainly was too.
15:13
I was like, wait, wait, this draft pick's not even going to
15:15
be for this year. They only have four picks
15:18
right now. We've been assuming
15:20
this entire time that Justin Fields was going
15:22
to get the Bears at least another pick this year. Important
15:25
point to remember though, if we're talking about a six round
15:27
pick, having
15:29
a six round pick next year, especially
15:31
one that could potentially get bumped up to a fourth
15:34
conditionally is more valuable than
15:36
having that same pick this year. The
15:39
draft this year universally
15:42
is considered weak in
15:44
the later rounds this year because of an
15:47
extreme lack of underclassmen, a
15:50
low number of underclassmen that declared
15:52
this year. Part of that
15:54
is the COVID years that still count. Part
15:56
of that is NIL money. It's sort of changed
15:58
the landscape. now the expectation.
16:01
Sometimes this changes, but right now the
16:03
expectation is next year's draft class is
16:05
going to go back to how it
16:07
normally is where you can get
16:10
more depth in the later rounds. Now,
16:12
I'm not telling you a diamond in the rough isn't
16:14
going to hit this year in the draft. It will.
16:16
There'll be a puka nakua for the fifth round or
16:18
something like that. There always is. But
16:20
when you're projecting probability
16:23
of hating on a draft pick,
16:26
I'm guessing that the bears part of the reason why
16:28
they were okay with this deal is
16:30
because that six round pick has more value
16:33
next year, especially if it ends up getting
16:35
bumped up two rounds. Well, I'll give you
16:37
the future draft capital counts
16:39
a little bit more, but I don't see that
16:41
bumping up to fourth round. Like
16:44
I need to see something
16:47
change in Pittsburgh for that to
16:49
come to fruition. Well, what
16:51
if something changes is just. I
16:57
mean, again, we're not doing a Steelers podcast here, but I have thought
16:59
about this a lot in the last 12 hours
17:01
or so. Like what
17:03
does Russell have left? What if
17:06
he's struggling? Justin's probably
17:08
going to end up being a fan favorite
17:10
there. Every team loves their backup and
17:14
we kind of know Russell's a sort of a pain
17:17
in the ass to deal with,
17:20
especially seems like more late in these
17:22
later years. We also know everybody
17:25
loves Justin. His teammates are going
17:28
to love him. I just, I
17:32
wouldn't be shocked if there's a
17:34
movement to get
17:36
Justin on the field. If
17:39
Russell's struggling at all in the first quarter
17:41
of the season, I know what you're saying,
17:43
but like, if we're just going based off
17:45
of like the most recent production, you
17:49
know, I talked about Justin Field, this
17:51
passing production, not being too difficult to
17:53
replace even by rookie quarterback. It's just
17:55
not right. Right. Where it ranks. Russell
17:58
Wilson was. significantly better
18:01
passer than Justin Fields in
18:03
2023 even with a head coach that
18:07
was just waiting to get rid of him. Yeah.
18:10
No I mean like there's no question Russell's the
18:13
better quarterback and has been for
18:15
a long long time obviously. You know he's got a Super
18:17
Bowl ring, he's had a hell of a career but
18:23
we know how these things go. To me
18:25
it's like for
18:27
ending this part of the conversation like doing
18:29
right by Justin Fields. I
18:32
just think going to like if you're
18:34
the Bears and you really want to do it I
18:37
don't know if that's Philadelphia.
18:41
Jaylen Hurts is under contract like Jaylen Hurts is the guy.
18:43
I know they changed things quite
18:45
quickly there in Philadelphia but still same
18:48
thing with Arizona. Now Seattle was interesting
18:51
until they made their trade. We'll
18:54
see if I'm Justin
18:57
Fields you try to embrace it a bit. It's
18:59
a hard reality to accept but the
19:02
Steelers have been consistently good at
19:04
everything they do. Mike
19:06
Tomlin is a Hall of Fame coach. Their
19:09
defense is gonna be one of the best. They
19:11
have a knack for drafting great receivers
19:13
like seemingly every year. Yeah. Like
19:16
they know what they want to be and they know what they want to do in
19:19
Pittsburgh so maybe embrace it and see what
19:21
happens in 2025. Well
19:23
I mean I'm certainly gonna be following
19:25
along but well
19:30
let's close let's try to close the book a
19:32
little bit on Justin Fields in Chicago and
19:35
some of our favorite moments. You know the funny thing
19:37
is I think
19:40
one of his best moments one of his best
19:42
games came in
19:44
Pittsburgh. That Monday Night Game
19:46
that throw over the middle. It's a Cole
19:48
Komet incredible grab. Of
19:51
course the way that game ended with
19:53
Cassius Marsh getting
19:55
called for taunting when Tony
19:58
Carrente bumped into him. you
20:00
that we talked to Cassius Marsh at the Super
20:02
Bowl? I still
20:04
remember it. He was, I mean, I was like, of
20:06
all the people on Radio Row, it was like, that's
20:08
Cassius Marsh. And he was
20:11
kind of vague enough of an NFL player
20:13
that he
20:16
could sort of walk around and people would be like, who's
20:18
that guy? And we were one of
20:20
the few that knew because like Cassius Marsh
20:22
was here for five seconds, certainly
20:24
made an impact. And Justin
20:27
was recently when he did that interview on the
20:30
St. Brown Brothers Podcast, he couldn't even
20:32
remember Cassius Marsh's name. But
20:35
he was talking about that game. So
20:40
that's always going to be one of the memories that sticks
20:42
out to me is actually a loss on Monday Night Football
20:45
because, and I remember getting up in the hotel room in
20:47
Pittsburgh the next morning and get up
20:49
and good morning football. As
20:52
much as the storyline was about the referees,
20:55
and it was, but there
20:57
was also a ton of optimism about
20:59
Justin and the way he played in that
21:01
game on national television. I remember, you know,
21:03
and I think it's why a lot of
21:05
people for a while now had been like,
21:08
Justin's pretty good, keep him. So
21:10
that was one of definitely one of the memories that stood out to me.
