Ryan Poles sets the tone: the Defense that will define the Bears

Summary

Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: "Ryan Poles sets the tone: the Defense that will define the Bears"

Hosts: Dan Bernstein and Matt Abaticola

Date: March 31, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on the evolving identity of the Chicago Bears, particularly focusing on how General Manager Ryan Poles and new head coach Ben Johnson are setting the direction for the team's defense. Bernstein and Abaticola reflect on the lessons of past coaching eras, the importance of building a sustainable defensive pipeline, and key draft strategies. The hosts also dive into broader NFL headlines, offer candid opinions on leadership around the league, and share colorful anecdotes rooted in Chicago sports tradition—all with their trademark mix of analytical rigor and unfiltered fandom.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A New Era: Ben Johnson vs. Past Coaching Disappointments (00:25–06:22)

• Guarded Optimism vs. Past Burnout:
  • Dan Bernstein reflects on the whiplash Bears fans experienced after the Matt Nagy era, noting an emotional "PTSD" that tempers current optimism.
    • “We were so eager to think here you know, the next guy in the Andy Reid tree was coming in to finally bring the Bears into the era of new offense.” (Dan, 01:41)
  • Matt Abaticola, in contrast, feels more confident in Ben Johnson’s legitimacy as a head coach, citing the presence of a real offense and quarterback:
    • “For me as a fan right now, this feels like a real big boy NFL organization and offense franchise for the first time in a long time in my adult life.” (Matt, 02:36)
• No Guarantees:
  • Both agree that despite optimism, there are no guarantees in the NFL. Building and stacking previous successes isn’t automatic.
    • “There’s no guarantee. I mean, this season could be a complete bust, but it doesn’t mean that Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams won’t win a Super Bowl.” (Matt, 05:25)

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2. Ryan Poles and Draft Philosophy: Defensive Focus (06:23–14:25)

Setting the Defensive Tone

• Poles’ Vision:
  • Ryan Poles is clear about reshaping the defense to mirror Dennis Allen-style units—aggressive, violent, and fast.
    • “If you go back to the teams that Dennis Allen has had ... there’s an aggressiveness, there’s a violence and there’s a speed that they play with. We’re trying to match that.” (Poles via Dan, 07:35)
  • The focus in the draft is on adding fresh, young defensive talent that can be developed.
• Departures & 1-year Deals:
  • Bernstein notes the turnover among defensive starters, highlighting how several defenders left or received only one-year deals, underscoring a fresh slate and a tightly focused draft strategy.
• Development over Ready-Mades:
  • Poles acknowledges the challenges of drafting impact defensive linemen late in the first round, referencing teams like the Steelers and Ravens for late-round defensive success.

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3. Draft Targets: The Case for Zion Young (09:55–14:47)

• Player Fit Over Hype:
  • Both hosts discuss the likely strategy at pick #25—drafting developmental prospects, with Michigan State edge rusher Zion Young named as a prime candidate.
    • “It fits the way the roster is constructed right now that they’re not bringing a guy in 25 to be the starter on the right side week one.” (Matt, 13:03)
• Prospect Analysis:
  • Zion Young’s strengths (size and measurables) and weaknesses (average burst, lack of signature move) are dissected, with the consensus that he would not be forced into starting but groomed for future impact.
• Three-Technique Possibility:
  • Bernstein points out that a disruptive defensive tackle could also be considered, depending on draft flow, underlining the interconnectedness of line play:
    • “When we look at the pass rush, the Pass rush is an interconnected thing ... disrupting the middle can help the pass rush measurably.” (Dan, 13:38)

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4. Around the NFL: News, Rumors & Notable Quotes (15:04–28:37)

Baltimore Ravens – Maxx Crosby Trade Rumor

• Team president Sashi Brown calls the failed Maxx Crosby trade story “due to a slow news cycle,” which the hosts mock as dismissive and unrealistic.
  • “No NFL story can ever make any accusation when you’re [talking about a] slow news cycle ... That would’ve been a big story.” (Dan, 16:04–16:26)

Cleveland Browns – Deshaun Watson’s Future

• Owner Jimmy Haslam gives Deshaun Watson a “great chance” at a “fresh start” with new OC Todd Monken, prompting skeptical reactions from both hosts.
  • “As much as I like Todd Monken, I think this thing is doomed.” (Dan, 20:05)
• Discussion veers into a comical tangent about acronym-driven coaching slogans and the pitfalls therein (GFBD – “God forgives, brothers don’t!” connected to white supremacist groups, mistakenly used by Army coach Jeff Monken).

First Coach Fired Predictions

• Dan predicts Todd Monken will be the “first of the new hires to be fired” (26:47), while Matt bets on Mike LaFleur.

