Kiran Amegadjie Getting Reacquainted to Ryan Poles with First Team Reps

Summary

Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Episode: "Kiran Amegadjie Getting Reacquainted to Ryan Poles with First Team Reps"
Date: July 31, 2026
Host: Dan Bernstein with Matt Abbatacola
Podcast: 312 Sports

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Episode Overview

The episode dives into the latest developments from the Chicago Bears training camp, focusing on player reps, roster competition—specifically at left tackle—and the evolving dynamic under General Manager Ryan Poles and Head Coach Ben Johnson. The discussion also covers media narratives around Caleb Williams, reaction to external commentary, and memorable moments from around the NFL, all wrapped in a signature blend of sharp, irreverent, and unapologetically Chicago sports talk.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Bears Training Camp Updates (01:00–06:00)

• First Team Reps Shakeup

  • Kiran Amegadjie gets the bulk of first-team snaps at left tackle, with Braxton Jones and Jedrick Wills rotating in behind him. This is notable after Poles previously omitted Amegadjie in roster discussions.
    • "Maybe it was like, okay, all right, I remember you. Here you go. Let's see what you got." – Dan (02:22)
  • Early movement and quickness from both Amegadjie and Wills are being touted by beat reporters.

• Non-Padded Practices

  • Both hosts temper enthusiasm, noting differences between “underwear practices” and padded sessions.
    • "It could be very different with pads on...but early on, that's a positive sign." – Matt (02:55)

• O-line Versatility and Depth

  • Discussion about the importance of "multiple" players who can swing across positions for roster flexibility.
  • Theo Benedict noted as a potential swing tackle experiment.

Offensive Efficiency and Growth (06:00–08:36)

• Press Taylor's Comments (OC, Bears) via Adam Johns

  • Taylor praises the offense’s increasing tempo and mastery of terminology; walkthroughs see more plays completed than last year.
    • “Now I think yesterday we got to 13 [plays], we didn’t quite get to 15...that’s a big thing in this building. You feel urgency every single day.” – (06:30)

• Playbook Choreography

  • Dan likens the new offensive rhythm to "dance instruction...big, violent choreography," signaling improved practice efficiency.

Media Narratives, Motivation, and Caleb Williams (08:36–16:51)

• Jacksonville’s HC Remarks

  • Jaguars' Liam Cohen laments lack of media attention toward his team versus constant coverage of Bears’ Caleb Williams, using media slight as motivation.

    • "You don't have to make up the fire. You don't have to make it up. It's given to us every day." – Cohen (08:36)

  • Both hosts agree it’s not a shot at Williams, just media reality.

    • “That’s being dumb on purpose. Don’t do that.” – Dan (10:32)

• Headline Culture & Clickbait

  • Examination of misleading sports headlines that inflate minor quotes for traffic.
    • “That is the desire to put Caleb Williams in a headline for clicks and page views and the algorithm, all that. This is why algorithmic stuff sucks.” – Dan (12:28)

• Ben Johnson’s Response

  • Bears’ head coach embraces the analytical truth: the Bears are “the number one regression candidate.”

    • "We're the number one regression candidate. So I think we've got plenty of motivation ourselves." – Ben Johnson, via Dan (13:46)
    • Hosts praise Johnson’s candor over empty coach-speak.

  • Reflection on the challenge of sustaining success:

    • "Sustaining that is what separates any number of Bears teams…That's different than being really good." – Dan (17:20)

Notable Segment: NFL Training Camp Risers (19:38–33:11)

• ESPN Article Review:

  • Discusses Courtney Cronin’s pick of Mark Anderson (Bears, ‘06) as the team’s best-ever preseason riser; he went from an “unknown rookie” to setting the Bears’ rookie sack record during a Super Bowl run.

• Other Standout NFL Risers:

  • A rapid-fire rundown of preseason risers across teams: Tyrod Taylor, Zach Thomas, Malcolm Butler, Wayne Chrebet, Antonio Gates, Arian Foster, Terrell Davis, Maxx Crosby, and more.
    • Light-hearted quips on the elasticity of the “preseason riser” definition.

Social Media, Culture, and Bears Content (35:59–41:51)

• Highlight: Cardinals Rookies Do the Weather

  • Humorous tale of Arizona rookies making TV weather appearances, including flubs and playful banter.

• Bears’ Social Media Game

  • Praise for authentic, fun behind-the-scenes content, especially involving rookies buying into the team culture—highlighting a viral Caleb Williams sidearm throw to Colston Loveland as a “football boner” moment.
    • “If you don’t come close to a football boner from that…your heart’s not beating.” – Dan (38:55)

• Dylan Thienaman

  • Only Bear not reacting to the camera; praised as “all about playing football.”

Culture of Training Camp & NFL Coaching (41:51–44:52)

• Old-School Camp Vibes

  • Discussion about the shift from secluded, sleepaway-style camps to more modern formats and how some coaches and players might respond to those changes.

• Coach as Cult Leader

  • Playful comparison of camp head coaches to cult figures, riffing on the control and immersion of the setting.
    • “…to be a coach at training camp isn’t really that different from a cult leader.” – Dan (44:13)

• Casting Todd Monken

  • Amusing back-and-forth on which actor (eventually Billy Bob Thornton) would best portray Baltimore’s OC Todd Monken in a movie where he falls in love with an AI chatbot.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Maybe it was like, okay, all right, I remember you. Here you go. Let's see what you got.” – Dan on Kiran Amegadjie’s sudden promotion (02:22)
• “Good is better than bad.” – Matt (04:31)
• “We're the number one regression candidate. So I think we've got plenty of motivation ourselves.” – Ben Johnson via Dan (13:46)
• “If you don’t come close to a football boner from that…your heart’s not beating.” – Dan, describing a viral Caleb Williams throw (38:55)
• “To be a coach at training camp isn’t really that different from a cult leader.” – Dan (44:13)
• “They do a really good job of having the camera...there’s buy-in on behalf of a lot of these veterans and rookies.” – Dan on Bears’ social team (37:57)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Bears first-team offensive line shakeup: 01:46–04:31
• Press Taylor on offense/tempo: 06:00–08:36
• Liam Cohen/Media narrative/Ben Johnson’s response: 08:36–16:51
• NFL's greatest “preseason risers” rundown: 19:38–33:11
• Caleb Williams’ viral throw and Bears content: 38:33–40:01
• Training camp as “cult leader” movie riff: 44:13–46:16

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Tone & Takeaways

• Tone: Unfiltered, sarcastic, insightful, and deeply Chicago.
• For Listeners:
  • Get a clear sense of the evolving training camp battles and how Bears coaches are fostering competition and accountability.
  • Appreciate nuanced takes on viral moments and media-driven narratives, especially around rookie QB Caleb Williams.
  • Enjoy a breezy yet informed walkthrough of NFL culture, coaching quirks, and nostalgic reflections, all with characteristic wit.

