Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson and the Bears - Green Bay Packers, the beginning of something special?

Summary

Dan Bernstein Unfiltered - Episode Summary

Episode Overview

Title: Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson and the Bears - Green Bay Packers, the Beginning of Something Special?
Date: January 7, 2026
Host: Dan Bernstein (with Matt Abbatacola, producer)
Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered on 312 Sports

This episode dives deep into the anticipation and anxiety surrounding the Chicago Bears’ playoff showdown with the Green Bay Packers, zooming in on themes of beginnings, endings, legacies, and the future of both teams. Dan and Matt provide Chicago-style, no-holds-barred commentary, analyzing coaching implications, team development, key player performances, Bears/Packers rivalry dynamics, and even off-the-field topics like new stadium politics. The tone is sharp, irreverent, and passionate—true to Dan’s long-standing place in Chicago sports radio.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Playoff Anxiety and Bears’ New Era (00:00–04:25)

• Dan revels in the playoff tension, framing it as a positive and necessary part of sports fandom.
• He urges fans to enjoy the anxiety:

  “I'm enjoying the anxiety. I am. I'm reveling. This anxiety is a good thing. It’s a good thing. You should enjoy it.” – Dan Bernstein (00:30)

• The conversation sets up Saturday night’s Bears-Packers playoff game as a potential launching point for a sustained period of relevance for the Bears, regardless of outcome.
• Dan and Matt debate if this is genuinely the “beginning of something special”—a true new phase under head coach Ben Johnson.

2. Beginnings vs. Endings and What’s at Stake (01:19–04:25)

• Dan stresses how every decision and performance now has higher stakes:

  “You hope that this is the beginning of a significant time where Bears games mean more and we're not making up reasons for them to be important…” – Dan Bernstein (02:30)

• They imagine a future where being part of the “division champion Bears” has meaning for player evaluations and the franchise’s reputation.

3. Coaching Legacies: Ben Johnson & Matt LaFleur (04:25–09:32)

• Matt LaFleur: Reflect on his seven seasons as Packers head coach; speculation on his job security if Green Bay gets blown out.
• Dan references rumors from analysts like Mike Florio about LaFleur being on a possible hot seat.
• Matt’s bold call:

  “If the Bears do embarrass the Packers Saturday night... Matt LaFleur will be launched.” – Matt Abbatacola (08:10)

• They define “embarrassment” as a multi-touchdown rout (e.g., 31–3).

4. NFL Coaching Carousel – Harbaugh, TV Rumors (05:35–06:25)

• Discuss John Harbaugh’s position and suitors, with playful banter about him getting TV offers.
• Commentary on the trend that head coaches now essentially need to be offensive play-callers.

5. Cheese Grater Hats: End of a Gimmick? (09:32–13:58)

• A light-hearted takedown of the “cheese grater” hats adopted by Bears fans (in mocking, retaliatory reference to Packers' cheeseheads).
• Dan:

  “My guess is, if the Bears lose, you can't come back next year and wear that again, can you?... Not until you win again. Right.” – Dan Bernstein (12:06, 12:07)

• They agree the novelty has peaked and that it may fade regardless of the outcome, making fun of merchandising and potential overproduction.

6. Bears, Bulls, and Broadcast Schedules (15:55–17:44)

• Amusing sidebar: Bulls players are upset about playing during the Bears-Packers game.
• Debate: Is it a bad look for athletes to complain about missing Bears/Packers? Matt disagrees with Dan’s lenience:

  “Because at the end of the day, you play a fucking game for your job, man.” – Matt Abbatacola (16:41)

7. Ben Johnson’s Coach-Speak: On Trust and Player Development (19:43–24:53)

• Audio and analysis on Ben Johnson’s trust in rookie tight end Colson Loveland and his evolving relationship with QB Caleb Williams.
• Ben Johnson (on Loveland):

  “We asked him to wear a lot of hats...he's still learning and growing and really excited...for his future.” (19:52)

• Dan playfully interrogates Johnson’s reluctance to name-check Caleb Williams directly, debating potential hidden meaning in his usage of “the quarterback.”

8. Loveland, the Bears, and Tight End Growth (24:12–26:14)

• Matt and Dan discuss Loveland’s rare production for a rookie Bears tight end, drawing comparisons all the way back to Greg Olsen and Mike Ditka.

9. Player Audio: Confidence, Hope, and Accountability (27:06–36:48)

• Ben Johnson on Caleb Williams:

  “He’s a completely different quarterback than when we first took this job...” – Ben Johnson (27:15)

• Cole Kmet (on his big hit and the two-point conversion): Admits painful catch, credits teammates, jokes about his sister dating a Packers player.
• Montez Sweat is comically evasive about defensive struggles and injuries—Dan mocks the lack of transparency.
• Kevin Byard, when asked why he’s confident in the defense, falls back on takeaways and red zone stats.

10. Defense: Statistical Reality vs. Hope (35:18–38:48)

• Dan pushes back on the spinning of defensive “strengths” (turnovers, average red zone defense) as true reasons for confidence.
• Matt points out the Bears’ statistical reality:

  “24 points or less, you allow that. You're nine and one on the season. Offense has to show up, which is why Ben is so on the offense and Caleb, because they have to score points to carry this defense.” – Matt Abbatacola (38:18)

11. Chicago Bears Stadium Politics & Ownership Woes (40:46–49:37)

• Dan highlights comments from Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, who calls Bears’ stadium funding talks “insensitive” given cost-of-living concerns.

  “Talking about a brand new Bears stadium when this one’s not even 25 years old. That’s insensitive…” – Chris Welch via Dan Bernstein (41:14)

• Discussion of financing issues, lease terms, and long-term uncertainty: Bears likely lack the liquidity for a new stadium without public money, and have mishandled negotiations.
• They predict Bears could remain at Soldier Field far longer than fans expect, with Indiana threats seen as hollow.

12. Miscellaneous: College Hoops, Media Personalities (53:05–55:18)

• Brief foray into Duke basketball, with Dan geeking out on player analysis and coach comparisons.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Playoff Anxiety:

  “I'm enjoying the anxiety. I am. I'm reveling. This anxiety is a good thing. It’s a good thing. You should enjoy it.” – Dan Bernstein (00:30)

• On Franchise Beginnings:

  “You hope that this is the beginning of a significant time where Bears games mean more and we're not making up reasons for them to be important…” – Dan Bernstein (02:30)

• On “Embarrassing” the Packers:

  “If the Bears do embarrass the Packers Saturday night... Matt LaFleur will be launched.” – Matt Abbatacola (08:10)

• On Cheese Grater Hats:

  “My guess is, if the Bears lose, you can't come back next year and wear that again, can you?” – Dan Bernstein (12:06)

• On Accountability:

  “How would you kind of assess the pass rush overall through the season?”
  “I’ll probably touch on that later on after we done with all this type of stuff.” – Montez Sweat (31:54–32:09)

• On Defensive Confidence:

  “I don't believe there's a team in this league, especially in nfc, that's unbeatable... I believe in us being able to take the ball away at a high level.” – Kevin Byard (34:11)

• On the Super Bowl Mindset:

  “The goal, at the end of the day, there's only 32 teams, so the goal is the super bowl, and that's what our mission is.” – Cole Kmet (31:08)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro, Playoff Anxiety: 00:00–01:09
• Beginnings & Endings Frame: 01:19–04:25
• Coaching Hot Seat Talk: 04:25–09:32
• Harbaugh/TV Banter: 05:35–06:25
• Cheese Grater Hat Gimmick: 09:32–13:58
• Scheduling & Bulls Riff: 15:55–17:44
• Ben Johnson Audio/Colson Loveland: 19:43–24:53
• Tight End Development Debate: 24:12–26:14
• Player Audio - Johnson, Kmet, Sweat, Byard: 27:06–36:48
• Defense - Statistical Reality: 35:18–38:48
• Stadium Politics & Ownership: 40:46–49:37
• College Hoops Mini-Segment: 53:05–55:18

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Takeaways

• This game is seen as a crossroads: It can be the start of a golden era for the Bears under Ben Johnson—or the familiar ending to something that never quite took off.
• Coaching futures are on the line: Matt LaFleur's position is surprisingly fragile, with the hosts speculating that a blowout loss could end his tenure.
• Chicago's new fandom culture has novelty limits: Gimmicks like the “cheese grater hat” are fun but fleeting.
• The Bears’ future is built on youth and coaching: There’s real enthusiasm for Colson Loveland’s rookie year and Ben Johnson’s steady hand, cautious as it may be.
• Defensive reality sets in: Optimism about “takeaways” is tempered by the sheer volume of points and yards allowed.
• Stadium drama may drag on for years: The Bears’ inability to finance a new home and the lack of political support signals a long standoff.