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5. The “Iceman” Trademark Saga and Bears History (29:13–35:50)

• Caleb Williams Tries for “Iceman”:
  • The hosts riff on Caleb Williams’ attempt to trademark “Iceman,” highlighting the legal and cultural baggage:
    • “Let this other guy have it. That’s not how the law works ... The law exists to give people certain rights based on what they have established.” (Dan, 29:41)
  • Bernstein traces the lineage of the “Iceman” moniker from George Gervin back to Red Grange—the legendary “Galloping Ghost” and unexpectedly, the “Wheaton Iceman” due to his actual job hauling ice in the 1920s! (32:06–34:14)

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6. Chicago Sports & Friendly Anecdotes (36:07–41:31)

• The episode rounds out with digressions into Chicago lore—birthday parties, McDonald’s quality assessments, and a story about a brawl featuring Irish-Italian cousins and Bible college friends.
• Amusing side comments on the Michael Jordan “house museum” not being able to use his name (“like opening Graceland and saying, oh, it’s a very well-known singer who lived here”—40:00).
• Closing with banter about “Schmelvis” and a playfully abrupt sign-off.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bears’ Defensive Strategy:
  • “We’re trying to match [New Orleans’ defense]. That’s part of our evaluation process with the rookie class—prioritizing the guys that fit perfectly or that kind of borderline fit and need some development.” (Poles via Dan, 07:35)
• Matt’s Fan Confidence:
  • “This feels like a real big boy NFL organization and offense franchise for the first time in a long time in my adult life.” (Matt, 02:36)
• On Sashi Brown’s News Cycle Excuse:
  • “No NFL story can ever make any accusation when you’re [talking about a] slow news cycle ... That would’ve been a big story.” (Dan, 16:04)
• Classic Dan Cynicism:
  • “As much as I like Todd Monken, I think this thing is doomed.” (Dan, 20:05)
• Trademark Humor:
  • “The law isn’t about who you remember or who you care about ... The whole point of the law is to allow George Gervin to file opposition...” (Dan, 29:41)
• Chicago Lore:
  • “Galloping Ghost is pretty damn pretty good ... I think he could let go of Iceman for Galloping Ghost.” (Matt, 35:00)

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Segment Timestamps

• 00:25–06:22: Ben Johnson’s arrival, comparisons to Matt Nagy
• 06:23–14:25: Ryan Poles’ defensive draft philosophy, player departures
• 09:55–14:47: Specific draft targets: Zion Young and defensive tackle debate
• 15:04–18:56: NFL news: Maxx Crosby rumor, Deshaun Watson’s “fresh start”
• 20:05–26:47: Coach firing predictions, coaching slogans, and acronym mishaps
• 29:13–35:50: Caleb Williams’ “Iceman” saga, sports nickname history
• 36:07–41:31: Chicago stories, museum riffs, and episode close

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Tone & Approach

The episode maintains an energetic, opinionated yet humorous tone. Dan’s skepticism and wit balances Matt’s emotional confidence as a fan. Their friendship, deep Bears knowledge, and willingness to poke fun at themselves and the league make the podcast accessible and engaging for diehard fans and casual listeners alike.

Transcript

[Matt Abaticola]

I mean, if you're a Bears fan, you're thinking, forward progress. Come on. Forward progress. Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 Sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

You want forward progress? Well, this is where you find it. You. You came to the right place. 312 sports. Dan Bernstein, Matt Abaticola and the Chicago Bears offseason rolls on with all sorts of draft intrigue. Yesterday at the NFC Coaches breakfast at the Biltmore in Arizona, we got to hear Ben Johnson. The first time he could really understand what he has bitten off here as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. And there were all kinds of good questions about his level of fame and the year that he's had. And I think with the awareness of how quickly things whipsawed on Matt Negie, that now, you know, we all know we're a little bit more guarded now after getting that excited. Oh, young, hot offensive mind, terrific season. And I think we're still. We're still wounded, we're still reeling from how quickly that went sour. And it's not necessarily fair to Ben Johnson, but that's okay. I think as fans, as observers, it should still feel fresh to us.

[Matt Abaticola]

Why do you, why do you feel that way? Why do you say that? Because I don't. I don't feel that way at all. This feels completely different to me.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, no, it's. It's better. He's definitely better.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

But of course, I'm trying to remember how I felt when we thought the Bears had a guy or the guy. And we did. We did. Until they didn't. I. I am much more impressed with the work that Johnson has done in his first year, and I'm trying to consider everything, but we were so eager to think here. You know, the next guy in the Andy Reid tree was coming in to finally bring the Bears into the era of. Of new offense. And after. After the double doink, everything went bad really fast.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, it. It did, but I don't think. And I'm trying to think back to that season because I, I wasn't involved in radio at all, so I was consuming it differently. Yeah. Like, I've. I never. I've never had a second thought to Matt Nagy after the season. Like, I've never.

[Dan Bernstein]

I've.

[Matt Abaticola]

There's no hesitation. There's no. I'm not moving forward with any kind, of. Any kind of cautious behavior with Ben Johnson. This isn't even close to feeling the same. I mean, this is, this is a legitimate NFL head coach, and we have a legitimate NFL offense We have a legitimate NFL quarterback and none of that was what we had in 2018. That was, that, that was a, that was an anomaly of a season. And it felt that way during that season, after the season. For me as a fan right now, this feels like a real big boy NFL organization and offense franchise for the first time in a long time in my adult life.

