Chicago Bears Stadium Saga: Do the Indiana Numbers Add Up?

Summary

Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Chicago Bears Stadium Saga: Do the Indiana Numbers Add Up?

Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Date: July 14, 2026

---

Overview:

This episode dives into the ongoing saga of the Chicago Bears' potential stadium move—from Illinois to Indiana. Dan and Matt dissect financial estimates, political realities, and community responses around the proposed Hammond stadium deal, while weaving in their signature sharp wit. They then pivot to broader quality-of-life questions in Indiana and round out the episode with lively Bears banter and the latest on NFL prospects and breakout players.

---

1. The Indiana Stadium Proposal: Numbers, Myths & Cold Realities

[01:52 – 17:02]

Key Discussion Points:

• Lack of Transparent Reporting:

  • Dan criticizes the scarcity of deep, independent journalism on the stadium drama.
  • “Never, ever, ever presume you’re getting a free lunch. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” (Dan, 02:48)

• Indiana’s Offer – Breakdown:

  • Indiana lawmakers approved a plan for a $1B publicly funded stadium in Hammond.
  • The Bears promised $2B from their end, but would collect all operating revenue.

• Financing Concerns:

  • Multiple taxes (food/beverage, innkeeper, admissions, etc.) are projected to raise $45M–$55M annually… but annual debt service is estimated at $60M–$62M for a $1B bond over 30 years.
  • “A best case scenario... comes out to about $45 million. If the sports development area collects another $10 million, that's $55 million, which is still $5 million short of what's needed.” (Dan, 07:19)
  • Revenue projections are seen as “rosier than what pans out.” (Prof. Deborah Carroll, paraphrased by Dan, 07:00)

• Economic Development Red Flags:

  • Heavy skepticism about the likelihood of a thriving entertainment/dining district developing around the Hammond site.
  • “You're asking all these people in Indiana—everyone's going to flock here… on a place that smells like ass.” (Dan, 11:00)

• Local Political Blowback:

  • Porter County officials are opposing new taxes, and politicians have suffered electoral defeats after supporting the deal.
  • “When I asked residents if they want to pay the tax, the answer is almost 100%: Not no, but hell no.” (Jim Biggs, Porter County Commissioner, quoted by Dan, 12:02)

• Comparison to Illinois:

  • Illinois Governor Pritzker steadfast: No public stadium funding, only infrastructure support (roads/sewers).
  • Dan lampoons economic impact estimates: “A billion dollars in annual economic impact and state revenues of almost $1.3 billion over 40 years... If you're not watching, I just did the jerk off mechanic.” (Dan, 09:30)

---

2. Indiana: Broader Quality-of-Life Context

[12:37 – 17:02]

Key Discussion Points:

• Indiana Ranked #3 “Worst State to Live In”:

  • Cites CNBC report and a “quality of life score” (air quality, healthcare, child care among worst in the US).
  • “With just 779 licensed child care facilities in the state, with nearly 7 million people, Indiana finishes at the bottom for child care availability on a per capita basis.” (Matt, 13:35)
  • New state policy to “expand access” by “easing licensing requirements” is widely criticized. “We'll make child care dangerous.” (Dan, 15:21)

• Air Quality and Environment:

  • Poor air quality, particularly around potential stadium area (Wolf Lake, refineries).
  • “I have a feeling… I think I know where the air quality issues are, and that’s why it’s ranked where it is.” (Dan, 16:05)

Memorable Moment:

• Carl Hiaasen’s fictional “Wee Hammers” charity as a farcical analogy to Indiana’s child care policy: “Life imitating art…” (Dan, 14:19)

---

3. The Chicago Bears’ Stadium Fate: Ever Murkier

[17:02 – 17:59]

Insights:

• The Indiana legislative approval was mostly a symbolic green light—no actionable details; the Bears have made no commitment.
• “They’re just saying, hey, yeah, we want to do it, and we’ll figure out how to do it later. Just the Bears need to commit to come here.” (Matt, 17:43)
• “Which they haven’t done.” (Dan, 17:52)

---

4. Bears & NFL Personnel Talk: Linebackers Edition

[19:02 – 23:34]

Top 10 NFL Linebackers (2026) – ESPN List [19:21 – 23:00]:

1. Fred Warner (49ers)
2. Roquan Smith (Ravens, former Bear)
3. Carson Schlesinger (Browns)
4. Zach Baun (Eagles)
5. Jack Campbell (Lions)
6. Aziz Al-Shaair (Texans)
7. Jordan Brooks (Dolphins)
8. Nick Bolton (Chiefs)
9. Edgerrin Cooper (Packers)
10. Devin Lloyd (Panthers)

• Bears in the Mix?
  • Honorable mentions include T.J. Edwards (Bears) and Tremaine Edmunds (formerly Bears).
  • “Are there any Chicago Bears in honorable mentions or… also receiving votes?” (Matt, 20:58)
  • “I think TJ Edwards should be in honorable mention.” (Dan, 21:03)