21:13
There's a few things for me. One is
21:15
it's telling the behind the scenes story of
21:17
his draft selection. I
21:19
got to do that for the athletic a
21:22
few years ago. Talked to Ryan
21:24
Pace at length about it, just
21:26
how everything came to be, like
21:28
how they were actively ready
21:30
for that move. Like the trade was
21:32
already made for the draft started if
21:35
Justin Fields happened to be available with
21:37
that selection. So
21:40
telling that story and then like the,
21:44
that run in was, it would
21:46
be last year, right? Like the
21:48
Mike McDaniel stop it moment when
21:51
you started getting these
21:53
absolutely amazing plays like
21:56
these wild plays when you
21:58
got this, anything can happen. with
22:00
him. I never had that
22:02
covering a bear's quarterback before and I've covered a
22:05
lot. Like in those moments
22:08
you're thinking the bears have their
22:10
guy finally. Right? Like that's
22:12
what you're thinking. That's what I'll remember is those
22:14
feelings. Like thinking those thoughts at that time. Like
22:17
they have their guy. Get
22:19
him some help. Give him some time. I'm
22:22
not talking about like time behind the pocket but some time
22:24
to develop and
22:26
the passing will come along. But
22:29
the stuff he's doing right now is
22:31
absolutely dynamic. Full
22:34
lightning in the bottle you know tight moments.
22:37
Like those feelings I think
22:39
I'll always remember about Justin Fields. So that
22:41
was that four-game stretch in 2022 where the
22:45
Bears actually only went one and three in
22:47
that stretch. But they were scoring they
22:51
scored they led the league in scoring
22:54
I believe over that four-game stretch. So
22:56
and it's been so long for
22:59
a Bears offense to even you know talk about
23:02
leading the league and scoring for an entire month.
23:06
And that was that was that stretch where it
23:08
was like anytime Justin took a snap he
23:10
didn't know if he was gonna break off
23:13
like a 60-plus yard touchdown run against the Lions
23:15
in that game when he outran
23:18
his former teammate Jeff Fucuta to
23:20
the end zone. You're
23:26
right I mean and that was when that was
23:28
like when we had J.T. O'Sullivan on the show
23:30
and he was like yeah you guys got your
23:32
quarterback it's done you got him. I
23:35
think there was an afternoon show in the city
23:38
that said the guys on the square threw a
23:40
party. Had a QB one party declared. Fields
23:43
the guy and honestly that all
23:45
seemed justifiable at the time. So
23:48
and I think that it was that stretch and
23:51
that and those feelings that Bears fans
23:53
are just not used to having that
23:55
we're not used to having covering this
23:57
team. Is
24:02
why so many fans were still clinging on
24:04
to that even in this off season, hoping
24:06
he would still be the quarterback next year.
24:08
And I get it like I totally understand
24:10
that. I'm and that's
24:12
why. I think
24:14
last year was so disappointing to me that
24:16
not only did he not take that step
24:18
forward. But. From.
24:22
The passing standpoint from the numbers as you've
24:24
brought up a lot on the show. Third
24:26
down, Fourth, Quarter
24:29
money down situations. He
24:31
actually took a step back. As
24:34
much as as general Qb
24:36
statistics yeah, I think the.
24:39
The. Expectation that only and house hall but
24:42
around the league that going in a twenty
24:44
twenty three is this is going to be
24:46
the year. Were. Just feels take
24:48
that next step. Along the
24:50
same lines as Dion Hurts and
24:53
Josh Allen. Mike. History
24:55
says if you're quarterbacks gonna hit this
24:57
is the year he takes off. Like
25:00
forget the. Electric stuff at
25:02
his legs, but as a passer. Lead.
25:06
To takes off as a quarterback
25:08
as a passer in the Nfl.
25:10
It just. It
25:12
didn't happen. Yes, there was some
25:14
like individual improvement sack rate in
25:16
a separate. those both improved for
25:19
him. But. Where he
25:21
ranked among his peers. By.
25:24
nearly every single quarterback measurements.
25:27
Were. Still bottom third of the league. Or.
25:30
Worse. And. I
25:32
think that's why we're. Here.
25:34
Talking about this on St. Patrick's Day. In.
25:38
The. Expectation was it meant. And.
25:42
Became. Sound The Move On. As
25:44
a we go back to. What?
25:47
We talk a lot about last summer. Which.
25:50
Was like the number one thing, the season.
25:52
the matter what happens, Is
25:54
you gotta know just some fields as the guy. And
25:57
if there's any question about at the end of the year.
26:00
Is your answer? And.
26:02
It sounds simplistic, but that. Sometimes.
26:06
In. Football we get too complicated with everything and
26:08
I think if you actually zoom out and
26:10
look at this from right, pauses, perspective. I.
26:13
Didn't draft this guy. Gave.
26:15
On two years. Or. Two
26:17
years into it. I'm. Talking about
26:19
the Ryan Polls Two years now with
26:22
Justin. Twenty eight days, three right, and
26:24
then thirty eight overall To go back
26:26
to the year before this regime got
26:28
here. Given
26:30
him his hands med given him to Seasons
26:33
in. We. Still don't know if he's
26:35
for sure the guys. Now we have the
26:37
number one pick. With.
26:39
One of the best talents has ever come
26:41
out. right? There at number
26:44
one. Like, if you really think about it that
26:46
way, For. Ryan pulls his perspective.
26:49
It's a noble. Hope. It's
26:52
just a no brainer in how the
26:54
Nfl operates is certainly, even if you
26:56
don't agree with that, been a no
26:58
brainer. Send peace Surprise Yeah, that this
27:01
is what they did. One
27:03
of the. One
27:06
of the criticisms that I didn't like
27:08
that emerged from all this is that
27:10
the help was just like god awful.
27:13
For just fields, especially like this past
27:16
season like. It. Wasn't like
27:18
look at the contract, Darnell Modi?
27:20
Yeah, despite his off the production.
27:22
This year. Like. That and
27:25
as itself. Still,
27:27
Yes, Yes! And also there's a bunch of drops.
27:30
And some for just the feels like I get
27:32
that I do. But
27:34
a lot of quarterbacks. Have drops if
27:36
you look at the. The. Info: Draft
27:39
Leaders: The Bears aren't. Among.
27:41
Them think the Kansas City Chiefs actually
27:43
where they want to freak and Super
27:45
Bowl of. Ah
27:47
I think at some point like I
27:49
felt like I had higher expectations. For.
27:52
Just feels than some of his, like
27:54
most ardent supporters. Which.
27:57
was kind of surprising to me a minute to
27:59
different conversation. But
28:01
it was. Yeah,
28:03
just in terms of wrapping this up.
28:07
Like The Fields era. I
28:10
think what I'll remember most is just the.
28:13
The excitement, the electricity.
28:17
That. He produced right. And I
28:19
think it it is. It lingers.
28:21
I think that's why these conversations.
28:24
Or the conversations up to this point.