[Dan Bernstein]

I have to go back to what I wrote, but I, I think right before the 2019 season, I wrote something about like, go win the Super Bowl. That there would be nothing standing in the Bears way coming off of their surprising winning season and looking at the fortifications they've had to then springboard that the next year into super bowl contention and at least, you know, threaten to be one of those teams. Yeah, and, and I just, I'm not.

[Matt Abaticola]

I mean, I, I get where you're coming from. I understand it. But like, it, it's. It's different to you, right? Like you, you know, it's different. Like, this is different than the Matt Nagy, Mitch Trubisky thing and what happened.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, those feelings, those feelings for the next year, we remember just the kicker. Just the kicker just. They just got to solve that kicking problem and everything will be fine. You know, that was.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, maybe it's just different because I wasn't in. In media at that time. And it's just. As a fan, it just. This is completed. I haven't given Matt Nagy or that season a second thought this year. I haven't. And going into this season, it's not a comparison for me. This is completely different.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I'm, I felt really burned by how fast the Nege thing just went off the rails.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I get it.

[Dan Bernstein]

I understand the lack of development of a quarterback. It was. We had, you know, Mitch Strubisky made the Pro bowl. And if people don't remember that.

[Matt Abaticola]

No. And he had some pretty good games, you know, I'm not going to, not going to take that away from him. But this is just. It feels different. It looks different. Because it is different.

[Dan Bernstein]

It is different. It is. And I don't. It's not. I don't want to do anything to Ben Johnson or. It's not going to affect my criticism of Ben Johnson or my opinions of Ben Johnson. And he's. He will be appreciated or criticized for his own work entirely. But that part of me as, as a disappointed fan, as thinking, oh, boy, it's just, you know, it's easy to be wrong about something like this. I'm just going to remember it.

[Matt Abaticola]

I get that and Dan. And there's no guarantee. I mean, this season could be a complete bust, but it doesn't mean that Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams won't win a world, a Super Bowl. I mean, this, you know, this season may not go the way we all want it to go because that's how the NFL works. There's no guarantees. There's no building and stacking from what you did previously. No.

[Dan Bernstein]

And it's not going to go like that. Right. Even if it does happen, it wouldn't be quite in that way. For those reasons where I am certain Ben Johnson is a better coach who is more deserving of my trust perhaps than Matt Negy was. Getting zero doubts about that, getting it somewhat blindly, I don't have any doubts. But even, but even if I know that and even if I am conscious of it and I can articulate it, I still have baked in this idea of thinking you had it right and having it wrong. That kind of haunts me a little.

[Matt Abaticola]

Bears ptsd. I get it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, a little bit. Not a lot. But Ryan Poles is the guy who caught my attention as far as today goes. And it had to do with some of what he said about where the defense stands right now. And Jason Leisure wrote the piece in the Chicago Sun Times, but they can say whatever they want about, well, we could go in any direction in this draft. I think it's pretty clear. They have said that Ben Johnson said it Monday, but it's pretty clear that they know the side of the ball that needs more work at the moment and it needs a, a the, the pipeline needs to be refreshed a bit, that there needs to be a re injection of talent, specifically draft aged talent that's coming in here and the fact that Tremaine Edmonds is gone and Kevin Byard is gone and Jaquan Brisker and Nishan Wright, that they're all gone. And every single one of them, every single one of the defensive backs, I should say, got a one year deal. All three of those got just a one year deal. Here's a quote from polls where he says, if you go back to the teams that Dennis Allen has had, specifically the defenses in New Orleans, there's an aggressiveness, there's a violence and there's a speed that they play with. We're trying to match that. That's part of our evaluation process with the rookie class prioritizing the guys that fit perfectly or that kind of borderline fit and need some development. Then we really try to push aside the guys that don't fit. So they're clearly doing that, pushing aside the guys that don't fit. And he said it so we shall see. This is leisure. Now he says the hard part about drafting somebody who fits Allen's prototypes. The Bears are picking so late polls looks to two late round stalwarts for inspiration, the Steelers and the Ravens. Since the year 2000, there have been 109 seasons in which a defensive player drafted between 20th and 32nd overall made the Pro Bowl. Okay, okay, 109 seasons. The Ravens are responsible for 11. Nine for Ed Reed, two for Patrick Queen. The Steelers claim 14. Eight for T.J. watt, six for Cam Hayward. Montez Sweat of the Bears is another. So is Cam Jordan who played for Allen with the Saints. But they were the exception, not the rule. And polls said for the D line it gets more difficult as you get further along in the draft. You're definitely going to have to develop them. And polls said what they're looking at, what they're taking into consideration a good football player that plays with the right mentality, a high motor can overcome their shortcomings. Whether they have short arms or it's a height thing or a size thing. That's what we are going to be taking into consideration. That helps to know.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, because we asked that question about their approach this draft and we mentioned it, I think maybe two or three weeks ago that it was starting to shape around what Dennis Allen wanted of this defense and those players and what type of players he wanted to have. We saw that in free agency and we saw that in the decisions that they didn't make in free agency with their own players. That was a big question mark from a lot of Bears fans and, and from us that how do you have that kind of success in 2025 and allow all those guys to walk away. But we also saw what the league thought of those guys and that season where The Bears won 11 and 6 and won their division with those one year deals as you mentioned just a few minutes ago. So answering the question of how are they shaping the perspective of their approach to this draft in 2026 in just a few weeks. Now it's about shaping it and the defense to match what Dennis Allen wants from his defense. And one guy that I keep seeing now, Dan, and this was an early name that we heard from Matt Miller and we've saw it, we've seen his name associated with The Bears at 25 is Zion Young and I'm seeing that more come back down to 25 as well that he won't be drafted as you know higher up as people were thinking or projecting. But even Matt Bowen says today that in his piece on ESPN about finding that he took top 20 prospects and matched them with their perfect fit. And Zion Young is that guy for the Bears and I keep seeing him now in mock drafts that he'll be there at 25 and be available for the Bears because of combine work. Some guys have elevated themselves some guys that weren't even in the first round or were lower first round or higher second round have elevated themselves into the middle of the first round Now.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well and when you read the weaknesses of Zion Young when they're talking about his the quickness of his hands is lacking his overall burst and speed only average doesn't have what they refer to as a go to move and he can dis struggle to disengage once in a while and he's when his first rush stalls he usually doesn't have an answer with a counter. This is all developmental.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And this is not necessarily saying he's a little undersized or he's most of this if it's something other than functional quickness. If it if the lack of quickness has to do with knowledge, awareness, anticipation, etc. Then he can make up for some of that. Which is exactly what Pols is saying. But it's 66262 with 33 inch arms. Everything all the measurables are there are definitely there. And this is the kind of thing where you would expect a developmental approach for a guy who the prospect grade on him is 6.4 by NFL.com so that's eventual starter. Eventual plus starter will become good starter within two years. Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. And so and it fits the way the roster is constructed right now that they're not bringing a guy in 25 to be the starter on the right side week one. They're not.

