Chicago Bears OTAs Kick Off | AJ Epenesa Workout and a Trade Scenario

Summary

Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Chicago Bears OTAs Kick Off | AJ Epenesa Workout and a Trade Scenario

Host: 312 Sports (Dan Bernstein & Matt Abaticola)
Date: May 27, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the kickoff of Chicago Bears OTAs (Organized Team Activities) and dives deep into key topics: the team’s defensive line depth and philosophy, the AJ Epenesa workout, potential trade scenarios involving Cole Kmet, and some divisional and NFL-wide news. Dan and Matt blend analytical insight with trademark humor, questioning front-office decisions and exploring both insider analysis and league rumors, while never losing sight of Bears fans' emotional investment.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bears OTAs Begin – Setting the Stage

• The Bears have started voluntary OTAs at Halas Hall, part of a league-wide ramp-up for the upcoming season. Dan and Matt explain the voluntary nature of OTAs, noting it’s up to players to attend and there’s "no pads, but plenty of football activity" ([01:56]).
• Players are running around “mimicking what football players would otherwise do when they’re trying to kill each other” (Dan, [02:22]).

OTAs Structure:

• Three days this week; another three next week ([02:38]).
• Attendance noted across the league (e.g., Patrick Mahomes’ early return to Chiefs camp, albeit with a knee brace).

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2. Defensive Line Depth and the AJ Epenesa Question

Epenesa's Credentials and Concerns:

• AJ Epenesa, former Buffalo Bills DE, worked out for the Bears before OTAs.
• Breakdown: 27 years old, 6’6”, 260 lbs, career-high of 6.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons, primarily a rotational player rather than a starter ([03:19]).

Health and Due Diligence:

• Epenesa had agreed to a one-year, $5M deal with the Browns, but the contract fell through following a failed physical in late March ([04:40]).

“That’s scary. If they thought this guy could help and are like yeah... no.” – Dan ([04:58])

Bears’ D-Line Philosophy:

• The front office claims confidence in current D-line talent. The Epenesa tryout signals “the Bears aren’t sitting around... They’re interested in adding to the position or doing due diligence on an emergency list.” (Dan, paraphrasing Brad Biggs, [06:11])
• Internal optimism about Austin Booker, positive views on Montez Sweat, and confidence in Odengbo and Turner “when healthy” ([07:13]).

“It would not surprise me if they add a defensive end for competition. But right now, the Bears clearly are more confident in Odengbo and Turner returning healthy and adding to the mix than the public is.” – Dan ([08:52])

Arrogance or Analysis?

• Repeatedly question whether the Bears’ faith in their D-line is hopeful optimism, arrogance, or simple indifference to outside critique ([09:33]–[10:51]).

“Is it hopeless optimism... or is there an arrogance to it?... This year, we’re going to tap [that potential].” – Dan ([09:55])

• Outside analysts and fans alike express skepticism that "they didn’t address this"—a theme shared across several NFL insiders ([10:11]).

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3. Run Defense vs Pass Rush: What’s the Bigger Issue?

• Brad Biggs’ mailbag tackles whether the run defense should be more of a concern than pass rush ([11:10]).
• Scheme under DC Dennis Allen doesn’t prioritize massive run-stuffing tackles but disruptive players on the interior, increasing importance of entire defense's coordination ([11:30]).

“They’re trying to make us feel like we’re stupid, I think, when it comes to what they didn’t address.” – Dan ([12:54]) “I would have preferred though, that they improved both the run defense and the pass rush.” – Matt ([13:38])

• The hosts note Bears lack a dominant D-line “closer”—someone guaranteed to make a big play when needed ([13:44]).

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4. Hypothetical Trade Scenario: Cole Kmet

ESPN’s Four Hypothetical Kmet Trades

• ESPN presented several “what if” trade scenarios for TE Cole Kmet, surprising the hosts as an idea given his importance. Kmet’s contract is restructured with ~$8M due this year, signed through 2027 ([16:02–17:19]).