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This episode is a quintessential blend of Chicago sports angst and optimism, delivered with wit and the unfiltered candor Dan Bernstein is known for—a must-catch for Bears fans and sports radio junkies alike.

Transcript

[Dan Bernstein]

Dan Bernstein, unfiltered. Unfiltered on 312 Sports. Welcome to DBU. That stands for Dan Bernstein, unfiltered. I am he. Dan Bernstein, along with Matt Abaticola, and we are brought to you in partnership with my bookie. I keep thinking about how, man, it's already Wednesday. The game's Saturday night. Like, we don't have our usual schedule's off. Yeah, it's close. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Yeah, it feels like we're getting close. And the fact that the Bears had a walkthrough on a Tuesday and now it's a Wednesday, that kind of feels like a Thursday. I gotta get my timing all straight here. And I'm enjoying the anxiety. I am. I'm reveling. This anxiety is a good thing. It's a good thing. You should enjoy it. And I know where the fear is. I understand because I'm hearing it from people just like I won't be able to handle it if they lose to the Packers. I won't be able to hand. It's all right. It's okay. It's all right.

[Matt Abaticola]

It's interesting because my fear level is lowering and my confidence level is rising.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is that good or bad? I don't know how that tracks with the Bears actual success.

[Matt Abaticola]

I'm more confident today that the Bears are going to win the game on Saturday than I was yesterday.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, well, that's one anecdotal data point noted on our plot chart here. There's no logic behind it, but I keep thinking of this game and where we are in terms of. Of beginnings and endings. Because the. The beginning of the playoffs is weird because you have what could be this long road in front of you. You could have a. A march to and through the super bowl, or you could be done and thinking about draft and picking over what's left of the assistant coaches to make improvements and looking at the bottom of the roster, etc. I think of beginnings and I think of endings. What's beginning? What's beginning, we hope, is a sustained period of competitiveness for important things for the Bears. That's what we hope, that this is a marking point of a beginning, regardless of the outcome of Saturday night's game, that we will be able to say, as we did when we started the immediate post game show heading into the playoffs last week, I thought, hey, this has been great. And let. Let this be the beginning of a phase of an era of Bears football under Ben Johnson that promises every year, even with that daunting 2026 schedule. As it appears now with seven playoff teams on it. Hopefully you will have a season where many of those playoff teams don't have the quarterbacks that they have that brought them to the playoffs. And that happens just like it did this year. But you hope that this is the beginning of a significant time where Bears games mean more and we're not making up reasons for them to be important. Every decision means more because there are things that are at stake as they will start next season, no matter what happens, they will start as the defending champions of the NFC North. And it's the beginning of that context of thinking about it, this whole thing like, can you win? If can. Can you win? You can say, well, Ozzy Tripillo was in large part the starting left tackle on a division champion. Okay, Such and such was the starting blank or the. The regular at his position on a division champion. It matters to say stuff like that. You can say, what. How far can you go with this person doing this? Well, you can get this far with these things. That says something that becomes important when we're evaluating people and what it means to have gotten this far with certain people doing certain jobs. That's good. You hope that's the beginning of something, the beginning of using that context in a way that we haven't for a long time when it comes to young players and decisions that you make on your draft picks or what is available in the future. Is it a beginning of Ben Johnson versus Matt LaFleur? I couldn't believe it when you pointed it out earlier. This is his seventh year.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

His seventh. That's a long time.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. 2019 was his first season. That's a long season.

[Dan Bernstein]

Seven that we're already going to start the next round of Matt Neggy's head coaching career.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. I mean, which is why. I mean, you were a bit surprised when I threw the idea out that if they don't win this playoff game, could he be on the hot seat?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that had started and I think it was Mike Florio, others that talked about, well, if Kevin Stefanski were to become available, that this had. They've raised the bar and haven't delivered with what they've done in the playoffs. Right. And that is a possible ending if the Bears embarrass the Packers. Possible, would that be enough for it to be the end for Matt LaFleur? I think that would be rash. But stranger things have happened and stranger things continue to happen in the NFL. John Harbaugh launched yesterday. You called that one, Matty. You said it that you thought that that was going to happen. And it may just be that that's the end for him. But sometimes. Sometimes familiarity breeds contempt.

[Matt Abaticola]

My favorite part of the Harbaugh thing was that his. His guy claimed it to receive seven calls from the seven teams that have the seven head coaching openings, one of them being Baltimore. One of the seven. So I'm not sure if you got seven calls from seven teams about your head coaching job.

[Dan Bernstein]

John, Baltimore is on the line.

[Matt Abaticola]

They're interested.

[Dan Bernstein]

They want to talk.

[Matt Abaticola]

I was like, wait, that doesn't make sense.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're gauging your interest in this opening. There was. I think TV is probably going to be. I think there's a. There's a warm television chair.

[Matt Abaticola]

Did I say that to you? Lovely wardrobe. Did I say TV for Harbaugh?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I think my response was, he'll be really good.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, that's what I think.

[Ben Johnson]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

I think. I think he ends up in TV for at least a year, but who knows? There's lots of openings.

[Dan Bernstein]

There are. I just don't know who's ready to bring in somebody who's not an offensive guy.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

It just. It seems like that's you. Your coach now has to be your guy in charge of the play calling and in charge of the entire offensive philosophy.

[Matt Abaticola]

We haven't been together since the Lions fired their offense coordinator, which we kind.

[Dan Bernstein]

Of saw coming when he was demoted.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, when you get play calling responsibilities stripped out of your responsibility portfolio.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. And then Grandpa Dan's calling on the sideline.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. And. Well, I guess I'll do that. I guess it made Grandpa Dan Age 30 years.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes, it did. It sure did.

[Dan Bernstein]

It really did. It went from him romping and stomping. Yeah. Let's go get him.

[Matt Abaticola]

Like a sweater on, like a warm cup of milk.

[Dan Bernstein]

All he needed was a pipe. Now he looks like me. He's got his little readers on. He's got the Chuck Schumer thing going on. He's writing sternly worded letters to his opponents and going through. Well, I guess we'll run this here. It really did change everything. You knew that guy was launched. So this is a. I would be shocked if the packers did anything just because by the time it all gets done, some of these other staffs are going to be filled out. Those calls are already being made. The four agents who represent everybody are all. They're all. You've got people already looking at homes that people are already. They're so far down the road in the agreements to agree to agree that the later you get the, the lower quality staff, you're going to end up putting together.

[Matt Abaticola]

I think if, as you put it, if the Bears embarrass the packers, it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

Matter of fact, I'll call it that. If, if the Bears do embarrass the Packers Saturday night.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now, what's my next question?