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Transcript

[A]

There's always another game everybody thinks they have figured out. Maybe it's a pennant race, maybe it's a playoff series where everybody suddenly becomes an expert. Well, if you're gonna have an opinion, you might as well have some action behind it. That's where my bookie comes in. You've got spreads, totals, player props, live betting, and even the casino all in one account. Head to MyBookie AG, use the promo code DBU and get your first bet covered up to 500 bucks. If it doesn't hit, use that bet back bonus token and run it back. Don't just watch the action, make it pay with my bookie. The this episode is brought to you by my bookie. I mean, if you're a Bears fan, you're thinking forward progress.

[B]

Come on. Forward Progress. A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abola on 312Sports.

[A]

Forward progress on 31 2Sports is brought to you by Giordano's Back to school means back to busy between practices, homework and everything in between. Give yourself a break with Giordano's. Treat the kids and yourself to a Chicago style pizza everyone can agree on. Make tonight a giordano's night@giordano's.com or visit your local Giordano's restaurant. Today, Giordano's the one for Chicago style pizza. And as we speak, the Bears are on the field in front of fans at Hallis hall, not yet in pads. That's going to be Monday, the first padded practice. But there are some notable decisions that have been made as far as who's running with whom and where do you want to start on that?

[B]

Well, what I saw yesterday from Bears training camp, some interesting names that got first team reps, including new tight end Sam Roush, Xavion Thomas, the wide receiver getting some first first team reps. And then yesterday in practice, Jedrick Wills replaced Braxton Jones on the final play with the first team and then he continued on with second team reps. But today, as we're reading, Amagaje took a majority of the first team reps with Jones and Wills rotating behind him.

[A]

Okay, this might be last gasp, last chance. We were making fun of the fact that Ryan Pols forgot to mention Karan I'm a God J when he, when he mentioned the battle at left tackle and maybe it was like, okay, okay, all right, I remember you. Here you go. Let's see what you got.

[B]

Yeah, because some of the things that I've seen from reporters that were out there watching the commentary around Amagaje and Judg Wills moving much better, quicker, faster than anticipated or expected.

[A]

Okay. That's part of it. Can they hold their ground again? They're not in pads.

[B]

No, they're not in pads. They're, you know. Yeah, they're in underwear. So, yeah, it'll. It'll make a difference when you get the pads on. But preliminary results here, that's good. Now, I, I know it's Braxton Jones's job to lose here in camp. It's set up that way. But if you have multiple guys showing well early, that's great. Now, again, it could be very different with pads on. Very different pads on and guys hitting and going a little, little faster with their full equipment on, it could look different. But early on, that's a positive sign to hear multiple guys being able to perform and look good, at least in workout clothes.

[A]

No question. The next thing you look at as far as roster spots is who's multiple. Is there anybody in that group? You like to think that the guys you keep at tackle are your most talented offensive linemen who then could swing to a guard position. And obviously you. You have to keep an interior offensive lineman who also can play center in an emergency. So that all comes down to some of the final numbers right here. But if I'm Dan Roshar and Ben Johnson, this is the time, man. But give. Give people chances. Let's see if they know every assignment and everybody is moving in lockstep the way they're supposed to, to slide some of these protections where they have to. There's that. We can't make too much of anything that happens in the, in the pajama games.

[B]

But no, I mean, we're not.

[A]

Good is better than bad.

[B]

Yeah, good is better than bad. And we're certainly not talking about, you know, it's not. We're not getting, you know, ahead of our skis here with contract extensions or things beyond that. But it's a positive thing. It's a positive thing.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Let's see how it develops when they get pads on. Another interesting area on the offensive line was Theo Benedict playing some right tackle as well to see if they could develop him as a. As a swing tackle, possibly if you can move him over and then you start to build a little line of strength on the left side of things. It's always a positive thing for, for the offense. One other comment I read, I can't remember who, who put it down, but talking about Garrett Bradbury, remarking that he moved a lot quicker and smoother than Anticipated. Now, I don't know if that was just this one reporter who wrote that down, but I, I didn't have like lower expectations for him. But for them to point out that he's moving faster than expected, again, that could have just been that individual.

[A]

Expected by whom?

[B]

That's what I'm saying.

[A]

Like, I don't really have an expectation for the movement of Garrett Bradbury at this point.

[B]

Right. I'll find who wrote it down. It could have just been their singular individual expectation. Because I was going to ask you, I don't recall a, you know, scouting report on Bradbury as being slow or heavy footed at all. But, but to have that, that just kind of stood out in something that, that one of the reporters wrote.

[A]

Okay. I bet movement without pads is pretty

[B]

meaningless Anyway, you're again 100 correct on that. Another area that I wanted to mention is this was a tweet from Adam Johns and he actually had some comments from Press Taylor.

[A]

Oh, okay. Well, you notice it. We, we talked about that. Press Taylor yesterday said the things that we've been saying about Ben Johnson and he actually put it out there. It's like we. Because of. We expect to win.