Proposed Deals:

• Panthers: 2027 3rd & 2028 5th for Kmet + 2028 6th (Jeremy Fowler) ([17:37])
• Ravens: 2028 3rd (Dan Graziano) ([18:16])
• Chiefs: 2027 3rd for Kmet + 2028 5th (Ben Solak) ([18:27])
• Dolphins: 2027 4th & 6th for Kmet (Seth Walder) ([18:54])

“I'm certainly not trading him before this year, and I wouldn’t get it out of the realm of possibility after this season. That seems to make a lot more sense.” – Matt ([19:04]) “They need to see what they have in Sam Roush...the moment he was drafted, that was the first thing I thought—oh, that’s Cole Kmet’s eventual replacement.” – Dan ([19:21])

Bears TE Approach

• The Bears frequently use multiple TE sets (12 or 13 personnel), making Kmet crucial to the offense.
• Any talk of trading is more realistic after evaluating Sam Roush’s readiness ([19:53]).

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5. Around the NFL & Division Updates

Josh Jacobs Legal Issues ([21:18–24:35])

• Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs arrested on multiple domestic violence charges, including a felony strangulation charge.
• His attorneys deny the allegations and promise undisclosed evidence.

“Bottom line, it looks bad for Josh Jacobs and it should for the first blush.” – Dan ([23:23])

• NFL is aware, with possibility of significant suspension regardless of legal outcomes.

Quick Patriots/Vrabel Mention – Off-field Distraction Humor

• Brief, comic riff on Mike Vrabel's off-field stories and media avoidance, highlighting the “content desert” of NFL offseason ([25:22–26:58]).

Travis Kelce Buys Into the Cleveland Guardians ([27:32])

• News of Kelce’s minority ownership stake prompts a fun, hypothetical discussion on which sports team the hosts would buy into if given unlimited resources.

“If I had just mess around money, it would probably be a minor league baseball team.” – Dan ([28:38])

• Dan favors minor league baseball for enjoyment, interaction, and nostalgia.
• If forced to buy into an NFL team, he’d prioritize financials over fandom, even suggesting the Packers or Vikings due to location and opportunities for fishing ([32:22–35:34]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Defensive Line Optimism:

  “It’s not just us or Bears fans saying, ‘Hey, why are you not addressing this?’ It’s very smart football people around the league.” – Matt ([10:11])

• On Defensive Line 'Closer':

  “Is there one guy on the defensive line that you say, when we need that play made, I know this guy will be there? The Bears don’t have that right now.” – Matt ([13:49])

• On Front Office Attitude:

  “Is it hopeless optimism…or is there an arrogance to it?... This year, we’re going to tap [that potential].” – Dan ([09:55])

• On Kmet Trade Idea:

  “I would not entertain any ideas [of trading him] right now to disrupt this offense…then see what happens after the season, see how Sam Roush develops.” – Matt ([19:53])

• On Owning a Team:

  “If I had just mess around money, it would probably be a minor league baseball team…You can pull the tarp. You can dress as the mascot.” – Dan ([28:38])

• On Packers/Josh Jacobs Arrest:

  “Bottom line, it looks bad for Josh Jacobs and it should for the first blush. The question is, when would the NFL enter the fray here?” – Dan ([23:23])

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Timestamps for Key Sections

• OTAs & Epenesa Breakdown: 01:56–09:33
• Bears D-Line Philosophy: 06:11–13:09
• Run Defense vs Pass Rush: 11:10–14:37
• Cole Kmet Trade Scenario: 16:02–20:37
• Josh Jacobs Arrest & Division News: 21:18–25:22
• Vrabel & Off-field Humor: 25:22–26:58
• Kelce/Ownership Hypothetical: 27:32–36:51

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Tone & Style

• Authentic and Analytical: Blending analysis with wit and skepticism.
• Deeply Engaged: Both hosts ground the conversation in Bears fandom, while pulling in broader NFL context.
• Humorous and Unfiltered: Playful banter and unfiltered takes, especially when lampooning league absurdities, the content drought, and inevitable offseason speculation.

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For New Listeners

This episode offers a sharp, no-nonsense exploration of the Bears’ current roster philosophy, insider debates around depth and development, and the realities of NFL life in late May. It is perfect for fans seeking both detailed, critical discussion and a sense of communal football obsession.

