NFL Weighs In: Breaking Down Roger Goodell’s Bears Stadium Comments

Summary

Forward Progress: A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: NFL Weighs In: Breaking Down Roger Goodell’s Bears Stadium Comments
Date: May 20, 2026
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola

---

Overview

This episode dives into Roger Goodell's recent comments on the Chicago Bears stadium situation, analyzes ongoing political tensions surrounding the project, and explores the broader implications of team ownership dynamics. Dan and Matt blend their classic mix of hard-nosed analysis, wit, and Bears fandom, covering local stadium politics, front office personalities, NFL scheduling predictions, a discussion on player conduct and marijuana policy, as well as new developments in NFL international games.

---

Key Topics and Insights

Roger Goodell’s Bears Stadium Update

[02:00–04:54]

• Bernstein reads Roger Goodell’s recent statement, which claims there are "two viable sites in the Bears’ mind."
  • Notable Quote – Goodell: "There is a focus on getting something done and there will be two viable options for the Bears to choose from." [02:37]
• Both hosts quickly debunk the idea of two real options, emphasizing that one Illinois site is far more likely than any Indiana alternative.
• Matt jokes there's a third site: “my backyard.” [03:49]
• Dan outlines the reality: legislative slow-walking in Illinois is the only thing holding up progress. Indiana is seen as a leverage ploy—"They've never wanted it, ever. It's always been a canard." [04:21]

Political Infighting: Johnson vs. Pritzker

[05:03–06:30]

• Dan and Matt discuss the public spat between Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
• Matt speculates this is about "boosting local populist credentials," while Dan is baffled by the endgame:
  • Dan [05:25]: “I can't see the three-dimensional chess... to make an enemy of the guy in charge of the levers of state government.”
• Both agree the feud doesn't benefit the city or move the stadium project forward.

Bears Ownership and Leadership Vacuum

[06:35–13:21]

• Matt shares a revealing ESPN story about Bears Chairman George McCaskey umpiring a high school baseball game during the 2024 draft, rather than participating in the draft room.
  • Matt [07:38]: "The AD at Sycamore High School was updating McCaskey while he's umping."
• Dan sees this as “awesome” and “mature,” for McCaskey’s mental health.
• They use this to illustrate a deeper issue: the ownership’s hands-off approach has created a power vacuum increasingly filled by CEO Kevin Warren.
  • Dan [10:02]: “There is a building perception that Kevin Warren is... turning the Bears into his own vanity project.”
• Matt notes Warren’s high visibility in team operations, from taking player calls to appearing in locker-room celebrations.
  • Matt [12:04]: “It also shows... there’s that vacuum there and Kevin Warren is the guy to insert himself.”

Bears Stadium: Legislative Stalemate

[13:21–14:37]

• Hosts point out the Bears are now at the mercy of the Illinois legislature; until the bill moves, no real leverage or alternative moves exist.
• Dan downplays threats to move to Indiana, citing the environmental and financial impracticality of the Hammond site.

NFL Season Predictions

[14:58–19:55]

• Matt reviews win-loss records from two NFL.com writers who predicted every team's 2026 season.
• Both projections have the Bears winning the division (10–7 or 11–6).
• Game-by-game breakdown reflects consensus on some wins and losses, but emphasizes how speculative these predictions are given future uncertainties.
  • Dan [19:18]: “Sounds good to me.” (on Bears facing Lions or Niners in the playoffs)
  • Matt [19:19]: “It’s fun stuff... part of the NFL fan culture.”

Rashee Rice Case and NFL Drug Policy

[19:55–29:47]

• Dan introduces the Rashee Rice legal situation: violation of probation (marijuana use) stemming from a major car crash.
  • Dan [22:28]: “You at least make that some plausible excuse. It’s not going to fly. It’s not going to work.”
• The discussion critiques NFL insider Adam Schefter for merely relaying agent spin (“inflammation” as reason for marijuana use) instead of deeper reporting.
• Dan advocates for a science-based reconsideration of NFL (and national) drug policy, emphasizing the need for more research into cannabinoids’ benefits for pain/inflammation.
  • Dan [23:24]: “You can question as part of your job why the agent wants that information out there...”
  • Dan [25:04]: “If the drug can be rescheduled... we can see what the [medical] effects are.”
• Matt notes while the marijuana violation is minor, the bigger issue is the leniency Rice received for his role in the crash:
  • Matt [26:20]: "For me, a greater question and concern... what was the punishment he served?"
  • Recap of Rice’s involvement in a street race, his subsequent guilty plea, and legal consequences.