28:26
Now it's over. I hope that so
28:28
nasty in a sense because Just Feels
28:30
Zip provides so much hope at some
28:32
point. One hundred percent. I'm.
28:37
And it was all justified. But
28:41
now it's Caleb time. And
28:44
I think that. I'm.
28:47
Really going to be fascinated. John's
28:49
how these next six thirty nine
28:52
days now. Plays.
28:54
Out. Ah, I'm from the
28:56
sort of what you're just touching on
28:58
their. The fan
29:00
aspect. And support. Because.
29:04
There's. Been such a up effort
29:07
to. Sort a tear down,
29:09
Taleb, During all his vitriol.
29:12
And I am. I think this trade
29:15
happening when it does will allow for
29:17
the proper sort of turn around on
29:19
that. The by
29:21
the time the Pickett's made. That.
29:27
I'm. Just interested to see if the perspective
29:30
on Kill Williams from those are like
29:32
so it's I t le bride now
29:34
will change. The.
29:37
Bears must feel I tweeted this yesterday
29:39
like not only really good about tail
29:41
Boy hims least whether evaluation is. At
29:44
right now. A March
29:46
Seventeenth, but also about others in
29:49
his quarterback Last, because so many
29:51
things can happen between now. And.
29:55
The Draft with at twenty six, twenty fourth, Then
29:57
there's there's more than a month. right
30:00
So many things can happen where
30:02
you're like, oh no, I can't take Hale Williams now. So
30:05
if you're trading Justin Fields, and I agree that you
30:07
have to do right by him, but you
30:10
must also feel really,
30:12
really good about other quarterbacks
30:14
in this draft class just in case. Just
30:17
in case something
30:19
happens and you have to pivot off number one. Doesn't
30:24
that make sense to you? Yeah, and if you want to do that, I
30:27
have a couple thoughts on that. But let's remember,
30:30
if you do end up in that situation, as
30:34
long as it's not something, whatever scares you
30:37
off of Caleb doesn't scare three other teams
30:39
off of Caleb too. Theoretically,
30:41
you can still get that quote unquote haul
30:43
that these fans have
30:46
been talking about for so long and draft somebody else.
30:48
Theoretically, it's still possible. I
30:51
also look at it like this though. It's
30:56
gone so far down this road. This
31:00
trade's still controversial, even if it only ended
31:03
up being for what it was and the
31:05
league kind of told you how Justin's
31:07
really viewed. It's still controversial here in
31:10
Chicago. I just can't
31:12
believe they would get this far with
31:15
a lottery ticket that they got and
31:18
pivot off of Caleb Williams. That would be
31:20
so risky. I
31:23
mean, taking Caleb and missing on
31:25
Caleb would be
31:28
way more easy to swallow than
31:30
passing on Caleb and
31:32
missing on whoever else you draft while
31:35
Caleb's off winning Super Bowls.
31:38
I'm just saying, for
31:40
all the nice things you said about Justin Fields, now that
31:43
he doesn't matter anymore,
31:45
he's traded. If
31:47
that's no longer your fallback option,
31:50
if something crazy comes out about
31:52
Caleb Williams, I'm
31:54
just saying, it doesn't seem far fetched that there might
31:57
be other quarterbacks that appeal to
31:59
the Bears. Well after Caleb Williams, yeah
32:01
are better than Justin Fields. That's what I'm saying
32:03
Yeah, and I agree with you We talked about
32:05
that coming out of the clock Combine like that
32:08
was one of our biggest takeaways was that plan
32:10
B had become something other than Justin So
32:13
it's obvious that they like more than one quarterback
32:16
in this in this draft The
32:18
question then becomes how big is the gap? And
32:22
I think we both agree Caleb's clearly number one right
32:25
now not only you know in our eyes but also
32:27
in the Bears eyes, but you
32:29
know it's a big week by the way pro day
32:31
on Wednesday and We'll
32:34
have coverage from that because I'm going Caleb
32:37
Williams pro day. I know
32:39
the athletic is gonna have other coverage as
32:41
well So we'll have all
32:43
that covered and then I don't know the exact
32:45
date, but Caleb's expected to come Visit
32:48
a house hall shortly after the pro day. Yeah,
32:51
so It's They're
32:55
gonna get a lot of information here like in the next
32:57
10 to 12 days if you're and you know what like
32:59
in terms Of these pro days sometimes teams go out early
33:01
and they host these prospects for
33:03
dinner Or they stay a day later
33:05
have dinner with them And then
33:07
two weeks after that becomes the visit where they
33:09
meet everybody in the facility and everybody almost gets
33:12
to say And how they feel
33:14
about the certain quarterback as a person but
33:17
yes just in terms of What's
33:19
on the calendar coming up? Wednesday
33:22
you have USC pro day along
33:25
with Ohio State and Alabama,
33:27
but obviously USC is number one Friday.
33:31
I believe you have Michigan with
33:33
JJ McCarthy and then the week after
33:35
that you have LSU in
33:37
North Carolina I imagine
33:39
the Bears will be all four of those in
33:42
mass. Yeah And
33:46
now they can do that without the
33:49
Justin Fields thing hanging over Like
33:52
I think the timing that that matters Kind
33:54
of bringing closure to that all
33:56
I Mean, I know
33:58
that they saw I I think that
34:01
matters for Fields more than anyone.
34:04
Again, that's the closure I think he deserves
34:06
in a sense, right? That the Bears wanted to provide
34:08
him doing right again. But
34:11
I still think that diving all
34:16
the way in here to what is essentially the final
34:19
stages of
34:23
the draft process, not having to
34:25
worry about trading just and not
34:27
having that hanging over any
34:29
part of your organization, even outside
34:32
the football part of
34:34
it, marketing, all
34:39
these types of things, you don't have to
34:41
deal with it. Public relations, you don't have to deal with
34:43
it. It's now everybody
34:45
can focus just on these quarterbacks that are
34:47
available to draft and the Bears have the
34:49
number one and number nine picks. And
34:52
they got to get it right. They absolutely have
34:54
to get both of these picks right. And
34:59
having that ninth pick is part of this too
35:01
because think about all the work they did just
35:04
on landing Darnell Wright last year. They
35:07
had that same pick again. So it's not just the
35:09
quarterbacks they got to deal with. And
35:11
they have been obviously you do this every year, you vet
35:14
all these players, but you're going to have access to two
35:16
top 10 players. You got
35:18
to make sure you get those picks right. There can't be any guessing. Yeah.