Commentary:

• Dan: “It’s not a position with a lot of household names.” (20:20)
• Discussion on the Bears’ linebacker decisions and head coach Ben Johnson’s offensive focus:
  • “I don’t think he cares [about defense]. I think he says he cares, but I don’t think any part of Ben Johnson is aware that the Bears play defense.” (Dan, 23:04)

---

5. NFL “All-Breakout Team” for 2026

[23:24 – 28:21]

Bucky Brooks’ Offense [23:34 – 27:17]:

• Dan’s Take: “If Luther Burden is not a wide receiver on an all breakout team, it is not a valid list.” (Dan, 24:00)
• Wide Receivers:
  • Ameka Egbuka (Buccaneers)
  • Luther Burden III (Bears)
  • Isaac Teslaw (listed by Matt as “Dan’s guy”)
• Quarterback: Cam Ward (Titans)
• Running Back: Ashton Gentry (Raiders)
• Tight End: Gunnar Helm (Titans)
• OL: Patrick Paul (Dolphins), Amarius Mims (Bengals), Dominic Puni (49ers), Anthony Belton (Packers), Jared Wilson (Patriots)

Memorable laughter as Dan reacts to unfamiliar names:

• “Now I know Gunnar Helm. And I’m not gonna forget him. Oh, no, I’m lying. I will. Of course I’ll forget it.” (Dan, 28:15)

---

6. Lighthearted Closer: Food Talk & Personal Anecdotes

[31:01 – End]

Segment Highlights:

• Dan’s childhood showmanship and mic obsession; Matt’s family food adventures.
• Exchange about recipes: Dan’s gazpacho and Matt’s brisket plans.
• Discussion of rising brisket prices: “People learned to enjoy it because it was tough and inexpensive…and now it’s as expensive as anything else.” (Dan, 34:14)
• Playful banter about Dan’s “metal arm” and mic-attached prosthesis ideas:
  • “You need a metal arm with a microphone attached to it at all times.” (Matt, 29:06)
  • “That would be…how cool would that be?” (Dan, 28:56)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On stadium economics:
  “You're asking all these people in Indiana—everyone's going to flock here. Everybody's going to come here. Meanwhile, further complicating matters…”
  — Dan, 11:00

• On child care ‘solutions’:
  “We’ll make it less safe. We’ll make child care dangerous.”
  — Dan, 15:21

• On Indiana’s quality of life:
  “Indiana finishes at the bottom for child care availability on a per capita basis.”
  — Matt, 13:35

• On Bears’ new stadium in the suburbs:
  “There's a really good chance that even if they are able to build it in Arlington Heights, that it sucks.”
  — Dan, 17:24

---

Key Timestamps

• Indiana stadium financials: 03:54 – 12:39
• Indiana state quality-of-life critique: 12:39 – 17:02
• NFL linebacker rankings: 19:02 – 23:34
• All-breakout NFL team/Bears prospects: 23:24 – 28:21
• Personal stories & food talk: 31:01 – end

---

Tone & Style

Dan and Matt deploy irreverent, Chicago grit throughout—balancing sharp skepticism about stadium politics and economics with moments of personal nostalgia and food-loving banter. Their analysis blends logic, wit, and no-nonsense fandom—making the heavy topic of stadium financing accessible and engaging for any Bears follower.

---

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a full grasp of the Bears’ stadium intrigue, the realpolitik behind public funding, and the pulse of Chicago football talk.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

Join me Genevieve on Saturday, July 18th from 11am to 1pm at the AT&T Skokie Store at 9410 Skokie Boulevard for fun giveaways and more. Plus, enter for your chance to win Ariana Grande concert tickets every half hour courtesy of WTMX FM. Don't miss it. Saturday, July 18 at the AT&T store, 9410 Skokie Boulevard while supplies last. For details, visit wtmx.com events Years from now, the blanket they still reach for may be the first Serenoni blanket you bring home. With signature softness you feel instantly and lasting quality that holds up for years, Serenoni is there from the first ride home from the hospital to cozy movie nights long after. That's why families keep coming back to Serenoni. Visit Serenoni.com that's S A R-A N O N I.com and bring home their first Serenoni blanket today. If the world were like a sleep number mattress, everything would adapt for your comfort. Your coffee would never get cold, your flight would always be on time, and your mattress would always respond to you and your unique sleep needs. Sleep number mattresses are designed to respond to your body and shift with your changing life, helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. To experience a whole new world of comfort, visit a sleep number store or go to sleepnumber.com SL to a good life sleep.

[Dan Bernstein]

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

[Matt Abeticola]

219.

[Dan Bernstein]

Forward progress.