[Dan Bernstein]

You hope he earns it.

[Matt Abaticola]

You hope and you hope. You hope he builds into that and grows into that. But that's not what they're drafting at 25. They're not drafting a guy as an edge rusher to be there week one. That's if that if that were to happen, hey great. And it either happens because he really excels quickly and grows quickly from what they see and what they determine or the rest of your guys that you already have there's are just bad.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I've made this point before. I think it's important to make it again as we focus on edge edge edge. When we look at the pass rush, the Pass rush is an interconnected thing. If they go tackle an actually disruptive, athletic three technique in this particular Dennis Allen, 40 front a three technique who wins regularly is an immediate upgrade to the pass rush, even if that person isn't necessarily getting the hits or the sacks. Changing the timing of the play and disrupting the middle can help the pass rush measurably.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I just, I don't think they're going with tackle, though. I don't think they're taking a tackle in the first round at 25. They're just not. I mean, they have the bodies there through free agency. You have six guys right now on your roster and I just don't think they're adding another defensive tackle in the first round to, to that roster spot. I think, I think they are going to go edge.

[Dan Bernstein]

I have no problem if they do. But if they, if somebody falls to them, if this thing goes in a direction where you've got you, you have a choice that maybe you didn't expect. I'm not going to be mad if they think that they've got a 10 year three technique.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, a couple of other small NFL notes from around the league I wanted to mention. See if you've, you've seen these things because there's a few that really jump out. First of all, from the Baltimore Ravens, the team present, is it Sashi Brown?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay. Did you, did you read the comments that were made about why there was so much talk about the failed Max Crosby trade? He said it was due to a, quote, slow news cycle. End quote.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, come on.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes, that's why it was such a big deal, Dan. Because it was a slow news cycle. And not, not, not one of the premier pass rushers of the league was being traded and then he failed his physical and therefore the trade had to be rescinded. It's because of a slow news cycle, Dan, that's why.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, it's not. No, it's not. Stop doing that.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, what would you think it is then, Dan, if it's not a slow news cycle?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, no NFL story can ever make any accusation when you're a slow news cycle. For the, one of the biggest off season names and one of the best individual pass rushers whose name was splashed all you could be in the middle of the most intense NFL news cycle you've got. That would been a big story.

[Matt Abaticola]

That would have been the lead story. Yes, it would have been the lead story.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. Like that's the news judgment there. That just that, that defies any sort of Analysis.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. He says he was taking it personal that it was some kind of negative, negative perspective against the Baltimore Ravens the way that they performed in this whole trade. So he called it a slow news cycle. That's the only reason why it was a story. All right, here's another good one. Did you see what Jimmy Haslam had to say? The owner of the Cleveland Browns.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, God. What about their quarterback situation?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes. And I'm going to give you the quote, a quote, great chance. What do you think he's referring to? And it is. It is written reference to their quarterback situation. There's a great trance. Here's the second quote quote, fresh start.

[Dan Bernstein]

And Sean Watson.

[Matt Abaticola]

Sean Watson has a great chance to be the starting quarterback under Todd Monk and getting a fresh start.

[Dan Bernstein]

Dan, that's fine, but just don't ask Kevin o' Connell about it.

