Jaylon Johnson - Should he start

Summary

Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Jaylon Johnson – Should He Start
Date: September 4, 2025
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola (312 Sports)

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Episode Overview

In this lively kickoff to the 2025 NFL season, Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola dig deep into a pivotal Bears dilemma: Should star cornerback Jaylon Johnson start in Week 1 or sit out to avoid aggravating a lingering injury? The hosts balance detailed analysis, insider tidbits, and comedic tangents—making for a show that’s equal parts expertise and entertainment. They also discuss concerns about the Bears’ offensive line, touch on expectations for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams under new offensive leadership, and riff about everything from Vikings history to ice cream routines.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Season Kickoff & Sponsored Plays (00:00–04:50)

• The hosts open by reveling in the feel of football weather and excitement for Cowboys vs. Eagles as the season opener.
• Conversation about the Eagles’ infamous “tush push” play now being sponsored by Dude Wipes, leading to concerns about the rise of sponsored in-game plays.
  • Quote:
    “This isn’t... well known yet, though. People don’t know that this is out there, that the Bears have some plays that actually it’s in the works and being sponsored.” – Matt (03:17)
• They tease upcoming disclosure of Bears plays that may be sponsored, poking fun at the secretive process.

2. Main Theme: The Jaylon Johnson Dilemma (04:30–18:08)

Injury Discussion

• Shift to real Bears talk: Jaylon Johnson’s status is in doubt due to a likely adductor/groin injury; should he play or rest Week 1?
  • Quote:
    “I, I would not be mad if they said he’s not healthy. He’s not healthy and we’re not going to lose him for the year.” – Dan (15:15)
• Johnson is deemed arguably the Bears’ best player, but his injury is “easily reinjurable” and a big risk at cornerback—given the position’s demand for explosive changes of direction.
• The dilemma: Is an 80% healthy Johnson better than a backup like Nayshawn Wright? Both agree yes, but with reservations.

The Football Reality

• Matt notes that NFL players are rarely 100% healthy and must play through pain, but the calculus for Week 1 in a division game is tough.

• Quote:
  “If he didn’t play on Monday night, I’m not going to be upset... If there’s a good chance that he could make the injury worse and see more time out... maybe one week helps and maybe one week does nothing... But you’re also not going to keep a guy like that out if he can play.” – Matt (15:47)

• Dan explains the specific physical demands of the adductor muscle, its role for corners, and why re-injury can impact both effectiveness and long-term availability.

Team Building Concerns

• The discussion touches on broader personnel worries, particularly that Johnson is their clear top player but plays corner, when ideally you’d have an elite pass-rusher be your defensive foundation. (08:08–09:10)

3. O-Line/Offensive Depth Chart Takeaways (07:24–13:01, 30:33–35:16)

• Both hosts show concern for the Bears’ ongoing issues at tackle, even as the interior O-line was aggressively fixed in the offseason.
  • Coach Ben Johnson’s comments about Braxton Jones (starting LT) sound tepid:
    “He knows what he’s doing. Is it perfect every play? No, it’s not. But we did see the execution go up... We think he’s going to continue to ascend the more reps that he gets.” – Reading of Ben Johnson, via Tribune (30:45)
• Matt points out it’s disappointing for a second-round pick (the backup tackle) not to start or even have a clear position.
• These uncertainties make the protection of rookie QB Caleb Williams an area for heightened anxiety.

4. Caleb Williams & Coaching Outlook (26:05–29:41)

• Debate on whether Ben Johnson, new offensive coach, has recalibrated his expectations for rookie QB Caleb Williams after working with him.
  • “I think he thought it was something different before he got here. It still can be great. He still may think it’s great, but I think it’s different now before he got here.” – Matt (26:19)
• Dan distinguishes between “quarterbacking skills” (traits) and “fully getting quarterbacking” (cerebral, play operation).
• They both agree: Caleb’s raw talent is off the charts, but how those translate under pressure remains to be seen.

5. Matchup Insights: Ben Johnson vs. Brian Flores (43:05–44:40)

• Matt highlights a positive trend: Ben Johnson’s offenses have scored well against Brian Flores–led defenses, average 30+ points and are undefeated in four matchups.
  • Gives hope for the Bears’ offensive prospects in their opener vs. the Vikings.

6. Comedic Tangents & Side Stories (Throughout)

• The episode is peppered with funny side discussions:
  • Sponsored football plays, Dude Wipes, and the fear of every play being branded (03:06).
  • Long running “sit him or bench him” fantasy football bit (09:10–10:59).
  • Ice cream obsessions in their households (18:15–20:11).
  • Deep dive into the most famous Vikings in history (36:01–42:42), tied back humorously to impending matchups.
  • Mockery of odd player nicknames and history, including “Eric Bloodaxe” and “Ivar the Boneless.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 03:17 | Matt | "This isn’t... well known yet... that the Bears have some plays... in the works and being sponsored." | | 08:09 | Dan | "He may be the Bears best player... the only player on their team who would be easily mentioned as the best among his position right now." | | 11:06 | Dan | "On the field, I don’t think it’s that easy a decision just because of... a torn adductor muscle..." | | 15:15 | Dan | "I would not be mad if they said he’s not healthy... we’re not going to lose him for the year." | | 15:47 | Matt | "If he didn’t play on Monday night, I’m not going to be upset... But you’re also not going to keep a guy like that out if he can play." | | 26:19 | Matt | "I think he thought it was something different before he got here... but I think it’s different now before he got here." | | 30:45 | Ben Johnson (read by Dan) | "He knows what he’s doing. Is it perfect every play? No... but... his execution [went] up... We think he’s going to... ascend the more reps he gets." | | 34:27 | Matt | "...you are not in a position as this team to have a second round pick that doesn’t start for your football club." | | 43:39 | Matt | "Ben Johnson’s... 4-0 against Brian Flores... averaging 30.5 points a game." |

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–04:50: Season Kickoff, Tush Push Sponsorship, Setting Up the Episode
• 04:30–18:08: Jaylon Johnson Injury Debate
• 07:24–13:01 & 30:33–35:16: Depth Chart/O-Line & Backup Tackle Issues
• 26:05–29:41: Caleb Williams & Ben Johnson Coaching Philosophy
• 36:01–42:42: Viking Legends and Their Hilarious Names
• 43:05–44:40: Ben Johnson’s Track Record vs. Brian Flores

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Tone & Style

Authentic Chicago sports banter — insightful, passionate, irreverent, and full of inside jokes. Dan is often analytical and skeptical, Matt brings a mix of fandom and dry wit. Their interplay is peppered with running gags (“sit him or bench him?”), family anecdotes, and deep football analysis, creating a sense of community for long-time listeners.

