PFF Thinks 12 QBs Are Better Than Caleb Williams

Summary

Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Host(s): Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Episode: PFF Thinks 12 QBs Are Better Than Caleb Williams
Date: July 10, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode revolves around Pro Football Focus’s (PFF) 2026 preseason quarterback rankings, where Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams was controversially listed as only the 13th best quarterback in the NFL. Dan and Matt discuss the merits and process behind this ranking, what it means for the Bears, and Caleb’s career trajectory. The show also includes some legal updates from around the NFL, analysis of positional rankings for both the league and the Bears roster, sharp-witted banter, and plenty of affectionate ribbing on league trends and personalities.

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Main Discussion Segments

1. PFF Ranks Caleb Williams 13th Among NFL QBs ([01:33]–[07:04])

Key Points:

• Context of PFF’s Ranking:

  • Dan outlines that PFF has undergone significant personnel changes (a “massive brain drain”) and questions the authority of the current ranking team. Still, the methodology focuses on three years of performance, advanced metrics (PFF grade, WAR, EPA), and proprietary data.
  • Quote (Dan Bernstein, [01:46]): “Where is Caleb Williams on this list? Plus or minus one slot?”

• Top 10 QBs (per PFF):

  1. Josh Allen
  2. Joe Burrow
  3. Lamar Jackson
  4. Patrick Mahomes
  5. Matthew Stafford
  6. Jordan Love
  7. Justin Herbert
  8. Dak Prescott
  9. Drake Maye
  10. Brock Purdy

• Reveal of Caleb Williams’ Rank:

  • Caleb is ranked 13th, behind Jaden Daniels (12) and Trevor Lawrence (11).
  • PFF notes: Williams made a big sophomore leap under Bears head coach Ben Johnson, led Chicago to its first divisional playoff appearance in 15 years, and was #2 in “big time throws” among QBs—yet his gunslinger tendencies (high negatively graded throw rate) hold him back.
  • Quote (Dan Bernstein, summarizing PFF, [05:15]): “Williams is trending in the right direction and appears well on his way to living up to the immense expectations that came with being the number one overall pick in 2024. Okay, 13th.”

• Hosts’ Reactions and Debates:

  • Matt would personally rank Williams 3rd.
  • Dan doubts the current PFF brain trust, questions the ranking’s legitimacy, and highlights the positive trajectory for Williams.
  • Both express surprise at some QBs ranked ahead of Williams (notably rookies and second-year players like Drake Maye and Jaden Daniels).
  • Quote (Matt Abbatacola, [03:43]): “For me personally, he’d be three, Dan.”
  • Quote (Dan Bernstein, [07:04]): “That is a good showing for the Bears.”

---

2. NFL Legal and Personnel Updates ([07:04]–[11:52])

Recent Legal Matters:

• Tarrion Arnold (ex-Detroit Lions CB):

  • Despite criminal charges (kidnapping and robbery), a judge ruled Arnold does not need to wear a GPS tracker and can work out for teams. Justifies the ruling by his potential value as an active NFL player.
  • Four teams (Colts, Jets, Seahawks, Texans) have inquired; a signing might occur within 45 days.
  • Quote (Dan Bernstein, [09:17]): “I don’t know if I believe her. I wouldn’t touch this...”

• Mark Sanchez’s Criminal Trial:

  • Delayed for a fifth time, now to begin September 8, 2026. Dan and Matt surmise that a plea deal is likely.
  • Quote (Dan, [11:07]): “My guess is there’s a plea deal of some kind...he beat him up pretty good.”

---

3. ESPN Positional Rankings – Focus on Tight Ends ([12:03]–[17:18])

Bears in National Spotlight:

• Top 10 Tight Ends (ESPN Preseason list):

  1. Brock Bowers (Raiders)
  2. Trey McBride (Cardinals)
  3. George Kittle (49ers)
  4. Sam LaPorta (Lions)
  5. Tyler Warren (Colts)
  6. Tucker Kraft (Packers)
  7. Colston Loveland (Bears)
  8. Kyle Pitts Sr. (Falcons)
  9. Mark Andrews (Ravens)
  10. Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
  • Colston Loveland makes his debut at #7; Cole Kmet named “Honorable Mention”.
  • Both hosts see these rankings as validation of the Bears’ strong TE room.

• On Bears’ Schematics and TE Usage:

  • Dan and Matt comically mock the idea of “finding ways” for the Bears to use both Loveland and Kmet simultaneously.
  • Quote (Dan [17:00]): “What do you mean find ways? How could we possibly do it? ...You just do it.”
  • Quote (Matt [17:23]): “You make a formation with both tight ends in it, right? You know, that’s how you do it.”

---

4. Vikings QB Situation and NFL Coach Banter ([18:47]–[23:55])

Kevin O'Connell's Word Salad:

• The hosts lampoon Kevin O’Connell's noncommittal/unclear comments about the Vikings’ QB competition (“I’m not familiar with a closed competition…”). Dan ridicules O’Connell’s attempt at motivational cliché as emblematic of NFL coach-speak gone awry.

