The NFL - It's a Young Man's Game

Summary

Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: The NFL – It’s a Young Man’s Game
Date: July 7, 2026
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan and Matt focus on the undeniable youth movement shaping the current NFL landscape, with a special lens on the Chicago Bears. They break down CBS Sports’ list of the top 25 NFL players under 25, analyze Bears’ representation on the list, and discuss ESPN’s positional rankings – all reflecting how the league is increasingly dominated by emerging talent. The hosts also deliver fan-favorite storytelling, dive into rookie spotlights, and inject signature humor and personal anecdotes into the mix.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The NFL Youth Movement – Top 25 Under 25 (00:48–09:19)

• Dan intros CBS Sports’ list of the 25 best NFL players under age 25.

  • Matt correctly predicts that two Bears are on the list: Caleb Williams and Colston Loveland.

• Breakdown of Bears on the List:

  • Colston Loveland (#25)

    • “Colston Loveland's rookie season, but the Bears tight end came on strong down the stretch. His 58 receptions are the most by a Bears rookie tight end in franchise history, and 47 of those came over his final 10 regular season games.” –Dan (03:11)
    • He was on pace for 80 catches, 1,015 yards, double-digit TDs if his late-season pace was full year.
    • Loveland continued to excel in the postseason (12 catches, 193 yards in two games).
    • “He’s primed to leap into superstardom during his sophomore season in 2026.” –Dan (03:30)

  • Caleb Williams (#7)

    • Williams’ breakout: 3,942 passing yards (franchise record), led Bears to first NFC North title since 2018, first Bears QB since Sid Luckman to win a playoff game within first two NFL seasons.
    • “Pairing Ben Johnson with Caleb Williams did wonders for the young quarterback.” –Dan (04:18)
    • Fascination around how high Williams can climb entering Year 2 in Ben Johnson’s system.

• Full Top 10 Under 25 Recap:
  See timestamps (05:24–07:35) for high-value young stars across the league: Bijan Robinson (#1), Puka Nacua (#2), Penai Sewell (#3), Drake Maye (#4), etc.

  • Memorable moment: Matt accurately guesses Bijan Robinson and Puka Nacua as the top two (07:28).
    • “Robinson, number one. …Nacua, number two. …Very well done. Very good.” –Dan (07:31)

• Other Bears Near the Top 25:

  • Darnell Wright named among the toughest cuts (08:42).
  • Matt: “I’m very proud of myself. Except for forgetting Darnell Wright.” (10:38)

• Big Picture Reflection:

  • “It’s a young man’s game. The way you win stuff is when you can pay a lot of good young players before you’ve committed a quarter of your cap to your quarterback.” –Dan (09:06)

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2. Bears Rookie Spotlights: Q&A Sessions (18:19–34:33)

• Xavier Thomas (WR, new Bear) – Quick Facts & Personality

  • Most excited about “the bean.”
    • “The bean is the thing he wants to go see, too.” –Matt (19:26)
  • Describes his draft night as “surreal, exciting and blessed.”
  • Favorite college football memory: First TD vs. Georgia as a freshman.
  • Introduced himself to football; watched games with his “papa,” a Saints fan.
  • Hidden talent: Can sing – “Anything in the early 2010s, like John Legend. Oh, CeeLo Green…’Forget You’ – yeah, that one.” –Matt (21:22)
  • Guilty pleasure song: Sadie Jean’s “WYD Now.”
  • Childhood sports idols: Patrick Mahomes, Odell Beckham, LeBron, Tavon Austin, Braxton Miller.
  • Best advice received: “Don’t let anybody tell you what you can’t do”, “Anything is possible when God is in your life”, “Be where your feet are.” (24:31–24:43)
    • “Be present. Be in the moment.” –Matt (24:52)

• Sam Roush (TE, new Bear) – World Travels and Background

  • Unique upbringing living in Malaysia and Indonesia due to a highly nomadic family.
  • “Did you know that? Was he captured?” –Dan jokes (25:54)
  • Experiences included having a cobra in the yard and “rats in everybody’s roofs.” (27:47)
  • Played rugby for the Jakarta Komodo Rugby Club.
  • Draft night was a “small, family” affair.
  • Athletic family history: Dad played safety at Duke, mom played volleyball at Montana State, but reason for Southeast Asia living remains mysterious.

