Chicago Bears Linked to Veteran LT Taylor Decker

Summary

Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Chicago Bears Linked to Veteran LT Taylor Decker

Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Date: July 20, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola dig into the rumors linking the Chicago Bears to veteran left tackle Taylor Decker, recently released by the Detroit Lions and now considering a return for his 11th NFL season. They analyze the credibility of the Bears’ interest, Decker's past comments about playing for division rivals, and the broader context of player-team loyalty. The conversation then pivots to NFL news, including player injury antics, league gambling investigations, quarterback drama, and “All-Backup” team fun with some Bears surprises.

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Taylor Decker’s Potential Return and Bears Links

Decker Comes Out of (Near-)Retirement

• Taylor Decker, former Lions left tackle, announced his intent to return for an 11th season via Instagram ([02:24]).
• Two landing spots given his connections: LA Rams and Chicago Bears.
  • Rams face OL uncertainty due to recent legal troubles for projected starter.
  • Bears offer a reunion potential with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

The “Dirty” Rival Comments

• Decker’s division loyalty: Past podcast comments, per Justin Rogers (Detroit Football Network), suggest Decker finds the idea of playing for the Bears or Packers “kind of dirty” ([03:05]).
  • “He said that's the Lions background in him. […] Taylor feels kind of dirty about the idea. It just isn't interesting to him.” (Dan Bernstein quoting Justin Rogers, 03:20)

Hosts’ Take: Does It Matter?

• Both Dan and Matt dismiss the significance of Decker's words, noting NFL players aren’t loyal fans, but professionals:
  • “Players aren't fans. Players aren't fans. Players aren't fans. They're football players.” (Dan Bernstein, 04:02)
  • “If you want to play and you have the ability to still play… You're going to go where the contracts come.” (Matt Abbatacola, 03:53)

Precedent for Crossing Rival Lines

• The hosts recall examples from Bears' and Packers' history (Jim McMahon, Steve McMichael) demonstrating past players’ willingness to “get over it and play football” despite fierce rivalries ([04:26]).

Speculating on Decker’s Announcement Timing

• The consensus is Decker wouldn’t tease a comeback unless serious conversations were already underway:
  • “He wouldn't just say, ‘Hey, I'd like to come back. Call me.’ I think he would be saying this [because] they're already well down the road to something.” (Dan Bernstein, 05:37)

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Notable Side Stories & NFL News

Cam Scatterboo’s Backflip Debacle ([06:23])

• Giants RB Cam Scatterboo botched a backflip on his surgically repaired ankle at a Fanatics Festival.
• Despite past injury, Scatterboo isn't promising to dial down his acrobatics:
  • “I'm just going to keep being me. And if they want to say I'm brain dead and I don't have no brain, then who cares.” (Scatterboo, via Bernstein, 08:36)
• Both hosts express concern:
  • “I would like to not see him end his football career with brain damage.” (Dan Bernstein, 08:57)
  • Matt jokes about coaches needing to ban risky stunts ([11:13]).
• Discussion shifts amusingly to players’ dangerous hobbies (hand grabbing giant catfish, “noodling”) and past contract prohibitions ([12:07]).

NFL Gambling Scandal: Cardinals Exec Ryan Gold ([18:51])

• Cardinals Director of College Scouting Ryan Gold suspended for allegedly giving out confidential info and betting on games.
  • Gold’s lawyer claims the accusations are “blatantly false” and that Gold will appeal.
• Dan and Matt debate the gravity and optics:
  • “You got to know this is wrong.” (Dan Bernstein, 19:32)
  • Matt: Suspension is likely a career-ender in NFL and possibly in organized sports more broadly ([20:46]).
  • “The transgression for the team isn't the gambling part. The transgression for the team is being fast and loose with proprietary information.” (Dan Bernstein, 20:59)

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Checking in on 2024 Draft QBs and Vikings’ Messy Camp ([22:57])

Caleb Williams, Jaden Daniels, Drake Maye, Bo Nix

• Review of record-setting 2024 QB class and their varying levels of NFL success/stability.
  • Highlights: Caleb Williams leads Bears to playoff win and big numbers in year two under Ben Johnson ([24:03]).

Vikings’ QB Battle: JJ McCarthy vs. Kyler Murray

• Confusion around Vikings’ approach to developing JJ McCarthy and managing his confidence, with Dan bluntly joking:
  • “You know why he doesn't have confidence? Because he's not good.” (Dan Bernstein, 26:11)
  • The hosts ridicule the idea of splitting first-team reps deep into camp.
  • “You can't ever fool the players. So your decision's got to be made soon.” (Dan Bernstein, 26:49)

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Bears Talk: Bill Barnwell’s “All-Backup” Team & Bears Under the Radar ([29:35])

Segment Highlights

• Bill Barnwell’s ESPN project: Can a team of backups + rookies realistically compete?
• Were any Bears included?
  • Hosts discuss RBs, CB Terrell Smith, OL Luke Newman, and buzzworthy backup QB Tyson Bagent.
  • Bagent did not make the cut; QBs listed were Joe Flacco, Fernando Mendoza, and Jameis Winston ([32:15]).