[B]

Yes. Because Ben's out there. Yep. And this is what press Taylor had to say. He says, I think kind of like we were just talking about, you've seen growth every day. And this is from yesterday. And it comes out we were able to do a little bit more in the off season just the way we operated the tempo we're at. We operated with. If we had 15 plays in a 10 minute walkthrough. We were probably getting nine plays by the time we had to repeat everything. Now, I think yesterday. So this is today's Friday. Thursday. This is Wednesday he's talking about. Now. I think yesterday we got to 13. We didn't quite get the 15 yet we got the 13. We're able to move a little bit quicker. And that's not just necessarily on Caleb, but that's everybody in the offense. The way we operate, the way we communicate, the urgency we've had. And that's, that's a big thing in this building. You feel urgency every single day. So him talking about the progression of the offense as a whole, not just Caleb. So you have a 15 play diagram and a 10, 10 minute window. And last year they're getting to eight, nine plays. Wednesday they got to 13 plays out of the 15, not the 15 they want, but certainly showing growth and progression

[A]

without happening, having to have to run

[B]

it again, which is what we Talked about yesterday in Caleb's growth and now this is the whole offense in being able to see pre snap quicker, get calls in quicker. The terminology is understood better, where he's not taking time to get the plays out.

[A]

They were trying to break the huddle last year.

[B]

Yes. They.

[A]

They had a way. They wanted the huddle broken. Like this was. They're teaching a dance. That's what this is.

[B]

He stopped practice last year.

[A]

Yes. Multiple times.

[B]

And he took. He took the first team offense out.

[A]

Yes. They're, they're, they're. It's. There's dance instruction going. It's choreography is what it is. It's big, violent choreography, and it's really complicated. So to be already that far ahead in the. In practice time efficiency should be a good sign. It should mean they can do more, or maybe do more fancy stuff. Maybe they've got time for more tricks and things and fun.

[B]

Yep. So there was something I thought was really interesting, too, that came up, and I'm curious to know your take on this. And this. This is what happened with Jaguars head coach Liam Cohen, and he was, I think, doing a radio interview with a local station on there. And this is. This is what he said. You don't have to make up the fire. You don't have to make it up. It's given to us every day. It's a gift from the heavens. I just go pull out my phone, look up the NFL Network website, and just pop it up here. And I'm curious if I see any photos or anything about the Jacksonville Jaguars. I think I'll just scroll right on through. Hang on. Sorry.

[A]

There's a White Sox fan.

[B]

Yeah. So he continues on. He says, I think I'll see 40 pictures of Caleb Williams and I won't see a single thing about any players on here. So. It's beautiful. I'm gonna tell these guys how much you think they all suck, and we'll keep going. Okay.

[A]

Hold on. Having someone else's picture there is not tantamount to being told that you suck.

[B]

Okay, here's. Here's where I took this. And I think people have taken this as, oh, he's taking shots at Caleb Williams and. No, he's not taking a shot at Caleb Williams. He's talking about the lack of spotlight or attention to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Yeah, he's.

[A]

That's not a shot at Caleb Williams at all.

[B]

This is.

[A]

Caleb Williams is famous and popular.

[B]

They were. They were a playoff team last year, and they're not on the radar in the big picture of Things in the NFL world. Okay, so he's going to use that as motivation. I Look up NFL.com, guys, there's nothing here about us ever.

[A]

But here, you know, but that's lame.

[B]

Shots of Caleb Williams, though.

[A]

Not at all.

[B]

No, it's. It's very. It's very lame, but people have twisted it. Oh, he's taking a shot at Caleb.

[A]

No, he's not. That's.

[B]

Caleb's the most popular quarterback.

[A]

That's. That's being dumb on purpose. That is just being dumb on purpose. Don't do that.

[B]

Okay, so you didn't see any of that?

[A]

No, that's not fair.

[B]

I've seen it in multiple, multiple places.

[A]

That's not a shot at Caleb Williams. That's. I see Caleb Williams. You know what you see? He knows why. You see Caleb Williams there? He's popular. He's on the COVID of Madden.

[B]

He's the most popular player in the game right now.

[A]

He's the IT guy in the league. And he's nice and smart and handsome and funny. What don't you. What's not to like about him? Like, come on. No, that's not a shot. That's. Come on. We got to grow past that. If you're a Bears fan looking for reasons to think you're being slighted, take all of that and direct that at your own ownership. Don't waste time with silliness like thinking Liam Cohen is worried about somehow taking shot. Stop. That's.

[B]

Yeah, I think, I think his motivation of what's not on, like NFL.com for example, as he pointed out, that's weak. Like, he can do better if he's. If he's, you know, he's a good coach. Do better than that with your team.

[A]

That sucks and stuff. That's like, I'm measuring the column inches and the Cubs get written about more often than the white. White.

[B]

Like that.

[A]

You know, that's stuff. Come on.

[B]

But I told you, I get. I get you know where he's coming from on it, but like, you could. You can do better than that. And if you think you're being disrespected because the NFL.com or whatever other website isn't mentioning your team enough like you

[A]

were a playoff zero sum.

[B]

Right.

[A]

You can. They can put up pictures of whoever they want. It's a website. They got pictures of everything. So they can put pictures anywhere. Come on.

[B]

So here. These are just three. These are just three headlines that I'll read to you. Ben Johnson responds to Liam Cohen's comments on Bears Caleb Williams Jaguars coach takes subtle shot at Caleb Williams Bears head coach Ben Johnson reacts to Liam Cohen's viral quote about Caleb Williams.

[A]

Now I get it about Caleb Williams. That is the desire to put Caleb Williams in a headline for clicks and page views and the algorithm, all that. This is why algorithmic stuff sucks. Because it's, this is bad faith. And I hate it. And I get it. And I hate the fact. Look, we're not immune to it either.

[B]

No, we're not. Diana Rossini.

[A]

Say Diana put Diana Rossini on something and everybody gets paid like. But it sucks to have to do that. But it's unfair to the people involved. That is not a shot at Caleb Williams. It's not. And I know that some of these things come with being famous and popular, that you are used to other people's advantages and you become a pinata. Hell, that's what Caitlin Clark on the wnba and they're dealing with all this too. But this is an unfortunate aspect of the algorithmization of, of news and aggregation because that is not a shot at Caleb Williams.

[B]

It's not. But what did come out of it though was a response and a comment from Ben Johnson, which I know you wanted to get to.

