Chicago Bears Injury Concerns & the Strange Kyle Shanahan Story

Summary

Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Chicago Bears Injury Concerns & The Strange Kyle Shanahan Story
Date: July 27, 2026
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola

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Episode Overview

Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola launch into a football-centric, lively, and at times irreverent discussion on the latest with the Chicago Bears, focusing especially on a cascade of pre-camp injuries and the implications for the team’s defense. The latter half dives into the eyebrow-raising story of the 11-day media blackout surrounding 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s car accident, exploring both the factual gaps and the media ethics at play. Packed with memorable banter and passionate commentary, this episode is a must for listeners who want both granular Bears news and big-picture NFL talk.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chicago Bears’ Pre-Camp Injury List & Roster Implications

(Timestamps: 00:24–06:03)

• Biggest Concern: Kyler Gordon’s Undisclosed Injury

  • Star defensive back lands on PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list for mysterious reasons.
  • “The Kyler Gordon thing certainly is a kick in the groin that you really didn't want to see starting training camp this year…” – Matt, [01:51]

• Other Notable Absences:

  • Shemar Turner: On PUP, recovering from knee surgery.
  • Ozzie Tripillo: Also on PUP, recovering from last year’s knee injury.
  • Keyshawn Elliott: Rookie LB added to PUP with an undisclosed issue.
  • Noah Sewell: Achilles injury, on PUP.
  • TJ Edwards: Listed on the non-football injury list, expected back soon with a minor muscle strain.

• Team Response & Roster Moves:

  • Bears brought in six players post-injuries, including four DBs, signaling possible deeper concern about Gordon.
  • “You see what happens with Kyler Gordon. It's not unfair to make that connection. You know, what do the Bears know that they're not sharing with all of us just yet?” – Matt, [02:55]
  • Speculation: Is this injury new, recurring, or simply a management/communication breakdown between player and staff?

• Ben Johnson’s Tone:

  • Bears DC’s comments suggest growing impatience:
  • “Ben Johnson is going to move on regardless of the contract. If you can't play…you just don't matter.” – Dan, [04:07]

• The “Ghost” Effect:

  • How injured players become “ghosts” within NFL organizations.

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2. Shemar Turner’s Potential & Defensive Line Accumulation

(04:44–06:03)

• Optimism was high about Turner revitalizing the pass rush after missing last year.
  • “It's like we're getting a second round pick this year because he didn't play at all last year…” – Dan, [05:21]
• Worry now follows the Bears’ “trust us, it’ll be fine” messaging.

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3. Roster Transactions: The Diego Pavia Fiasco

(06:03–12:13)

• Quick Summary:

  • Quarterback Diego Pavia is waived by the Ravens before even making it to camp, despite a headline-catching contract.
  • Colorful banter about his off-field antics and “stupid drunken brothers,” Rowel and Javier.
  • Speculation on whether his release was rooted in character issues, lack of talent, or both.

• Listener Engagement:

  • Diego Pavia has become a “content pinata” and is the subject of more listener messages than any other topic.
  • “All I need, I just need him to take one snap in an NFL game and I win the bet.” – Matt, [09:33]

• Where Next?

  • Open speculation about Pavia’s future—“Canada, Cleveland, or Minnesota,” with a playful aside about CFL stardom.

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4. The Kyle Shanahan Accident & NFL Media Silence

(12:13–24:19)

Timeline:

• Shanahan was in an auto accident on July 14th, sustaining multiple injuries (broken nose, hand, ribs, 40 stitches).
• The story did not break until July 25th—an 11-day gap.

Hosts’ Main Issues & Questions:

• Why the extensive delay in reporting a major NFL story?
  • “Why did you embargo this for 11 days? And shame on the media that went along with it…” – Dan, [12:57]
• Coverage implicates collusion between 49ers PR and league media outlets, possibly even ESPN, to suppress the story.
  • “All you've done is give us reason…to believe that you're hiding something. What are you hiding and why?” – Dan, [16:31]
• Suggests journalists abdicated their duty by prioritizing team requests over public interest.
  • “Journalism is reporting what someone doesn't want reported. All else is public relations.” – Dan, [22:07]

Memorable Quotes:

• “If the answer is nothing, then why did you embargo this for 11 days?” – Matt, [17:16]
• “TMZ doesn't give a shit about football…now you have asked for the smoke. You've called down the thunder now.” – Dan, [20:34]

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5. NFL Rankings & Lighter Bears Notes

(25:01–31:25)

• Caleb Williams Lands at #51 on NFL Top 100:

  • “Caleb comes in at number 51…Dick Butkus's number.” – Matt, [25:09]
  • Light-hearted quips on whether Bears fans will feel slighted (“Dan, 51 is an insult.” – Matt, [25:37])

• Andrew Billings’ Dramatic Offseason Weight Gain:

