Chicago Bears could face Atlanta Falcons in NFL game in Madrid

Summary

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Detailed Summary — Forward Progress: "Chicago Bears could face Atlanta Falcons in NFL game in Madrid"

Date: March 3, 2026
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola (312 Sports)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the breaking news and speculation around the Chicago Bears potentially playing the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL game in Madrid. Dan and Matt bring their signature blend of humor, fandom, and analytic rigor, covering everything from the logistics and cultural impact of an international Bears game, to detailed breakdowns of draft prospects and recent NFL personnel controversies. The hosts also reflect on broader NFL topics and the state of the Bears' roster with keen insight and lighthearted banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Bears Potentially Playing in Madrid: Excitement, Speculation & Logistics

Segment: 03:00–09:09 & recurring

• NFL Expansion to Madrid:
  • The NFL announced the Falcons will host a home game in Madrid in 2026 at Bernabéu Stadium. The opponent has not been announced, but the Bears and Chiefs are favorites due to their international marketing rights in Spain.
  • “The NFL is planning a total of nine international games this season. Madrid joining Melbourne, Rio, Paris, Munich, Mexico City and three games in London.” (Dan Bernstein, 04:37)
• Why Madrid is Special for Bears Fans:
  • The game presents a unique travel opportunity for Chicago fans.
  • “Travel is good. Travel makes you a better citizen of the world... getting off your ass and putting your phone down... going and meeting other people... is really, really, really good for you. And Spain is, is. There's so much to see.” (Dan Bernstein, 05:07)
• European Travel Vibes:
  • Culturally, Dan and Matt share observations about how travel in Europe is more fluid, and sports fans should use the opportunity to see more than just the game.
  • “If you're in Italy, you just go to Dublin for the weekend, for St. Patrick's Day... That's what you do for the weekend. Like if you're, you live in Spain, like, what do you want to do for the weekend? I don't know. Let's just go to Paris.” (Matt Abaticola, 09:09)

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2. NFL Game Timing & Media Coverage

Segment: 04:36–12:33

• Early Kickoffs:
  • Both hosts embrace the 9:30am ET kickoff.
  • “Getting up at 8:30 and watching football is great.” (Matt Abbatacola, 06:28)
• Content Plans:
  • They joke about using the time shift to have earlier postgame shows and advocate for being sent to Madrid for remote broadcasts, aiming for “big old Hubbard money” to fund the trip.
  • “We get to do an early post game show. Our post game show would be done by noon.” (Matt Abaticola, 12:22)

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3. NFL Personnel News: Falcons' D-Line Coach Controversy

Segment: 13:34–16:50

• Falcons Hiring Scandal:
  • The Falcons fired their newly-hired D-line coach (Latroy Lewis) days after his hire amid serious allegations including rape during his time at Michigan, and a failed internal review.
  • “How could you end up hiring this guy without knowing there was an active open investigation going on? A rape investigation?” (Dan Bernstein, 15:38)
  • The mishandling at both Michigan and during the Falcons’ hiring process are critiqued, with Dan emphasizing thorough vetting.

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4. Bears Draft & Offseason Targets: Mock Drafts & Safety Prospects

Segments: 16:53–21:55, 27:21–29:34, 30:55–34:25

• Mock Draft Roundup:
  • Peter Woods (DT, Clemson): Consistently projected as a Bears target at 25th overall.
    • Next Gen Stats rates him as the top defensive tackle in the draft, above “TV draft media” consensus.
  • Safety Prospects:
    • Zakee Wheatley (Penn State): “66 athleticism score... flows faster than change of direction... must punch and play off blocks.” (Matt, 18:02)
    • VJ Payne (Kansas State):
      • 42-game starter; versatile safety with an “athleticism score of 80.”
      • “Payne's measurables and coverage versatility improve his chances of becoming a productive pro.” (Matt, 20:01)
      • Noted for his length, range, and effectiveness in man coverage against tight ends.
  • Emmanuel McNeil Warren (Toledo, S): Buzzed as a late riser, with the Bears possibly trading up for him.
• Speculation & Fun:
  • “That's all. This is a speculation. That's why it's fun.” (Matt, 27:44)
• Upcoming NFL Dates:
  • Franchise tag deadline (March 3), legal tampering (March 9–11), league year opens (March 11), NFL Draft (April 23–25, Pittsburgh), Bears’ workouts (April 20/April 6 for new coaches).

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5. Roster Churn, Free Agency & Defensive Backfield

Segments: 30:55–34:25

• Bears’ DB status: Jalen Johnson & Kyler Gordon’s durability, pending decisions for Kevin Byard (likely to return), C.J. Gardner-Johnson hypotheticals. Cam Curl mentioned as a free agent to watch.
• “...as long as he's not a guy that I'm expecting to start and be a significant contributor, but a guy that can fill out my roster, I'm happy to have him back [CJGJ].” (Matt, 32:31)

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6. Rumor Mill: Pass Rush Market and Max Crosby Speculation

Segments: 34:25–37:24

• Jonathan Greenard (Vikings, DE):
  • Vikings open to a trade; $22.15MM cap hit, missed games due to injury.
  • “What do you pay for pass rush for these hurries and quarterback hits and sacks? I don't know that we know exactly where that market is.” (Dan, 35:42)
• Maxx Crosby Rumors:
  • Unclear origins, speculated to relate to Caleb Williams appearing on Crosby’s podcast.
  • “Is it the fact that we're in the sports desert at the moment?” (Dan, 36:57)

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7. Player Health & Darnell Wright’s Torn UCL

Segments: 37:45–41:18

• Darnell Wright played through a torn UCL:
  • Bears’ standout right tackle did not have corrective surgery, instead letting the ligament “scar over.”
  • Detailed discussion of athlete injury management in NFL context.
  • “Well, he played without a UCL because he's not doing this, you know, but either way, I would think there’d be...what do they call the internal brace procedure?” (Dan, 39:30)

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8. Madrid Stories, Cultural Banter, & Legendary Tapas

Segments: 21:55–26:26

• Dan’s Madrid Memories:
  • Vivid story of the “Mushroom Restaurant” (Mesón del Champiñón) on Cava de San Miguel.
  • Reflections on authentic tapas: “...the way tapas were invented, according to legend, is that the wine bars where you would have a little plate that you'd set on top of your wine glass to keep the flies out of your wine.” (Dan, 23:06)
  • Anecdote about his wife being serenaded by Spanish gentlemen.
• Fun teasing around remembering place names and their meaning, with recurring jokes about Dan’s dubious memory and international travel quirks.