The NFL’s Expanding International Schedule

[30:30–33:25]

• Matt explains the NFL’s approval of 10 international games (plus the Jaguars’ annual game) starting in 2027.
• Importantly, teams can no longer “protect” any home games from being played overseas.
  • Dan [32:18]: “Television ratings mean more... If they can make more money moving a Bears-Packers game to Papua New Guinea, they’ll do it.”

Clarifying the “Hammond Site” and Stadium Viability

[33:25–34:52]

• Matt clarifies listener feedback: their stance is not about “preferring” Chicago over Hammond, but the financial and environmental hurdles are simply insurmountable.
  • Matt [33:44]: “It isn’t a personal preference.”
  • Dan [33:49]: “Go play wherever you want.”
  • Matt [33:53]: "Hammond is not realistic because... it’s a big pile of human shit... $250–300 million to clean.”
• Both reiterate that, as TV viewers, location itself is irrelevant—only the facts of viability matter.

Final Reflections on Ownership

[34:52–36:47]

• Return to the theme of McCaskey’s involvement (or lack thereof).
  • Matt [35:26]: “Which is great. Good for you, George.”
• Dan highlights how many McCaskey family members would “be happy to be completely uninvolved” and just want the money for their shares.

---

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Dan Bernstein [02:00]: “It is the entire purpose of our very existence to provide you with forward progress.”
• Matt Abbatacola [07:38]: “The AD at Sycamore High School was updating McCaskey while he's umping.”
• Dan Bernstein [10:02]: “Kevin Warren is turning the Bears into his own vanity project.”
• Dan Bernstein [23:24]: "Rather than simply parroting what the agent's telling you... you can question as part of your job why the agent wants that information out there."
• Dan Bernstein [25:04]: "I'm up for it (THC) being completely rescheduled... and marketed and, you know, more scientifically studied."
• Dan Bernstein [32:18]: “I’ve said, if you want to build your TV studio... on a toxic swamp, it’s still a TV studio.”
• Matt Abbatacola [33:53]: “Hammond is not realistic... it’s a big dump site, toxic waste site that would require anywhere from $250 to $300 million just to clean.”

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Roger Goodell Stadium Comments: [02:00–04:54]
• Chicago Political Tensions (Johnson vs. Pritzker): [05:03–06:30]
• Bears Ownership Vacuum / McCaskey Story: [06:35–13:21]
• Legislative Stalemate & Stadium Realities: [13:21–14:37]
• 2026 Bears Season Predictions: [14:58–19:55]
• Rashee Rice Case & NFL Drug Policy: [19:55–29:47]
• NFL International Games Expansion: [30:30–33:25]
• Hammond Site Clarification: [33:25–34:52]
• Reflections on Ownership: [34:52–36:47]

---

Tone and Style

The conversation remains casual, witty, and informed—full of local cynicism, honest takes, and the hosts’ signature blend of expertise and humor. Their rapport keeps the episode engaging, even during more technical or policy-heavy segments.

---

For Listeners:

This episode covers everything from the state of the Bears stadium saga to deeper questions about how NFL teams are run and the forces shaping the league’s future. If you want the real story behind the headlines—and some good-natured shade thrown at city, state, and league officials—Dan and Matt deliver.

Transcript

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

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

[Mark McCray]

You know what's missing. Real talk about what Black men go through mentally and emotionally. Man Listen Mental Health conversations for Men of color we're diving into the real stuff. The pressure, the struggles, the healing. No filters, just brothers sharing their truth about navigating life and finding purpose. Whether you're living it, supporting someone who is, or just want to understand, this is for you. I'm Mark McCray and I'm ready to have these conversations. Find us by searching Man Listen Mental wherever you get your podcast, this message

[Apple Card Announcer]

is brought to you by Apple Card. For a limited time, when you get a new Apple card and purchase AirPods Pro 3 at Apple, you can earn back the cost up to 250 daily cash new AirPods Pro and up to $250 bonus daily cash back. Now that's music to my ears. Subject to credit approval limitations and spend requirements apply. Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City terms and more at Apple Co AirPods.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, if you're a Bears fan,

[Matt Abeticola]

you're thinking forward progress. Come on. Forward Progress A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 Sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

It is the entire purpose of our very existence to provide you with forward progress. And we do as we talk Bears and NFL. And thankfully, because of the diligence that he performs for his fifty million dollar year salary, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has an update a I think so. He used to like 10 years ago he made $40 million. Look it up, look it up.

[Matt Abeticola]

Good for him.