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Transcript

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[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, if you're a Bears fan, you're thinking Forward progress. Come on. 10 219, 219Forward progress a Chicago Bears

[Matt Abaticola]

podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 SP

[Dan Bernstein]

forward progress is yours. We have awarded it to you here on 312 Sports. We talk Bears and NFL and as we speak, there are actual Chicago Bears actually at Hallis hall on a football field doing football things. They are there on their own volition. They are not against their will. It is voluntary OTAs.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

These organized team activities. If the players so desire to be active and part of their team, they can come here and they're not going to have pads on, but they're going to be running around mimicking what football players would otherwise do when they're trying to kill each other.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, so they have the three days of OTAs this week, today, tomorrow, Friday, and then I believe three more days next week, if that is correct. Yeah, I think there's three more next week as well too, to have these six days of practices, as you mentioned, voluntary. So we'll see who's there. They're happening all around the league right now. Some big names showing up at other other voluntary OTAs like Patrick Mahomes for the Kansas City Chiefs closed off to the media, but the Chiefs did release a video of Mahomes throwing. He was wearing a knee brace, but out on the field I think probably sooner than they all expected and happier to see that as well too. But yeah, the Bears are in the the start of their first three days of OTAs here this week and we do have some other news and notes as well about the Chicago Bears first and foremost being a veteran defensive end that was brought in for a workout prior to these OTAs in AJ Epanessa, who has spent the last 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He's 27 66260, had 2 1/2 sacks last year. Dan twice in his career with the Buffalo Bills has reached a career high of six and a half sacks and he did that in 2022 and 2023. In 24 had six sacks. So in his six year career has 24 total sacks. He's, I thought he started more games than he has. He really is more just a guy coming off in a rotation piece, which is good because that's what the Bears need, a veteran guy who can be part of a rotation that can get to the quarterback and create pressure and get sacks.

[Dan Bernstein]

Always the question is health. And this is part of the Brad Biggs Tribune mailbag today because he adds that Epanessa had an agreement with the Browns on a one year $5 million contract.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yep. That was like two months ago.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think that deal fell apart in late March after the 27 year old Iowa product failed a physical. What specifically led the Browns to pull their offer is unknown. I would need to know more about that.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, for sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's, that's scary. If a team that is they, they may not know a lot in Cleveland, but they've known defense pre if they thought this guy could help him and they're like yeah. No. Although anything from our guy, Todd Monkin because we always want to check in because he's, he's going to be a font of of, of entertainment for us this year.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, I haven't seen anything worth noting as of late from, from our guy. I think he's getting another haircut from the troll under the bridge.

[Dan Bernstein]

Under the bridge. Yeah. And he won't be able to make a meeting. Always has an excuse. He misses a meeting.

[Matt Abaticola]

Maybe the next one. But yeah, I just think if if FNs obviously if he's healthy, if he can play, I think they wouldn't you know, wouldn't be a terrible thing to add a veteran guy with some experience that can get to the quarterback who you're not going to have to pay a ton of money and he's not going to demand a starter type role just coming in off the bench and being a rotation piece for what they need on the defensive line. But yeah, obviously the health is the biggest thing and if he's not going to be there, then yeah, I don't, I don't expect the Bears to do something that's a dumb move out of desperation when they expect their guys to continue taking steps forward as well as the coaches coaching better.

[Dan Bernstein]

So okay, I'm so you, you went there and this is what what my prism is for examining the Bears in these defensive line moves and getting a piece of news like this that they worked out a productive veteran, a first round draft pick, formerly productive player. Their public stance has been that they're okay, they're getting guys back who are hurt. Their other guys were good even though it didn't look good. But to them they look good and they're going to coach better and that's going to make them better. So I just want to make sure that we're always holding them to what they have said. Now what Biggs notes here, he said the fact that there was this Epanessa tryout is evidence that the Bears aren't sitting around simply wondering how the players on the roster will perform. I'd probably classify the visit by Epanessa somewhere between interest in adding to the position and performing due diligence on an emergency list. Because I get what he's saying. Teams hold tryouts all the time in season, off season. You could be, you know, you could be a lost season where you're, you're, you lost 10 games and on that next Tuesday you're having tryouts tryout. Never, ever, ever stop because you're always looking for possibilities. You're always looking for something you didn't know or didn't or thought less of and willing to be surprised by. Or you are putting together an emergency list which which exists the if if half our roster gets sick with a microbe that is hasn't even been discovered yet, what do we do? So what what he adds here is that the Bears are optimistic about Austin Booker's performance this season. Ben Johnson's been very positive about what they got from Montez Sweat last season. Odengbo and Turner are healthy and when they are well, as I said, when they're healthy, they'll have players to fit into a rotation. It would not surprise me if they add a defensive end for competition. But right now, the Bears clearly are more confident in Odengbo and Turner returning healthy and adding to the mix than the public is. So. But we still don't know why, because the public isn't just us, and it isn't just Joe Blow. It's also a lot of the public sense is informed by what we hear from other experts and other people in the league and on football teams that it's not. It's not just dumb speculation. There are really smart football people wondering why the Bears are not addressing this. It is not an unreasonable question to ask, why do you think these guys are going to be good when they haven't been before? So all of these indications to me are data points to help us understand why there's a disconnect between what we think they have and what they think they have, or them caring about what they think they have, because that's sort of a third option here. Yeah, they're not good and they don't care.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. And they just don't care that as long as they continue to score points that they'll still outscore their opponents regardless of what their defensive line looks like. And they prioritized, obviously, other positions on the defense. Now, we've asked this question, and we did this weeks ago. Is it just. Is it hopeless optimism about the guys on their roster or is there an