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3. League Context – ESPN Positional Rankings (35:35–38:24)

• Top Running Backs (35:51–36:20)

  • No Bears appear in ESPN’s 2026 top 10 RBs: Bijan Robinson tops the list, followed by Jameer Gibbs, Saquon Barkley, etc.
  • “No love for Ashton Gentry, honorable mention…No Bears.” –Matt (36:20)

• Top Cornerbacks (37:04–38:24)

  • No Bears make the top 10, but Jalen Johnson is an honorable mention (“time on task has been an issue”).
  • Nearly all top corners are under 25, reinforcing the youth trend.
    • “All Young, all under 25. But honorable mentions, Jalen Johnson, Chicago Bears…” –Matt (38:03)
  • Dan: “But you gotta play, man. Get out of the tub, get on the field.” (38:24)
  • Hopeful updates wanted on injured Bear Kyler Gordon.

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4. Bears Fan Banter & Off-Field Hijinx (11:00–21:59; scattered throughout)

• Personal discussions: Skechers vs. Oofos vs. Bronx slides/slippers; gift-giving mishaps; personal grooming and “dad shoes.”
• Food, “Good and Plenty,” and how household candy preferences turn into running gags.
• Humor about riding a recumbent bike with slides, family reactions, and childhood food aversions.

Notable Quotes/Funny Moments:

• “They're fat guy shoes.” –Dan about Skechers (11:40)
• “I just walk around in them in the house. They're great.” –Dan on Oofos slides (13:21)
• “It sounds like something that could give you exploding Taint Syndrome.” –Dan on the Bronx slides brand (14:21)
• “Liking Good and Plenty is a hack. Because nobody in the house will eat it because they all hate it.” –Dan (17:48)
• “So, he said, anything is possible when God is in your life.” –Matt relaying rookie advice (24:40)

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5. Additional NFL & Pop Culture Threads

• Snake-removal segments, cobra anecdotes from Roush’s upbringing, and digressions into herpetology.
  • “A herpetologist is a reptile expert.” –Dan (28:30)
• Hornet/wasp extermination techniques (fire, rackets) become a comic sidebar.
• Jokes and banter on the G.I. Joe franchise and Danny McBride’s new film involvement (30:33–31:09).
• Meta perspective on the show’s off-season flexibility, teasing possible food/fishing podcasts, and celebrating relaxed summer recording sessions (39:13–41:47).
  • “We do whatever we want…unlimited opportunity.” –Dan (39:18)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Top 25 Under 25 Discussion: 00:48–09:19
• Slipper & Slide Banter, “Bean” Q&A, Rookie Spotlights: 11:00–34:33
• ESPN Position Rankings (RBs and CBs): 35:35–38:24
• Training Camp Anticipation & Bears Health Check: 38:24–39:13
• Meta Show Concepts & Comic Outro: 39:13–41:47

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Closing Thoughts

The episode deftly connects the current NFL’s youth-driven evolution to the Bears’ roster (and hopes), weaves in Bears rookie profiles and entertaining tangents, and ends with the warm, irreverent camaraderie that defines “Forward Progress.” Whether through roster analysis, rookie personalities, or musings about slides, Dan and Matt deliver their trademark blend of insight, wit, and unfiltered fanhood.

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Podcast: Forward Progress — A Chicago Bears Podcast (312 Sports)
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Episode: The NFL – It’s a Young Man’s Game
Date: July 7, 2026

Transcript

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

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[Dan Bernstein]

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

[Matabeticola]

Come on.

[Dan Bernstein]

10. 219.

[Matabeticola]

219

[Dan Bernstein]

forward progress.

[Matabeticola]

A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein

[Dan Bernstein]

and matabetic cola on 312 sports. You want forward progress? Well, you have it. Whether you want it or not, it's here. And if you're here, that means you want it. And we're happy to provide it here as we talk Bears and NFL Bernstein and a Bata Cola on 312Sports. You often come to this with lists and things.

[Matabeticola]

I like lists.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know you do.

[Matabeticola]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I have one.

[Matabeticola]

You have a list today?

[Dan Bernstein]

I do.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, boy.

[Dan Bernstein]

I do. And I want to get started with this just to test your knowledge of the NFL. This is from CBSSports.com written by a guy named Tyler Sullivan. CBSSports.com this is the top 25 NFL players age 25 and under. Say that again. The top 25 NFL players age 25 and Under. So the questions are, are there any bears on this list? If so, how many and where on the list would they be? If there are bears on the list.

[Matabeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, what?

[Matabeticola]

There are bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

How many?