[Matt Abaticola]

That's. We should be a new segment where Kevin o' Connell addresses the quarterback rooms of every NFL team.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. You know what? You may inspire. If I had the time today, I got to cook for the next three days. So I got stuff going on. But remind me to do that or if you want to do that and we'll do it on Friday. Feedback Friday from dbu. If you want to do a version of. From. Based on what we said yesterday on this program when Kevin o' Connell was just all over the map.

[Matt Abaticola]

I still have no idea what he said yesterday.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't either. I compared it yesterday to the. The refrigerator magnets that make sentences and words and you have on there to just put silly things together because none of it made any sense about their four quarterbacks. And they're all good and they're all not good and they want four quarterbacks in the room. And I don't. I have no idea really what was going on. But I will say that the idea of being able to write in that style, it's sort of like if you read on defector when Drew McGarry does the. The Dick Joke Jamboroo every week to get you ready for all the slate of NFL games.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

And it's just. It's one of his. He does the. The mail in fun bag on Tuesdays and then the Jamboroo on Thursdays or Fridays. He always will have one. Was after Karissa Thompson got busted, she said, for making things up in her sideline reports. He had a whole thing of. Of Carissa Thompson sideline where everything was in that style.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Of the made up sideline. He picked something every year to have and one year it was Woody Johnson's son's Brick and Stick, what their scouting report would be, you know, so that, that would be a good one. Here's, here's Kevin o' Connell on someone's quarterback room. And every.

[Matt Abaticola]

He goes around the league and just discuss. Is everyone's quarterback room. Wait, have we confirmed that Stick and Brick are the sons? They're not grandsons. Because we.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're not grandsons. I said grandsons.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, we said that for the whole season that it was grandsons.

[Dan Bernstein]

Apparently Woody Johnson had a. I don't know what, a late marriage where he still had active swimmers enough to, to create his, his strange late in life sons.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well enough to create them. We just don't know how potent they were.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, they, they worked enough, I guess.

[Matt Abaticola]

They worked enough. Yes. Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

There. There they are.

[Matt Abaticola]

Brick and Stick, they.

[Dan Bernstein]

They exist. And they're looking at Madden ratings. Trying to advise on trades.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, so Jimmy Haslam says that Deshaun Watson has a great chance to be the Brown starter with a fresh start under Todd Monkin.

[Dan Bernstein]

As much as I like Todd Monken, I think this thing is doomed.

[Matt Abaticola]

Pretty much.

[Dan Bernstein]

You know what I mean?

[Matt Abaticola]

Like, yeah, pretty much. I mean, didn't. This is so last year, obviously he didn't play, but he was Achilles in 24. And then didn't he have like a shoulder thing in 20? Didn't. Didn't like two seasons end due to injury for Deshaun Watson.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay. And so, and then you go through what you went through last year as a team with a really good defense and one of the premier defensive players in the game. All you got to do is get a guy that can, like, that's not going to hurt you offensively. Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

So. Well, yeah, I think I would just move on. I wouldn't want any.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, from the. Sean Watson. Watson 100%.

[Dan Bernstein]

100. I would not. The idea of allowing him to influence

[Matt Abaticola]

anything that happens on the field.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I think you need to be done there. You need to turn that page one way or another. So I went and I, and I checked to see if Todd Monkin was an acronym guy, because that. Well, hold on. It is a. It's a really.

[Matt Abaticola]

Is this gonna make me not like Todd Monkin? I don't want to not like Todd Monkin.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't have anything that tells me Todd Monkin is an acronym guy.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay. All right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Although I am, I am a little worried about the new Tulane head coach who I think the first reports that I was getting was, oh, dad, we have an acronym guy. Oh, and I thought. I mean, in college, it's a little more accepting, tolerable, but still not great. So what did come up in the search was army football coach Jeff Monken, brother of Todd.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Who for a while, for the army football team, was using gfbd, which stands for.

[Matt Abaticola]

Hang on a second. G, F, B, D, G, F, B, D. Go find. Go.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, this was Jeff Monken's slogan with Army.

[Matt Abaticola]

What is it? Is it as good as the Royals?

[Dan Bernstein]

We're gonna. We have to get to that at some point because the Royals won as an all time. There's. Or as somebody said to me, on the scale of zero to Oski, yeah, it's probably about an eight, because I think Beckman's osce is the worst of all time.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because he. I think he was making it up as he went along. But this one's bad. But no. G, F, B, D. Okay. Jeff Monkin is God forgives brothers don't. Accompanied by a skull and crossbones flag.

[Matt Abaticola]

God forgives

[Dan Bernstein]

brothers don't.

[Matt Abaticola]

Like relational brothers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is he or is he. Is he, like.

[Matt Abaticola]

Did he use racist Google for this?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, here's what happened.

[Matt Abaticola]

God forgives and brothers don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, those damn brothers don't forgive. They. They had to remove the flag and the slogan from the program after an investigation revealed that this particular slogan is directly connected to white supremacist groups, specifically the Aryan Brotherhood. So they didn't do their own research, but after they printed it all up and put it all out there, it's been in the equipment room and elsewhere. And then they were told, hey, Jeff Monkin, you know that's the slogan for the Aryan Brotherhood.

