Mike Vrabel - Diana Russini and the Julio Jones Trade

Summary

Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Mike Vrabel - Diana Russini and the Julio Jones Trade
Host: 312 Sports (Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola)
Date: May 8, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of Forward Progress sees Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola dig deep into a busy week for Chicago Bears news and around the NFL. The hosts deliver thoughtful analysis on recent Bears roster moves, dive headfirst into the swirling controversy around Mike Vrabel and Diana Russini—including the undercurrents of integrity, tampering, and NFL investigation—and break down a fascinating statistical phenomenon dubbed the "Bears tax." The episode closes with a quick look at recent draft fits, a notable NFC North signing, and a bit of fun travel banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bears Roster Update: Zay Frazier Released

(01:50–04:10)

• News: The Bears have released Zay Frazier, who missed all of the prior season due to personal issues.
• Reasoning: Frazier’s trajectory was deemed off; Malik Muhammad and a returning Terrell Smith are competing for his spot.
• Human Perspective: Both hosts express empathy, wishing Frazier well and hoping the Bears supported him like they have with previous players facing personal or mental health issues.

Quote:

"Just hope he's doing good as a human first and foremost. And you know the football stuff, if he has the ability to play in the NFL, he'll fight his way to a roster, that's for sure."
—Matt Abbatacola (02:43)

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2. Vrabel & Rossini Controversy Clarified

(05:38–07:56)

• Clarification: Matt details his criticism of Vrabel, emphasizing that he doesn't believe coaches should be fired for private affairs, but for hypocrisy and dishonesty as leaders.
• Key Distinction: His previous call for Vrabel to be fired was about character ("phony and a fraud"), not personal conduct.
• Media Reaction: Responding to listeners who misconstrued the nuance.

Quote:

"He shouldn't be fired because he's had an affair. He's an idiot and his wife should divorce him for that. But he should be fired because he's a phony and a fraud and a liar and stood for things that he didn't actually believe in."
—Matt Abbatacola (07:56)

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3. Will the Patriots Move on from Vrabel?

(07:56–09:58)

• Albert Breer Radio Report: The Patriots have no plans to part ways with Vrabel—everything so far has been about protecting his job and the franchise image.
• Kraft’s Stance: Hosts think owner Robert Kraft is likely to sweep it all under the rug unless something bigger emerges or the NFL intervenes.
• Ongoing Story: As more details leak, expectation grows that this won't blow over soon.

Quote:

"Their bet that this will go away is less likely as evidence keeps piling up of a lot more than we knew with every single day."
—Dan Bernstein (09:27)

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4. Rossini, Vrabel, and Potential Tampering: The Julio Jones Trade & More

(09:58–15:49)

• Internet Connections: Online speculation ties Rossini’s reporting to team advantage—e.g., a report suggesting the Titans were a long shot for Julio Jones (after spending time with Vrabel) may have cooled competing trade offers, netting Tennessee a better deal.
• Tom Brady Connection: Another instance is cited where Rossini reported the Titans weren't interested in Tom Brady days after she and Vrabel were seen together—a narrative possibly benefiting the Titans.
• Calls for Investigation: The hosts suggest there's enough circumstantial evidence (not a "smoking gun") for the NFL to sniff around for tampering or collusion.

Quote:

"At the very least, it is circumstantial. But the way the timeline adds up...it's worth asking about."
—Dan Bernstein (13:35)

• On Why The League Avoids Action:

"The only reason you don't want to investigate this or open it up is because of what else might come out."
—Matt Abbatacola (14:15)

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5. Recent Developments: Vrabel’s Alleged Burner Account, Barstool Incident

(15:49–18:18)

• Vrabel’s Burner: A Twitter account supporting Vrabel (thought to be his burner) vanished as soon as it was suspected.
• Old Game Show Clip: A resurfaced Barstool Sports "Feud" segment features an awkward exchange between Vrabel and Rossini, further fueling speculation about their relationship.

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6. What Happens Next? PR Options & Consequences

(18:05–19:57)

• Disclosure Scenarios: Dan ponders possible damage control strategies, from owning the relationship to embracing a polyamorous narrative, or waiting until all other escape routes are exhausted.
• Rossini’s Career Fallout: If anyone goes public, it would be Rossini, likely only when her journalism career is truly at risk or there's a lucrative incentive.

