Should the Chicago Bears call about Dexter Lawrence?

Summary

Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Should the Chicago Bears call about Dexter Lawrence?

Date: April 9, 2026
Hosts: Dan Bernstein and Matt Abaticola

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan Bernstein and Matt Abaticola consider the evolving rumor mill around Giants' star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and debate whether the Chicago Bears should make a call to inquire about his availability. Along the way, they assess the Bears’ depth at defensive tackle, evaluate trade logic, discuss broader NFL roster news, examine the psychology of player loyalty, poke fun at coaching quirks, and meander into family board games and childhood mischief. The trademark blend of sharp football analysis and irreverent humor makes for a lively ride through Bears-centric and NFL topics.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Should the Bears Inquire About Dexter Lawrence?

[01:54 - 04:41]

• Matt's Position:

  • Bears’ GM Ryan Poles should at least be on the phone with Giants GM Joe Schoen about Dexter Lawrence, given his potential impact compared to the Bears' current DTs—even if Lawrence’s stats declined after 2024.

    "They—there’s no defensive tackle here currently amid all the big bodies they've added who is as potentially impactful as Dexter Lawrence is…" – Matt [01:54]

  • Matt stresses that due diligence is crucial, as negotiations “can turn weird.”

• Dan's Response:

  • Brings up Greg Gabriel’s reported inside info: "Lawrence is not getting traded."
  • Sees the trade chatter as classic leverage in contract negotiations rather than a serious departure from New York.

    "…I think this is exactly what it is. His agents and he are working to get a new contract. And that's just what it comes down to." – Dan [02:47]

• Both agree:

  • Calling is costless and wise, but Dan is adamant Lawrence won't actually be available.

    "Yeah, it certainly doesn't hurt the Bears in any fashion for Ryan Poles to make that phone call and just have that conversation. That's part of your job. Do that." – Dan [04:41]

2. Trade Value, Roster Reality, and Red Flags

[04:57 - 05:45]

• The hosts note Lawrence’s cost—if it’s a first-round pick or more, it’s probably not worth it, especially with current depth and Lawrence’s age/declining numbers.

• The Bears have already added DTs Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, and James Lynch; none as talented, but the group is serviceable if not imposing.

  "If it's going to be a first round pick or more than that, then probably not." – Matt [04:57]

• Bears have other needs: edge rusher, safety, linebackers, and especially left tackle.

  "You haven't said left tackle yet…You have to say left tackle first." – Matt [05:26]
  "That's the main priority for me, but I don't think. I know." – Dan [05:31]

3. The Logic of Player Leverage

[03:55 - 04:41]

• Matt and Dan explain how trade rumors often serve to create pressure in contract negotiations.

  "That's a way you create leverage is by saying, I don't want to be here anymore. And they say, well, if I have, if I make more money, I'm going to want to be here again…You've got to play the game." – Matt [03:55]

• Sometimes negotiations “sour,” and a player could unintentionally prompt his way out—reason enough for Bears to express interest as a contingency.

4. Bears’ Offensive Line and Taylor Decker’s Loyalty

[06:28 - 11:44]

• News breaks about the Falcons replacing retired RT Caleb McGary with Juwan Taylor, an oft-penalized vet.

  "They signed Juwan Taylor…One of the most penalized offensive linemen in all of football." – Dan [06:49]

• Taylor Decker’s reluctance to play for the Bears or Packers—even as a free agent—sparks debate about player loyalty versus professional logic.

  "He said, I know Ben Johnson did it. That was the right situation for him. Taylor feels kind of dirty about the idea. It just isn't interesting to him…" – Matt [08:13]
  "That's stupid. That's really dumb for a fan. Fans can be unreasonable and not think logically and not react logically. That's fine." – Dan [10:45]

5. The Professional Mindset: Kirk Cousins and Backup Lessons

[12:17 - 16:52]

• Kirk Cousins, signed by the Raiders for a backup competition role, stresses wanting to play only if he’s actually the best option.

  "'The best player needs to play. And if that's not me, I don't want to be out there. I don't think that's the best thing for the team…’” – Matt (quoting Cousins) [12:43]

• Dan and Matt recall examples (Chris Chandler, Greg Maddux) where “mentor” roles are overrated; every real pro wants to play.

• They also imagine the “most earnest” QB room ever—Cousins and Fernando Mendoza—ribbing the vanilla, wholesome personalities.

  "It's going to be 100 insufferable. It's going to be…the least likely football atmosphere environment of any football atmosphere environment ever." – Dan [17:07]

6. Coaching Quirks: Todd Monken and the Infamous Haircut

[23:11 - 28:59]

• Todd Monken missed the coaches’ annual photo due to a rescheduled haircut appointment, leading to a comically evasive explanation:

  "'I didn't. Oh, I didn't. I really don't give a shit. I mean, nothing to do with me. I mean, they moved the meeting. I didn't miss it. Well, if you weren't there, you missed it, right? I was just trying to get a sweet haircut. That's what I was trying to do, a sweet haircut. And then they moved the meeting…’” – Dan (quoting Monken) [24:33]

• The hosts find his "water under the bridge/it'll be under the bridge" ramblings delightfully bizarre and vow to closely watch Monken’s antics all season.