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Bottom Line / Takeaways

• Jaylon Johnson’s health has huge implications for the Bears’ defense; the risk vs. reward of playing him in Week 1 is real and nuanced.
• The Bears’ O-line, particularly at tackle, remains a major concern—heightening anxiety over protecting rookie QB Caleb Williams.
• Caleb’s immense physical tools must be paired with mental acuity and discipline for the Bears’ offense to flourish under Ben Johnson.
• Ben Johnson has a promising history against blitz-heavy defenses like Brian Flores's Vikings.
• The episode strikes a balance of football depth, locker-room humor, and genuine concern for the team’s chances.

Listen if you want to understand the real state of the Bears—and laugh while you learn.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to Forward Progress here on 312 Sports. I'm Dan Bernstein. That is Matt Abaticola and it's, it's time for football. We walked outside today and we were met with an absolutely perfect crisp autumnal feel of a day. And we will come home tonight and we'll fire up the grill or do whatever we do. And there's going to be actual live football that counts on the air.

[B]

Yeah. Cowboys at the Eagles to open up the the 2025 NFL season. How about them Cowboys?

[A]

I don't know. I never know about the Cowboys. I just sort of, you know, I always look at them as scants because they're way over covered and there are. I, I don't know. I, it's. I think Jerry Jones is great for people who do what we do. He is great for content. I don't know if he's great for the Cowboys.

[B]

Well, he certainly makes a lot of money.

[A]

Great for making money. And we'll see the Eagles appear formidable. But you know, this is, this is a league that makes it very, very difficult to maintain the kind of level of play that they've had.

[B]

It does. But if you, I mean if you look at it tonight, the Eagles should, should play to a championship caliber level. And you know, the Cowboys, you know, the Eagles should win this game.

[A]

It should.

[B]

And it shouldn't, shouldn't be a close game. But again, you just never know with the NFL. Especially now that the Eagles have extra motivation in their tush bush.

[A]

Okay. Because it's sponsored.

[B]

Because it's sponsored by dude wipes.

[A]

Yeah. How do you feel about that?

[B]

I honestly don't feel good.

[A]

Gross.

[B]

Yeah, I just, it's, it's clever. It certainly is clever. And you know, all the props in world to, to dude wipes, they're a really clever, you know, group of people getting their name out there. But I just do not like an individual play in the end. And I don't know why I don't like it. I just know I don't like it.

[A]

It's not national though. We're not going to hear that. It's only locally on, I believe it's their radio broadcast or if it's referred to locally in any of their team owned properties. I don't know if they have to do it like at a press conference. Coach. Nick, Nick, Nick. You use the dude wipes tush push. Like I don't know what the rules are on that, but we're not going to hear it on a national.

[B]

No, no, we're not.

[A]

But I've never used a dude wipe.

[B]

All right. Well, I have and I actually, I like dude wipes.

[A]

You do?

[B]

I do. I think it's. It's a. It's a really good product. I'm a big fan of it. I just don't know. Like, I have.

[A]

However, when we had little kids, maybe I would admit to using a baby wipe. And I understand it's the same thing.

[B]

It.

[A]

It feels great, but it probably smell. It's probably got like that cool breeze.

[B]

Or something like that extra is like a menthol kind of smell.

[A]

Oh, no, I don't want. Maybe. Ow.

[B]

Well, no, it's not menthol, like in your, in your, in your tush. All right. But no, it is great. It's a great product. And again, I don't know why I don't like it. I just know my initial reaction was, eh. I don't.

[A]

I don't like this because a mission creep. Because when every possible play is sponsored, things are going to get bad and we are going to bring you.

[B]

Yes. Well, because this isn't. It's not well known yet, though. People don't know that this is out there. That the Bears have some plays that actually it's in the works and being sponsored.

[A]

I know. So we are in the process of acquiring that list. We have deeply placed people within the Bears marketing department who have told us, you know, many Bothans will die to bring you this information. But somewhere in the. We already have. We may have just endangered them that they may be murdered now by once they're exposed. But they're gonna us this list of sponsored Bears plays that may be famous. They may be long time staples of Bears football that we've seen.

[B]

I can't wait to get our hands on that list, though. It's going to be really good.

[A]

I'm very excited and I just hope that the casualties are minimal. We know we're going to lose lives. It's a fact of this mission that we know that there's going to be dead Bothins.

[B]

Is there one particular play you hope gets sponsored?

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Okay. I have one I really, really want. I really hope they sponsor and we will absolutely find.

[A]

On this episode of Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears podcast, we're going to talk a little bit about what may be a more difficult decision than one would think regarding Jalen Johnson and how much time he gets and how careful they're going to be with what appears to be a worse injury than we were being told.

[B]

How about them Cowboys?

[A]

Stop it. It's all morning he's been doing this seriously all.

[B]

It's NFL season, baby.

[A]

You don't have to see.

[B]

Let's go, bro.

[A]

The Jimmy Johnson.

[B]

How about them Cowboys?

[A]

Yeah, I think. I think the more that I think about it though. Jimmy Johnson's my idol.

[B]

Well, he did it right.

[A]

He won a Super Bowl. He quit and now he sits on his fishing boat every day and cashes checks.

[B]

Did he quit tv?

[A]

I think they kind of.

[B]

Or was he he. Was it a forced retirement?

[A]

I think it was a force. Who cares? Now I have to fish every day instead of only some days on a boat where I have a captain and a crew and they pick me up in my backyard at a dock whenever I want and take me out into the Gulf fishing.

[B]

Not a bad life if you like it.

[A]

What? I mean what. What do you want?

[B]

I'm surprised you came back.

[A]

Well, I still work at all.

[B]

I mean you just fish all day.

[A]

I can still fish. That's the great. Still right down here. I can.

[B]

But you. But you can.

[A]

I might do it today.

[B]

Really? Yep. You want to let the people know where.

[A]

Anybody knows where to find me. I'm in the same spots.

[B]

Buckingham palace, right?

[A]

No, I caught a nice smally in front of Buckingham Fountain yesterday.

[B]

Did you really?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Do you get any salmon or.

[A]

No. No salmon. I may start trying with the very beginning of the salmon and trash. You ate salmon? Yes, I ate the one I caught in spring. Okay. I caught it and I gutted it and I put it in my car and I brought it home, put it right in the oven.

[B]

I never buy it to make. Natalie doesn't like salmon. I don't mind it, but I prefer other fish.