Two Bears Do Make the Team!

• Defense: Safety Cam Lewis (acquired from Rams, ESPN lists as Buffalo out of date) ([33:47]).
• Special Teams: Backup long snapper Bo Gardner
  • “As disappointed as I was that Tyson Bagent didn't make this all backup team, I was equally as excited that [Bo Gardner] made the roster.” (Matt Abbatacola, 33:24)
• Bernstein and Abbatacola joke at length about the rarity and Southern “gentlemanliness” of backup long snappers, league “thick necks,” and misidentified player photos on ESPN ([34:11] onward).
  • “The Bears backup long snapper, made the all backup team.” (Bernstein, 34:15)

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Funniest/Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Decker’s “dirty” feelings about rivals:
  • “Those teams actually despised each other. …And they got over it because they wanted to play football.” (Dan Bernstein, 04:33–04:50)
• On Cam Scatterboo’s risk-taking:
  • “Whether you think you got no brain or got a brain, you're stopping with the backflips. Now, the black flips are fine.” (Matt Abbatacola, 11:44)
• On player hobbies (catfish noodling):
  • “You allow your hand to be partially eaten by a catfish. …Once your hand is in the catfish's mouth, you wrestle the catfish up to the surface.” (Dan Bernstein, 12:43)
• On the Vikings-QB logic:
  • “Because he's not good.” (Matt Abbatacola, 26:11)
  • “He sucks.” (Dan Bernstein, 26:12)
• On the “All-Backup” Bears:
  • “Bo Gardner… the Bears backup long snapper, made the all backup team.” (Dan Bernstein, 34:15)
  • “He looks like somebody playing dress up. Yeah, he's kind of beefy, and he's got kind of a round face. …Not an NFL player.” (Dan Bernstein on Luke Elkin, 37:15–37:22)
  • “That's a hot young man's [referring to Bo Gardner], about as sharp as a sack of wet mice. …I picture Bo Gardner sounding like Foghorn Leghorn.” (Bernstein, 39:55)

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Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Decker comeback news & Bears connection | 01:58–04:26 | | Decker's feelings on Bears/Packers: worth worrying? | 03:05–05:05 | | NFL player loyalty, rivalry, and real motivations | 04:26–05:05 | | Cam Scatterboo flips and injury risk | 06:23–11:44 | | Dangerous player hobbies (catfish hand grabbing) | 12:07–14:53 | | NFL/Team rules on risky non-football activities | 14:53–15:30 | | Cardinals’ exec Ryan Gold—gambling/policy scandal | 18:51–21:50 | | 2024 QBs: Williams, Daniels, Maye, Nix check-in | 22:57–26:27 | | Vikings QB mess & the problem with camp competitions | 26:27–27:26 | | Barnwell's "All-Backup" Team: Any Bears? | 29:35–36:08 | | Long snapper/Special teams banter | 36:08–41:59 |

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Final Thoughts

• Decker’s Bears rumors are real, but past declarations about rivalries are mostly talk—players go where opportunities exist.
• Bears fans can celebrate being part of even the silliest league lists, with a proud spot reserved for the backup long snapper.
• The hosts’ blend of deep football knowledge, Chicago sports history, and comedic insight makes even quieter points of offseason news engaging.
• As always: “Players aren't fans. Players aren't fans. Players aren't fans. They're football players.” (Dan Bernstein, 04:02)

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This summary includes all the episode's notable discussions, context, and the signature banter that makes Forward Progress a must-listen for Bears diehards and football fans alike.

Transcript

[Dan Bernstein]

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[Dan Bernstein]

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

[Matt Abeticola]

Forward Progress A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on three one two Sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

You've got Forward progr here on three one two Sports. We talk Bears and NFL. And today the possibility that an established NFL or who appeared to have hung him up might be headed back and the Bears could be a possibility. No, we're not talking about Aaron Donald, but talking about somebody who may be connected to some similar teams.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, that of course is left tackle Taylor Decker, formerly with the Detroit Lions, who was released by the Lions and then had been considering retirement, but apparently announced on Instagram that he will be returning for an 11th season in the NFL. And of course the two obvious connections would be the LA Rams, who currently face possible left tackle issues with one of their left tackles having some legal issues recently. And of course the Chicago Bears With Decker having a relationship with Ben Johnson. But didn't Decker say a while ago that he would never go to the Chicago Bears?

[Dan Bernstein]

Here's what I found. This was during an episode. This is from what's left of Sports Illustrated. And it says, during an episode of the Lions Collective podcast, Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network revealed Decker is, quote, anti playing for the Bears and Packers, unquote, because of his past with Lions. He added, Decker playing for the Bears or Packers, quote, feels kind of dirty to him. I will tell you, he's pretty anti playing for the Bears or Packers. He said that's the Lions background in him. I know Ben Johnson did it. It was the right situation for him. But Taylor feels kind of dirty about the idea. It just isn't interesting to him.

