The Chicago Bears starter most at risk from a rookie

Summary

Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: The Chicago Bears Starter Most at Risk from a Rookie
Hosts: Dan Bernstein and Matt Abatticola
Date: May 6, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on a critical offseason question for the Chicago Bears: which starting veteran is most at risk from a rookie challenge, especially with rookie minicamps on the horizon. Dan and Matt use Brad Biggs' "10 Areas to Watch" as a framework to dig into the Bears' roster battles, the importance of health, and the fate of veterans potentially being edged out by first-year players. The conversation is filled with classic Bears-centric candor, insight, and banter, including reflections on the team's history and some lighter football and pop-culture asides.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Centrality of Caleb Williams’ Development

• Brad Biggs' #1 Area: The key to the Bears’ first back-to-back winning seasons since 2005-06 is the continued growth of new QB Caleb Williams.
  • Both hosts immediately agree: “Number one, Caleb Williams needs to be good.” (03:27, Matt)
  • Dan laments the long drought since consecutive winning seasons: “It's been 20 years, Dan. It's not good.” (03:11, Matt)

2. Defense: Pass Rush vs. Run Defense

• Pass Rush and Run Defense are 1A and 1B Concerns
  • “I struggle with that one. I, I would say fix both. I don't want either one to be bad.” (04:00, Dan)
  • Matt: “Pass rush for me is 1A and then run defense is 1B.” (04:24)
• Names to Watch in Free Agency:
  • Jadeveon Clowney (top target), Kyle Van Noy, and AJ Epenessa. Cap space is limiting options. (06:11-07:09)
  • “We're not looking for some superstar... but a guy who's a veteran with experience.” (06:31, Matt)

3. Replacing DJ Moore and Receiver Room Evolution

• Trade of DJ Moore to Bills for cap space: raises the question of veteran leadership and production loss.
  • “How does that [receiver] room develop and grow to go along with the development and growth of the quarterback?” (07:35, Matt)
  • Luther Burden expected to step up but needs better chemistry with Williams; Xavion Thomas and others will get a look as WR3. (07:55)

4. Cornerback Durability and Competition

• Jalen Johnson’s health is a concern (missed 10 games last year); Kyler Gordon in a "prove it" season after injuries as well. (08:55)
• Team led NFL in takeaways—but defense is thin if starters get hurt.

5. Offensive Line Clarity—Especially Left Tackle

• Brad Biggs says it's “reasonable to believe” the starter will be set sooner.
  • Matt: “I don't think it's reasonable... It's a must” (09:29)
  • Dan: “That's... within the coach's power. It's up to them. They can decide right now.” (09:33)

6. Safety Reset

• First total reboot at safety since 2015 (then Adrian Amos and Antrel Rolle).
  • “That was part of what helped spur all of the... complaining about their [Bears'] practice fields... had to be told by an outsider it was doing things badly.” (11:24, Dan)
  • Discussion of organizational self-awareness or lack thereof.

7. Center Competition: Bradbury vs. Logan Jones

• Plan is for Garrett Bradbury to start, but rookie Logan Jones could challenge—though not immediately.
  • “It's too important of a position to say this guy can push him. He hasn't played yet in the NFL.” (13:33, Matt)
  • If Jones starts, it likely means Bradbury was a bad signing, not that Jones is a surprise phenom. (14:26, Dan)
  • Low financial risk: “It's a one-year contract under $5 million. Not a big deal in the NFL world.” (15:12, Matt)

8. Rookie Impact: Xavion Thomas and Kick Return Game

• Third-round rookie Xavion Thomas expected to contribute as a return specialist and versatile weapon.
  • “He’s an intriguing chess piece... Bears want to get him settled returning kicks. They hope he's a bona fide weapon.” (15:26, Dan)
  • Hosts prefer explosive potential over steady but unspectacular kick return averages.

9. Health as a Major X-Factor

• Durability plagued Bears’ secondary last year (Jalen Johnson, Kyler Gordon).
  • “That’s his way of saying, get your ass in here so we know what kind of shape you’re in and don’t be doing anything off the books...” (17:20, Dan)

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Rookie Most Likely to Displace a Starter

Segment Highlight (17:47–21:15)

• ESPN’s Ben Solak named Malik Muhammad as the rookie most likely to take a starter’s spot—specifically Tyrique Stevenson’s at cornerback.
• “Tyrique Stevenson... gave up 9.8 yards per target allowed. That was third worst of all cornerbacks.” (18:10, Matt)
• Dan notes the double-edged sword of Stevenson "being around the ball": is he making plays, or are teams targeting him? (19:34)
• Both agree increased pass rush could help take heat off the corners.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On consistency:
  “I can't believe they haven't had back-to-back winning seasons in two decades.” (32:09, Dan)
• On practice fields/upgrades:
  “Yet another example of a Chicago professional sports team who had to be told by an outsider that it was doing things wrong or badly.” (11:24, Dan)
• On approach to left tackle competition:
  “Bears should decide who their starting left tackle is earlier than they did last year.” (10:15, Dan)
• On the ephemeral nature of NFL jobs:
  “If Jones is starting [at center], that means you probably screwed up with the Bradbury signing.” (14:26, Dan)
• On NFL health and preparation:
  “Health is important over everybody. Not just football players." (17:37, Matt)

