Ben Johnson gets an A | Green Bay gets a BAD GRADE from its players

Summary

Podcast Summary: Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode Title: Ben Johnson gets an A | Green Bay gets a BAD GRADE from its players
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Date: February 27, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Dan and Matt come out of the NFL Scouting Combine with sharp takes on the Chicago Bears' offseason, a deep dive into NFL report cards compiled by player feedback, and the ever-contentious left tackle situation for Chicago. They also dish on the emerging power of coach Ben Johnson, the ramifications of a booming NFL salary cap, and the ongoing stadium drama—but not without some classic banter and personal anecdotes.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Scouting Combine & Bears Personnel Strategy

• Combine Culture: Indianapolis becomes a “fun fair for professional football and a job fair and everything rolled in together.” (Dan, 01:45)
• How Teams Scout: Debate on whether to keep scouting groups tight or allow individuals to observe separately—hosts prefer the latter for unbiased evaluation.

  “I would prefer to scatter and then reconvene. I think it takes you away from the pressure... just get it, and then at the end of the day everybody comes back and say, what have you learned?” (Dan, 03:11)

2. Salary Cap Milestone

• 2026 Cap Set at $301 Million: Up from $279 million in 2025; compared to $34 million in 1994.

  "It didn't hit $100 million until 2006, hit $200 million in 2022, and already it's at $300 million." (Dan, 07:26)

• Cap Implications: Gives teams, including the Bears, more flexibility but key decisions remain.

3. Bears Offseason Needs & Trade Rumors

• Left Tackle Situation: Reports (via Brad Biggs) signal trouble—current options may not be good enough for a contending team.

  “Braxton Jones... to not have the opportunities to grow and succeed when other guys did around him—what makes you feel that he'll be able to serve half a year or a full year at that position?” (Matt, 20:28) “I just don't feel comfortable with saying Braxton Jones is our best option at left tackle.” (Matt, 21:17)

• Quarterbacks & DJ Moore:
  • Talk of possibly dealing Tyson Bagent for a conditional third-round pick. Ben Johnson rates Bagent highly.

    "Ben Johnson said he's one of the best 32 quarterbacks in a 32 quarterback league." (Matt, 12:46)

  • DJ Moore trade is unlikely unless Bears can use created cap for immediate improvement.

    “They would trade more only to try to improve in 2026, which doesn’t necessarily mean flipping him for a draft pick.” (Dan, 13:28)

• Compensatory Picks: Unlikely Bears receive picks for Ian Cunningham’s departure—NFL’s rules are tightly defined (primary executive/HC only).

4. Bears Stadium Speculation & Land Issues

• Rumors of Indiana Move: Hosts express skepticism—environmental hurdles cited as deal-breakers.

  "There's absolutely no way they end up in that property in Hammond." (Matt, 16:37) "[Processes] are excruciating... just what it takes and all the money it costs." (Dan, 18:36)

5. NFL Player Association Report Cards

• Bears Rank 13th overall: Top marks for nutrition and strength staff, lower for family treatment and playing field.

  “Treatment of families: C Plus. Home game field: C. Food and dining: B...Weight room: A.” (Dan, 33:13)

• NFC North Rundown:
  • Lions: 9th overall
  • Vikings: 2nd (“All A’s or A-minuses”)
  • Packers: 21st in NFL—“last in division, 21st overall.” (Dan, 38:01)

    "Suck it, Green Bay... You take that last in A division, losers." (Matt, 38:23)

• Notable High/Low Teams:
  • Dolphins: 1st overall
  • Steelers: 32nd (worst ownership mark: D-)

6. First-Round Draft Priorities & Positions

• Defensive Tackle/Edge: Hosts break down prospects (Caden McDonald, Peter Woods, Lee Hunter); focus on run-stoppers vs. pass rush; doubts on best OL options available at Bears’ spot.
• Philosophy: Run-stopping prioritized, but long-term starter at left tackle still seen as urgent for “multiple playoff games to get to a Super Bowl.” (Matt, 22:51)

7. Personal Anecdotes & Lighthearted Segments

• DIY Disasters: Dan considers doing electrical work at home—Matt pleads for him not to, sharing his own exploded gazebo wiring story.

  “There’s no reason to burn the house down while she’s gone!” (Matt, 42:24)

• Fun Segment: “Who Said It?” challenge with Dan quizzing Matt on a defiant Diego Pavia quote (48:20).

  “If you go back, you look at my record. Ain't nothing on my record.” (Dan as Diego Pavia, 48:20)

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Combine Scouting Strategy:
  “I would prefer to scatter and reconvene… get your information un-siloed and then you say, what have you learned?” (Dan, 03:11)

• On Salary Cap’s Growth:
  “34 million in 1994… now, 301 million in 2026.” (Matt & Dan, 09:14/09:20)

• Ben Johnson on Bagent:
  "He’s one of the best 32 quarterbacks in a 32 quarterback league." (Matt quoting Ben Johnson, 12:46)

• Left Tackle Anxiety:
  "I just don’t feel comfortable with saying Braxton Jones is our best option at left tackle." (Matt, 21:17)

• On Bears’ Stadium Saga:
  “There's absolutely no way they end up in that property in Hammond.” (Matt, 16:37)

• NFC North Report Cards:
  “Suck it, Green Bay… You take that last in A division, losers.” (Matt, 38:23)

• DIY Gone Wrong:
  "There’s no reason to burn the house down while she’s gone!" (Matt, 42:24)

• “Who Said It” Game—Diego Pavia:
  “If you go back, you look at my record. Ain't nothing on my record.” (Dan as Diego Pavia, 48:20)

---

Important Timestamps

• NFL Scouting Combine / Personnel Approaches: 01:45 – 05:28
• Salary Cap Discussion & Implications: 06:39 – 09:27
• Bears Offseason/Trade Rumors/Comp Picks: 10:53 – 16:49
• Stadium Saga & Environmental Hurdles: 16:50 – 19:02
• Left Tackle Deep Dive: 19:36 – 24:43
• Draft/Combine Prospects, Defensive Focus: 25:10 – 32:13
• NFLPA Report Cards (Bears & NFC North): 33:13 – 39:10
• DIY / Home Storytelling: 40:22 – 46:49
• Who Said It? (Game Segment): 46:56 – 49:00

---

Flow & Tone

The episode features the classic blend of analytical sharpness and relatable, lightly sarcastic banter. Dan and Matt showcase not only Bears knowledge, but a wider NFL understanding, always circling back to what it means for the franchise and its fanbase. Their chemistry turns even mundane topics (like electrical wiring) into fun, memorable segments, keeping listeners informed and entertained.