  "Maybe he's got a bridge where he keeps things. It's not water under the bridge that's passed by you. It's…a bridge where there's things under it." – Matt [26:25]

• Monken’s idiosyncratic habits, like keeping a play card in his pants (“where else am I supposed to put it?”), further amuse Dan and Matt.

  "Here's the thing, Todd. No one else puts it in their pants." – Matt [28:44]

7. Bears’ Depth Chart & Running Back Room

[29:04 - 30:44]

• Despite earlier offseason chatter, there’s been little movement or rumor about the Bears aggressively upgrading their running backs.
• Dan suspects one of Roschon Johnson or Britain Brown won't be on the opening day roster; expects D’Andre Swift to be the mainstay, with another back possibly arriving via draft or undrafted free agency.

8. NFL Organizational Power: Coaches vs. GMs

[31:06 - 33:20]

• The hosts speculate about Ben Johnson’s true authority with the Bears, suggesting he is the most influential football voice in the organization.

  "Ryan Poles goes to George McCasky and says…I want to fire Ben Johnson…McCasky would say, 'there's the door.'" – Dan [32:09]

• They compare the power dynamics across the NFL and NBA, noting how coaching authority is more integral to NFL team identity.

9. Notable Tangents: Board Games & Childhood Antics

[18:18 - 22:55]

• The show veers into personal territory as Matt describes faking his death to avoid board games like Candyland, and the duo recalls “dangerous catch”—throwing scissors and ashtrays as kids during Bears games.

  "We would throw things at each other…We would throw scissors at each other, and at one point…a giant crystal ashtray." – Matt [21:05]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dexter Lawrence rumors:

  “Lawrence asking to be traded is nothing more than contract negotiations. 101. When are people going to learn?” – Dan (quoting Greg Gabriel) [02:47]

• On negotiating leverage:

  “That’s a way you create leverage is by saying, I don’t want to be here anymore. And they say, well, if I make more money, I’m going to want to be here again…” – Matt [03:55]

• On Taylor Decker’s loyalty:

  “Oh, dude, I can answer that for you. It’s plain stupid. It’s 100% stupid.” – Dan [09:59]

• On Kirk Cousins’ role:

  “If you are signing someone who doesn’t want to play, that’s a problem.” – Matt [13:16]

• On Todd Monken’s haircut/photo saga:

  “I didn’t. Oh, I didn’t. I really don’t give a shit. I mean, nothing to do with me. I mean, they moved the meeting. I didn’t miss it…” – Dan (quoting Monken) [24:33]
  “He may not be of this earth, but I think I love him.” – Matt [27:43]

• On the Bears’ RB situation:

  “I think one of those two guys will not be here at the start of the season.” – Dan, on Roschon Johnson/Britain Brown [29:58]

• On organizational power:

  "If Poles is like, it's either me or him, McCasky would be like, all right, well, hey, thanks for all you've done. There’s the door." – Dan [32:09]

• On Dangerous Catch:

  “You had to learn how to catch the scissors properly because sometimes you would open in midair.” – Matt [21:15]

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Timestamps for Major Topics

• [01:54] Should Chicago call about Dexter Lawrence?
• [02:47] Inside info: Lawrence not on the block
• [03:55] The art of contract negotiating leverage
• [04:57] What would a trade cost?
• [05:07] Bears’ D-line depth and positional needs
• [06:28] Falcons’ O-line changes and implications
• [08:03] Taylor Decker’s loyalty: smart or foolish?
• [12:17] Kirk Cousins, backup mentality, and pro psychology
• [16:28] The “most earnest QB room ever” and football culture
• [23:11] Todd Monken’s haircut & missed coaches’ photo
• [28:44] Monken’s play card-in-the-pants logic
• [29:04] Bears running back depth chart speculation
• [31:06] Ben Johnson’s organizational power
• [18:18, 20:45] Board games & "Dangerous Catch" stories

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Summary Takeaways

• The consensus: The Bears should inquire about Dexter Lawrence, but it’s almost certainly posturing by his camp, not a genuine trade opportunity.
• Roster moves: The Bears have interior DL depth but lack a difference-maker; RB room is uninspiring and likely to change.
• NFL insight: Coaching personalities, player mentality, and negotiation tactics are as entertaining and influential as ever.
• Signature style: Expect lively off-topic rants and Bears fandom authenticity alongside professional analysis.

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For Bears fans and NFL junkies alike, this episode delivers a thorough, unsentimental look at rumor navigation, roster needs, and football culture—with a hearty dose of laughs.

Transcript

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[Matt Abaticola]

I mean, if you're a Bears fan, you're thinking forward progress. Come on.

[Dan Bernstein]

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[Dan Bernstein]

Forward Progress A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abaticola on 312 Sports.