[Matt Abeticola]

You know,

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't put a whole lot of stock in that.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, I wouldn't either. If you want to play and you have the ability to still play, they're not fans. You're going to go where. Where the contracts come.

[Dan Bernstein]

Players aren't fans. Players aren't fans. Players aren't fans. Players aren't fans. They're football players.

[Matt Abeticola]

And maybe, maybe Dan, maybe he felt that way, you know, because he didn't mention the Vikings as being, you know, a place that would make him feel dirty. But maybe he felt that way, sure, in the moment. But, I mean, you could look at more significant players from their organizations going to their storied rivals. And there's a history.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's a length of Jim McMahon and Steve McMichael can play for the Packers.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct?

[Dan Bernstein]

Anything can. And. And the reason I use those two. Bernstein, you're old. You're making 85 references. It's because those teams actually despised each other. Those teams constantly had games of cheap shots against each other.

[Matt Abeticola]

A player that ruined Jim McMahon's shoulder.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, it was. It was real like that stuff. At the time, it was not a bit. It was not like it is now, where it's all kind of ginned up. That was real. And they got over it because they wanted to play football.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. And on the Ram side of things, it's Alaric Jackson, who could face league discipline from stemming from a domestic violence arrest. Now, no charges have been filed, so we just don't know where that would go. But that would also be a possible landing spot. So he. He made the announcement that he's coming back to the NFL. So clearly it's not the intention of, yeah, I want to come back. I'm coming back. So doesn't that tell you that there's already conversation have taken place and something's happening. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

He wouldn't, he wouldn't just say, hey, I'd like to come back. Call me. I think he would be saying this if they're already well down the road to something.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. And so that could play certainly well into the hands of the Chicago Bears, who knows? Tackle might have a need. Although, you know, the coaches are going to coach better. So you just don't know if the Bears are going to have that particular need.

[Dan Bernstein]

They didn't say they were going to coach better in the offensive line. I don't know that Dan Rosher could possibly coach better than they did last year.

[Matt Abeticola]

Year. That was defense.

[Dan Bernstein]

Defense. It's very, it's very specific where the. They're going to coach harder and better and it's going to be more fundamentals and less scheme. So keep an eye on that. They're just. It's very targeted, very directed coaching intensity increases.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, one of my favorite stories that came out from the weekend, I immediately thought of you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, no.

[Matt Abeticola]

Because if you're.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is never.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's your guy.

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Who.

[Dan Bernstein]

Which one of my guys? I got a lot of guys.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, Cam.

[Dan Bernstein]

Cam. Yeah, Cam. This one's tough for me.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I saw it. I'm like, all right, Bernstein. Bernstein's on this.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, so here's what happened. Cam Scatter Boo tried to land a black. A back flip. Caught myself.

[Matt Abeticola]

Now that'd be different.

[Dan Bernstein]

He spins around in the air. When he lands, he's black.

[Matt Abeticola]

He does a black flip.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. He has completed the first ever black flip. He. He failed to land a back flip. And he appeared to land awkwardly on his surgically repaired right ankle during an appearance at Fanatics Festival. This is from ESPN. Video of Scatterboo attempting his trademark backflip went viral after he fell while trying to land the flip. Addressing the elephant in the room, he said. At another Fanatics Fest appearance Sunday, Scatterboo said he's good following the fall. He promised, quote, to not hurt myself before the season. He blamed the botched flip on the bouncy floors. Remember, Remember, Cam Scatterboo had the open tibia fracture and right ankle dislocation Week 8 against the Eagles. He missed the rest of the season. It is not the first time Scatterboo has attempted a backflip in recent weeks. He was seen sticking the landing on the flip after hitting a home run during a celebrity softball game May 30. And Giants coach John Harbaugh joked that he told the running back. No backflips at minicamp. He's not joking. Despite the reaction to his attempted flip on social media, Scatterboo promised he is not going to change who he is. Here's the quote. Ready? And this is. This is a direct quote. I'm just going to keep being me. And if they want to say I'm brain dead and I don't have no brain, then who cares it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Cam.

[Dan Bernstein]

Cam. All right, here's. Here's. Here's where I am on this. Just so you know, at the moment, I. I have some concern for his well being, and I want him to make an informed opinion about everything that he does. And that's the extent of my responsibility, is simply, I'm not his parent. I'm not his significant other. I'm not his teammate. I'm not his coach. As a relatively disinterested observer, meaning I don't have a vested interest other than him being another human being, I would like to not see him end his football career with brain damage. Everyone in the NFL makes their decisions as. As informedly as they can. I think it probably factored into Drew Dahlman's retirement from the Bears. But if he just said, if I don't have no brain, then who cares? It. I think somebody should tell him at some point. Older just like when we talk to our kids and we always say, take care of future you when it comes to, hey, you know, maybe set an extra alarm for big day tomorrow, or maybe you want to do your homework now right after school, and then tomorrow, maybe, or later tonight, you'll be really happy. Take care of future you is something I always said to my kids.