---

In Summary

This episode is a must-listen for anyone wanting a detailed, real-time feel for the Bears' offseason situation and the behind-the-scenes workings of NFL teams. Dan and Matt juggle hard analysis, rumor breakdowns, and playful moments while ensuring listeners are up to speed on everything from salary cap figures to draft concerns and why the Packers earned a collective “C plus” from their own players.

Listen for:

• The big salary cap leap (07:26)
• Why left tackle keeps Bears fans up at night (21:17)
• The moment Green Bay falls to the bottom of the NFC North—according to players (38:23)
• A hilarious “Don’t try this at home” segment on household wiring (42:24)
• “Who Said It?”—Nerdy Combine Edition (48:20)

Transcript

[Advertiser]

Say you've always wanted to see your favorite team from the best seats in the house. Here's the thing. If you invest well, you could do things like that. With Empower, you can get your money working for you so you can go

[Dan Bernstein]

out and live a little.

[Advertiser]

Isn't that why we work so hard to splurge at certain moments? Jet setting off to see your team play at one of the most iconic stadiums or getting your favorite player's super rare autographed one of one sports card. So use Empower to help you get good at money so you can be a little bad. Join their 19 million customers [e-mail] not an Empower client, paid or sponsored this

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail], progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states.

Why choose a sleep number Smartbed? Can I make my site softer?

[Matt Abaticola]

Can I make my site firmer?

[Dan Bernstein]

Can I Can we sleep cooler?

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Sleep number does that cools up to eight times faster and lets you choose your ideal comfort on either side your sleep number setting. Enjoy personalized comfort for better sleep night after night. And now during our President's day sale, take 50% off our limited edition bed plus an extra $100 off all mattresses and Saturday only at a sleep number store or sleepnumber.com

[Matt Abaticola]

I mean if you're

[Dan Bernstein]

a Bears fan, you're thinking forward progress. Come on.

[Matt Abaticola]

Forward Progress A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312

[Dan Bernstein]

sports things are busy in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting combine. It's like a fun fair for professional football and a job fair and everything rolled in together. And it's for coaches who have certain places well outside of Indianapolis where they want to go really get rip roaring drunk with their friends. Outside of the attention of cameras and people, there's apparently some off menu list of very secret spots that are out of the way where the ones who know end up going stumbling. Yeah, no, it's not like that. That's. That's way too public to get your famous Central Indiana shrimp is boy, when you go to Central Indiana, the first thing you think of is shrimp. Yep.

[Matt Abaticola]

Where.

[Dan Bernstein]

Where can. Where can I get some seafood in Central Indiana?

[Matt Abaticola]

Because I'm the best land shrimp in the country.

[Dan Bernstein]

Land shrimp. The question I have right now before we get into some of the detail stuff. Do you remember when the Ryan Pace used to talk about the way he wanted his group of Bears people to be at the combine? Remember this where he said that he learned from Mickey Loomis of the Saints that everybody was together, they all sat together, they all watched drills together. They had a big, big group of. Of Bears people because that's how he learned. I don't know how they do it now and I think there's positives and negatives to all of that. I personally think that when I've thought about it, I would prefer to scatter and then reconvene. I think it takes you away of the pressure. It takes you away from having to be in, having to offer opinions or say things or feel like there's any kind of internal politics going on. And I just think go gap your information un. Un siloed and just get it. And then at the end of the day everybody comes back and then you say, what have you learned? And you might have incredibly divergent opinions about a player. So I would much rather do that. I don't know how it, how Ryan Poles necessarily has done this now that Ben Johnson, I think, has surpassed him as the most powerful football voice in the organization. Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

And having never done this, I don't know what the best approach is and the pros and cons of doing it that way. But just from the outset, I would say, I would think, I agree with you the preference of go about, do your thing, to not be influenced as a social group in watching things and maybe to not be, I don't know, distracted by the company of those colleagues you're with and hearing their thoughts and seeing what they're seeing. But just go out and hear your own stuff, see your own things and then come back and reconvene, you know, and maybe that's an approach that guys have taken and said, no, this works better this way. But yeah, it's. I'd be curious to know how they do it because I would think I would agree with you again on the, on the outside of it that it's just that would seem to be like the best approach, you know, this kind of goal and even on a really, really, really small scale. And again, this is not even close comparison, but when we do stuff for youth football and we're all in agree, got 85 kids together the first two weeks. Like, I like my coaches to kind of walk around, do their own thing, you know, like what, what kids stood out to you? Who did you interact with? Why did you. You know, what about that kid stood out in a positive way. What about that kid stood out in a negative way. And not to be together doing that and saying oh look at that guy. It's just to see what you see on your own.

[Dan Bernstein]

So I agree 100 I, I just, I think that's better. And I don't know that we ever heard Pace articulate exactly what why he liked it. Maybe it helps you keep your secrets better. I would think would be the upside of that is if you, if you are tight like a school of fish that it's probably safer for the stuff you want to keep internally and you don't have somebody. Oh I saw that guy raise his eyebrows and there's all these poker tells that go on. I saw that guy. Every time he looks up from his clipboard and write something down. If he looks this way it means he liked it. There's. They play those games. That's crazy. It is the big news though. Regardless of anything and everything the we talk about a rising tide lifting all ships. The salary cap is official for this year. Last year in 2025 the NFL salary cap was $279 million. Okay, 279 million was 2025. Just announced today. The salary cap for 2026 is $301 million.