[Matt Abeticola]

A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abetic Cola on 312 Sports,

[Dan Bernstein]

we give you forward progress. You got it. I hope you like it. Here on 312Sports, we talk Bears and talk NFL. And if you looked at the front page of the Chicago Tribune, you saw a fascinating story right here. And I always I've been asking this from the moment the Bears saga has begun, where has the actual reporting been on what is going on and what's not going on? We have relied in large part on capital Facts and Rich Miller from, you know, Capitol News Illinois from downstate, we relied on Paris Shuts here in Chicago with now NBC 5 doing a lot of the actual reporting. What's true, what's not. And unfortunately, when we have these, these mainstays of reporting that are either not well funded or staffed or have their opportunities to find things out, you as a taxpayer end up getting screwed. And that could be you. If you're in Indiana right now and I told you this that Never, ever, ever presume you're getting a free lunch. There's no such thing as a free lunch. I was taught that at a very, very young age. With those exact words, son. No such thing as a free lunch. This is from today's Tribune, with a big picture of the Wolf Lake Industrial center in the area bisected by I90 off of Wolf Lake. There, a buyer should beware of a Bentley on sale for half price, says public finance analyst Jeffrey Profitter. Now there is an ironic

[Matt Abeticola]

a public

[Dan Bernstein]

finance analyst whose last name is Profiter. P R O P H E T E R What is the opposite of an inaptronym? So should the public on a sports stadium quote with sports facilities, few lawmakers ever ask what's behind the curtain, said Profiter, an associate professor at the University of Colorado, Denver. They're so in love with what they see that they ignore what they can't see. In February, Indiana lawmakers approved a plan to spend up to a billion dollars to build an enclosed stadium in Hammond for the Chicago Bears. The team pledged to pay $2 billion toward building the stadium and would then lease the site but collect all the operating revenue. But whether the planned taxes in the legislation would be enough to pay off the construction cost is highly uncertain, some analysts say. Just as whether the Bears will move to Indiana depends on whether Illinois will make a better offer, the financing of the Hammond site depends on a lot of unknowns. So that's in there, too. Let me read that again. Just as whether the Bears will move to Indiana depends on whether Illinois will make a better offer, chief among them, Profiter said, the ultimate cost of buying land and building and maintaining a stadium, and the lost opportunity of what else could be done with the money if it didn't go toward the stadium. There's a secondary story here that we're going to get to that I think dovetails nicely with this. A fiscal analysis by the state's Legislative Services Agency did not address the costs, but it estimated the proceeds for the stadium a 1% food and beverage tax in Lake and Porter counties could generate an estimated total of 12 million to 18 million annually. This, according to legislative chief economist Rantir Jha, a 5% increase to double Lake County's innkeepers tax would collect at least $5 million annually. An admissions tax of 12% of the ticket price for events at the stadium brings in around $12 million a year. A northwest Indiana professional sports development area for the stadium, parking and training facilities could collect sales and use tax. Wait, the training facilities aren't going to be there.

[Matt Abeticola]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

So there's sales and use tax, individual income tax, food and beverage tax in Lake county and Hammond. The legislative analysis gave no estimate of the revenue, but projected it to be less than the $16 million generated by a similar area around Lucas Oil Stadium, which includes two other sports facilities and a convention center in Indianapolis that Hammond doesn't have. So you see where we're going here.

[Matt Abeticola]

Why? Why don't they.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't.

[Matt Abeticola]

Why aren't there other facilities there already housing professional teams as well as a convention center?

[Dan Bernstein]

Nothing's going there and nothing's ever going to go there. A northwest Indiana stadium development district within Hammond but outside the PDSA would collect increases in property tax, income tax and sales tax. Revenue from similar tax z in the state vary significantly from minimal to more than 10 million annually. So in a best case scenario, adding up the maximum tax revenue estimates comes out to about 45 million dollars. If the sports development area collects another 10 million, that's 55 million, which is still 5 million short of what's needed. According to two economists. Profiter and Professor Deborah Carroll, director of the Government Finance Research center at the University of Illinois, Chicago, calculated a 30 year bond of 1 billion DOL would require annual debt service payments ranging from 60 million to 62 million. That's just on this year's dollars. That's right. Now that's this year's dollars. And that is with the costs being what they say they are rather than double. That's my editorialization. Asked if the state could pay its debt, Carol told the Tribune she didn't think Indiana would move forward unless its leaders thought it could do so. But but such projections tend to be rosier than what pans out. She said the reality can drastically change the financial scenario. On the positive side, the payments don't depend solely on any single source, and some would be paid by people going to the stadium from out of state, though she doubted many people would stay overnight. Warnings.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's a good doubt to have.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, honey, we're going to make this a longer stay in Hammond.

[Matt Abeticola]

Nope.