[A]

Well, Coho, if you've never had Coho is fantastic. Oh my God.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Fresh caught coho salmon. There's very little fat in it and it is just. It's. It's amazing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I didn't really appreciate it because all we have basically is farm raised Atlantic salmon. But when you can get your hands on some of these different species.

[B]

Have you heard that the aura king salmon?

[A]

No. Okay, King salmon.

[B]

Okay. But there's a ora or a king. I'll look it up.

[A]

Make sure that's a brand or a farm. No, it's not something.

[B]

No.

[A]

So we're going to talk about that with Jalen Johnson. Want to play some audio from Ben Johnson about expectations? Because when a coach does set expectations, it matters. Most coaches don't. Most don't want to. Most avoid it like the plague. But he said Some things we also have since we last posted on this podcast. We've got our starting left tackle.

[B]

Yeah, I was just. I was looking at that depth chart. I just. You hope. I hope. I hope that he stays healthy. Healthy. Yeah. I hope they both do, actually. Well, it's just. It's. It's so. Again, there's a. There's a. A point in my brain where I have a hard time reconciling the fact that they went out and they fixed guard to guard above and beyond expectations. And then tackles are just kind of. I'm with you there.

[A]

Just. Especially because of the extent to which the coach talked about the significance of it.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

It's not. We're not making it up. And it's not just us projecting this. It's based on what they said was important, what matters to them.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So Jalen Johnson is practicing. He practiced yesterday. And I don't think it's a stretch to say that certainly relative to position, relative to his peers, he may be the Bears best player. Do you have any objection? I do not say he's the Bears most decorated or he is the only player on their team who would be easily mentioned as the best among his position right now.

[B]

No, I have zero issue with that. I would say that that is. That is correct. And also unfortunate, given his position, that if your best player is going to be on defense or your best defensive player, I would. I would like them closer to the ball.

[A]

I'd like them to be a pass rusher.

[B]

Yes, 100% that I would like that to be my best player. But I am not going to argue. And it's. And it doesn't diminish anything that Jalen Johnson does has done what he will bring to the team. Not at all. It's just. That's just. Those are facts.

[A]

So are we going to play Cinema Benjamin? We.

[B]

I think we need to.

[A]

We haven't played a good game of cinema or Benjamin a while. Those are the same things. It was so much fun.

[B]

Yeah, that. That's.

[A]

That is one of my favorite things we did was making fun of fantasy sports by playing cinema Benjamin. But even today we. Look, let's. Let's let people in on this.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Okay. So we were going to talk about the decision and we are going to talk about the decision that the Bears are going to make regarding Jalen Johnson and playing time coming off of a easily reinjable injury. So we were talking to corporate and talking to. Okay, well, What's. What's the YouTube thumbnail? We're gonna put up. What's the headline on that? What do we need? How are we gonna do all this? So we always give a preview of what our top thing is gonna be so they can do the graphic. And Matt tells him it's gonna be Jalen Johnson sit him or Benjam. Great. Okay, great. What, five, ten minutes later?

[B]

Yeah. A few.

[A]

Few minutes later, the text comes back. Hey, guys, it doesn't. Doesn't that mean the same thing?

[B]

Isn't cinema bench in the same thing? I was like, that's the bit. That's the whole bit. Because I don't know how long we did it for. And people would still call in, all right, Bernstein, I got. I need a quarterback.

[A]

No, but people would also call in trying to explain to us how it was redundant and we somehow made this horrible mistake. It's like, don't you maybe think. I mean, we are stupid, but don't you think maybe we thought about that one? Just maybe you should kind of consider the possibility that it might be like.

[B]

How that segment didn't win some awards. Fantasy football cinema.

[A]

Bench them. Right.

[B]

It was just. It was the best.

[A]

And I'm in a PPR league, and I'm trying to figure out the people who got the bit were even better.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Should I sit him or should I bench it?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Oh, absolutely. Bench.

[B]

So should. Should the Bears sit or bench Jalen Johnson for. I like. I mean, he's back at practice yesterday.

[A]

No, in all honesty, you know, in all seriousness, like, on the field, I don't think it's that easy a decision just because of the n. Of that injury of a torn adductor muscle, which I presume it is. That usually when we hear groin, it is the adductor. It's the muscle that brings.

[B]

It's not as pee pee.

[A]

It's brings no muscle.

[B]

In your.

[A]

A good way to remember your hip muscle. The abductor to abduct is to take away. So the one. If you're standing up and you move your leg outward, you're taking your leg away from center is the abductor. The adductor brings it back. That would be the groin muscle.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

So there's your little anatomy.

[B]

Yeah, that's why we do our warmups. We work on the adductor and the abductor. Oh, open up your hips.

[A]

Yeah. Oh, do you do that. That the football stretch or the soccer stretch where you're. You're like run walking, and as you bring your leg up, you move it out. No, you don't set it down.

[B]

No, these are 10, 11, 12 and 13 year old boys. They can't walk and stretch their legs at the same time. Yeah, also, so we stay in place.

[A]

I also, I don't. I don't want to jinx you, but when you deal with those guys, they're also elastic. Is all hell at those ages. Yeah, I mean, throw them off of walls and bounce them around. I'm fine. I'm fine. You okay? You okay? They're impervious to cold is the other thing. Yeah, they don't care. They will wear shorts when it's 20 below.

[B]

You know that kids. Because your kids are older now. I don't know. I'm not sure if they were out of this phase or not, but they're like, you don't wear jackets anymore, ever. It's hoodies. Hoodies are winter jackets now and summer clothing. It's unbelievable.

[A]

Hoodies, all that. Jason must have 30 different hoodies.

[B]

Yeah, but they wear jackets.

[A]

And then he texts. Anytime he's asking for money, he always texts. Beth never, ever texts me because she's such a damn pushover.

[B]

Okay?

[A]

She gives in all the time.

[B]

I thought she has controlled the finances.

[A]

Hey, can I use your visa to buy a hoodie?

[B]

A hoodie?

[A]

Because he's sports editor of the paper and they gave them an opportunity to buy like these. The editors get special hoodies. Give him one.

[B]

Cheap bastards.

[A]

Well, it's not expensive. It's a $25 for the super nice hoodie.

[B]

All right.

[A]

But they're like, yeah, the editorial staff gets these. And he's like. Did he text you? No, he didn't text me. He's asking for money.

[B]

When, when, when he was in high school still not that long ago. Was like the. Was the uniform like big baggy sweatpants.

[A]

Hoodies and like, not big baggy. Well, it was sandals. No, it was almost like pajama pants.