  • Quote (Dan Bernstein, [20:21]): “You can’t roll a football. It’s not a basketball. If he's trying to roll a football, it's not going to go very well for him.”
  • “You talk about a fully dressed word salad. My god.” ([20:46])
  • Dan suggests O'Connell is in need of a “reset” or “blue tent visit” (NFL injury tent).

• J.J. McCarthy Joke Segment:

  • They share a story about a comedian whose high school rival was McCarthy, now an NFL QB. Self-deprecating humor about NFL talent trajectories.

• Ribbing on the Vikings QB Competition:

  • Dan: “Kyler Murray is your starting quarterback. That’s why he’s there…”

---

5. Bears Positional Group Talent Ranking (Patrick Finley’s List, via Sun-Times) ([24:25]–[28:26])

Ranking the Bears’ Position Groups:

• Matt quizzes Dan: without explicit criteria, they assume it’s talent-based.

• Top Bears Position Groups:

  1. Tight End
  2. Wide Receiver
  3. Offensive Line
  4. Quarterback
  5. Safety
  6. Running Back
  7. Cornerback
  8. Linebacker
  9. Special Teams
  10. Defensive Line

• Both hosts note the persistent and unaddressed weakness on the Bears’ defensive line, with Dan likening it to the “exhaust port in the Death Star” ([28:36]).

---

6. Lighthearted Banter & Closing Segments ([29:01]–[37:20])

Notable Moments:

• Dan brags about meeting Lou Gramm (Foreigner) in the station and getting a Gary Hoey guitar pick.
• The hosts revel in Guy Fieri and spin-off flavors of Waterloo and Spindrift seltzers, recalling rum cocktails during COVID.
• Comedy continues with banter about non-alcoholic beers, Peyronie's disease (wrapping into golf humor), and family smack talk.
• Recurring ribbing about coaches, old people, and the weekend.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On PFF’s New Era:
  • “There's been a massive brain drain there...a lot of the familiar names that you know are gone.” (Dan Bernstein, [01:46])
• On Caleb Williams’ Play Style:
  • “Still a bit of a gunslinger as his negatively graded throw rate ranked 38th at the position...Even so, Williams is trending in the right direction.” ([05:15])
• On TE Usage:
  • “We need to figure out a way to get Cole and Colston on the field at the same time.” (Matt, [17:32])
  • “You just do it... You make a formation with both tight ends in it, right?” (Dan & Matt, [17:08])
• On Defensive Line Neglect:
  • “It’s like the exhaust port in the Death Star...the Bears haven't quite done enough to bolster an important part of defensive football.” (Dan Bernstein, [28:36])
• On Kevin O’Connell’s Coachspeak:
  • “You talk about a fully dressed word salad. My god.” (Dan Bernstein, [20:46])
  • “He needs a vacation. Just a little time away.” ([21:04])
• On NFL Comedy:
  • “When he's one of the worst players in the NFL, I’m just hoping he does well. So that's it. I'm second to the guy who's going to be doing something else for a living very, very, very soon.” (Dan, relaying a comedian’s bit, [23:06])

---

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------------------|---------------------| | PFF QB Rankings Discussion & Reveal | 01:33 – 07:04 | | NFL Legal Updates (Arnold, Sanchez) | 07:04 – 11:52 | | ESPN TE Rankings | 12:03 – 17:18 | | Vikings Coach O’Connell/Word Salad Riff | 18:47 – 23:55 | | Bears Positional Room Rankings | 24:25 – 28:26 | | Banter (Music, Drinks, Family, Coach Talk) | 29:01 – End |

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Takeaways for Bears Fans and NFL Observers

• Caleb Williams’ #13 PFF rank is both a sign of solid progress and a challenge; despite clear strides and leadership, national skepticism persists.
• The Bears’ tight end duo is drawing significant national attention, with clear potential for impact, even as pundits (humorously) overcomplicate their usage.
• Defensive line remains the unspoken "fatal flaw" of the Bears’ roster.
• NFL coachspeak, legal drama, and media rankings are ripe for both genuine analysis and comic deconstruction on this uniquely Chicago show.

---

Tone:
Expertly analytical, deeply irreverent, and thoroughly drenched in Chicago Bears passion and humor.

---

For listeners:
This episode is an energetic, jargon-filled mix of fan-driven analysis, league-wide perspective, and tongue-in-cheek football sarcasm—a must for those who want both the data and the laughs as Bears training camp approaches.

Transcript

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[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, if you're a Bears fan, you're thinking Forward Progress.

[Matabeticola]

Come on. Forward Progress A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Ber and Matabeticola on 312 sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

You have forward progress on 312 sports. Talking Bears and NFL. With every day that goes by, we are closing in on Bears training camp.

[Matabeticola]

Thank God.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, it's coming. There will actually be Bears on the field at some point very, very soon. But what we have now are all of the thoughts and ideas and things that are coming from various football cognizanti at this point, one of which I have in front of me right now, and it comes from Pro Football Focus and they have ranked the quarterbacks. This is their official 2026 preseason quarterback rankings. Now we can talk about what's happened at pff. There's been a massive brain drain there. There's been some questions about what is going on at the business, how it's being run and who all is left there. A lot of the people, the familiar names that you know are gone. But what they say is that no position shapes an NFL franchise more than quarterback and no evaluation is more difficult than separating the league's elite from the rest, he said. For 2026, our analysts came together to build a consensus list, answering one simple question. Which quarterback would you most want leading your team entering the 2026 season? The rankings are built around three seasons of performance, PFF passing grade, wins above replacement and expected points added per drop back. There is additional context through advanced passing splits, accuracy metrics, clutch performance and other proprietary data that help finalize each placement. Where is Caleb Williams on this list? Plus or minus one slot?