  • Gossipy and joking commentary about Cardinals DT Andrew Billings—now possibly near 450 lbs:
    • “If he's listed at 340…his leg weighs 340.” – Dan, [26:30]
    • Simpsons comparisons: “Like the episode where Homer tries to put on all the weight…” – Dan, [27:29]
  • Concerns that this size may not be “NFL viable”: “I mean, what do you…plan on getting out of that?” – Matt, [28:23]

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6. Around the League: Contracts and Training Camp Oddities

(29:58–34:49)

• Big Contract Updates:

  • Jacoby Brissett’s new deal: up to $21M with incentives.
  • Christian Gonzalez offered $31M annually by the Patriots (“the largest contract annually for any New England Patriot from Bob Kraft” – Matt, [30:48])

• Mike Vrabel’s Press Conference Puppy:

  • Discussion on Vrabel using a puppy as a “human shield” at pressers, compared to Dusty Baker’s famous use of his son for media distraction.
  • “That's a conscious decision to walk into a press conference with your dog instead of saying, hey, can someone look at my dog while I go do my job?” – Dan, [33:19]

• Host’s Soft Spot for Pit Bulls:

  • Dan launches into a humorous aside about pit bulls and his Instagram feed: “Their whole head smiles when they smile.” – Dan, [34:06]

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7. Training Camp Traditions & Anecdotes

(36:15–37:49)

• Fond and bizarre memories of NFL “move-in day,” including players arriving with wild personal items (e.g., Marcus Spears and his air rifle: “He would lean out his window and hunt chipmunks with an air rifle.” – Dan, [37:21])

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Quotes & Notable Moments

• On Ben Johnson's stance with Kyler Gordon:
  “Ben Johnson is going to move on regardless of the contract… It's a sunk cost at this point.” – Dan, [04:07]
• On the Shanahan story embargo:
  “Journalism is reporting what someone doesn't want reported. All else is public relations. That was an 11 day public relations arrangement.” – Dan, [22:07]
• Chicago media’s evolving expectations:
  “They have asked a lot of our, our trust in them, say it's gonna be fine. It's gonna be fine. Okay.” – Dan, [05:21]
• On Andrew Billings' bulking:
  “If he's listed at 340…his leg weighs 340.” – Dan, [26:30]
• Light-hearted speculation:
  “He could be a CFL legend. He could break all of Henry Burris's records as he works his way back to the NFL to take that one snap that I need.” – Dan, [11:49]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Bears Injury Rundown: 00:24–06:03
• Diego Pavia Waived (Ravens): 06:03–12:13
• Kyle Shanahan Story Timeline & Media Ethics: 12:13–24:19
• Caleb Williams NFL Top 100: 25:01–25:52
• Andrew Billings Weight Discussion: 26:16–29:53
• Contracts & Patriots Notes: 29:58–31:25
• Vrabel’s Puppy & Media Distraction: 31:25–34:49
• Training Camp & “Move-in Day” Memories: 36:15–37:49

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Final Thoughts

With classic Chicago Sports radio energy, the hosts balance humor, sharp insight, and a willingness to challenge both team narratives and league-wide behavior. The big storylines—Bears’ worrisome injury bug, the Diego Pavia side show, and especially the peculiar handling of Kyle Shanahan’s accident—are broken down with no-nonsense candor. Dan and Matt’s chemistry and skepticism make this an episode that not only informs but entertains, ensuring die-hard Bears fans and curious NFL observers alike walk away more knowledgeable—and more skeptical of the official story.

For further Bears talk, keep an eye out for next week’s episode—likely with more camp news, roster rumors, and unvarnished football reality.

Transcript

[A]

I mean, if you're a Bears fan, you're thinking forward progress.

[B]

Come on. Forward Progress a Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abaticola on three one two Sports.

[A]

You have forward progress on three one two Sports. Today's episode is brought to you by Giordano's Back Back to school means back to busy between practices, homework and everything in between. Give yourself a break with Giordano's. Treat the kids and yourself to Chicago Style Pizza. Everyone can agree on make tonight a giordano's night@giordano's.com or visit your local Giordano's restaurant today Giordano's the one for Chicago style Pizza. The Bears injuries are notable that we already have the if you were listening to dbu, you know that the big name on here is Kyler Gordon. The fact that here he is already on the PUP list with an undisclosed injury. Let's look at some of these other names, shall we? Shemar Turner, PUP list PUP just, you know, physically unable to perform. And that is a knee. We know he's coming back from the knee surgery. Ozzie Tripillo, also recovering from knee surgery. He is the PUP list. Rookie linebacker Keyshawn Elliott there with an undisclosed injury. Noah Sewell with the Achilles on the PUP list and TJ Edwards is on the active non football injury list. So we need to find out exactly what that is if in fact it's a non football injury.