[B]

Yeah, pajama pants.

[A]

Yes, it was like plaid, Zubaz looking pajama pants, hoodie, and then giant hair.

[B]

Yeah, we. We go to lots of high school games, whether it's basketball or football. And it's just the kids that are in high school now. Yes, it's always hoodies, pajama pants, or just big baggy sweatpants.

[A]

And what's wrong with that?

[B]

No, nothing's wrong with it. But it's like when you were in high school, did you dress nicer?

[A]

I wore jeans.

[B]

I like. It was deliberate to look nicer though.

[A]

I got real. I mean, I wore a lot of like rugby shirts. That was. You were the rugby shirt thing. You were a big rugby player when we were kids. But no, just remember those are popular. Yeah, I love those.

[B]

Like the three rubber buttons and all the stripes.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, I love those.

[B]

And it was always like the collar was a different color than the actual.

[A]

I had a bunch of those and I would usually wear jeans, but you dress nicer though.

[B]

You wouldn't, you wouldn't leave the house in pajama pants or something.

[A]

Given the opportunity, I would have. Are you kidding?

[B]

It's just, it's standard uniform now. And the giant hair, they look like alpacas.

[A]

It started with COVID the whole Giant. The Giant, the other Covid hair in the high school kids because that just got stupid.

[B]

Well, thankfully my boys are like, they're wanting better haircuts now. They do these high cut fades or.

[A]

Low cut fades and high top fades.

[B]

I don't know what. What they're what?

[A]

The hoop flat top rules in 89.

[B]

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

[A]

Well, but I deliver. Warm it up Kane. No, they haven't gone back to the big daddy Kane. Hoop flat top. No, I don't know.

[B]

I don't think that's it. I don't know what they call them, but. Yeah, that's not.

[A]

I didn't think this episode of forward progress.

[B]

Yeah, sorry. I'm sorry.

[A]

But so to bring it back to Jalen Johnson, it. I, I would not be mad if they said he's not healthy. He's not healthy and we're not going to lose him for the year.

[B]

Yeah, I know.

[A]

But it's a divisional game. If this were last year and it's the Titans game, no brainer. He sits agree.

[B]

Yes, but it's. It's only, it's only week one. But here's the thing. Because in football you're never going to be completely healthy. It's always certain degrees of health and you always run that risk of re.

[A]

Injuring.

[B]

Yeah, I know. I get it. Listen, if he, if he didn't play on Monday night, I'm not going to be upset or angry, okay? I'm not. If, if there's a relative good chance that he could. He could make the injury worse and see more time out and maybe this one, maybe one week helps and maybe one week does nothing. And if one week doesn't do anything on the beneficial side, then sure, play him. Because it is only week one. But I understand it. I understand the question, but you're also not going to keep a guy like that out if he can play. He was on the field yesterday. If you're on the field and you're practicing, you're back with the team, then you should play, period.

[A]

I get it. And I don't know the extent to which their medical staff has. Has assessed a re injury possibility. It's just my experience with soft tissue injuries, particularly that one is one that and a corner. The difference with a cornerback, too, is we always talk about this when it comes to the footing on the field and why receivers have the advantage over the people covering them is knowing where you're going, that's a big advantage. And being able to prepare yourself, understanding I'm gonna plant, I'm gonna cut for a corner. It's all react. Everything is transition out of your backpedal. Everything is twisting and turning and quick planting and exploding, movement based on reaction and what you see. So it may all. There may be an effectiveness issue as well as a re injury issue. But obviously you want them out there and healthy. If you could tell me you're getting 80% of Jalen Johnson, is that better than Nayshaan? Right? Yes.

[B]

Yes. Yeah, that's. I was just going to ask that. I mean, if he's. If he's at 80%, 90%, that's better than what you have. And again, it's football. You're never going to be completely healthy, of course, ever again for the rest of the season. You're not going to be, right? Well, no, not if you're an NFL player. You're never going to feel as good as you once did. It's just. That's just the facts of life and.

[A]

The way my mind works. Don't start singing. The way my mind works is that we get all excited. He's out there and he runs through warm ups and then, you know, first defensive series, we see him limp off.

[B]

Yeah, I know. No, I. I get it. But it's football.

[A]

I know. It's a football podcast.

[B]

I know. That's just how it goes.

[A]

That's what I'm saying.

[B]

Yes, that's just how it goes.

[A]

How about them cowboys? Oh, geez.

[B]

Jesus.

[A]

All day he's been doing this.

[B]

So Aura. King salmon, Dan. It's a unique breed of chinook salmon from New Zealand. And if you've never had it, you've got it.

[A]

So it's farmed.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Unbelievable.

[A]

I wonder what they feed them.

[B]

Unbelievable. Cows.

[A]

How about them cowboys? Well, you know, you know what I went through with when I told you the story that Beth wanted me to pick up salmon and Salmon. And I wasn't sure kind of like which. You want a tailpiece? You want steaks? Do you want. She's like, well, what's the difference between a filet and a steak, honey? One's a cross section. So I took a picture of the case.

[B]

Okay. Did you get that? Like, upset with her just over a question?

[A]

No, I wasn't upset, but I took a picture. She was yelling at me the other night when I was trying to find ice cream for her. She's like, no, I don't want extra creamy chocolate briars. I want regular chocolate briars. Like, honey, it just says extra creamy. I'm sure it's fine.

[B]

Wait, are you guys doing a gallon each a night now?

[A]

We have a bit of an ice cream issue.

[B]

She doing as much chocolate as you are? Peppermint.

[A]

Zoe likes half baked. Beth likes.

[B]

Oh, is that a. That's a.

[A]

That's a Ben and Jerry's.

[B]

Ben and Jerry's.

[A]

Yeah. Beth likes the Breyer's big tub of the mint chocolate chip. I like the Dean's peppermint ice cream. And somehow, over the summer, Jason developed a taste for Haagen Dazs caramel cone.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Which is an. It's like a vanilla with chunks of cone, like sugar cone in there and salted caramel. It's fine. It's good. But we got four different brands, is my problem. Oh, yeah, that's because when you go to Jamaica, can you get them all.

[B]

At the same store, though?

[A]

That's the problem. You have one on sale over here. One on sale. Buy three, get one, or buy two.

[B]

But you're doing it, though. You're going to multiple stores just for ice cream.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yeah, that's a problem.

[A]

But they're right across the street from each other. But I'm always traipsing from one to the other to try to get what I need to.

[B]

That's a problem, though. You guys have an ice cream. Ice cream problem.