[Matt Abaticola]

We give you forward progr here on 312 Sports as we do right now. Bernstein and a Batacola following your Chicago Bears and everything happening around the NFL. I hope the Bears are calling the Giants at the very least to price Dexter Lawrence to find out exactly what's real, what's not. Is he definitely gone? And if so, I think Ryan Polls has an obligation to at least be on the phone. They there's there's no defensive tackle here currently amid all the big bodies they've added who is as potentially impactful as Dexter Lawrence is, even though the stats were a little down after a big 2024. But the 29 year old obviously can contribute to any kind of defensive line and it's worth finding out what it might take.

[Dan Bernstein]

So I, I don't disagree with you on anything you just said there now I kind of when the situation came up. I saw one thing from a guy that I trust his opinion. So I kind of put this on the pay no, no attention to list because of what Greg Gabriel had to say about it. He talked about Dexter Lawrence and the contacts and the people he still knows with the Giants after being there for years. And here's the most recent thing he put out about, about Dexter Lawrence. He says a lot of people still think Dexter Lawrence is getting traded. Probably the same idiots who kept thinking Miles Garrett was getting traded or Trey Hendrickson was getting traded. It isn't going to happen. Lawrence asking to be traded is nothing more than contract negotiations. 101. When are people going to learn? Now, that's. That was about a half hour ago. Before that, when it first came up, he actually said he talked to people in the Giants organization and that he said that Lawrence is not getting traded. While I don't disagree with anything that you said there, it's out there in the news and Ryan polls should do the due diligence and put the call in. But I don't, I don't think he's leaving the Giants. I think this is exactly what it is. His agents and he are working to get a new contract. And that's just what it comes down to.

[Matt Abaticola]

That's a way you create leverage is by saying, I don't want to be here anymore. And they say, well, if I have, if I make more money, I'm going to want to be here again. Okay, yeah, I get it. But you've got to play the game. And you call Joe Shane and you just say, like, hey, buddy, what's real, what's not? Just make sure that, you know, I'm here. And sometimes these negotiations, and even if we presume he's, he's completely right, negotiations can sour. They can turn weird. There are things that get said, there are things that get offered. And sometimes a player can talk his way into making a decision he didn't really consider. So as long as it's possible, definitely say, hey, we're here. You know, make sure you call us if things start to get weird.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it certainly doesn't hurt the Bears in any fashion for Ryan pulls to make that phone call and just have that conversation. That's part of your job. Do that. But I say at the end of the day, when, you know, week one comes around, Dexter Lawrence will still be a New York Giant.

[Matt Abaticola]

I think that's a really good bet. But. And also if it's going to be a first round pick or more than that then probably not. Probably good there. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Not interested. Not that he's not a good player. It just, I mean, they've brought in a bunch of bodies already. They got six guys on the roster currently at that position. They need to add the, you know, an edge rusher, a defensive end. They need to add a safety. They need to add linebackers. They're going to add another wide receiver. I think they're, they're, they're going.

[Matt Abaticola]

You haven't said left tackle yet. You're, you're, you're.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that's the main.

[Matt Abaticola]

You have to say left tackle first.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, well, that's the main thing. But they're not going to do that. I mean, I, I don't think they're going to do that. I want them to. That's the main priority for me, but I don't think. I know.

[Matt Abaticola]

I'm just making sure you're staying on.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think that's 25 is going to be an edge rusher if they even pick a 25.

[Matt Abaticola]

If we start looking at the guy. Neville Gallimore, Kentavious street and James lynch, all defensive tackles who the Bears have signed so far this off season and none is as good as Dexter Lawrence. But they, they're not lacking for, for. I'm not going to say depth, but they're, they're not like for guys at the position it would let Lawrence, at his age and with a decline in production doesn't come without red flags. But let's just know what, what market there might. Might cost and factor that into all the decisions that they're making. That's, that's all we ask is for somebody to just simply do the job that needs to be done right here. And I have no doubt that polls will do that.

[Dan Bernstein]

So Ian Cunningham with the Falcons, before he made a decision here to sign someone, I'm sure he went to Matt Ryan and asked for permission. But I don't know if you saw this, but the Falcons signed Juwan Taylor to a one year deal of the Kansas City Chiefs, previously the. One of the most penalized offensive linemen in all of football.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because of the retirement of Caleb McGarry, who's retiring as their, their, their right tackle has been there for a while, decided, you know, he missed all of last year with I think a leg or a knee injury and decided to retire, walk away from the game. And so, you know, within, within hours of that retirement announcement, the, the Falcons do sign Juwan Taylor at right tackle, which was when I saw the McGary news. I thought, all right, well that impacts what the Falcons are going to do in the draft and I don't think they have a draft or a pick until 48. So they're not even in the in the first round. It made me think that they might try to package something, do something to maneuver up into the first round to get a tackle to address it that way. But signing Juwan Taylor was certainly not something I expected. Obviously a veteran, he's been around for a while and if they can cut down any of the penalties, I mean he's been one of those penalized guys the last three years in football. I don't know how good that is, especially at right tackle. When you have two left handed quarterbacks that are, you don't need that guy being bad at that position.

[Matt Abaticola]

Why hasn't anyone signed Taylor Decker yet?

[Dan Bernstein]

My only thought on Taylor Decker was that he's just not healthy enough to play, that he's not at a level to play at a really efficient level for the NFL.