[Matt Abeticola]

I didn't think this would be needed. But do you think someone needs to sit him down and explain the importance of the human brain? Or.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, I don't know. I don't know. But this is one where I just would say, if it were my kid, I would be talking to him and I would say, hey, Cam, old Cam doesn't want to look back on this. And family members of older Cam don't want to look back on this and go, ouch. Ooh, that was unfortunate.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And if I'm. If I'm John Harbaugh, I'm. I make a phone call and say, knock it off. If I'm around him, I bring him into my office and I say, stop. You stop with the backflips. I mean, your season ended within a horrific ankle injury. Stop doing backflips.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm your coach. I'm in charge of you. And this is this. We don't do that here. Under this. We're just. We just don't.

[Matt Abeticola]

And whether you think you got no brain or got a brain, you're stopping with the backflips. Now, the black flips are fine.

[Dan Bernstein]

Do. Do plenty of black flips, right?

[Matt Abeticola]

But stop doing the back flips.

[Dan Bernstein]

I remember it was Roy Oswalt, the pitcher for the Astros, and his bulldozer. And his bulldozer. But remember what he had in his contract?

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't remember what he liked to do. He loved hand grabbing for giant catfish. Okay, well, you see, you know what hand grabbing is, right? Hand grab. In the south, like along the Mississippi river, some of the bigger rivers, for giant flathead catfish, one of the techniques is you submerge yourself in water. You reach into a hole underwater in the mud bank,

[Matt Abeticola]

and you allow your

[Dan Bernstein]

hand to be partially eaten by a catfish. Once your hand is in the catfish's mouth, you wrestle the catfish up to the surface. That's known as noodling or hand grabbing.

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[Dan Bernstein]

It's very popular. The problem is people drown every year while doing it, because some of these catfish that weigh 75 pounds and are able to hold you and keep you from getting back to the surface. And there are situations where sometimes you put your hand in a hole in the mud underwater, and it's not a catfish in there. It can be an alligator snapping turtle that can simply look at your hand and bite it off. So he was told by the Astros when he signed his big contract there was a clause in there. Stop doing this.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right? I don't. I don't remember that. And I don't. I didn't know that a catfish can get this £75.

[Dan Bernstein]

Flatheads, seriously? Oh, yeah. Flatheads are awesome.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, aside from that about, you know, how big the catfish can get, but going underwater, so not your human environment, and sticking your hand into a hole without knowing what's inside that hole,

[Dan Bernstein]

that's what they do.

[Matt Abeticola]

That just doesn't sound smart. And by the way, it sounds like you got no brain.

[Dan Bernstein]

The all tackle flathead record, 123 pounds.

[Matt Abeticola]

Seriously?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

I had no idea. Yeah, I mean, I'm just. I'm familiar with the catfish around here. That's pretty big.

[Dan Bernstein]

Channel cats.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's flathead in the Rock River. I know that. I've that there have been some really big, big ones caught out there near Rock. Actually. It was a good spot right off of Marinelli over the Left field wall there. There were some people that caught some big old flags.

[Matt Abeticola]

No idea.

[Dan Bernstein]

Night fishing. Big baits.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. So the Astros were like, hey, stop doing this. This is a lot easier. Stop doing backflips on your surgically repaired ankle that caused your rookie season.

[Dan Bernstein]

Mm. He broke his tibia. He didn't break his. Usually that's the fibula. Usually you break the non weight bearing bone with the ankle dislocation and a tornado deltoid ligament. He broke the tibia. That's the big, strong weight bearing bone. And he's still doing this. Like, that's just stupid. That's really, really dumb. And it's also not fair to your teammates and not fair to fans or to anybody to be reckless with your health.

[Matt Abeticola]

Reading that story that you did from espn, it's not the first time that he was in recent weeks. He was doing backflips, Right? Is that what you read? Yeah. So it's like, come on.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, he did in May. He was doing backflips.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And that was the same. The fanatic. Fanatic fest. Fan fest. Whatever it was. That's where I saw over the weekend, Tom Brady slapped Logan Paul in the face. Did you see that?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. It's a work, obviously.

[Matt Abeticola]

Whatever. I mean, I hope that's not setting up for something stupid.

[Dan Bernstein]

I can almost guarantee it is. You know it is. When in doubt, presume that it's going to set up for something stupid.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. Presume something stupid's about that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes, you're right.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's served me well in life, you know?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I know. But I mean, like, it's not like Tom Brady needs the popularity, the high, the spotlight on him, the money. I mean, he's the number one Fox analyst.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know, but he might be bored. And he actually got better last year.