[Dan Bernstein]

Look up, look up. Ask one of your various AI engines there. What does Roger Goodell make in one year?

[Matt Abeticola]

That's great man.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's a really good job to not have to really do all that much. Here's the quote because we know that Bears executives were said to have presented the NFL with their official stadium update yesterday. Stadium update. Now you want to hear. You want to hear news delivered by the Commissioner? Here it is. Quote There was a specific update on the Bears. This is the quote. On the two sites that are viable in the bears mind, that process is going on. So he says, viable in the bears mind. I've spoken to the governor of Illinois recently. There is a focus on getting something done and there will be two viable options for the Bears to choose from. End quote.

[Matt Abeticola]

Nope.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, not. We know. First of all, as we discussed yesterday. Not really.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, there's one.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, there's another site. The viability is. Is kind of.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, there's a. There's a third site, too. It's my backyard.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, I'd pull the shades. They're playing in your backyard. Forget it. But that. That was the update. There isn't actually any update on the work that is being done in the Illinois Senate right now to mark up the bill and have their. Whatever it is, a Votorama or however the. Whatever their parliamentary procedure is into, add things and strip things, earmark things and put in the pork barrels and fight over all that stuff, and eventually the bears continue to hold that door open. You could have just said, hey, if it's taking so long and bothering you so much, why don't you just take the Indiana. Because they don't want to. They would have. They don't want to. They've never wanted it. They don't want it. They haven't wanted it ever. It's always been a canard. So they're waiting for Illinois to pass this, which apparently Pritzker has given them enough indication to say something is going to come through. It may not be exactly what you want, but it's going to be enough that you don't have to pretend that you want to go play on a pile of human waste.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. So thanks for the update, Roger.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, thanks, Rog.

[Matt Abeticola]

Roughly $64 million.

[Dan Bernstein]

I was low.

[Matt Abeticola]

Did you see the. The thing going back and forth between Brandon Johnson and. And Governor Pritzker?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And now they're insulting each other. I don't know. I. I don't know.

[Matt Abeticola]

I didn't grow up a billionaire. I've, you know, opened the fridge, didn't see food. He never saw that. Well, clearly. But. But like, what. What's the. What's the end game here?

[Dan Bernstein]

What's the point? No idea.

[Matt Abeticola]

Maybe. Maybe. What are we doing?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. If Brandon Johnson is just trying to boost his local populist credentials with a certain constituency, the answer is I have no idea. Yeah, I have no idea what Brandon Johnson is trying to accomplish by taking somebody on who is in the process of Building out a presidential level operation and just the sort of the size of his operation. Right now they are scaling up. Yeah. And I don't know if Johnson wants attention from that larger machine, ledger machine, if he thinks that helps him. But I, I can't see the three dimensional chess of trying to locally or within the state where your city has primacy is to make an enemy of the guy in charge of the levers of state government. Right now I'm, I don't get it. I don't know how a feud benefits him or benefits us as Chicago residents or citizens.

[Matt Abeticola]

We were talking yesterday about the Bear stadium and we, we kind of asked the question in our conversation about George McCaskey, like why wouldn't George have just taken this on, you know, gotten more involved and maybe through self awareness or through internal pressure. That was decided for him. There's a story that's unrelated to the Bear stadium, but I think it gives a good idea of why George is less involved instead of the stadium project. Okay. This is on espn. Again, completely unrelated, but gives a little bit of a mindset of, of George McCaskey. The story is about owners and how much or how little owners get involved when it comes to the processes within their organization.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's a wide range between Jerry Jones being the actual general manager and maybe the opposite extreme would be the McCaskeys needing to hire somebody to do most of the business for them.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think the opposite extreme would exactly be George McCaskey.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Two years ago, Chicago was making calls to trade back into the fifth round of the draft. While George McCaskey was calling balls and strikes. George McCaskey, the 70 year old chairman of the Bears, opted to umpire on the final day of the 2024 draft instead of spending the four rounds in the draft room of Hallis Hall. Chauncey Carrick, the athletic director at Sycamore Illinois High School, was one, was the one updating McCaskey on the players the Bears were selecting. So the AD at Sycamore High School was updating McCaskey. While he's umping the game, I go, hey, you guys are drafting in four picks? Carrick said, want me to stick around and let you know who you get. McCaskey appreciated the help. About an hour later, Carrick returned with an update which surprised McCaskey. Since the Bears entered the draft with only four picks, including two in the first round. He goes, not us, we're out of picks. Carrick said. I was like, well, you just traded back in. He immediately wanted to know who they got. So again, an unrelated story.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's something awesome about that. It really is. There's nothing wrong with choosing that approach. There, there really is something that as far as his own mental health, in some ways I think that's really mature.