[A]

Apparently we do.

[B]

We need.

[A]

We need mediation. We need an ice cream referee to come in and figure this all out. Okay, but where was I going with that? I was starting ice. She was yelling. I was yelling.

[B]

Oh, she was yelling. Oh, you're talking about salmon. Cross cut, half cut.

[A]

So I take a picture, and she goes, well, I don't want any of that salmon.

[B]

A picture of yourself. I do that whenever. Natalie.

[A]

I should have taken a picture. I should have sent a picture of my dong. No, not your dog.

[B]

But, like, I could be anywhere, and she'd be like, well, Send me a picture, and I'll take a selfie and send it.

[A]

That's brilliant. I'm stealing that.

[B]

Well, you've got to use it.

[A]

But if I'm mad, I'm just going to be like, you know, just snap one, please.

[B]

Make sure you do it right in front of the produce section, too.

[A]

Well, I always do.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I mean, I do. In there anyway, just for good luck. But. No, but. So she's like, I don't want any of that salmon. And I said, why? She goes, it says, color added.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So I said, honey, they're not adding color to these filets. That just means they're adding color to the shrimp that they feed them. They're adding color to their feed. It doesn't mean the fish comes out. They breed the watercolor paint. They dip it in. No, what happens is the reason if salmon didn't eat a lot of shrimp, their. Their flesh wouldn't look like that. Their flesh would look like.

[B]

It would be. Gray flamingo would not be for its. For its diet.

[A]

Same reason. Exactly the same reason.

[B]

Y' all probably thought flamingos were born pink. And they're not.

[A]

They're not. They're not. It's only because they eat so much shrimp.

[B]

I thought this was a football podcast.

[A]

Look at all the stuff. Biology podcast. Damn it. So, you know, but they were there, so. And I didn't want to be a jerk, and I didn't want to danceplain it.

[B]

That's the first.

[A]

But I didn't. But I'm like, okay, don't worry about that. I said, it's a natural ingred that is simply put in their food on the farms to make it look like what we know salmon meat looks like.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So.

[B]

So the bottom line was, did she eat salmon that night or no?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And was there color added?

[A]

Yeah, and it was good. It was really good.

[B]

She liked it.

[A]

Yeah. And I put. It was nice. And I seared it and put tarragon on it.

[B]

All right, well, you got to look for. Go online, look for aura king salmon.

[A]

I'd rather catch it myself.

[B]

Well, I don't know if you can catch it.

[A]

I think, boy, they let me in the farm with a rod and reel. I'd kill it in there.

[B]

How was your day? My God.

[A]

Oh, you wouldn't believe it. Every cast. Who is that guy?

[B]

Okay. So I immediately had the vision of Rudy and the famous football movie Rudy that everyone in the world has seen.

[A]

I've never seen it.

[B]

I couldn't believe you said that. So he's in. He's taking class at Holy Cross and he's writing down everything the professor is saying. And this is where he meets Jon Favreau in the. In the movie.

[A]

That's bad note taking if you're writing down everything. The professor.

[B]

That's the whole point of it. He's trying to get good grades to get into Notre Dame.

[A]

That's just stupid. So you had good grades, Teacher didn't take notes.

[B]

How you not seen the movie, Rudy?

[A]

By not going to it.

[B]

But how have you. Like, how have you not watched it?

[A]

It doesn't interest me.

[B]

What about it doesn't interest you?

[A]

I don't know. Some kid who's bad and then he's. And then they let him in the game. We saw that with Ollie and Hoosiers, right? What's the difference?

[B]

Have you seen Hoosiers?

[A]

Is it anything like Gus the Kicking Mule?

[B]

Have you watched Hoosiers?

[A]

I love Hoosiers.

[B]

Okay, but you refuse to see.

[A]

I'm not saying I refuse to see it. I just haven't.

[B]

Has your kid seen it?

[A]

No.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Okay. As far as I know. I don't know. He's seen a lot of movies. He hasn't seen it for a movie class. Nobody watched it in the class.

[B]

Any normal person. I had that vision of just. I pictured Caleb. William was just scribbling down everything coming out of Ben Johnson's mouth. Like, he picks up the phone to give his lunch order. He's writing it down. Everything he says, he's just writing down.

[A]

I always said that about one of my college roommates who would take out a highlighter and highlight everything. Everything. Oh, boy. Like, why don't you just highlight what you don't need to remember?

[B]

Would that be easier?

[A]

That's what I said. And there was. He would all like, why are you highlighting everything? Like you're defeating the purpose of a highlighter? It's like, it helps me remember. It helps me remember.

[B]

I'm like, who'd you go to school with? You sound like the New York sports radio guy.

[A]

Francesa, blah, blah, blah.

[B]

Helps you remember. New York camp with Francesa?

[A]

No, I don't think so.

[B]

I'm on Sticky Pages.

[A]

That's a new club we're opening up. It's also a new podcast, but the.

[B]

Who took my National Geographic again?

[A]

Again, by the way, when I mentioned that on a previous show, said I could ruin somebody.

[B]

Yeah. Did he reach out?

[A]

No, he didn't, but two of our cabin mates did. I got two texts immediately nailing it, like, oh, yeah, that was okay. That, that was, that was the culprit and everybody knew.

[B]

All right, so Ben Johnson says that they can. They. Why can't we win this year?

[A]

Are you asking me? Want me to answer that?

[B]

Well, no, that's what he's saying. I mean, and so. But again, it's just.

[A]

Yeah, they can win. Okay. Yeah, you're going to win a game.

[B]

I hope, I hope you win more than, more than one.

[A]

Yeah, they'll win eight or nine.

[B]

But, you know, but it was interesting. Like there he's asked about, about Caleb Williams and he starts off with, he's young, you know, he's. He's growing. I.

[A]

Do you think that's what Kevin Warren said about Ryan Poles, remember?

[B]

Yes, he's young.

[A]

Do you think, like Snips is young?

[B]

Dick off that. Now. I'm sure Ben Johnson, now, he said he came here to coach Caleb Williams. I'm sure he had information from people around Caleb Williams. Do you think he has tempered his expectations a bit of Caleb Williams after he's been here?

[A]

Now that is a great question.

[B]

And because some of the things he says, that's. That's what I hear without him saying it.

[A]

Okay, then you are saying you think he has tempered his expectations a bit.

[B]

I do, yes. And that doesn't mean that Caleb Williams can't be the Bears greatest quarterback. And he can't. It doesn't mean that he can't win an mvp. It doesn't mean he can't win a Super Bowl. I'm just saying I think he thought it was something different before he got here. It still can be great. He still may think it's great, but I think it's different now before he got here.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I could be completely wrong.