[Matt Abaticola]

Quick math one, carry the two.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now graph this out 22 million more. Graph this out from 1994. What do you think the total cap was in 1994? The Dave Wanstead Chicago Bears making the playoffs and beating the Vikings.

[Matt Abaticola]

My God. I'm gonna take a really stupid. I'm probably gonna be way, way off but I think it's gonna be really low. 1994. Yeah, I would say the salary cap. I, I'm, I'm just gonna be embarrassingly a bad guess again. I'm self admitted.

[Dan Bernstein]

Go ahead.

[Matt Abaticola]

It's gonna be 24 million.

[Dan Bernstein]

34 million.

[Matt Abaticola]

34 million.

[Dan Bernstein]

And you were trying to do a bit practically, but yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, I wasn't. I was.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, I know what you mean though. You were trying to you. It was good guess. I should just say 34 million. 34 million. And then when you look at the major increases, it didn't hit 100 million until 2006. It hit 200 million in 2022 and already it's at 300 million.

[Matt Abaticola]

So here we are four years later

[Dan Bernstein]

and that's a lot of things economically. That's inflation. That's the dollar not being worth what it was in general, which is over time. That is obviously an acceleration in Inflation and it's also in revenue. There's all kinds of adjustments you could put in here that changes the actual direction of this line. But 301, the fact that it's over 300 is a milestone. And like you say, adding that extra 22, you still have decisions to make, but it gives you some indication. Helpful though it is. Oh, you got to know. Right. Because they're trying to make all these moves and trying to figure out what is what, how much are we going to spend at this position, that position, this position, and some very expensive positions for the Bears, despite being where they are.

[Matt Abaticola]

So we know that the Bears were. They were What? They were 6 million over the cap. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And obviously they can fudge some of that stuff if they want to start kicking the can down the road and converting some contracts that they already have on the books and, or trying to get out ahead of it by signing some people. So we'll see that that may affect current contracts or extensions being offered and it may affect trying to bring in some people from the outside as well.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. That's just crazy though, man. 34 million in 1994.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Think about that.

[Matt Abaticola]

Wow.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's wild.

[Matt Abaticola]

So we're at. What is that, 32 years later? Up to 301 million.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wow. Yep. And it's, it's the revenue that this league is generating. Just the amount of cash is quite something. So now you've got a little bit more flexibility there at the top and we'll see how they do it.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail], progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates price and coverage match limited by state law not available in all states. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates Price and coverage match Limited by state law not available in all states.

If you're the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, you know having a trusted partner makes all the difference. That's why hands down, you count on Grainger for auto reordering. With on time restocks, your team will have the customer cut resistant gloves they need at the start of their shift and you can end your day knowing they've got safety. Well in hand. Call 1-800-granger. Click granger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[Dan Bernstein]

Brad Biggs is out with his big combine piece with all kinds of speculation in it and what I wanted to do was double back and get some thoughts on things that we already have discussed and does agree that like you've been on this and I and I'm glad you planted your flag here about left tackle and about how significant that is. And I just wanted to find out what what some of the thoughts were. According to Biggs, the Bears are in a pinch with with left tackle. They said there's no guarantee Ozzie Trappilla will see the field this year. They need a starter for more than half the season either way. I think for an entire season. Said if that player is not Theo Benedet, the starter is not currently under contract.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

Said Braxton Jones could come into play. He had a forgettable contract year returning from a fractured fibula. A one year prove it deal for about $5 million would give him a chance to restore his market value. That's if the Bears want to be in their current situation. A team that is giving a one year deal to restore market value for their left tackle right now, I don't know that they want to, but that's how he laid it out. He also said that the Bears are talking to agents. They've had meetings with agents representing some number two type quarterbacks. So they're putting contingency plans in place in case they trade Tyson Bagent after letting it known they will take calls. It probably, he says would take a second round pick or two picks equaling that value to make it worthwhile for the Bears. Wow, that's higher than I thought.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. Because I was saying third. Conditional third.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Matt Abaticola]

Wow. So, you know, and I mean it shouldn't be that much of a surprise when you hear what Ben Johnson said. Ben Johnson said he's one of the best 32 quarterbacks in a 32 quarterback league. He believes he's a starter and if you believe that you can't take anything less than. That's what I thought. A conditional third. Well, he kind of just, I didn't think anybody would offer up a second round pick for him.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, maybe he's describing what you said and that the conditionality of the third, meaning it could become a second with certain thresholds being that. So that might, you guys might be on the same page there. He said I'm, he says I'm not sure a team would offer around 2 pick for Bajan. So I think you guys are in lockstep.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. So a conditional third.

[Dan Bernstein]

And then DJ Moore. He said that some personnel men conclude it will be challenging to trade him. One source was relatively confident the Bears could find a taker for more and be able to get a day two pick in return. Perhaps some creativity would be required to swing a deal in which the Bears paid down some of the money. He said that they would trade more only to try to improve in 2026, which doesn't necessarily mean flipping him for a draft pick. It means trading him to create cap space with a plan for how to use the added space. The pick helps, but it's about subtracting more to add a player the Bears believe can be of greater immediate help. He also said, I get the sense there's optimism a deal can be struck for Kevin Byard.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I feel the same way. Have Been saying that as well, too. What's. What's DJ Moore's number? 20, like, 28 million, 29 million.

[Dan Bernstein]

DJ there. He is owed 24.5 million this year. On the third day of the league year, 15.5 million of the 2027 salary base becomes fully guaranteed. That's what.

[Matt Abaticola]

So 24 this year.

[Dan Bernstein]

24 and a half.