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Other NFL and Pop Culture Tangents

• Packers injury news, Aaron Rodgers trade rumors (“not at all true” per Adam Schefter)—segment runs from 21:15–23:18
• The weirdness of quarterbacks starting for Arizona/Pittsburgh with a rundown of weak depth charts and a running joke on Kedon Slovis (23:34–26:34)
• 49ers O-lineman Trent Williams’ new contract and unique “no holdout” clause. (26:41–29:52)
• Former Bear Zach Pickens to the Giants (30:02)
• NFL referees’ new labor deal—relief expressed on avoiding replacement refs (31:13)
• Bears’ historic futility (back-to-back winning seasons drought) and personal/family Bears memories segue into film trivia, cheese talk, and more (32:44–41:07)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Brad Biggs’ 10 Areas to Watch: 02:39–17:36
• Rookie Most Likely to Displace a Starter: 17:47–21:15
• NFL/Division notes (Packers, Rodgers): 21:15–23:18
• Quarterback room banter: 23:34–26:34
• Trent Williams contract/49ers cap: 26:41–29:52
• Zach Pickens, Giants pickups: 30:02
• Referee labor news: 31:13
• Bears futility/family memories: 32:09–36:12
• Cheese and final banter: 40:02–41:33

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Tone and Style

Dan and Matt bring a blend of resigned expertise, gallows humor, and classic Chicago sports skepticism. The tone is alternately deadpan (“Stop reading names”) and deeply invested (“I am confident they will end that this year” re: winning seasons). Their banter is off-the-cuff but informed, and they never let go of the emotional weight of being Bears fans, for better or worse.

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Summary Takeaway

“Forward Progress” this week is all about transition: how rookies might reshape the depth chart, where long-standing weaknesses persist, and whether the Bears can break their two-decade run without consecutive winning seasons. Tyrique Stevenson’s starting spot is under the most rookie threat (from Malik Muhammad), but position battles and health will shape the real outcome. As always, the conversation is as much about the emotional ups and downs of Bears fandom—and the quirks of NFL life—as it is about Xs and Os.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[C]

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[B]

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[B]

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

[C]

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

[B]

Okay, how we doing? How is everybody? What do you say? Like get this started, right? Okay. Okay, fine. All right. The forward progress will be awarded to you. Right now you have been given the furthest point down the field that you have reached. Yay. And yay. Yay is right. So we wake up today with the Bears awaiting the the. The. The first gathering of at least their newest players and getting everybody on the field. So Brad Biggs has presented not his 10 thoughts on a game, but his 10 areas to watch in preparation for rookie minicamp. This is off season areas to watch.

[C]

Okay. Off season areas to watch. Ten of them.

[B]

And I want and I want us. We can then assess the validity of the following. Agree, disagree. Somewhere in between. Number one. Nothing is more tied to the Bears bid for their first repeat winning season since 0506 than the improved development of Caleb Williams. Yes.

[C]

Yes, agreed.

[B]

They haven't had repeat winning season since 05 06.

[C]

Yeah, it's been 20 years, Dan. It's not good.

[B]

So bad. That's no good.

[C]

As they would say in the business,

[B]

oh my God, is that bad? So, yeah, I think that's obvious right now. I mean, I'm glad he said it, but I think it's an obvious.

[C]

Number one, Caleb Williams needs to be good.

[B]

Like it. Number number two.

[C]

Two.

[B]

Despite the hyper focus on the pass rush and the possibility the Bears would add a defensive end via free agency, a trade or the draft, I would rank the run defense higher in terms of concerns.

[C]

See, for me it's 1A and 1B. I can't rank 1 higher than the other. They're both a significant concern.

[B]

Yeah, I'm, I, I, I struggle with that one. I, I would say fix both. I don't want either one to be bad. The difference is that usually the pass rush is more likely to result in game changing plays, in fumbles and turnovers. You are more likely to flip a game with a pass rush than you are with run stopping.

[C]

Yeah, both, both areas of concern. 1A, 1B. If you want me to force my hand, pass rush for me is 1A and then run defense is 1B.

[B]

Yeah. I think I would say the same. And somebody would say that you the only way that you're going to get those opportunities to pin back your ears and rush passer with stop the run. Correct. So they are, they are one in the same. And I will grant that Number three. And I think this may answer the question. There's plenty of nuance in the discussion about the plan to rush the quarterback. But the bottom line is it wasn't good enough in 2025.

[C]

But yes.

[B]

Yes. I don't. That's.

[C]

It wasn't, it was not good enough.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And it's going to be better this year because they're going to coach them

[B]

different, coach them better, coach them harder, coach them better. They're going to learn things about them they did not know. They're going to unlock all of the untapped potential in Dio Odengbo or something.