[B]

Yeah, I don't know what the the cause was of it Dan, but they it did say it's a minor muscle strain and he should be returning back to full participation pretty quickly. So not too concerned about TJ Edwards. Of course the other ones that you mentioned, Kyler Gordon being the big one there. The other three, three of the four you mentioned knowing coming off of injury from last year. So that's not too much of a surprise or unexpected. The Kyler Gordon thing certainly is a kick in the groin that you really didn't want to see starting training camp this year after Ben Johnson said, hey, I don't know the guy. Haven't had a chance to get him on the field enough to know him to know what he can do. I thought was interesting that on Friday the Bears did bring six players in to work out no one of any substance. These are undrafted guys but of the six, four were defensive backs, an offensive guard and a tackle.

[A]

Well, I, I think it's fair to read into that.

[B]

I don't, I don't think it's unfair.

[A]

Yes, right.

[B]

I mean you're Bringing, I mean, these are guys that were undrafted, spent time with other NFL teams, just didn't make it quite far enough. But these are four guys that play in as defensive backs. And so you see what happens with Kyler Gordon. It's not unfair to make that connection. You know, what do the Bears know that they're not sharing with all of us just yet? Because they don't need to. What is the injury? What's the body part? Is this something new? Is it a recurring thing that they're saying, hey, this is a pattern that is now going to be a problem that is going to probably keep him off the field for more regular season games he played last year.

[A]

If things were fine, they would have said something, you would think, because we do know that they went out of their way to give you some guidance more completely on some of the other injuries. Maybe they're just with him now, as frustrated as we are and saying, all right, whenever you feel like you're ready to play and you're okay, we can trust you, come tell us. Because the guy that burned them twice getting hurt in warm ups and left them a man down for games is that is not a way to make friends among your bosses.

[B]

Really? No. And we certainly heard the tone within the words that Ben Johnson said talking about Kyler Gordon. It was basically, hey, man, I gotta see. I gotta see. Because I think what's going to happen is Ben Johnson is going to move on regardless of the contract. If you can't play, it doesn't matter what you can do. You can't get on the field. Yeah.

[A]

You got your money. Nobody's going to sit around waiting for you. Right. It's. It's a sunk cost at this point. They need somebody, a body that works, whoever it is.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, and we know how NFL teams operate with guys that are injured. You're a ghost. You just don't matter.

[A]

Also, the Shemar Turner thing, that's another one where that was a big reason why you said you were just going to all of a sudden be better on the defensive line, the pass rush. And don't forget, Kyler Gordon's part of that pass rush they're talking about. Right. That they want to improve. He's a really important part of their pass rush. So there have been some checks written here that they need to cash and we're gonna go.

[B]

Yeah. You know, not only were they going to coach better and coach these guys up more, but Shemar Turner was a guy that was gonna add a little more to what they were doing this year defensively.

[A]

Oh, my.

[B]

We're.

[A]

It's like we're getting a second round pick this year because he didn't play at all last year, all that stuff. Okay. All right. Well, there's like they've, they have asked a lot of our, our trust in them, say it's gonna be fine. It's gonna be fine. It's gonna be fine. Okay.

[B]

Yeah. And there were some high remarks too, regarding Keyshawn Elliott early on. So I'm curious to know what that undisclosed injury is and how significant that might be. That was a little, little disappointing, I know, for him because again, there was some positive talk about him early on and was curious to see what he could do and contribute and bring in training camp and see what opportunities he might get. So this is a little bit of a setback for him, which is too bad as well.

[A]

Well, I think that the big transaction of the weekend, as far as forward progress is concerned occurred shortly after we finished up our recordings on. When was it Wednesday? I'm trying to think when or did it happen Thursday? Because you were out already.

[B]

Yeah, I was already out because I was already there.

[A]

I'm trying to remember exactly when we first got the. The news that sadly, well, when it

[B]

became public, I was already in transit to Ravens training camp to pick him up. Yeah, pick him up.

[A]

Diego Pavia was waived despite signing that three year contract, which I told you was just a bookkeeping quirk that they didn't even get to training camp. Diego. Diego Pavia didn't make it to training camp with the Ravens before he was waived.

[B]

He didn't. I don't, I don't know what it is they see in Lamar Jackson that they just feel like they could wave. Diego Pavia, I don't know what he's done in the league to say this guy doesn't. Yeah, I mean, he. What's really. What has he proven? Lamar Jackson, that is. What has he proven that you could say, well, we can just let Diego Pavia go. I mean, that's their future that has walked out the door. Right.

[A]

How bad did he have to be to not even make it to camp?

[B]

It had to be real bad.

[A]

I'm wondering, is it also off the field?

[B]

Well, see, that's what I was going to say because we haven't. I haven't heard or seen any of that stuff written anywhere or talked about. But were there things off the field? Was there other behavior? I know he's extremely cocky and arrogant and, and stupid. That could, that could significantly Influence how people. What. What they think.

[A]

Yes, Brothers. Now, you factor in Roel and Javier and if the Roel and Javier are around, and we know that they like to walk down the hall looking like Miami Vice villains.