[Matt Abaticola]

24 and a half. It's a little lower than I thought. Yeah, I guess if you, if you can pay some of that down.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm not sure how that works in other leagues. You can just, you know, have cash considerations and just start cutting checks. I don't know that the NFL sort of allows some of that. I mean, the other stuff here to be noted is that the Bears. He doesn't think that the Bears are going to get compensatory picks for Ian Cunningham because of the way the rule is written that there just cannot be two front office positions in one organization that qualify for compensatory picks. So it's, it's just that. He said it's the same way comp picks are awarded to teams that develop minority assistant coaches hired away to become a head coach. So they're not handed out for coordinator hires or assistant head coaches. It's only the primary football executive and the head coach, apparently, regardless of what

[Matt Abaticola]

they say they do or how the title works.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, or the title actually works. Right.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

And that's too bad. Also, in agreement regarding the Bears and what happened with that whole statement about Indiana, which he describes thusly as breathless accounting of the action by some, provided the team with exactly what it hoped for. Folks up in arms, stressing out over the possibility the team will head to Hammond. He said, what I can tell you is the league believes progress is very much headed in the right direction in Illinois and that Arlington Heights will emerge as the team's future home.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did you preference at that level.

[Matt Abaticola]

Did you see the. The email that came through talking about what it takes to, like, have a land evaluation

[Dan Bernstein]

ecologically and. And environmentally?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. You saw the one that came through where there was a bit like a small. Really small business?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

It was like a dry cleaners or something. Of the amount of time and money it took just for that alone, there's absolutely no way they end up in that property in Hammond.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Mattie.

[Dan Bernstein]

I just.

[Matt Abaticola]

On that alone.

[Dan Bernstein]

Dan, when. When we built our house in the city of Chicago and it was new construction in an area that had been industrial and became residential, the permitting. And I talked to people with the builder, the permitting for them took forever. And then even after, when we were doing our due diligence, after we put the earnest money down and before the close and all that, and we hired environmental lawyers because we were very concerned about what could be in the soil after there was a factory there. And believe me, we went through it and all of what it takes and all the money it costs to do that. And then they came back with this report that scared me. And I read through it and I said, what does this all mean? And they said, look, there are some toxins in the soil, but they're there from 1871. Oh, the chica from the actual Chicago fire.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

And there were still decaying chemicals or compounds that were still half lifing. And I said, is this bad? Because they said, all right. If your kid. Or kids. We only had one at the time. If your kid sits in your backyard and eats handfuls of dirt all day every day, it might be a problem.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right. See if they keep an eye on Jason.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that's what I said at the time. Beth will quote me on this. I said, I can't guarantee that won't happen because we only had Zoe and I didn't know Jason was coming because we probably wouldn't have lived there because I would have presumed that would happen 100%.

[Matt Abaticola]

Eating a handful of dirt every day. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

My son, ladies and gentlemen.

[Matt Abaticola]

Helmet on, all padded up.

[Dan Bernstein]

But no, but those processes are. They're. They're excruciating.

[Matt Abaticola]

And I know there was more than one home being built there, but that. You're talking about one individual single family home.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

Not a 2 billion plus football stadium and then hotels and restaurants and anything else they would build around there over

[Dan Bernstein]

a super fun site. Over a site that we know had to be federally cleaned up already.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, this I just, you know, just insane stuff. So it's not happening. They're not moving to Indiana. They'll end up in Arlington Heights like they've always meant to be, wanted to be, desired to be since 1975.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

Anyway, well, yes, yes, that's that.

[Dan Bernstein]

But those, those were the notes that I found interesting. And obviously as the combine goes and once all these reporters start diving in and ideally finding their sources later in the evening, out and about is where you get the good stuff. I.

[Matt Abaticola]

So I'm just, I want to go back real quick to the Braxton Jones thing. The Braxton Jones thing at left tackle. We saw the left tackle position was really interesting for the Bears last year. Where it went from no one wanted the job, no one could earn the job to Ozzy Tripillo stepping in the forefront eventually and taking the job and being pretty darn good at it for a first year guy. Theo Benedict filled in at times and was more than serviceable at times. Okay. We saw the development through time and coaching of two guys that at the start of the year, if you just said, oh, Ozzy's going to end up taking a hold of that and be really good, you just said, I, I don't see that. I just don't see it.

[Dan Bernstein]

They didn't see it. They looked at him and they were like, okay, not this guy right now.

[Matt Abaticola]

But they were able to coach him up and work him through a process that got him not only to be serviceable, but a little above that as well. And they did it with two guys. And Braxton Jones has been there longer, I know, with a different regime, but he's been in house longer. And to not have the opportunities to grow and succeed when other guys did around him. What makes you feel that he'll be able to serve half a year or a full year at that position where it's a, hey, here's a one year prove yourself deal. He's had opportunities to prove himself already multiple times. I just don't feel comfortable with saying Braxton Jones is our best option at left tackle.

[Dan Bernstein]

No. The only way I would feel comfortable, and let's always remember what is every NFL season by December, how many starters can walk right, how many starters can walk in December. And if he were on your roster and if like every other team, if you're lucky enough to have only plugged in to say, you know, if you, if you only have one non starter on your line by December, that's awesome.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

And if you have two, that's probably workable because your, Your, your group has got to have guys you know are going to be starting by the end of the year. Right.

[Matt Abaticola]

Because you had your three interior guys that were there the entire time. Darnell Wright had the elbow thing, but it was a very minor and very limited time out. But you were just one position where you put in a couple different guys at times because of injury or performance, and he was there able to walk. And they said, no, we're good. We'll go this route. So much so to the fact that they didn't think Theo Benedict could do it at the end and moved your left guard to left tackle.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. And if, in fact, you told me in December, well, you're out of. You got to start Braxton Jones. Most reasonable coaches would say, all right, I've got a guy that has been a, at minimum, a replacement level NFL starter. Awesome. But it doesn't mean I want that to be my first choice.

[Matt Abaticola]

Correct.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Not.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not this team. Not this year. Right?