[Dan Bernstein]

arrogance to it, which is okay. And I don't mind the fact that it seems like we know more about our guys than you do. We know that there's untapped ability and there's untapped production in here. And this year we're going to tap it.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, we're going to tap it by. By coaching better. But all the data points show that that's not the case, though. And again, just like you, like you said, it's not just us or Bears fans saying, hey, why are you not addressing this? It's very smart football people around the league saying, the Bears are going to address this. Oh, the Bears didn't address this. Why didn't the Bears address this? It's not just us and it's not just the fans, as you pointed out. So I think there is some arrogance to it. I think it's a combination of a little bit of arrogance that, hey, we can make these guys better because we're that good. And I think it is a little bit of we just don't care because we know we're Going to outscore a lot of our opponents.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm big on looking at what questions get chosen in a mailbag because I think that that tells us what the writer wants to answer. Mm. Because they get hundreds of questions, but the ones that make it in are the ones they want to answer.

[Matt Abaticola]

What else does Biggs have?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, the next question is, should we be more worried about the run defense than the pass rush on the defensive line? Okay, this is Biggs. I have maintained that the folks clamoring for pass rush help may have ignored the reality that the run defense, although much better in the two playoff games, was problematic too many times during the season. Dennis Allen covets disruptive players on the interior of the defensive line, so you're unlikely to see the kind of massive run stuffing nose tackle you see in some defenses occupy a spot in Allen's rotation. Disruption is a good thing versus the run and the pass alike. We have to see how the defense as a whole, all 11 players, works together in both of these initiatives. The Bears will have a new look at linebacker, and they have the wrong name here. He said, free agent edition, Devin Lloyd. I was like, what? They got Devin Lloyd, Devin Bush. But he. That's. That. That's. No editor caught that, by the way. Even in the print edition, no editor, no editor caught that. He said, in a new pair of safeties, all will be critical in run support and have a hand in the combination of pass rush and coverage. So that looks like he's sharing sort of this company line that everybody on defense matters and we're all important in this. In this giant oneness when they. When they're defensive, no pun intended, about being asked, why isn't your pass rush better? Why isn't your pass rush better? Oh, because these guys can be disruptive. And these guys, they'll hang out of the ball longer because these guys are all versatile on the back end and all this. So they're trying to make us feel like we're stupid. I think when it comes to what they didn't address. And we'll. We'll find out if this works and it shuts us all up. Awesome.

[Matt Abaticola]

Great. Yep. Exactly. Exactly. But, yeah, I just. I hope. I hope it does. I hope it does shut us up. I really do.

[Dan Bernstein]

Me too. Remember, we were worried about the pass rush. I hope we get that.

[Matt Abaticola]

I agree.

[Dan Bernstein]

I really do. But the fact that that question was chosen and he wanted to reiterate. I have maintained that the folks clamoring for pass rush are ignoring the reality of the run defense that's Brad Big saying, hey, hello run defense.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I would, I would have preferred though, that they improved both the run defense and the pass rush.

[Dan Bernstein]

Do that too. Well, maybe that's what he means by disruptive. Maybe those interior guys are going to get in the gas.

[Matt Abaticola]

I don't know. They they signed a bunch of rotational guys to come through in the on the defensive line in this off season through free agency, but there's no one spectacular it, you know, as we have these conversations about the Cubs, like there isn't that big superstar that's going to come through and just maul and bash for you like they're the Bears don't have that on their defensive line either. Like is there is there one guy in the defensive line that you say, when we need that play made, I know this guy will be there to make that play. And the Bears don't have that right now on the defensive line. I think they have a bunch of good defensive line players interior and on the edge, but they don't have that one guy that you say, I know this guy will come through when we need a play made.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or is that guy going to be blocked because they've got two guys blocking him and then they don't have to worry about anybody else winning a matchup. And if they think that that's the that Odengbo and Turner are going to eat, we better see it. Especially if they got one on ones. It'll be right in front of us and easy to watch.