[Dan Bernstein]

Warning flags include great uncertainty over what revenues will actually come from those sources, especially development around the stadium, which is expected to include a hotel, restaurants and bars. So, she said, what happens if the revenue falls short? That's where the broader tax sources unrelated to the stadium come into play, which would increase the tax burden for Indiana residents. Finally, she said, what other events might draw necessary crowds? Will enough people attend those events? Asked to analyze the deal, Dan Close, head of municipal finance at the Global Investment Manager, Nuveen said there were too many unknowns. He said whether Indiana can pay this debt depends on tax revenues in the yet to be defined sports development area. The specifics of any financing, he said, are highly uncertain. They depend economic on economic development around the stadium. In Illinois, J.B. pritzker said the state won't pay to build a stadium but, as with other developments, would pay for infrastructure costs like roads and sewers. Estimated 855 million at the site in Arlington Heights. That's where the team owns property for a proposed multi use site. A consultant for the Bears projected that a $2 billion stadium would create 33,000 construction jobs, 9,000 permanent jobs, a billion dollars in annual economic impact and state revenues of almost 1.3 billion over 40 years. If you're not watching, I just did the jerk off mechanic. Economists generally are skeptical of such projections and of public financing for Sports Stadium, saying they're a bad deal for tax. The Illinois proposal to let the Bears and other developers negotiate their property taxes for big projects would have been a direct property tax cut for corporations that other residents would pay for, according to an analysis by the nonprofit Good Jobs first and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. So here's the best part of this is that if you are counting on not just being able to build a stadium on the site or sites that the Bears have held their nose and pretended to pick out, you're asking, you're saying even if we combine these tiny little areas on protected wetlands with with land owned by other people and other companies that have already been dismissed by the mayor of Hammond as saying, well, they're old companies. No one will shed a tear if they go anywhere. You're asking other businesses on this area, bifurcated by i90 on a place that smells like ass, you want businesses to say that's really. You're telling all these people in Indiana, everyone's going to flock here. Everybody's going to come here. Meanwhile, further complicating matters, according to this piece, some Porter county officials are opposing the 1% food and beverage tax there. County Commissioner Jim Biggs said when he asked residents if they want to pay the tax, quote, the answer is almost 100%. Not no, but hell no. Council President Andy Vasquez blamed his primary election defeat this spring on his support for the stadium tax. So this guy, this guy already got fired for supporting the stadium tax, right? He said. With much of the council membership to change with November's election, the council wouldn't vote on the matter until Next year so sitting members can be held accountable. And the Republican candidates succeeding Vasquez, Porter county plan commissioner Craig Kenworthy said no new taxes for Lake county projects. All right, so there you have it. If you really look at the numbers for everybody say, oh, look at those. We're business friendly or business friendly because you don't have money for more important things.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. Like child care, for example. Maybe.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. So CNBC put out this list of the top 10 worst states to live in, and Indiana ranked number three on this list.

[Dan Bernstein]

And why would that be?

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, it said their weaknesses, child care, air quality and health. Said they were strong on crime, gave them a 2026 quality of life score, 82 out of 290. And by another publication, top states, that grade is an F. With just 779 licensed child care facilities in the state, with nearly 7 million people, Indiana finishes at the bottom for child care availability on a per capita basis. And what is available is expensive, eating up 15% of the median income for a household of two working parents in the Hoosier state. In June, Indiana's child care agency unveiled a sweeping new policy proposal aimed at expanding access by.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, that's. That's good. Expanded access is good.

[Matt Abeticola]

Among other things, easing licensing requirements.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's bad.

[Matt Abeticola]

Critics allege the proposal sacrifices quality.

[Dan Bernstein]

Are you an official child care facility?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Why. Why are the kids digging in the backyard?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

One of the things they do. You know what it sounds like the Wee Hammers.

[Matt Abeticola]

It does sound like. I was just going to say it sounds like the Wee Hammers.

[Dan Bernstein]

That is Carl Hiason. We have life imitating art because in. In the book Fever beach, this. This horribly idiotic and corrupt Florida congressman who is not so loosely based on Matt Gaetz to the point where his physical description is identical to that of Matt Gaetz. His name might as well be Schmatt Schmates.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

It is clear. And so he starts a construction group called the Wee Hammers that is a charity that essentially uses young children to build what they say are our houses for the unhoused.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes, but they're not really.

[Dan Bernstein]

But they're using actual child labor with power equipment and everything else.

[Matt Abeticola]

So we could. We could create more childcare facilities by easing licensing requirements. And that. That just sounds like the stupidest thing you could do. Yep. How could we create more childcare? We'll make it easier for.

[Dan Bernstein]

We'll make it less safe. We'll make child care dangerous.

[Matt Abeticola]

So anyway, they ranked number three in the top 10 worst states to live in.

[Dan Bernstein]

So you're saying that they were strong on crime, though.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's where they're crimes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, very strong on crime.

[Matt Abeticola]

We have no crime but child care, air quality. And that might involve Wolf Lake area and health.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah. If you, if you. Worse things. If you do the map of Indiana air quality, where do you think the issues are? I don't think they're in Seymour.