[Matabeticola]

I will say that Caleb Williams is. At 10.

[Dan Bernstein]

Nope. I'm going to run down the top 10 for you right now. Number one.

[Matabeticola]

For me personally, he'd be three Dan, but go ahead.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, number one is Josh Allen. Okay, sluggish first two years and on a heater ever since. The first quarterback to accomplish a 90 plus PFF grade in six straight seasons. Number two, Joe Burrow. Okay, number three, Lamar Jackson. Number four, Patrick Mahomes. The 2025 season the worst of Mahomes his career. Number five, Matthew Stafford. Number six, Jordan Love. The packers quarterback particularly impressive when pressure was kept at bay. 94.2 PFF grade from a clean pocket created explosive plays without putting the ball in harm's way. Number seven, Justin Herbert. Number eight, Dak Prescott. Number nine, Drake May.

[Matabeticola]

Okay, so I guess ten.

[Dan Bernstein]

Number ten, Brock Purdy. Okay, number 11, Trevor Lawrence. Number 12, Jaden Daniels. Number 13, Caleb Williams. Okay, Williams made the sophomore leap many hope for after the Bears hired Ben Johnson as head coach. Iceman led Chicago to its first divisional round appearance in 15 years and recorded 37 what they call big time throws second among NFL quarterbacks behind league MVP Matthew Stafford. The COVID athlete for Madden NFL 27 is still a bit of a gunslinger as his negatively graded throw rate ranked 38th at the position. Even so, Williams is trending in the right direction and appears well on his way to living up to the immense expectations that came with being the number one overall pick in 2024. Okay, 13th. And then just to round out the rest of the list as you are curious here from PFF, Sam Darnold, Jalen Hurts, Jared Goff, C.J. stroud, Baker Mayfield, Bo Nix, Bryce Young, Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers, Daniel Jones, Tyler Schuck, Jackson Dart, Geno Smith, Kirk Cousins, Tua Tungavailoa, Cam Ward, Malik Willis, Jacobo Brissette and DeShawn Watson. The honorable mentions, Fernando Mendoza, Michael Penck Jr. Shador Sanders, J.J. mcCarthy. All right, there you have it.

[Matabeticola]

All right, I have a couple legal updates. For legal updates, I know you have a you have something to add to the first story as well. Former Detroit Lions cornerback Terry and Arnold does not have to wear a GPS tracker as a condition of his release. A Florida judge ruled of Friday allowing him to continue to work out with NFL teams in an effort to get resigned after being cut. Arnold turned himself in June 24 in connection with a February 2026 kidnapping and robbery incident in the Tampa area. He's currently out on $1 million bond, is subject to home confinement with the exception of work and legal appointments. The state attorney's office filed a motion to reconsider the terms of Arnold's bond conditions after the Lions cut him last week. Prosecutors argued that Arnold is no longer in the unique position of being an NFL player, which is a substantial change in the circumstances of the condition of his release. The legal standard to consider modifications to bond conditions. And Judge Jeffrey Rich disagreed.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. However, it. When you say why does it matter? Because they've said he needs to be able to play football as this is all going on because he's valuable and even though the Lions have released him, he could have a job here. Well, his agent, Nicole Lynn, has testified that four teams have inquired about him. They are the Colts, the Jets.

[Matabeticola]

The Jets. I just, I figured the jets were involved.

[Dan Bernstein]

The Seahawks and the Texans. So you got, you've got two kick ass defenses there that are interested.

[Matabeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now, she said he's visited and worked out for the Texans and yet that workout has yet to appear on any of the daily NFL transaction reports, at least pointed out by pft. And she added, there's a very good likelihood Terry and Arnold will be signed in the next 45 days.

[Matabeticola]

Wow.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know that if I believe her. Yeah, I wouldn't touch this, but yeah,

[Matabeticola]

I don't know why, why any NFL team would sign him before this is resolved one way or the other.

[Dan Bernstein]

You would. The reason you might work him out is if it turns out that there's a case of mistaken identity or there's some who knows what prosecutorial misconduct or something that happens that you might end up with at least knowing more about him than you otherwise would if somehow circumstances change. But I can't imagine a team wanting to have that press conference.

[Matabeticola]

No,

[Dan Bernstein]

no.

[Matabeticola]

I mean, unless the reporters aren't going to ask questions. So then that'd be the right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Then that wouldn't be a press conference.

[Matabeticola]

And then real quick too, this guy was mentioned in DBU today. If you haven't listened to it yet, he made our top 10 list. But the criminal trial for former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez has been delayed. Dan. A fifth time and is now scheduled to begin on September 8th of 2026.