[Matt Abeticola]

So I wasn't sharing that with the idea of being negative or denigrating George McCaskey saying he should be more involved. I was just showing that. I thought it showed some insight to our conversation yesterday about why wasn't George Moore involved. Was this a self awareness thing? Was it internal pressure from somewhere within the organization to say, George, you shouldn't do this? I think it's George himself and I think this just shows it. This is not negative. This is nothing negative towards George McCaskey. I think it's cute. It's, it's the third day and the final day of the draft and George is like, you know what, I'm gonna go ump high school baseball, just keep me informed. And it wasn't even someone within the organization. There wasn't even a plan.

[Dan Bernstein]

He wasn't on a hotline. And meanwhile, meanwhile Kevin Warren has filled every vacuum. That's the problem.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And getting back to some things that we discussed yesterday. And I need to be careful about how I do this.

[Matt Abeticola]

And that's where I was going to tie it back through. So I'm glad you took that step.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. The one thing that I have realized too is that in some respects there is a building perception that Kevin Warren is taking advantage of the opportunity afforded him to turn himself into the Bears. That his inability to control his own self promotional instincts. We were warned about this because in a lot of ways it was said he thought he was bigger than the Big Ten, that he became the Big Ten. The Big Ten became like a Kevin Warren vanity project. There is some worry amid everything that's going on that the Chicago Bears are now the latest Kevin Warren vanity project. And that with every bit of, with every choice that George makes to be less involved, it just gives more air, more open space for Kevin Warren to fill and, and make things about not the Chicago Bears, but about Kevin Warren. And that is what, what George, I believe is now he's got people warning him that that kind of thing can happen.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And it's something that I've read in a couple different places that he is either going to, needing to or has been addressing as of late.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I don't know the extent of that. I can't speak to that report. I can only tell you what I've heard and that, that is that there are people who are increasingly concerned about the amount of power that was given to somebody to represent themselves as the Chicago Bears.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. Because if George excludes himself or steps out, and in this case, this story about the draft from 2024 went to umpire game, which I think is great, wasn't a plan set in place to say, hey, we'll text you or we'll call you. This is the person that will be in contact with you. It was an athletic director at the high school where he was umping that just said, hey, do you want me to keep you informed? And he was like, yeah, that'd be great. Appreciate it. And it wasn't even immediate. It was as the story road, the story goes. You know, an hour or two later he comes up and says, hey, do you want to know who you picked? Yeah, that'd be great. So, yeah, I appreciate that about George and love that about George. But it also shows, as you put it, there's that vacuum there and Kevin Warren is the guy to insert himself and step into that area. That vacuum that maybe ownership or different ownership wouldn't leave as a void. Well, which also maybe fits why you see Kevin Warren taking the cell phone in the draft room and talking to players, which bothers me, as I've expressed, not necessary. Why he's there in the locker room making sure he's in every camera shot when Ben Johnson is breaking down the final, you know, or breaking it down after a game victory. And there's Kevin Warren in the background. And here we are, three years now removed from purchasing this land in Arlington Heights, and nothing's done.

[Dan Bernstein]

We're getting closer, we think.

[Matt Abeticola]

We think. But we have two examples in the NFL. Tennessee and Buffalo, both starting their process after the Bears stadiums completed. And now a Super bowl awarded to Tennessee. And the Bears don't even have a deal in place.

[Dan Bernstein]

Mm. So just continue to keep an eye on everything and see how this is going. Because the waiting game, what's happening is because now everything is out of the Bears control. Yep, they are. Now this, with all the wheeling and dealing that's going on in the Senate, that's going to eventually move this thing to the governor's desk, there isn't really anything they can do right now. There's no last minute leverage games. There isn't anything they can do to immediately like throw down $300 million and clean up the site that's in Hammond, that's going to make people think they actually are capable of moving there and making money on something. That's built there that they don't own. So just this will be done relatively soon. And I think it's we'll get a lot of answers as to how it went down after the fact.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Matt Abeticola]

There are two writers on NFL.com that took on a task that I would not have wanted to take on, but they went through every single team in the NFL, looked at the schedule and both guys picked wins and losses on every single team in the NFL.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