[Matt Abaticola]

Any other questions there from the mailbag to share.

[Dan Bernstein]

The other was stadium related, which I think we handled just fine on dbu.

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[Matt Abaticola]

All right. I want to throw a trade idea at you. I thought this was interesting. I saw it on, on espn. They actually, they took four. Four players within the league. Four guys that they made up. Hypothetical traits. I know we don't like talking about trades unless there's something to compare it with to really walk the trade through. And this one player jumped out of me because it's Cole Comet. And I would have never thought in any scenario that the Bears would trade Cole commit before this season starts. But that's the whole premise of, of this piece is about trading Colcomette before the start of the 2026 season. Now we all know that he had his deal restructured. I think he's just under 8 million this year. And he signed through 2027. So he has two more years left on his deal restructured this year to just under $8 million. So they actually have four football folks that give hypothetical trade ideas.

[Dan Bernstein]

And just to confirm, the restructuring increases the remaining cap commitment. Correct?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes. So it escalated his cap number for 27 to maybe. Was it 15 or 16 million, which

[Dan Bernstein]

makes it more likely that maybe before

[Matt Abaticola]

the 27 season and really not this one.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right.

[Matt Abaticola]

But. So I just want to throw this out and see if you would entertain any of these ideas. So these are four hypothetical trade ideas for Cole Comet. Jeremy Fowler is the first one. And he trades commit to the Carolina panthers for a 2027 third round pick.

[Dan Bernstein]

I like the idea already of polls dealing with Carolina.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay. Because that works. Yes. So a 2027 third round pick and a 2028 fifth round pick. So you're looking down the road just a bit. The Panthers will get Cole Comet and a 2028 sixth round pick.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

Does that sound like anything to you? Would you, would you consider that for Cole and this is before this particular season, before the 2026 season where you know he's going to have a significant impact on the offense.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's why this is hard for me to do. But sure, I guess. Yeah, I'll say something is better than nothing.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay, then Dan Graziano has the Bears trading Cole Comet to the Ravens for a 2028 third round pick.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

Ben Solak has the Bears trading commit to the Chiefs. The Bears get a 2027 third round pick and the Chiefs would get the Cole commit and a fifth round pick in two years. And then the final one, Seth Walder is Miami Dolphins. Bears get a 2027 fourth round pick and a sixth round pick and the Dolphins will get cold commit.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

I just think I think going into this season, I don't think it's real. And I know they said it's all hypothetical and everyone is trying to navigate the deserts of the NFL wasteland right now.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, the content wasteland.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes, yes. Before anything meaningful happens. But, I mean, I'm certainly not trading him before this year, and I wouldn't get it out of the realm of possibility after this season. That, that seems to make a lot more sense to me. I think he's going to be too significant, too important piece. Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I also think they want to know what they have in Sam Roush.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. They need to see that first.

[Dan Bernstein]

Those are, those are critical aspects of your larger plan. The moment he was drafted, that was the first thing I thought I said, oh, that's Cole commit's eventual replacement. Yeah, I didn't. But they need three right now and you, you have three, and you'll use them all and then you'll see what, what Roush can do where he's comfortable. And if he fits nicely into that inline y tight end role, it'll be his.

[Matt Abaticola]

And then Courtney Cronin wraps up this piece as the, as the Bears insider, she just says Cole Comet will be 29 by the time his contract expires in 2027. A trade, while unexpected for this year, would allow the Bears to come away with something if they let him walk as a free agent. So, yeah, I, I would, I would not entertain any ideas of that right now to disrupt this offense and what they do in the, in the 12 personnel or 13 personnel, which they run a lot as well. And then see what happens after the season, see how Sam Roush develops. And of course, going into the 2027 draft, the Bears could take another tight end, which it seems that they're drafting tight ends and wide receivers every year now with Ben Johnson here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, that doesn't bother me because there's also that. That group of lower level tight ends that just keeps changing teams every year. And if you can find one of your own, it's coming right off the college field and plug them in, because college offenses are doing some of the things that you're doing and you can find somebody for whom that learning curve, which is generally very, very steep at that position as a pro, is, can be be shallowed out a little bit, shaved down a little bit. Go ahead and do that. I don't mind it. I don't mind drafting over and over again at a position that's really important to what you do and one where you have to play it at a high level.