[Dan Bernstein]

September 8th of 20. Okay. All right. This is how things happen. I don't know exactly what they're waiting for, what evidence they're gathering. This one seems pretty cut and dried.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. I, I don't know what the, what the issue is. I think last time we talked about it, we discussed maybe waiting for, or hoping for a. A plea agreement to, to happen, and maybe it's pushed back further because there's still those conversations happening. Maybe. But I just. I don't see any scenario where he doesn't serve any kind of time. Can you. In this.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't.

[Matabeticola]

Situation.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know the law well enough. I don't know exactly, because it depends that. My guess is there's a plea deal of some kind. Down to. Down to something that would involve probation, but I don't know. He. He beat him up pretty good.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

So I. Luck of the draw with a judge or based on what we know about his, his level of contrition, his level of atonement or regret. I, I don't know if there's going to be, you know, some special sentencing hearing that's involved after this where people get to, to make their case for what should be. I, I don't know. I'm not going to pretend to know. Usually I do pretend to know, but I'm not going to.

[Matabeticola]

All right, ESPN has given us some top 10 lists by position, and I think we've gone over so far.

[Dan Bernstein]

Defensive line, both positions. Yeah. Edge and tackle.

[Matabeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Tight end and corner.

[Matabeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, corner. Today we did corner. It was corner.

[Matabeticola]

Was it corner? Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. Yes, it was corner.

[Matabeticola]

Or was it safety?

[Dan Bernstein]

It was corner because Jalen Johnson was.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, yeah. An honorable.

[Dan Bernstein]

Honorable mention. Not an artist receiving votes, but an honorable mention.

[Matabeticola]

All right, so these are the top 10 tight ends.

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[Matabeticola]

Going into the 2026 season, according here to ESPN, starting at number 10. Well, do you want, you want to make a guess? Did you see this list, by the way, or no?

[Dan Bernstein]

No. Okay.

[Matabeticola]

I didn't. You want to take a guess at, at any Chicago Bears

[Dan Bernstein]

on the tight ends list? Yes, I would say Colston Loveland's got to be top 10 if they know what they're doing.

[Matabeticola]

Okay. Any guess where he would be if you think he's top 10?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Eighth, maybe. I, I don't think he's really hit the national awareness of how good he is and what, what, how he mattered after the first half of the season and through the playoffs. He put on a show in the playoffs and it's possible that Cole Comet could be in others receiving votes or honorable mention.

[Matabeticola]

Okay, let's see here. Number 10. Number 10. We start in Kansas City with Travis Kelsey.

[Dan Bernstein]

Generous.

[Matabeticola]

It is. That is very, that's a, that, you know what, that's a really good way to describe it because I think I was going more long. Well, that's, I think generous is a better way to.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's. That, that's like an all star vote for a guy who's in his last year kind of thing is what that is. That's very generous.

[Matabeticola]

All right, Number nine from Baltimore is Mark Andrews. I also think generous. Last year's ranking, he was at number six. He is 30 years old. Thought he was a little older. Number eight is Kyle Pitts senior from Atlanta.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. He's gotten, he's certainly improved. He's certainly getting closer to what he was thought to be when he was drafted.

[Matabeticola]

He was unranked last year in this voting number that was number eight. Number seven is Colston Loveland of your Chicago Bears. Last year's rankings, he was not ranked age 22. So Colson Loveland comes in at number seven. Number six, about right, is Green Bay packers tight end Tucker Kraft, who I believe is going to start the season ready to roll on the roster. Number five from the Colts, Tyler Warren. Number four.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'd rather have Loveland. Let the record show.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, I think. I think we all would.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right.

[Matabeticola]

Number four is Detroit Lions Sam LaPorta. Number three, the 49ers, George Kittle. Number two, Trey McBride from Arizona. And the number one tight end, you could now guess by the process of

[Dan Bernstein]

elimination it better be Brock Bowers.

[Matabeticola]

It is Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raider Raiders. Number one. So let's see if Cole Comet did get any other honorable mention or votes. Let's see.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matabeticola]

Roll down here. Cole Comet, Chicago Bears. Honorable mention.

[Dan Bernstein]

Honorable mention. Okay, that's a. That is a good showing for the Bears.

[Matabeticola]

He's still a quality player who's friendly for a young quarterback. Good in the run game. They need to find ways to get Commetz and Loveland. Ooh, I don't know this guy. Watched many games. Need to find ways to get commit and Loveland on the field together.

[Dan Bernstein]

What do you mean the ways you put them on the field together like

[Matabeticola]

what they did for majority of last season.

[Dan Bernstein]

What do you mean find ways? How could we possibly do it? You put them in.

[Matabeticola]

If there was only a way to get two tight ends in the field at once, what do we do?

[Dan Bernstein]

The hell are you talking about? I don't know.

[Matabeticola]

Maybe watch a game there Personnel executive. Jesus.

[Dan Bernstein]

But, but the idea of finding a way to do it, you just do it.

[Matabeticola]

You make a formation with both tight ends in it, right? You know, that's how you do it.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're petition the league for special formational dispensation.

[Matabeticola]

All right, all right. Ben Johnson calls all his. His whole staff, they're in a conference room and George is in there.

[Dan Bernstein]

We got a problem to solve here.

[Matabeticola]

We need to figure out a way to get Cole and Colston on the field at the same time. We got to do. Give me some ideas. Nothing stupid here.