[B]

I mean, we know there was the one incident and not nothing even happened. But just being at a strip club and spending a lot of money at a strip club. I don't know if there were other incidents or things that have taken place off the field. Well, since he's been with the Ravens where they said, oh, we just don't want to deal with any of this. No, but knowing about it.

[A]

Well, there were other things. I mean, Rowell and Javier got arrested at Vanderbilt games.

[B]

Well, yeah, I know that, but I mean, stupid. Yeah. But let's talk about a clean slate, starting with the NFL team. And the only incident that we're aware of is going to a strip club. And again, nothing wrong.

[A]

Well, was that the same night he was holding up the sign that said the Heisman voters?

[B]

No, this was a. This was. That was before that. So this is. Again, this is.

[A]

I just want to make sure that's on the list too.

[B]

Yeah, I know, but again, it's before being officially with an NFL team. All right, now, so he, he gets selected by the Ravens. Well, that's selected. He gets asked to come to camp and he gets to this three year phony deal. But we don't know of anything that have happened, any things that have happened off the field. Except again, that strip club thing, which again is nothing. He didn't do anything wrong and it's not illegal, just stupid and a waste of money. So I'm wondering if there were other things that have happened or smaller things where they just said, hey, this guy's talent isn't enough to keep up with the extra baggage that comes with it. To not make it to camp is pretty disappointing. It really makes me winning this bet very difficult because he's not even with a team. So all I need, I just need him to take one snap in an NFL game and I win the bet.

[A]

As a quarterback.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

He has to. He has to quarterback a team for one snap in an NFL regular season or playoff game, not an exhibition game.

[B]

Correct. That's the best. That was the. That was the bet that we established.

[A]

And this was a steak dinner bet.

[B]

It was a steak dinner bet.

[A]

This was steak dinner.

[B]

Boom.

[A]

So it remains open at this point, but I will say thank you to our. All of our correspondents in the field who could not wait to let us know, to keep Us up to date on the very latest roster maneuverings involving the content pinata that has been Diego Pavia and his stupid drunken brothers.

[B]

Yeah. One of the more significant items of feedback over the last almost year now of doing these podcasts, I've received more emails or messages or social media stuff about Diego Pavia over the weekend than I think any other topic, really. Oh, yes. There's been a ton. A lot of. A lot of condolences being shared, a lot of apologies.

[A]

People just feeling bad. I know he's not. And now he can pick his spot. Now he can go. And now he can. He can. He can find out. He can say, where's.

[B]

Where.

[A]

Where should I land here? Where can I go? And I think the answer is Canada,

[B]

Cleveland or Minnesota is what I was thinking.

[A]

Yeah, that's just what Minnesota needs. I was watching a little CFL over the weekend.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Yeah, it was on.

[B]

I was watching.

[A]

I don't know. It's that time of year where I just kind of. I'm flipping and like, oh, cfl. Because I love how. How into it the broadcasters are because they take it very seriously up there, so.

[B]

Well, yeah, it's their thing.

[A]

It's their thing. And it's weird.

[B]

And.

[A]

And there's. There's. Everybody's in motion and they're moving forward, and then a guy's out of bounds, but he. Not out of bounds because that wasn't the boundary line, and everybody's got thick Canadian accents, and it was.

[B]

That could be a great fit, though, for my guy. Perfect. It could be.

[A]

I. I think he could be a. A CFL legend. He could break all of Henry Burris's

[B]

records as he works his way back to the NFL to take that one snap that I need.

[A]

And he becomes the next fluty.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

That he wins a couple of gray cups, becomes a huge celebrity up there. And then at the end, like, well, here he comes. The triumphant return of the prodigal son.

[B]

Now, there is a big story in the NFL that was deliberately avoided for almost two weeks. So I want to make sure I have the timeline correct here on the Kyle Shanahan accident. So he gets into an automobile accident, which a broken nose, a broken hand, broken ribs, and 40 stitches to his face. And that happens. Dan, correct me if I'm wrong on July 14th.

[A]

Okay, that's what I've got. And then I have the.

[B]

The first we hear of it, though, is the 25th. It's July, so that's. I'm correct on that. Yes. 11 days before we even heard that, the Head coach of the 49ers was involved in a significant car accident that left him battered.

[A]

Well, here's, and here's the problem I have now. I want to know all the details. I wouldn't necessarily before. I mean, generally I do, but why did you embargo this for 11 days? And shame on the media that went along with it, that they got their entire beat and ESPN to say, guys, don't, don't report this. It's public. If the police or the fire department, EMTs are involved, it is public.

[B]

So we know that the 49ers deliberately put in effort to make sure this story wasn't talked about. We know that for a fact. Why was that? I'm asking, is that correct?