[Matt Abaticola]

What met lafleur will be launched.

[Dan Bernstein]

What constitutes embarrassment?

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, like a, like a four touchdown route. I mean, just an app. Like, like what the Bears did to the Browns. Like that 31 to three game.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

Something along those lines would get him launched.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. You think that would be enough? That would be your critical mass.

[Matt Abaticola]

I mean, this is seven seasons and you haven't done much in those years with the playoffs and, you know, if you, and if you look over the last, God, two decades with this division, the packers have won the division more than they've, you know, finished in third and fourth place in the division. So with Matt lafleur being in year seven, it's not like he's new to Green Bay. I mean, that's a long time in the NFL. Seven years is a long time.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's a career. It is that. That is a. That is a career at a place. When you look at how long average coaching careers, especially when you have.

[Matt Abaticola]

If Jordan Love doesn't perform well either, and you have the stupidity already swirling there about Malik Willis might be a better quarterback. I know, I know, Dan. I know. I'm not saying that I agree with it. And Matt LaFleur surely shut that down quickly last week when asked about it. You know, he's the franchise guy. He's our starter when healthy. If he doesn't show up and if they get blown out, I wouldn't surprise me one bit to see LaFleur get launched.

[Dan Bernstein]

Beginnings and endings, alphas and omegas. I will tell you what I think, for better or for worse is close to an end. It burned very hot and it will. It will burn up its fuel and head off elsewhere in the universe. And that is the cheese grater hat. And especially if the bear. If the Bears lose, we're gonna stadium full of cheese grater hats and there's gonna be a lot of people like, okay, take it off. I can't see, like how long should. Should there be an announcement in the stadium once the game begins? Please remove your cheese grater hats so people can see the game?

[Matt Abaticola]

No, because the cheese heads, they wear them all game long. Right? And they're at packers games.

[Dan Bernstein]

But make it every but just say if you want to do it as they're going to commercial break, if you want to put it on and try to get in the bumper shot, because you can't see when people are wearing giant boxes of foam on their heads.

[Matt Abaticola]

See? Now, is it. Is it the end?

[Dan Bernstein]

It's called a box grater. You're wearing a box on your head.

[Matt Abaticola]

If the Bears win, though, does it end?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, because. But they're sold out, apparently. And I'm basing this commentary on the fact that the company that was manufacturing them out of spite, because they were not allowed to manufacture the unlicensed cheese heads, that now they have their own thing, which is the cheese grater. And now they've been sold out. So my presumption is, I don't know if people are wearing them to their local watering hole or wearing them in their basement or just down the street or into the Gro. I haven't seen one of the grocery store yet, but if I had one, I would wear it there.

[Matt Abaticola]

So the packers can own cheese, but the Las Vegas A's can't own the Athletics.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not yet. I think they. I think they will. They will eventually. I think they're just making them jump through some. It's just silly like them. And it's pretty funny what's going on there. It's like, well, in Las Vegas, we could open a gym and call it Las Vegas Athletics. So you don't have. You don't. You know, you need to prove to.

[Matt Abaticola]

Us that you own this, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that's the way it works. No.

[Matt Abaticola]

What history do you have with this name? I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, we go back to the Philadelphia Athletics, who kind of called it that. No, I'm not. I'm not aware. I'm going to have to prove that.

[Matt Abaticola]

And were they with the. Was that 1800s or were they early 1900s?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't think they went, but maybe there might have been a team that went back to 1800s. Because it sounds old, but it's like.

[Matt Abaticola]

What history do you have with this name? Athletics, sir.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, and this fast one over on me. So the cheese grater hat. My guess is, if the Bears lose, you can't come back next year and wear that again, can you?

[Matt Abaticola]

Not until you win again. Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's too gimmicky or during a win. Well, it's all gimmicky. But the cheese thing was able to get past the formative gestation period, and now that's. That it's presumed. That's part of the thing.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. Cause well, it's a badge of honor to wear the cheese heads. You're a cheesehead.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's the cheese heads.

[Ben Johnson]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

So Wisconsinites are referred to as cheeseheads. Chicagoans are not referred to as cheese grater heads. It's reactive.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. So I hope this guy who makes these hasn't like started production.

[Dan Bernstein]

Exactly.

[Matt Abaticola]

Until the Bears win. Because like once you lose, it's gotta be done right.

[Dan Bernstein]

I would love to know if he made an investment proposal to some venture capital firm or somebody's like, look, I just need money to buy the resources to print these. I just need the raw materials. I need extra foam rubber and gray paint.

[Matt Abaticola]

He should go to Shark Tank. Ask Mark Cuban from.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, but they would all. Can this be scaled? What are your costs? And they'd be done with him.

[Matt Abaticola]

What happens if the Bears lose? Well, then we stop production.

[Dan Bernstein]

So that's a good way to imagine it as how. I think this is probably over. It's fun. It's fun. But that's, that's probably an ending. Yeah, I think, I think you're right.

[Matt Abaticola]

Even with a win, I think it's kind of done right. Maybe like it was cute when it happened and then like the Ravens pulled it out as well too. So that was, that was a nice, you know, dig at the, at the packers themselves too.

[Dan Bernstein]

Uh huh.

[Matt Abaticola]

But it's kind of, it's kind of over.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe talking about it here, my belief is the more you think about it.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's like, okay, this, it's like even. It's already peaked. Even going into this game. The fact that everyone, the fact that they're sold out and everyone's going to have it, like you missed the trade on it now. It's probably already.

[Matt Abaticola]

So this might be one of the endings.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Not a beginning.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, it's okay. So I had that as one of the endings. But I think even should the Bears lose, we're going to be miserable for a period of time.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

We're going to be. We'll be unhappy and that's okay. And we'll lick our wounds and still be like, hey, that's when it's okay to fall back and be realistic about the season being successful. We want it to be more successful and they have every opportunity to make it that even with this really bad defense that we're going to continue to discuss. So I'm trying to be level headed about what the game is and what it isn't. And then I spiral a little bit and I think, holy shit, the Bears are playing the Packers, Saturday night in the playoffs. And then I get the anxiety again, so. And then I remember. Enjoy it. Enjoy it. This is fun anxiety. It's just sports.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, bro. I'm so. I'm so excited about it.

[Montez Sweat]

So we have.

[Matt Abaticola]

I told you. We have four basketball games on Saturday.

[Dan Bernstein]

Perfect.

[Matt Abaticola]

So that'll keep me occupied then. We're doing a birthday dinner. Hank was the first, and Lucas is turning 10 on the 11th. So we're going to do a birthday dinner in town. And then, like, we'll all go back home and just, like, I'm going to be able to watch the game. All six of us together. Well, yeah, it's going to have to be. Which is fine. I mean, these are kids. No, no, no, no. We want to go out. It's birthdays.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know, but it's birthday.

[Matt Abaticola]

Make it more. No, we'll be home by seven weeks.

[Dan Bernstein]

We had to reschedule some things. My cousin wanted to get a bunch of us together to go curling.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, I've never been curling.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, it sounds fun. Just not. Not sad.

[Dan Bernstein]

And it was scheduled, and he's like. He sent out the big email. He's like, yeah, about curling night that we were thinking of doing.

[Matt Abaticola]

Not gonna happen.

[Dan Bernstein]

We're gonna table that for now.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, that and the reindeer farm. I'd cancel all that stuff.

[Dan Bernstein]

I didn't have reindeer farm on there. I've never been to one. Is there one?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. I remember we had a guy.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah, we did.

[Matt Abaticola]

He was supposed to go to a reindeer because they scheduled the 20th for bears, packers. And it's like, really?