[Dan Bernstein]

We got to make this fit into that. And this is what we have to work with. Figure it out. They're running out of oxygen. They're carbon. The carbon dioxide is building up. So you got to figure out how to do this and give them instructions.

[Matabeticola]

All right. We have 11 players we can put on five of them. Have to be the offensive line. There has to be the quarterback.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's impossible. I say impossible.

[Matabeticola]

Nothing's impossible. You have got to try. There's got to Be a way.

[Dan Bernstein]

I disagree. I think this will be our finest hour.

[Matabeticola]

Hey, Coach, what if we just put both tight ends, okay, on the field?

[Dan Bernstein]

Why don't we. Why don't we just take a wide receiver off and put a tight end on? Would that solve our problem? Don't be glib with me, young man. We've got some expensive, experienced space people here, or football people, whatever we do, and space people.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, that'll. That. That'll help.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think they'll find that way. I think so.

[Matabeticola]

All right, so I have. I have some comments here from our favorite coach in the end. No, not our favorite coach. He's our second favorite coach. No, no, no, no. He's our third favorite coach.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. Because Todd Monkin is number one.

[Matabeticola]

Right. I thought. I thought Ben Johnson.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, Ben. Ben. Ben is default number one. Ben. Todd Monkin.

[Matabeticola]

Todd is two, and then KOC is number three.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wait, do they still have a quarterback controversy brewing?

[Matabeticola]

Hang on. So this is.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're still. Are they still going into the. Trying to figure out who their quarterback should be?

[Matabeticola]

Kevin o'. Connell. During an appearance on the Dan Patrick show, when asked about the open competition between Murray and McCarthy, Kevin O' Connell said. I'm not really familiar with a closed competition. I've heard that everyone's fascinated with that aspect of it. But here's what I would say, really, the goal going into this offseason was to elevate the quarterback position, because when we have a certain standard of play that we feel like we have multiple guys in that room that we feel are capable of reaching that standard. The Minnesota Vikings win football games. The best way to achieve that is having a daily attempt to have guys push each other and not just always need the outside noise or not always need what the narratives may be.

[Dan Bernstein]

What is.

[Matabeticola]

Hang on to him. Hang on what happened to him?

[Dan Bernstein]

None of that means anything.

[Matabeticola]

Let's roll the ball out there, and let's try to help the Minnesota Vikings get better.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, first of all, you can't roll a football. It's a. It's not a basketball. You roll the balls out there in sports where the ball is round, like dodgeball. Yeah, if. If the ball's round, you. First of all, if he's trying to roll a football, it's not going to go very well for him. It's not designed to be rolled.

[Matabeticola]

Okay. You had the same reaction, and just. I couldn't even get through the paragraph without you asking, what the hell is he saying?

[Dan Bernstein]

What the hell is that? You talk about a. A fully Dressed. Word salad. My God.

[Matabeticola]

I think he needs to be like, I think they need to bring the blue tent over and get KOC in there and do some evaluations.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. Reset him.

[Matabeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

He needs a, you know, resets.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is another guy. Vacation. This, this, that's a coach who needs a vacation. It's summer. He needs a long weekend somewhere. He just needs a little time away.

[Matabeticola]

Do you think the Sam Darnold super bowl, like, just completely obliterated his brain?

[Dan Bernstein]

I, I, Why?

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What?

[Dan Bernstein]

Just say Kyler Murray something. Say something.

[Matabeticola]

It's a whole lot of nothing.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why are you pretending that J.J. mcCarthy is good? I, I don't know who this comedian was, but it was, it came up on my phone. I don't saw that. So this guy apparently was a high school quarterback and he lost to J.J. mcCarthy. His team lost to J.J. mcCarthy's team. They were like the big rifles. Okay, so his high school rival quarterback was J.J. mcCarthy in, in Michigan. Is that where it was? No, it was here. It was here. It was here. It was Naz. Didn't he go to Naz? I have no idea.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. I think JJ McCarthy is premiere, I believe. Didn't he, I think he went to Nazareth. You could be right. I think I am. So, I don't know who the comedian was because I, but he, he just said, he said, oh, yeah, you're right.

[Matabeticola]

Nazareth. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he, So I don't know where this guy. Quarterback.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, Then he transferred the img.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. For his senior year, wherever he was. So I don't think this guy went to one of the IMG. Yeah. So they lost badly. He said J.J. mcCarthy had four touchdowns. He said I had four interceptions. And he said I was so arrogant at the time. 17 years old or whatever. He goes, I'm thinking, okay, okay, so when we get to the NFL, there will be one quarterback better than I am in the NFL. At least that's what J.J. mcCarthy established to him. He's like, fine, okay, so we'll be dueling it out in the NFL when we both get there. And then he says, so how do I feel when he's one of the worst players in the NFL? I'm just, I'm just hoping that, you know, he does well. So that's it. I'm second to the guy who's going to be doing something else for a living very, very, very soon. It was, it was a very funny bit.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, I gotta, I'll look it up, see who that was. I, I'm starting to get a little concerned for koc. I really do. I know they need a blue tent and a blue tent visit maybe.