[A]

I think the idea of having quarterbacking skills versus fully getting quarterbacking.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Are different.

[B]

It's very different, Dan. And he's talked about the pace of the game a lot. So a lot since he's been here with Caleb Williams and talking about how we need him to play at our pace of the game.

[A]

I don't think it's all or nothing. I don't think either you have the quarterbacking skills or you're somebody who just gets it. Like, obviously the greats have both, but can the two be married together? And where are you on that final continuum? Like, is there a moment when he understands, like, ideally he is a pocket passer who can get the ball out and execute the offense and. And when it breaks down, can make magic happen?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't need him to try to make magic before he's exhausted. Everything that Ben Johnson wants his play to be, to look like. Yeah, give, give, give the individual play every chance because everything's got. If not this, this, if this, then this, and if this, this, and if they come out in this, we're quick hitter here. And there is a rhyme and a reason to all of it. Give it all a chance. Especially with the interior line being shored up. Give it all a chance before you do your little jump turn, before you have to sidearm a ball to a running back who's got his hand in the air because he leaked out that. That's where we're not yet. We're not at the point yet where I think. And it might be still a function of everything else around him faltering, that when we say he's running around, he's holding the ball, it may just be. He does get it. But nothing else was working. Guys weren't open or everything was mistimed. We know that Shane Waldron was an incompetent. We know that Matt Eberfluss was an incompetent. And we know that the blocking was bad and DeAndre Swift had a terrible year.

[B]

Yep. So, again, yeah, there were a lot of influences that went into it that really led to a difficult season. He contributed a lot of that. We've talked about that. What. What are the. You said that there was two things that you described. There's the. The football, the quarterbacking skills, the traits.

[A]

And then the really understanding quarterbacking.

[B]

So there's like. There's like two knobs, and. And. And you want both knobs maxed out.

[A]

It's like drawing a straight line on Etch A Sketch. You're drawing a diagonal on Etch A.

[B]

Sketch, but, like, you. You want them both maxed out. And like, where is Caleb Williams on the. On those knobs?

[A]

We know the traits are off the charts.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And the. The other criterion is incomplete. We don't know. And because this is our first chance to see him with real minds, with.

[B]

A real coach, without.

[A]

Without. Without idiots trying to shepherd him around.

[B]

And again. And he said something, too, that just made me feel bad because you talked about how they shored up the interior of the line.

[A]

All right, are we doing this now?

[B]

No, I'm just saying I think we.

[A]

Should, but it's just. You have.

[B]

I mean, that's not where all the danger comes from.

[A]

Not in this division.

[B]

Your danger doesn't come from the middle.

[A]

Don't sing that way to the danger. Zone that's going to please.

[B]

How about them Cowboys?

[A]

Damn it.

[B]

That's going to prevent. You know that. That'll be an obstacle in your run game. We're talking about the edges, and that's where the danger comes from. That is the danger zone. And the Bears are on that highway to the danger zone with their tackles.

[A]

Are they living on the edge?

[B]

How about them Cowboys?

[A]

I think we've lost Matt.

[B]

That's Thursday Night Football. It's only.

[A]

It's only Thursday. I think we've lost Matty.

[B]

No, we haven't.

[A]

We're making forward progress.

[B]

So you want to talk about it?

[A]

I do. It.

[B]

You made me feel bad. You said it.

[A]

Yeah, I guess I did. Well, first, to continue to make you feel bad, let me read you what Ben Johnson said about the Braxton Jones decision.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Okay. I don't really get this, but this was two days ago via the Tribune. He knows what he's doing. Is it perfect every play? No, it's not. But we did see the execution go up over the course of the last few weeks. So there is a trust level in him knowing what to do. We think he's going to. That's. We think that he's going to continue to ascend the more reps that he gets.

[B]

That's just. That's not a whole big ball of praise that you want to hear of your starting left tackle.

[A]

Is it perfect every plane?

[B]

No, but he knows what he's doing. So, coach, how's your starting left tackle? He knows what he's doing.

[A]

Is this the standard?

[B]

I mean, it's like you go to a restaurant and it's like, well, how's the food? Well, the chef knows where the kitchen is.

[A]

There is a trust level in him knowing what to do. We think that he's going to continue to ascend the more reps he gets. These are real games, coach.

[B]

Yeah, See, I think, again, I'll go back to it. I think he's a truth teller. And then he catches himself at times. I really do.

[A]

Yeah, I like that scouting report so far. To view him through that lens is that he'll have to reel something in at this stage when he's already. He's getting kind of basketball coachy. Hey, coach, how are you? We can't rebound. How's. How's your family? We can't. We can't rebound. I don't know what's going on. We can't rebound.

[B]

So Braxton Jones. Well, you know, it's good he knows what he's doing. He Knows he's playing football. Like, I mean, that's a, that's a.

[A]

What am I doing out here? What is this? Who are you?

[B]

Wait, what tackle did that guy that was in the audition for it and then he was like, I don't know why I'm here, coach.

[A]

Why are any of us here?

[B]

Let's go back to Jones. At least he knows what he's doing.

[A]

He knows what he's doing.

[B]

Yeah, it's just.

[A]

Ouch.

[B]

It's. It's not, it's not exactly what you want to hear. No, no, because again, I, I think he's. Because, like, what would, what would Matt Eberflu say about Braxton Jones?

[A]

He looks good, right?

[B]

I mean. No, he would have talked about how great he was.

[A]

He's great, right? We feel, we feel good.

[B]

Some, some dumb nickname.

[A]

We feel. Jonesy. We feel, we feel good about Brax. Right. And we've given him a couple of keys. Right. And we're going from there. Right?

[B]

Yeah, I just. Yeah, but, but to say that it starts off with like he knows what he's doing and you know, and we think he's, he's gonna, you know, continue to ascend.

[A]

The other question, as I look at the depth chart, did they really use a second round pick on a backup tackle?

[B]

Yeah. This is again an issue with, with Ryan Poles and you know, and I know that Ben Johnson had an influence on it, but he's the general manager. You, you have a, you, you are not in a position as this team to have a second round pick that doesn't start for your football club.

[A]

Well, technically Luther Burden doesn't start either. But I do think he's going to find his way into all kinds of packages for them as much, as much as they like Zacchaeus.

[B]

But not only, not only Dan is he a backup. You just like they, they were uncertain where he was going to play. They had to figure it out. It's like he fell into position by default. That you can't have that with a second round pick. I'm sorry, you just can't.