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9. Geopolitics, Airspace, and NFL Game Uncertainties

Segments: 26:59–43:26

• Ongoing banter on Spain’s potential closure of airspace, impacts on NFL logistics, and whether US-Spain relations could affect the Madrid game.
• Light-hearted wagering about whether wars will end before the possible NFL Madrid game.
  • “I wouldn't even worry about that because by the time that game comes around, this war will be long over. There'll be others that have started and ended by then, so it's fine.” (Matt, 42:36)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On fandom and travel:
  • “Travel is good. Travel makes you a better citizen of the world. Travel brings understanding and empathy and humanity...” (Dan, 05:07)
• On European sports weekends:
  • “If you live in Spain, like, what do you want to do for the weekend? I don't know. Let's just go to Paris.” (Matt, 10:14)
• On safety prospects:
  • “I'm interested. I wish to subscribe to his newsletter.” (Dan, 21:47 on VJ Payne)
• On NFL franchise anxiety:
  • “This is the time of year where all of these executives are terrified of their phone ringing because somebody's done something stupid.” (Dan, 29:34)
• On mix-ups in Madrid:
  • “I came out and I couldn't find my. And my wife, she left. She was surrounded by elderly Spanish men who were singing to her.” (Dan, 25:15)
• On Bears' international marketing rights:
  • “Two of the Falcons 2026 home opponents, the Bears and the Chiefs, have international marketing rights in Spain, so they would be natural choices to play there.” (Dan, 03:33)
• On joking about speculation:
  • “That's all. This is a speculation. That's why it's fun.” (Matt, 27:44)

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Important Timestamps

• 03:00 — Bears-Falcons Madrid game speculation begins
• 04:32 — NFL’s nine international games overview
• 05:07 — Dan’s ode to the value of travel
• 13:34 — Falcons' new hire accused of sexual assault; organizational vetting critique
• 16:53 — Mock draft analysis, safety prospects discussed
• 21:55 — The “Mushroom Restaurant” story and discussion of authentic Madrid tapas
• 30:55 — Bears free agency preview; safety depth chart
• 34:25 — Jonathan Greenard trade rumors & pass rush market
• 37:45 — Darnell Wright’s torn UCL, injury management debate
• 41:51 — Spain-US airspace kerfuffle and Paris/Madrid game hypotheticals
• 42:36–43:54 — War wagers, global uncertainties, and final banter

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Tone & Language

Dan and Matt’s rapport is irreverent, thoughtful, and deeply connected to Bears fandom. The episode is peppered with inside jokes, playful teasing, and genuine analysis, blending local sports culture with cosmopolitan asides and topical NFL commentary.

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Takeaways for Listeners

• Bears fans may have a chance to see their team play in Spain for the first time ever — watch for official NFL announcements.
• Timely insights on how the 2026 Bears draft and free agency may unfold, with a special focus on defensive prospects.
• A reminder that sports travel, even to an away game, can be a memorable adventure that goes far beyond the stadium.
• The NFL is grappling with player and staff controversies; thorough vetting matters.
• The off-field world (even geopolitics!) can shift the fate of an NFL game, but fans and hosts alike are ready for the ride.

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Transcript

[Dan Bernstein]

The what's your Mount Rushmore? Podcast. The topic, workplace sitcoms. My final pick goes against me disagreeing with your favorite band from the 90s. TLC. Oh, you don't like them? I love them, but they. They didn't want scrubs. But I do.

[Matt Abeticola]

I'm putting scrubs on my Mount Rushmore there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, you sneaky little bastard. You sneaky, busty. What's your Mount Rushmore? I don't know. Listen, wherever you get podcasts, I'm here on the job site with Dale, who's a framing contractor. Hey, good morning. Dale traded up to Geico Commercial Auto Insurance for all his business vehicles. We're here where he needs us most. Yep, they sure are. We make it easy for him to save on all his insurance needs, all in one place with coverage that fits his business and bottom line. Oh, I shouldn't have looked down. It's all right. We're so far up here. Look at me. Take a deep breath. I'm good. So good.

[Matt Abeticola]

Get a commercial auto insurance quote [e-mail] and see how much you could save. It feels good to Geico.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, if you're a Bears fan, you're thinking forward, Progress. Come on. 219.

[Matt Abeticola]

219.

[Dan Bernstein]

Forward progress.

[Matt Abeticola]

A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 31 2. Sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm thinking forward progress. I'm also thinking. What. What are you wearing?

[Matt Abeticola]

Guardian cap.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're not.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I'm wearing one during the football show now. I think.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't think you need a guardian cap to protect from really hot takes that could bounce off your head and cause traumatic brain injury.

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't know. You've got some hot takes lately, so I just. I felt like I needed to protect myself more.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's not. No. What is that? Really? What's it because the hood's all like.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, because I have a hat and the headphones on, so. But doesn't it look like a guardian cap?