[Matt Abaticola]

There's been, there was rumblings around Baltimore maybe signing him and he asked to be released because all they offered, the Lions offered him a pay cut. So it's not like there wasn't value. I mean maybe it was an offer they wanted him to refuse and they didn't just want to get rid of him. They knew they could lowball him and then it would be on him to walk out. But I don't know if you saw this that a reporter named Justin Rogers interviewed Decker. Okay. And on a Alliance podcast he said Decker wants to play for a winner. He's saying, is it cheap to go win somewhere else after you've invested all your energy emotionally and physically into one franchise? I will tell you he's pretty anti playing for the Bears or Packers. That's the Lions background in him. He said, I know Ben Johnson did it. That was the right situation for him. Taylor feels kind of dirty about the idea. It just isn't interesting to him. I could see him joining a team midseason. The further he gets away from football and games being played, injuries happening, the right offer occurs. I could also see him not playing. Said Decker didn't appreciate how the Lions approached him this off season, asking him to take less money after he'd been loyal to the team and spent a decade playing for them. He still very much considered himself a lion, wants to be remembered as a lion to the point where he wants back in the fold wherever the season may go. He wants to come here, sign the one day contract Retire a lion. I hate. I hate that garbage. But I don't know if I'm. I find that sort of romantically worthy of respect or just plain stupid.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, dude, I can. I can answer that for you. It's plain stupid. It's 100% stupid.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay, but you're the same guy that didn't want to root for Jim Edmonds as a cub.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that's different.

[Matt Abaticola]

I know. Don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

Don't try to point this back at me.

[Matt Abaticola]

I'm just pointing out that he. It's a player thinking like a fan, right? Some fans like that.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's fair for a fan to be like that. We don't have to be reasonable. This isn't the way I earn money. He earns money by playing football. And to say, I'm not playing for the packers or the Bears, if those were the only two teams that gave him offers, and his agents, like, hey, I got two offers for you. Nope, not going to do it. I feel dirty playing for the Bears or for the Packers. Oh, okay. Well, then enjoy retirement, because that's where you're going right now.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's stupid. That's really dumb for a fan. Fans can be unreasonable and not think logically and not react logically. That's fine.

[Matt Abaticola]

I'd like.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're a player that earns money by playing the game.

[Matt Abaticola]

If Taylor Decker's wife and kids, right? Like, after he's sitting home for a while, he's like, I'm a lion.

[Dan Bernstein]

I only play for the lion.

[Matt Abaticola]

Roar.

[Dan Bernstein]

He just roars at her all day long. Right. At some point, it's just stupid. You.

[Matt Abaticola]

You would think that the kids were like, hey, dad, you know, you could go play football for somebody else. That'd be okay. You know, we got to go to college and, you know, we got expenses here. Things, you know?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it's. It's. That's plain dumb. That's. That's all that is. And then I like that he had the packers and the Bears, but he wouldn't be opposed to playing for the Vikings.

[Matt Abaticola]

I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

So it's not like a rival division rival thing. It's just. It's just Packers.

[Matt Abaticola]

You know, what if these are not his words directly? These are. This is this reporter who is paraphrasing.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. And saying, I get it.

[Matt Abaticola]

But, like, when you look at the

[Dan Bernstein]

history of guys that have gone from one team to another to play Jim

[Matt Abaticola]

McMahon and Steve McMichael are.

[Dan Bernstein]

You go to the Packers. Right.

[Matt Abaticola]

You know why? Because. Money.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because that's how you earn your living.

[Matt Abaticola]

Professional football, professional sports. They have money and they will pay you to play for them.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that's truly how he feels. You know, I just. I think that's dumb. That's.

[Matt Abaticola]

That's really dumb. Speaking of being paid to play, when I first saw what Kirk Cousins had to say about his role with the Raiders, that, you know, we saw the big money and we saw the fact that looking at the size of the contract and then understanding that the readers are only paying a fraction of this huge deal, that's the money that's still left on his deal at age 37.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're paying less than 2 million, I believe.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think it's like 1.3.

[Matt Abaticola]

It's nothing. Basically have a free backup quarterback who might be more than the backup up, and he knows that it's going to be Fernando Mendoza who's likely to be that guy. And I think I like what Cousins said in a way that can function as a reminder about how these things work. Where he said, and he said he told Clint Kubiak, the best player needs to play. And if that's not me, I don't want to be out there. I don't think that's the best thing for the team. If I am the best option. I believe it's important that those guys are out there. I'm excited to get the chance to lead, help influence the locker room, do my part, and most importantly, help our team win. And he's very complimentary of Mendoza, but I think it's really important to look at the real mentality of a player. Nobody wants to be brought in as a player, assistant coach, or as a de facto coach or be a guy in the room. If it's so happening happens, they end up that. Or if it so happens that by being who they are, that it does rub off on others or leading by example. That's different. But everybody wants to play. If you are signing someone who doesn't want to play, that's a problem. That's a being okay with it being a Tyler Bray or a Chase Daniel or what? Chris Chandler was with the Bears when it was clear he actually got into a game and looked pissed off. Remember that one? Remember? It was. It was. It was at Miami, I think, and Rex got. Was it Rex? I forgot who got hurt. And here comes Chris Chandler is like, oh, God. I guess, like he was basically taking a golf glove off while he's like, oh, I guess I'll go play. And you don't want that. And the guy who reminded me of stuff like that is when the Cubs re signed Greg Maddox in 05 or 06 or whatever it was. And it was old fat Greg Maddox and we were going to have him on the show and he, and he's like, yeah, I'll do an interview but don't ask me about talking to younger pitchers or being a pitching coach in waiting or anything like that. He's like, he didn't want to hear it and he made it very clear. This is a really smart, proud, all time great. It's like I'm here to pitch. Don't make me into some sort of pitching guru who happens to be here playing out the string.