[Matt Abaticola]

So I want to know before someone told him it's a slogan for the Aryan. Aryan nation, Aryan Brotherhood. Like, when did he see that? Like, how is he utilizing it? Because God forgives brothers don't. Let's go play a football game.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm.

[Matt Abaticola]

What did he see in that to say, that's it. That's my slogan?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. But it was removed from team merchandise after they were alerted by outsiders to the issue that it's from the Aryan.

[Matt Abaticola]

So if you, like, you miss a tackle or miss an assignment, and it's like, all right, well, God will forgive you for that. You give up a touchdown, but your brothers won't. Let's go out and win this next game. I don't get it. I don't understand. But that's probably bad research.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. I don't know.

[Matt Abaticola]

So I Probably I shouldn't use that in this. This fall for an ex football team.

[Dan Bernstein]

Do not use for youth football. God forgives brothers. Don't know. That would be probably bad. But I don't know about Todd. I still will say as much as I think he's a kind of an interesting dude and a gruff old school competitor, I do not think that's going to end well for him. I, I may think. You know what?

[Matt Abaticola]

I know it may not end well, but it's not. It won't be because of him that it doesn't end well. That's what I want to. That's what I want to believe.

[Dan Bernstein]

He doesn't seem like head coaching material to me.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

In fact, I think I may go with him as first of the new hires to be fired.

[Matt Abaticola]

Really?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Ahead of the other lafleur. I just think the chaos in the organization.

[Matt Abaticola]

Where are we at? So March 31, you've identified the first coach fired?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, the first of the new hires.

[Matt Abaticola]

First of the new hires. Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, It'll definitely. The first coach fired is unlikely to be one of the most recent hires. But from this class of hires, Halfley and the other LaFleur. Well, Minter, did you.

[Matt Abaticola]

You called the Titans guy and he was the, he was a new hire, right. That was his first year. Callahan wasn't he was, was he. Was he there more than last year?

[Dan Bernstein]

I. I don't know. But they, they. It's like Nathaniel Hackett would be the ultimate example. When the Broncos hired Nathaniel Hackett to replace Vic Fangio and then by mid season they had to hire a special assistant to do all the actual coaching because the coach didn't know how to coach and they realized that and then they had to fire him. So. Well, I think it always happens to somebody.

[Matt Abaticola]

You should stick with it. Either he's the first either Call it. He's the first guy fired.

[Dan Bernstein]

Don't.

[Matt Abaticola]

Don't. Category.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't think. First guy fired. I think he'll be the first of this class of hires to be fired.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay. All right. We got it marked out March 31st. Todd Monkin.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Matt Abaticola]

First of the new hires fired.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Matt Abaticola]

I'm going to go. Not that you asked me to, but I'm going to. I'm going to pile on the LaFleur brothers.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I'm going to go Mike or

[Matt Abaticola]

I'm going to go Michael the floor Mike LaFleur.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because you know Matt. Matt's not doing so great either.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I was wrong about him though once. So I got to get his brother Fired then?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, Matt had to actually respond to the weird. Weirdness of the rankings that he got. Did you see this? And it's worth bringing up because when he had his coaching breakfast yesterday, he had to be asked about why he got a B minus in the player survey, which now they say that they're not going to publish this, even though we know it's going to get out.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. That's a fair question to ask.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he said from a coaching standpoint, role clarity is key. If you're unhappy about your role, it's on you to do something about that, to carve out a bigger role on this football team. And unprompted, he brought up players being disgruntled with their roles and didn't specify to whom he was referring or whether he's still with the team.

[Matt Abaticola]

Hmm. Interesting. Right? Did he use the term role clarity?

[Dan Bernstein]

He did. He said.

[Matt Abaticola]

Because players can't define role clarity. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

He said role clarity is key. If you are unhappy about your role, it's on you to do something about that, to carve out a bigger role on this football team. That's not clarity. That's role size.

[Matt Abaticola]

Correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Huh.

[Dan Bernstein]

You can make it very clear that you're a backup and a special teamer.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

It doesn't mean he's gonna be happy, but that's not a lack of clarity.

[Matt Abaticola]

Correct. Did in. You know, and now that we. We bring this up, because I've forgotten that. I've forgotten about it over the last several weeks, have we gotten a contract terms of his new extension? Did you. Have you've seen that anywhere? I. I haven't looked because I haven't thought of it, but because I remember there was all the talk that they were going back and forth, but I never saw any kind of contract details come through of his extension. Okay. Nope.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not here.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, so we're gonna go with Todd Monkin as the first of the new hires that's fired. Bernstein calls it March 31st.

[Dan Bernstein]

You know, you gotta have thoughts. I came with a thought. Let me add one more here. Because you have not been able to get better coverage. I don't think of the Caleb Williams attempt to copyright Iceman than we have provided for you on forward progress from the moment we saw this. I told you what. What beef George Gervin might have, what he might be able to do.