And then broke it down. Would not want to do that. But God bless them, they did it for us. Here are the final results of the 2026 season and these are the playoff teams that they are selecting from the nfc. The number one seed for one of the one of the writers. The Rams at 12 and five. The two seed are the Dallas Cowboys at 11 and six, the three seed and division winner, your Chicago Bears at 10 seven and the Atlanta Falcons at nine and eight. Now your three wild card teams in order, the Seahawks at 11 and six, the 49ers at 10 and seven and the Eagles at 10 and seven. So if you get that first round by that gives you the Bears hosting the 49ers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that NFC south must be a real dog,

[Matt Abeticola]

right? Because the buddy. The other writer. Buddy, other writer went the same way with the NFC south but a different team. He had the Seahawks being number one at 12 and five, the Bears being the two seed at 11 and six, the Eagles 10 and seven, the Panthers nine and eight. So both writers have the NFC south being won by a team winning nine games. Your wild card teams are the Rams at 12 and 5, the 49ers at 11 and 6 and the Lions at 11 and 6. So with your first round by that gives you the two seed bears hosting the Detroit Lions.

[Dan Bernstein]

Let's go.

[Matt Abeticola]

So I wanted to go through and see what their picks were by season. They both have the Bears losing the opening opening game at the Panthers. They both have them winning against the Vikings. So now you're at home against the Eagles in week three and that's a loss for both of them. So Bears one and two. They host the jets in week four and they win that. So they finished two and two to start the first quarter all Right. At the packers is a loss. At the Falcons is a loss for both writers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Then you have two game win streaks with the Patriots at home. So that's a win on a Thursday night. They both picked the Bears to beat Seattle in Seattle on Monday night.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, no.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's just interesting how they're, they're, they're lockstep here.

[Dan Bernstein]

One of the few games in which the Bears are not a favorite.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yep. Week nine, hosting the Buccaneers, they have a loss. Both, both writers have them losing to the Buccaneers going into the bye week. Coming out of the bye week, it's two wins against the Saints. So they both have them. Victories against the Saints. Thanksgiving Day at the Lions, this is where they split. We have one as a loss, one has a win. Jaguars at home, both have that as a win. The Dolphins game in week 13, one has it as a loss of one has it as a win. And then we go Bills at Buffalo, the packers at home and the Lions at home. All three wins, both sides. And then they're split on the final game of the season, which gives you the 10, 7 and 11 and six record at the Vikings to be determined. We have one win and one loss.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not knowing who the quarterback is in

[Matt Abeticola]

any of these games, Right? Correct. Or injuries or health or.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's what I mean.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. So of any, any position was certainly the, the, the very large quarterback room for Minnesota, but fun little exercise there. They did 10 and 7, 11 and 6. And both NFL writers. One only has one team coming out of the north and then the other has the, the Bears and the Lions and they would face off in the first round of the playoffs. But.

[Dan Bernstein]

Sounds good to me.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, no, it's, it's fun stuff. And again, it's just. And as we know, it's impossible to do this and it's silly, but it certainly is. Part of the NFL fan culture is making these picks and predictions and having no idea who's where and who's doing what and what's happening anytime at all. But to predict a game that's, you know, still where we had out. I said we were 16 weeks away, and then we're 18 weeks in the season. So we're 34 weeks away. We're going to pick a, a prediction for the Vikings game.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm not. But.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, no. And we're not going to do that. But. But hey, it's just, it's interesting to see outside perspective. Both, both writers have the Bears winning the division.

[Dan Bernstein]

I have A question for Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rasheed Rice because Rasheed Rice has been sentenced to serve 30 days in jail after testing positive for marijuana in violation of the terms of his probation for his role in a crash that left multiple people injured on a Dallas highway two years ago.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yep, Georgia's not umping games.

[Dan Bernstein]

The Texas State Attorney's office said that Rice was ordered to go to jail immediately as part of his original 30 day sentence for the third degree felony of racing and causing bodily injury. According to the DA office, Mr. Rice was taken into custody today in the 194th Judicial District Court for testing positive for THC and ordered to serve the 30 days he'd previously been ordered to serve at a later time starting today. Rice had received deferred adjudication after pleading guilty and the case was would have been dismissed if he had completed the probation. All he had to do was not get high and this would have been dismissed. Like that's a bigger you had now that you have this on your record rather than not. So the Chiefs have voluntary practices that begin next week. Mandatory minicamp sent to end June 11th. Here's something and tell me why you think I find this interesting. Okay. One week before Rice was sentenced, he underwent a cleanup surgery on his right knee to remove loose debris that was causing inflammation, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Rice is expected to be sidelined for two months but is expected to be ready for training camp later this summer. The the Chief said they've been in touch with the NFL about the matter and declined further comment. So why is that paragraph important? And what did Adam Schefter not do in his reporting that somebody who isn't necessarily working on behalf of an agent could have and should have done or asked?