[Matt Abaticola]

Another note within the Bears division, I don't know if you saw this story about Green Bay packers running back Josh Jacobs. Oh, you better believe I did.

[Dan Bernstein]

I was going to bring it up too. When you mentioned the content desert in the NFL this time of year, teams used to joke that this is the police blotter time is what they used to call it. Is it? You know, Jerry Angelo would talk about, oh, this is. Oh, you know, this is the time of year when I. My phone rings at 3am and like this is what used to happen a lot more. He was arrested and there's a felony charge in there, is there not?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. So he was arrested yesterday, booked on several domestic violence charges. According to the Hobart Lawrence Police Department, Jacobs, 28, was booked on charges of battery, domestic abuse, disorderly conduct, including strangulation and suffocation, criminal damage to property and intimidation of a victim. According to the Brown County Jail records, the strangulation and suffocation charge is a felony and the other four charges are misdemeanors, which is unfortunate. According to the records, Jacobs was being held without bond.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now what I read was that his lawyer. Here's the quote from the lawyer. Josh vehemently denies the allegations.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

And this matter is in the early stages of investigation with important evidence that has not yet been made public. We ask for fairness and restraint while the judicial process takes its course. Those are his attorneys, David Chesnoff, Richard Schoenfeld and Clarence Duschak.

[Matt Abaticola]

And then the packers statement. As it is an ongoing legal situation, we will withhold further comment. Yeah, so it's, it's interesting to hear what his lawyer says, that there's important evidence not yet been made public. So I'd be curious to know what evidence would be possible to dispute those particular charges.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. Unless he was acting entirely in, in self defense, in fear for his own life.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or if somebody, if there's a case of mistaken identity or if this is just something lawyers say because they think that they can mitigate the reaction in the first 24 hours and prevent any knee jerk responses. Bottom line, it looks bad for Josh Jacobs and it should for the first blush. The question is, when would the NFL enter the fray here? Is he looking at actual hard prison time? At the moment he's like, you say he's still in jail. Right. If he's being held without bond, without bond, I don't know how long he's going to be there. But he, My, my guess is that there will be what A minimum of a six, maybe even eight game suspension

[Matt Abaticola]

if, if this is accurate.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right.

[Matt Abaticola]

At least.

[Dan Bernstein]

But even if the charges are dropped, that doesn't affect the NFL. That doesn't affect the. Anything pursuant to the player conduct rules. There doesn't have to be any kind of conviction. There don't even have to be the continuation of formal charges.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. And we know that the NFL takes the accusations against players a lot more serious than ownership. The NFL did say they were aware of the report and they have been in contact with the Packers. Now, Green Bay, they began their OTAs yesterday. Matt LaFleur was scheduled to meet the media today. So we'll, we'll get more on that. What was asked if he responds, I'm sure there, there isn't a whole lot to say. Which also sparks a thought in my brain that there's another coach meeting the media today and that is Mike vrabel as their OTAs begin. So I'm curious to check that out later on as well and to see if there were any questions asked if there were going to be. If there were already. If you already met with the media about the Rossini situation with Mike Vrabel or if it's all onto football and nothing else.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, up there it's apparently on to football. Okay. I mean, the quotes that I'm seeing from Vrabel are all football quotes about football questions. Do you need another wide receiver? And all this stuff. I'm not sure if there is an agreement to, to talk about this all at a later date or they're waiting for another shoe to drop or what's happening there. But so far their plan of just obfuscate, pretend it's not happening and just whistle as everybody goes about their business appears to be working for the Patriots.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I'll go check it out on their website when they, when they post the video of it. I, My, my, my. I just assumed that there wouldn't be any, any questions at all about it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like not, hey, Mike, how's your wiener doing?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, Wiener counseling.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did you go to the. How, how's the counseling? How'd that go for you? Did they, did they tell you to keep your pants on? Are you locking your pants now?

[Matt Abaticola]

I'm just, I'm sure that there's. There was not one even question about it.

[Dan Bernstein]

I can't imagine. I. I'm sure not. So how's that all going for you? Hey, hey, Mike, just at the end of the. Before you finish up here, are you, are you porking any reporters? We should know about

[Matt Abaticola]

and if not, are you open to the idea? Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Could you make a list for us? Just maybe let us know if there's anybody on this list that maybe you're having sex with. I'll just hand you the list. You can. You can circle the ones there, highlight

[Matt Abaticola]

the ones you like.