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7. Bears Draft Fits: Dylan Thieneman

(20:04–21:34)

• Prospect Spotlight: ESPN’s Matt Bowen lists rookie Bears safety Dylan Thieneman among the best scheme fits in the 2026 draft as a versatile, ball-hawking addition.
• Tight End Note: Bowen also shouts out Eli Stowers, now joining the Eagles, as a prospect to watch.

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8. Bombshell Analytics: The "Bears Tax"

(21:34–29:20)

• Warren Sharp’s Findings: Bears opponents have, over years, consistently had the fewest penalty yards called against them—a trend spanning multiple seasons and categories (roughing the passer, pass interference, holdings, and more).
• Possible Reasons and Reactions:
  • Matt wonders about the impact of divisional foes’ tendencies.
  • Dan hypothesizes the Bears’ history of mobile quarterbacks may make penalties harder to officiate.
• Implication: The hosts agree it’s a pattern too strong to ignore and the Bears organization needs to address it.

Quote:

"One season can be random. Four seasons? That’s pattern recognition."
—Dan Bernstein (29:22)

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9. Around the Division: Vikings Sign Jauan Jennings

(29:40–30:57)

• Deal: Vikings add WR Jauan Jennings on a one-year, up-to-$13M contract.
• Comparisons: Matt likens it to the Bears’ Keenan Allen move, but neither host sees it as worrying for Chicago fans.

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10. Looking Ahead & Offbeat: Schedule Speculation & Road Trip Banter

(30:57–32:46)

• Schedule Preview: Dan predicts the Bears could play Seattle in a nationally televised season opener.
• Travel Talk: The episode closes with playful conversation about a potential Bears road trip to Buffalo (including local food favorites and graveyard jokes).

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Notable Quotes

• On Vrabel’s Integrity:

  "If he'd never said any of that and just walked up there as dumb as a box of rocks...fine. Then this shouldn't cost him his job. Okay. But he lied. He's a phony. He's a fraud. That's why he should lose his job."
  —Matt Abbatacola (06:03–07:34)

• On the Tampering Speculation:

  "You’re never going to get a smoking gun...but even though everybody seems to know what's probably going on, this is a tough one."
  —Dan Bernstein (13:35)

• On the “Bears Tax”:

  "Just presenting what was said there. I don't know what to make of all that."
  —Dan Bernstein (26:46–26:48)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Bears Roster News (Zay Frazier): 01:50–04:10
• Clarifying Vrabel Comments: 05:38–07:56
• Vrabel & Rossini Fallout—Patriots’ Position: 07:56–09:58
• Potential Tampering—Julio Jones & Tom Brady: 09:58–15:49
• Recent Developments (Burner, Barstool Feud): 15:49–18:18
• Future Disclosure & PR Tactics: 18:18–20:01
• Bears 2026 Draft Picks (Thieneman): 20:04–21:34
• "Bears Tax": Officiating Disparities: 21:34–29:20
• NFC North Update—Jauan Jennings to Vikings: 29:40–30:57
• Schedule Speculation, Buffalo Banter: 30:57–32:46

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Summary

This packed episode provides classic Forward Progress fare: in-depth Bears news, blunt NFL opinion, conspiracy-adjacent league chatter, and some statistical bombshells with real implications for Chicago fans. Dan and Matt tackle the headlines with characteristic authenticity, dry wit, and the occasional inside joke, giving listeners plenty to digest until the next kick-off.

Transcript

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[Matt Abeticola]

I mean, if you're a Bears fan,

[Dan Bernstein]

you're thinking Forward Progress. Come on.

[Matt Abeticola]

Forward progress a chicago bears podcast with dan bernstein and matt abeticola on 31 2sp.