[Matt Abeticola]

He did get better.

[Dan Bernstein]

I thought he had a good year. I thought he was great in the Bears game. I thought he actually was good last year. So I don't know. I'm not going to worry. You know, I think it's really important to be smart about managing your finances. And that's why I believe Monarch is the app that can help you in doing so. Monarch's like having a financial advisor in in your pocket. It's a personal finance app and it tracks everything that can help you take care of your financial picture. Accounts, investments, saving goals and spending. Most apps only tell you what you've already spent. Monarch helps set goals, map out big purchases, and see if you're actually on track before it's too late to adjust. There's an AI weekly recap. It flags spending spikes, net worth shifts and upcoming expenses. And you can ask for the AI assistant. Anything about your finances how much did I spend on travel last summer? Can I afford this vacation without touching my savings? Write your own money story with Monarch use the code [e-mail] to get your first year of Monarch Core Half off at just 50 bucks. That's 50% off your first year at monarch.com with the code DBU.

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[Matt Abeticola]

Another story out of the NFL this also from espn. The attorney for Arizona Cardinals Director of College Scouting Ryan Gold, who was suspended indefinitely Friday for violating the NFL's gambling policy, called the league's accusations blatantly false and said his client is appealing his suspension. The NFL on Friday said its investigation determined that Gold provided confidential non public inside information regarding the 2026 draft selections by the Cardinals before the picks were announced, and that Gold also participated in parlay bets on NFL and college games. The league didn't say to whom Gold had provided the information.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, this is probably a bad decision on his part. My my guess is that he he could know well enough who the draft picks were to make this bad. If he's going to try to go hard on the fact I didn't know for sure. I didn't know for sure. I didn't really have this knowledge. Be careful because all they have to do like I don't understand why he isn't just going to take the rip. I don't know. I don't know. I guess that's, that's what he has to do and then. And appeal it to the same group. But I, or maybe this is just kind of a pro forma move that they want him to appeal it to for precedent purposes. But come on, you got to know this is wrong.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And doesn't it? I mean if he didn't participate and as his attorney said, these are blatantly false accusations that should be I would think pretty easy to, to prove. But it also seems like they could just be going through the, the steps for the protection of the organization that shelves.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe.

[Matt Abeticola]

I mean this is, and this is a like you lose your job situation, you're done and you're not, you're not hired by another NFL. Like you're done working in the NFL. Correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, or maybe in organized sports. Because remember, the transgression for the team isn't the gambling part. The transgression for the team is being fast and loose with proprietary information.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

It could be anything as far as the league is concerned. It's, it's. Then it's the fact that it's for gambling purposes.

[Matt Abeticola]

But.

[Dan Bernstein]

So you've got people mad at you for different things. You're going to have the team level mad at you like you're talking out of school. That's. How dare you just be loose lipped. And from a league perspective they won't care if there's proprietary information from a team getting out. It's that it was used to the ends that it seems it's to have been used or had or could have been used. So either way he stepped in it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, he did. He did. But this is something obviously to, to keep an eye on, especially with what's happened with your other guy, Brendan Sorsby.

[Dan Bernstein]

And didn't the Cardinals have an issue with. Was it Steve Keim with the. Wasn't he with the Cardinals? Keim, correct me if I'm wrong, who had a series of like aggravated DUIs.

[Matt Abeticola]

Let's see.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think the Cardinals have had their share of, of executive misbehavior. Oh, that might factor into this.

[Matt Abeticola]

Let's see. Yeah. Arizona Cardinals Regional scout, Director of college Scouting, Player personnel. VP of player personnel. Oh, general manager.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. Yeah, that. I thought he got into some trouble too. And I just wonder exactly what was what they expect from Cardinals executives.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, he's currently the general manager of Clutch Sports Group.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wow.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's a LeBron thing, isn't it? Yes. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that's rich. Paul.

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All right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I mean, again, I don't, I don't know exactly how it works. I just my, my memory when I think Cardinals executive in trouble, I realized that they've had their, their own problems here. I did see the a piece here written by Albert Breer when he was breaking down some of the storylines for this entire season. The first one is, is Aaron Donald going to play? And, and we don't know if he is, if one of the arguably the greatest tackle that's ever played is going to come back with enough ability left. And then he went down to the 2024 draft quarterbacks and just checking in with this record class said four of the record six quarterbacks to go in the first round two years ago already have playoff wins, which is remarkable considering their franchises, Bears, Commanders, Patriots, Broncos had combined for two playoff appearances and zero playoff wins in the first four years of this decade. As that happened, number one pick Caleb Williams broke out in year two under Ben Johnson, throwing for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns against seven picks, leading the Bears to their first playoff win in 15 years. Number two pick Jaden Daniels Offensive Rookie of the Year in 24 while getting the Commanders their first conference title game in a generation. Then injuries both to Daniels and those around him conspired to wreck his second year. Number three pick Drake May blew up last year second in MVP voting, blah blah blah. Number 12 pick Bo Nix has been the most consistent one getting the Broncos back to the playoffs as a rookie after nearly a decade away. Can Caleb Williams and Drake May build on their meteoric 2025 campaigns? Can Daniels bounce back? Can Knicks get a loaded Broncos team back to the biggest stage? And then remember the other two? Number eight pick Michael Penix Jr. And number 10 pick JJ McCarthy locked in quarterback battles with Tua Tango Viloa and Kyler Murray, respectively. And then his entire next item is the Vikings quarterback competition.