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, tell me

[Dan Bernstein]

why, if you're an agent, do you call Adam Schefter and make sure that you talk about inflammation?

[Matt Abeticola]

Is that why he was using whatever he was using?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. You at least make that some kind of plausible excuse. It's not going to fly. It's not going to work. It's not going to probably be a mitigating factor.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, it doesn't matter, obviously publicly, perhaps

[Dan Bernstein]

the reason why he did it because why the hell would he be using THC if he could have gotten the entire thing dismissed? And I guarantee you what that is setting up and what bothers me about what Schefter's role has become is that if he really were doing the job as a reporter, it's not me saying this, it's him it's him saying, the agent called me and mentioned inflammation. And here's possibly why that was done. Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Why he was using whatever it was he was.

[Dan Bernstein]

Rather than. Rather than. Right. Rather than simply parroting what the agent's telling you and just acting as a conduit, as a. As a mouthpiece for the agent. You can question as part of your job why the agent wants that information out there and what they may be planning to do if the Chiefs are in touch with the NFL about the matter, because this has been an ongoing battle on this front. If you want me to tell you what I think about this, I think that there should be no limitation whatsoever to THC usage in the NFL or anywhere else. If you want to make sure that younger people don't have access to it, like alcohol or tobacco, cool. But I'm. I'm up for it being completely rescheduled, reconsidered, studied better, and marketed and, you know, more scientifically studied so we can determine what the anecdotal and apparently very safe anti inflammatory and analgesic effects are of thc, of cbd, of everything else, of all of the cannabinoids.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. So that. That story certainly is like an image spin, because here, me, I have no, I don't got to skin in the game here with the Chiefs, with Rasheed Rice.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, neither do I. I don't. I don't care.

[Matt Abeticola]

But. But just hearing the story, it's like, all right, if the guy's having issues and he ends up having a procedure to clean it up, and he's going to be out for two months anyway, and he's dealing with some inflammation and pain, he should be able to use

[Dan Bernstein]

thc, especially because of the opiate problems that this league has faced and that Americans have faced generally. And if the drug can be rescheduled to the point where it can be studied properly. And this is. Look, my personal beliefs and my beliefs in what makes proper public policy in this regard have nothing to do with Rasheed Rice's decision making or with NFL football. I just think we need. Need in large part a reconsideration of drug laws when it comes to not just, you know, recreational use drugs like, like marijuana, where states have made some really intelligent decisions about what's best for their business and best for their citizens, but also some more of the. The hallucinogenic drugs as well. If you want to talk about dmt, what's found in ayahuasca, or if you want to talk about psilocybin and what, what can be Done. And some of the things that have been seen there even. And I, and I backed Aaron Rodgers on this when he brought it up that I am for science picking up the baton on this one. And rather than let it be anecdotal, let actual scientists determine what is in these products that might be able to help us all.

[Matt Abeticola]

Now for me on the Rasheed Rice story, there's, I mean, I have other questions going back to two years ago, the accident he was involved in and what was the punishment that he served and why, why, why didn't he serve any type of punishment? You know, I mean that's a greater, for me, a greater question and concern. Instead of him serving 30 days in jail now because he used THC for some swelling in his knee.

[Dan Bernstein]

In March of 2004, Rice was the driver of a Lamborghini SUV. And that's another thing, by the way,

[Matt Abeticola]

the DVU, it was cyber trucks. Now we're going to go about Lamborghini SUVs and Porsche SUVs.

[Dan Bernstein]

I saw yesterday an Aston Martin SUV. Yeah, a green Aston Martin SUV. There's all kind. Look, I've owned SUVs. I, I own one now. I love it. But you don't need a Lamborghini suv. No, there's a lot of really good cars out there. Really well made Kias and Toyotas and Volvos and every, And I've owned, I owned a Honda Passport. I've owned all the different Volvo SUVs. There's some really good ones out there. I don't know that you need a Porsche or a Aston Martin or a Lamborghini. If you, if you can't, if you have that great man, more power to you. I just think for those cars, if you have the, if you feel the need for speed and the need for a brand that is known for get your two door penis replacement and not a soccer mom car.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, so he's driving that SUV

[Dan Bernstein]

and he was driving at 119 miles an hour on Dallas's North Central Expressway leading to the multi car crash that left multiple people injured. Theodore Knox, one of Rice's SMU teammates, was the driver of a black Corvette. Knox and their free friends didn't check on those injured. Instead they fled on foot before police arrived. The incident was captured on video less than two weeks later. Rice took full responsibility and apologized in a statement he released before turning himself in. After an arrest warrant was issued, he pleaded guilty in district court to two third degree felony charges. Collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury Received deferred adjudication along with five years of probation. So because he got high, because I got high, he is a felon. It was completely in his control. And he decided that it was more important to do this, get caught and then become a convicted felon than just go along with the terms of a very lenient probation.