[Dan Bernstein]

We give you Forward Progress here on 312 Sports where we talk Chicago Bears and all things NFL. And there's a little Bears news nugget that they have released Zay Frazier and it comes as a bit of a surprise. He missed all of last season with what were believed to be some personal issues or noted to be personal issues.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's what Brian Poll said. Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And now it appears that given a chance to come back, Ben Johnson said the his trajectory was off or he just wasn't ready or wasn't good enough. And considering that they've got Malik Muhammad now who's going to be challenging for a role and Terrell Smith coming back from injury, not room for Zay Frazier. It's strange on the timing, but so be it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Too bad. It is too bad. And hopefully whatever it was he was dealing with, he has been able to resolve or come to some type of, I don't know, understanding or growth or learning or whatever. Whatever it was. Just hope he hope he's doing good as a human first and foremost. And you know the football stuff. If he's has the ability to play in the NFL. He'll fight his way to a roster, that's for sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

And if it's possible that and I presume that it is possible that the Bears did more than they would be expected to do to assist somebody or to allow that their resources be used that he get himself right just like they would for a physical injury. If, in fact, there is a mental health component that goes outside the usual rules and protocols of helping somebody to get every chance to return from a physical injury, it wouldn't surprise me if the Bears extended that as well because of what they've done for others. Remember that they did it for Zach Miller when he hurt his knee. They kept him on the roster and allowed him to have the opportunities to recover from that. So that would that would be my hope and really my expectation, frankly, if the Bears extended the same kind of opportunity for somebody dealing with something that may have been outside the purview of physical injury.

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[Matt Abeticola]

All right, I want to clarify something on yesterday's podcast for Progress here about the Mike Vrabel Diana Rossini situation. We also have A couple. Couple new components to add to this as well. But first and foremost, yesterday we were talking about Vrabel and Rossini and their. Their love boat ride, and I had said that Mike Vrabel shouldn't be fired for having an affair.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like that is. That is not something an NFL coach should be fired for. I even said, if you want to go out and bang a different girl every day of the week, he has that opportunity to go ahead and do that. Go ahead and do that. That shouldn't cost him his job. Now, I did say a couple weeks ago that I think Mike Vrabel should be fired. And I think he should be fired because he's a phony and a fraud. And when he stood in front of the Patriots, he lied about everything that he said he believed in and stood for. That is why I said he should be fired. So people were questioning yesterday on some of our comments and emails. Oh, you said he shouldn't be fired, but, you know, you said he should be fired. Yeah, I'm saying he shouldn't be fired because he had an affair. That's not the position of a football coach. I understood that shouldn't. I know, but some people did. I just wanted to clarify. It shouldn't lose your job for that. Now, if he went up there in front of the Patriots and never talked about integrity and galvanizing the building and galvanizing the team and, you know, bringing ownership to the players so that they can monitor what is needed and what's expected. If he never said any of that and just walked up there as dumb as a box of rocks and said, here to coach football. Win football games, win championships, love football, and was a Neanderthal from the start. Fine. Then this shouldn't cost him his job. Okay. But he lied. He's a phony. He's a fraud. That's why he should lose his job as an NFL coach, because he portrayed himself as someone that he is not. Just wanted to clarify that, make that very clear. Is that understandable?

[Dan Bernstein]

I got it. Without even the extra explanation. Okay. Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

One.

[Dan Bernstein]

To make sure, I was actually here when you did the show that you did with the headline, mike Vrabel should be fired, and you explained exactly why.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. Just want to make sure that was clear.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm good.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

I was. I would have said something. You're the same guy that said, which is it? I. I would have done that.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. You know, I would have. I just wanted to make sure. Because he shouldn't be fired because he had an affair, that he's an idiot and his wife should divorce him for that, but he should be fired because he's a. He's a phony and a fraud and a liar and stood for things that he didn't actually believe in for himself. So anywho, Albert Brer, known NFL reporter, was on 98.5the hub earlier today in New England, and when asked about the possibility of the Patriots parting ways with Mike Vrabel, oh, and by the way, too, I did say that I don't think Robert Kraft ever will fire him. I think he should, but I don't think he will, albert Breer said. I would say at this point, it's definitely not in their plans to move on from Mike Vrabel. I think if you look at the actions of craft sports, I think it's been a month now since the photos came out. Almost everything has been done in an effort to protect his employment and to protect the team's image. If it's just continued drips and drabs that kind of continue to fill in the blanks of what we already know, then I think the Patriots just ride it out. So that was Albert Beer this morning on New England Radio. Okay, so I still don't think that Robert Kraft will fire him. I think he should, but I don't think he will. I mean, and I think he demonstrated from the fact that he wanted to cover it up and reached out to the New York Times to have the story killed instead of acting upon it. I think he'll continue that same course. The only way I think that anything happens is if the NFL does step in now, they probably would have if