[Matt Abeticola]

Sami quotes from Kevin o'? Connell?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, no, they'd have to. Maybe six paragraphs of nothing. Yes, and it said it doesn't mean they've given up on McCarthy. They intended to give him competition last year. Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones simply found a better opportunity to become long term answers for teams elsewhere. So the Vikings pivoted and went all in on their second year quarterback. It didn't work out, but if they can find a way to get McCarthy playing faster and with more confidence, the full intention is there to give him a chance to, to beat out the more accomplished Murray. I know. I can't even figure out exactly what that means.

[Grainger Ad Voice]

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[Dan Bernstein]

Because this idea of playing faster and with more confidence. You know why he doesn't have confidence?

[Matt Abeticola]

Because he's not good.

[Dan Bernstein]

He sucks.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, that's, yeah. And I, I just, I, I still, I'm so confused by the Vikings approach to this. I, I, especially in this, the, the most competitive, at least what looks to be the most competitive division in football.

[Dan Bernstein]

They want to give him a chance to beat out the more accomplished Murray. Well, how much of a chance do you really want to give him?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And what does that look like for training camp? Because you can't, you can't go deep in the training camp with splitting number one reps. You can't do that to your team.

[Dan Bernstein]

No. No. And the team already knows these things don't work.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Everybody on that offense already knows. It doesn't take long on a practice field for it to show up. They know, they talk. You can't ever fool the players. So your decision's got to be made soon.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I'm really, really surprised at the approach of this. It's something that we'll obviously keep watching because he is one of our favorite coaches to, to hear talk about his quarterback situation.

[Dan Bernstein]

Trying. And he's not going to stop talking about it. I don't know if anything's going to make sense, but it's got him tied in knots.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Which has been fun.

[Matt Abeticola]

And then it comes out in verbal knots, which is really great. Just like the garlic knots that you can get like at a pizza place.

[Dan Bernstein]

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[Matt Abeticola]

Bill Barnwell on ESPN he put together a couple of weeks ago or a week or so ago he put together like the. Like the best roster in football. Like the best players in football. So he, he did something a little different and he actually put together a team of non starters to see if a team of non starters could compete in the NFL.

[Dan Bernstein]

Interesting.

[Matt Abeticola]

And he. Yeah. And he included rookies as well too and, and backup players. Players that he doesn't expect to get a majority of snaps within a. Within a position. Okay. I think during the course yard it was pretty long. He mentions that maybe they could compete with the Dolphins and maybe the Jets.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. Are there any Bears mentioned?

[Matt Abeticola]

Let me just ask that. That was my question to you. Do you think he. He put any Bears on his all backup team?

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, let me say first of all does he count two running backs as like co starters or could a team's second running back be one of those people? Because most teams believe that they need to contributing running backs.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Let's see what he he did here as far.

[Dan Bernstein]

So. Because. Because I would say that if that's the case, whoever you pick between Swift or Manungai, that that other one would easily be in play.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I think all the only real parameter he gave is about the amount of playing time and if he feels like one guy at that position would get a lion's share of the work was his exact term.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

That he would consider that other guy as a possibility. But I don't think he viewed Swift and Monongai in that way now because I got a lot of carries, an

[Dan Bernstein]

obvious name before last year, before he got badly hurt. My first name would be Terrell Smith because he was already somebody in a Bears deep cornerback room who had been said, boy, you know, he could, there's some teams he could play on, things he could start on. That was the name that probably came up most. But other than that. And if you think Luke Newman is still a developing player as an interior lineman. I don't know if the Bears are counting both tight ends as starters. They should. Or is this finally the love that Tyson Bagent has, has earned and deserves?

[Matt Abeticola]

The reason why this, this interested me so much because I wanted to see if Tyson Bajan made his team. Okay. Unfortunately, he did not make it as a backup quarterback.

[Dan Bernstein]

Damn it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, I'll tell you, I'll tell you who the, who the quarterbacks were that he put on the team. I think he has them broken down by, by position. Let me just get to the top of this story. Jump to the full team backup roster. At quarterback he has Joe Flacco, Fernando Mendoza and Jameis Winston.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, Fernando Mendoza is going to be the starter.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, I don't know if he, if those were in order of starting or those are just his three quarterbacks on this roster. So those are the three. And again, he did say that he wanted to include rookies who hadn't, obviously who hadn't played yet. So those are your quarterbacks. All right. So I looked first because I wanted to see if Tyson Bagen made it, which he didn't. So there are two Chicago Bears that made the all backup team.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh,

[Matt Abeticola]

they are.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wait, is one on offense and one on defense.