[Matt Abeticola]

Very lenient.

[Dan Bernstein]

He was suspended six games by the NFL for violating the personal conduct policy. And last month, a Texas court issued a default judgment against Theodore Knox, awarding one of the victims nearly $3 million, ruling Knox was grossly negligent after he and Rice lost control of their cars.

[Matt Abeticola]

If you want to race, don't do it on a highway where cars are driving.

[Dan Bernstein]

Go.

[Matt Abeticola]

Go find a place to race.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, go to the Bonneville Salt Flats or something.

[Matt Abeticola]

Just go somewhere. I mean, you're an NFL star. You could probably find a racetrack somewhere that they would let you fucking drive around on.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or don't bother racing at all.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, yeah, I mean, that makes. That makes more sense.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

You're listening to this podcast, so I know you've got a curious mind. Here's a helpful fact you might not know yet. Drivers who switch and save with Progressive save over $900 on average. Pop over to progressive.com, answer some questions and you'll get a quick quote with discounts that are easy to come by. In fact, 99% of their auto customers earn at least one discount. Visit progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little cash back. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. National average 12 month savings of $946 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2024 and May 2025. Potential savings will vary.

[Matt Abeticola]

There is a something about the NFL schedule that I saw that, that was interesting that they've approved within the league. They have eight international games, nine total this year because of the deal the Jaguars have with Wembley Stadium, they have approved for 2027, 10 international games plus that one the Jaguars have with Wembley. So there will be 11 international games in 2027. So the expansion of international games and travel for the NFL will happen next season. So after this coming season. One thing that has changed, though that is interesting in this little note is that teams can no longer protect games. So with the scheduling of international games, each team had the right to protect two home games of their choosing. Okay, so let's say the Bears wanted to pick packers and Lions, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

That they don't want to waste that

[Matt Abeticola]

overseas, right, In London or Rio de Janeiro or whatever so they could protect those two games. So that right has been taken away from teams. They can no longer protect any home games. So it's expanding in the NFL and teams are losing that protection. It will still have to be approved by the nflpa, but as they have been increasing, it keeps getting approved by the nflpa. But that's a, That's a new twist to it where teams will no longer be able to protect any home games.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I hope that people realize the value of having. I know what's going to happen. As I was formulating the thought, I was already making fun of myself. I didn't even get. I didn't even get a fully formed thought because obviously the television ratings are going to determine where these games are played.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

Television ratings mean more. And I'm the person always referring to NFL stadiums as TV studios. And I've said, if you want to build your TV studio in Arlington Heights, you want to build your TV studio on a pile of human waste in a toxic swamp. It's still a TV studio. And I guess I got to apply exactly that logic when it comes to how the NFL looks at games and money and scheduling. If they can make more money from TV moving a Bears packers game to. To Papua New guinea, they'll do it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, for sure. They'll do it for sure. So I thought that was an interesting little, little change in what's happening where teams can no longer protect those games. And one, one note, because we've gotten some feedback about. That's the stadium issue for the Bears and saying that the Bears are not going to Hammond. Not going. It's not going to happen. And then we talk about the validity of the actual site itself not even being viable to play right now. And there's some feedback from listeners about, oh, I thought you guys didn't care that it was just, as you use that phrase, it's just a TV studio.

[Dan Bernstein]

We.

[Matt Abeticola]

We don't care. Like, we don't care if the Bears were going to go and play in Hammond, Indiana. It doesn't matter because we don't go to games. We're going to watch them on tv. It doesn't matter what they play. What we were saying about the Hammond site was it's not viable because it's a big pile of human shit. And the fact is, they'd have to spend about 30 million.

[Dan Bernstein]

That isn't a personal preference, right?

[Matt Abeticola]

Not at all.

[Dan Bernstein]

Go play wherever you want.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

But they're just trying to tell you what's actually happening, what's real and what isn't real.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's all. And Hammond is not realistic because of that very fact that it is a big dump site, toxic waste site that would require anywhere from 250 to 300 million dollars just to clean. And that's if there isn't any water contamination, which would be extra cost just to clean it, to get it ready to build. That's why we're saying. We're not saying that. Oh, they can't go to. I don't give a. You could go play. You could just build another stadium next to Lambeau and playing in Green Bay, I don't care. But the Hammond site is not realistic. That's why we're saying it's not going to happen in Hammond. Not that we don't want it to. It doesn't matter. Why?