[Matt Abaticola]

Not right now. Absolutely not. I mean, this is, this is a team that should, should be competing to win multiple playoff games to get to a Super bowl and win a Super bowl in 2026. Those are the expectations. And that is not a let's get a left tackle out there and a one year prove it yourself deal. That doesn't work for me.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that's all you got right now. Until we hear more. Until at least now they know what the salary cap is. They know what they might be able to spend, and perhaps their sights are set on something that we're not even accounting for at the moment. But keep that, Keep, keep it circled, keep it highlighted and, and, and stay right on it.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. Because I even saw in some mock drafts where there were guys that have the Patriots looking at tackles. And this is just after Will Campbell was just drafted. And I know he was. I know he was injured.

[Dan Bernstein]

Injured. I mean, blaming the injury real quick, too.

[Matt Abaticola]

One of the worst offensive line performances in a Super bowl in the 60. They've been one of the worst, if not the worst. Did you see when he was this video that surfaced of him being intoxicated and outside of a bar working on his. On his blocking skills, like shirtless.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, not like a Mark Sanchez thing. No, not, Not.

[Matt Abaticola]

You know, he didn't go like, stab an old man.

[Dan Bernstein]

You end up getting half murdered. Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, no, no, no. No, it wasn't like that. But you should look it up and we're done. But I mean so much so he was so bad that, that they have mock drafts, have the Patriots looking at tackle. Like the Bears cannot let this opportunity go with just. We'll do what we can to fill in the hole. Get a guy that can be there for the next 10 years. If that guy's there in the draft, get him.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know if he's there. I don't know if he's there this year where they're picking. I know. I really don't think so. I'm starting as I'm looking at this and every name that we had talked about for the last month is now moving up. I don't know how we did this or how anybody did this and I used to think it's just happened to quarterbacks, but now it's like this bad luck pick where I, you know the, the original names. I was like, oh yeah. Well that, the moment you mentioned somebody as a Bears pick, they zoom upward somehow.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, well, I think the, the only guy that's, that's remaining still from what I'm seeing is Kaden McDonald. Kate McDonald, that defensive tackle Ohio State should still be at, at number 25 for the Bears. And just looking at some of the guys on ESPN that are out at the combine. Our guy, Matt Miller included. Field Yates, Jordan Reed, just some comments that they, they've had talking about defensive lineman because that's what we're at. And linebackers is their, their right up today. Biggest takeaways from Thursday's workouts. Who are the biggest risers from day one? Caleb Banks, the defensive tackle from Florida mentioned obviously with the Bears, but he's not going to be at 25. Zane Durant is a defensive tackle from Penn state. Eye popping 4.76 40 yard dash, 612 90. Is that a little too small for you? A defensive tackle?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

He followed with a 33 and a half inch vertical leap, a nine foot four broad jump.

[Dan Bernstein]

You have to pretty special mover at, at that height and weight.

[Matt Abaticola]

Special step explosion. Now here's the thing. You know why I bring him up? He's viewed as an early day three prospect. So this isn't like a 25. I'll pick a 25. Right. So but he, he's a guy just, you know, keep, keep your eyes on Zane Durant from Penn State. Grayson Holton, the defensive tackle from Oklahoma field. Yates believes he has a chance to be in the top 100 picks so again, this might not be a 25. Where is let me just find another guy who could be a potential later pick is Caleb Proctor, defensive tackle from Southeast Louisiana.

[Dan Bernstein]

You related Caden Proctor?

[Matt Abaticola]

No, he's not but they have a write up about Kaden McDonald entered the day with a late first round grade. This is Matt Miller, potential to be the first nose tackle drafted despite not running the 40 yard dash, which I'm fine with that. Opted in on his workouts, his performance was uneven as the 6 to 326 pound McDonald struggled with his footing during multiple drills, but he showed the upper body power that made him one of the best run stuffers in college last year. The late first round pick is still in play. Ohio State's pro day carries significance for his final grade all right, let me

[Dan Bernstein]

give you a couple names that Biggs mentioned here about needs and he says that defensive end has gotten more attention because it's clear to everyone the pass rush needs to be ramped up and edge rusher is the first thing you think of. But the Bears have Montez Sweat and Austin Booker and Dyo Odengbo and Shamar Turner returning from injuries. Assuming the Bears keep Turner at end, they experimented with him and it looked like end would be his best home before he suffered a torn acl. So that's important to know that they're looking at Shamar Turner as an end. On the interior. The Bears have only Grady Jarrett and Javon Dexter under contract. That's it, he said. That's one reason you shouldn't believe the Bears are considering trading Dexter. Even if he's not a great long term fit. They cannot subtract a durable, athletic performer. There's serious need at both positions, but tackle has to be on top.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I don't want to trade your Von Dexter. I'm not saying that he's, you know, he's one of the best in the league, but I I'm not ready to to walk away from that yet, especially given the way the roster shapes up. And as we've said this before, as much as I hate to say it, the addition by subtraction of Billings is going to be significant to the roster as well too.

[Dan Bernstein]

He said some college evaluators believe there's a good clump of defensive linemen on the board. When the Bears pick comes, the best fit for Dennis Allen might be Clemson's Peter Woods, a disruptive guy in the middle. It's why they signed Jarrett. It's why they initially played Turner on the inside. Woods can be that guy that's why I'd have a peg above Ohio State's Caden McDonald, Texas Tech's Lee Hunter, Georgia's Kristen Miller, Florida's Caleb Banks or anybody else. So whether he makes it to 25 is the question in an informal poll of college scouts seem to indicate it would be unlikely.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah and woods did not work out yesterday. One of the notables to not work out field Yates wrote on Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter. His results in vertical and broad jumps were discussed by scouts Thursday as He managed just 21 1/2 inch vertical and 8 foot 4 inch broad jump. The Hunter's game is not predicated upon explosion. Those numbers are far from the ideal. The 6 4, 318 pound Hunter had flashes of absolute dominance. No more so than against Oregon in the playoffs, but also other games that weren't at his level. Best forecast is him landing somewhere in the second round. So that's field talk about Lee Hunter in the second round. And then this is what was written about Zion Young from Matt Miller. Again, that's the guy he likes for the Bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

At 25, that's an edge rusher though.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes, he was among several defensive linemen ran the 40 yard dash, showed out when performing positional drills. His wave drill was clean, showing quick feet and good body control 66262. His quickness and drills matched his tape and his status as a late round one player. Now most, most of what I've seen un mock drafts and again these are just guy speculations have him going much earlier than 25.