[Ben Johnson]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Like, all the Christmas parties and things. And. Yeah. One guy emailed. He's like, yeah, my wife scheduled a reindeer farm trip for us.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did you hear who else is pissed about the scheduling?

[Matt Abaticola]

Who?

[Dan Bernstein]

The Bulls.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, I. What?

[Dan Bernstein]

They did they modest? Yeah. They're like, what the hell, man? They're all pissed that they've got to work.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, boy.

[Dan Bernstein]

Seriously?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. That's not. That's not a good look, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why?

[Matt Abaticola]

Because it's just not.

[Dan Bernstein]

They are. They so happen to be. It's their job. They're pissed they have to work during the Bears game. I don't think it's a bad look at all. I do. I don't.

[Matt Abaticola]

Why?

[Dan Bernstein]

Why should a professional athlete be exempt from being pissed about not being able to watch the bears?

[Matt Abaticola]

Because at the end of the day, you play a fucking game for your job, man.

[Dan Bernstein]

So do we? Come on.

[Matt Abaticola]

Not really. No, you're not. Don't even compare an NBA player to what we do.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, they make a lot more money.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Their feet hurt a lot more. But I know. I absolutely get it if you're I o to sumu and you got to work during the Bears packers game.

[Matt Abaticola]

You mean play an NBA basketball game?

[Dan Bernstein]

That's his job. I think.

[Matt Abaticola]

I think it's a bad. Look. We can.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't.

[Matt Abaticola]

We can disagree.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't at all. I think it's. I think it's completely reasonable. It happens to be what they've worked all their life to do, and that's what. They're at the top of their profession, and they should be afforded the same empathy for not being able to watch the Bears.

[Matt Abaticola]

No empathy here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Just because of how much money they make. Zero.

[Matt Abaticola]

Because you play a game for a living. So. Yeah, you're. You're. You're on the stage. You're on the stage of sports. You know, greatness to yourself in the NBA doesn't matter. It does matter.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, it doesn't. They just got. That's a job. They've got a job, responsibility, and they would rather be home watching their football team, probably wearing a cheese grater hat.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, keep playing defense like you do. You'll be home quick enough to see it. So. Yeah, it's fine. I'm sure there's a tv. And where are they playing at? They playing at the uc? Yeah. I'm sure they can find a TV to go watch it somewhere. They can stream it.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm disappointed in your.

[Matt Abaticola]

They can turn it on at halftime. When they're down 40 at halftime, I'm sure they can start watching it in the locker room.

[Dan Bernstein]

The football playoffs are here. Indeed. And my bookie is where you turn bets and into bankroll. Everybody's betting. The NFL is in full do or die mode. You know what it is? It's win or go home. You know what else it is? It's win and go home. Because after the game, you know what you do? You go home regardless of whether you've won.

[Matt Abaticola]

Even if you lose.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, regardless. You still. And if you win.

[Matt Abaticola]

Or it could be you when you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Go home and then you go to the next game.

[Matt Abaticola]

Lose and stay home.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's right.

[Matt Abaticola]

Because they're home.

[Dan Bernstein]

College football's down to the last teams in the playoffs and the super bowl is around the corner. So when you're trying to think, well, what can I do? How can I make this even more interesting, more exciting and more fun? Get in the game right now with my bookie because of how easy it is, it's one account, it's one wallet. You bet the spread, you live bet the second half, and then during halftime or during commercials, they got a casino there. You can play. It's all in one place and you have the power. Go to MyBookie AG. Now, the promo code, DBU gets your first bet covered up to 500 bucks, and then if it doesn't hit, you've got a bet back, bonus token, and then you can run it back. So don't just watch the playoffs. Make them pay. Bet anything, anytime, anywhere. Only at MyBookie. Now, you've got a list here, a menu full of Bears audio that I want to get to. Because we've got so much between this and between forward progress today, want to make sure we are up to speed with the latest that we are hearing from the Chicago Bears and their principles.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. So we'll start with Ben Johnson. A couple cuts here from the Bears head coach.

[Dan Bernstein]

Where's your trust in Colson right now? Is that kind of reliable target in this offense?

[Ben Johnson]

He's come. You know, he's. He's shown up and he's made big plays for us. You know, I think the last few fourth downs, the ball seems to find its way to him. I think that's. That's certainly a credit to him. The quarterback certainly trusts him, but I think that. That probably sheds a lot of light in terms of how vital he is towards our operation. We asked him to wear a lot of hats in terms of knowing the game plan. A lot of different positions, a lot of different responsibilities. Run game, pass, game pass protection. And. And I think he's still learning and he's growing and really excited not only to see him compete over the next few weeks, but also his future.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. The quarterback, he said the quarterback trusts him.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I told you. He does that, man. That's. That's his thing. He'll. He'll talk. He'll.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is he mad at Caleb?

[Matt Abaticola]

He'll interchange Caleb. The quarterback, offense. When he's talking about the same guy.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know all the time. Is he unhappy with Caleb?

[Matt Abaticola]

I don't think he's unhappy with Caleb.

[Dan Bernstein]

I just. When he defaults to saying the quarterback as if it's some interchangeable. We know who your quarterback is, right? You could say his name.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. And Ben, you know, there's. There's some coaches that we've heard from a lot over the years, and as they. They always refer to the guy by the first name. That's just how they do it, you know? And, you know, we go back To.

[Dan Bernstein]

Buddy Ryan calling guys by their number.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right, Right. Which is great. That's. I love. That's one of my favorite coach things. I love that. I really do.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, you saw what 50 was doing, right?

[Matt Abaticola]

That's one of my favorites. But Ben, this whole season hasn't been consistent with what he's choosing. And, And I. And I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's why we need to learn what it means.

[Ben Johnson]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

And I don't know if there's anything behind it. Maybe he's still irritated about the Lions game, maybe. Which is why he's talked about the offense a lot and the quarterback. I don't know. Maybe he is. Who knows? But he's done it. He's done it throughout the season. So when you say I'd have to.

[Dan Bernstein]

Go back through and like a little dismissive. Well, the quarterback certainly trusts him. It sounded like a little maybe kind of look for other guys out there.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, I didn't hear dismissive. I just heard that he wasn't referring was Caleb at that moment.

[Dan Bernstein]

He also didn't seem to really want to praise Loveland effusively. He's like, well, yeah, he's. We give him a lot of responsibility and he's. He's had a lot to do. The quarterback certainly trusts him, I think.

[Matt Abaticola]

And because his, his tone has been a little interesting these last two days, hasn't it? I just, I think he's just, He's. Steady Eddie has turned it into like super intense steady Eddie because he's. He's ready for this.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's ready Eddie?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes, he's ready Eddie. Intense ready Eddie. So that's all I think to it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

What I, What I liked about this.

[Dan Bernstein]

Though, because we've never heard him get ready for a playoff game before.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, we haven't.

[Dan Bernstein]

He just. I don't. I think his bullshit tolerance is lower right now.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes. And I think, you know, some questions maybe elevate that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe he knows that, look, somebody's writing a Loveland story.

[Ben Johnson]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's what it is. You know, from the question that an editor or a program to say, look, we're going to concert. I want you to concentrate on this. Everybody's got. Every outlet's got four or five people covering this right now because wasn't he the leading receiver?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes, he finished the leading receiver. So, yeah. So there's a story being done.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he's having a great rookie tight end season. And because of everything he just described, run game, pass game, pass catching, blocking, everything that he's doing right h. Back stuff, all of that. It's really hard for a rookie to have it down to the point where he's got it now. His, his level of polish for a rookie tight end is very high.