[Dan Bernstein]

It does. It does. You look like Romeo Dobbs. No, it's a good look for you. I. I like it. Let me try mine.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I just thought it might be. Might be safer during the football show.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, mine hurts. Hold on. Ow. Mine's weird.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, yours doesn't look like a guardian cap.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

You just look like Beavis. Yeah, there you go. Yeah, mine looked like a. Because I have the. I have the thin, lightweight fishing shirt coaching shirt on.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Yeah. Hey, by the way. Shout out. Shout out. Hawthorne Racecourse.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I was going to ask you the ndbu what that was for, if that was Hawthorn.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, people think it's Hawthorne School near us and it's not. No, this was given free when we did a show from Hawthorne Race Course, which I believe just finally, finally, finally declared bankruptcy. Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think the Bears are going to buy it and not build a stadium there.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's in Stickney. Maybe we could make Rusty the guy and he could be your. You know, like our honorary head of the stadium.

[Matt Abeticola]

Couldn't do much worse than Kevin Warren. Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Instead, we're replacing Kevin Warren with Rusty from Stickney, Scorpion King, and his friend Boris, who's going to be the special assistant for all things. I love it. It's perfect. You know what else I love? The fact that the Bears might go to Madrid this year.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, that's. You're excited about that?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, Madrid is awesome.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

And the Falcons, we know, will be playing in Madrid in 2026.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. They'll be the host team.

[Dan Bernstein]

The NFL announced the Falcons will be one of the participants in the previously announced Madrid game. It is expected to be, according to Pro Football Talk, expected to be a Falcons home game. The Falcons will play eight games in Atlanta. NFC teams have nine home games in 2026. The Falcons opponent has not been announced. But of their nine home opponents this year, the Lions, the Niners and the Saints, ruled out because they already have international games set for this season. Two of the Falcons 2026 home opponents, the Bears and the Chiefs, have international marketing rights in Spain, so they would be natural choices to play there. The game will be played at Bernabeu, the home of soccer team Real Madrid. The date of the game has not been announced. It would be a 9:30am Eastern kickoff. Oh, that'd be awesome.

[Matt Abeticola]

I love those 8:30.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah, it's perfect.

[Matt Abeticola]

So good.

[Dan Bernstein]

The NFL is planning a total of nine international games this season. Madrid joining Melbourne, Rio, Paris, Munich, Mexico City and three games in London. We talked about these various cities, and this Madrid is one where I have been. But what would be really cool about this is that I. I don't know what percentage of Bears fans take advantage of this opportunity to give you an excuse to go somewhere else in the world.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think it's a. I think that'd be a pretty good number of Bears fans would make me plan that trip.

[Dan Bernstein]

I hope so. You know why? Because travel is good. Travel makes you a better citizen of the world. Travel brings understanding and empathy and humanity, even if it's local travel. Just getting off your ass and putting your phone down and getting off the screen and going and meeting other people and getting outside your comfort zone is really, really, really good for you. And Spain is, is. There's so much to see. I would add a little bit of time on either end of this trip.

[Matt Abeticola]

And I don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

Do people book such things speculatively. I don't know if they're what the dates have been carved out. Can you, can you bet on the dates and market or Cal Sheep.

[Matt Abeticola]

I would just suggest you wait for the dates to come out. Yeah, that's what I would do. I agree, though, with the travel. You have to get out and see new places. Like we're going to head out to Indiana this weekend for shrimp sauce. Very excited about that and hopefully meet some Indiana people.

[Dan Bernstein]

Excited. Yeah. Well, you made some people mad with your, with your sauce comments, obviously, because when we were bragging about the Illinois horseradish production because it's so important to us, it means so much to us as Illinoisans. I know we're both imbued with so much state pride that it really does help to know that we are the horseradish producer to the world.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And if, if you are a Bears fan, you plan on going to. If so there's a really good chance the Bears play in Madrid against Atlanta if you do go. And like, maybe, I don't know, the, you know, Spain air traffic control says, hey, you can't land your plane here. Just land there. Anyway, it doesn't matter. You can do whatever you want. It's fine. Go see the Bears play in Madrid if you have that opportunity. I think that'd be fun. That'd be a fun trip for Bears fans to take to go see their team play. But I just, I don't care who it is. I mean, we've talked about this. I'll watch any NFL game. I love those early morning, those Sunday early morning games, international games. Getting up at 8:30 and watching football is great.

[Dan Bernstein]

I love it. I also think that the. I would love to go back to Spain. It's been a long time since we've been there and we had a blast. And we, we did Madrid, Bilbao and Barcelona.

[Matt Abeticola]

You and Bilbo did Madrid.

[Dan Bernstein]

What did you say? We did Madrid, Bilbao. Which is where the Guggenheim is. That's in Basque.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, Bilbao. Not Bilbo.

[Dan Bernstein]

B I L B A O Bilbao. To see the Guggenheim Museum and to try a little bit of authentic Basque cuisine. We only spent a night there, but it was lovely and I just, I would love to see Bears fans enjoying Spain. The cool thing about Madrid Is like, I've always said this. If you stop moving for 30 seconds, there will be a small plate of almonds and a small plate of olives in front of you. You like how. I don't know how it happens, but you cannot sit anywhere or stop anywhere without all of a sudden, I don't know where they come from. I don't know who puts them in front of you, but they're in front of you. And that's a good life.

[Matt Abeticola]

It would also be a very easy trip for the Pope.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, he's right there. Everything's easy in Europe, right? That's what people. And here's people don't realize this until you have, you know, until you. You either know people who live in Europe or your kids go over there for whatever, for college, and everything's so close. If you overlay Europe on a map of the United States and you understand, even though these are other countries and people are like, oh, yeah, we're going to. We're going to Copenhagen for a day and then we're going to Amsterdam. And it's just, it's. Everything's really, really, really densely packed in there. And it's a great opportunity if you can, as long as you're over there. If you're. If you're spending the. Whatever it is to get on the other side of the Atlantic, take some time there. And if it's just. If the Bears are the reason why you go see if you can make a little more of it. Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

So that's not official yet, but a pretty good bet the Bears would be one of the teams to possibly play the Falcons in Madrid. Yeah. When we went to Dublin for. For the Jameson broadcast, me, Zawaski and Spiegel, we. We went to this early morning. Well, it was an early morning. Pub. Went to a pub. Our hotel rooms weren't ready. That's what it was. It was like 8 in the morning. So we went to a pub and there was two Italian dudes that were sitting down in the bar and started talking them up. And they're from Milan and this Milan, they just. They went to Dublin just for the weekend, for St. Patrick's Day. You know, like someone from the suburbs goes to, you know, Beverly for the day to hang out for the parade. If you're in Italy, you just go to Dublin for the weekend, for St. Patrick's Day. I mean, what better place to spend St. Patty's Day weekend than Dublin? If you're from Milan, a lot better

[Dan Bernstein]

than the south side of Chicago.