[Matabeticola]

I'm going to say there are two bears on the list.

[Dan Bernstein]

You'd be right, Mike.

[Matabeticola]

And I didn't see this, by the way. I didn't see this list. I didn't even look at CBS Today. Caleb Williams is on the list and I'll say he is. Top 15.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, so far you're correct.

[Matabeticola]

The other bear who is below 15 is Colston Loveland.

[Dan Bernstein]

Also correct. And that is well done.

[Matabeticola]

Thank you. Was I right in both areas, too?

[Dan Bernstein]

The very first name that you see on this list, number 25, is Colston Loveland.

[Matabeticola]

Awesome.

[Dan Bernstein]

It was a slow burn to begin. Colston Loveland's Rookie season, but the Bears tight end came on strong down the stretch. His 58 receptions are the most by a Bears rookie tight end in franchise history, and 47 of those catches came over his final 10 regular season games.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, buddy.

[Dan Bernstein]

If you project those final 10 games over a full season, Loveland was on pace for roughly 80 catches, 1015 receiving yards and double digit touchdowns. He kept that torrid pace going in the postseason, tallying 12 catches for 193 yards in two games. He's primed to leap into superstardom during his sophomore season in 2026. Wow. I don't disagree with a single word of that.

[Matabeticola]

Correct. Agree wholeheartedly now. All right, so Caleb Williams through everybody else. Yeah, just give me, give me Caleb Williams, then. Give me the full list.

[Dan Bernstein]

Caleb Williams is seventh.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, okay, so he was top 10. I was a little low.

[Dan Bernstein]

Pairing Ben Johnson with Caleb Williams did wonders for the young quarterback. The former number one overall pick broke out in 2025 and helped Chicago win its first NFC north title since 2018. Williams also became the first Bears quarterback since Seattle, Sid Luckman, to win a playoff game within his first two NFL seasons. His 3,942 passing yards last season also set a franchise record. Williams finally looked like the generational quarterback he was billed as entering the league in 2024, and delivered several clutch moments throughout the 2025 campaign. Entering year two in Ben Johnson's system, it'll be fascinating to see how high Williams can climb among the NFL's quarterbacks.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, my heart wanted to say, you know, top five, and then I wanted to say 10, but I figured he was a little lower. So seven. That's good. So this is the top 25. Under 25. Loveland at 25, Caleb at seven. So give me the list in any, any order you want to go.

[Dan Bernstein]

Here it is. 25, Colston Loveland. 24 is the Chargers tackle. Joe Alt.

[Matabeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Number 23, Sauce Gardner. Indianapolis. Cooper de Jean, cornerback.

[Matabeticola]

Philadelphia.

[Dan Bernstein]

22nd. Devon Achan. Miami running back is 21st. Trent McDuffie, cornerback for the Rams is 20th. Number 19, Drake, London. Falcons wide receiver, number 18, George Pickens. Dallas wideout Jalen Carter. Eagles defensive tackle is number 17. Derek Stingley Jr. Houston corner at 16. Quinon Mitchell, Philly corner. Looking good for their defensive backfield. Houston, he's number 15. Jared verse. Of course, now with Cleveland, after the big Miles Garrett trade, he is 14th. Christian Gonzalez, New England Electric cornerback.

[Matabeticola]

He was great.

[Dan Bernstein]

Number 13. Yeah. Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore safety. Number 12, Brock Bowers. The Raiders tight end is number 11, Devin Witherspoon, the former Illini corner now with the world champion Seattle is number 10, Detroit running back Jameer Gibbs, number nine. Washington quarterback Jaden Daniels, number eight. So Caleb is a slot ahead of him at number seven. Then Houston defensive end Will Anderson is six. Jackson Smith and Jigba, the wide receiver from the super bowl champs is number five, Drake May, number four, Penne Sewell, number three. Any guesses as to who would be two and one?

[Matabeticola]

Robinson at running back the Bijan Robinson.

[Dan Bernstein]

Robinson, number one.

[Matabeticola]

Number one.

[Dan Bernstein]

Very well done. Very good.

[Matabeticola]

And two, I could be off on his age, but did you. Is puka nakua Number two?

[Dan Bernstein]

Number two, 25. Good job. Thanks.

[Commercial Announcer]

Good job.

[Dan Bernstein]

So, yeah, nakua, number two, B John Robinson, number one. Here's who they listed as their toughest cuts.