[Matt Abeticola]

Probably not. Is it. Is. I don't know. Is it near the Wolf Lake terminals? I don't know. Where there's oil, where there's like, refineries and stuff? I don't know. Is that, is that accurate?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't think your air quality issues are in Rensselaer. I, I are at Indiana Beach. They might be. I don't know. I, I have a feeling. And this is just based on a hunch. It's just based on maybe rolling down a window, going, I think I know where the air quality issues are and that's why it's ranked where it is. This is, this is just these. The fact that these two stories came out concurrently is just perfect. So just, you know, it's not really an issue because it would never happen anyway. And everybody who's following this knows that it was never going to happen anyway. But the fact that they're still looking at these costs, like you're basing this on what they're saying this stadium is going to cost no matter where it gets built. If you're looking at the. And this is probably a topic for another time. They're doing this on the cheap.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right. And. Well, yeah, for sure. They said 2 billion for the stadium

[Dan Bernstein]

and the total cost, then apparently that they're. Whatever the stadium is, wherever they say it's going to go, it's just going to be. It's just set right. It's going to be. Ideally, a stadium is built architecturally to reflect a sense of place and to blend with the area and the land. The Bears are not going to do this. That there's a really good chance that even if they are able to build it in Arlington Heights, that it sucks.

[Matt Abeticola]

And wasn't the legislation passed in Indiana, Help me or correct me if I'm wrong, that it was just. It was passed to get the motion in progress and moving forward, but there were no details.

[Dan Bernstein]

Correct.

[Matt Abeticola]

Involved with it. Correct. Right. Okay. So I'm not making that up. They're just saying, hey, yeah, we want to do it and we'll figure out how to do it later. Just the Bears need to commit to Come here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Which they haven't done.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

And they haven't said if or when they will.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. Okay. I just wanted to make sure about that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. Don't let managing your money be scary. Don't let it be intimidating, because it's not. I think having intelligent control of your finances and your investments is really important, and I believe Monarch can help you in doing so. Monarch is an app that functions like a financial advisor in your pocket. And as you get older and more people are relying on you to do this right, Monarch helps you do it. Helps you hit savings goals or a new net worth milestone. Helps you realize when a large percentage of your income is going somewhere unexpected. I love the fact that Monarch lets you compare your investments to the Benchmark S&P 500. Most apps are going to tell you what you've already spent. Monarch helps you set goals and map out big purchases and see if you're actually on track before it's too late to adjust so you can 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. That's 50% off your first [e-mail] with the code DBU.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, ESPN, they've been putting out their top 10 list by position lists. I don't. Dude, you know we love lists. So today we have for you, Dan, which you haven't seen, I'm assuming the top 10 linebackers going into the 2026 season.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, starting off at number one. Any guesses?

[Dan Bernstein]

Fred Warner.

[Matt Abeticola]

Fred Warner is number one from the San Francisco 49ers. Very good. Number two, former Chicago Bear,

[Dan Bernstein]

Roquan Smith.

[Matt Abeticola]

Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens.

[Dan Bernstein]

Number two. So these are. These are box linebackers and not edge rushers.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is number Zach Bond on there?

[Matt Abeticola]

Number three is Carson Schlesinger from Cleveland Brown.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm probably out now. Is Zach Bond on the list?

[Matt Abeticola]

Zach Bond is number four on the Philadelphia Eagles.

[Dan Bernstein]

A lot. And then you've got the guy. Is it Lloyd on the Jaguars?

[Matt Abeticola]

Let's see. Number five, you know, number five from the Detroit Lions. And it's not Dan Campbell.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, it's Jack Campbell.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's Jack Campbell.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

Number six is Aziz. I'll share. From the Houston Texans.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it's not a position with a lot of household names.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct. Number seven is Jordan Brooks from the Miami Dolphins.

[Dan Bernstein]

Bobby Wagner's probably long gone.

[Matt Abeticola]

Number eight, Nick Bolton from the Kansas City Chiefs.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Number nine, Edgar and Cooper of the the Green Bay packers. And number 10 is Devin Lloyd of the Carolina Panthers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is that the guy I'm thinking of?

[Matt Abeticola]

I think.

[Dan Bernstein]

Lloyd. Yeah, I think, I think. Yeah, yeah, that's the guy I'm thinking of.

[Matt Abeticola]

So that's number 10. So those are your top 10 honorable mentions.

[Dan Bernstein]

I did better than I thought. Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

Are there any Chicago Bears in honorable mentions or.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Also receiving votes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I think TJ Edwards should be in honorable mention or will get some votes.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, these are the linebackers with honorable mentions. Quay Walker, Demarian Overshone. Patrick Queen, Demario Davis. Honorable mentions. Also receiving votes. Tremaine Edmonds, Frankie Lavu. Bobby Wagner.

[Dan Bernstein]

Frankie Luvu. Right?