[Dan Bernstein]

He.

[Matt Abaticola]

That really bugged him.

[Dan Bernstein]

So. So that Kirk Cousins should have the mindset of going to the Raiders for the opportunity to compete for the starting job.

[Matt Abaticola]

Win the job to win the job. Right. To win the jet to prove he's their best option to win.

[Dan Bernstein]

So it's a different situation. What we've talked about with Minnesota right now in bringing in Kyler Murray because we think Kyler Murray is going there to be the starter, not compete with any of the 12 guys in the room that Kevin O' Connell is still talking about.

[Matt Abaticola]

I don't know why you. Why he would pick them for any other reason. He had to have been given some guarantees other than just be a guy in the room. Yeah. If you're, if you were Kyler Murray in that situation and you have trustworthy counsel doing these negotiations, there's no way to go there and just be stuck in the, in the machinery there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. That's Craig's younger brother by the way. Trustworthy. So Kirk Cousins though, it's, it's. We never talked about this with that locker room with he and Mendoza. Is. Is that gonna be. I don't know what adjective I'm looking for but the most like golly gee, all shucks quarterback room ever.

[Matt Abaticola]

Earnest is what.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. That's what I'm looking for.

[Matt Abaticola]

That's what you're. You are looking for 100 most earnest quarterbacking room.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

Your cousin. Really good. And I'm going to do whatever he says and I'm going to be the best quarterback and be. And if I can learn from him, that's a great opportunity and we're all brothers and we're going to be teammates and football is awesome and I'm going to be awesome and everybody's going to be great and I'm going to learn from him and I'm happy to have him here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Then Kirk Cousins is like one of the most polite. Yeah. Genuine kind like does where really. And just a really aw shucks, galley G me kind of kind of quarterback room. Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

It's going to be insufferable is what it's going to be.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's going to be 100 insufferable. It's going to be the like the least likely football atmosphere environment of any football atmosphere environment ever.

[Matt Abaticola]

Who's their quarterbacks coach? I hope they have like a hardcore tobacco spitting, cussing, a quarterbacks coach. Listen, you stupid. I don't like to be talked to like that and it makes me uncomfortable and I feel that you are in invading my confidence space and I'm not going to be able to function at my best if you are treating me like that. I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

Mike Sullivan is currently their quarterback's coach. I don't know who he is. He was hired recently. Sullivan brings over two decades of coaching experience including two super bowl wins with the Giants in previous roles as an OC and QB coach.

[Matt Abaticola]

With the. Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right.

[Matt Abaticola]

I just, I, I hope he's rough around the edges. It'll make it more fun.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Because he certainly can't be like them.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh no. Then you never want to go by that room again.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's the, that'll be the least like footbally environment ever atmosphere.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, we've done our work. It's time to play Candyland.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. I always hated that game too.

[Matt Abaticola]

The worst, the worst game of all time. You got it. You got to stack the cards and cheat and you've got to play it over and over and over again. I almost, it was more, it was a more Zoe than Jason. I considered faking my death to get out of Candyland.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. I'm, I've always been open to. And we still play games here at home with the boys ass. But I, I, man, Candyland was, was one I tried to avoid.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, it's. It never ends. It never ends. There's no strategy. It's. It is.

[Dan Bernstein]

It.

[Matt Abaticola]

It's bad for your brain. I think it's as bad as like AI Slop. It's, it's horrible for your brain and I think it makes, I'm pretty sure it makes kids stupid. I played it a lot as a kid too. I think some games you, you definitely know that there's a little something that's going on here or the kids got to realize, oh, this move does this. This move does this. I, I don't think Candyland helps kids get smarter at all.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Can you land shoots and ladders. Keep them both.

[Matt Abaticola]

I don't mind. Shoots and ladders. That. That. That it can end.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wasn't interested.

[Matt Abaticola]

It also kind of scared me. Shoots and ladders. I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why did it scare you? I don't know.

[Matt Abaticola]

I. I just. I didn't like it. Not like. Not like the game. Perfection scared me. Do you remember perfection?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, yeah. No, of course. No, that would. That would. Yeah. That probably would have scared you to the hospital, I bet. I'm sure it did.

[Matt Abaticola]

That. That is anxiety in a box.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did you play Operation, too?