35:21
Yeah. So the ninth pick is
35:25
another blue chip player potentially
35:27
on your roster. And
35:30
I think we need to reemphasize this point. This
35:33
Bears roster is
35:35
as good as we've ever seen it in
35:38
terms of being ready for any
35:40
quarterback. Now it's going to be a
35:42
rookie quarterback, but it's a good
35:44
roster. And
35:47
right now your QB one is Tyson Bajan. One
35:51
of the best receiving combos they've had in over
35:54
what, 10 years. The defense
35:56
that should be top five, top 10 in a lot
35:59
of categories. getting better with the number
36:01
nine pick. That's a darn
36:03
good roster. If
36:09
I had to set the odds at
36:12
do the Bears actually pick at number
36:14
nine, I
36:17
would think the favorite would be no. But
36:23
with your lack of draft picks, it's like, okay,
36:26
obviously it's like, oh yeah, trade back. Maybe
36:28
you can get a second round pick then. Maybe you can add another third
36:30
round pick. Ryan Poles has been doing pretty good
36:33
with those second rounders. That's potentially
36:35
another blue chip with
36:37
the way that they've been drafting there. It's at
36:39
least a chance to get another long-term starter. On
36:43
the other hand, with lack of draft capital,
36:45
do you get tempted to say,
36:48
F it. Let's
36:50
trade up. Let's
36:53
go get the next guy we need at five
36:56
or six or something like that and
36:59
just make sure you're getting a blue
37:02
chip wide receiver or the best
37:04
offensive tackle possible for this
37:07
quarterback you're getting. I don't know, man. After
37:09
bringing in Keaton Allen, I think the Bears
37:11
have now
37:14
made it less of an emphasis. I
37:20
think they're telling us they'd be okay if
37:22
those top three receivers are gone. We
37:25
can look at a pass
37:28
rusher. If I'm
37:30
tearing the premium positions, I'm looking at the passer than
37:32
the pass rusher. To
37:35
get a Dallas
37:37
Turner to go opposite, not
37:41
that sweat, talk
37:44
about two amazing receivers. How about two
37:46
amazing pass rushers on your defense? I
37:49
don't know. I can't lean that way in a
37:51
sense instead of trading up. That first defensive player
37:53
could be available at nine the way things might
37:56
be shaking out and that might make
37:58
it hard to trade back. If
38:01
you're sitting there and the best defensive guy on your
38:03
board is right there he's the edge rusher to Or
38:06
he's a three technique that can kind of complete your defense
38:09
right now Be
38:12
very interesting to see how it plays out All
38:15
right any final thoughts before we get out of here no
38:18
we got hit some super chats. I think here Oh, we
38:20
got some supers Let's do it Marlin
38:24
Harris 499 the
38:27
league didn't want Lamar Jackson either last
38:29
year. No one wants a running quarterback
38:33
it's a little bit of a different situation because you had
38:36
to give up to first round picks and Sign
38:39
him to the biggest contract
38:41
in football To
38:44
get Lamar last year, so it's There's
38:48
some truth to that but also it's a
38:50
completely different situation and like Lamar
38:52
Jackson is a good pass Thank
38:55
you His second season wasn't he
38:57
the NFL MVP like I get it like
38:59
what he does with his legs is exciting
39:01
But I just pull up his passing number.
39:03
Yeah, the passing number is in the tape.
39:05
It's not even comparable. Yes Yeah, they're not
39:07
the same player 36 touchdown passes, you
39:10
know sixty six point one completion percentage 83.0
39:13
QBR 113.3
39:16
passer rating I mean that like
39:19
that's Lamar Jackson's second season and we're
39:21
talking about Justin Fields going into his
39:23
fourth Season I'd never liked that
39:25
comparison and now two pigeons
39:27
be moaning the fact you can stream direct
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TV satellite free Hey Frank a little birdie
39:32
told me you don't need a satellite dish
39:34
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39:36
What's it Jimmy the spiral? It's a figure
39:38
of speech Point is you
39:40
can stream direct TV over the internet now
39:42
Oh sure next you're gonna tell me those
39:44
big birds are made of metal and filled
39:46
with people right? You
39:48
mean airplanes stream direct TV without
39:51
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Hogue, Mr. Johns, Is
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there any chance The Bear. The Like: Another
42:00
quarterback in the draft other than Williams
42:03
at one still seen trade one for
42:05
a hall. By. Some Bears fans.
42:08
Every kind of just address that. Ah, But.
42:13
You know, I think I think our minds
42:15
are open to it. But. Only
42:17
at a scenario where. Something.
42:20
Comes up here in the next forty days.
42:22
That just. Forces
42:25
you. The. Not draft Caleb,
42:27
Lambs and I personally don't see that
42:30
on Foley in here's the risk Like
42:32
in that? like if you start. I.
42:35
doing another quarterback. Us.
42:39
To be sure to get him. And if
42:41
you're passing and Kale blames. At.
42:43
One you just take the other quarterback. it
42:45
won't even though. Certain.
42:49
Grades and and your board doesn't reflect such
42:51
a selection Like and then like how far
42:53
back to you trade down it's really want.
42:56
An old say Gg Mccarthy because he's rising
42:58
up the draft board like how far back
43:00
to you go look at the Minnesota Vikings
43:02
they have now to to first round picks
43:05
and appear very poised. To move
43:07
up into the draft to take some quarterback
43:09
right? Right
43:11
Because. I got news for you. As.
43:15
Of Five Forty Five yesterday
43:17
whenever this trade was completed,
43:20
You know the biggest need on the Bears roster as.
43:24
Quarterback. West's
43:27
when the the second they removed Justin
43:29
Fields Austin's magnet from the board yesterday
43:31
when they're looking at their roster. They
43:35
got Tyson Baigent and Brett rip it
43:37
right now. Like
43:39
that's it. I'm.
43:42
So. If you're not gonna
43:45
draft tail blonde. You better make
43:47
sure whoever else common in there's are
43:49
starting quarterback because otherwise you have this
43:51
great roster and know quarterback. I was
43:54
a know quarterback but I debated the
43:56
back up with says be honest about
43:58
the so. It
44:01
you can have that up now here. the a
44:04
said this idea of training back and get the
44:06
whole. World. That was a little.
44:08
You could stomach that a little bit more. When
44:10
you adjusted fields, you're still on your roster. That.
44:13
That That's incredibly risky. To.