[A]

Yes. Then on its own I saw the comment without that context.

[B]

Yes. And now that was the context of it.

[A]

Okay, on its own, I told you, and you can vouch for this, that I told you, I said this is a great comment. And the comment from Ben Johnson in response was we're the number one regression candidate. So I think we've got plenty of motivation ourselves. Now that is the opposite of one of these stupid coaching acronyms that these middlebrow chuds use for their, their high school level shit. That is a smart guy aiming higher, pointing out a statistical truth that yes, based on a lot of interpretation of last year and a lot of what happens in the NFL, the possibilities and probabilities of churn in this league that the Bears are very likely statistically to have fewer wins than they had last year, that's okay. But the fact that Ben Johnson can say that and say, hey, we got plenty of motivation ourselves, we're the number one regression candidate that, that's a computer science major, understanding that and he's able to share that with the players in a way that isn't reductive and aiming low and I was going to applaud that, but I hope he wasn't forced to somehow defend the virtue of the poor put upon damsel that is Caleb Williams under fire from the, the, the Knave. That is Liam Cohen. Come on.

[B]

Yeah, let me, let me. I'll pull it up and see. So Ben Johnson responds, blah, blah, blah. Don't have to make up the fire. Williams had the perfect reaction, choosing to share the post on his socials and use it as even more motivation. Again, it's not a criticism, Caleb. You're misreading that as well. Yeah. And then attached in the story, it just, they, they go right into Ben's quote. So he. And he says, well, comma, we're the number one regression candidates. So I, I don't know if he was asked about what Liam Cohen said.

[A]

We got motivation too.

[B]

Right. And then, and then his, his response was, well, we're the number one regression candidate, so we have enough motivation ourselves.

[A]

Okay, good. But that, but the fact that that was his sort of touched nerve response, that, that, that's where his mind is. We're the number. And he's right.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And it's. And it's okay.

[B]

It is okay because it's true. And yes, like, don't, don't be afraid of it. Don't shy away from it because it makes perfect sense that this is how the NFL works. Yeah, that sucks and becomes great, and then that great team sucks again.

[A]

And he's. Because it's, that's how the league's designed. He's not, he's not angry with that fact, but he's aware of it and he should be. And if that gives you motivation, okay, if. To say we have, we want to prove history wrong or prove probability wrong. He's. He's not proving haters or critics or anything wrong with that kind of motivation.

[B]

Yeah, it also, it just goes back to the way he ended last season. We didn't do anything. We were One of the 31 teams. Remember what he said? We. One of the 31 teams that failed. Yeah.

[A]

That ended with a loss.

[B]

Yes, that failed is what he said. And he knows how it works. That every year there are teams that suck, and then the next year they win their division or they compete for the division or they, they make the playoffs.

[A]

Sustaining that is the hardest thing.

[B]

Right. He does not want to be that one and done team.

[A]

Sustaining that is the. Is what separates any number of Bears teams. Any number of them, whether it's a Dick Jaron team or a Matt Nagy team or any other that can spin the NFL wheel and have a decent season, that. That's different than being really good. And he wants to be the latter. Welcome to dbu. Picks presented by my bookie we're breaking down the week's biggest matchups and the bets we're watching. My DBU pick for my bookie for the weekend is Munetaka Murakami. I love the way he is swinging the B bat. I am taking him in every White Sox game this weekend to hit a home run. I'm not saying he's going to do it. I'm not saying we're going to go three for three, but I am. I am rolling with Munay for all of these games for him to go deep.

[B]

All right, and then on the other side of town, the Cubs hosting the Yankees. Looking at tonight's game Friday night, I am going to take the Cubs minus one and a half and I'm going to pair that with Nico Horner two plus hits.

[A]

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[B]

ESPN put out a really neat little article. I got more intrigued as I started reading it. Outside of the headline, every NFL Team's Best Training Camp Preseason Riser ever. Ooh, yes, right.

[A]

Preseason. Preseason riser.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I gotta say, you know Nishan Wright is on that list.

[B]

Every NFL team's I know he's a preseason riser ever.

[A]

I know he's recent, but that's a very good name.

[B]

That's a very good name to pull. But here's here's what they have for the Chicago Bears. And this is written by Courtney Cronin, Chicago Bears Preseason Training Camp Riser Ed.

[A]

Mark Anderson, rookie in O6.

[B]

Oh, six. Anderson went from an unknown rookie during training camp to leading the Bears in sacks in their last trip to the Super Bowl.

[A]

Well, was he, I think they drafted him though, right?

[B]

Well, it says unknown rookie.

[A]

Okay, let me just see here. Yeah, he was a fifth round, he was their fifth round pick.

[B]

Yes, their fifth round pick.

[A]

Okay. He was, he was. So he wasn't unknown, they picked him.

[B]

Well, no, I mean he was unknown as far as on.

[A]

I get it.

[B]

Yeah. Like draft pick boards. I get it. He comes out of Alabama. Very, very little production in Alabama from what they saw in his college career. And again, a fifth, a fifth round pick tells you enough yet he was still drafted, but he was going to

[A]

make the team anyway. Like that's, that's the difference is that I don't think Nishan Wright would have made the team. Like he was just in there as fodder. He was a late AD on like a million dollar contract.

[B]

But he also had NFL experience though. It's not like he's, I mean he, he played games before.

[A]

Okay. All right.

[B]

So this is an undrafted, an unknown rookie coming out of the fifth round of Alabama with, with very little production to show what he would do.

[A]

And he had 12 sacks, so.

[B]

Yeah. So last trip to the super bowl, his lack of production in Alabama caused him to fall the fifth round. He was then brought into a defense headlined by linebacker Brian Erlacher, Alex Brown, Tommy Harris. He carved out a role for himself as a situational pass rusher and wrote to becoming one of the draft's biggest steals.

[A]

Yeah, Wally, let's, let's not forget Wally Gunlia on the edge there. That was.

[B]

No, let's not. But the 12 sacks he, he collected in 2006 remain a franchise record by the rookie.