[Dan Bernstein]

Are people like fighting?

[Matt Abeticola]

No, just some feedback. Some feedback through emails and. Okay. Our YouTube stuff. That's all.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think we've been very clear about that.

[Matt Abeticola]

I thought we have been. I know, I know. I mean, you know, we can. I. I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't want.

[Matt Abeticola]

I just wanted to clarify that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, good. I, I didn't think we needed to, but.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, I know. And every time I do clarify something, you always finish it up with I didn't think we needed to. Well, yeah, we, I never thought we need to either, but apparently we need to.

[Dan Bernstein]

Apparently that Grapevine Texas didn't know they

[Matt Abeticola]

had to tell somebody, not their.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not to drive their cybertruck into the lake.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh my God. I just, I love that story about George though. Just up in a game and then some athletic director at a high school is like, hey, you want to know who you picked? Sure. Give me one second. Ball to. I need. Fine.

[Dan Bernstein]

He likes it.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, I love it. Again, I want to make it very clear it was nothing to be negative about George. It's just to show the wide range. And it fit into our conversation yesterday of maybe why isn't George more involved? Because I think George doesn't want to be more involved, which is great. Good for you, George.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean there's a lot of people throughout the extended McCaskey family that would happy to be completely uninvolved in the football business entirely.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

That all they want is cash for their shares and. Or to be able to borrow against it or whatever it might be. They just, they just want to be done with it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Want the money.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. Because they're, they're, they have a very famous and wealthy name and they're leading very normal middle class lives with an inability to actually cash in on the value of owning the Bears. Yes. Which has to kind of suck when you think about it.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think it would totally suck to

[Dan Bernstein]

have that and be like, I don't want it. I've seen a lot of this going on with. With White Sox shares, but it's very different because that is all limited partnership stuff. And I. I know some people who have now inherited their family's White Sox shares, and some people. Yeah, but. And others who've been there since. Since the Did. Since the. The purchase.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'd be like, yeah, let's. You're gonna. When. When John and Michael Reinsdorf came through with that deal, like, here, sell us your shares and. Or, you know, whatever it is, 70 cents on the dollar, it was like, fine, done. I'll take the chunk of cash. Done. Forget it. My accountant's gonna be happy, too. There we go.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, well, that'll do it for forward progress today.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, we covered it. We got everything you needed. I don't think you need more than that. I think your day is set. And we'd also gave you your entire daily recommended allowance of both zinc and potassium. I don't know.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, congratulations on that, people.

[Dan Bernstein]

What?

[Matt Abeticola]

I mean, we gave them zinc and potassium.

[Dan Bernstein]

We did. They don't need to consume any more for their recommended daily allowance because this show is part of this nutritious breakfast. And then I show the other things that are actually nutritious. A massive breakfast that no child has ever eaten. They would say that, you know, Captain Crunch is part of this nutritious breakfast. The Captain Crunch doesn't provide the nutrition, but it's part of the breakfast.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's just part of the. It's part of what's on the table.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's part of this nutrition. It's. That's. That was a staple of all the cereal ads.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right? Here's the nutritious meal over here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Correct.

[Matt Abeticola]

There's the cereal right here. It's all part of it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right? But if I slide it closer, it becomes part of it, see? All right, then, we're helping you out

[Matt Abeticola]

right here on 312Sports

[Dan Bernstein]

for progress is stopped.

[Matt Abeticola]

Forward progress. Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 Sports.

[American Afterlife Podcast Announcer]

Everybody talked about it since I first moved to Oregon. The big one. The earthquake that trashed the whole West Coast. Total destruction.

[Matt Abeticola]

Officially calling it the largest natural disaster in American history.

[American Afterlife Podcast Announcer]

I just didn't know what would help me next. So I took it all. Even the gun.

[Dan Bernstein]

It was time Cello see why American afterlife is the number one Fiction and Drama Podcast in America presented by Pair of Thieves. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Available now.

[VRBO Announcer]

Booking a verbo vacation rental means you get Verbo Care and 24. 7 Life Support, Verified Reviews from real guests and top rated homes with the Love by Guest filter.

[American Afterlife Podcast Announcer]

I just booked my VRBO because there

[Dan Bernstein]

was a sweet wine fridge.

[VRBO Announcer]

We all have our reasons. If you know you've Erbo terms apply. See vrbo.com trust for details.