[Dan Bernstein]

Are you okay? Just text him. Is everything all right? Well, we were best for the Vikings

[Matabeticola]

and we're gonna roll the balls out there.

[Dan Bernstein]

And it's nothing wrong with a closed open competition is they're gonna compete for things with the snaps.

[Matabeticola]

And dude, I would love to see

[Dan Bernstein]

like the new Tyler Murray is your starting quarterback.

[Matabeticola]

Where the quarterback snaps the ball and then just rolls it. Starts rolling it to receivers and running backs.

[Dan Bernstein]

I can help you with this one. Kyler Murray is your starting quarterback. That's why he's there? Yes, that's why he took the offer to come there. So he could be the starting quarterback and you can make him the starting quarterback. But apparently he's not allowed to say that or do that or have two tight ends on the field. I don't know what's going on.

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[Matabeticola]

All right. Did you see. Did you see in the Sun Times yesterday our buddy Patrick Manley or Patrick Manley? Patrick Finley. Yeah. Patrick Manley is also writing for the Sun Times now. I bet you didn't know that.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't think he was.

[Matabeticola]

He's actually. He's actually covering Kevin o'. Connell.

[Dan Bernstein]

So I did not see what Patrick Finley had to say. But I always like the affable young men's presence on our show.

[Matabeticola]

I do too. He ranked all the position groups, all the position rooms, from best to worst on your Chicago Bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

I need to know the criteria. How does one rank the quality of a position room? Is it by the depth of talent of the position so.

[Matabeticola]

I knew you were going to say that, Dan. I knew you were going to ask that question. And in the article, he doesn't lay out any criteria.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, then what are we doing here?

[Matabeticola]

Because I think it's just pretty easily assumed that when you rank something from best to worst, you're assuming it. You assume it's by talent and by ability. That's all I'm gonna. That would be my guess.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is it by looks?

[Matabeticola]

I don't think he was doing looks or clothing.

[Dan Bernstein]

I, I, I don't know if he,

[Matabeticola]

like, stripped them all down naked and said, yes, yes. No. No. Yes. Yes. No. I don't know, Dan.

[Dan Bernstein]

And then everybody's wiener off and set it on fire, right?

[Matabeticola]

They set their mom's garage on fire?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Matabeticola]

So. Oh, my buddy sent me a different article from Yahoo covering that story where it was not a neighbor's garage, but it was his mother's garage.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe the mother's a neighbor. They're not mutually exclusive.

[Matabeticola]

Okay, maybe it was. And it was the day before Mother's Day, so maybe that was, like, his Mother's Day gift for her.

[Dan Bernstein]

A weenie roast.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. Your garage is on fire. How'd you do it? Well, what are we doing on fire?

[Dan Bernstein]

What are you doing for me for Mother's Day, Mom. Weenie roast.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. We're doing s' mores with your garage.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, it's not s'. Mores. It's a weenie roast.

[Matabeticola]

No, it's s'. Mores.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, it's not with a weenie. That's not a s'. More.

[Matabeticola]

Then it could be with a marshmallow around it.

[Dan Bernstein]

You can after for dessert, maybe. Yeah, as long as your cheese is melted.

[Matabeticola]

All right, so let's say, Dan, let's, let's not Bernstein this or Nori.

[Dan Bernstein]

Way too late.

[Matabeticola]

Let's just assume he's looking at the level of talent in each. In each position.

[Dan Bernstein]

All righty, then. Okay, well, you.

[Matabeticola]

Who's number one on the list then, Dan?

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, quarterback room. If you've got Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent in there, come on now, show

[Matabeticola]

me a bit incorrect.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, okay.

[Matabeticola]

How about a second guess? I'll give you a second guess.

[Dan Bernstein]

Tight end.

[Matabeticola]

Very good. Tight end is number one. So tight end was number one. What is number two? Position group? Number two. Best to worst, we're assuming by football, talent and ability.

[Dan Bernstein]

Interior offensive line.

[Matabeticola]

Very specific. But let's just go with offensive line. And that is incorrect. It is not offensive line.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is it secondary?

[Matabeticola]

It is not secondary. It is wide receiver room. Number two. Number three. What's number three?

[Dan Bernstein]

Tight ends.

[Matabeticola]

You said tight ends already and they were number one.

[Dan Bernstein]

Nope, they're tight ends.

[Progressive Commercial Announcer]

Again,

[Matabeticola]

Guessing game is over. Number three is O line.

[Dan Bernstein]

Number four is quarterbacks.

[Matabeticola]

Number five.

[Dan Bernstein]

All I know is it is a national law that last has to be defensive line.

[Matabeticola]

Number four is quarterback. Number five, safety. Next. Running tight ends. Running cornerbacks are after that with a C. Linebackers next. Special teams. And the very last position group.

[Dan Bernstein]

Defensive line.

[Matabeticola]

Offensive line. Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's. That's a rule. It has to be. It's. It's because they haven't done enough to address it.

[Matabeticola]

But no one's. No one's commented on that except for this show.

[Dan Bernstein]

Nobody said anything.

[Matabeticola]

No one has said anything about their disappointment or the lack of addressing the defensive line.

[Dan Bernstein]

Attention, resources. Nobody. It's been this. This big unspoken critical flaw is what it is.