[Matt Abaticola]

I tried, and then I lost some of the pieces, and then it was over.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, everyone loses the pieces. That's part of the nature of that game.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're supposed to lose pieces, so you have to buy a new one. Well, I lose half the bones and body parts.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, and then the battery runs out. And then you're like, I gotta get another battery. And then you're like, I'll play something else.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wait. Perfection is the one where the thing. The timer, you got to put the shapes in, right?

[Matt Abaticola]

You push the plunger down when you put action. Here's how it goes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Wait, no, keep on your toes. You have to be quick because here's how it goes. Push the plunger down, set the timer, fit the pieces in place. Don't be slow. I've started too high. With perfection, you gotta move on fast. Move on fast for the pieces pop up before you put in the last. And that's perfection. Yeah. You push the thing down.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

And then everything's got to fit or it blows up. Yep. Sucks.

[Dan Bernstein]

So that would get you. Oh, God. Yeah. Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. My friend Dave had it, and we used to play it, and it made me crazy.

[Dan Bernstein]

He loved it. Why would you play it then?

[Matt Abaticola]

Because it was his house. When you're someone else's house, it's their games, and they. And they play the game. You know, it's different.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, you could have just sat out of that game. Be like, I'll just watch you, Dave.

[Matt Abaticola]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that's too much for my anxiety.

[Matt Abaticola]

I mean, I would occasionally. If I didn't like it, then. And then he and I invented our favorite game, which was Dangerous Catch. We would throw things at each other of. Of things that were sharper and heavier and pointier. And we would do it while watching Bears games. So picture we're sitting, like, across from each other. We would throw scissors at each other, and at one. At one point, we would throw a giant crystal ashtray.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, well, this Explains a lot.

[Matt Abaticola]

So it was. And his mother's like, what are you doing? Like, we're playing dangerous catch. You had to learn how to catch the scissors properly because sometimes you would open in midair.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, you are. You full blown idiot. Yes. And it happened at a young age. So that's. That's good to know. Why in God's name would you think it's a good idea to play catch with scissors?

[Matt Abaticola]

I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

We.

[Matt Abaticola]

Because that's. Because otherwise it's not dangerous catch.

[Dan Bernstein]

So it was like, Dave, I'm bored. Playing perfection.

[Matt Abaticola]

He's through the roof.

[Dan Bernstein]

Let's throw scissors at each other.

[Matt Abaticola]

It just. It started because we were watching the Bears game and we were just kind of throwing things at each other. Like the remote. We would used to throw the remote back and forth. And then I picked up the ashtray and threw it at him. And then it became a thing. And there were scissors. Whatever was there, we'd throw at each other.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did you guys ever consider, like, tossing a ball back and forth?

[Matt Abaticola]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like maybe a football while watching the Bears?

[Matt Abaticola]

Let the record show he graduated Harvard Law School. All right.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he wears a cowboy hat, so.

[Matt Abaticola]

No. Does not wear a cowboy hat.

[Dan Bernstein]

All you need to say, he was

[Matt Abaticola]

top of his class at University of Michigan and then Harvard Law School. And he and I invented the game Dangerous catch.

[Dan Bernstein]

Hey, I saw this new mock draft from Rhett Lewis, NFL.com. this was an interesting new name as I check them all out. Ty Simpson going to The Eagles at 23. That's the first. Have fun. Seen that. Yes. I do have a follow up for you, though, on your guy. Todd Monkin.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. So he's still employed.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

He missed the coach's photo. And we couldn't understand why because the explanation was he was getting a haircut.

[Matt Abaticola]

And we thought getting a haircut for the coach's photo.

[Dan Bernstein]

Coach's photo. So why would you schedule the haircut during the coach's photo? So here's. So here's a follow up to it. There was a very abrupt schedule change during the NFL's annual league meeting last week that led to Todd Monkin and Sean McVeigh missing the coach's photo. So the coaches. The meeting with the photo was scheduled for a certain time.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Todd Monkin scheduled a haircut for the photo. They change the meeting, move the meeting up. So that. That's why he missed. That's why he was at. He was at the place getting his haircut because they changed the schedule. Now, you could question it and go. All right, well, wouldn't they give you advance notice? The meeting's changing. They wouldn't give you like a five minute, right? So why wouldn't you just skip the haircut and go to your meeting? But that's the explanation that was given. Okay, so, okay, he was in the middle of the haircut when the picture was taking.

[Matt Abaticola]

Or is he a guy that no matter what you put on the schedule, he goes to it? A lot of coaches are like that.

[Dan Bernstein]

He could be like that. Yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

A lot of coaches like whatever you, whatever clothing is, is put out for them. They will wear whatever, whatever. They don't question it. It's just not something they want to think about.