[Dan Bernstein]

that were going to happen. I think with every day that goes by, anything becomes less likely. However, again, with every day that goes by without either one of them actually addressing this, it's not going to go away. Their expectation a couple of things could happen. One, they probably won't fire them and two, their bet that this will go away is less likely with as the evidence just keeps piling up of a lot more than we knew with every single day.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, there's a lot more stuff that keeps coming out with each passing day, as you're mentioning. And you know, we'll see if the NFL eventually does step in. Now, they said that it was a personal matter and that they weren't going to get involved in it. But it has to be more than a personal matter because here is what being connected. The dots are being connected online by reporters and fans and members of the media and certain levels Here's a story Wide receiver Julio Jones was traded to the Titans from the Atlanta Falcons on June 6th of 2022. Sorry, 2021. Okay. For a 2022 second round pick and a 2023 fourth round pick. Atlanta also sent a 2023 sixth round pick to Tennessee. Okay, okay. Rossini reported on ESPN May 27th, 2021 that the Falcons had a first round pick offer for Jones, per a source, and that the Titans were a long shot. The Atlanta Falcons have discussed several offers for wide receiver Julio Jones, including an offer of a future first round pick, sources told ESPN's Diana Rossini. Atlanta has asked teams that have inquired about Jones for a first round pick in return, sources told Adam Schefter on Monday. While Atlanta has had discussions with Tennessee, a source described the Titans chances of landing Jones as a long shot, a source told Rossini. Now media, media, fans and others around the Internet have begun to connect the dots. If Jones was traded for significantly less compensation than the first round pick that Rossini reported, could this have been her helping Vrabel to cool the trade market for Jones for the Titans game?

[Dan Bernstein]

To tell everybody, hey, if there's not a first involved, back off.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct. And remember, this is what the Titans traded. Fourth and a sixth and they got. They returned. They got a six in return as well.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, they got a sixth in return. So second and a second and a fourth for Jones in a sixth.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct. Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

And that was after she put it out there. They're like, oh boy, the market's heating up. So anything that not starting with a first round pick isn't going to fly.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct. We have already connected now dots already been connected from March of 2020 where Rossini, wow. Reported the Titans were not interested in signing Tom Brady as a free agent, instead working to extend QB Ryan Tannehill. That report came three days after images of Rabel and Rossini in close quarters late night in a New York bar. Via Page Six here's her tweet the Titans are not interested in Tom Brady. They are working hard to get a deal done with Ryan Tannehill, per sources that report. That tweet came out a few days after these pictures were now discovered of them late night at a bar in New York. The NFL's last statement on the alleged affair was that the NFL Draft week league said there'd be no investigation for Rabel and a potential violation of the personal conduct policy. Now the NFL should have reason to open an investigation into Rabel and Rossini's relationship for tampering and collusion based on the data revealed over the last month since Page Six first released images of the two alone in Sedona, Arizona. So now if. If there's evidence, and there's evidence here,

[Dan Bernstein]

now she's saying it's still circumstantial.

[Matt Abeticola]

It is still. But it's enough for the league to question and say, let's have a conversation.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's true. It is. That it is. It is coincidental at the very least. At the very least, it is circumstantial. But the way the timeline adds up, I would say the way you phrase that, Maddie, is. It's worth asking about. You're never going to get a smoking gun. Like, they're never going to be able to have their phones and see what they were texting each other. I just think, even though everybody seems to know what's probably going on, this is a tough one. I don't ever think you're going to be able to get anybody to admit any proof that allows you to go with what we all know exactly was happening.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. And the only reason you don't want to investigate this or open it up is because of what else might come out. Yeah, that's the only reason. But, dude, you'd have to be dumb as a box of rocks to say, all right, so she put this report out there about Julio Jones. Nothing happened. The Titans were a long shot. Oh, but the Titans got him for a second and a fourth. And then this report about Tom Brady and Ryan Tannehill comes out days after these photos are revealed of them late night at a New York bar.

[Dan Bernstein]

So what was the ultimate effect, though, of those of the Tom Brady stuff? I don't know. That. That. And then.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, there's no. No impact there. Or maybe that's. Maybe. Who knows, Dan? Maybe Buccaneers weren't interested. Maybe the Buccaneers thought, all right, you know, Mike Vrabel's got a history with. With Tom Brady, and he's in Tennessee. Is Brady gonna go to Tennessee? And now it's like, oh, he's not going to go there. And they're going to work really hard for Ryan Tannehill to come back.