[Matt Abaticola]

So I want to talk about that. To the development where he started from the beginning of the season to where he is now. And I think what we've learned about Ben, if he trusts you and you work hard, you'll get more opportunities.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's coaching.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right? So anybody has to trust you. You get that trust.

[Dan Bernstein]

Look at a baseball manager with a bullpen. Right?

[Matt Abaticola]

So. And we've seen that development for Colson and I think it's been great for us as Bears fans because when have we seen the development and I know he's still on a, on a trajectory and there's a path to grow and he'll get better. When have we seen this with a tight end?

[Dan Bernstein]

The last time the Bears had, well.

[Matt Abaticola]

Drafted a tight end that you saw this type of growth and projection in one year. Ditka, dude, you're going back to the 60s.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that's the last time.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I know, but. So that's why it's so exciting to see this kid from being in the game plan to block as an extra blocker. He and Cole Comet to now. I mean, Dan, I think on Sunday he lined up in alignment wise outside as a wide receiver, I think more than 10 times on Sunday's game. And I think. And I think he's third or fourth in the league, lining up like that as a tight end, lining up outside as a wide receiver.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, so you know when the last time is?

[Matt Abaticola]

When?

[Dan Bernstein]

2020, when they drafted Cole Comet.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, but. But Cole Comet is not the same offensive player that Colson Loveland is.

[Dan Bernstein]

If you start going back and just off the top of my head, he's not though.

[Matt Abaticola]

He's not.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't think Adam Shaheen was a second round pick and a bust. Who? John Allred.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I know. I knew. I knew you were going to say Cole Comet. But Cole Comet is not what Colson Loveland is.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm just trying to think of other tight end draft picks.

[Matt Abaticola]

Like I love Cole Comet. He's great and he does. He's done so much to help this team be successful this year.

[Dan Bernstein]

Where was Kellen Davis taken? Fourth round, third or fourth? Oh, Greg Olson.

[Matt Abaticola]

Greg Olson. That's where you go. Greg Olson is where you go back to.

[Dan Bernstein]

And then his development was only interrupted by a coordinator change.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

By a philosophical difference.

[Matt Abaticola]

And then he went on to Have a fantastic career outside of Chicago. Yeah. So Greg Olson.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's the answer. Yes, is Greg Olson. But. But he was.

[Matt Abaticola]

How quickly we forget.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, but he was. It's almost like he was punished for being good at his job. And even as a rookie, he was.

[Matt Abaticola]

That's a good way to put it.

[Dan Bernstein]

As a. As a rookie, he had. Yeah, he had 39 catches and two touchdowns as a rookie and 54 the next season. And he was on Carolina when he was 26.

[Matt Abaticola]

But there's. There's something special.

[Dan Bernstein]

People don't realize that he played more than double the time in Carolina. He didn't get great until Carolina.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. No, he's. He's not a Bears tight end. He was drafted by the Bears. He was drafted by the Bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, but they.

[Matt Abaticola]

But if you look at his career, it's. You're not going to say, you know, if you were to go into the hall of Fame, he's not going in as a Chicago Bear.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's not going in.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, no, I'm not saying he is. It was just the whole point of.

[Dan Bernstein]

Three time Pro Bowler.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

2014, 2015, 2016.

[Matt Abaticola]

But Colson Loveland's got something special, man. What this kid can do.

[Dan Bernstein]

No doubt. No, he is. There's. There's nothing about his rookie year that says he can't be a great player.

[Matt Abaticola]

I think he's going to be a great player. And for the fact that he has lined up outside as a receiver, like the third or fourth most routes as a tight end, that says a lot about his growth and a lot about.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why Ben Johnson wanted him and the evolution of modern offense. All right, let's roll.

[Matt Abaticola]

So good stuff. All right. And this is more one last one from Ben Johnson. It is totally different in an NFL postseason. What about his progress? Just indicates Caleb's ready for this kind of stage.

[Ben Johnson]

Yeah, I mean, he's a completely different quarterback than when we first took this job. I think back to the springtime and during. During camp at times and some of the struggles that we were having as an offense in those moments, we've certainly moved past that. And so, you know, I'm just, I'm encouraged for where he's at right now. I know he's really looking forward to this opportunity to go out there. And, you know, he's played some really good football here, particularly in the back half of the season for us, and we're going to need that. We're going to need him at his best. We're going to need all of our players at Their best. And I'm hopeful we're going to get that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, he didn't say he was confident. He said he was hopeful.

[Matt Abaticola]

Hopeful, but completely different quarterback, which would agree on that. All right, and then here's the aforementioned Cole Commence. He was asked about that two point conversion.

[Dan Bernstein]

What did you see on the. On the catch in the end zone and what sort of hit. What sort of. What did it feel like to kind of sustain the blow that you took?

[Cole Comet]

It didn't feel good, I'll tell you that. Yeah, well, I missed on my block and then Kyle did a good job of kind of helping me out there and looked like they covered the concept pretty well. And Caleb got the scramble mode, so just kind of found a void. And Caleb made a great throw in there and was able to come up with a catch.

[Ben Johnson]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

I just love how he called out Kyle. It didn't feel good, but I like that he pointed out Kyle because Kyle, because he did whiff on his block, he fell, but Kyle, great awareness to get up, find a pocket to sink into when. When Kyle picked up the. The missed block. All right. And then Cole was. Was asked about. And we talked about the cheese graters going away. So let's get some commentary on cheese graters. And this is Cole Comet and something about his sister, which I didn't know until today.

[Cole Comet]

I did not. I didn't know what that was, honestly, till the day after I saw DJ wearing it in the locker room. And I couldn't tell what it was. But good for the guy, whoever made that. I'm sure he's doing pretty well right now. I don't know. I don't. I don't talk to her on Packer week, so I'll find out after the game.

[Dan Bernstein]

You don't talk to her?

[Cole Comet]

No, no, I'm kidding. Well, she did ask for tickets, and I just sent her the tickets, so I didn't really respond to anything else besides that.

[Dan Bernstein]

But did they ask the other guy?

[Cole Comet]

Oh, no, no. They wanted the better seats. That's why I had to help. To help my sister out.

[Ben Johnson]

No.

[Cole Comet]

All kidding aside, but I usually find that out after the game. Usually she's just. She's happy to see both of us healthy and all that good sister stuff, but I hope deep down she's rooting for us.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. It's so funny. Correct me if I'm wrong. When we were talking about former Bears tight ends and I mentioned John Allred, didn't his sister marry a Packer?

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, it's John Lynch.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, yes. John lynch, right? Yeah. You're.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, the former Buccaneers now Broncos gm. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's John Allred's sister. And if I remember, looks exactly like John Allred. Like the same face. It just. It. Okay. Make sure I'm not crazy.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, you're right. Yeah. Linda Lynch.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. That's John allred's sister.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

100% correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. That there was a history of Bears tight ends sisters being the wags of competitors.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes. I didn't know that Frankie Comet is dating Lucas Van Ness.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. Yeah, I don't know either. And then he says he hopes.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay, I hope she's rooting for the. For the Bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

What? He says, no, it depends how serious they are, I think. Yeah, it depends how far along that relationship is.

[Matt Abaticola]

But, yeah, you got to convert, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. You wouldn't be doing your job otherwise.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, so you've been wanting someone to talk about super bowl and say Super Bowl.

[Dan Bernstein]

Everyone is, say it, say it, embrace it, say it. Championship, Super Bowls.

[Cole Comet]

But look, we haven't done anything yet, you know, and the goal, at the end of the day, there's only 32 teams, so the goal is the super bowl, and that's what our mission is. And, you know, we got to take care of this first one here.

[Matt Abaticola]

And there you go.