[A]

So it's just rookie record.

[B]

Yes, yes.

[A]

Great. That's a great name. Probably would have taken me a while to get to that one.

[B]

No, I didn't think you would. I, I wouldn't have remembered Mark Anderson.

[A]

No, I'm just trying to think of, of guys because we will give out and have given out. I don't know if I'm allowed to give them out anywhere. Didn't we talk about this last year, the Ken Mistoli thing? I, I, I don't think I own the intellectual property even though I made it up. So there's always Jack Sanborn could be one of those guys.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You know, Jack Samborn has made a nice little NFL career back with the Bears, now undrafted out of Wisconsin, who has made himself a solid NFL backup. Did so with the Bears under Matt Eberfluss.

[B]

Are there, let me see, Any other, any other teams you want to hear?

[A]

Oh, yeah. Any other, any other names that, that are interesting to you? I absolutely do. If there's something that raises your proverbial eyebrows.

[B]

All right, here, I'll just run through the teams for you real quick. Buffalo Bills, Tyrod Taylor, Miami Dolphins, Zach Thomas, New England Patriots, Malcolm Butler.

[A]

Wait, okay. What? I just, I would need to get the, the rubric for this about somebody who. Okay, keep going.

[B]

Well, I can tell you I can read anyone. And again, these, these are the ESPN reporters that cover these teams. I get.

[A]

I know how they do their stuff. Yeah, they farm it out to the beats. But. But how do they define it?

[B]

So here, I'll give it to you. Which NFL players best use training camps in the preseason to catapult their career?

[A]

Okay. There's a lot of leeway in that.

[B]

There is.

[A]

Okay. Because you could be a first round pick, but also use what you showed in training camp to, I don't know, maybe get another opportunity at a different position or a different responsibility. There's a lot of leeway in there.

[B]

Yeah. But I, I would think, though, if you're a first round pick, you're expected to do something in training camp. Right or wrong, I guess.

[A]

Unless, you know, you're good enough to take a bunch of veterans days and it doesn't matter, I guess.

[B]

All right, so Tyrod Taylor, Zach Thomas, Malcolm Butler, Wayne Crabet from the Jets.

[A]

That's a. There you go. That's.

[B]

Oh, did you see that? The picture of that business that. One of our listeners sent us an email outside of Rate Field. It's called Sticks and Bricks or Bricks and Sticks.

[A]

I know the owner.

[B]

Oh, you do? Okay.

[A]

Yeah, the. That's. That's owned by Mario Scalise.

[B]

No, it's owned by the great guy.

[A]

Oh, yeah, yeah. The what? We have Brick and Stick. I hadn't thought of that too. No, but Sticks and bricks, a really good pizza. Wood fired pizza. The owner, Mario is a terrific guy and his son Joey and Jason played hockey together.

[B]

Oh, nice.

[A]

Yeah. If you're going to, if you're going to a Sox game, great, great place to stop for. For a little bit of beer and pizza or whatever your food of choice is before or after a White Sox game.

[B]

When we were at the, the, the convention yesterday, the memorabilia card thing, there's a Slice Pizzeria right outside of Donnelly Stevens and a lot of these vendors, I saw them walking in with box, you know, because they go get food, they bring it back. So they're all sitting around selling their memorabilia, eating. Eating sliced pizza. It was one after another coming in with, you know, six, eight, nine, ten pies. Jeez. Well, you know, you're sitting there selling car, man. It was interesting, buddy. I gotta tell you, it was something. Okay.

[A]

This is worth like its own podcast, I think.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Your experience at Donald D. Stevens Convention center, the international collectible show.

[B]

Yes, it was. It was something, man. That, that, that entrance, walking into the Donnelly Stevens where they're. They smoke right outside the doors. And not just cigarettes. There was a lot happening as I got all four boys with me. I'm like, let's keep it moving. Keep it moving here, boys.

[A]

Well, that's. That smells. That smells everywhere.

[B]

Yeah, it was real strong.

[A]

Try. Try walking the lakefront during Lollapalooza.

[B]

Oh, well, that's. Yeah, that's expected, but like an area where, I mean, you're expecting a lot of younger people, kids to kill, man, I know, it is.

[A]

Stop. Being a narcissist is really strong.

[B]

Well, no, there's no narcing if it's legal.

[A]

Yeah, but you're on someone you got a problem with. Look, if you're going to be an adult autograph seeker, and that's your life, and you're just human vermin.

[B]

Yeah, I would think cigarettes are your thing, not weed.

[A]

The least we can give those people is. Is an escape from their miserable existence.

[B]

Yeah, I figure like, you know, you know, a pack of reds and a big jug of Mountain Dew. That's what I'm expecting.

[A]

No, you're coming into Chicago. As soon as you land at o', Hare, you go somewhere and you, you. You get yourself a little indica hybrid and you take a. Take a fiver and you're a 10 and you walk around and get autographs.

[B]

Baltimore Ravens. Will Demps, Bengals. Damian Willis. Cleveland Browns. Joshua Cribs.

[A]

Josh Cribs. Yeah.

[B]

Steelers. Donnie Shell.

[A]

They're going all the way back to Donnie Shell. Who's that?

[B]

Beat writer Brooks Prior.

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

Brooks Pryor. Rich tradition of unknowns morphing into standouts through off season workouts had no one as a better example than Ronnie. Donnie Shell, undrafted free agent from South Carolina.

[A]

Yeah, but he played okay, whatever started in 74.

[B]

Yeah. Did he end up in the hall of Fame? No.

[A]

He did.

[B]

Did he really?

[A]

Yeah, he is in the hall of Fame and the College hall of fame. Three time first team all pro, second team all pro, five time pro bowler. On the Steelers all time team, four time Super bowl champion, 51 interceptions, 19 fumble recoveries, four defensive touchdowns.

[B]

See like here's another, here's another good name for the Houston Texans. Arian Foster, perfect. Undrafted his rookie season, lands in a practice squad to start the season, but eventually becomes the most productive back for the team. Dominic Rhodes for the Colts, Alan Hearns from Jacksonville.

[A]

Alan Hearns. Yes, sir.