[Matabeticola]

It's.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's like the exhaust port in the Death Star that nobody knows that the Bears haven't quite done enough to bolster an important part of defensive football.

[Matabeticola]

You know what nobody's talking about, Bernstein?

[Dan Bernstein]

Exactly.

[Matabeticola]

This Bears defensive line.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. That they just. Of the front seven, the pass rush, the edge, whatever it may be, they actually get assigned the edge. He's going to. He's going to come over and he's going to run his.

[Matabeticola]

Is a guitar player, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, speaking of which, I got a. I got a present today.

[Matabeticola]

Is that a guitar pick?

[Dan Bernstein]

It is a guitar.

[Matabeticola]

Is it autographed?

[Dan Bernstein]

It is.

[Matabeticola]

Is it from someone famous?

[Dan Bernstein]

Relatively.

[Matabeticola]

Who is it?

[Dan Bernstein]

It's. His name is Gary Hoey. He's played with Ted Nugent and.

[Matabeticola]

How did you get that, Dan?

[Dan Bernstein]

He's the guitarist now working with Lou Graham of Foreigner, who's got a band. And Lou Graham was in the. In the Drive studio.

[Matabeticola]

Oh.

[Dan Bernstein]

Today. So I got to meet him, and he doesn't exactly look like a rock star anymore. He looks like he could be your uncle.

[Matabeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Except. Except really short. Well, nice guy, but, like, specifically my

[Matabeticola]

uncle or you mean, like, were you talking about, like, the general?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. He just. He looks just like, you know, like an old Italian man.

[Matabeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

And.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, so. So you did mean my uncle. Yes. So you were characterizing him and stereotyping.

[Dan Bernstein]

Either he'd be. Yeah, I was. He'd be there standing at your family function.

[Matabeticola]

But his name was Gary Hui.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, not that guy. I was talking about Lou Graham.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, Lou Graham was in the studio.

[Dan Bernstein]

He was in there. Yeah, they both were. And his guitarist, and they were playing,

[Matabeticola]

and he was also Lou Graham and Gary Huey.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I did. What's his name? Oh, I dropped my Gary Hoey guitar pick.

[Matabeticola]

Hoey is all Gary Hoey? Yeah. Wait, so Gary Hoey looks Italian or Lou Graham.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, Lou Graham does.

[Matabeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. He's got a.

[Matabeticola]

Either one sound. Italian?

[Dan Bernstein]

I think so. But it's great. It's. It's grammatica, isn't it?

[Matabeticola]

It's a kicker. Or grammar.

[Dan Bernstein]

Does he Grammatino?

[Matabeticola]

Can he kick or no?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. He can't do much. He's like 80.

[Matabeticola]

He's saying, Old people. Why you gotta be so down on old people? You think old people can't do things still?

[Dan Bernstein]

I. I mean, I. I can do what I can.

[Matabeticola]

Wait till your dad hears this, and he'll tell you. He'll kick your ass in golf Sunday.

[Dan Bernstein]

Believe me, it's happening Sunday.

[Matabeticola]

I will get all three of you guys going. Yep. Oh, so you're gonna get your ass kicked twice.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's so much fun. I don't really, though.

[Matabeticola]

They.

[Dan Bernstein]

They just do. They just talk a lot of.

[Matabeticola]

And.

[Dan Bernstein]

And. And go after each other.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. Why wouldn't they?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Lou Graham, born in Rochester, New York. He's. Yeah, I think.

[Matabeticola]

I think. Yeah. Natalie's going to Rochester soon for work, I think.

[Dan Bernstein]

Really? Is there, like. Is there, like, a Lou Graham's birthplace thing?

[Matabeticola]

I don't know. I'll ask her when she's there. Hey, I found our guy. Guy Fieri. He's got a new flavor coming out of. Out of Flavortown. Yeah. Of his Waterloo. He's got a new flavor coming out. Well, it's out. It's.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is it a fruit flavor?

[Matabeticola]

Can you see it?

[Dan Bernstein]

Wait, hold on. No, wait, hold on. Nope. Yeah.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, yeah. I knew you would like it. I love it. I love it. It's so good. And if you'd have gotten this to me, like, five years ago. Rum. Oh, boy.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, rum.

[Matabeticola]

Yep. I would have put some. I would have. I would have dumped out half this can, fill the other half with rum, and. And then started recording.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I did that. At the start of COVID We. We happen to have a bottle of. Of dark rum lying around, and we had pineapple spindrift.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

I was doing exactly that. And it was. It was. I don't know.

[Matabeticola]

I was like, you know, and then doing radio or.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, four in the afternoon, I just. Okay, well, it's. You know, hey, it's. It's. It's the end of March.

[Matabeticola]

I don't know if I've had the pie. I like. I do. I do enjoy the spindrift stuff. Grapefruit was always my favorite. I can't remember if I've had the pineapple. Is pineapple good?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it's fine.

[Grainger Commercial Announcer]

I.

[Dan Bernstein]

They got rid of the.

[Progressive Commercial Announcer]

What?