[C]

Well, there are a few free agents still available, Dan, that could address the area of pass rush. So I'm going to throw three names at you.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Clown is the one guy we talked about.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. Kyle Van Noy is a name that's still out there now. He has, I've read stories that he's interested in going to the 49ers. Thinks he could be a good fit there.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

I don't know if that's his agent throwing things out there. And then AJ Epanessa, I like him, is still available as well, too. Now there was supposed to be a deal in place with he and the Cleveland Browns, which fell through because of a the medical examination and there's been nothing more shared with what that was. I didn't expect there to be, but that was the area of concern.

[B]

Well, it's now I see a story here that the Bills are considering resigning him.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

He's only 27.

[C]

Yes, he's only 27.

[B]

66260 another Iowa guy, a second round pick who has had some effectiveness.

[C]

But I mean again we're not looking for some superstar that's going to change the trajectory of this Bears pass rush, but a guy who's a veteran with experience that can be part of this rotation. And I think those are three names right now with the limited cap space available to sign a guy, AJ Epanessa, Kyle Van Noy. But of course the top of that list for me is Judavian Clowney. So we'll see how this offseason continues to progress as that certainly is an area of concern, but not one so significant that they weren't going to allow the board to dictate them taking someone to fill one of those needs. No.

[B]

And watch the market and obviously figure out what's going on with that injury concern because that would preclude any of that number four on this list. The trade of DJ Moore to the Bills in which Ryan Poles made out pretty well was motivated by clearing salary cap space.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah, but that's, that's not an area to watch. That's just a thought. I, I agree. I think.

[C]

Well I could see maybe the point is there more to that point there other maybe because the veteran experience and touchdown experience and you know, keep an area, keep a watch on this and how these younger guys now it's a younger room without a veteran like DJ Moore there. How does that room develop and grow to go along with the development and growth of the quarterback? I don't know.

[B]

Is that. Is that just the team believes Luther Burden, entering his second season, is primed for a larger role. Williams and Burden weren't always on the same page. More time on task should smooth over some of those issues. But the Bears have to replace Moore's production and his penchant for big plays. Khalif Raymond, Jade Walker and rookie Xavion Thomas figured to get a share of the time as number three receiver behind Roma Dunze and Ben Burden. The Bears should feel relatively confident about Williams's options, but Moore was a proven performer. Yes, agreed. They gave up something to get something. Number five a couple of questions loom at cornerback. And the first involves the availability of Jalen Johnson. After missing a career high 10 games, arrived to training camp with a groin injury. He's missed an average of three and a half games over four seasons. And if you told the coaches right now they could get 14 healthy games from Johnson, they might take it.

[C]

I would prefer 17.

[B]

That'd be nice. But they do say that it's a prove it season for Kyler Gordon. He'll have to stay on the field and perform well after missing 14 games a year ago. A lot of question marks at corner for a defense that led the NFL. And takeaways and interceptions. Many of the question marks hinge on durability. Fair number six. It is reasonable to believe the coaching staff will be able to settle on a starting left tackle earlier than it did last season.

[C]

I don't think it's reasonable to assume that. I think it's. It's a must.

[B]

Yeah. That's within the coach's power. That's the other thing. It's not like they are just being cast about on the random seas of tackle play waiting to find out if they. If they hit the rocky shore or they make it to safe harbor. No, it's up to them. They can decide right now.

[C]

Make the decision. And you always have the luxury as the coaching staff to change your mind.

[B]

Exactly.

[C]

But make a decision now. Who's the guy that's the front runner? You know enough of these guys. It's not like you need to bring these guys in and be like we need to understand who they are, you know, who the guys are that are competing for that job.

[B]

I also am not sure that I agree with the phrasing. Reasonable to believe they'll be able to settle on a starting left tackle because that's an incredibly pessimistic and passive aggressively critical sentence. Instead of saying it's reasonable they, they would be able to settle. You could say the Bears should decide who they're starting left tackle is earlier than they did last year.

[C]

Yes, they should.

[B]

That's fixed right. Fixed number seven. This is the first season the defense has rebooted at safety with two new starters since 2015. Can you name them? Can you name the 2015 rebooted starters? There was a fifth round pick and a free agent signee.

[C]

Man, it's 11 seasons ago. Yeah. Did you know this off the top of your head?

[B]

I. I knew one. I would have eventually come around to the other.

[C]

Yeah. But no, you can just tell me. We don't have to make the kids.

[B]

It was Adrian Amos out of the fifth round and free agent signee Antrell Roll. And if I remember, that was the year when Antrell Roll arrived. It was the season that the Bears themselves were extremely critical of the quality of their practice fields at House Hall. Okay. And it was Roll saying that this is garbage or this is dangerous or I stepped in a hole or whatever it was. And that was part of what helped spur all of the John Fox complaining about their, the practice fields. So they didn't have enough practice fields. They needed more. And it, it mattered. And he did get them to modernize. That was just yet another example, as we were talking about with the Bulls and the White Sox, yet another example of a Chicago professional sports team who had to be told by an outsider that it was doing things wrong or badly.

[C]

Which is, it's, it's just, it's mind boggling, Dan, that the practice facility was not up to NFL standards.