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, Lu Lu Luvu. Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, he, he was involved in a play. He, he hit a Bear or there there was. Or he made a pick there, there was, there was a play in a game that, where Frankie Luvu was involved last year.

[Matt Abeticola]

I remember Ernest Jones also getting votes. Zaire Franklin, Kaden Ellis, dre Greenlaw and T.J. edwards.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, sir.

[Matt Abeticola]

Also receiving votes, sir. Okay, so you got that, you got that correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right. Well, it's not. If Edmonds is still on there, can Devin Bush his replacement is, you know the question do some of the things that he. Or do enough things well enough. You know you're going to take a little bit of a hit there because few linebackers are have the frame and the physical abilities of Tremaine Edmonds. The question is, is there enough of a lack of a drop off that the money would be better spent elsewhere and that's their bet. And I don't think there's anybody that is up in arms over the Bears making the financial decision they did at that position. And let's get back to our foundational thought about the head coach of the Bears and anything regarding the defense.

[Matt Abeticola]

He just doesn't care.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't think he cares. I think he says he cares, but I don't think any part of the actual essence of. Ben Johnson is aware that the Bears play defense of any kind or are asked to just going to outscore on every possession he's trying to score a touchdown and that's never going to change.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right. NFL.com Bucky Brooks. He's put out the all NFL, the all breakout team for 2026. Okay, so here's what he did. Hang on with NFL.

[Dan Bernstein]

Give me the criteria and then I'm gonna. I'll give you my thoughts.

[Matt Abeticola]

NFL training camps opening later this month. It's a perfect time to survey the landscape and identify youngsters who are set up to become star level players for their respective teams. Here are 11 offensive players with serious breakout potential in 2026. Okay, so this is the 11 starters breakout potential.

[Dan Bernstein]

If Luther Burden is not a wide receiver on an potential all breakout team, it is not a valid list.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

I would. I would say that Colston Loveland could still be. I think he's probably too good to be considered a breakout candidate at this point because of what he did in the playoffs and what he did in the second half of last year. But. But when a team gets rid of somebody like DJ Moore with when. And one of the goals of that deal is to open up an opportunity and they haven't shied away from the fact that. Yeah, that this is. That they're basically handing this job and this chance to Luther Burden. This is the. There's never been in my memory a more obvious Chicago Bear candidate for a team like this.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I will just. I'll just tell you that Colson Loveland not on this list because he. He broke out too good. Yeah, he broke out. All right, so here's the 11 players. Any guess at quarterback who that that breakout star might be.

[Dan Bernstein]

But a true breakout, Tyler Shuck.

[Matt Abeticola]

It is not Tyler Shuck. It is the Tennessee Titans, Cam Ward.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Cam Ward's the quarterback, running back for the Las Vegas Raiders, Ashton Genty. Here are the wide receivers and if. No Luther Burden.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's not a valid list. It's just because that's an easy one. That's. You don't have to go making phone calls and ferreting out secrets of the depth chart or who's getting looks over whom to report this correctly.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, there are three wide receivers listed. You want to take a stab at any of them besides Luther Burden?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't think I know enough about some of the.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think you do.

[Dan Bernstein]

Chart guys on other teams.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think you do. All right, number one, Ameca Buka from Tampa Bay. Number two, Luther Burden III from the Chicago Bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

There you go. Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

And the third wide receiver listed is actually your guy, Dan.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, let me guess. Isaac to slaw.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's Isaac to slide. Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

Your guy, Isaac Tasla makes. Yep. Tight end from the Tennessee Titans. Do you even know who that is?

[Dan Bernstein]

Because I have no clue.

[Matt Abeticola]

His name is Gunner and his last name is Helm.

[Dan Bernstein]

Gunar Helm. Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

He sounds like a tight end.

[Dan Bernstein]

Sounds like a commandant.

[Matt Abeticola]

He was going for that, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

Goodnar Helm.

[Matt Abeticola]

The tackles. Yeah. One for the Miami Dolphins, one from the Bengals. It is Patrick Paul from the Dolphins and Amarius Mims. From the Bengals, guard Dominic Puni.

[Dan Bernstein]

Dominic what?

[Matt Abeticola]

Puni.

[Dan Bernstein]

Puni.

[Matt Abeticola]

P, U, N I.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

From the San Francisco 49ers. Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Just making sure.

[Matt Abeticola]

And Anthony Belton from the Green Bay packers. And the center on the all breakout list team here, from the New England Patriots, Jared Wilson.

[Commercial Announcer]

Insurance isn't one size fits all. That's why drivers have enjoyed progressives name your price tool for years. Now, with the name youe Price Tool, you tell them what you want to pay, and they'll show you options that fit your budget. So whether you're picking out your first policy or just looking for something that works better for you and your family, they make it easy to see your options. Visit progressive.com, find a rate that works for you. With the name youe Price Tool, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law.