44:16
Do now like I keep eyes. He could
44:18
see the doing it. For
44:20
more the moving back once now as as despite
44:23
said there's only one team you make their move
44:25
for. It's these the
44:27
scenario in which Tail Boy was
44:29
once good washington. And was
44:31
in want him. To. Trade back
44:33
one spot in, that is it. And.
44:36
Then you take your guide to cause you know
44:38
you can get yes and you hold them. On.
44:41
The phone for as much as you can get.
44:43
I play hardball. I know you don't have much
44:45
leverage if you're right Posner Situations. But.
44:47
Yeah, to get something. The I get something. I.
44:51
Don't know in this draft because you go
44:53
to use your Jeff Capital for other guys
44:55
harasser. but. Yeah.
44:58
I don't know, I'm that's the only.
45:01
It's. It is now snowing in Chicago
45:03
on. Said. Pets they? Anyway, it was
45:05
a million, yes least in the city itself.
45:08
Anyway, like. If that
45:11
scenario, Comes. To fruition in you have
45:13
to pivot off. Kale Blames and I'm saying they're going
45:15
to do it. Is. The number one quarterback
45:17
right now we're talking but if you have do you
45:19
can only go back one. I don't.
45:21
I am and I see the chat already.
45:23
Lars is guys even talking about to trade
45:26
him back where we had a nice superchamp
45:28
from a nice list through as a nice
45:30
question, supporters hit us again. I guess that's
45:32
the only reason why we're entertaining this don't
45:34
twist is that we are. We are on
45:36
the same page here and what's not only
45:38
most likely to have them but you know
45:40
what what we would do to our aid
45:42
zoo abroad or five hours. I keep reading
45:45
how his draft is top heavy and not
45:47
deep. you guys feel that way and how
45:49
far does that extend to the third round?
45:51
Yeah, I bet a couple value waiters
45:53
tell me that. This. Might
45:55
even be like a three round draft. Certainly.
46:00
More than a for round draft and
46:02
I think that's why. The.
46:05
Bears draft picks while they you know. Okay,
46:07
so they both first pick the nice pack,
46:09
a third round pick and fourth round pick
46:11
right now, and that's it. But.
46:13
I think they're comfortable with that because of
46:16
how this draft has played out. The it
46:18
would be great if they somehow going to
46:20
moved up around. With.
46:22
The just feels trade even if they had a you know.
46:25
Give. Back there third to get up to
46:27
the second. That would be nice but obviously
46:29
has a how the market played out. Ah
46:31
I'm. So. I tend to agree with
46:33
it. But. There's.
46:36
Always players. I go undrafted every year
46:38
so you still gotta do your homework
46:40
and find a way to. Get
46:43
somebody in that fourth round and
46:45
somebody who's undrafted. That contributes into
46:47
your points though. About. The.
46:50
Lack of depth. Maybe.
46:53
That's why another reason why he trade a
46:55
fifth round pick for Ryan Bates. Who
46:57
is probably better. This. Year
46:59
and next year. And some
47:02
of the lime and that you bring in in
47:04
that draft United. I know that they trade that
47:06
last year or next year, right? I think that
47:08
specific to this year and I guess that they've
47:10
hit on fifth round picks there. I Breasts Jones.
47:13
Great. Example: what the as it's have taken
47:15
like a bunch of other linemen. And
47:18
a three that haven't exactly panned out and
47:20
since aimlessly or even two three years into
47:22
their career like this is what. Happened.
47:25
So he trade deficits round pick to
47:27
get a gag tribute immediately and your
47:29
ass or twenty twenty four hundred kind
47:31
of build around a quarterback an. Ice
47:34
at. I. Get that the Bears only
47:36
have four. Draft Picks: The Seer: Can we
47:38
all just remember that one of them we use the
47:40
Matter smith. Yeah
47:43
right, Like you might as
47:45
sweat. I'm. right?
47:48
Bates. Com
47:50
is is what your fifth round pick turned in
47:52
do. We just got another super to add. on
47:55
this from farming their bring this one up right
47:57
away $9.99
48:00
I think it's important to remember that we already
48:02
took players with the picks we don't have can
48:04
you get sweat in the second Alan? in the
48:06
fourth Yeah,
48:09
that's right Keenan Allen's a fourth. Yeah. Yeah, so
48:11
you You can look
48:13
at it that way your second round pick
48:15
became Montes sweat your fourth round pick became
48:17
Keenan freaking Allen Your fifth round pick became
48:19
Ryan Bates Who
48:23
who might be starting on your line, I
48:25
just think if you're now going all in
48:27
on this QB
48:31
development you need a
48:33
roster full of Guys
48:35
who could contribute like guys, you know for
48:37
sure Are going to
48:39
be ready on day one without the unpredictability of the
48:42
draft You know you're getting something out of key to
48:44
nail and you know, you're getting something out of my
48:46
sweat and you're pretty optimistic about Ryan
48:48
Bates to what that's a good way to look
48:50
at it. Like let's say I
48:52
could tell you that you're guaranteed to
48:55
have Roma doomsday at nine That
48:58
sounds pretty good, right? And
49:00
maybe that could still happen but What's
49:04
better for Kayla Williams in his rookie year
49:08
Keenan Allen one of
49:10
the most quarterback friendly wide receivers that exists
49:12
in the league who you know is Savvy
49:14
it's sitting in open zones one of the
49:16
best slot receivers in the past decade, right
49:19
and his veteran presence everything He knows the
49:21
knowledge he was talking about his press conference
49:23
yesterday Roma doomsday
49:26
might be a Hall of Fame player for
49:28
you for years and years and years and
49:31
that would be great but
49:35
You got Keenan Allen for fourth round pick who
49:38
you know is going to be Kayla
49:40
Williams best friend For his
49:42
entire rookie season like and maybe you could fill
49:45
out both That's the thing but I'm at the
49:47
point I'm trying to make is a receiver like
49:49
Keenan Allen the savvy veteran Who's
49:52
in like this upper tier of? Guys
49:55
that you know are just gonna be so quarterback
49:57
friendly to help your rookie quarterback is gonna be
49:59
more valuable to K.L. Williams
50:01
development in year one. I'm not
50:03
talking about beyond that, but just in year one as a
50:06
rookie, then another
50:08
rookie wide receiver would be. Whoever
50:10
it is, no matter how
50:12
talented they are, just Keenan Allen is bringing all
50:14
that to the table. And that's huge. To
50:17
me, it's a matter of certainty. You
50:19
know you have Keenan Allen right now. You don't know
50:21
how the draft is going to play out. The
50:24
draft is amazingly unpredictable. You
50:27
don't know if one of those top three receivers is going to be there
50:29
at number nine. But you know what? You know
50:31
Keenan Allen is on your roster right now. You
50:34
know you have one of the best slot receivers who's coming
50:36
off a career best season. Despite injuries, I get it. He
50:39
may not play a full 16, full 17 games. But if
50:41
he gives you a 13, 14, 15, and he helps your
50:46
rookie come along, helps him build
50:48
confidence, helps K.L. Williams be the K.L. Williams
50:50
we think he can be. Yes.