[B]

Correct.

[C]

It's. It's mind boggling.

[B]

I know, I know, I know. But it's. That's, that's just, Number seven is just a statement. So I can't agree or disagree.

[C]

Like why is, why is our starting safety that we just signed, why is he injured? Oh, because he twisted his ankle in a pothole in the middle of our practice field. Yep. Like, come on.

[B]

Right. Stepped in a rabbit's nest or something. Come on. Number eight. The Bears have said the plan is for Garrett Bradbury to start at center. And he does say that Jones was a four year starter at Iowa. That's Logan Jones turns 25 in October. So it's not like the Bears would be thinking about pushing a 21 year old who came out of school early into action right away. Plans are subject to change. Logan Jones was the first center to come off the board. It's fair to assume Bradbury will be with the starters through the off season program in the start of training camp. Worth wondering if Jones can push him.

[C]

I think he will push him, but I think it's going to take later into the season if he has not taken one NFL snap, not one, he has not gone. And you know what? You can talk about the preseason all you want. He has not seen one NFL regular season game. And until that happens, Garrett Bradbury is your starter. It's too important of a position to say this guy can push him. He hasn't played yet in the NFL.

[B]

Number nine. Number nine. There will be a lot on the plate. Otherwise you don't.

[C]

Otherwise you don't sign Bradbury.

[B]

Right.

[C]

Otherwise you don't make that move.

[B]

Right, right. And you also have to see what

[C]

centers were coming off and you could say, all right, there's three quality centers in Slaughter and Hecht and Jones. Yeah, this would be our dream right here to get this guy to land to us. Yeah, that would be ideal.

[B]

I would look at it this way. If Jones is starting, that means you probably screwed up with the Bradbury signing, correct? It's more likely. It's more likely that that would be almost an emergency thing like, oh, geez, Bradbury doesn't have anything left or he's not what we thought he was. We got to start the kid than it is. Wow, this kid is a first round talent. And we had no idea he could move like this and no idea he'd pick everything up so quickly. We didn't think he'd be ready, you know that. I think if that were the case and there was a possibility he would not have been a third round pick.

[C]

Right. And in the end of it, at the end of it too, if it does work out where like, hey, yeah, we made a mistake with this. This wasn't the right. It's not a huge cost.

[B]

No.

[C]

It's a one year contract under $5 million. Not, not a big deal in the NFL world.

[B]

Number nine is there will be a lot on the plate of third round pick Xavian Thomas.

[C]

Okay. Okay.

[B]

Said he's an intriguing chess piece because of his four to eight speed and open field ability. He can line up in the backfield. He had 40 rushing attempts over the last three college seasons. Bears want to get him settled returning kicks. They hope he's a bona fide weapon. For a team accustomed to having an elite returner. The Bears feel like they have a long term option there. He brings experience along with the electric speed. That's fine if. If he is more of a dangerous kick returner than Devin Duvernay. I don't think that's that big a deal. I know Devin Duvernay's average was really good, but it belied his lack of explosiveness. He was consistently 25 yards or consistently 27 yards, whatever it was. But I would prefer the threat of something more where if he hits the right cut or he times it up or he sees some of the downfield vectors in a way that gets him an opportunity for explosives in bigger chunks. I think that's better for that part of the game. And lastly, health is an X factor for any team as it navigates the off season program to reach the field for training camp without the kind of setbacks that can affect the depth chart come September. So that's a lot of words to remind us that Jalen Johnson showed up for camp injured, that Kyler Gordon was injured in early August and appeared in only three games. The NFL allows a max of 10 days of OTAs. Ben Johnson has scheduled only six with an eye of keeping the team healthy for what's going to be a physical training camp. Ryan Poll said they're with the performance team working on their bodies to get in shape for this upcoming season to stay healthy. The majority of the guys that were here last year for the off season program remained healthy. So the performance staff has had some pretty positive impacts on our team in terms of preparation. That's his way of saying, get your ass in here so we know what kind of shape you're in and don't be doing anything off the books or outside of our purview.

[C]

Yeah. And I would also agree that health

[B]

is important over everybody.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Not just football players. And, and it's an X factor for all of us, both mental health and physical health.

[C]

There was an area in there that I thought he might mention what I wanted to bring up and I saw this article on ESPN from Ben Solak and he had the nine veterans, nine veterans around the league that could have their jobs taken away by a rookie. And there was a Chicago Bear on that list. Yes, there's a Chicago Bear on that list. And it was Malik Muhammad and Tyreek Stevenson.

[B]

It wasn't Garrett Bradbury.

[C]

It was not Garrett Bradbury I wanted to see if he was going to have. So when I first saw the article, I want I dove into it to see where Logan Jones ranked in his list because I thought that's what it was going to be. But he had Malik Muhammad graded out much higher than where he was drafted by the Bears as legitimate competition for Tyreek Stevenson at the corner, at the other cornerback spot opposite of Jalen Jones or Johnson. Okay. Tyreek Stevenson. I didn't know that it was. This was, it was this high. He gave up 9.8 yards per target allowed. 9.8 yards per target allowed. That was third worst of all cornerbacks. And we talked positively about Tyreek Stevenson a lot last year early on, especially a lot of positive talk.