[A]

Yes. Yes. We know that the 49ers either leaned on the media or politely asked the, their media to not report this until they could get their story straight and they could get everything set. What has happened in the intervening 11 days? That's all I want to know. Why, why couldn't you, with this being the police, fire, emergency crews, those are, those are public entities and this is public. For them to then say, no, no, no, no, it's an 11 day cover up. And for the media that went along with it, I don't know what they're getting in exchange. I don't know what was offered, but it, it's the whole thing smells. And I, obviously, I don't know Kyle Shanahan, but I hope he's okay. I hope everybody's okay that any of the drivers are involved, are, are okay and they recover fully. But the moment we find out, the moment it's clear that you covered this up for 11 days, the number, the effort that has to go into doing that, I don't know what you traded with the media. I don't know how you made that case. I'd love to hear it. I'd love to hear why everybody went along with it. And every editor at, or program director at all of these outlets that agreed to let you cover this all up when it should have been public legally. I'd love to know why and how. What don't we know? What did the team not want out?

[B]

Yeah, that's the question.

[A]

Why did the team make this decision? Why did everybody involved. It's your head coach. So this went to the highest, highest levels of your team. Why did they say, we, we can't make this public?

[B]

And we also know the reports of the story. The other driver in the other vehicle, at least from what I've read was unharmed and that he was the only one that had any kind of injuries from this accident. So I, I want to know why they made that decision. What is, what's the other context that we don't know to say? We're not going to talk about this for 11 days. It's a car accident. Car accidents happen all the time, guys. People get hurt all the time in a car accident. Why was this one hidden for 11 days before the general manager of the team spoke about the accident involving the head coach, which didn't harm anyone else and thankfully no one was. Was killed.

[A]

Initial reports say that there was no driving under the influence of anything involved.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

That's, that's what was said now. But now there better be Freedom of Information act requests for every bit of video, every. What you've got on the cops dash cams, what you've got on body cam, what is available from security cameras. That is, that is part of this every report. Now all you've done is give us reason. I don't know if you're hiding anything or not, but now you've given a reporter a reason to believe or a reasonable person, I think, reason to believe that you're hiding something. What are you hiding and why are you hiding it?

[B]

Right? That's the whole point to it, that

[A]

if the answer is nothing, then why did you embargo this for 11 days?

[B]

Right? That's why it's so odd. Because it just. If there's nothing to it and there isn't anything more to find out, as you said earlier, it just. It smells very funny. And when, when something smells funny, it just causes reasons and gives reasons. People do investigate. Look deeper into it. Because there has to be a reason, Dan. There has to be a reason that you don't talk about it for 11 days. That's not normal behavior.

[A]

And I don't know how. To me, it's the amount of effort and resources and political capital that you have to spend to accomplish that. You can't just say, oh, we're not going to talk about it for 11 days. That is a massive undertaking.

[B]

Well, with, with one exception. If there is, if there's something fishy about this, then it's something that they don't. Don't want out but is already well known within that circle because it wouldn't take that long to embargo it, then

[A]

if they say, oh, yeah, this is the thing that we were talking.

[B]

This is the thing that we, we don't talk about, but we all know. So do us. Do us a solid here and hold on to this or not say anything until we are able to take the next appropriate steps. I, it's just so weird. It's so odd that you wait 11 days before it's talked about. Like there's no logical reasoning behind it if it's just a car accident.

[A]

Yeah, the, the. There were a lot of reporters that chose to not do their jobs depending on when they knew something was going on.

[B]

I mean, how many car accidents has Tiger woods had in the last couple years that are reported within a half

[A]

hour of it happening immediately?

[B]

I mean, we're seeing pictures of the cars upside down.

[A]

How quickly did we see Tony Romo's mug shot? Immediately. It's public record.

[B]

Right. And what happened with, with Butt Fumble? I mean, that, you know, that was, that was out there quickly when he

[A]

got, when he's walking around stabbed because he tried to. Tried to kill a guy. Yeah. Mark Sanchez, former Bears QUARTERBACK yeah, but

[B]

I mean, this is the head coach, one of the, one of the greats in the game right now gets into a car accident and it's not discussed, mentioned, talked about, and then you have 11 days before the general manager addresses it. It's just really odd.

[A]

Well, and, and also, I don't buy what reporters are saying is, oh, well, we didn't have the full explanation. I don't care. Your job is then to report something and say, here's what we know at this point.

[B]

That's what you report.

[A]

What you know, you report what.

[B]

Kyle Shanahan was involved in an accident. He was taken to a hospital, waiting further information on what his injuries were, but he was taken by ambulance to a hospital.

[A]

And if, remember the first Tiger woods accident, how long it took to get the full story? Go back and watch. Look at that timeline for how it was reported. And all you're doing is inviting, you're inviting big guns to come in. Now, TMZ doesn't give a shit about football.

[B]

No.