[Dan Bernstein]

Let's bring them down and win a Super Bowl.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yep. You never know. But it just. It shows that there is a. A point of conversation happening that you could argue collusion, tampering enough for the NFL to say, let's have this conversation. Now, I agree with you that nothing's going to come of this unless there's only one way that this all comes out, and there's Light shown upon it. And that is if Diana Rossini, who's already lost her job and potentially a career in reporting the NFL, if she sits down with someone and says, here's everything you need to know, it's not

[Dan Bernstein]

going to be soon. If that happens, that is not going to be soon. This is not to mention a couple other points that we learned today. One is somebody thinks they found Mike Vrabel's Twitter burner.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And it's.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's.

[Dan Bernstein]

Was it Mike Masters?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And it was in support of Rabel and the Patriots and. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

All supporting variable. And then the moment somebody realized that they think they stumbled onto his burner, that account disappeared. It was deleted. So that added to the intrigue. And then there's also this. And this. This was captured from a show that was done in April of 2020. It was a segment on Barstool Sports referred to as Barstool Feud. And it is a version of Family Feud.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

That they play. And what's been seen in this clip where Mike Vrabel is on screen, Diana Rossini is also on screen. And they said, okay, Diana, what is something you might close your eyes to do? And she was working for ESPN at the time. And she immediately said, when you have sex with your husband or wife, so you. If you watch it, you can see almost everybody laughing. And Vrabel is not laughing. Vrabel is just shaking his head in response to that. And there were some responses to it at the time. And everybody also puts together the number of times she has said insulting things about her husband that seem to be joking but now don't seem like they're joking. And the way everything is being timed up here, add this to the list as well. When with Mike Vrabel there looking on. On this virtual game show, asked, what is something you do with your eyes closed? And her response is, when you have sex with your husband or wife, why

[Matt Abeticola]

do you say that? That if she were to open up and talk about this with someone? Because I know that there are media outlets that are trying to make that happen now.

[Dan Bernstein]

Mm.

[Matt Abeticola]

Why do you say it'll be a while?

[Dan Bernstein]

I just think that they're still in the. In the denial phase. I think they're still. Until this thing becomes obviously large enough that all the people advising them kind of give up. We've been talking about the number of escape hatches that they've got here.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And my PR mind has been thinking about, when do you declare? Like, yesterday we said the nuclear option is. That's it. We're in love and nothing can stop true love. That's one another might be polyamory. And it might just be where Vrabel and his wife say, hey, let's just say we're swingers.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I think they missed that boat.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, the guy caught a different bro. Sorry. Yeah, they got a different one. So that would be another one. And I'm trying to think of what, what advice could they get because you're running out of time to save face here and you may be completely out of time. And once that's done, I think she would have to confront the near end of the career before she goes on Oprah or a tell all or sits on a couch in fuzzy focus and owns up to everything. Because that will happen at some point.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I think it will, but only when.

[Dan Bernstein]

When it's like rock bottom, last resort. We're not there yet or there's a

[Matt Abeticola]

big enough payday for it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Correct.

[Matt Abeticola]

And you know, maybe that happens in the middle of the season. You know, maybe the Patriots aren't off to the start that they want and all of a sudden this story just won't go away and now it explodes and here's everything that that actually happened.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. So that I would say if you're

[Matt Abeticola]

keeping it, I think. I think someone. Someone will convince her that that's the route to go. If you want to save any kind of face or move towards the future, you've got to be the one to come clean first.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe. But. But it doesn't feel to me like we're there yet.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, no, I Probably right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Probably right on that.

[Matt Abeticola]

Another Bears note for you that Matt Bowen on ESPN, he wrote a little piece about 15 different rookies that he felt landed in the perfect spot. Perfect landing spot for these different 15 different rookies. One of them was Dylan Thieneman, your safety pick at number 25. Dan, my guy, he says why he fits, he says. With Thinnerman and free agent signee Kobe Bryant, coordinator Dennis Allen now has two interchangeable safeties with strong ball skills. Specifically Thinnerman. Speed and range to track the ball deep. Give Allen more flexibility in the game plan to move late or disguise from two high shells. Thiemann can also spin down at the snap to cut on crosses in cover 2 man or patrol the underneath zones.