[A]

Great. It is not great.

[B]

I mean, you, you are, you are, you are at a position in this organization that your, your first should be a starter, period. Your second and third round picks should be pushing veterans or taking starting jobs. That's where this ball club is at.

[A]

It may be he ends up starting, but only if Braxton Jones ceases to know what he's doing.

[B]

He forgot what he. Coach, why'd you take Braxton Jones out in the third Quarter. He forgot what he was doing.

[A]

Timeout. What happened? What am I doing again? You're a left tackle. You're blocking. Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes. Next time, don't waste the time. Out. Okay.

[B]

Starts yelling, how about them cowboys?

[A]

No, he doesn't. That's apparently your job.

[B]

No, I think Braxton Jones is going to do it.

[A]

Why?

[B]

Why what?

[A]

Why do we always have a thing? Why we can never have really nice things? I know. They haven't played yet. They go out there and win. 42 to nothing.

[B]

They could. And he mean Braxton Jones could have a really great year.

[A]

Next thing you know, you've the Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Granard. I. Boy, I don't want to go up against that guy anymore.

[B]

Yeah. Those are real Viking names.

[A]

Well, one is.

[B]

Yeah, real. He's.

[A]

That's Andrew Van Ginkel.

[B]

It's very Viking.

[A]

He's. He's more Viking than anyone else. Is blank.

[B]

Doesn't sound like a painter. He sounds like a Viking.

[A]

Correct. Or a Viking painter.

[B]

He's more Viking.

[A]

Which is a Viking who paints. Not someone who paints Vikings, but as physically painting a Viking, which I think they did. I think they had war paint. Right.

[B]

Who's the most famous Viking? Was it. Who was that? Was it Eric? Eric.

[A]

Eric the Red.

[B]

Eric the Red.

[A]

Was he a Viking? I think so.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Sounds like what I hope he was.

[B]

Who's the most famous Viking? You would. You would have this? You. You know. You know, you. You did European history.

[A]

Eric the Red. Norse explorer. That counts, right? Yeah, but it's not a great picture of him. Whoever. Whoever drew him probably didn't like him all that much.

[B]

Oh, there wasn't any photos taken of him.

[A]

Most. No. Take an old daguerreotype. Most famous Vikings. The 10 most famous Vikings. Erik the Red. Number one.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Number two.

[B]

Called it. Thank you.

[A]

Number two. Leif Erikson.

[B]

All right.

[A]

The first European to set foot in North America 500 years before Christopher Cologne.

[B]

Wasn't there a comic book character?

[A]

Number three. Freydis. Eric's daughter.

[B]

Nope.

[A]

Daughter of Eric the Red.

[B]

Never heard of him.

[A]

Her.

[B]

Her.

[A]

Never heard of her. Either. Number four. Or him. Ragnar Lothbrok.

[B]

Ragnar. Isn't that the.

[A]

Ragnar Lothbrok?

[B]

How about them cowboys?

[A]

The most famous Viking warrior of them all. The leading protagonist in Vikings, the History Channel's popular drama. Oh, that's not real.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Number five. Bjorn Ironside.

[B]

The number four most popular Viking ever.

[A]

Is a fictional character, I guess. Oh. His fame was well established in the stories written down by The Vikings, known as Sagas, based on real people and events.

[B]

Well, I guess I shouldn't criticize the Vikings, because if we name the top 10 Italian characters, people would say Chef Dark.

[A]

Ragnar Lothbrok's nickname as number four most famous Viking was Shaggy Breeches. What say you? Shaggy Breeches? What Warden Norton called Raquel Welch. Oh, Fuzzy Britches.

[B]

Fuzzy, yes.

[A]

Or Fozzie Britches.

[B]

Fozzie Bear.

[A]

Waka waka. Yeah. Shaggy Breeches. That's not a great nickname. No, it's not. Number five. Bjorn Ironside.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

He's in Sagas, too.

[B]

He played tennis.

[A]

No. Okay, and I was thinking Michael Ironside. Cause he got. He was in Dead. No, he's not.

[B]

He's not dead.

[A]

No. That's. What was his name? Jester.

[B]

Jester. Yeah.

[A]

He's not.

[B]

I thought he was dead.

[A]

I don't think so.

[B]

I thought Maverick killed him.

[A]

Narek didn't kill Jester. Yeah.

[B]

Remember?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

In the locker room. Jester's dead.

[A]

Well, he was dead in the.

[B]

Oh, that was just a movie.

[A]

Yeah. He wasn't dead Dead.

[B]

I thought they killed him.

[A]

Gunnar Hamun Darsen is ranked 6. Famed for his swordsmanship. Go get him, Gunnar. A formidable fighter whose jump could exceed his own height even when he was wearing full armor. Wow. That, folks, is bullshit.

[B]

He was the Viking jumping out of the pool with full armor on.

[A]

Most overdrafted Viking. I am calling bullshit on Gunnar Hamundarsen and the. There's no way. Unless he was 11 inches tall. Seriously, unless. Those guys. A flea. There's no way his jump could exceed his own height in full armor.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Come on, man.

[B]

He had to be. Yeah, he had to be, like, 3 inches tall.

[A]

First of all, if that's true, that's pretty awesome.

[B]

Wait, so say it is so his.

[A]

Jump could exceed it says, famed for his swordsmanship. No, no, no. I think you're burying the lead. His swordsmanship was also good. But if he's a formidable fighter whose jump could exceed his height even while wearing full armor. Not a chance.

[B]

How tall was he?

[A]

It doesn't say like I say, unless he.

[B]

So he's like, six, five. And he could exceed.

[A]

He's five nine.

[B]

He could exceed his height while wearing armor, even without armor on, Right?

[A]

There's no possible way.

[B]

Is this like, Wikipedia, where, like, people can.

[A]

And there's a picture, a drawing of him meeting his future wife, Helgor Hoskel's daughter. Boy, she looks like she could jump her own height as well. She certainly jumped his height and probably did on multiple occasions. Number seven, Ivar the Boneless. He owes his nickname to a condition, A condition that caused his legs to fracture easily.

[B]

He's very limp.

[A]

That's a bad condition for a Viking.

[B]

He's like our guy.

[A]

Down goes Ivar.

[B]

Limp Mike.

[A]

Part of our crew.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Number nine, Eric Bloodaxe.

[B]

Oh, that's a good. That's a good name.

[A]

One of the many sons of Norway's first King, Harald Fairhair. He's got Eric Bloodaxe. Yeah, he's fighting tonight.