[A]

And if now, now they're going to be on it. And that's all you're doing now is now by, by doing it this way and having people on your beat, all your. Whoever was easily compromised on your beat and whatever, because ESPN is an owner of the NFL now. They're part of the team. So ESPN isn't going to report it. ESPN bought NFL Network. They're not going to report it. So somebody is, somebody who wants that story out is going to find this out and report it. And you now have asked for the smoke. You, you've, you've Called down the thunder now. And, and that is your decision. Because 11 days, there is no excuse for anybody involved. And I don't know what else we could find out or what else we could know, but there is no excuse for somebody to not say, hey, even if they say there's this, there's this, there's this. And you can you. There's a way to. If somebody told me, don't report anything for 11 days, instantly you think, oh, geez, they don't want this report. That's my job. I got to go report this immediately.

[B]

Yeah, because the, just the sheer number of people that would have had knowledge of this to stay quiet for as long as it did.

[A]

Favors you have to call in.

[B]

Yeah, it's really incredible.

[A]

The favors you have. The number of people would have to be leaned on. The number is like, hey, this is that time where we do, where we're doing that, the. Remember that, that favor you owe me.

[B]

You tell your powers, this is what

[A]

they did to my boy. I mean there's, there's a time where you, you've got to understand that journalism is reporting what someone doesn't want reported. All else is public relations. That was an 11 day public relations arrangement.

[B]

Right. Because it's too bad. Because what, what it does, it just, it creates doubts, raises questions. And yeah, like the first two I want to, I would have to ask is what are they protecting? What are they hiding?

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

And, and I, that's, that's all it leads to.

[A]

I'm very disappointed in Tim Kawakami who responded to some points made by Mike Florio. He said, and this is Tim Kawakami who says, I knew around Thursday that Shanahan wouldn't do the presser. I knew he likely wasn't going to be coaching at the start of camp. I could guess why. I didn't know exactly. The hell is that?

[B]

Yeah, what does that mean?

[A]

What does that mean? What did you. When you knew.

[B]

What would you guess if you didn't know? Exactly.

[A]

Yeah, what are you guessing? Why would you. That that makes it worse. Like, why wouldn't you report what you did know when you knew it? The crash reportedly occurred, according to Yahoo here, between Shanahan's black Tesla and a blue Mercedes. Six in the morning on the 14th of July. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the 49ers head coach suffered significant injuries in the wreck. The physical toll would leave him limited through the team's training camp. A severe concussion, three broken ribs, a broken nose and a broken hand. He was discharged from the local hospital the same day. Local Palo Alto officials confirmed there was no intoxication involved. The 49ers organization later confirmed the incident, stating that Shanahan was recovering and would participate on a limited basis. And that is.

[B]

That.

[A]

That's bad. That's bad. And there's a lot we don't know that now. There, there are going to be people invested in finding out.

[B]

Yeah, for sure. That's all you did is created greater, greater desire to understand what. What's being hidden. What are you protecting?

[A]

Backpacks are packed, schedules are filling up and somehow everyone is hungry all at the exact same time. Yes. It's back to school season. So when you need an easy win, make it a Giordano's night. Treat the kids. Treat yourself to the Chicago style pizza everyone loves. Whether you're celebrating the first day back or just surviving the first week, dine in, pick up, order, delivery. Visit Giordano's.com or visit your local Giordano's restaurant today.

[B]

I don't know if you saw on NFL.com their top 100 players. We finally have Caleb Williams on the list.

[A]

There it is.

[B]

So Caleb comes in at number 51, Dick Butkus's number.

[A]

It is a sign.

[B]

It's a sign of greatness.

[A]

He is a sign of greatness. It is ranked 51. He is the Dick Butkus and not the Jim Morrissey.

[B]

How many Bears fans are going to be angry that he's too low?

[A]

Maybe he's also the Jim Morrissey. I don't know.

[B]

Couldn't even make the top 50.

[A]

Just be happy.

[B]

No. People are going to be angry.

[A]

No.

[B]

That the Bears and Caleb Williams are not getting the respect they deserve. Dan, 51 is an insult.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Maybe he'll use it as motivation. They should.

[A]

It wasn't my, my favorite little Bears note. Did he. We had a listener send us video from the Arizona Cardinals. Whatever it was. OTAs or veteran minicamp. Andrew Billings has been eating planets in the off season.

[B]

I didn't think we could see him get much bigger, but he is significantly bigger.

[A]

He's, he's 50 pounds minimum heavier than he was last year.

[B]

So I, I, I speculated like 450.

[A]

Yeah. If he's listed at 340. Oh, no. No. His, his leg weighs 340.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I know that defense. Dude.

[B]

He is, he is, he is far from 340.

[A]

He's closer to 440. Yeah.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

That's, that's, I don't think it's five spins?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

How tall is he? What is he, six, six three? Let's see. But, man, I. That doesn't really look NFL viable.

[B]

No, it doesn't.

[A]

Playing at that weight. Because he struggled last year at 380 or whatever he was.

[B]

Yeah. So this has him at 6:1.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

He's. He's not. That is an old way in there. At 340. Yeah, he's. He's definitely. He's closer to. Yeah. As you said, 440.

