Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – “Will Tyler Linderbaum Cost Too Much for Chicago Bears?”
Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Host: 312 Sports (Dan Bernstein with Matt Abbatacola)
Date: March 5, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the financial and strategic implications of the Chicago Bears potentially pursuing center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, against the backdrop of Drew Dahlman’s imminent retirement. Dan Bernstein and co-host Matt Abbatacola blend analysis of contract trends and team-building philosophy with explorations into sports betting markets, MLB’s new strike zone challenge rules, and classic on-brand banter about basketball aesthetics, roster construction, and even military aviation mishaps.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Drew Dahlman’s Retirement & Bears Center Situation

• Delayed Announcement:
  The show opens with speculation about the lack of an official Bears announcement regarding Drew Dahlman’s retirement. The hosts discuss protocol and note it could be a matter of administrative processing (contract, cap, and legal issues) or player/team preference.

  • [01:29] Dan Bernstein: “I haven't seen anything on that. ... I just assumed that there's a process to it and they'll wait till Wednesday.”

• Player Agency and Team Courtesy:
  The hosts debate whether players often have a say in how and when a retirement is announced, with professional courtesy extended by teams.

2. Can the Bears Afford Tyler Linderbaum?

• Expert Projections:
  The conversation pivots to CBS Sports’ Joel Corry’s robust contract projection for Linderbaum:

  • 4 years, $95 million ($23.75M/year)
  • $60M overall guarantees; $52.5M fully guaranteed at signing
  • [06:19] Dan Bernstein: “That not only makes him the highest paid center in the game, it’s not, not even close…”

• Market Context:
  Corry predicts Linderbaum will set a new high-water mark for NFL centers, surpassing Creed Humphrey’s $18M/year deal with the Chiefs.

  • The Ravens reportedly already offered Linderbaum a “market setting” deal north of $20M, which was declined.
  • [08:16] Dan Bernstein: “So let's assume that he offered him 20 million... And he said, no, no, no, thank you.”

• Bears’ Cap Philosophy:
  Dan and Matt express skepticism that the Bears will go as high as $20-24M/year for a center, especially given a looming payday for quarterback Caleb Williams and the broader team-building implications.

  • [09:38] Dan Bernstein: “Even at 20 million, the Bears aren't going to pay that.”

• Notable Quote:

  • [09:54] Matt: “He’s such a perfect fit for them, though... he’s just ideal for an outside zone run. Get on the move, get out and find people.”

• Team Building Strategy:

  • The conversation highlights the necessity for teams to draft and develop affordable talent, especially as key contracts grow.
  • [14:26] Matt: “This is why the really, really good teams are drafting and developing their own talent…”

3. Bears as Betting Favorites for Max Crosby

• Online Speculation:
  The hosts discuss why the Bears are suddenly betting favorites to acquire Raiders star Max Crosby, chalking it up to a combination of online rumor-mongering, fan/media wishcasting, and the embryonic nature of prediction markets.

  • [10:19] Dan Bernstein: “That hard playing grindy white guy that you know would fit well in a blue collar team and a blue collar city like the Bears… There’s nothing concrete, just speculation.”

• Prediction Markets Skepticism:

  • Matt notes the newness and questionable predictive value of legal sports futures markets when it comes to player movement.

4. MLB's New Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System

• Challenge Strategy Deep Dive:
  Bernstein goes through a detailed breakdown of Joe Sheehan’s analysis of MLB’s strike zone challenge system, including win rates, player/manger usage, and strategic recommendations.

  • Challenges are valuable and should be manager-controlled, not player-driven.
  • [25:17] Dan Bernstein summarizes Sheehan’s point: “50/50 challenges are too valuable to let players control their usage... it’s up to the manager to control challenges to ensure they’re used when they have the most value.”

• Notable Quotes:

  • [37:47] Dan Bernstein: “...I liked that players were able to challenge things... Now just, I mean... hearing all of that now, I just felt really heavy.”
  • [38:29] Co-host: “These larger concepts of runners on base, the leverage of the situation, and are you a good enough player where your plate appearance matters so much more than anybody else?”