[Dan Bernstein]

So yesterday when he was asked about missing the team photo or the coaches photo, he says, quote, I didn't. Oh, I didn't. I really don't give a shit. I mean, nothing to do with me. I mean, they moved the meeting. I didn't miss it. Well, if you weren't there, you missed it, right? I was just trying to get a sweet haircut. That's what I was trying to do, a sweet haircut. And then they moved the meeting. Now you can claim I should have been at the meeting when they moved it up and my ass would have known that's when it was. Yeah, okay, I got you. And was it disappointing? You bet your ass it was disappointing. So now he's claiming he didn't know that they moved the meeting up. He continues saying, am I allowed to be the head coach if I'm not in the head coach's picture? You think, AI, they could have done that quickly and got me in? But no, it's the way it is. It'll be under the bridge. And what will matter most is how we move from here. And do we win or not? Ultimately, none of that will matter.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay, by that logic, Ambrose Bierce, nothing matters. But this is going to be so much fun. Just promise me that we're going to have like a, like a Monkin watch. Like, he's not, he's, he's smarter than Jim Tomsula, but he might be just as entertaining while we got him. We're going to have to enjoy him while we have him.

[Dan Bernstein]

We're going to monitor the entire season.

[Matt Abaticola]

Good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Brown's pre Browns post all during the week, when he speaks, we're going to listen to it because he says, dan, it won't be water under the bridge. Which I don't know how that it'll

[Matt Abaticola]

be under the bridge.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, how does that Even fit in the situation it was given.

[Matt Abaticola]

It'll be under the bridge.

[Dan Bernstein]

He wasn't wronged in any way.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, but he. He was basically saying, stop asking me about this. It doesn't matter. I don't care. That's great, Coach. Why. Why weren't you there? Well, it's not gonna matter, and I wasn't in the photo. It's all under the bridge. Yeah, maybe he's got a bridge where he keeps things. It's not water under the bridge that's passed by you. It's. It's a bridge where there's things under it. That's just where they stay.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's things. It'll be under the bridge.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

And what will matter most is how we move from here and do we win or not? Ultimately, none of it will matter, he says. I didn't miss it. I was just trying to get a sweet haircut. That's what I was trying to do. And then they moved the meeting. Now you can claim that I should have been at the meeting when they moved it up, and my ass would have known that's when it was. Yeah, okay, I got you. And was it disappointing? You bet your ass it was disappointing.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, then which is it?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know, dude. Which? Yeah, which is it the meeting, or did they not tell you the meeting was moved? And did they tell you it was moved and you still stayed because you got your haircut scheduled?

[Matt Abaticola]

What's disappointing, then?

[Dan Bernstein]

That he wasn't in the picture, but

[Matt Abaticola]

he says it doesn't matter if he's in the picture again, yet he's disappointed.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it wasn't disappointing. You bet your ass it was disappointing.

[Matt Abaticola]

I love him.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

I don't understand him. He may not be of this earth, but I think I love him.

[Grainger Spokesperson]

See?

[Dan Bernstein]

But here's the thing, though. I see the words, I read the words, I get the words he's saying. It's not like Kevin o', Connell, where I had no idea what the hell he was saying.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is just plain stupidity. But it's great. Am I allowed to be the head coach if I'm not in the head coach's picture? You think with AI they could have done that quickly and got me in there? But no, it's the way it is. It'll be under the bridge.

[Matt Abaticola]

Maybe he wants. If he's a proponent of AI. Okay, I'm just going to. I'm taking it all in right now. No snap judgments, other than the fact that I think I love him. And this is going to be for this is the man with the play card in his pants. And when asked why he keeps his play card in his pants, his response was, where else am I supposed to put it? Yes. Here's the thing, Todd. No one else puts it in their pants.

[Dan Bernstein]

Correct.

[Matt Abaticola]

So your response is questionable and not under the bridge. Your response is, where else am I supposed to put it? Somewhere else maybe.

[Dan Bernstein]

I have an idea. How about in your hand?

[Matt Abaticola]

Hand is good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Or. Or have someone else hold it. But. Okay. Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that's your guy. Todd Monken. And follow up on his haircut.

[Matt Abaticola]

It is my guy and I'm happy to have him. Have we seen any changes in the Bears depth chart? I always like to look around and see if something got moved in there if we're adding somebody. If you notice that there hasn't been that. The running back talk has really quieted. And I'm not sure if it's this year's draft or just the fact that running backs aren't sexy anymore and in general, but I. Is this. Is this the group until we. Somebody comes in on draft day. That is a big surprise. I don't. I don't know. I have yet to find out how actively they're looking to upgrade the running back room.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I, I Wait. Is Roshan Johnson still on the team?

[Matt Abaticola]

He's. Yes. And so is Britain Brown, who was better than Roshan Johnson. Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

So you're gonna. You're gonna carry four running backs because you'll have a guy in the practice squad. I think they'll. I think one. One of those two guys will not be here at the start of the season.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I mean, I wanted to add. To say who it's. I mean, I think Johnson.

[Matt Abaticola]

John.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. He will not be here.

[Matt Abaticola]

That's what I think too.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. They. They will add another running back. And I don't know if it'll necessarily be in the draft. Maybe it's an undrafted guy that makes the practice squad. But I think the three that they go into the season with will be. Swift and swift and. And Britain.

[Matt Abaticola]

As of right now.

[Dan Bernstein]

As of right now, yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yep. But that you can improve there easily. It's. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, you can.