50:53
Sign me up for that level of certainty going
50:55
into this draft. Alright, let's
50:58
fly through these remaining Super Chats. Mike Eversly with the
51:00
$20 Super Tank. Thank you very
51:02
much, Mike. Really appreciate it. You just mentioned Dallas
51:04
Turner, but who is your top rated defensive end
51:06
that could be potentially
51:10
drafted at nine and why?
51:13
Mike right now, Dallas Turner,
51:15
is that guy. I'm not
51:17
completely done with that evaluation
51:20
and specifically want to compare
51:23
him very closely to Jared Vers
51:25
who at first glance
51:28
when you first turn on the tape, to
51:30
me Jared Vers looks like more of a
51:33
prototypical 4-3 hand in the
51:36
ground defensive end for this
51:38
Bears defense. Dallas
51:40
Turner's length is unbelievable. We know the
51:42
Bears value that. But when
51:45
you turn on Alabama's tape, Dallas Turner's
51:47
usually lining up sort of like Khalil
51:49
Mack does, sort of all over but
51:51
always in a two point stance. He's
51:54
certainly not as big as Khalil Mack. I'm just
51:56
bringing up kind of how they use him. Sometimes
51:59
he'll line up. Almost like remember Brian
52:01
or lacquer walking up into the a gap
52:04
When he and Lance Briggs would mug they
52:06
gaps like they move him around a lot
52:08
at Alabama. I'm talking about Dallas Turner now,
52:10
so Just the way
52:12
but that doesn't mean he can't transition and you
52:14
know become that player on the Bears defense It's
52:16
just I got to work through that a little
52:18
bit more but between now and the draft I
52:20
think you're looking at three players at number nine
52:23
or slight trade back if that scenario
52:27
Look at the Dallas Turner Byron Murphy
52:29
the defensive tackle from Texas. I'm liking
52:31
him more and more and Jared verse
52:34
Right. Those are your three all
52:36
different types of players. I think
52:38
Jared verse in terms of the
52:40
physical profile The
52:42
long arms fits what Mattie before
52:44
loose wants. I think his story in
52:47
the way he plays completely
52:50
Fits what the Bears want again like everything about
52:52
Jared verse strikes me as a Matt Eberf loose
52:54
like player I could see like
52:57
flus bang in the table for Jared verse
53:00
I can see him bang in the table
53:02
for Byron Murphy to yeah the engine of
53:04
his defense That's three technique a rookie who
53:06
could come in and be
53:08
immediately disruptive on his defensive
53:10
line Byron Murphy is like
53:15
Giving me Darnell right vibes
53:19
From last year's draft And what
53:21
I mean by that is like a guy that when
53:23
you first started this process and we always dive in
53:25
late, right? Like we're not doing this year-round with the
53:28
draft try to watch as much college football as I
53:30
can I did watch a lot of Texas last year
53:32
actually But you're not really diving
53:34
into this until you kind of take Dane Bruegeler's
53:36
top 50 in January and you try to start
53:38
to sort it out for yourself and like
53:42
Last year that's happened with darnell right where okay.
53:44
He looked pretty good at the senior bowl You're
53:46
like late first round second round pick and then
53:48
the more and more you start to work on
53:51
this guy. It's like Man
53:54
he kind of is a perfect fit for what the Bears need
53:56
and He
53:58
kind of seems like it's Not
54:01
necessarily a sure thing, but a relatively safe
54:03
pick as a right tackle. Maybe
54:06
he can move the left tackle eventually for you,
54:08
but he sure as hell
54:10
looks like a plug and play right tackle, exactly
54:12
what they need right now. Why
54:15
take a risk? And then you hear
54:17
all the stories later about how much they like them. Byron
54:21
Murphy to me, there was so much
54:23
focus on Tavandre's sweat because he's just
54:25
this big massive guy in the middle of that defense
54:27
when you watch Texas games this year. The
54:30
more and more you turn on Byron Murphy, you're like, this
54:32
guy's the better player. And I
54:36
don't care if the rest of the league views him
54:38
as a later first-round pick right now. He's
54:40
what the Bears need. He's twitchy
54:43
and explosive in the get-off. And yes, he's a little
54:45
bit small. And ultimately, the Bears do value length and
54:47
things like that, so they're going to have to sort
54:49
all that out. But to me,
54:52
for where the Bears are right now, I would
54:55
value that over getting the second edge rusher when
54:57
you already know you have sweat on the other
54:59
end. I feel like every
55:02
year, there's players like,
55:04
oh, darn all right, picking
55:06
the 20s, late first round,
55:09
that makes sense for them. But every year, one of
55:11
those guys, oh, the
55:13
league sees him as a top-10 player, top-10
55:16
potential. It's always about that projection,
55:19
right? And the situation
55:21
he goes to, being such
55:23
a perfect fit for what the Bears want
55:26
to do and want to be. Like, that's how I
55:28
see Byron Murphy, right? I
55:30
don't know if it's just because Aaron Donald
55:33
just retired. I just remember that story, like,
55:35
oh, he's too small, this, that, and the
55:37
other. Dude, one of the best players of
55:39
all time, true after what, number 12? Was
55:42
it 12? Right? 13,
55:45
one spot ahead of the Chicago Bears. We
55:48
know the Bears loved Aaron Donald, too.
55:52
I'm not saying Byron Murphy
55:55
is the second coming of Aaron Donald, but
55:58
let's look past certain measurements. Just
56:01
look at the football player in a sense. Byron
56:05
Murphy could be immensely disruptive for
56:07
the Bears defensive line. Like
56:09
instantaneously. Yeah. Bear down
56:12
Omaha, $2 says Chicago had a top 5D
56:14
without a second edge, go wide receiver at
56:16
9. And you can justify that.
56:18
You do have a pretty good defense regardless and maybe
56:21
you want to get Kaleb more help. I get it. Sonny777
56:25
closing us out here, $5, keeping
56:27
Justin out of sense of mentality
56:29
while other teams, keeping
56:32
him, I got it, while
56:34
other teams wouldn't give up a third round
56:36
pick would be a typical Bears move but
56:39
polls is different. Trust him. Oh,
56:41
that's the suggestion. The
56:45
league is telling you what he is and
56:48
we'll just keep him because of it. Yeah. That
56:51
never made sense to me. No, right.