[Dan Bernstein]

Here's.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, here's a highlighter for you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Mark McCray]

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[Matt Abaticola]

Did you see the. The note about Travis Kelsey is becoming a minority owner of the Cleveland Guardians?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, I did see that.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay. It just. It just. It. When I saw the story, I was like, you know, good for.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know.

[Matt Abaticola]

I know how much he loves, you know, Cleveland sports. And it brought a question about. I wanted to ask you if. If you had the opportunity.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh.

[Matt Abaticola]

And the financial means to become a minority owner of a sports franchise. And. And the question isn't, would you do it? Let's say you have to do it for this exercise because I don't think you would. I don't. I wouldn't either.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know.

[Matt Abaticola]

Maybe you would. Maybe I was wrong. But if you had the opportunity and the means to do it, which sports franchise would you. Would you buy into? And you could. There's. There's no, no red tape to get through. You just name the team. If I could do it, I would do it. And it would be this particular team.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's really difficult because my. My choice would be a minor league team. I think.

[Matt Abaticola]

Really?

[Dan Bernstein]

I think if I. Yes. I think if I had just mess around money, it would probably be a minor league baseball team.

[Matt Abaticola]

You know, it's probably not that far off of a stretchway to maybe one day buy a minor league.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know. No, I know. My very first job was because when I was making 15 bucks a game with the Madison Muskies doing their PA announcing when I was 18. That's only because my dad's golf buddy, his golf buddy's wife actually bought a minor league team.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. It's funny. We've actually talked about the idea, Natalie and I, about one day down the road would be fun to have like a minor league Baseball team.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's what that would be. Because then you can. You can do whatever you want. You can. You can pull the tarp. You can dress as the mascot. You know, at the major leagues, there's just. There's too much going on at the beat at that level. It's. You can have all the fun in the world at something like that.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And then if you had the extra money, you could. And those players, when you do stuff for them, they're. They're unbelievably appreciative. It's. It's like, what. What? I see the Beloit Sky Carp doing everything.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh. Like promotional stuff.

[Dan Bernstein]

Everything. They've got this tiny little park in this tiny little city. It's the smallest affiliated. The smallest major league affiliated minor league team, the smallest city, and they have a blast. They have a stadium that is the perfect size, and they've got. It's nice. And they've got all kinds of cool food and beer. And the players. Their social media is unbelievable. And they. They are always asking the players random questions and doing lists. And you get.

[Matt Abaticola]

I love lists.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know you do. But there's always somebody you'll see. They'll run up to some guy as he's coming out of the. Out of batting practice, and they'll just say something. You're like, what are your three favorite movies about? Clowns. Like, and it's.

[Mark McCray]

And.

[Matt Abaticola]

And.

[Dan Bernstein]

But it's real baseball. It's not any of this Savannah Bananas dancing, which is. Right. It is the Beloit Sky.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

And Jason and I took in a game that. I gotta go back there. I gotta go back, because there's also a couple places I want a smallmouth fish near there. But the. It. It's. It is. They've created almost the utopian minor league environment they really have. And. And they do such a wonderful job. And there is. There is a example of a stadium that gets built that actually is like, you look at. There's, like, you know, warehouse hotels around there. There's. There's little stuff that's sort of springing up. And look, maybe. Maybe in my dreams, I. I'd bring affiliated baseball back to Rockford, and we. And we take Marinelli Field and we'd restore it or build that up. If they can do it in Beloit, if they can do it in Beloit, they've got to be able to do it in Rockford and find a way, because it's bigger. There's more money. You can. There should be affiliated minor league baseball in Rockford. There should be.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, well, that's not. I didn't expect you to go that route. I like that answer, though. That's a lot of fun. Like, we love going up to see the Kenosha Kingfisher, which is always a good time.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is that. Is that the Northwoods League?

[Matt Abaticola]

It's Northwoods, yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's the Wood Bats. Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yep. Yeah, it's a. It's a fun. It's a fun experience. It's fun to go watch all those college kids that are out there playing for. For the summer. All right, I didn't expect you to go that route. I love that answer, though. But let's say if we're looking at a professional team, would. Would you go MLB or NFL?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I'd go nfa. The chance to have a chunk of an NFL team.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, just economically.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, so which.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's like asking me if I want to invest in, like, the Melman's restaurants

[Matt Abaticola]

or something like 17,000 that they have.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, my rule is, as I've been instructed, never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever invest in the restaurant or bar business. Except if the person asking you is named Melman.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's the only. That's the only advice that the smartest people I know have. Have said that to me. All right, all bets are off. If the Melmans are. If it's. If it's. If it's Jared or rj, I'm in. Not that they need.