[Dan Bernstein]

Somebody's gonna fall in love with him.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I think they're gonna with his size and speed I think someone will for sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. It says McDonald's Strong Run Defender. There are doubts he'll offer much in terms of a pass rush. Hunter quote has some real juice to him unquote per one scholar college scouting director but isn't as twitched up as woods. Woods was six two and a half, 298.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. And, and McDonald is not going to get after the quarterback. He, I mean you bring him in, he's there. He's there to stop the run and he will do that. He'll, he'll, he'll bolster the run defense for sure but he's not getting after the quarterback, you know. And again that seems how that, we'll see how that all, you know, plays out. We talked about yesterday or two days ago, whatever it was about where the Bears ranked in their offensive overall, their defensive overall pressures of the quarterback which was higher than I expected they finished in top 10 overall pressures. They were sixth in the league. Now, if you're able to add a run stopper like McDonald, he can contribute that way. Do you have to maybe pressure less with your safeties or your slot guy? And maybe, you know, maybe you're. You're contributing more pressure from the defensive front because they're not so willing to run the ball against the Bears up the middle like they were able to find success last year because again, you know, you get a guy on Billings and he was glued to him, you know, and as much as I loved him and as quick as he was for a big guy and he could beat anybody in a race one on one, I know that for a fact. But he would just get glued to an offensive lineman and couldn't break any tackle. We need some a difference maker in that regard. If McDonald's that guy at 25.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

I still want to know how are we addressing left tackle? That's what I'm really concerned with.

[Dan Bernstein]

I got another topic I want to get to here. Our friend Kalyn Kaler of ESPN has published the NFL Players Association 2026 report cards. Now, remember, you're not supposed to know these, that this was considered a collective bargaining violation, that they were speaking negatively about teams and the teams didn't want to be embarrassed by poor rankings. So now this is. Get used to this. This is how it's gon. They're going to take the survey and it's going to leak and the owners are going to do. Instead of an all that's going to change is instead of an official release, it's going to get out a different way because the players association wants it out and if they leave it sitting somewhere and somebody sees it, not their fault. It just happens sometimes, you know, maybe the results of a survey just fall off a truck. And I have the Bears full rankings here if you want them. Okay. Treatment of families. C plus. Home game field. C. Food and dining. B. Nutritionist slash dietitian. A Locker room. B plus. Training room. B Training staff. B Weight room. A. Strength coaches. A minus. Position coaches. B Minus. Offensive coordinator. A minus. Defensive coordinator. C plus. Special teams coordinator. B minus. Team travel. B plus. Head coach. A General manager. A minus. Team ownership. A minus. Overall rank 13th, huh? Okay. Okay. That is. That is the Bears players. And I don't know if you saw anything else notable in the rankings.

[Matt Abaticola]

One thing I saw one about the Steelers ownership ranked, I think the worst is that. Did I read that correctly?

[Dan Bernstein]

D minus. Well, the overall rank for the Steelers, I believe was 32nd. Yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

I'm a little surprised by that. I don't know why I was, but I was. I think. I guess I just expected more.

[Dan Bernstein]

I was surprised.

[Matt Abaticola]

Long term ownership.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I was surprised how highly ranked the Washington Commanders were at so many things. Like the head coach, A plus. Team ownership, A plus. Strength coaches, A plus. There isn't a single C on the board here and they ranked third overall.

[Matt Abaticola]

Start from the top. Give me the teams.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I don't have them in order. I have them only in the order of teams they were. The report card is team by team. The Arizona Cardinals were 31st. First. I can. I can call up any single team just based on how they have it here.

[Matt Abaticola]

How about the Patriots?

[Dan Bernstein]

The New England Patriots. I'm just going to try to slide some, you know, past some teams as I go here. The New England Patriots. Do you know what the number one team was in the overall rankings?

[Matt Abaticola]

I know it wasn't the Packers. No, I mean, who even likes the Packers?

[Dan Bernstein]

It was the Dolphins.

[Matt Abaticola]

Were they really?

[Dan Bernstein]

Dolphins are number one. Almost all A's. With the exception, the only B's they got were treatment of families, special teams coordinator and head coach. Everything else was a A plus or A minus for the Dolphins.

[Matt Abaticola]

Really?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. New England patriots are ranked 26th overall. Wow.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yep. Thought that'd be higher too.

[Dan Bernstein]

Home game field, D. Food, dining. D plus. Locker room. C minus. Training room. C minus. Weight room, C minus. Team travel. F. Really? They don't like his plane.

[Matt Abaticola]

Can you give me the Robert and if I plane?

[Dan Bernstein]

Sure. We can do this in order if you want. You name a team?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, give me the Lions and Vikings and Packers. Oh, my.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. Lions. Treatment of families. B plus. Home game field, B minus. Food, dining. B. Nutritionist, A minus. Locker room, A. Training room. A minus. Training staff. B plus. Weight room. A Strength coaches, A. Position coaches. A minus. Offensive coordinator. C minus. Fired. Fired. Defensive coordinator. B. Special teams coordinator. A Team travel. B. Head coach, A GMA minus. Team ownership. A Overall rank nine. Nine.

[Matt Abaticola]

So just above the Bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

Green Bay.

[Matt Abaticola]

Give me the Vikings first.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, well, I gotta scroll down. Here we go. Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota Vikings. Overall rank second in the NFL.

[Matt Abaticola]

Really?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. Number two. Treatment of families. A. Let's see the. It's all A's or A minuses. And it's the only B's. It's a B minus for food and dining. Some B pluses in there, but. Head coach, A GMA Team ownership, A plus. Overall, ranked number two.

[Matt Abaticola]

Was there a quarterback rating?

[Dan Bernstein]

What?

[Matt Abaticola]

What about are.