[Dan Bernstein]

The Bears. Yeah, the robber stuff that he can do. Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

The Bears get an upgrade and a scheme fit here with Feneman, who had eight interceptions in college. So according to Matt Bowen, and he knows the position well, one of the best 15 landing spots for rookies in the 2026 draft class. He also talks about Eli Stowers out of Vanderbilt, the tight end who went to Philadelphia. I, I'm gonna watch him this year. I loved watching him last year at Vanderbilt. That was one of the, one of the, one of the byproducts of checking on Diego Pavia regularly was seeing this guy play. And it was, he's, he's really good. I'm looking forward to seeing what his career does in the NFL.

[Dan Bernstein]

I found a Bears thing that I found absolutely fascinating that I predict is going to be. It's going to reverberate through the weekend into next week as we start, as questions start to be asked about this.

[Matt Abeticola]

Really?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Warren Sharp of Sharp Football, who has nearly over 400,000 Twitter followers and does some very interesting football analytics work.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. He tweeted. These are a series of tweets. And I'm going to present this directly and without saying that I've done a lot of work on this without, without really knowing the reasons behind it. I'm just going to present to you his findings and find out what you think. Okay. He writes, this is today. Started this. The first Tweet came at 8:53am today. I never knew about a Bears tax. And he put this up in quotes. A Bears tax. Until yesterday. Today you'll learn about it too. So my thought was, oh, okay. Something is buried in this bill in the state legislature that we don't know about because everything's been written so fast. And the Senate version of the House has nothing to do with that. The Bears tax.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is Warren Sharp. Yesterday I shared that Bears opponents had the fewest penalty yards called against them. Last year, 678 penalty yards called on Bears opponents. The average in the NFL was 871. So that's nearly 200 more called for an average team, not Bears opponents. But apparently that's just the beginning. In 2026, there were 678 yards of penalties called against Bears opponents. There were 701 for the Detroit Lions, 731 for the Buffalo Bills, 734 all the way down to the New York Giants at 11:43. So by far last year, the Chicago Bears opponents had the fewest penalty yards called on them. Let's expand it. Over the last four years, having very few penalties called on their opponents is standard for the Bears. The Bears rank in opponent penalty yards Last year, number one, 2024. Seventh fewest, 2023. Number one, 2022. Number one over the last four years combined the Bears rank in penalty yards against opponents fewest Bears in penalties called against opponents number one fewest. Also first downs awarded to the Bears via penalties called on opponents number one fewest. And the combination of that number one fewest penalties along with number one fewest first downs leads to this hilarious stat. At the same time that the Bears opponents were the least penalized in the NFL, the the Bears own offense was receiving very little help. Bears first downs via penalty on opponents since 2022 number one fewest in the NFL. Just 1.3 per game. 1.3. But wait, he says it gets worse. Net penalty yards since 2022. This is the net. Yours minus theirs. Theirs minus yours. However you want to look at it, the Bears are at negative 795. Then there's a huge gap to number two. The New York jets at minus 584 going all the way to the Vikings at plus 817. Opponent roughing the passer on Bears quarterbacks seven. That's 32nd in the NFL. Bears penalties on roughing the opponent's quarterback 17 second most total first downs via penalty Bears offense number one fewest opponent offenses when playing the Bears number four most. And lastly, he details it since 2022. Opponent defensive pass interference number one fewest in the league. Opponent roughing the passer number two fewest opponent unnecessary roughness number three fewest opponent defensive or offensive holding number four fewest. I'm just presenting what it was said there.

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't know what to make of all that.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't either.

[Matt Abeticola]

It doesn't sound good though. But I mean, how's it possible? How's it possible? Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

There's one. One thing I immediately thought of was looking at the Vikings, the Lions, the packers, because you play them six times a year, where do they rank as far as penalties and how does that impact the Bears total overall numbers? That was the first thought I had.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, I've got this thought too. What's in common about those seasons? One aspect is slippery quarterbacks who run or at least move around a lot. Athletic fields and fast athletic quarterbacks who may be difficult to officiate because. Because we keep saying that they keep hitting him in the head. How come. How come that other quarterbacks are protected? Why aren't Bears quarterbacks protected in the same way? And the answer might be they're. They're more difficult to officiate in the pocket, out of the pocket, ball carrier, passer that the gray areas in there. And this is just me trying to be fair and not saying that there are inherent unknown biases that are involved that referees aren't aware of or reasons why they call certain things. I'm not going there for the purposes of this discussion, even though there may be legitimate reasons to do that, and it's completely fair to ask that question, and we might get to that point, but I just want to keep it at the moment to the style of play.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's a good thought. That's a very, very good thought.