[Matt Abeticola]

I would agree with that, Yes, I would say I love this outside of

[Dan Bernstein]

Chicago, but I do too. But the St. Patrick's Day parade, if you're from Milan, you'll wake up, you're like, hey, let's go to 109th and Western. I don't know, 111th and Western. Let's, let's, let's go check that out. Let's.

[Matt Abeticola]

But that's what I just, I love about, about being in Europe is just. Yeah, that's what you do for the weekend. Like if you're, you live in Spain, like, what do you want to do for the weekend? I don't know. Let's just go to Paris.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's what I mean. Yes, you can go. Absolutely. You could there. And I know that my daughter's friends who were living in London, they were never in London because they were there.

[Matt Abeticola]

They went everywhere else.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, they were there for, to quote, unquote, study for school. And I, it was just interesting that all of these classes would end up in these different European cities.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, it's great.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like, I mean, we go to.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're in Brussels. Oh, interesting. All of a sudden you're in Normandy. Interesting. Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, we go to the Indiana Dunes and Wisconsin Dells and, you know, other people get to go to Milan and Dublin and Paris for the weekend.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, we can too.

[Matt Abeticola]

I guess we could too. It's a little, little longer of a travel, though, Dan.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. But are these, are these new Bears taxes going to make it similarly expensive to go to Indiana Dunes or Indiana beach or whatever it is you go?

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't know. Is that, is that in Lake County, Indiana?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know where the county. I'm not sure. It's getting a whole lot more expensive for them because they got to lure the Bears. They got to give the Bears all that money. I just think this would be, this would be a great opportunity. And if the Bears want to play most of their games overseas, that's fine too, because of the timing of the games, because of the possibility that we would have to go over there for work. That would be the. Maybe that's the solution, that we would go to Madrid. No, I'm saying rather than Arlington Heights or Indiana, just play all their games over there if we wanted.

[Matt Abeticola]

Anyway.

[Dan Bernstein]

So that's why I'm saying I would go to just as many games and they would be. Work would be over earlier in the day. Think about that. Oh, yeah, right.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, we do 11:30 post game shows.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. Perfect post game. Then, you know Work out, flip on the golf or whatever, head out and you got your whole day in front of you.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, that'll be great. If they do play. I didn't think of that. If they do play the Falcons in Madrid, we get to do an early post game show. Our post game show would be done by noon.

[Dan Bernstein]

You better believe it.

[Matt Abeticola]

That'd be great.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I, I should, I think we should get some of that big old Hubbard money and, and get on a private plane and fly over there for

[Matt Abeticola]

this and do a live post game show in Madrid. Yeah, I think we should do that too. I agree with that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. I think we should get on that. I, I think we should make some phone. I, I, I think to celebrate this, that, that would be the 312 sports coming to you live. Support for this podcast is brought to you by Walden University. Ever catch yourself thinking, what if I could go after what I actually want and really make a difference? You're not alone. And that's exactly why I want to tell you about Walden University. For over 50 years, Walden has helped working adults like you get the W with the knowledge and skills to build the future you want and make a difference where it matters most. If you've been waiting for the right moment, this is it. Head to waldenu. Edu and take that first step. Walden University set a course for change. Certified to operate by Chev.

[Matt Abeticola]

You know, and while we're speaking to the Atlanta Falcons, I don't know if you saw the story about their new defensive line coach they hired. They hired him February 10th and then fired him a couple days later. He was the dude that came from Michigan.

[Dan Bernstein]

Mm.

[Matt Abeticola]

And so he had, there were some accusations, allegations against him, and the Falcons hired him and then fired him a couple days later.

[Dan Bernstein]

It was Latroy Lewis who was, who was fired last week. And this is because the Ann Arbor Police Department on Friday said they're investigating a woman's claim of sexual assault involving him when he was coaching at Michigan. Mm. She said she was. Well, it's not sexual assault. She says she was raped in a hotel in Ann Arbor months after they connected on a dating app. According to her attorney, police responded to a 911 call in January of 2025 from the woman's neighbors who claimed they heard an argument. The woman told police Lewis was a coach at Michigan. She was hesitant to help people. He had physically abused her. No charges were filed. She also reported the initial assault to former Michigan head coach Sharon Moore, who dismissed the allegations, offered him a raise, and began to sexually Harass the victim himself.

[Matt Abeticola]

What's up, Michigan men?

[Dan Bernstein]

Jesus. The hell was going on in Michigan?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

My God. And now they. This was a relatively recent hire, was it not?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I said he was hired February 10th. So that was. That was a couple weeks after Ian Cunningham became the general manager.

[Dan Bernstein]

Ooh.

[Matt Abeticola]

Because I think he was hired as the GM. It was before. It was January 28th. 29th. So he was there

[Dan Bernstein]

when.

[Matt Abeticola]

When this hire was made.

[Dan Bernstein]

So Kevin Stefanski makes the hire. He's the head coach. But you would think that the vetting process would at some point involve people above him. Your HR department, whatever. How could you end up hiring this guy without knowing that there was an active open investigation going on? A rape investigation?

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, wouldn't you have.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know.