[Dan Bernstein]

Again, if they're all breakout, that means I'm probably. It's probably a team of people of whom I'm not all that aware yet, and I don't think most people you

[Matt Abeticola]

should have been aware of. Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And most people, I. I'm. I am keenly aware of Isaac Taslaw and his fabulous leaping ability.

[Matt Abeticola]

That is an Ashton Genti. And of course, Ward.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, sure. But those. I know, like.

[Matt Abeticola]

I mean, that tight end and those offensive linemen. Yeah, that's.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now I know Gunnar Helm.

[Matt Abeticola]

Now you do.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I'm not gonna forget him. Oh, no, I'm lying. I will. Of course I'll forget it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, you'll forget once you walk away from that microphone. You've already forgotten.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because I'm old and stupid. Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

You know, it's funny when you're. Earlier in the show, you had your left arm extended out, so your arm with your watch was extended out, but it was behind the microphone stand so you couldn't really see it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like this.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, no, no. So, like, extended out, straight out towards, like, the left side of the window. Put it down, though. Put it down, down, down. No, leave it stretched out. Dumb motherfucker. Stretch it out.

[Dan Bernstein]

How's that?

[Matt Abeticola]

No, put it down further. Because earlier the show looked like your arm was metal.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, that would be. How cool would that be?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. And there was a microphone attached to it. That's what you need. You need a metal arm with a microphone attached to it at all times.

[Dan Bernstein]

Hey, everybody. How we doing?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. Yeah, it was. Yeah. Sorry, you were. It was like in the middle of the portion of the. The Tribune article about the. The stadium in Indiana, and I just. I lost all concentration because I was Just looking at your metal arm. Your left arm became metal.

[Dan Bernstein]

Put my watch on there. There you go.

[Matt Abeticola]

We should do that. We should remove your hand and just attach a microphone do with my end of your arm.

[Dan Bernstein]

Hey, baby. Be back to pick you up later.

[Matt Abeticola]

Always on Mike. Well, yeah, he kind of is.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's. Wasn't that, wasn't that Mr. Microphone? Wasn't that the quote?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Boy, and I always wondered why my parents didn't buy me one of those when I was a kid.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, they knew right away. Let's not do that. Let's not torture ourselves any worse just by having this kid in the house.

[Dan Bernstein]

The one time I. When I was little and I realized that we, we had like this little plug in microphone thing that could be used to record on the, the cassette recorder. And if you plugged it into the stereo system, you could speak through the speakers. And when I figured that out. Oh, that was a. That was a. That was a day.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like. Oh, and then it was like I would set chairs up in the living

[Matt Abeticola]

room and demand an audience. Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I would do shows.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. That was the day that mom had a couple extra heaters.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. I think that's the day they tried to leave. Well, that's it. It was fun while it lasted, but he's discovered the microphone and now he's setting up chairs.

[Matt Abeticola]

And I would. Dad started taking more travel trips then for work.

[Dan Bernstein]

I would dress up as the Fonz and. And do a version of like a Happy Days show as a little kid. Yeah. I have. I had a leather jacket and I would pretend to be Fonzie.

[Commercial Announcer]

All right.

[Dan Bernstein]

True story.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Oh, no, I. I believe it. I believe it. I made your. Your halloumi salad yesterday.

[Dan Bernstein]

I saw the picture.

[Matt Abeticola]

You didn't.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wait.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, I told you. I. I told you.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's an early dinner.

[Matt Abeticola]

You brought it up. Oh, no, that was a snack. That wasn't even dinner. That was. That was a light snack.

[Dan Bernstein]

I got the text. I'm out there. I'm out there walking the walls, you know, searching for bass. And my. And it's the family group text. Can you make gazpacho tonight? So I gotta backtime it because it's got a chill.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And I'm thinking, what time did the text come through?

[Dan Bernstein]

I'll tell you exactly when. Because then. Because then I gotta figure everything out and then I gotta find the exact recipe I used last time. And you know, then I'm going to.

[Commercial Announcer]

Hold on.

[Matt Abeticola]

Gotta get the ingredients and.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it said it was. Oh, it was 253.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, that's early enough.

[Dan Bernstein]

So it was early enough so I knew I could fish for a couple more hours, and then I could get all the stuff that I needed. It was spicy. I switched one of the Fresno peppers that I usually use with a good fresh jalapeno. And just kind of. Because I think, you know, the cold soup needs the heat. And I used. I combined sherry vinegar with the red wine vinegar.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did a little bit of that. It was. It was outstanding. Heirloom tomatoes, English cucumber, garlic, red onion. Even though it's not traditional, I like a little bit of cilantro. I like a little bit. And then I made. I bought a good French bread. I made my own croutons. And then before. Sir, Even though it's made with olive oil in the soup before serving, I took the really good olive oil, did a drizzle of that. I made it all nice of these three, each bowl had three big chive strands sticking up out of it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Who. Who requested that?