[Dan Bernstein]

Are there.

[Matt Abaticola]

Do they give Descriptions for each thing. Like when they say about, you know, family, treatment of family. Is there. Like. Like, how is that.

[Dan Bernstein]

What are the parameters of grading that my guess is.

[Matt Abaticola]

Or do they not do that?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I think the parameters are the facilities they have on day games. Sometimes it's daycare or, you know, game day, daycare, places for kids to go, et cetera. Or. Or it may just be how they treat your time off or with what you want to do. Yeah, I thought that a lot of the family stuff had to do with game day and tickets and where they sit and. Or if you have to travel somebody. I don't know. So what does that leave us with? The.

[Matt Abaticola]

So Lions ninth, Vikings second. Bears 13th. Yes. Who likes the Packers?

[Dan Bernstein]

The Green Bay packers are last of the division, 21st overall. Yes. And again, treatment of family. C plus home field. C plus training room. C Training staff. C Offensive coordinator. C Head coach. B minus. General manager. B plus team ownership. A minus.

[Matt Abaticola]

Suck it, Green Bay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

You take that last in A division, losers.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Has the Mat Leflore contract extension been announced? Have I missed it?

[Dan Bernstein]

They said they were working on it.

[Advertiser]

Right.

[Matt Abaticola]

For weeks now.

[Dan Bernstein]

Weeks. You know what? I will ask the same thing about what Roger Goodell said about his. The finding of facts on Steve Tisch while we're. While we have a list of things we're waiting for.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, yeah, that's good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Remember that. Roger Goodell or where. We want to find all the facts. Are you opening investigation? We want to find all the facts. Well, that's not an investigation. Just let me know, keep an eye on that. Are they just hoping we forget about it? Because I'm not going to. Not planning on forgetting about that one.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. Yeah. I think there's bigger fish to fry that aren't going to be touched there either.

[Dan Bernstein]

You don't think so?

[Matt Abaticola]

No, I don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

I. I think there is a. I think there's a lot more that's going to go on on that story in a lot of ways.

[Matt Abaticola]

I just wonder how much more the. Is the country going to crumble before it happens?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. I don't know. I'm. I'm just. I'm choosing to be optimistic today. The sun is shining. It is warm.

[Matt Abaticola]

And it is Friday. It's Friday.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it is Friday. It is. And. And Beth's leaving town again.

[Matt Abaticola]

Where's she going now? Jesus.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know. She's gallivanting all around the world, so. No, she's going to go see Jason. This is just.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, that's Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

The mother son trip. She likes going down there. So she's. She's taking him and the roommate out for dinner one night. And then he and another friend who's awesome. She's just the best. They're going out now. They're having some incredible meals. There's an Italian restaurant there in called Sofia that is just so good. Oh, do we have an incredible meal there. I mean, everything's great there. So. Yeah. So I get to. Once again, this could be a no pants weekend, depending on what I'm doing. Oh, this is what I was going to ask you.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes, sir.

[Dan Bernstein]

Give me a yes or no on this one.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Give me. Just not yet. Let me describe it first. So Beth got a new light for her office in the house. It used to be my office. And then she started a business and she took it. And now it's not my office anymore. My office is now the basement where I do the podcast, essentially. So there is a. She had a, like a little chandelier thingy in the office and she didn't like it anymore. So we went to Menards and we got a nice little inexpensive thing to put up there.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. Did you save big money?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, we did, actually.

[Matt Abaticola]

Awesome.

[Dan Bernstein]

So. And you know what? You know how else you save big money at Menards? I would say the propane exchange. Oh, really? What is was. It was 20 bucks. It was like 1999 before tax. Everywhere else is 27. You go to the 711 by me, it's like 26.99. Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

I usually do mine at the Ace right here on 137.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I thought they screwed it up, but I was really pleased with that price, so I did save big money. And the. The light fixture is ready. We had to order it. It's in. She said, could you go pick this up? And we have a friend of ours who's an electrician, and we, we venmo him a couple bucks and he does, you know, fixes the little things that are burned out and all that. Okay. She's out of town. Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

Out of town.

[Dan Bernstein]

What if. What if I watch a couple of videos?

[Matt Abaticola]

Watch a couple of videos and I

[Dan Bernstein]

try to hang a light fixture?

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, no, I just. That's not even. I, I.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's.

[Matt Abaticola]

I didn't know where this is going.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's. Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Come on.

[Dan Bernstein]

No.

[Matt Abaticola]

Nope.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're an Absolute hard no.

[Matt Abaticola]

100, without a doubt. There is absolutely no reason for you to even try.

[Dan Bernstein]

I guess they need something to do.

[Matt Abaticola]

Nope. Go fishing.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's no fish here.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yet I make. Make dinner. I mean, you need something to do? Watch tv, do laundry, make the bed. No, no, no. Go to Michael's and get yourself like a canvas and some paint. And paint. Make a painting for Beth. Do that instead with your time. There's no reason to burn the house down while she's gone.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not gonna burn the house down. I know how to turn the breaker box off.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, no, I just.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know where the breaker is.

[Matt Abaticola]

Any good coming from? That and I think. I think our friends would listen. That listen Would agree. There's no reason.

[Dan Bernstein]

You think are there? There's a whole lot of people just shaking their heads right now.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes, absolutely.

[Dan Bernstein]

Rolling their eyes. I didn't want to prove you all wrong. Haters.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, you had to order it because it wasn't in stock there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Correct.

[Matt Abaticola]

If you're gonna try, make sure you have two.

[Dan Bernstein]

Two of the light fixture.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes. Because when you ruin the one and then you can pretend you never tried to do it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, good point. Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

So if you're gonna try get a second one,

[Dan Bernstein]

you don't. There's. You've little faith, man.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, dude, there's other things I think you can do, and electric. Electric work is just not one of them.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why not?

[Matt Abaticola]

You're too nervous.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, I've got enough internal electricity.