[Matt Abaticola]

And I know not to ask you to invest in my place.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, someday when I have all the disposable income and I don't really. And I just don't care, and I'm not looking to break even or anything like that. Maybe I need a tax loss at that point because my other businesses. My minor league thing is taking off through the roof, so. And then you're going to open your combination shawarma stand and juice bar or whatever it is.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, that's not. That's. That's not it. There's a few ideas.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's Matt. It's Maddie's various Mortadellas, and you'll call it Mortade Deli.

[Matt Abaticola]

I would love to do an Italian market little deli. Oh, my God. That would be. That would be a great dream. All right, so NFL team. Is there a particular NFL team that you would.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't care, really, as long as I'm printing money. No, because you're not going to really have any. Any effect or any sway on anything. You're not gonna be able to do anything if you're a part owner of the Broncos or something.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. But, I mean, like, would you want to be a part owner of the Browns and be like, oh, I go to Browns games.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't have to.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, no, you don't have to go to games. You want to be able to, like, enjoy the experience of being a.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's only really one NFL team that I would really, you know, care about. But I don't want to mix heart and. And head, because I do.

[Matt Abaticola]

That's why I wouldn't. I wouldn't do, like, the Cubs or the Bears. Oh, right.

[Dan Bernstein]

If I were. If I were actually had decisions to make of the Bears, I. I'd be miserable.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I know. I wouldn't want to be involved in teams that I love. Yeah. Because you're right. It's an NFL thing. It's all. It's all financial.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. Where was.

[Matt Abaticola]

You're just.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, where would I want to go or hang out? I don't know. I. I mean, I. I wouldn't. I wouldn't mind traveling up to Green Bay every once in a while and, you know, staying up fishing all of my. All the way around there. New. Not Green. Why not? Why not?

[Matt Abaticola]

They hated Packers.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's good investment. I don't. I mean, I don't. I know Ben Johnson hates all of

[Matt Abaticola]

them, but you're supposed to hate them, too. The Packers.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know it's fun, but it's all. But you're asking me. It's all in good fun. If I'm talking about a place that I would like, you know, to. To. To be up and around there. If I had that money, I'd also have, like, a lake house up there.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, you would. Right?

[Dan Bernstein]

So I could. I could have both things, even. Or I could do the Vikings.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, that sounds like a dream job for you. Be minority owner of the packers or the Vikings and do all the fishing you want. I think Minnesota would suit you better than Green Bay, maybe.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think that's where. Isn't that where Schmutzy camps in Minnesota? Is. That's. I could go bother Schmutzy up Minnesota. He does. And I know which lake, but I'm not going to say which lake, because then.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, yeah, you don't want to say that. Oh, no.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, my God, no. It's all the Schmutzy groupies. It's like K pop. It's just massive the number of people. Is that the campsite where Schmozi staying?

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, he does have an angelic voice, too, so.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. Are you. Are you. Is that his tent? Is that schmutzy? Because that's what's going to happen. And actually, they're going to have a series of, like, fake schmutzies that are going to be elsewhere to draw people. They're just going to hire, like, random old bald guys.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, you would know that it was, you know, it was his tent if you'd see all the smoke coming out in the empty boxes of wine.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's not. No. Well, he doesn't really drink anymore. Does he still. Does he smoke?

[Matt Abaticola]

I don't think so. I think. I think he's. I think he's quit both. I don't think he smokes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, then he's not interesting enough to care about it.

[Matt Abaticola]

He's definitely giving up the box.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm just gonna say that. Then why bother? What's. Then nobody's gonna want to hear the

[Matt Abaticola]

lake is because no one wants to go see him now, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

That's true. Now. Yeah. I mean, I'm still not. Because, you know, just in case all the. The. The schmutzy people, all his. His. The army of. Of his. His drooling fans, they're gonna find him.

[Matt Abaticola]

That's actually where he got all his wine from his guy. Just in case. Oh, really? From you? Okay. All right. All right. That's enough of you. Say goodbye now.

[Dan Bernstein]

Goodbye now, Ford. Progress is stopped. Forward progress.

[Matt Abaticola]

A chicago bears podcast with dan bernstein and matt abeticola on 312 sports.