[Matt Abeticola]

Maybe. I don't know. Maybe this is just being on the outside looking in on it. But if someone was coming from that program that was full of chaos and, and what. What was happening in Michigan with the head coach, wouldn't you make sure you're a little more aggressive in your vetting and the whole process of bringing someone in from that. That chaotic.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe, but it shouldn't even get to that party. I don't care where you. You're hiring somebody from. There should be some sort of fail safe in your system that tells you subject of active rape investigation. Yeah, I mean, come on. That's, that's, that's not a good look for a new gm. That is a really unfortunate.

[Matt Abeticola]

And a new head coach. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

But you know, there was a new. There was a new mock draft. Put up a Jordan Reed, espn. We've talked about his first one. This was his, his second mock draft. And he has the Bears taking Peter woods at 25, which we talked about. The defensive tackle out of Clemson, but new name at the second round. And this is a safety out of Penn State, Zaki Wheatley.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

You familiar?

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm not the name.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, so. Zaki Wheatley, Penn State. He is a senior, 63203. He has a combined grade, a combine grade of prospect grade of 6.21.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Which works out to be eventually will be average starter. His combine scores a little overaged. What is he, 20?

[Dan Bernstein]

24.

[Matt Abeticola]

24. Okay. Production score of 65. Athleticism score of 70s. Overall score was 70.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

No 40 yard time. A vertical jump of 32.5, broad jump of 10.

[Dan Bernstein]

Two

[Matt Abeticola]

weaknesses. Flows faster than change of direction. Can handle at times. Needs to play with more consistent pad level in run support. Must punch and play off blocks with better Consistency average stickiness to the route from nickel average. Quickness to key and trigger from space. Inconsistent locating routes that get behind him.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, and where was this guy in a mock draft?

[Matt Abeticola]

Bears number two pick at 57. That was Jordan Reed. Now I have one other name. In just doing some combine reading and looking at things, I have a safety I want to, I want to just throw at you. Guy who graded pretty high. Have you heard the name VJ Payne?

[Dan Bernstein]

You don't want to have that.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, you might since you sit down when you pee. Ow.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's not really his name, is it?

[Matt Abeticola]

You can look at it. You see the screen there, you see?

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. You know, you don't you want to get yourself some cranberry juice, I guess, but.

[Matt Abeticola]

Senior out of Kansas State 63206. Has a prospect grade of 6.14, so that's good. Backup with potential to develop into starter production. Score of 61, athleticism score of 80. Total score of 70. Ran the 40 and 4 4.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wait, are they doing this on the, on the baseball scale of like 2080,

[Matt Abeticola]

it's the how they break down the scores for the NFL combine next gen stats.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, I just, I don't know what a score of 80 is because I mean what's good?

[Matt Abeticola]

That's very good. 80 is high.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, what, what is the best possible.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, I would imagine they do it out of 100.

[Dan Bernstein]

Dan. I wouldn't imagine anything because baseball does 80 is a perfect score. 80 is.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, no. So this. So on the, on the next gen scores. When do these combine scores? They go up to 100. 0 to 100 obviously. And then anything when I say it's coated blue, anything 90 to 100 they consider elite. Okay, so 90, so a score of 90 or above it would be elite. 70 to. To 90 is good. So he, he had a score of 80, so that's good. He ran a 4, 4 40, a vertical jump of 35 inches, a broad jump of a 10 7. Long and rangy. Payne is a durable 42 game starter and team captain who can play inside the box over the slot and as a split safety. His average tape pops more than his run support and tackling. He reads and responds with good timing from depth. Uses his length to smother the catch point man coverage when matched inside. Payne held his own against three of the Big 12's best receiving tight ends. He will do his job as a run defender, but lacks an enforcer's conviction and gets hung up on blocks too easily. Payne's measurables and coverage versatility improve his chances of becoming a productive pro. Strengths are size and length. Offers versatility for alignments and assignments. Quick to diagnose and close the distance to squeeze run lanes. Flash's ability to drop pads and drive through runners and receivers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Nice.

[Matt Abeticola]

Possesses anticipation and range to play over the top as a split safety. Smothers downfield receivers and man coverage. Tilting 50, 50 balls his way. Irritants using length and well timed swats to knock catch catch chances away. Lockdown Baylor's tight end Michael Trigg in their matchups.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm interested.

[Matt Abeticola]

I'm interested too.

[Dan Bernstein]

I wish to subscribe to his newsletter.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. V.J. payne from Kansas State. Just another name to keep an eye on.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right. I will absolutely do that. And while you were talking, I was trying to figure out, I wanted to find the restaurant in Madrid where I had the mushrooms. I found it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, what was it?

[Dan Bernstein]

It's called Maison del Champignon, also known as mushroom restaurant.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. That is champion is mushroom champignon.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Maison del Champignon. That I believe means restaurant where you had the mushrooms.

[Matt Abeticola]

That was hard to remember, huh?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know how I could possibly remember it. And the reason I remembered it is because, you know, we hear about tapas here and you know, like American style, Spanish tapas and all that. The cool thing is in Madrid there is one street called the Cava de San Miguel, St. Michael's Cave. And it is these old, dark, it's a thin street in these big tall walls, and you feel like you're in between battlements in a castle, because you are. And I think it was like an original area where a moat stood.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

And that's where some of the ancient famous tapas restaurants are. And it's not like it is here where you just sit down at a restaurant and there are multiple tapas. The way tapas were invented, according to legend, is that the wine bars where you would have a little plate that you'd set on top of your wine glass to keep the flies out of your wine. And that's where you would, you'd set a tiny little plate and it would have bread or cheese or almonds or olives on it, and it was just there to nibble while you drank your wine. And what would happen is each wine bar eventually developed a single specialty of nibble that they would have and you would make the sort of little crawl and you would, you'd go to this bar and say, oh yeah, while I'm setting my plate here, what do you have? And each place was known for its thing. This place is known for its mushrooms.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. And they were that good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, my God. Dude, they're. They're. They're grilled. They come out with little toothpicks in them. They all. It's the same way. This is how they make them. They go through apparently 4 tons of mushrooms a year.