[Matt Abaticola]

Need to worry about electricity.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm having enough. Enough difficulty and medication trying to figure out these wires.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, don't. Don't mess with house wires.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. I mean, that's your family.

[Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe I could at least take the old one off.

[Matt Abaticola]

If it's. If it involves like just changing a light bulb, go for it. But if you're.

[Dan Bernstein]

If you're switching out the fixture.

[Matt Abaticola]

But it's like the ceiling. It's off the ceiling, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

Correct.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, don't do it because. No, no, don't do electrical.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. I may try it now.

[Matt Abaticola]

So we have a gazebo in our backyard, and it's built into the built in deck. Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Really nice. Or as somebody I remember from high school used to call it accidentally when he. He said. We were at a party and he said. Came up to my friend and he goes, hey, Steve, your girlfriend's down there in the Gestapo.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, no, you. No, that's the bad party. Wrong part of.

[Dan Bernstein]

He said.

[Matt Abaticola]

He said.

[Dan Bernstein]

She is.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, you got the Gestapo there. You might want to leave.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm dating the wrong woman. She said the Gestapo.

[Matt Abaticola]

100%. So we have a gazebo, and when we moved into the house, the previous owners had a. A spotlight on the gazebo. And it was. It was motion censored.

[Dan Bernstein]

I hosted that show, actually. Spotlight on the Gazebo.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, it was. And a couple seasons.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

I ran a special report with tonight with our guy, who is our intrepid investigative reporter.

[Dan Bernstein]

Which one? From Fox.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, Dave Platco. And I did a spotlight on the Gestapo. And so I wanted to take the spotlight off because it would shine right into the house.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

Like, you'd walk through the kitchen. Anything would turn on. It was super annoying. So I would like. Yeah. So I'm like, all right, so I'm going to go take this thing off the side of the gazebo. And so I unscrew the plate and. But then it doesn't come off the gazebo. So I'm like, all right. So I start twisting it, and I'm twisting and I'm twisting and I'm twisting. I'm like, oh, it just. It just screws in.

[Dan Bernstein]

Perfect.

[Matt Abaticola]

I can come right off. Assume it's like, battery operated or something. And then, you know, perfect comes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Screws right off.

[Matt Abaticola]

So as I was twisting it, I'm twisting the wires that it's hardwired into the gazebo. Electrical. Right. So I'm twisting it, and all of a sudden the thing pops and it's like, poof. And then, like, sparks come out. And then all the electricity in the gazebo goes out because I fried it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well.

[Matt Abaticola]

And then it's just hanging there by the wires. And so I'm like, oh, all right. Well, now I've got a problem. So I had to. I had to call an electrician to come and then cap it off for me. And then I had to get a plate and put a plate to cover the hole. And then I had to paint it to make it match it look really nice. The whole point being, Dan, we're similar in this regard of being a handy person. Don't deal with electrical. You can deal with paint. You can deal with cleaning.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

You can deal with plumbing. Painting.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're taking plumbing off. I can replace a flapper in the toilet. I can replace the handle. I've done a little plumbing work here.

[Matt Abaticola]

Now, that's not plumbing. Replacing the handle in the toilet is not plumbing.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. I haven't. Like, if it's.

[Matt Abaticola]

Plumbing involves the running water and pipes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. I try to stay away from that stuff.

[Matt Abaticola]

Perfect. Stay away from the electrical also.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

But again, if you really want to try and prove all of us wrong, because everyone listening agrees with me, buy a second light fixture. So when you ruin the first one, you can hide the evidence and she'll never know.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. Can I. I want to close with this. We're going to play a game here on forward progress and play a game with you called who said it. Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm in.

[Matt Abaticola]

This is it multiple choice? No.

[Dan Bernstein]

You. You. I'm going to read these quotes. These quotes are from yesterday and I think they were just published today during our show. Or.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, these.

[Dan Bernstein]

They may even have been from today. These are fresh quotes I'm seeing here.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

From a reliable outlet.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Who said the following. One thing about me is I don't care what people think about me. He describes criticism of him is quote, unquote, clickbait. I feel like a lot of teams love the tenacity, the fight, the life of an underdog. That's for sure. They ask questions. But you go back, you look at my record, Ain't nothing on my record. I just want everyone to know what's true about me is I'm humble and I get my confidence from my process. And if you saw how much I put into this, you would see where I get my confidence. I would say, turn on the tape. He said it's not like he said, turn on the tape. It's not like we're playing these guys that are going first round, second round on Saturdays. So we played against teams having the most guys drafted in the first and second. We're playing those guys and ain't nothing going to change.

[Matt Abaticola]

I know that is. Who the ain't gave it away? It's Diego Pavia.

[Dan Bernstein]

It is. Yes, it is Diego Pavia.

[Matt Abaticola]

100%.

[Dan Bernstein]

You absolutely got it. That is, if you go back, you look at my record. Ain't nothing on my record.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes. Diego Pavia. You're not going to slide that past me.

[Dan Bernstein]

Nope. A defiant Diego Pavia at the combine says anybody who criticizes him is part of the is a product of the media generating what he described as clickbait.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes, I agree 100%. That man will have a snap in the NFL.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, he won't.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay. I'm so happy I got that right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Counterpoint.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, he won't. And today's episode of yes or no. Matt says yes. Dan says no. Thank you for joining us for yes or no.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. And if you're Stephen A. Smith, here's twelve gazillion dollars for doing that.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, thank you. All right.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's a great damn gig. Nothing. Hey, man, I'm not more power to him, unfortunately.

[Matt Abaticola]

We just. We had to settle for ten gazillion dollars.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know that's not enough gazillions. We need to work on that, but we'll try. And that is Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears and NFL podcast on 312 Sports. Progress has stopped.

[Matt Abaticola]

Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 Sports.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail], progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states.

If you're an H Vac technician and a call comes in, Grainger knows that you need a partner that helps you find the right product fast and hassle free. And you know that when the first problem of the day is a clanking blower motor, there's no need to break a sweat. With Grainger's easy to use website and product details, you're confident you'll soon have everything humming right along. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.