[Matt Abaticola]

What.

[Dan Bernstein]

Who. Whether it was Jerry Iceman Butler here in Chicago or whether it was the Chuck Liddell might have had a claim for this whole right of publicity. Let me say a couple things. To, I'm noticing from a younger generation there's a lot of this, oh, well, nobody knows who George Gervin is. Nobody cares. Let this other guy have it. That's not how the law works. The law isn't about who you remember or who you care about. The law exists to give people certain rights based on what they have established. The whole point of the law is to allow George Gervin to file opposition or to try to settle this with Caleb Williams because he was there first. That matters. That is why we have copyright laws. That's the whole point of it. I've never heard of this guy. Let Caleb Williams have it. I don't know who George Gervin is. You're proving the point of exactly why we need these laws. Now I, I have similarly been in a position where in my saying, hey, take care of George Gervin, he's the Iceman. Where there have been people much older than I mad at me because there was an Iceman before George Gervin and what team?

[Matt Abaticola]

In sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

In sports there was another iceman. And I don't think there was a copyright involved, but I, and I did, I did not know. But who do you think employed the. Maybe the original pro sports iceman?

[Matt Abaticola]

I have no clue. Is it, Is it a. Is it a hockey team? Nope. Is it NFL?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. Keep going.

[Matt Abaticola]

Green bay? Nope. Buffalo? Nope. Giants? Jets? Bears? The Chicago Bears had an Iceman?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Matt Abaticola]

One of the, One of the new to me.

[Dan Bernstein]

Greatest. One of the greatest players to ever touch a football. One of the most iconic American athletes ever and one of the greatest college football players ever. Harold Edward. Red.

[Matt Abaticola]

Red Grange. Yeah. Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

We know him. And I knew him as the Galloping Ghost.

[Matt Abaticola]

Galloping Ghost, Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

I did not know he was referred to as the Wheaton Iceman. Oh, you know why?

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, it's not about putting ice in drinks because they didn't have any. Or did he?

[Dan Bernstein]

He was an iceman before the ubiquitous electric refrigerator.

[Matt Abaticola]

When, like that was his job.

[Dan Bernstein]

When Holmes had ice boxes.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And the Iceman would come by with his giant ice tongs and he would deliver your block of ice that kept your food cold and fresh in your ice box to help the family earn money. In 1922, Red Grange took a part time job as an Iceman for $37.50 per month. Week, Week,

[Matt Abaticola]

Week.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, month might be tough on that. But it helped him to build his core strength for which he got the nicknames Iceman and the Wheaton Iceman. Interesting. So here I was saying give George Gervin. His fair share just be, you know, because you're young and you've never heard of George Gervin. Let me tell you youngsters about George Gervin and the four scoring titles that he won and the 12 all star team, whatever he made, and the players of the century. And I got it. You know, you talk about the, you know, the comeuppance there where the people say, hey, hey, hey, not so fast, Bernstein, because you don't know anything about.

[Matt Abaticola]

Who brought this to your attention then?

[Dan Bernstein]

Multiple people, including Schmutzy, and I didn't want to say it. Oh, because, you know, he's.

[Matt Abaticola]

He's.

[Dan Bernstein]

How old is schmutzy? Late 70s, early 80s now.

[Matt Abaticola]

Probably be closer to 90.

[Dan Bernstein]

90? Yeah. He looks good for 90. He's in good shape for 90, I think. But yeah, I had there say, you know, if we're really talking about this, if we're really doing know the Chicago Bears, that maybe we don't know what's going with the estate of. Of Harold Red Grange. Could they have an ability to file if in fact the Caleb Williams application is opposed by George Gervin?

[Matt Abaticola]

When nicknames can you have.

[Dan Bernstein]

Galloping Ghost is pretty. Damn pretty good.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. Like, I think he could let go of Iceman for Galloping Ghost.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. He had both of them. You did Red Grange, man.

[Matt Abaticola]

Interesting.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's Red Grange. So I, you know, he's a Red Grange. Better player than Caleb Williams so far. A lot better than Caleb Williams so far.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, yeah, I mean, he's one of the great Red Grange. The Galloping Ghost, the Wheaton Iceman.

[Dan Bernstein]

The Iceman and the Wheaten Iceman. Interesting.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, I didn't know. I didn't know that was a nickname that. That belonged to Red Grange.

[Dan Bernstein]

I didn't either. But I am willing to confront the holes in my knowledge here, even if it is fucking Schmutzy that has to point it out to me.

[Matt Abaticola]

Why you got to be upset that it's a good thing that it's friendly fire?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I know. I guess it's fine.

[Matt Abaticola]

It's better than throwing a glass of red wine on top of you and spilling it all over you. No, nothing he's ever done that with me. Did you see Hard Knocks?

[Dan Bernstein]

I hung out. Wait, what was your birthday up in. In Libertyville, which was your birthday?

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, my 40th.

[Dan Bernstein]

That was so much fun.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, that was a good time. We did it at. It was at Mickey Finn's old location.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, the old location. Right. And I Stayed over that. I was smart and I. And I stayed over that night. I didn't want to even bother trying to get home. Got it. Got a cheap hotel room. And I remember going to McDonald's. Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, yeah, that's right.