[Matt Abeticola]

One is on offense or. I'm sorry, one is on defense and one is on special teams.

[Dan Bernstein]

A backup on special teams.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. And it. So as disappointed as I was that Tyson Bajan didn't make this all backup team, I was equally as excited that this special teams player made the roster.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is it Josh Blackwell?

[Matt Abeticola]

No, it's not. All right, is it Guy. The Guy Gardner? The guy on defense is Cam Lewis. So Cam Lewis makes it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, but have we seen him play yet?

[Matt Abeticola]

But the only, the only issue with Cam Lewis. Well, no, he's from the Rams. And when you go to Cam Lewis in the story, they still have him listed as a player for the Rams. I don't think they know like his individual page says Rams, but, but anyway, that's not why you Called the. The special teams player is. Yes. That fine Southern gentleman of Bo Gardner,

[Dan Bernstein]

the Bears backup long snapper, made the all backup team.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

You know why? I guarantee you he was the only backup long snapper.

[Matt Abeticola]

Probably that.

[Dan Bernstein]

That would be my guess if you went through all of the depth charts, how many teams currently are carrying two?

[Matt Abeticola]

So he says. And considering the Bears are one of the only teams carrying two long snappers on the roster at the moment, we have to grab Gardner to get one for team backup.

[Dan Bernstein]

There. Okay, there it is.

[Matt Abeticola]

Still, though. It's. It's the fine southern gentleman, Bo Gardner.

[Dan Bernstein]

Bo Gardner. Hello, Bo.

[Matt Abeticola]

Hello. So those are the. Those are the two Bears to make it for the. The all backup team by Bill Barnwell.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's hysterical. Okay. But I. I don't. The Fernando Mendoza thing, that's. That's kind of a. It's a trick. I mean, everybody knows he's not really a backup quarterback. He. He's your number one overall draft pick.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. But is this gonna get the job?

[Dan Bernstein]

I know Cousins is gonna start. They say that's the plan.

[Matt Abeticola]

He's gonna start. Right. That's. At least that's what they say, which

[Dan Bernstein]

is stupid because Mendoza is probably already better. I would hope so.

[Matt Abeticola]

He can move.

[Dan Bernstein]

He can't move.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, well, okay,

[Matt Abeticola]

so. Yeah, so if you go under the all backup team roster and they break it down by position, they have safeties. Okay. And this. I just don't get it. Like, I don't know how this got missed. So they have Jalen husky from Carolina, P.J. locke from Dallas, Marquis Sigel Siegel from San Francisco. And then they have Cam Lewis. And then right after his name in parentheses, it says Buf.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, he. He's. He's from Buffalo originally, but he's not on Buffalo. Right.

[Matt Abeticola]

He's on the Bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right.

[Matt Abeticola]

They missed it, but.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, sorry. I'm. I'm looking forward to seeing him play. I don't really know much about him. I know they're happy to have him, and I. I just can't wait till these guys are all actually on the field.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, we're getting close.

[Dan Bernstein]

There are Bears players. I know, I know, I know, I know. I'm. I need time to get into football mode now, but now. Now that soccer is gone, there will be. And now that I can get that yesterday's soccer game out of my system completely.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, I forgot that immediately. Just as disappointing as it was to watch, you know, Messi play forward. Yeah. It was just. It was tough. And they had. They had opportunities Late to try to

[Dan Bernstein]

tie that game forward and just kick it, kick, kick it in the net.

[Matt Abeticola]

But, hey, congratulations to Cam Lewis. Yes. Who's on the Bears. And.

[Dan Bernstein]

And Bo.

[Matt Abeticola]

Your guy. Bo Gardner.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, Luke Elkin is my guy. Is Luke Elkin number 46.

[Matt Abeticola]

Sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because he's been appearing in some of the Bears videos here or there that they're doing.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Their social media team is having some fun with these guys, too. And I. And I saw number 46, and I said, that is not an NFL player because he just doesn't look. He looks like somebody playing dress up. Yeah, he's kind of beefy, and he's got kind of a round face. And I'm like, no, no, no, no. Who's that guy? And it was Luke Elkin. Like, okay, long snapper. Fine.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. They need a video of. Of Bo Gartner, like, sitting on the porch in a rocking chair with a glass of, you know, whiskey in his hand for some kind of promotional video.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, like a.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like a.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like a. Like the house from Forest Gump.

[Matt Abeticola]

And he's sitting. And he's like the big.

[Dan Bernstein]

The estate from Forest Gump. Big white house. Correct.