[B]

Mark Mariani from Tennessee. All right now, okay, let's see here. Let's see what they say this is about. It's Rel Davis. The Broncos have decorated history of players who've launched successful careers with good camps, including Carl Mecklenburg, Rod smith, Chris Harris Jr. Shannon Sharp. But the guy who likely made the most of his August was sixth round draft pick in 1995. Okay. I didn't realize he was that low of a pick. And then Mike Shanahan, blah, blah, blah. All right. Okay. Yeah, this is a good one because I, I didn't realize that he, he was a six round pick.

[A]

I thought he was higher.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it was the, the reputations for Alex Gibbs and Shanahan. This idea of being able to create like a 1500 yard back. It kept happening because they had Davis, who was followed by Orlandus, Gary and then I think Mike Anderson might have had the, you know, another, I think he was over 1500 yards in the season. And that's when they got this reputation is, you know, just get a guy with two legs who can run with decent enough speed and, and it's that system that's going to get you the yards. And then they kind of started part of the argument of the, you know, current fungibility of running backs.

[B]

Yeah, he is rookie season, 1100 yards, finished as the league MVP. Super Bowl MVP.

[A]

Wow. Yeah, I covered. That's a good one.

[B]

Yep. Chiefs, Brian Waters, the Vegas Raiders, Max Crosby.

[A]

I guess that's probably right.

[B]

Fourth round pick in 09.

[A]

Yeah, we didn't see the camp. We don't know. We don't know what. I got to trust these guys because if we're not there during, you're not going to read about some. It's going to be a national story until the guy's doing things in the NFL.

[B]

Oh, here's a great one too for the Chargers. One of the most famous training camp stories in league history. After playing basketball at Kent State for four seasons, decided to pursue football. And that's Antonio Gates. Brandon Aubrey from the Cowboys, the kicker Cruise of the Giants. He has a kicker, right?

[A]

Brandon Aubrey.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's got like kicked 70 yard field goals in his sleep.

[B]

Well, that's pretty good. What can he do when he's awake?

[A]

90 yard field goals. Oh, wow. Watch him.

[B]

He's unbelievable. Victor Cruz, the Giants. Vince Papali of the Eagles.

[A]

They made a movie about Vince Papali

[B]

which I'm sure you've never seen, right? Hell, no. Yes.

[A]

That's too dumb for you, Mark Wahlberg.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah. Okay.

[B]

It's not good, but it's good. Joe Jacoby of the Commanders. We did. Mark Anderson.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I'm on. Ross St. Brown for the Lions. Fourth round pick in 2021.

[A]

Famously motivated by those drafted in front of him.

[B]

And pictures of Caleb Williams. Yep. Break franchise records for the most receiving yards, most receptions in a season by a Lions rookie. J. Ron Elliott from the packers, undrafted out of Toledo 2014. I don't even remember his name.

[A]

I remember Jamin Elliott from the Bears.

[B]

Yeah. A J, A Y, R O, N E. J Ron Elliott received a $5,000 signing bonus as a rookie free agent. Five grand.

[A]

Hey, man, better to poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

[B]

Here's a great name for you from the Vikings. Mick Tinglehoff.

[A]

Mick Tinglehoff under a drive. Yes.

[B]

One of the great names.

[A]

Here comes Mick Tinglehoff.

[B]

Ryan Schrader, offensive tackle for the Falcons. Andrew Norwell, Panthers. Marquis Colston from the Saints. Do anything for you.

[A]

Yes. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yes. He was a late pick. I want to say a sixth or seventh round pick. Marcus.

[B]

Marcus Colston.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, is it tall?

[A]

Wide receiver?

[B]

Yes, yes, yes, yes. And then here's a second round pick. So Levante David.

[A]

Come on. It's a second round pick.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, he should do something in camp. Dennis Gardeck from the Cardinals, linebacker and kicker, Greg Zurline from the Rams. Jeff Garcia of the Niners, Doug Baldwin for Seattle.

[A]

Okay, that was fun.

[B]

And I thought the. Mark Anderson. That's a really good. Well, because of course you have a very smart beat reporter putting it together.

[A]

Yeah, but she was like three years old when it happened.

[B]

Well, yeah, I mean, she can still read, though, and learn things about the past.

[A]

Yes, that's true. I can read too. You know, backpacks are packed, schedules are filling up, and somehow everyone is hungry at the exact same time. Yes. It's back to school season. So amid all this, when you need an easy win, make it a Giordano's night. Treat the kids and yourself to the Chicago style pizza everyone loves. Whether you're celebrating the first day back or you're celebrating just surviving the first week. Dine in, pick up or order delivery, visit giordano's.com or visit your local Giordano's restaurant today. If you're a baseball fan in Chicago, you know this season isn't one in April, May or even June. It's one in the grind. Every series matters. Every bullpen decision gets second guessed. Every at bat feels like it could swing the conversation the next morning. Whether you're riding with the Cubs through a pennant race or hoping the White Sox give you a second something to believe in. Baseball gives you opportunities every single day. That's why my bookie is for you. Sure, you can bet the game, but the prop board is where things get interesting. Strikeouts, hits, home runs, total bases. There's plenty of ways to get involved without worrying about picking a final score. And because it's all under one account, you can jump from baseball to live betting or even the casino. While you're waiting for the late game to start. Go to MyBookie AG, use promo code DBU and get your first bet covered up to 500 bucks. If it doesn't hit, use your bet back bonus token and run it back. Don't just watch another night at the ballpark. Make it pay with my bookie. Don't let managing your money be scary. Don't let it be intimidating, because it's not. I think having intelligent control of your finances and your investments is really important and I believe Monarchs can help you in doing so. Monarch is an app that functions like a financial advisor in your pocket and as you get older and more people are relying on you to do this right, Monarch helps you do it. Helps you hit savings goals or a net worth milestone. Helps you realize when a large percentage of your income is going somewhere unexpected. I love the fact that Monarch lets you compare your investments to the Benchmark S&P 500. Most apps are going to tell you what you've already spent. Monarch helps you set goals and map out big purchases and see if you're actually on track before it's too late to adjust so you can write your own money story with Monarch. Use the code [e-mail] to get your first year of Monarch Core Half Off. At just $50. That's 50% off your first year at monarch.com with the code DBU.