[B]

I'm fighting Bloodaxe.

[A]

Good luck. That's a bad matchup. His name was Eric Haroldson. He gained his evocative nickname by murdering all but one of his brothers.

[B]

Oh, I get it.

[A]

Okay. Remind me not to mess with Eric Bloodax. And why didn't he murder the last brother? Why all but one?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Who knows? Finish the job, Eric. Number nine, Egil Scala. Grimson.

[B]

You're making these names.

[A]

I'm not. A complex man was prone to violent rage, but also capable of great poetic sensitivity. His poems, widely considered to be among ancient Scandinavia's finest. However, he killed for the first time when he was just seven. Wow. Taking an axe to another boy. It was the first murderous act of a bloody life filled with pillaging and plundering. Now, that's a biological.

[B]

Yeah, that's a good bio. But it took a real strong left turn from the poet that he was.

[A]

Number 10, most famous Viking, Harald Hardrada, which translates as hard ruler. His aggressively militaristic approach to leadership and tendency to settle disputes brutally.

[B]

Yeah, the nuns liked him.

[A]

All right. He was killed by an arrow to the neck.

[B]

So that's a bad place to get an arrow.

[A]

Oh, yeah, yeah. There's other bad places.

[B]

But that bio, the one guy, number nine, he. It talks about him being a poet. Yeah, he had his first murder at seven.

[A]

Yep, got that one out of the way early. All right, well, there you go. Those are the top 10 most famous Vikings. And they all have better Viking names than current Viking Andrew Van Ginkel.

[B]

How about them Vikings? No, it just doesn't work.

[A]

No. Yeah, well, see, now, that is the kind of insider football stuff that you're gonna get on Forward Progress. But let the record show I am very concerned about Braxton Jones. Based on what they're saying about him, I am concerned about Jalen Johnson and his long term prognosis for this season coming off of that injury.

[B]

So here's some good news there for you there, Dan.

[A]

You got the injury report?

[B]

No, I don't have the Injury report yet. I have Ben Johnson with the Detroit Lions.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Okay. So I just wanted to look back and see what he did against Brian Flores.

[A]

Oh, good.

[B]

Because Brian Flores. Yeah, this is, this is matchup that we're talking about. You know, so they've actually had four games against each other in Ben Johnson's career with The Detroit Lions. 20, 23, 2024. He's actually four. No, against Brian Flores and his defense, where they average 30.5 points a game.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

In his career against the Vikings, six matchups, he's five and one, averaging 30 points a game. So at least against Brian Flores. And it's always talked about because very, very good defensive coordinator, very smart. You don't know where pressure is always coming from. But Ben Johnson seems to have figured out at least how to score points against. Against Flores and his defense. Now, I know it's.

[A]

What were the numbers last year? Something like 44% of the time. I know they were one of the most blitz heavy defenses.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And.

[B]

Yeah, and last year they. They beat the Vikings 31 to 29. And then the last matchup of the season, 31 to 9.

[A]

Well, because good offenses should score.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Big play offenses should score against blitzing defenses because blitzing defenses are inherently weak.

[B]

Yeah. And I get it. It's different personnel, you know, it's a completely different team we're talking about. But. But the whole point is understanding that at least Ben Johnson, in his knowledge and experience understands how to, how to beat Ben Floyd, Brian Flores.

[A]

Okay. That is. I go through waves with the Bears regarding optimism and pessimism.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Sometimes I'll.

[B]

But sometimes it's like immediate. Like it's.

[A]

Well, in a game. It is in a given Bears game. Oh, they're never gonna win another game. This sucks. This is awful. They're gonna get their asses kicked. And then you remind yourself it's NFL football midway through the fourth quarter, it's gonna be a one score game. This is gonna be somehow available to anybody because that's the way these games work. And it's one of the things that's been awesome about this league. But there we have it. We have. We got one more. Because it's a Monday night game, we will be putting out a forward progress on Monday with the latest that we have because we're going to know who's likely playing and who's not, which Vikings are playing and who's not. Whoa.

[B]

Sorry.

[A]

Whoa. What are you doing? Nothing.

[B]

My Ben.

[A]

Okay. And also keep your eyes and ears peeled for a special over the weekend that we may just drop on you in the middle of your day because we're gonna get some insider Viking stuff from our friends up in Minneapolis on Skornorth. They spelled S K O R. See the Scandinavian spelling?

[B]

Right. Because they're all Vikings up there.

[A]

Yeah. Phil the Viking. Wait, he's on the list, too? I gotta check. He's number 11, though. Yeah.

[B]

Others who committed his first murder. League was 12.

[A]

He was others receiving votes. Yeah, it was Phil the Viking. And it's a. Yeah, Phil him with what? It was Phil the unfortunate. And he was a decent Viking. He was on the practice squad for a while.

[B]

Just couldn't make the roster.

[A]

Couldn't make the roster. Couldn't make the 53. He tried with swordsmanship and he tried with.

[B]

He didn't jump high enough.

[A]

Armor range. He could not jump his own height while holding a bottle of Armor all he could. However, he could jump as high as he could while spraying armor over a.

[B]

Bottle of Armor all that was the height.

[A]

So good luck to Phil and we hope to have a conversation with him at some point. But that has been forward progress and we are going to be here, man, after the game. Will be coming right at you.

[B]

Yeah, I'm excited. So Monday night.

[A]

I can't wait.

[B]

Yeah, it's going to be a lot of fun.

[A]

And we'll have everybody pick apart my home backdrop.

[B]

Are you getting your books in place?

[A]

Oh, I'm getting all my. I'm going to get it. Is every single thing is somehow going to be virtue signaling it's somebody. I told you virtue. Yeah. So there is to be a thing there. Everything has like five or six deeper meanings. So I want to make sure that you spend all your time trying to ferret out what all those deeper meanings may be.

[B]

I think I'm going to go in the room where I'm going to have the fireplace and the baby grand as the backdrop.

[A]

Why not? Why not? The big grand piano you have.

[B]

Should we do the big one?

[A]

Yeah, don't do the room with the baby grand.

[B]

Oh, do the big one. Just show them the real room and the fireplace. Yeah, I think I'll do that.

[A]

Okay. I think it's a good idea. So follow forward progress. Subscribe to it. Make sure that this is one of your awesome automatic go to. Especially when things get real serious. And they will. Once the football.

[B]

We need real games.

[A]

Yeah. I don't know how much I can tell you about Ozzy Trapillo anymore.

[B]

We got football tonight, though. Oh, no. How about them Cowboys?

[A]

Let me out of here.