[Dan Bernstein]

Beth requested it, but she put in the request on behalf of the rest of the family.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. So everybody wanted it. All right. Yeah, I did my tacos last night. So that was. Yeah.

[Commercial Announcer]

That.

[Matt Abeticola]

The halloumi salad was just a little. A little snack to have with the. The tomatoes and then the pickled jalapenos. That was a good. It was a good mix.

[Dan Bernstein]

We're not quite in tomato season yet. We got to get much further into the. Into late August and September before the. All the good tomatoes start coming. A lot of the stuff's still coming from the. The Canadian greenhouses.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, I gotta figure out dinner tonight. It's just me and the boys. See what they want to do.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm thinking ribs.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, ribs sound good. You know what I think? Saturday, my first Saturday without baseball since March. I'm going to. I'm gonna get the brisket. I'm gonna smoke a brisket on my Traeger on Saturday.

[Dan Bernstein]

Have you seen the per pound price of brisket?

[Matt Abeticola]

I haven't, because I haven't looked, but. Okay. That's not gonna stop me.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, my God. It's.

[Matt Abeticola]

I want to do it, so I'll do it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

And the.

[Dan Bernstein]

Again, one of these cuts that people learned to enjoy because it was tough and inexpensive. And it was always the common folk food, the poor people's food. The brisket on a lot of those. The cuts from the plate that. And now it's as expensive as anything else. The barbecue craze has driven up the

[Matt Abeticola]

price of the yeah, I'm sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

Folks, cuts.

[Matt Abeticola]

I buy just the flat. I don't. I don't do the whole thing. I get just the flat, and I can get it at Whole Foods. And when I did one and I haven't done it for a while, it was. It was like 10 bucks a pound.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's great.

[Matt Abeticola]

And I was getting a five pounder.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, okay, that's great. That's a great price. The only problem is if they cut the decal off, sometimes they remove the fat cap entirely.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's not. It's. It's. There's. There's always.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's no.

[Matt Abeticola]

There's nothing I need. Yeah, there's.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's no point in making a brisket. They hope you want it lean. No, no, they don't.

[Matt Abeticola]

You.

[Dan Bernstein]

You want that. That glorious fat cap on there. Ideally, you want the deckle on there because that's where that's going to come from.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. But that's why I do just the flat, because I don't. I'm not doing burn ends. And I want it. I want it more lean. And they have enough. There's enough fat layer on it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

These at Whole Foods, it works out well. So I'll. Yeah, I'll see if it used to be 10 bucks a pound. That's what I've always gotten it. So we'll see what it's.

[Dan Bernstein]

What it's at now.

[Matt Abeticola]

Hopefully not much more.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right. I don't. Let me get a price on this. Whole Foods brisket. Oh, you're right. Beef chuck brisket, whole boneless, 9.99 a pound.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, there we go.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not terrible. No, wait. No, no, no, no, no. Oh, no. Grass fed is 17.99 a pound. Okay.

[Commercial Announcer]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

But this one doesn't have any fat on it, so I don't even know what you're gonna do with it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, no, I'll make it delicious.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yum.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right.

[Dan Bernstein]

I bet you. What does it take, 10 hours? Eight?

[Matt Abeticola]

No, a little less than. Yeah, it's around. Around eight, seven. Eight hours.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, because you gotta get it up. What did I get it up to? Like 160. And then I wrap it, get it up to like 205. Then you gotta let it sit for a couple hours, so.

[Dan Bernstein]

And then you get a nice bark on the outside. And then.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I just do ring. I do salt, pepper, garlic powder.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's it. No brown sugar.

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't do anything. Yeah, no, no, no sugar.

[Dan Bernstein]

Then you get like a pastrami, like quality. If there's a little something, you know, sweet and spicy on there. All right, well, okay, well, now I'm hungry on food progress here.

[Matt Abeticola]

Goal.

[Dan Bernstein]

The second half of off season. Forward progress is here. We if we've made you hungry, we've done enough in whatever country in which you may be listening because we've got, we've got a lot of fans all over the world right now for forward progress. I was just looking at that.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, and by the way, too, there'll be some fun, fun things to share soon for our forward progress friends.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, very fun.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, not just.

[Matt Abeticola]

Very excited. Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not just Ford progress. French 31 2.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I know, but I'm, yeah, it's very excited that when, when we get to a point, we can get that info out.

[Dan Bernstein]

So, yes, I can't wait. I can't wait. A lot of exciting things happening at 3one2Sports. Thank you for being a part of Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears podcast. Forward Progress has stopped. Forward Progress. Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 Sports. Tired of juggling sales tools or spending hours on prospecting just to book a few meetings? Meet Apollo, the go to market platform for finding leads, connecting with buyers and closing deals all in one place. Apollo gives you access to over 210 million contacts and AI that handles all your busywork, finding leads, drafting emails, and even prioritizing your day. So stop paying for five different sales tools when one does it all. Visit Apollo I.O. and sign up free today.