[Dan Bernstein]

You did go to McDonald's. Schmutzy. And I. Yeah, you know, I believe I was with that night. The current program director of WGN radio. She and her friend, and I think she drove me through the drive through at McDonald's and dropped me off.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, that sounds right. That sounds like a story.

[Dan Bernstein]

I remember that was a fun night.

[Matt Abaticola]

That was a fun night. That was a good time.

[Dan Bernstein]

I remember really good fries at that McDonald's too. Like a particularly good batch.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, it's a good. It's a good McDonald's.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is it 24 hours? Yeah. Not as good as the one near me. Man, this is like the. This one on Addison. They are the truth.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. And that was before maybe you left. Did you leave before my Irish Italian cousins caused a riff?

[Dan Bernstein]

I think I did.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay. Yeah. You must have missed that part. Oh, what did I miss? What did I miss? 1. Somebody talked to somebody and it probably shouldn't have been talking to that somebody. And then somebody else who was with that somebody got upset that there was talking to. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

So Fisticuff cuffs.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Punchy punch.

[Matt Abaticola]

Libertyville's finest came.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, really? Damn it. I. Okay. All right. Did not. Did not know. Didn't know.

[Matt Abaticola]

It was a. Yeah, I think long

[Dan Bernstein]

night for the Jean ds. The Carbonieri showed up.

[Matt Abaticola]

Cousin started it. And then, like, the two guys to jump in to have their backs were my two friends from Bible college. So it all really worked out well. Hard Knocks is going to feature the Seattle Seahawks this summer. I don't know if you watch Hard Knocks at all. I. I don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

I. I consumed a little bit of

[Matt Abaticola]

the bear stuff, but I wasn't much.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think I'm done. I think the Bears ruined it.

[Matt Abaticola]

So the Seahawks be featured this summer, and then during the season, they're gonna start off the season, I guess, with the New England Patriots. So we go Seattle and then the Patriots. I know, I know you've been. You've been wondering about this because you keep texting me. Yes. Very positive conversations had between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

And then last thing for you, Dan, Bo Nix, he is going to be cleared and good to go for OTAs. And when you ask his coach, it was his 15th surgery he had over the off season.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he added once again, it would have been nice to have known. Yes. And then immediately Michael Reinsdorf called him and asked if he wanted to run the Bulls.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. If they could trade for you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. Say, look, if, hey, you don't know the injury histories of players or anything that's going on with them. Perfect. Come build a team for us. That should be perfect.

[Matt Abaticola]

Sounds a brand new smartphone. You can. All the social media is there for you to start posting.

[Dan Bernstein]

Go get them.

[Matt Abaticola]

Here's a economy ticket on Delta.

[Dan Bernstein]

Again, well handled by Delta. But I'm getting off that plane. I'm not interested in being on that plane.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I would. You know, I was thinking through that what you did on DBU as we opened dbu, up with talking about Jordan, Ivy and the Chicago Bulls.

[Dan Bernstein]

Jaden. Jaden.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, yeah, Jaden. Yeah. It's the Bulls thing. It's Jordan and Bulls. And then his house yesterday we talked about it.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's true.

[Matt Abaticola]

I went there yesterday. They're not open yet.

[Dan Bernstein]

What about the gift shop?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, no, don't. You could go in the gift shop

[Dan Bernstein]

that doesn't use his name.

[Matt Abaticola]

Drove up in a. In a big bus too. Hoping we get in free. We're like tour.

[Dan Bernstein]

There was a great email. Was an email or a comment that just said opening a Jordan museum without being able to say that it's Michael Jordan's house at any point, legally, is like opening Graceland and saying, oh, it's a very well known singer who lived here. Could you imagine touring Graceland? But they say it's Elvis Messley. Right? Smelvis Gresley. Oh, yes, of course. Smelvis. We love Smelvis. Come on in.

[Matt Abaticola]

He.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, Shmelvus. He liked his. His fatty sandwiches and his lush green carpet.

[Matt Abaticola]

Likes to eat him on the toilet while he's hammered.

[Dan Bernstein]

While he's dying.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, he played racquetball and then he took a shit and he died. Well, this has been great.

[Matt Abaticola]

Congratulations.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Okay. Awesome. Thank you so much. And he's buried right there by the cement pond. Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

But he's still alive, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, he's not. I went there. I checked. No, I checked. I went to Graceland and I made sure he. Then they said he was in the grave. They confirmed it. Would. They wouldn't. They wouldn't mislead me. They would not give me a bum steer about the life and death of Schmelvis.

[Matt Abaticola]

It's a bad steak too.

[Dan Bernstein]

What is?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, let's wrap it.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm done with you.

[Matt Abaticola]

Why are you done with me?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. I'm done with you.

[Matt Abaticola]

Whatever.

[Dan Bernstein]

I've just decided that say bye bye

[Matt Abaticola]

for Progress is stopped. Forward progress, a chicago bears podcast with dan bernstein and matt abeticola on 31 2sp.