[Dan Bernstein]

The goal is to win it.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

To win the super bowl, not just get there. The Bears did that. How was. How'd that go for you?

[Matt Abaticola]

Not good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Was that fun when the Bears. Did you have a. That whole thing, the nebulous thing? A Super Bowl? Have a Super Bowl? No, win it.

[Matt Abaticola]

He's the first guy to say it, though. Yes, that we've heard.

[Dan Bernstein]

Thank you.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, now, you've wanted some transparency, some openness, some accountability on the defensive side of the football.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, I have. This is you just giving me gifts. Yes, I like it.

[Matt Abaticola]

Here you go. This is Montez sweat. He was asked about the pass rush.

[Dan Bernstein]

How would you kind of assess the.

[Montez Sweat]

Pass rush overall through the season?

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, what did you like? What didn't you like? I'll probably touch on that later on after we done with all this type of stuff. I mean, I'm sure it's ups and.

[Montez Sweat]

Downs and things of that sort.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, touch on that later.

[Matt Abaticola]

There you go. You asked for some transparency about the defense. Was that. Was that not good enough? I'm sorry, what?

[Dan Bernstein]

Touch on it later? Yeah, touch on it now.

[Matt Abaticola]

They're going to touch on it later, after all this stuff's done.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, I'm interested In what you think now? Nope, it's not done yet.

[Matt Abaticola]

Not going to get it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right. So now he. So we were questioning if he was fully healthy at times. Remember later in the season here he's asked about it and again, we want more transparency. This is what we'll get from Montes.

[Dan Bernstein]

What have you dealt with the last month or so? What have you played through?

[Montez Sweat]

I won't go into details on specific things that. Not on the injury report or anything like that.

[Matt Abaticola]

So you feel better about the defense now?

[Dan Bernstein]

No.

[Matt Abaticola]

You got some answers you wanted. Pass rush was talked about.

[Dan Bernstein]

See, I thought you were going to. You're going to take care of me here and you're not. You teased, you set something up and then you pull the rug out.

[Matt Abaticola]

I gave you the super bowl, and.

[Dan Bernstein]

Then I. Yeah, no, well, I can't talk about that because we haven't put it on the injury report. We get in trouble for. Happens every year. Yeah, it happens every year. Well, I was playing the whole second half of the season with a broken spine. Yeah. Bones sticking out of my thigh. It's always. Why was it on the injury report? Well, it wasn't really that big a deal. Just my entire spinal column was pulled out, was dangling, fell up my body. Behind me. Yeah, I lost him. I lost a leg. I had the leg sewed back on, but it was. Yeah, it's football. Whatever thing.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, well, sorry. That didn't satisfy.

[Dan Bernstein]

It didn't.

[Matt Abaticola]

Your need for information on the defense. I thought we'd get it for sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

It didn't. We did get the other cheese grater hat comment from Cole Comet, though, too.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, last one. This is for Kevin Byard. He was asked about why he believes in the defense.

[Montez Sweat]

I believe in us just because of what we've done all year. Like I said, at the end of the day, there's always things that we can fix, but it's the same thing for every team. You know what I mean? Like, no.

[Matt Abaticola]

So what he does is he spells out the formula for you that we've talked about now, Globalize this week. But here's the formula.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Montez Sweat]

I don't believe there's a team in this league, especially in nfc, that's unbeatable. You know what I'm saying? Like, every team can be beat. And I think just for us as a defense, I believe in us being able to take the ball away at a high level. We're the best in the league at doing that. And I think that's been our identity as something that we can hang our hat on going to this playoff as well and being great in the red zone. I think we were confident last week with our red zone defense, and that's what it's about. And scoring more points than the other team. And obviously we don't want to get with those yards, but if we're forcing field goals in the red zone, that's always going to be a win. And I have confidence in our offense and Ben being able to put up points.

[Dan Bernstein]

So, yeah, this is a classic exercise in the logical fallacy of begging the question where why are you confident in the defense? Because we're good at defense. Or I'm confident in the things a good defense should do. But you haven't proven yet that you are a good defense, that you have those things in which to be confident. That is presuming things to be in evidence that aren't, which is a classic logical fallacy.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, they can be confident in the fact that they've led the league in turnovers. So that's a fact. Be confident there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Matt Abaticola]

They talk about red zone defense and it goes up and down. The packers in game two were over five. Lions were one for five. The Niners were five for five. As far as touchdowns are concerned. Okay. And when it comes down to it, you finished in the middle of the pack in red zone defense. So you're not. Not great, you're not terrible. You're just right there.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's just happens to be better than your overall defensive numbers. And therefore you lean on that as you're good at it. No, you're just. You're not necessarily worse at it. And, and whatever makes you good at that, do that before you get to the red zone.

[Matt Abaticola]

So here's the thing, though. And red zone offense is really hard. That's the thing.

[Dan Bernstein]

The compression, it's really hard.

[Matt Abaticola]

So the pressure elevates and it gets really, really difficult on offenses to score in the red zone, which therefore helps your defense out a bit. Now, you get some turnovers. That can change some things. But you do give up a lot of yards. And you know, the Bears defense, they give up 24 points a game. They score 25 points a game on average for the Bears offense, one of the best scoring in the league. So when you're giving up 24 and you score 25 on average, which is.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why we have all these operate separately. So I know that you're answering that question.

[Matt Abaticola]

I'm not answering the question, but I'm saying, look, look at the characteristics of this team this season, which is why we've had all these like heart attack games because you're, you're, you're giving up almost the same as you're scoring. That's just, that's just relatively how it works for the characteristics of this team.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's no way to answer that. Well, other than to say why are you confident? We are. We, we have beaten this team before. We look forward with our familiarity to sharpening what we do, to drilling down during this week and preparing for a known opponent. We trust that our coaches and these veteran players will be at their best on Saturday night.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, and I also, I mean, you can, you can look at the history of their season. They've won 11 games. They won 11 games. You can be confident in that. You can argue all the characteristics of their opponents. We've been good quarterbacks.

[Dan Bernstein]

Whatever you want to say about it, we've been good enough for the team to win 11 games.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, they've. They won 11 out of 17 games.

[Dan Bernstein]

Which is sort of a sideways way of answering the question and maybe it's not a fair question. Why are you so confident in this mediocre at best defense?

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, but I think framing it, he tells you the formula and I think this is the reality that Ben Johnson understands. The team's going to give up a lot of yards. They're going to give up yards. You hope that your red zone. I know, but they're going to though, Dan. That's part of who they've been.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'd like for them to give up.

[Matt Abaticola]

No yards, I would love that too. But that's not who they are. They're not going to get pressure on the quarterback.

[Dan Bernstein]

I would like for them to get pressure on the quarterback.