[B]

All right, one last thing I have for you. I don't know if you've seen this online. If you haven't our listeners as well too. Go you go find it online social media. It's super easy. I'm sure Arizona Cardinals rookies were brought into a Phoenix news Station and were their own coach. No, they were. That's right. They still don't know who the coach is.

[A]

They've never met Mike LaFleur. They're like, Whoa, I. I got to meet the coach. Yeah, you're on the team.

[B]

You should, because Carson Beck also has access to the coach, to the line of the story. Man, that's perfect. But they brought these Arizona Cardinals rookies in to this new station in Phoenix to do the weather, and it's. It's really funny.

[A]

Green screen did the whole thing.

[B]

Yeah. One guy was like, well, this. What's this green thing behind me? It was really funny. And all the rain coming through and the temperatures. And it's like, it starts out as 86 is gonna be 108 today in Phoenix. And one guy's like, just stay indoors. You don't need to go out. If you have to go out, go out early. It was. It was just really fun.

[A]

Oh, I see. Give. I would have done the Letterman thing, you know, famous. You heard that story famously when Letterman was, like, wandering around some local news station in Indianapolis or wherever he was. I forget he was doing the weather, and he would just make shit up. And. And he got. He goes, they're telling me there's hail the size of canned hamster, and it set off a panic. People are, like, bringing their cows inside to their living rooms and stuff.

[B]

Oh, God. Yeah, there was one. One weather report. I've seen this on social media a ton. Guys doing the weather report. I think it was in Arizona as well. And there's a temperature in some city that on the screen, it's listed at like 1100 degrees.

[A]

It's hot.

[B]

And he mentions it and he's like, everyone's dead. Everyone's dead in this city. I don't even, like, you know, really? Oh, yeah, he. He played it really great in stride. It was fun.

[A]

That'. I also, while we're talking about some of these funny things that they do with players, shout out to the Bears social media team. They do a really good job of, you know, having the camera. Just little things like the players taking the field and the fact that the players are now. The relationship they've built up. There's clearly some trust where they're used to the people who are. Who are behind the cameras and behind the phones, however they do it and they're there. There's buy in on behalf of a lot of these veterans and rookies are willing and able to be a part of the shtick. Like we saw with Roma Dunes. They Doing the Bob Ross thing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

When you get a team that's willing to be a part of them. I don't have time for any of this crap. Right. They don't do it.

[B]

You. Did you have, like, one specific thing to point out or did you. Like in general.

[A]

You're saying in general. But whoever got that camera angle of the Caleb Williams passed to Colston Loveland yesterday.

[B]

God.

[A]

Like that.

[B]

That.

[A]

That is. If you don't come close to a football boner from that.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Your heart's not beating. Probably you have to go to your doctor if that didn't give you a football boner, because. Oh, man. Like, it's second. It's one thing to do the sidearm around a guy to get the first level. Watch that pass again.

[B]

Because it's to the second level.

[A]

It's to the second level.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's like, you think it's going to the first guy. Ooh, how does he squeeze it in there? But somehow it's sidearm and the angle makes it look like he's throwing a slider and that the ball's coming around right into the hands of a covered Colston Loveland on the next level.

[B]

Because I'm watching it the first time and I'm like, why are they showing this? Because he missed the guy. Oh, yes.

[A]

Yeah. Like, oh, it's an incomplete pass. But he got.

[B]

Oh, yes. You thought the same thing. It was. Yeah.

[A]

Yes. I'm like, why are they.

[B]

That's a really cool arm angle. But he met. Oh, he didn't miss.

[A]

Yeah. Oh.

[B]

Oh. That's who he was throwing to.

[A]

I'm not. I'm not reading anything into it.

[B]

I'm not.

[A]

I'm not talking about the meaning of it, but just. It was awesome at that angle. Like the NFL films kind of field level feeling to it. And some of us are. Are hardwired to follow the spike. Rolling ball and. Ooh.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

More of that.

[B]

More of that, please. Yeah, I didn't know if you're gonna. Because you did mention, you know, one of the examples showing guys walking to the practice field. So they. You. You saw that one. And every player reacted positively. Some, like, danced and they all smiled at the camera. Except for one. I don't know if you saw this guy.

[A]

No.

[B]

Dylan Thienaman.

[A]

What's. He just.

[B]

I walked off. Didn't. Didn't react to the camera. He meant that dude is all about playing football. Yes. All about playing football.

[A]

Football.

[B]

Not even a look at the camera where, you know, a couple guys did some sidesteps they, you know, had some fun with it. Yeah.

[A]

One guy said Happy birthday to his wife. I didn't see who that was, but.

[B]

Yeah, Thieman just back to the camera. Didn't even look back. Just walked right to the practice field, head down.

[A]

That's great.

[B]

Yeah, it was really funny. Well, oh, this guy likes football.

[A]

See, the thing is, though, it's all fun and games in July. What you want is. I want a bunch of surly bastards by the end of August. I would. When you, when this. When training camp's over and you still see. I guess it's different when you're sleeping in your own bed at night and you're with your family, it's different than, Than the, The restlessness of old school, being away training camp, sleep away camp. The restlessness of the end. Like when you're just. And the coaches know it and the coaches kind of feel it building up. And then there's the. Everybody races to get home. It's got to be different now. That's okay. I just following the. The arc of the emotion of the players over camp is important.

[B]

Yeah. It's interesting you bring that up because I was thinking this morning, reflecting back on what Ben Johnson said about the opportunities to get away for these. These combo practices and to not be at home and to be. Yeah. Bunked up. And I was just thinking about what he would feel like if they were doing like, the old, you know, Olivet Nazarene thing where they're. They're down there staying in rooms. I think he would like that. I. I think he would really. Because I don't know what they. What they did in Detroit, if they practice at their facilities and they were at home or not, but he seems to me. I don't know if you disagree or agree.