[Dan Bernstein]

So. But. But it's even beyond that. Like, that is really tough because people always say, oh, it's Mahomes. It's Mahomes, and Mahomes and Kelsey and the Chiefs get every call to see this kind of obviously ingrained inequity in both directions at least merits further investigation.

[Matt Abeticola]

I agree.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wow.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I would love to understand. Yeah, I just. I. I don't. I don't know what to make of it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I don't either. But isn't this. This is bombshell stuff.

[Matt Abeticola]

It is.

[Dan Bernstein]

And this is the kind of thing that I think when we. When we are here on Monday, now that this has been put out there by somebody with half a million Twitter followers, there's got to be attention paid to that and people within the Bears, whoever it might be, whether it's Harry Fried or anybody else that does, you might want to put a phone call into somebody and say, what's. What the hell? What is this?

[Matt Abeticola]

Wow. That's crazy.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because you can. One season can be random. Four seasons. That's not. After a while, that's. That's pattern recognition.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct. Yeah. I'd be curious to see what. What comes from this.

[Dan Bernstein]

Crazy.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I have one final note for you. A signing within a division. If you saw Juwan Jennings.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

With the Vikings, one year, up to 13 million.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right. Yeah. That sounds to me like their version of the Keenan Allen signing.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I'm just surprised they didn't sign another quarterback.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Well, I. That doesn't. That doesn't scare me. It doesn't bother me. And when I saw Drew McGarry's reaction was just a sarcastic yay. That was. I think that's all you need to know as a Bears fan. So that was a densely packed forward progress with Bears and NFL information for you to chew on all the way through your weekend. And I think by next week, we're going to be talking about some leaks on the schedule release. That would be my guess. Let's go. And the only thing that I would say is I not. Sometimes I'm a Betting man. So I can't describe myself as not a betting man. I would kind of think about a Bears Seahawks lid lifter. Don Anyo would say, I mean, if

[Matt Abeticola]

you're the NFL, that that would be a really, really smart move.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. And a standalone. A standalone national lid lifter is my hope, slash expectation at this point that we're going to see that game be the way the NFL returns to our screens this year.

[Matt Abeticola]

Hey, the Bears. I was thinking about something. The Bears do play at Buffalo, don't they? There's opponents. Yeah. Let me see.

[Dan Bernstein]

Looking at a road trip.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, no. Buffalo.

[Dan Bernstein]

You don't want to go to Buffalo. I know, peeps.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, no, no. Is it? No, no. Wait, wait. Was this last year?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Away. Yeah. 20, 20, 26.

[Matt Abeticola]

Here we go.

[Dan Bernstein]

2026. Opponents outside of the division. Buffalo, Miami, Atlanta, Carolina, Seattle.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, that's what I'm thinking. Thinking we do a show road trip to Buffalo. Yes. Hey, Wings Forward Progress. What else do you need?

[Dan Bernstein]

Bocce's pizza.

[Matt Abeticola]

Bocce's pizza. We got to do.

[Dan Bernstein]

We got to do Bocce or Marvino's. We got to do a night at Duffs. Oh, we will just kill it at Duffs, man. We'll just absolutely wreck that place. God, it's so much fun.

[Matt Abeticola]

We got to look into that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Buffalo Art museum is great. There's all kinds of stuff to do.

[Matt Abeticola]

I ain't going for no art museum, Bernstein.

[Dan Bernstein]

We could go to my grandparents graves.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, that's definitely. We could desecrate them and stuff.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, we could go visit them. Yeah, people's still there. I can. I could. I. I think there's probably still somebody. Somebody I know that's alive there to whom I'm related, so. Oh, yeah, we can get in some trouble out there. No doubt. I'm in. I'm in.

[Matt Abeticola]

Sweet.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right. Have a great weekend. That is Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears and NFL Podcast on 312Sports for Progress is stopped.

[Matt Abeticola]

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

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