[B]

Well, it's, this is the double edged sword of seeing a lot of a cornerback or a cornerback, as they say, being around the ball a lot. The question is, is the ball around him a lot and not the other way? Because if a quarterback wants the ball near him, that's a bad sign because that means the other guy is a better corner or the other receiver is covered and the guy that they're targeting for whatever reason isn't as covered.

[C]

Right. And we saw that a lot last year with the Sean. Right now it was mostly positive in the fact that he had a lot of takeaways.

[B]

He took advantage of his chances, but he was targeted a lot.

[C]

Yes, he was targeted a lot.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

And there were opportunities where he did give up some significant plays as well. But. But that was in an area like you're talking about where the ball found him and they kept going that way, which I would do the same as an offensive coordinator. But he did take advantage of those opportunities and it. It was positive for the most part for his season, but didn't translate into what a lot of people thought it would as far as the contract's concerned.

[B]

Well, I also think about it this way, and as much as you love mentioning that Ryan polls said that if they. They can really improve their secondary and it means the pass rush is going to be better because their quarterback is holding onto the ball a little bit longer, I think of it the other way. And I think that if they are able to improve their pass rush, that they could have an embarrassment of riches on the back end and they could have a lot of guys who can be interchangeable, a lot of guys who can get you through some of these injured stretches. But the most important thing is just to make them not have to cover longer.

[C]

But that.

[B]

That's just my football philosophy. It may not be Brian Poles's football philosophy.

[C]

Well, I would like less time covering these fast and experienced and talented athletes that play in the NFL that look for the ball on field. Yes. And I would. I would say the shorter the better.

[B]

Shorter the better. And if you. If you can hit the quarterback on a lot of those and leave him lying there confused and unhappy, I'm for that, too.

[C]

All right, let's go through some NFL notes that I have here, too. Starting in the division with the Green Bay packers general manager talking about two of their key injured players, Tucker Kraft and Micah Parsons. Despite their injuries, their knee injuries occurring six weeks apart, he's saying that they're both ahead of schedule and should return early in the season despite the time difference of the injury. The timeline is that Micah Parsons is a freak and the recovery time might be moved up a bit and that they expect both Tucker Craft and Micah Parsons to both return around the same time early in the season.

[B]

Easy to.

[C]

Yeah. Would love to not see either one of those guys. If the Bears play the packers early on, the rumors of Aaron Rodgers maybe going to the Arizona Cardinals have been rumored as being false.

[B]

Oh.

[C]

By Adam Schefter. Adam Schefter said that those are not at all true and that he's not going to Arizona. That he is. It's either Pittsburgh or no one, is what Adam Scheffer had to say.

[B]

Well, we'll see. But that the, that Arizona ending would just be perfect because it's all kinds of wrong. Just that that's like star player in weird end of career place that everybody will forget. That is. That is unite us on the Chargers. It is. That's O.J. on the Niners.

[C]

See, but here's a. Here's the thing, though, about the Arizona Cardinals and you bring that, that up. Kurt Warner, he actually had success in Arizona.

[B]

So did Boomer Siason.

[C]

Yeah, we have. Boomer did, too. That's right. So it would, it would be, it would be best though, if, if he was just that. That forgotten guy on that west coast team that no one really thinks about or cares about. Except for the Arizona Cardinal fans, of

[B]

whom there are like five, I think.

[C]

All right, listen to these quarterback rooms. Without Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh, it's Will, Howard, Mason, Rudolph, Drew Aller. Drew's got a good opportunity to start right there.

[B]

Oh, my God, that's. That's so bad.

[C]

All right, Arizona, slightly better. Jacoby Brissette, rookie Carson Beck, who you don't like. Gardner Minshew and someone named Kedon Slovis.

[B]

No, no one's named Keon Slovis.

[C]

Kedon. K E D O N. Kedon from usc. I'd never heard of him until I saw this article.

[B]

There he is.

[C]

I'd never heard that name.

[B]

Slovis.

[C]

Never heard his name. Is it the first you're hearing his name?

[B]

I've never heard of him. He's from Scottsdale, Arizona, went to Desert Mountain High School. He went to usc, Pittsburgh and byu.

[C]

Okay. Undrafted, because I felt a tiny, slightly, slightly tiny bit bad that I'd never heard of a guy who's an NFL quarterback. I'd never heard his name in my life.

[B]

He. So here's the thing. At some point, at some point this season, Kedon Slovis will start a game in the NFL.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

He has to, because that'll be the name in like the second week of December. Like, who is starting what.

[C]

Yeah, it's like some fantasy football experts going to be like, you need to pick up Kedon slowness. I'm sure, he's available.

[B]

I've got a name for you and it's key. Don Slovis. That name.

[C]

All right, so those are the quarterbacks. Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, Drew Aller, Jacob Brissette, Carson. Back.