56:53
No. You know,
56:55
to the point of learning
56:58
about evaluations and, you know, I
57:00
think this experience for Ryan Poults
57:04
as a young GM, just
57:06
in terms of maybe feeling better
57:09
about his own QB evaluations, like
57:12
those conversations have to be pretty unique for Ryan Poults
57:14
to walk into. Hey, you know, what about the
57:17
Sam Darnold deal? No.
57:20
We think Justin Fields is worth
57:24
a lot less than that. We think he's a backup.
57:26
Like those conversations have to be very, very unique for
57:28
him. Yeah, yeah, definitely. All
57:31
right. Well, that wraps it up for Super
57:33
Chat. So it's just one more thing that
57:36
we wanted to address on the back end
57:38
of this because we did see it go
57:40
somewhat viral on social media and I wasn't
57:42
completely surprised by it but obviously we had
57:44
Josh Lucas on the show the other day
57:46
and if you missed it, please go back
57:48
and listen. It was a fun conversation, some
57:50
interesting stuff on Keenan Allen and then what's
57:52
going on with the quarterbacks. And when we
57:54
talked about Caleb Williams, he made a reference
57:57
to, you know, some rumors that have been
57:59
going on. And we've heard him,
58:01
we've heard him throughout this draft process.
58:05
And he even admitted in his clip, and I
58:07
don't know if that made the clip that ended
58:10
up on social media that was sort of going viral,
58:12
I'm not sure if that was included, but he admitted
58:14
that what he was bringing up could
58:16
be unsubstantiated. So
58:20
a lot of people, and I honestly
58:22
think fairly, were wondering why we didn't
58:24
follow up to what he said, because
58:26
he was basically saying that some teams
58:28
could be scared off if they lose
58:30
Caleb because of these rumors. And
58:33
so I get why people are like, why didn't you follow up
58:35
on what those were? One
58:37
thing about this show that we've been pretty
58:39
consistent on over the years is like, we
58:41
don't necessarily go down the road of unsubstantiated
58:44
stuff that's out there. And
58:47
meanwhile, as much as people want to
58:50
accuse us or others of not wanting
58:52
to dig on Caleb Williams, we
58:55
have been digging in on Caleb Williams for
58:57
months now, going back to when Bears regular season
58:59
was still going on. And I had a story
59:01
come out Super Bowl week that I encourage you
59:04
to read, allchu.com, on
59:06
a lot of this stuff that's just
59:08
sort of been floating out there. And
59:11
to this point, and maybe this changes,
59:15
okay, I'll give you that. I mean, maybe
59:17
something does get substantiated. But at this point,
59:19
all this stuff that's sort of been floating
59:21
out there, let me be very clear on
59:24
this too. Because
59:27
none of it actually has to do with Caleb Williams. Like
59:31
this stuff that people are
59:33
worried about, it's
59:36
the behind the scenes stuff. It's more of
59:38
like what's real about what his dad might
59:41
do or try to change. It's all been
59:43
out there. It's all been reported, right? And
59:46
to this point, to
59:48
me, none of it, from all
59:51
the people I've talked to, is real. So
59:55
that's where, when we can't control what guests
59:57
come on here and say, when that stuff
59:59
gets brought up. up, my
1:00:01
initial reaction is like until something
1:00:03
becomes more real or I hear it from
1:00:05
my own digging that I've been doing, we
1:00:09
don't need to draw more attention to it. That's kind
1:00:11
of where I am on it and I think that
1:00:13
that's why, that's the best way I can explain why
1:00:15
we didn't necessarily poke on that because we've all sort
1:00:18
of heard it and to
1:00:20
this point I just, I think it's a lot of nothing.
1:00:24
It's full steam ahead with this evaluation if
1:00:26
you're the Chicago Bears, right? Like this is, they're
1:00:29
still digging. Yeah, like
1:00:32
Cale Williams hasn't been
1:00:34
through Halis Hall yet. Like he hasn't
1:00:37
met every vice president there is, like everyone who
1:00:39
wants to get a feel for him. But
1:00:43
now I feel like this is the conversation.
1:00:46
Let's just go with it. The
1:00:48
Justin Fields conversation is now
1:00:50
over. I'm sure his name will come up every
1:00:52
now and then but now it's focusing
1:00:54
on Cale Williams. We know what the tape says. Absolutely
1:00:58
dynamic. There is no one
1:01:00
like him in the draft. He is special on the
1:01:02
field but as Ryan
1:01:04
Poles once said, what, in January? Kind
1:01:07
of figure out the person too. That's
1:01:09
the next step. And I'll leave with
1:01:12
this because it's, the
1:01:17
draft process is what it is and
1:01:21
you sort, the draft process is
1:01:23
unique for especially a player like
1:01:25
of Cale Williams talent
1:01:28
because you basically spend months trying to look for
1:01:30
any reason, every reason not to draft the guy.
1:01:32
That's dangerous. Right? That can get you in trouble.
1:01:35
Yeah. Ryan Poles will tell you you have to
1:01:37
focus on what he can do instead
1:01:39
of what he can't do. Like focus on
1:01:41
the positives instead of negatives. Right. So I'm
1:01:43
gonna give you the fact that Caleb, Caleb's
1:01:46
gonna be different than most players
1:01:48
you draft. He's already got
1:01:50
television commercials. He's already a superstar.
1:01:53
He shows up at the players championship on
1:01:55
a Thursday morning and it blows up the
1:01:57
internet. Right? Like... This
1:02:00
is going to be different. The
1:02:02
presence of his dad, which I've already written about
1:02:04
in the address, go read it at all csto.com.
1:02:06
It's different. And I
1:02:08
understand in this very structured
1:02:11
NFL world where they want you to only care
1:02:13
about football and only be a football guy, love
1:02:16
football, all that. I mean, Fluce talks about it
1:02:18
all the time, right? They're not going to draft
1:02:20
players who don't love football. There's
1:02:26
going to be extra stuff with Caleb
1:02:28
Williams. But to this point, all
1:02:31
the digging I've done on the kid, he loves football.