[Matt Abaticola]

They're going and they'll address those after the season's over. But this is where you are right now, the reality of the 2025 bears. You hope their red zone defense is there and clicking and the red zone offense you're facing isn't clicking. That's what you hope and you hope that the offense can score more points for you. And again, I'll tell you this and I'm going to keep repeating it to you, 24 points or less, you allow that. You're nine and one on the season. Offense has to show up, which is why Ben is so on the offense and Caleb, because they have to score points to carry this defense.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, we've heard all this audio in just a second. I'm going to give you what I thought was yesterday's quote of the day. Okay, okay. But first I want to let you know about Russ Armstrong and Chicago Window Guys. Because you need windows and you're reminded of it sometimes during the winter or maybe sometimes during the summer. There's never a bad time to be aware of, ooh, shoot, these windows aren't good. And we've gone through it as people who built a house 20 years ago. And the quality of windows is better, the technology is better. People know more about them. And once you know Russ and once you have him do a few windows, you're like, oh, there is a difference. That's why I recommend him. So if and when you need windows, and you probably do, if you've been living there for a While, call him 847-302-9171 and check out all the 5 star reviews of his company, Chicago Window Guys at ChicagoWindowGuys.com he has a price match guarantee. So it takes that concern off the table. Even if you're the kind of simple minded person that believes all of these free sales gimmicks that you hear like, wait, I buy one, I get one free. I buy one, I get one 50% off. Two for one. He'll explain why you shouldn't believe all that and he'll give you the actual best price on the actual best windows and all his people will do the installations. He doesn't use subcontracted labor. He also has a replacement guarantee because there's a lifetime guarantee with parts and labor. Even if your kid throws a football through the window out front, Russ will replace it for free. And then you don't have to wait for a replacement to come in from across the country. Russ is factory where he custom makes the windows for you is right here in Chicago. So do this. 847-302-9171. Talk to Russ Armstrong and check out the five star reviews at ChicagoNowdownGuys.com hey.

[Matt Abaticola]

Did you want to hear Montez sweat in the pass rush again or no?

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, here is what I thought was the quote of the day yesterday. Okay. This is Illinois House speaker Emmanuel. Emmanuel Welch. You can call him Chris. This is Chris Welch. And he was asked about the Chicago Bears prospects and he said that he hopes that they beat the Packers. Wait, that. That's not what we're asking the Illinois House speaker.

[Matt Abaticola]

That's nice, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's very nice that he hopes the Bears win. And then here's what he said at the City Club of Chicago yesterday. When folks say, what's your priority going into the legislative session? We are trying to bring down the cost of living. Talking about a brand new Bears stadium when this one's not even 25 years old. That's insensitive to what real people are going through right now. His word, not mine, to even talk about it, has now been labeled insensitive. He was addressing questions about the Bears request for the property tax breaks and 800 million or more in state support for infrastructure, which I don't ne. I understand the infrastructure stuff. I'm not even really all that mad about some of those requests. And this comes to us via WTTW and Capital News Illinois. He says, talking about. Talking about a brand new Bears stadium. That's insensitive. And even more. The Senate president, Don Harmon said. This is according to a spokesperson. President Harmon agrees that we need to stay focused on issues like education and healthcare and everyday affordability, the things people care about, especially given the economic uncertainties being thrown at us by Washington. They also talk about where the budget is right now. And Welch said that his caucus is not hearing from constituents about the Bears. He said. This is Welch again. They're hearing people talk about the cost of prescription drugs, about premiums for their health care, insurance going up, grocery prices, rent. They're talking about the cost of living. I don't know anyone that has knocked on a door where someone has said anything about the Chicago Bears. I hope Kevin Warren is paying attention to this. I don't know anyone in his caucus that has knocked on a door of a constituent and someone has said anything about the Chicago Bears. This is strong language, strong language to say not one person, not enough people. It isn't a big enough priority. He's saying he's hearing nothing. And to even talk about it, he is already labeled as insensitive. Well, okay, then. Just want to make sure that we. We note that that is where we are as the legislative session. This isn't the veto session. This is the beginning of the new legislative session, when every indication has been from the governor, from the state senate, from the state House, very, very, very, very, very far from a priority for them right now, if it's even on the list of priorities at all.

[Matt Abaticola]

They break ground yet in Gary?

[Dan Bernstein]

No. No, they have not. The golden shovels and the giant cranes have yet to be involved. I'm sorry to disappoint you or burst your bubble in any way.

[Matt Abaticola]

So the Bears have this lease at soldier field through 2033, but they could break the lease for 84 million and then they still owe the city money? Correct? Like a lot of money. And then an additional 84 to break the lease early, which they don't have. And they don't have the money to pay the Bears back either.

[Dan Bernstein]

The Bears might be in some trouble if they, as I suspect, don't have the money to finance this themselves.

[Matt Abaticola]

And I can't see a scenario where they actually sell the team and they.

[Dan Bernstein]

Are not allowed to sell enough of the team to make a difference in the liquidity that this would take.

[Matt Abaticola]

Because then they would be minority owners.

[Dan Bernstein]

They'd have to extend. Exactly right.

[Matt Abaticola]

I imagine the city makes a lot of money off Soldier Field.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I don't know the exact numbers. I'm sure we could get them.

[Matt Abaticola]

And I'm sure they, they, they may make money off Bears games being played there. I just, I wonder if the Bears rent. I wonder if the Bears went about this the wrong way. Now. I've always said it's one of the worst things in sports, that the Bears don't own their own stadium. I think it's terrible. But maybe they went about this the wrong way and instead of trying to get out and leave and then do, I mean, cluster fuck, the whole Arlington Heights thing, and then threaten moving to Indiana, which I thought was a really dumb idea, really bad move on their part for negotiating. Should they have tried to like work some kind of partnership out for a new location altogether with the city to work together where the Bears can benefit more financially from having a nicer facility, a bigger facility that can host more. But the city also gets revenue from it, as they do now.

[Dan Bernstein]

It just doesn't. No sports stadium generates the revenue they say it does. Okay, it almost entirely. The actual economics of it. The sports stadium almost entirely benefits the owner of the team. And that's through the surrounding the private seat licensing every third through every revenue stream. So it would sort of defeat the Bears purpose. I don't know why the Bears would want to enter into any kind of partnership instead of spending the money and owning it themselves and having all.

[Matt Abaticola]

They don't have the money that they don't have. Like that's the problem. They don't have the money.

[Dan Bernstein]

May be that that is really true. In which case, go to Indiana.

[Ben Johnson]

Go ahead.

[Dan Bernstein]

And all of your trumped up studies about economic impact and jobs and revenue for the state. Talk to Kansas about this. But there's no free stadium. They cost billions and billions and billions. And the money comes from taxpayers. Unless it's somebody like Joe Mansuetto saying, I'm gonna build it.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Otherwise the money, however they hide it, however they say well, we're just moving it. It's no new taxes. That's usually the dodge, is what they'll say. There's no new taxes. They just siphon it from elsewhere and disguise it with language and say, look. And so instead of this money going to roads, schools, health care, so that.

[Matt Abaticola]

That stuff gets impacted, so it gets funneled into.

[Dan Bernstein]

Ultimately you're. You can't create money out of whole cloth. You just can't. And at this point, if the Bears don't have the money, if it isn't just a lack of desire, if it's truly a lack of ability because they don't have the liquidity, they don't have the cash, they can't do it, then go take whatever Indiana is offering. Yeah, go ahead.

[Matt Abaticola]

I just.

[Dan Bernstein]

Fine.

[Matt Abaticola]

I don't see the Bear. I don't see the Bears going to Indiana. I don't either. I just don't. I don't. And I see this playing out where Kevin Warren's contract runs out whenever that does, and the Bears are still at soldier field in 2034. I really do.

[Dan Bernstein]

Nah, I don't think that's 10.

[Matt Abaticola]

I think. I think the only way they move out is if they sell. And they're not selling this team, man, they just. They've really cluster fucked this whole thing. I mean, from the start.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. By not diversifying their business interests, by not having any other family business outside of the Bears, they've made it to where they can't really grow their family business. Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Like, it wouldn't seem right if they're in Indiana. But at the end of the day, I don't care because I don't go to games. I watch. And I mean, if I need to have 18 different streaming services to watch NFL in the future, fine.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know a lot of Giants fans that don't give a damn. They play in New Jersey. It's not. It's just not a big deal. It really is.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. I mean, it won't affect me at all because I'm not going. Just keep them on tv. We're good to go. I'm fine. But man, what a mess. Yeah. And like. And if Kevin Warren and the Bears need to hear anything else outside of what Chris Welch had to say, like, what more do you need to hear, man?