[A]

Oh, I think all coaches love like it.

[B]

He seems, but he seems like a guy that would really get off on control and not being home and, and just being all about football. Never having to leave the office and going back to that and like, just sleeping in the office or like, okay, closest dorm room to the office, whatever it would be.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

I think he would love that. Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

It's. It's. It's. It's the nothing but practice field, cold tub, weight room, meal, sleep, football, repeat,

[B]

and maybe an occasional meal there.

[A]

Yeah. Maybe they break it up with making the rookies sing their college fight songs or something. But. Oh, coaches.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because they're in charge.

[B]

Yeah. I don't know what his history is.

[A]

You know, what they get to Be a coach at training camp isn't really all that different from a cult leader.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

That's what you get to be. You get to essentially be your David Koresh or you're Jim Jones in Guyana that you. You have your true believers on a compound where you are the most important person.

[B]

All right, we're gonna start. We'll call him Ben Koresh.

[A]

During the screen camp period, the feds are gonna come in and bulldoze you. Janet Reno is gonna come in and start throwing flashbangs at you.

[B]

Yeah, listen. Yes. Yeah. They love it. I'm not sure what his history has been as an NFL coach as far as training camp, but I. He. I just. He strikes me as a guy that would totally love that opportunity just to be a coaches.

[A]

These coaches don't want to drag him into the woods and hold him at gunpoint. Are you kidding?

[B]

Oh, I think Todd Monken. I think Todd Monken wants to be in his own bed.

[A]

Somebody asked me who would play Todd Monken in the movie in which he falls in love with an AI Chat bot played by Scarlett Johansson. That was an email that came in, so I did. I did, like, a Todd Monken image search, and I cannot come up with the definitive casting choice. You're better at it than I am.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Just do. Look. It's really hard to find it. Be some aging character actor. Yeah, somebody's probably been on from the 50. We got to find who plays Todd Monken in the movie where he. He ends up romancing an AI chat bot.

[B]

And.

[A]

And he gets his biggest distraction on the season, and he's trying to impress this chat, but that he ends up thinking is real. This is. It was an emailer's idea.

[B]

That's a good. All right, give me. Give me one second here. Let me just take a quick, quick peek at Todd Monkin. Who would play. Right.

[A]

It's not William Forsythe, but it's like a. It's a. It's a. It's a William Forsyth type level of actor.

[B]

Could we do, like, a. Oh, could. Could we do. Oh, I think this might be. This might be good. Today. A current. Like today's Billy Bob Thornton.

[A]

Oh, that's. That's a lot of money.

[B]

Oh, are we. Are we going cheap here?

[A]

No, I do. Billy Bob Thornton's kind of weathered enough.

[B]

Yeah, he's weathered enough. And wrinkly skin, kind of saggy enough and. Yeah, and apparently with his hair, he can do that.

[A]

And apparently taken a lot of commercial opportunities lately.

[B]

Well, he's the. He's the new T Mobile guy, I think.

[A]

Right. Yeah.

[B]

And.

[A]

And more. And doing some voice work. I wonder what he just. Did he just buy something?

[B]

No, he just.

[A]

No, no, no. He's a.

[B]

He's a superstar again with that. That series. Landman, the title. The Taylor Sheridan Landman.

[A]

I know, I know. I just. I always wonder when you start seeing somebody with a lot of commercial opportunities, it might mean that they bought a couple of houses or they got divorced or something.

[B]

No, that's a very, very fair thought to have. But, yeah, I think he's not that he's not. Not been a star, but he's back in the popularity, you know, the current realm of. Of series with. With Landman, so. Which is actually a really good show, by the way.

[A]

I'm sure it is. Beth said she gave Little House on the Prairie a watch last night and because she grew up with the original.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And they watched it in there and I'd never seen it. She said, I got to give it a try. And then she said, well, I kind of feel like I'm cheating on the original. And her overall take at the end of it was. Was, no, thank you.

[B]

Yeah, I've never seen. I don't. I don't want to see it. I want to keep that streak alive. Yeah.

[A]

I was just in, you know, within earshot, doing a crossword puzzle, and I think at one point, and I said, look at. I said, what the fuck are you watching?

[B]

I think that's the only proper response to your spouse watching a reboot of Little House on the Ferry.

[A]

I didn't know what it was. I just heard they were like these child actors who were really bad. And I was trying to figure out what was going on.

[B]

And. No, well, Beth's doing work for all

[A]

of us by letting us know she was out. She's like, you know, I felt I had to because it was important to my childhood and.

[B]

All right, well, just confirmed it for me. No need to watch.

[A]

Still glad I've never seen it.

[B]

All right, well, that'll do it for forward progress for another week, but we are in training camp. We are in real football time and in pads.

[A]

By the time when we reconvene on Monday, the Bears will be smashing into each other on a practice field. And as I've mentioned on the other pods today, we got a special announcement coming. I think it's going to make you very, very excited on Monday. So you don't want to miss 312 sports on Monday. I think I'll probably mention it. First on a man with Sherman and Tingle at 8:15. But yeah, we got cool things coming. Also, this is your last day in July, so go to the 312Sports app that you've downloaded and use the promo code Summer to get in on the rewards page for dinner at Little Bob Ariba for dinner at wildfire for two a four pack of tickets Bristol Renaissance Fair AC DC tickets for September 4th at Notre Dame Stadium. The promo code Summer on any reward and then we're going to reload all that and also get your swag. Get all your 312 sports and DBU swag at the pro shop on the app. I got some cool new stuff I'm going to be rocking and if I see you wearing it, I'm going to come up and hug you. So you're you've been warned. There's that. We have been brought to you today by Giordano's Back to school means back to busy between practices, homework and everything in between. Give yourself a break with Giordano's. Treat the kids and yourself to Chicago Style Pizza. Everyone can agree on. Make tonight a giordano's night@giordano's.com or visit your local Giordano's restaurant. Today, Giordano's the one for Chicago style Pizza. Forward progress is stopped. Forward progress.

[B]

Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 Sports.

[A]

Thanks for listening to today's episode brought to you by my bookie.