1:02:34
And a lot of this extra stuff is just stuff
1:02:36
that's around him that he can't necessarily control all of
1:02:39
it. He can probably control some of it, but
1:02:41
it's just going to be part of drafting
1:02:44
Caleb Williams. But instead of looking
1:02:46
at it like a reason not to draft him or
1:02:48
being scared of all that, well
1:02:51
this franchise has been down the road of let's draft
1:02:53
the nice guy. Let's draft the guy that there's
1:02:56
no headaches with, that everybody loves.
1:02:59
They did it with Mitch Trubisky. They did it
1:03:01
with Justin Fields. Maybe take
1:03:03
a chance for once. Maybe embrace
1:03:06
everything that comes with Caleb Williams and
1:03:09
the hype and the attention and being
1:03:11
on national television probably a ton next
1:03:13
year. All these, heck, how
1:03:15
about this? Maybe embrace being
1:03:17
on hard knocks. Nah, they will never
1:03:19
do that. Yeah, I know. I know.
1:03:24
But my point of all this is, maybe if they actually
1:03:27
started looking at things that way, this
1:03:29
franchise would get out of the funk that
1:03:31
they've been in for a hundred years. I'll
1:03:33
say this about like superstar quarterbacks. There's
1:03:36
a level of celebrity with them that
1:03:40
just comes with it, right? Like even Josh
1:03:42
Allen's dating a movie star now,
1:03:44
right? Like Aaron Rodgers has dated
1:03:46
movie stars. Dated Danica Patrick. Like he's a headache all the
1:03:48
time. I feel like he's in the news for every
1:03:51
day. I'm waiting to see what happens today with Aaron Rodgers,
1:03:53
but that's kind of what happens with him. Well,
1:03:55
he might be running for vice president. That's what can happen.
1:03:58
Like Tom Brady. You know? Movie
1:04:02
star, the supermodel. Like in the
1:04:04
news all the time, a bunch of conflict of
1:04:06
time. Anybody want. Now some of these are like
1:04:08
just bad comparisons but just like
1:04:10
speaking in generalities like quarterbacks
1:04:14
the really good ones. Like
1:04:16
Russell Wilson, Sierra. Like there's
1:04:18
a level of celebrity that comes with them
1:04:21
and I'm trying to
1:04:23
wrap my mind around that a little bit. There
1:04:26
was even with Jake Cutler there was some of that
1:04:28
right? Oh
1:04:30
yeah Kristin Cavallari. Going up a training camp with
1:04:32
an honor. It's not a reality show. It's
1:04:34
not her own training camp. Like these are things.
1:04:37
Like Jake Cutler was on a reality
1:04:39
television show. Like these are things that happened with
1:04:42
quarterbacks and Cale Williams is already kind
1:04:44
of in that world already because of
1:04:46
how college football has changed. You
1:04:49
know and I think draft evaluations have to change
1:04:51
with how college football is changing a
1:04:53
bit. Like I think we should do a
1:04:55
podcast later but like yeah
1:04:58
it comes with it. Embrace
1:05:01
the challenge of at least evaluating it because
1:05:03
it is different than every quarterback you've kind
1:05:05
of evaluated before. Like
1:05:08
I understand. My
1:05:11
point on that is just
1:05:13
like you want to be
1:05:15
in that world where there's some distractions with
1:05:17
your quarterback because they're so famous. That means
1:05:19
they're really good. The
1:05:22
Bears haven't had that problem because they haven't had that guy.
1:05:26
So you shouldn't be afraid of drafting that guy is
1:05:29
my point on all that. Now if
1:05:32
there really is something serious that ends
1:05:34
up coming out of this that you
1:05:36
just cannot justify then that's different. But
1:05:38
to this point haven't heard that,
1:05:40
haven't seen that and if there's one thing
1:05:42
I'll leave you with this. Look
1:05:46
our track record here I think
1:05:48
is pretty good. I'm not saying
1:05:50
we've been right about everything. We certainly haven't. But
1:05:54
maybe this latest episode
1:05:57
with all the Justin Fields stuff if you've been listening
1:06:00
into this show or CHEO recently,
1:06:03
there's been a lot of lack of
1:06:05
trust for whatever reason, but
1:06:09
it played out the way it did. So I just
1:06:11
asked this, like trust us on
1:06:13
this Caleb Williams stuff for now. Because
1:06:15
if either one of us comes up with something
1:06:17
that's real, that's substantiated, that is a problem, trust
1:06:19
me, we'll be talking about it on the show.
1:06:22
We'll get it to you. You probably would have read it
1:06:24
about it first. Yeah.
1:06:26
Well, yeah. Or you read it in the athletic.
1:06:29
It probably would already be out there too. True. So,
1:06:32
but there is this process, the bears are going to go
1:06:34
through it. I'll be at the pro day on Wednesday. We
1:06:37
got NFL owners meetings coming up. We'll
1:06:41
hear about these visits. It'll all
1:06:43
be sorted out by draft day. But
1:06:46
there's nothing that anybody's trying to hide right now.
1:06:48
We're just trying to be responsible about the
1:06:50
reporting and we will continue to be. That's
1:06:53
all. Good show.
1:06:55
We're on
1:06:57
to the draft. And,
1:07:01
yeah. Thank God. Thank
1:07:04
God. And I'll be
1:07:06
following Justin in Pittsburgh.
1:07:09
I said all along, I'm fascinated to see where he
1:07:11
ends up and I won't be surprised to be a
1:07:13
success there. The problem
1:07:15
is now he's got to figure out how to get on the field. That
1:07:17
part I was not anticipating. But,
1:07:20
okay. Follow
1:07:22
us on Twitter at Adam Hogue, at Adam Johns.
1:07:24
Thank you so much as always for the support.
1:07:27
Thank you for watching live today. Thank you for
1:07:29
being in the comments, the super chats, everything like
1:07:31
that. If you're watching right now, please. It's not
1:07:33
that hard. Hit that like button. Hit subscribe. Send
1:07:36
the link off to a friend. We appreciate
1:07:38
your help in growing the channel. And of
1:07:40
course, everybody still listens the podcast version. It's
1:07:42
always been there for you. It'll always be
1:07:44
there for you. So hit
1:07:47
subscribe wherever you listen to your podcast to. Spotify,
1:07:50
Apple, wherever. It's all there for
1:07:52
you. And we'll continue to be
1:07:54
here throughout this process. Appreciate the
1:07:56
support as always. And we'll
1:07:58
be back, I believe, on Tuesday. morning in between. Can
1:08:00
we talk to you then? Yeah. In
1:08:11
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1:08:13
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