[Dan Bernstein]

It's insensitive.

[Matt Abaticola]

Like, it's not. It's not going to go well for you, pal.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's not. They've been, they've been told no every way, every time. Every. Every different euphemism for no.

[Matt Abaticola]

I mean, the governor and the mayor are more concerned with fighting the administration and fighting with Trump and social media and all that stuff. They. They don't give a shit. And now, like what?

[Dan Bernstein]

After this stuff, now it's not even really a negotiation.

[Matt Abaticola]

What more do you need to hear?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. We'll see. Why bet the playoffs anywhere else when my bookie gives you everything you need to get paid? The NFL playoffs are live. College football is down to the final teams. When are the games? Saturday, by the way. Exactly. Is it Friday night?

[Matt Abaticola]

Friday at 7? 6:30. Okay. 6:30 our time?

[Dan Bernstein]

Friday, 6:30.

[Matt Abaticola]

So I'm sorry, Thursday at 6:30? Friday at 6:30?

[Dan Bernstein]

Thursday. Oh, tomorrow.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

We got a playoff game tomorrow.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, we got Miami and Ole Miss.

[Dan Bernstein]

Ole Miss, my guy Trinidad.

[Matt Abaticola]

Ole Miss.

[Dan Bernstein]

Ole Miss in Miami. Ole Miss, one of those teams is going to be playing for a national championship.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's amazing.

[Matt Abaticola]

On the 19th.

[Dan Bernstein]

Amazing. And this what's going on with LSU and like allowing Charlie Weiss Jr. To still coach. The idea that Ole Miss could win a national title before Lane Kiffin does at lsu, like they could, as Lane Given leaves the remnants that he left could win a national title. That would just be fantastic.

[Matt Abaticola]

So of these four, I would have to say I want that story to happen. I want Ole Miss to celebrate without Lane Kiffin. Yep, that's what I want.

[Dan Bernstein]

It'd just be a great sort of chaos story. Second would be left to go to LSU because I have a better chance of winning a national championship. Well, how about the team you just left? Well, they just won a national championship and congratulations to them.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. Second would be Indiana and Mendoza and Kurt like him.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'd like to hear just for the Mendoza post game interview.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes, that'd be a sort of screaming manic, eyes wide open crazy. Yeah. And then third would be Oregon because I like their uniforms. And then Miami's four. So that's. But yeah, I like this Ole Miss story. I like them to win without Lane Kiffin.

[Dan Bernstein]

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[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, we have one practice on Thursday. It's from 6 to 7, so that's good. I'd be able to watch most all this game.

[Dan Bernstein]

Basketball practice?

[Matt Abaticola]

No, Hank has a baseball practice.

[Dan Bernstein]

Good. Yeah. Are they just doing pitchers, catchers now? Just throwing bullpens?

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, no. The whole.

[Dan Bernstein]

Go to a dome and hit everything?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. There's an indoor facility in Lake Forest that. Or is it Lake Bluff? Lake Forest. Somewhere around there that they use and.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wow.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. And so, no, the whole team's been. Whole team's been going for a bit now. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

I always find it so loud in those places. It's the only thing I don't like about going to, like, the indoor baseball practices. You just kind of get overwhelmed by the noise. Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

They both have two hours tonight, and then Hank has an hour tomorrow, and then he has a practice hour and a half on Friday night as well, too. It's all baseball. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

So last night I checked in on Duke and Louisville, saw that the game was on. I realized it was Dan Schulman and Jay Billis. And is Dan Schulman's voice getting deeper?

[Matt Abaticola]

I don't know. I didn't. I haven't turned. I didn't turn the game on. I saw. I checked the score on my phone.

[Dan Bernstein]

And saw Duke was losing every time. Now I hear Dan Schulman, he's turning into Thorough Ravenscroft. Seriously. And I know he's.

[Cole Comet]

He's Kevin.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's, like, getting. He's trending down toward a bell of a bass voice now.

[Matt Abaticola]

Maybe he's smoking unfiltered. Maybe.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe he's got the Harry Callis thing going on. I don't know if he's there, like, you know, pulling on Lucky Strikes or something.

[Matt Abaticola]

Maybe he's unfiltered also.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. Don't steal my bit. Don't do that. But he. And Billis is awesome. And he's gotten so good at speaking to someone who knows basketball. It's great when Bill is like, yeah, I think they're going to have to go under that screen and over this one if they continue running. He's. He is talking to somebody who knows the game, and I love it.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, he's really good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Hey, Duke is loaded. Duke's loaded. I don't know if they're going to win the national title. There are so many guys out there going to play in the NBA. Boozer is clearly as I was, I was grilled on this last night. I think he's an NBA starter. I don't know if he's an NBA star. He's not a great athlete. He's a really good basketball player. He's polished. He has veteran moves, little understandings of space. He is very, very far along in how to play the game, how to work the game, what he needs to do to find angles and leverage. He's just like his dad in that he's a little heavy legged, great passer. His shot looks good. He's. His floor is very high. You know for sure when you take him in the, in the top five that he is going to be a contributing, reliable, successful, wealthy NBA player. Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

So Duke trailed by nine and halftime that's when I checked in and then they ended up winning by 11.

[Dan Bernstein]

I will also say a couple other observations here. Isaiah Evans who right now is a skeleton. He's so thin and so physically weak. When he fills out he's going to be real good. He will be playing for a lot of money. Dame Saar, no relation. Alexander Saar. I did not know that. S A R R Dame Sar is an elite defensive talent. Need to see more from the offensive game but I can tell you right now whatever that is worth, I don't know where he's going to get drafted late first or. He is an elite defensive talent. He's the kind of guy if you, if he were playing unlike a mid major college team, you could run a 13 1, put him at the top of it and just contest every single pass. He would be lethal at the top of a one three one but he can switch onto anybody. He's great on the ball, he's great off the ball. He's great face guarding guys. The way he closes out without fouling. He gets low in his defensive stance. Elite defensive talent. And then watching the 21 year old, watching Caleb Foster I know he's kind of an afterthought when it comes to what they've they've got because he's been injured and he's a junior 21. But when you start looking at who wins in the tournament is a lot of these senior laden teams that don't have guys necessarily leaving early. Sometimes these groups of freshmen just they run into experienced teams that are tougher and better in an individual game. He's the kind of guy that will help them, they will lean on him once the tournament starts because he is strong and he plays nasty, he plays with an edge to him. He he uses that offhand to knock people out of the way. Like you come up to guard him, he takes the fight to you. He's got a great little D cell move and if he can shoot it well enough, that's going to be a player who plays his best basketball in the tournament because of that physical and mental toughness that he's got. And the big they got another big guy who will be probably a late first round pick somewhere. I also it's interesting to watch John Shire, how actively he's moving up and down that sideline, because his mentor Mike Krzyzewski, at least later in his career, the only time he was up was to scream MF's at the referees. Otherwise he would just sit and they'd run their stuff. But Shire's up there calling plays and pointing spots on the floor and moving people around. And obviously the recruiting is real strong. So like some other Duke teams have flamed out late when they've been too young to get it. But having this guy Foster there might change the calculus a little bit. But there were a lot of really, really good basketball players on that floor that I was enjoying watching last night. And this has been Dan Bernstein, Unfiltered, brought to you in partnership with my bookie and by Russ Armstrong and our friends at Chicago window. Guys, call 847-3-002, 9171 and check out his five star reviews at ChicagoNowdownGuys. Com.

[Matt Abaticola]

Dan Bernstein, Unfiltered Unfiltered on 312 Sports.