[B]

Stop reading names

[C]

without you know what and listen. Okay, I know he had 3, 300 yards last year. What? 24 touchdowns, seven interceptions. He's one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. But why are the Steelers allowing this to drag out? Why?

[B]

I don't know. Maybe they have no choice. Maybe they need Aaron Rodgers and they just have to keep making sure that he wants to play for them.

[C]

Well, do you think they need Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Mason, Rudolph, Drew Aller,

[B]

they need something they need better than that.

[C]

You know, if this is the way that stays. Drew Aller is going to be their starter.

[B]

Well, his jersey is already the number three selling rookie jersey.

[C]

If Aaron Rodgers does not go back to the Steelers, Drew Aller will be the starter Week one. I'll read it again for you, Will Howard. No, don't you want to hear Arizona again? Jacoby Bessette, Carson Beck, Gardner Minshew, Kedon Slovis.

[B]

Well, Keaton Slovis anagrams to kiss, nod, love.

[C]

Oh, that's nice. Oh, so give a kiss, a nod and then love to Keaton Slovis.

[B]

I love it.

[C]

Did you see the 49ers and offensive lineman Trent Williams agreed to a new deal, A two year, fifty million dollar deal. What they did, Dan, is they reduced his cap hit for this year from 46.3 million to 20 million.

[B]

That's gonna make next year a whole hell of a lot of fun.

[C]

So here's what's interesting. And there was a few different stories I saw online about this that so that gives them over $60 million in cap space right now. Why wouldn't they have done this sooner to impact the 2026 season?

[B]

Is there something about the league year? I, I don't. Were they not allowed to do it before?

[C]

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. But it just seems like if you had the ability to open up, and maybe you're right, maybe there's, there's restrictions within the cap calendar itself and the, the season calendar, and maybe you're right and I just don't know. But if you had the opportunity to increase your cap space by that much, why not do it sooner to address some needs for the upcoming year? Now it certainly is going to make things more interesting going into 2027, depending on what they do as far as. Or is this setting them up for some big trade?

[B]

I don't know enough about them specifically to be able to answer that.

[C]

I know they, I know they need an edge. Yeah. Is there an opportunity here they, they make a trade for someone with the idea of a long term contract.

[B]

Is Max Crosby back on the market?

[C]

I don't know. That's the first name that came to my head.

[B]

I don't know. Well, did you saw, by the way, that a former Bear has found a home? If we're talking about the movement of some of these defensive linemen.

[C]

Oh, well, real quick, one last thing. On the Trent Williams contract, they included a no holdout, no hold outs clause. Have you heard that before?

[B]

No.

[C]

Yeah, there have I.

[B]

What does that mean?

[C]

He can't hold out? You sign this deal, you can't hold out. You can't do anything.

[B]

There is anywhere over the life of

[C]

the deal, the next two years you're here, you show up when you're supposed to show up. There's no bullshit, no games.

[B]

That should be assumed. You have to, you have to actually write that in a deal like that.

[C]

It's not assumed though, because it happens all the time.

[B]

I don't know if that's enforceable. I really don't. I think that's, that is cute. But I'm not sure that's enforceable because circumstances can change the, that would allow them, I'm sure, to raise a reasonable case that there's something in there that would not allow them to do that. I would never agree to that either. Is that a condition of every contract they have?

[C]

I don't know.

[B]

If you're an agent and if you like the precedent of that, the agent should band together and say, no, we're not agreeing to any of these.

[C]

I mean, in the stories that I read, it seemed like it was something new or different. It Also, for the 2028 season, when the, when the calendar opens up in the season the year opens, he's guaranteed like almost $20 million. So maybe that's part of it. Maybe it's like, hey, listen, yeah, I'll, I'll sign this. No holds out, no hold outs clause. But you know, you need to give my guy some guarantee for two years from now.

[B]

Yeah, I'll be, I'll be fascinated to see how that's looked at as a precedent in deals. Yeah. So it's just. That's going to be really tough to do. I did.

[C]

Yeah, you said a Bear.

[B]

Yeah, I did not know that the Chiefs had waived former Bears Zach Pickens on Monday. I was on the Chiefs.

[C]

I didn't know.

[B]

They already let him go. But even after agreeing to sign DJ Reader, the Giants have claimed Zach Pickens off waivers.

[C]

Really?

[B]

So, yeah, I guess Pickens played.

[C]

How many defensive linemen are they going to sign? I don't.

[B]

Pickens, he. He was. He appeared in three games for the Chiefs last year. Okay.

[C]

I don't think I knew that.

[B]

I did not.

[C]

Kedon Slovis was in the league.

[B]

Well, that. That we know. And there's. I'm gonna make more anagrams under the name Kedon Slovis.

[C]

Kiss not love.

[B]

Yeah, Kiss nod. Love but love prey, but. So New York now has Zach with two C's. Pickens. All right. And you mentioned this to me, so I think we should probably follow this up. You texted me that the NFL Referees association has found an agreement with the league now that apparently their new CBA is scheduled to be voted on for ratification on Thursday.