[Matt Abeticola]

Did you poke yourself while eating them a lot or. No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, did you? I. I did not. You pick up the toothpick, you put the mushroom in your mouth. It is mushroom with diced chorizo, chopped garlic and parsley, olive oil, lemon, and salt.

[Matt Abeticola]

So it's like a stuffed mushroom cap. Is that what we're doing? Okay, so it's a grilled mushroom cap with chorizo and garlic.

[Dan Bernstein]

Chorizo, garlic, parsley, oil, lemon and salt.

[Matt Abeticola]

Sounds good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, they're incredible. And I was eating them, and I was eating.

[Matt Abeticola]

Was it a pork chorizo?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it's a regular chorizo.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, you could do a beef chorizo too.

[Dan Bernstein]

I just. They. They don't. There. I don't think so. And you can get it without. For vegetarian. And I. We're eating them and I excused myself to go to the bathroom and I came out and I couldn't find my. And. And my wife, she left. She was surrounded by elderly Spanish men who were singing to her.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, they probably thought she was alone.

[Dan Bernstein]

I didn't. I guess I don't know what was going on. They were just. They were. They were singing. It was. I don't know what they were singing. I think it was Spanish for who's that idiot you're with? And what does he do here? Come join us instead and run away from him forever? I think that's what it was. And then I remember drinking something called orujo.

[Matt Abeticola]

Did you demand they sing in American and make it.

[Dan Bernstein]

You say American? I don't understand nothing what you're saying. Despite the fact that I learned Spanish from a Castilian man, which is true, I actually did learn Castilian style Spanish. But either way, I just remember the mushrooms were great. And the elderly Spanish gentleman tried to. To run away, pick up my wife.

[Matt Abeticola]

So the name of the mushroom restaurant you couldn't remember was called Restaurant of Mushrooms.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. Just.

[Matt Abeticola]

Just making sure it's cool.

[Dan Bernstein]

That would be.

[Matt Abeticola]

That would be a hard one to remember, man. What was that restaurant we had? The Great Mushrooms. It was a restaurant. They had mushrooms.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm not proud.

[Matt Abeticola]

How did you eat there?

[Dan Bernstein]

I.

[Matt Abeticola]

All I ate was mushrooms at this restaurant.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I can't remember the Name of

[Matt Abeticola]

the mushroom restaurant I ate the mushrooms

[Dan Bernstein]

at and it's called Mushroom Restaurant. Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right. Well, nicely done. I'll add that to the list if I get back to. When I get back to where. Where was that? That. What city was I in? Was I in Rome when you gave me the recommendation? Yeah. You said it was close for the summer. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

You had to go to El Morro.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

You got to go back and get.

[Matt Abeticola]

I'll definitely. I'll be going back when I move back to Italy. I'm working on my citizenship now.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I think. Aren't you entitled? Like, couldn't you.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, I've already, I've reached out to. Yeah, I'm work. I'm working the process.

[Dan Bernstein]

Don't call the State Department. They're a little busy. They're a little busy.

[Matt Abeticola]

They just have no idea what they're doing. But.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I guess Spain could be off limits by the time this game rolls around. Based on what I heard today that there, there could be.

[Matt Abeticola]

Spain's like, no, you're not flying here. But then they were like, we're just gonna fly there anyway. Who's gonna stop us? I don't know. Maybe the country that said, no, you can't fly there. I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know how any of it works at this point, but I would just say, yeah, you're probably on your own when it comes to some of that stuff right now. All right, so Mushrooms.

[Matt Abeticola]

Jordan Reed is mock draft 2.0. Peter woods at 25, that's the defensive tackle from Clemson. Daniel Jeremiah has Peter woods as his fourth ranked defensive tackle in the draft. But I will say by Next Gen Stats NFL.com Peter woods is rated by Next Gen SATs as the highest rated defensive tackle in the draft, if that means anything to you. Lance Zurline from NFL.com with his second draft mock draft coming out, he actually has the Bears trading up from 25 to 20 and trading with the Dallas Cowboys to get Emmanuel McNeil Warren, a name that we've mentioned a few different times now. The safety from Toledo who apparently after the weekend, his draft stock has climbed from what he did over the weekend again. And I know I've seen some comments from people like, oh, you can't speculate. That's all. That's all. This is a speculation. That's why it's fun. So, yeah, we don't know what's going to happen until it does happen, but it's just, it's fun to have these names curated together. So we can we can take a look and say, all right, I remember that guy or remember hearing that guy talked about. When it does come, I do want to mention real quick to some important dates that are happening for NFL fans. So today is actually the franchise tag deadline. So if you're going to, if you're going to tag somebody, they have till 4 o' clock Eastern, 3 o' clock our time to do that. Other important dates, the legal tampering dam that happens March 9th through the 11th. The league year opens March 11th, when things, you know, people will be cut and released and people will be signed. So that happens next Wednesday. The league meetings take place March 29 through April 1. Off season workouts for the Bears and teams that have a current head coach in Place begin April 20th. Now, if you just hired a new head coach, you can start those offseason workouts earlier. They're 13 days earlier. So that's April 6th. And then of course, the draft is April 23rd through the 25th in there in Pittsburgh.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right? Yeah. We're at the time of year now, just so you know how, how NFL people think. And remember when Jerry Angelo used to talk to us about this all the time. And I think times have changed a little bit in the NFL for the better in this regard. And I think teams are better at limiting their risk exposure when it comes to some of these things, just like we're talking about with the Falcons, frankly. But this is the time of year where all of these executives are terrified of their phone ringing because somebody's done something stupid. And every NFL player gets the same talk. The rookies, the vets, they all get the same talk. When before they all go their separate ways at the end of the year and the people under contract and the exit meetings and everything, it was don't be the reason for one of those phone calls. Whatever you do, just please don't be the reason for one of those phone calls. Exercise some judgment. Here's all these different hotline numbers to call. Here's a place where you can get a ride if you need a ride, no questions asked, et cetera. Here are the list of the substances that you and if you are going to take a supplement like all that stuff. So we're they are counting the days. Most NFL organizations are counting the days until they can actually have enough of their players under their control, under their, their eyes and ears and back of the facility. Yes. Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