• Application to Cubs:
  The hosts urge that the Cubs' brain trust (Craig Counsell, Carter Hawkins) should develop and disclose concrete policies for challenge usage, as it could be pivotal in high-leverage playoff moments.

5. Basketball: Drawing Fouls is a Skill

• Shea Gilgeous-Alexander’s Free Throw Game:
  The hosts argue that drawing fouls (and thus, free throws) is a legitimate offensive skill—citing SGA’s league-leading numbers and comparing historical greats.

  • [44:56] Dan Bernstein: “Leave Shea Gilgeous-Alexander alone. The guy's unbelievable... He is really, really good at forcing defenders into compromised positions...”
  • The art of “showing” you got fouled is compared with DeRozan, Jordan, and Derrick Rose.
  • Matt points out hairstyle aids in selling fouls (referencing Kobe White): “I guarantee you that head shake has gotten his (calls). No doubt in my mind...”

• Coach’s Perspective:
  Quotes Billy Donovan on teaching or not teaching this “acting” skill.

6. Military Snafu—Top Gun Sidebar

• Aviation Oddity:
  A lighter segment explores the recent news story where a Kuwaiti FA-18 fighter supposedly shot down three American F15Es—deadpan, tongue-in-cheek, banter about air combat, friendly fire, and callback to Top Gun.
  • [53:43] Dan Bernstein (sarcastic): "Oh, hey. Oh, there's a Kuwaiti jet. Yeah, all good. Whoa. Holy shit. Whoa. We're gonna eject this motherfucker. Shot me down."

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On Linderbaum’s Price:
  • [06:19] Dan Bernstein: “That not only makes him the highest paid center in the game, it's not, not even close…”
• On Market Dynamics:
  • [09:13] Dan Bernstein: “...that's just not how it works. Regardless of the talent level. Even if you think Creed Humphrey is a better center than Linderbaum.”
• Team-building on a Budget:
  • [14:26] Matt: “This is why the draft matters so much... the really, really good teams are drafting and developing their own talent.”
• On ABS Challenges:
  • [37:47] Dan Bernstein: “Now... hearing all of that now, I just felt really heavy. Really weighed down by the whole thing…”
• On SGA and Fouls:
  • [44:56] Dan Bernstein: “Leave Shea Gilgeous-Alexander alone. The guy's unbelievable... He is really, really good at forcing defenders into compromised positions and he's not afraid to show you that he's done it.”
• Riffing on Friendly Fire:
  • [53:43] Dan Bernstein (joking): "Oh, hey. Oh, there's a Kuwaiti jet. Yeah, all good. Whoa. Holy shit. Whoa. We're gonna eject this motherfucker. Shot me down."

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:37] — Show opens: Dahlman's retirement & announcement delays
• [04:34] — Free agency windows, Joel Corry’s contract projections
• [06:19] — Linderbaum contract analysis; Bears’ likely reluctance
• [09:54] — Linderbaum fit on Bears, challenges of big spending
• [10:56] — Max Crosby/Bears betting favorite speculation
• [13:17] — Fit of Linderbaum in Bears outside zone scheme
• [14:26] — Discussion on cap management, drafting vs. big spending
• [25:17] — MLB ABS challenge system explained in depth
• [37:47] — Host reaction to challenge system’s complexity
• [44:56] — Defense of foul-drawing as basketball skill (SGA)
• [51:30] — Top Gun/military mishap comedic riff

Tone and Style

• The tone is sharp, conversational, and loaded with inside references—alternating between analytical and irreverent.
• Bernstein is unfiltered, leaning into sarcasm, authenticity, and a dash of exasperation at both media narratives and sports bureaucracy.
• Matt provides equal parts soundboard and fellow analyst, often steering into the comic or anecdotal.

Summary Takeaway

The Bears’ pursuit of Tyler Linderbaum confronts the realities of NFL positional value and the modern cap era: Would adding the league’s best center be worth a market-shattering contract? Bernstein and Abbatacola provide a candid, multi-angle discussion, emphasizing the importance of homegrown talent, proportionate spending, and organizational self-awareness. From there, the episode dips into the shifting world of athletic markets—on the field, in Vegas, and on baseball diamonds—always returning to the question at the heart of smart sports fandom: “Is the cost worth it, and who decides anyway?”