[C]

Which is a sign that. Yeah, they're all there. So that's good. That's good stuff.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Even though this is. The negotiations have been ongoing for a couple seasons now. A couple years. And looked like it was going to be a pretty ugly end to this negotiation round that would have necessitated replacement refs. They seem to have avoided that and hopefully they get that ratified Thursday. Can move forward with the league with the regular full time refs that are still bad.

[B]

Yeah, that's real good. Yeah, it is. Could you imagine, could you imagine a season with refs that are even worse than what we're asking these people? And again.

[C]

And you know, and if my team was shitty, I wouldn't even care.

[B]

Now that the Bears are good, everything like it's more. It's more important now. Yes, it does. Everything does. It. It all matters. But I can't believe they haven't had back to back winning seasons in two decades.

[C]

Yeah, that's not good.

[B]

So basically.

[C]

So basically what you're saying is that history is against Ben Johnson. Ben Johnson.

[B]

But my son has gone his whole life pretty much like. So he was 1 and 2 or 2 and 3. That's amazing to never have to be a fan of the Chicago Bears. You've never had back to back winning seasons. That is just pathetic. Well, time to end that. I am confident they will end that this year.

[C]

Well, Dan, the last time they won a Super bowl you were a kid.

[B]

Yes, I was.

[C]

At least you. You've got the. You've seen two though.

[B]

I've seen two And I got the Devin Hester kickoff return. We had.

[C]

We.

[B]

You know, we had 30 seconds into the game, and everything was. Was seashells and balloons.

[C]

But, I mean, like, Jason was. He was alive for one, at least.

[B]

Yeah. I didn't remember it, though.

[C]

No, he doesn't remember it. I mean, well, knowing him, he might, right? It's very possible.

[B]

Or he'd claim to.

[C]

Yeah, that's. That's the thing is he would claim about it. Well, actually, I remember the Devin Hester kickoff.

[B]

No, I. I was three years. I do remember being three and seeing the aforementioned Unitis on the Chargers. That I do remember. I remember the shape of the television screen. I remember exactly where I was. And I remember being told to remember that I saw that, so.

[C]

Oh, really? Yeah, it was force. We kidnapped. And like, you're.

[B]

No, we were at Our next door neighbor. We. We were at hostage taker.

[C]

Was like, you're gonna watch Johnny Unitis in a Chargers uniform, kid.

[B]

Our next door neighbor, Mrs. Payne, who we. I called her. I don't know why, but we called her Beeb because I think that was something I. I called her when I was little. She was like pain. She was like our grandmother. Like our extra grandmother.

[C]

And you could call her Booby, so you had to call her B.

[B]

Right. She was a wonderful woman. She was actually. She was the principal of Glenbrook North High School.

[C]

Oh, okay.

[B]

And good for her. And she was from Kerrville, Texas. Boy, did she know football. Like, she. She used to yell at my dad for saying me telling me wrong things about football.

[C]

So she made you watch Johnny Unitis as a charger?

[B]

Well, we were watching. We had the game on because she always had a game on. And she would have. And that. That is the very first time. I like this. If I smell. I get this Proustian memory if I smell bourbon and Coke, because that's what

[C]

she want all over you.

[B]

Or what she used to drink. And like me mom. And she. She'd have a bottle of bourbon, and she'd be like, let me put a patch on that for you. And I didn't know what a patch was. A patch was like another little shot of whiskey in your. In your bourbon Coke. And she'd always yell, oh, Bruce, that's not how you throw a curveball. Don't show him that. Like, we'd be out in the yard and she would come out and yell at my dad. And he's like, teaching him how to. Showing him a curveball grip. Well, you're showing him wrong.

[C]

She seemed like she was a little too involved in your family.

[B]

Go. Here, Danny. This is how you grip a curveball. Okay, great.

[C]

Hey, it helped.

[B]

It was good to have. And it was like.

[C]

Like in the yard staring through the window. Giving bedroom tips too. Weird old lady. Bruce, that's not how you do it.

[B]

It's not right. Take that Lucha libre mask off.

[C]

No, put it back on.

[B]

Sorry. Please, please, put it back on.

[C]

Right, so she's making you watch Johnny the Red One charger. And she's giving you bourbon to drink as a three year old.

[B]

I didn't give it to me. But like that. There's a certain. Remember, a certain smell that puts me right. Right back there like that. The. The little back porch area. She. A big backyard.

[C]

And she grew up. She was your first love. What? Always had story going.

[B]

Always had fresh vegetables. No, just. That was. I just remember where I was really vivid when I was told, that's Johnny Unitis. Remember you saw him play like, okay,

[C]

come back to bed.

[B]

It was old. And. And then he was done. And that was it. And then I remembered him from the movie Gus. Wasn't he in the movie Gus?

[C]

I have no idea.

[B]

Remember that movie?

[C]

I don't. I don't.

[B]

Sure you do. The field goal kicking mule.

[C]

Why do you always do that? I just answered you. I said I don't.

[B]

But yeah, you've got to remember, Gus. It was a. The guy had a. It was a donkey or a mule.