And again for, for the Bears, those offseason workouts begin April 20th. Which if, if you've just have You've just hired a new head coach. They have, they start April 6th. So current coach in place. You start April 20th, you'll have that. Then they're in place. One other area and I know we've talked about defensive line, edge, rusher, safety as the main priorities for the Bears in the draft areas to clean up and look at in the off season. So again, we'll get a really a good idea starting next Wednesday as players are released, what the roster is going to shape up, like what the next few weeks mean after that. You know, we've talked about Jalen Johnson and Kyler Gordon both under contract, obviously, but will they get back to a playing level that we expect them to play at again? The Bears just won't know. They, they, they just won't know. Before these kind of decisions can be made. I do believe that Kevin Bayard will be resigned on probably a one year with maybe an option year in year two. I think Kevin Byard's coming back. Also saw on CJ GJ on, on CJ Gardner Johnson's I'm good on that Twitter, dude. I mean, there's like some cryptic things that he's posted about Al Harris and

[Dan Bernstein]

he does that anyway, though.

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't know, it just, I don't know if there's some kind of speculation of bringing him back on a, on a one year deal or if there's already some kind of conversation about it as a veteran guy because, you know, like, would you rather have a CJ GJ as a guy on your roster or Nick McLeod? You know what I mean? Like, I'm not opposed to the idea of him coming back.

[Dan Bernstein]

They play different positions though.

[Matt Abeticola]

I know they do. But he's not going to play ahead of Kyler Gordon. If Kyler Gordon is going to be what Kyler Gordon is supposed to be, which he is. I'm fine. I'm fine with him coming back. As long as he's not a guy that I'm expecting to start and be a significant contributor, but a guy that can fill out my roster, I'm happy to have him back.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. Yeah. I mean, I don't want to overpay. I don't know. I want to make sure if he does come back that there are very specific expectations laid out. This is what your role is going to be unless it increases. And I just, I don't want any mixed messages with CJ GJ that I, it may just be that they should count their, their, their luck and that despite being a problem everywhere else, he's been. He wasn't here last year and he did contribute.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, he was productive last year and

[Dan Bernstein]

you know, if he wants, if he would be happy in a reserve and special teams role, I also, I don't know special teams wise what his big contributions would be and sometimes that's going to be the limiting factor in a bench role. Like you'd have to talk to Hightower. Is he playing on every coverage? Is he really going to be a core, dedicated special teamer? I don't know if that's his thing.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I just, you know, I just think if, if he were to come back and again, not as a starter, but he's a guy that I wouldn't be opposed to having round out my roster. If you're looking at the defensive backfield, Cam curl is still a name that could be a possibility for the Bears coming through free agency. A draft of a young safety to can develop into a starter eventually. We'll see how that all does play out again. The workout start for the Bears April 20th. The draft is April 23rd through the 25th. But again we have seven more weeks to kind of continue the speculation and harvest some names for guys to keep an eye on as we get closer to to the draft.

[Dan Bernstein]

Here's another name that actually has arisen since we started recording here. The breaking news. Unforward progress on 312 sports. Adam Schefter says the Vikings are open to trading Jonathan Granard. He's 28. He's been with the Vikings the last two years. He was hurt last year.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. So he missed a lot of games.

[Dan Bernstein]

12 games started. 10 had surgery to correct his shoulder issue. He had three sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hits. His cap number for next year, 22.15 million. So if they were to release him, they saved 12.25 against the cap with nearly 10 million in dead money. Okay. If they want Tyson Bagent deal, what do you think? Sure.

[Matt Abeticola]

And first round pick, I think someone would go after him. I think, you know, if he, if he cleared medically, I think there are teams that would be very interested in having him on their defensive line.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I don't want to fall into the trap of going out and getting players who've done really well against your team. That generally doesn't bode well for you.

[Matt Abeticola]

But yeah, it's like a Cubs and White Sox thing.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's certainly the Bears have done it too. It's certainly worth remember with like Edgar Bennett and Chris Penn and those guys wants that they love then it was like 50. I know, but they wanted to. It always happens with the Bears. I want to see what this does for the market and the trade market first and then if he's available, what pass rushing is going to cost. It's sort of like what in baseball. They talk about it all the time. Baseball. You always hear general managers say, what does a win cost? Or what does a. How much do home runs cost? What am I paying for power? And that's why they want to know about the, you know, the bats and the fences and most importantly, what ball are we using? Because they want to know, what are we paying for power. Similarly, what do you pay for pass rush for these hurries and quarterback hits and sacks? I don't know that we know exactly where that market is. As Crosby's name continues to churn, there's a whole new news cycle about Max Crosby. Do you know where that came from or why that started? Why we all of a sudden wake up to Crosby speculation? Or is it the fact that we're in the sports desert at the moment?

[Matt Abeticola]

I think we're. It's partially the sport desert, but also the fact that Caleb was on Max Crosby's podcast. I think that's still influencing the thought process and talk and the news. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right. I was just curious, but that's, you know, and Jonathan Grinard is another. He's not at the level probably of Hendrickson or Crosby, but he's damn close.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Again, it depends on where he gets to physically, because when you look at that injury, and I know you just said he had the surgery to clean up the shoulder and missing, you know, seven games last year, missing five games, only starting 10. He. He's nowhere near what those guys are, Crosby and Hendrickson. But if he can physically get there, then sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

You know, I meant to ask you this, too. Did I read this wrong during the season or did Darnell Wright have a torn UCLA in his elbow?