[A]

That's like the one that's on the video.

[B]

Immediately thought 450. I'm like, he's pushing 450.

[A]

You know. You know the Simpsons episode where Homer tries to put on all the weight to go in disability? I don't. Oh, that's right. So he's. And he's. He keeps getting on the bathroom scale.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Oh, I'm not getting enough weight. And then bears like, dad, your belly's stuck on a towel rack. He has to lean back and pull back so he can all fall down. It's like, whoa. Gets the. All the extra weight he needs to go on disability.

[B]

Yeah, but that was. That was not. I saw that video, and it was just. It's not good. No.

[A]

It's not healthy.

[B]

It's not good. And as I suggested, maybe a full black jersey. Yeah.

[A]

The white's not doing him a lot of favors.

[B]

The white didn't help.

[A]

No. I'd. Pinstripes be good if you could. If you could get a special dispensation to allow him to wear nice vertical pinstripes.

[B]

Yeah, I just. I just. Like. What do you. Are you hoping for five to six snaps a game? I mean, what do you. What do you plan on getting out of that?

[A]

I don't know. Like, I say that you're. You're pushing the limits of viability. Yeah. I thought last year.

[B]

I thought last year told him.

[A]

I thought last year they had told him it's okay to get bigger. Just be big, don't slim down, don't. And maybe this is like a triple down on that and saying. Okay, if for you to be effective, you have to just be enormous.

[B]

Yeah. And we need to start eating offensive linemen.

[A]

He's. He's gonna eat somebody during a game.

[B]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. They snap the ball, he just starts chewing.

[A]

Okay, well, you better take off that face mask then. If he. If he starts the game without a face mask so we can eat stuff during the game, then we'll know.

[B]

But you'll know. Yeah. There's no face mask on his helmet. You'll know right away, right? He's gonna eat that. Center that.

[A]

Hey, good luck, man. I hope he's all right, and I hope this is all part of some arrangement with the team that he didn't just say this off season he was gonna spend. Well, maybe eaten handfuls of mayonnaise.

[B]

I mean, maybe he hasn't seen Coach LaFleur yet. Maybe he hasn't had the opportunity.

[A]

Oh, it's right.

[B]

Yes. He hasn't seen him then. And. And so if they go up to him and say, hey, why are you so big? He said, well, the Bears told me to keep eating it bigger.

[A]

Yeah. Carson Beck hasn't seen him yet. Right.

[B]

Well, we're not the Bears, so why are you doing that? He's like, well, no one told me to stop.

[A]

Last I was told was keep eating until that coach tells me to stop. I'm. I'm still.

[B]

I'm not stopping. A couple guys have gotten paid or gonna get paid at least. Jacoby Brissette, he reworks his deal out to earn 15.5 million this year. Remember, he was holding out from any OTAs and workouts because he wanted his contract restructured, knowing that he was going in as a presumptive number one quarterback. So he'll make 15, five this year, Dan. With the possibility of making 21 million for the season with some different incentives there for him. Christian Gonzalez, your guy from the Patriots, apparently offered the. It will be the largest contract annually for any New England Patriot from Bob Kraft could get him excess of 31 million annually.

[A]

Wow. He deserves it.

[B]

He's very good. He's very good, but it's just. It's really crazy to think about that organization and the highest annual contract ever going to anyone other than Tom Brady. You know what I mean?

[A]

Well, but, you know, that's just.

[B]

Oh, I know.

[A]

I know how every. Every year.

[B]

It's just funny. Yeah, yeah. When you look at, like, oh, Michael Jordan and the contracts that. That he had or didn't get and guys do now, it's just really funny. But congratulations to him, and hopefully that is accurate. From what I read, that he'll be

[A]

getting 31 million annually while we're talking Patriots. I'm sure you saw that at the big press conference to open training camp. Here comes Mike Rabel with his. With his dog.

[B]

This puppy is, you know, itty bitty puppy,

[A]

you know, because you know what? That reminds me of everybody. Yes, you're saying it right now as

[B]

you're listening Are you, Are you, are you talk going back to the 2003 Cubs?

[A]

I am.

[B]

And Dusty Baker bringing his kid?

[A]

I am. That kid that is now had his major league career, I think is already over.

[B]

I think, I think he's done.

[A]

I think, yeah. I think he's finally, he's like retired. That's how long ago it was. But, yeah, when Dusty Baker, in probably the, the greatest moment of scrutiny he's ever faced as a manager, and he came out to meet the media after being knocked out of the playoffs with his toddler on his lap.

[B]

Yeah. As a human shield, I can't remember his kid's name now.

[A]

Darren.

[B]

Darren.

[A]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

Remember, didn't Darren almost get run over at home plate, too?

[A]

J.T. snow.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

J.T. snow had to pull him off the field because he was the honorary bat boy and he almost got clobbered out there famously.