[Grainger Ad Voice]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he's. He's. He's on the porch. He's fanning himself with one hand. He's got a sweet tea and a slice of shoe fly pie.

[Matt Abeticola]

And he's in a white suit.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, a searsucker suit.

[Matt Abeticola]

Just sitting there on the porch, rocking back and forth. And he needs to be like the. The intro man for some video they do. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

I just. I want you to call up a picture of Luke Elkin.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

And tell me that's an NFL player.

[Matt Abeticola]

Luke Elkin.

[Dan Bernstein]

Let's see. I know I'm going to get in trouble for this because he's. But just. Oh, see, no, right. Just doesn't. Doesn't look like an NFL player. And he's always from Neenah, Wisconsin. That's where our manhole covers are all from. Our. Our. Sewer grease.

[Progressive Ad Voice]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And our man. Yeah. From the Nina Foundry.

[Matt Abeticola]

I know someone else. I think we discussed that before.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know somebody else from Nina as well. But, yeah, he was. He's. He has appeared in some of the beard social media videos.

[Matt Abeticola]

I'm concerned because his quick facts right here on Google is from Nina, Wisconsin, 24. His education? Nina Middle School. School. He went. He went to school beyond that, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

I believe. Yes. He attended the University of Iowa.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, he did go to Iowa. Okay, so he didn't stop at Nina Middle School.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, I don't. I Don't think the extent of his education is. Nina. Middle school. Not that it's. I mean, sure, it's a wonderful.

[Matt Abeticola]

I'm sure it's a great. Yeah, I'm sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Fantastic experience. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

It would be my hope that he continued beyond that. Unless.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, so he did. Yes, you're correct. Maybe he would go to Iowa. Nice.

[Dan Bernstein]

He wasn't homeschooled or anything because I know there's some people there that might decide they want to homeschool you never wait.

[Matt Abeticola]

And what. What position does he play?

[Dan Bernstein]

Long snapper.

[Matt Abeticola]

He's a long snapper, too.

[Dan Bernstein]

Luke Elkin. Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's no Bo Gardner. Boy. I'll say. Boy. Oh, that's a hot young man's. About as sharp as a sack of wet mice. I don't know. I picture Bo Gardner sounding like Foghorn Leghorn.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. He's a very thick neck.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's no Jack Sanborn. They've got the thickest neck in the league on the team.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's what they're going for.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe these two are Sandborn. Jack Sanborn.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think Luke Elkin and Jack sanborn might be 12 as far as thick necks are concerned.

[Dan Bernstein]

Both from Wisconsin. Right. Jack Sandboy. See, he's. Jack Sanborn is on the list of great names to say with a Chicago accent, but he is not either Braxton Ashcraft or Graham Ashcraft. All right, here's Braxton Ashcraft and Graham Ashcraft.

[Matt Abeticola]

Do you have your screen up there so you can see the photo I'm going to show you?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, so take a look at this. So this is. This is your guy right there.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's Luke Elkin.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, now hang on a second. If you scroll down just a little bit, this is what you get from espn. Tell me which one is Luke Elkin.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's not Luke Elkin. That's. Are we sure? Right.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. Are we sure about that? We sure that. Because even though it says right there, look, it. What's it say right below his name?

[Dan Bernstein]

It says Luke Elkin. That is not. That is right.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes, I'm pretty sure that this is Luke Elkin. Yep. And this is not Luke Elkin.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, I am. Although maybe he did a black flip. That's what happened.

[Matt Abeticola]

Luke Elkin did a black flip.

[Dan Bernstein]

Luke Elkin took the field, and even though the floor was springy. And then. And then, you know what happened? The White Sox came in and had to assess whether or not he was black.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. So they had to come in.

[Dan Bernstein]

If you complete the black flip and you get. And then you land and you're black.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's not official until the White Sox

[Dan Bernstein]

have to come in and kind of look you over.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, hold on.

[Dan Bernstein]

Let me see here.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or they say no.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, you're not. You're not included. All right.

[Dan Bernstein]

They do. They do the. The Craig Council signal.

[Matt Abeticola]

They.

[Dan Bernstein]

They either give this. Get it, get out of here.

[Matt Abeticola]

They give him three down. It could go either way, right? Three down, three on, three down.

[Dan Bernstein]

Then cos goes no.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, espn pick your. Fix your pictures there, because that is. That is not.

[Dan Bernstein]

Unless. If everybody on the Bears had that face, though, that would be awesome.

[Matt Abeticola]

That was everyone's photo.

[Dan Bernstein]

That was everyone's photo. You just decided one year. We're just going with this for everybody.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, man, that's good. All right. They can do the info pictures.

[Dan Bernstein]

There it is. Well, and we'll close with that on today's episode of Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears and NFL podcast here on 312Sports. For Progress is stopped.

[Matt Abeticola]

Forward Progress Chicago Bears podcast with Dan

[Dan Bernstein]

Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 31 2, sports.

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