[Dan Bernstein]

I really love the BlackBerry, and I haven't been able to find the BlackBerry. They replaced it with all these other fancy flavors, you know, island punch and the mojito flavor and all these other Things. But, yeah, I like lemon and grapefruit.

[Matabeticola]

Grapefruit was. I think it's the best spin drift that they.

[Dan Bernstein]

Grapefruit is. But you talk about something, you're just begging for vodka in it.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. I didn't know that they did a mojito flavored spin drift.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. I think they call it.

[Matabeticola]

No, he knows, because Lacroix. I think Lacroix does a mojito flavor as well, too.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, but Spindrift's better than everything. I mean, you get what you pay for.

[Matabeticola]

I like. I'm a. I'm a Waterloo guy now. I like it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matabeticola]

Especially when they did a collab with Guy Fieri. Come on.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I know that was. That was over you, but I took with the one time when I went to your house and you gave me one for the road and you warned me.

[Progressive Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Matabeticola]

You got lost.

[Dan Bernstein]

I went. I ended up in Flavortown.

[Matabeticola]

I told you you were going.

[Dan Bernstein]

I said, what am I doing here?

[Matabeticola]

How did I pay attention?

[Dan Bernstein]

How did I get here?

[Matabeticola]

I handed you the can and said, be careful driving home because you'll end up in flavort town.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's not like you didn't warn me.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, no, this is really good. It's a really good, good drink.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it's that time of year, too.

[Matabeticola]

You know who needs some of these with rum is Kevin o'. Connell.

[Dan Bernstein]

He needs something.

[Matabeticola]

A blue tent visit. He needs a cocktail.

[Dan Bernstein]

He starts talking like that, I. Dan Patrick should just, like, just hit him in the head. It's like this thing's on the fritz. I don't know what's. It's not working. It's glitching. That sounded like a quarterback glitching.

[Grainger Commercial Announcer]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

The competition is a time for us to football roll out for competition.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. I wonder if he's been kidnapped by aliens and replaced with, like, a pod person. Yes. I don't know, like, on the sideline during a game. He's going to split in half. And, like, some people come crawling out.

[Dan Bernstein]

Something happened to him. I think.

[Matabeticola]

I think the Sam Darnold super bowl championship happened to him.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or maybe the Wolfs just. Just got rid of him and found a much less expensive replicant. They cloned him, but it went poorly. Or they made a copy of a copy of a copy.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, I think he didn't. I think he didn't want them to let go of Darnold, keep him at all cost. And they were like, no, no, no. We have J.J. mcCarthy. And then they watched Darnold win a Super bowl. And Kevin just hasn't recovered.

[Dan Bernstein]

I hope he's okay. I really do. Because otherwise where that team is going to be turned over to Brian Flores

[Matabeticola]

and his swarming D. Oh, yeah. Let's. Let's wrap up this Miami Dolphins show here because that's what we're doing today.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, it's right. Fishing shirts. Yes. I think that is going to do it. And we'll send you into your weekend thinking you're.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, yeah, it's the weekend.

[Dan Bernstein]

Happy football thoughts. It is. I know you've got big plans to go sit and spit sunflower seeds.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. Tomorrow is. No, no sunflower seeds because we're at all. Oh, fields. Yep. No, every. Every place we play. No gum. No. No seeds allowed. But yeah, Tomorrow we're at 11:40, 5, 10, 8:50.

[Dan Bernstein]

Very excited. That's not bad.

[Matabeticola]

11:40 in the morning.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matabeticola]

5:10 at night.

[Dan Bernstein]

8:50pm on a Saturday not far from your house. That's not terrible.

[Matabeticola]

Okay, so get there 10am and then get home after 10pm yeah, that's a 12 hour day and it's not working.

[Dan Bernstein]

Bring some water, bring some crossword puzzles.

[Matabeticola]

No, no, no, no, no. We'll do Moretti's or Finn McCool's in between.

[Dan Bernstein]

I like the wings at Moretti's. They've got very good wings. There was a Moretti's near the hockey rink in Hoffman Estates on that same little road there.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, they're all over.

[Dan Bernstein]

We used to always go to that one like before or after hockey. I think after they won the spring championship, we celebrated with wings that Moretti's.

[Matabeticola]

So, yeah, we were there last weekend and they had like six non alcoholic beers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, try them all.

[Matabeticola]

Get them white. I said, just pick one and then you know the next one. Bring a different one. I had a. I had a Michelob Ultra. Na.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think regular Michelob Ultra is enough

[Matabeticola]

and it's very close. But yeah, this. It was good. It was good. I was. I was. It was like. Yeah, it was good. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it. Although I do enjoy the na Peronis the most.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not Peyronie's disease. You don't want that. No, you don't want that. Because then. See, now that's. That's a relatively decent reason to get the kitchen knife and the blowtorch out. Because you figure it's just. I don't know what direction I'm going here and I'm over here. I'm over here and I'm hooking everything to the left and I got to adjust my stance and I think I've had the ball played too far forward in my stance and the face is open and the face is closed and I don't know, you know, so.

[Matabeticola]

Yes, well, I know what direction I'm going right now and it's, it's towards the weekend.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, let's do that. That has been Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears and NFL Podcast on 312Sports for Progress is stopped.

[Matabeticola]

Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matabatala on 312 sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

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