[Matt Abeticola]

Definitely. I mean, yeah, obviously the elbow thing is what kept him out of game. Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. I thought that he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament like the other pitching injury, and that's why he had it braced and he functioned just fine. He had a terrific year, you know, a Pro bowl level year. But doesn't that have to be fixed?

[Matt Abeticola]

Chicago Bears often to tackle, played through a torn. Yeah, ucl.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's what I thought. Did he have corrective surgery? Let's see.

[Matt Abeticola]

I have not heard anything about that.

[Dan Bernstein]

I haven't either. And that's why I'm. I'm glad you Brought that up or something triggered that memory. So I just. I would like to get some closure on what the handling was. Do they send him to one of the baseball surgeons who just, you know, does the. The. The typical garden variety factory job so

[Matt Abeticola]

miss the one game? Reports indicated after receiving second and third opinions, the plan was to let the ligament scar over, allowing him to finish the season without surgical intervention.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, he did. And now what?

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, once it scars over, I mean, does he just. I mean, he doesn't need surgery now, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, you're not going to. A new UCL isn't going to grow there if it's all just scar tissue.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, but does he. I mean, I've clearly played just fine with that as it. As it is.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, he played without a UCL because he's not doing this, you know, but either way, I would think there'd be. What do they call the internal brace procedure? I don't even think you do that. If it's a complete rupture, you know,

[Matt Abeticola]

either they're going to say he played without a ucl. It tore.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, it tore completely. Right.

[Matt Abeticola]

So it's not like it fell out of his arm into like.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, but it's gone. It's gone. It's a broken rubber band.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's still there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not really.

[Matt Abeticola]

Scars up.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, it retracts and, like, dries up. The tissue dies. I mean, eventually there's like re. Scaffolding that occurs in there. But it doesn't spontaneously regenerate?

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, no, I didn't say it did. But it's not like it just disappear and evaporates.

[Dan Bernstein]

It kind of does. My ACL did. My ACL essentially disappeared. It snapped and there was nothing left. So I'm just. I'm very. Or maybe they just think he doesn't need one and he can get by doing his job, have it braced up, and then if he wants to be able to play catch with his kids later in life, he'll have it done later.

[Matt Abeticola]

Just go lefty or go lefty.

[Dan Bernstein]

Just. Just a thought. Just something to leave that as an open item regarding Darnell Wright, because it's. I know every sport is different, but when you see that he's. He's missing a UCL and is trying to play professional sports, I don't know. I know he doesn't really. He doesn't have to make the motion. That. That relies on it.

[Matt Abeticola]

But so, I mean, there. There could be complications from it, which clearly he didn't face otherwise. I mean, unless he did. We just didn't Hear about it. It could flip out of place, become trapped behind tissue. A condition known. A condition known as stenor lesion.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. I just know it's weird to not have a working ligament in your elbow when you're a professional athlete. So keep an eye on that. Or maybe we'll. We'll ask when people are back around and just see if that's something that they wanted to get repaired. Good. I'm glad I'm not crazy then, because I knew something. I thought that happened. All right. Oh, and an update on Spain. Apparently there are threats now that all trade with Spain is going to be cut off. Perhaps. I don't know how that affects the football season.

[Matt Abeticola]

Is it because Spain can't use their air bases?

[Dan Bernstein]

Correct.

[Matt Abeticola]

So they won't let us use the air bases. Now we're not going to trade with Spain.

[Dan Bernstein]

Guess he's.

[Matt Abeticola]

It was just announced Congress's approval. Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. But apparently because the Spaniards are not cooperating that as of right now, I don't. I don't know if this throws the NFL game in Spain into question.

[Matt Abeticola]

What about the rain in Spain? Is that impact?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that. That stays mainly in the plain, as we know. Okay. But. Okay, just. I would. I would keep an eye on that. As to whether or not there's actually going to be commerce.

[Matt Abeticola]

I wouldn't even worry about that because by the time that game comes around, this war will be long over. There'll be others that have started and ended by then, so it's fine. Hopefully we'll all still be here. That's the better question.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now, wait a second. Do I do. Is. Do I get a chance to wager on that?

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, what is that website that Giannis owns?

[Dan Bernstein]

Kalshee? Yeah. Can you. Are you. Wait, you're saying by the time the Bears play, if this is all contingent, if the Bears play the Falcons in Spain.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. In the rain, on the plane.

[Dan Bernstein]

What's the date of the game?

[Matt Abeticola]

I have no idea. I don't think the dates were given yet.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, you're saying that you would bet that this war is over by then?

[Matt Abeticola]

This war will be over by then and others will have started and ended by then.

[Dan Bernstein]

I might take that if you give

[Matt Abeticola]

me odds, because I think by the. I think after this one ends, I think Orange is going to start a war with Puerto Rico.

[Dan Bernstein]

Ah. Because of the World Baseball Classic and some huge controversy that occurs. We'll get to that tomorrow. Yeah, I got some thoughts on that for you. I know you're just waiting for them but okay, I'm going to consider that maybe, maybe taking that bet. But yeah, More to come on that Just keep your eyes on the news. If it comes to the Whether or not the Bears will actually have the ability if they are the team that has chosen to play.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, that's your new guy in Spain.

[Dan Bernstein]

Who?

[Matt Abeticola]

Your new guy. More to come More to come on that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not Mordecai Three Finger Brown. He's different. More to come that is today's Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears and NFL podcast on 312 Sports. Forward Progress has stopped.

[Matt Abeticola]

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

[Dan Bernstein]

sports day or night, Vrbo Care is here 247 to help make every part of your stay safe seamless. If anything comes up or you simply need a little guidance, support is ready whenever you reach out. From the moment you book to the moment you head home. We're here to help things run smoothly because a great trip starts with the right support. And hey, a good playlist doesn't hurt either.