[C]

And it's an Ed Asner. And I never saw it. Never saw it.

[B]

Hold on.

[C]

Dick Van Patten.

[B]

Yeah, like the stars came out to play in the 1976 football movie. Gus. Ed Asner. Don Knotts, Tim Conway. Dick Van Patten, Bob Crane.

[C]

My God. Richard Keel.

[B]

Johnny Unitis as himself. Dick Butkus as Rob Cargill. Harold Gould. Under a drive.

[C]

Oh, Tom Bosley.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

Look. Look who Richard Keel played, though.

[B]

Well, tall man.

[C]

Tall man.

[B]

Richard Keel. Could be that. If you know Richard Keel, that is Jaws from the James Bond movies. He also is in Happy Gilmore. He's in the original Longest Yard. There's Dick Enberg and Stu Nahan who have to make appearances as LA sportscasters. Anybody else we recognize here? I don't.

[C]

Yeah, I've never. I've never seen this movie, buddy.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

I'm not sure I've even heard of it before. You just mentioned it.

[B]

I think I saw it twice in the theaters.

[C]

Yeah, I'm good.

[B]

I think I loved it and I wanted to go back and see it again.

[C]

Alan Graff.

[B]

Who?

[C]

Alan Graff.

[B]

Who's that he looks familiar, though. He was player number 70, Alan Graff. It doesn't ring a bell for me. I love what IMDb does too, where they show pictures of actors now or they show like their oldest, most recent possible picture, and then you can't quite remember if that's the same person because

[C]

they're all like, yeah, Ellen Graff was in over the Top, that really bad arm wrestling movie.

[B]

Oh, as opposed to the really good arm wrestling movies. Sorry, that over the top isn't high enough in the pantheon of arm wrestling movies.

[C]

I should I refer to phrase that. That really bad movie called over the Top.

[B]

It happened to be about arm wrestling.

[C]

He was also necessary roughness.

[B]

Oh, it must have looked really footbally.

[C]

He looks like an offensive lineman.

[B]

Big, tough dude. Yeah, because what was it that Butkus used to get mad that Brian Dennehy took all the roles he was up for? That Butkus would be up for the same roles of Brian Dennehy Because Brian Dennehy played college football at Columbia.

[C]

Yeah, but Dick Buck has played at a higher level.

[B]

Yeah, but Dick Buck just wasn't as good an actor as Brian Dennehy.

[C]

Oh, I wouldn't say that. He was a wonderful actor.

[B]

Come on, man. Brian Dennehy did right.

[C]

That. He's one of the best. Yes.

[B]

He did the Iceman Cometh at the Goodman. Hey, come on. You think Butkus is gonna. He's gonna do the Iceman Cummins?

[C]

I don't think. Well, that's Caleb Williams. Speaking of movies, we.

[B]

I can't remember.

[C]

Did we talk about this on recording or about Devil Wears Prada too? Or was that. Was it off recording? I don't remember. Have you made plans yet to see it? Yes, I saw it Monday afternoon.

[B]

I think we're probably going this weekend.

[C]

Okay. Yeah, go this weekend so we can talk about it.

[B]

Okay, but you. You gave me a. A thumbs up.

[C]

Thumbs up. Yes, absolutely. Oh, and there's no. I saw another Adrian Grenier sighting. He's in a commercial for. For Jarlsberg Cheese.

[B]

He's selling cheese?

[C]

Yeah, cheese and energy drinks at Starbucks.

[B]

Energy drinks And Jarlsberg.

[C]

Jarlsberg.

[B]

Is that the Swiss cheese I like or is that the Swiss cheese I don't like?

[C]

I couldn't tell you.

[B]

But you can tell me. Please tell me. One is eminent. I think Emmentaler is the one I don't like. I don't remember.

[C]

I love Swiss cheese, but it's got to be real. I need, like, I need a lot of punch for my Swiss Cheese Stanky. Yes, I. I need. I like. You need to know you're eating Swiss

[B]

cheese, then maybe it's Emmental. Maybe you would like the Emmenthaler. And I like the more mild one.

[C]

Yeah, I know I don't. There's no reason to have mild that. Provolone. Provolone's got to be sharp.

[B]

No, See, if I want. If I want right in the nuts

[C]

when you eat the sandwich.

[B]

If I want a stinky cheese, I want like a Cabrale or one of those super old blue, veiny, really funky ones.

[C]

Yeah, but you're not doing that with like a ham sandwich, though.

[B]

No, not putting on a sandwich. I'm doing a sandwich.

[C]

I'm talking about a sandwich. Like Swiss or the provolone. Real sharp. Yeah.

[B]

Smoked provolone.

[C]

Oh, it's good stuff.

[B]

Oh, yeah. Sharp Smoked provolone.

[C]

All right, you're talking.

[B]

Well, we've done it again.

[C]

Time to eat.

[B]

As always happens on Forward Progress, we seem to have talked our way into being hungry once again because of the time of day that it is. And thank you for joining us here on Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears and NFL podcast. Forward progress is stopped. Forward Progress.

[C]

Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt abetic cola on 312Sports.