[Matt Abaticola]

It just. We spent a lot of time talking about it and there hasn't been even a. A rumor and anything. Any kind of report. There's. There's been plenty on. Like I say, we were talking about Taylor Decker and I'm not playing for the Bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. And maybe, you know, and maybe there's a day three guy that they're targeting to draft at running back. And that'll be the third guy on your chart.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yep. Could be. I'm just. Just kind of one thing that I've got in the back of my head as I start looking at the. At positionally where there are still holes or where there's still questions about how they're going to make sure they're better for this season. Yeah. And we should also mention too that when that Ben Johnson's name has come up as the Bulls have been front and center in a lot of our discussion lately. But when we're talking about can you make your head coach the most powerful person in your organization And I think Ben Johnson clearly is that and I hadn't really thought about it quite in that way despite what the titles are right now on the team, the front office. But yeah, I would say in this city right now that's the team where you can point to it and say yeah, the most important football guy, the most important opinion on the football side is that of the coach, regardless of who's where. And I just sort of hearing myself say that was. Was useful to me, I guess.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Because I think if. If in here, let's just create a very fake imaginary scenario. Ryan Poles goes to George McCask says, Hey, I want to fire Ben Johnson. I think we need to move on from Ben Johnson. George McCasky would say there's the door. You can like if polls is like it's either me or him. McCaskey would be like, all right, well hey, thanks for all you've done. There's the door.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yep. And I think that tells you all you need to know.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

That. Yeah. I mean I, I love you, but I'm not letting you do that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Correct.

[Matt Abaticola]

So that is, that's at the moment not a bad thing at the moment. It's. It is his influence on everything around and above him. But I think for some reason in the NFL it just works better to have your coach be your most significant personality, the person who embodies your team. Because your players in that. That's a sport where your players can go out and in manifest by through effort in a way you can't in other sports. Well, why would manifest.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why is it different though that you can hear from an NBA head coach all the time but want to hear more from the general manager? I know it's not that. It's not that way.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, I'm not saying I want to hear but just as far as as the power goes in the. In basketball, there's still perhaps football moves faster. I think football is the why because there's only 17 games. I think the wild swings between good and bad happen faster in that league. That it's easier to take some longer term looks in basketball when you're looking at draft picks into the next decade or however long they're. They're able to do it now. And knowing you have a guy, it's great knowing you have the quarterback in football, but that still pales to knowing you have a star in basketball as far as the power that they have over what you do and what it means to have that person. The conversations you're in with just having one player in that regard. So yeah, I mean it's nothing. No, no cross sport comp is perfect but it's, it is clear the bull, the, the. That the Bulls would be trying to, in a, in a reverse engineering way to replicate that situation rather than having it happen naturally.

[Dan Bernstein]

Hey, one thing I do want to mention before we wrap up today. Our Pro Shop, 312Sports Pro Shop is open and available for you to purchase 312 sports gear. It's all here for you. The easiest way to do that is just go to the 312Sports app. Get the app, if you haven't done so already. If you have the app, open it up. There's a banner right on the homepage that gets you right into the pro shop and it looks, it looks like this.

[Matt Abaticola]

Or if you go to 312sports.com across the very, very top says listen, watch advertisers Rewards Pro Shop. Just click on Pro Shop and you are right there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, there's T shirts and sweatshirts and hats and mugs, stickers for your computer. I mean there's gear for men, women's kids all the way down to baby sizes. I mean anything you could actually imagine is here. Tote bags, duffel bags with the 312 Sports logo on it. So go and check that out. Get yourself some gear. Like a nice, you know, a hood, a hoodie, maybe a crew neck sweatshirt. Maybe you like that instead of the hoodie.

[Matt Abaticola]

How about a zip up windbreaker that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Are you talking about the really sweet. Yeah, like the orange one. Yeah, I'm gonna, I'm gonna grab myself that. I think.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, that's really nice that, that's highly visible too. If you like, you know, if you're running or if you're out. That looks like I was running. I was running.

[Dan Bernstein]

So. Yeah, people have been asking for months now about how can I get the shirts you have on or the. The pullover. Whatever. Whatever it is you want. It's all there for you now at the 312Sports Pro Shop. So go and check it out and get your orders in. Right.

[Matt Abaticola]

You got to get the trucker hat. It's got to replace your Carthage hat.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. I got to make sure it fits well though.

[Matt Abaticola]

I know that's the key. I, I understand.

[Dan Bernstein]

Can't wear an ill fitting hat.

[Matt Abaticola]

Some hats look bad on me too. I know sometimes there's too much blocking and it looks like one of those early 80s New Era hats. Or sometimes it fits too close to the head and you look like Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Or maybe the pope hat. We should do the pope hat with

[Matt Abaticola]

the three the White Sox pope hatters. Like hey. Because that's all the pope is. He's just a goofy reason for advertising. Just a bit. That's all he's doing. So that's it for forward progress for today. This is your home for talk about the Bears and the NFL. Always lively and we never know exactly where it's going to go. So you don't either. That's how this works. Keeping you informed of everything that is happening with your Chicago Bears on 312 sports. Forward progress is stopped.

[Dan Bernstein]

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

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