[B]

Yeah. So Rabel has this. Here comes Rabel with his tiny five pound dog. Yeah.

[A]

Now, had he brought out Diana Rossini in a, in a little carrier or something and you know, she pokes her head out, he gives her a little treat. That would have been different, but he didn't.

[B]

Did you. I didn't even read why he had

[A]

the dog or, you know, why he had the dog. He was a shield.

[B]

It was a thing that he really.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Still at this point, when no one's saying anything, no one's going, yeah, that's true.

[A]

That, that media isn't allowed to say anything. Right.

[B]

What's he, what's he shielding himself from?

[A]

Because no one's asking, anything's gonna happen. That is a conscious decision. It's a conscious decision to walk into a press conference with your dog instead of saying, hey, can someone look at my dog while I go do my job? Let me hold my dog. Hold the leash.

[B]

Does he have the dog during practices, too? Does he just hold it on the sideline?

[A]

I don't know. Because if that's going to be his new affectation, he's going to walk around like Dr. Evil. Come on. Anyway, I didn't like it. I just think it's real easy to go in, answer some questions, be available to your job, and don't have. Oh, cute puppy. New puppy. It's a cute dog. I love dogs. I met an adorable dog the other night when I was walking back from Diner Grill. It's like, really? It was a pit bull. I. I only.

[B]

Oh, you love pit bulls.

[A]

Oh, my God. Yeah. I don't want to own a dog, but I do that there are too many videos in my Instagram algorithm that are either staffies or pit bulls that are just. They're just the best things. And they. They're. Their whole head smiles when they smile.

[B]

Yeah, they're super cute, man.

[A]

They're super. You just want to grab them by the head and have them give you kisses. They're the best. So.

[B]

Well, maybe when Kyle Shanahan eventually talks to the media, maybe he can carry a puppy, too.

[A]

Yeah, there it is. Yeah. Have a little staffy puppy, and then that'll protect him from all these questions that the 49ers have decided they apparently want people to ask.

[B]

Yeah. So. Yeah. God. Well, we'll stay on that. Keep an eye on that, too.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

News that comes out, because I already know on social media that it's already caught the attention of people that normally wouldn't be looking at football stories.

[A]

Right, right. That's. TMZ is going to be there, and news outlets are going to be there now because you got to realize, man, when you want the real reporters, sports reporters. Oh, of course, yes. We're. You're the team. We're not going to do that because. But you start asking real reporters. Yeah. Oh, please don't talk about. I don't work for you. No. Yeah.

[B]

Very strange.

[A]

It was like the same thing I said when. When I think you were out. When John Sumrall, the new. The former Tulane coach who's now coaching Florida, in his first press conference, there was a photog whose phone rang and some raws. Like, I'm so pissed off I could throw. He said, I could throw this podium. He meant Lecter, and he said podium. It's like, if that were one of our meetings, you'd be kicked out of the meeting. And I'm like, dude, these people don't work for you. You don't coach them.

[B]

Right. You don't throw anyone out.

[A]

Right. They aren't your rules. You're not throwing somebody out. That person's there. You're. You're equals. You're working. You're both there working. It's a workplace. So.

[B]

Yeah, well, we'll keep. We'll keep tabs on it, though, see what develops, what comes out. Because again, it just raises a lot of questions that need to be answered here on July 27, we have veterans reporting tomorrow. The first official training camp practice is on Wednesday the 29th. So we're just two. Two days away from that taking place as it's the. Well, what used to be one of the. One of the fun aspects of training camp was move in day, which they don't have to do.

[A]

No that anymore. Oh, move in day was great. The guys with the big, like, Costco containers of toilet paper.

[B]

Well, that and video game systems and televisions.

[A]

And my favorite ever was Marcus Spears. Not the Bears. Marcus Spears, who had an air rifle. And he's carrying it like carrying in an air rifle. What's that for? I don't like chipmunks. That's right. You don't like chipmunks. No, there's too many chipmunks around here. He would lean out his window and hunt chipmunks with an air rifle.

[B]

Yeah. Maybe needed to look at the playbook more.

[A]

Right. We're just saying maybe. Maybe don't do that. And maybe have somebody on the team before you do that. Maybe. Maybe tell them, hey, guys, don't bring weapons, please. But again, that was the same Bears team where they had a defensive coordinator that was handing out live ammunition.

[B]

Yeah. Sweet. Well, that's where we're at. We're at training camp. We're finally made it. We've made it to training camp weeks.

[A]

We have. We've made it. We've done it. Today's episode brought to you by Giordano's Back to school means back to busy between practices, homework, and everything in between. Give yourself a break with Giordano's. Treat the kids and yourself to Chicago Style Pizza. Everyone can agree on and make tonight a giordano's night@giordano's.com or visit your local Giordano's restaurant. Today Giordano's the one for Chicago Style Pizza. This has been Forward progress on 312 sports. Forward progress has stopped.

[B]

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