[Matabeticola]

Hang on a real quick, real quick. The Eagles. You mentioned three guys from their defense.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Jalen Carter.

[Matabeticola]

20.

[Dan Bernstein]

Jalen Carter, Cooper, DeJean and the other corner. Yeah.

[Commercial Announcer]

Wow.

[Matabeticola]

Okay. Well, good for them, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Quinion, Mitchell, Quinn.

[Matabeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now, can you name the bear who is among toughest cuts? He did not make this 20, but he could have been just on the outside looking in.

[Matabeticola]

There is 25 here under 25 last season. Either Kyle Menungai or Luther Burden.

[Dan Bernstein]

Neither.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, offensive line. Yes. Yes. On the offensive line.

[Dan Bernstein]

Darnell. Right.

[Matabeticola]

Darnell. Right. Thank you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. Darnell Wright was listed among those. The other toughest cuts. Malik Neighbors, Nick imanwari, Carson Schwessinger to Troy McMillan, Tooley, Tui, Poloto, Gray Zabel, Tyler Warren Ashton Genty and Tyler Smith of the Cowboys. But it's always good to see because this is a young man's game. And the way you win stuff is when you are. You were able to pay a lot of good young players before you've committed a quarter of your cap to your quarterback.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states. Why does Progressive work hard for truckers? Because truckers unite the world. They unite kids with their first drum sets and parents with earplugs. But truckers can't do this if they're not on the road. That's why Progressive has over 360 heavy truck employees to help truckers stay on time and on track. Quote truck insurance today in as little as eight minutes. At ProgressiveCommercial.com, progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates, we have the tech to get food delivered in 15 minutes. But we all have horror stories about buying tickets. The GameTime app gives fans the advantage. Get amazing tickets in just a few taps. Fees are included, so what you see is what you pay. And the gametime guarantee means authentic tickets at the best price every time. Take the guesswork out of buying tickets to concerts, sports, comedy, and more with GameTime. Download the GameTime app and create an account for $20 off your first purchase term supply.

[Matabeticola]

All right, well, that's a pretty good list. And I'm very proud of myself. Except for forgetting Darnell Wright.

[Dan Bernstein]

We won't tell him. He won't be mad at you.

[Matabeticola]

No, no, he won't. No, he won't be. He won't mind.

[Dan Bernstein]

You know the guy. I. I do that all the time. Ask Jason about our. Our showdowns or trivia showdowns on owc. I'm always, you know, the guy on the Knicks. The tall guy. Yeah, he's a Carl Anthony Towns. Yes, that guy.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, the guy who got Iraq boat in Devil's where. Devil wears Prada too.

[Dan Bernstein]

He did.

[Matabeticola]

Yes, he did.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. There's. There's.

[Matabeticola]

What else? What else? The Knicks that I just hear over the week.

[Dan Bernstein]

OG Anunoby.

[Matabeticola]

Yes. He wears sketcher basketball shoes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And they rushed out to get that commercial out there.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, yeah, he's a fucking champion.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he. And he had the tip in to win a game. So they. They could not wait to say that is a Skechers NBA athlete.

[Matabeticola]

So now there's one too, where they talk about the. He wears one of their training shoes that. They're like the. Just the step in, like the hands free step in training shoes. And I was like, oh, that's interesting. So I googled them.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're fat guy shoes.

[Matabeticola]

They're like 150 bucks.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, they're fat guy shoes.

[Matabeticola]

I didn't know Skechers went up that high.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I had a pair of the. I. I think I still do a pair of the. The Howie Longs. The dad shoes.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, yeah. Those are the total dad shoes with the memory foam. Yes. You don't need to do anyone to bend over or anything. Well, no, they're not for you.

[Dan Bernstein]

No. These you have to tie.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, you gotta, you gotta. Oh, I don't have your slip in ones.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, you know what I did, though? You know what I got for the first time I've ever in my life. First time in my life I've Owned a real pair of good slides.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, what'd you get?

[Dan Bernstein]

They're called oofos.

[Matabeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Have you heard of them? O o f O s?

[Matabeticola]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

So I got this awesome birthday present. You know, I never. People don't get me good gifts, but the boss is here. Did you know that the corporately. They got me a birthday present? And it was.

[Matabeticola]

So they got you a shirt?

[Dan Bernstein]

They got me the fishing shirt. And there was also, like, a rain jacket and a dry bag, which I don't need. I have rain gear. I have a dry bag.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Matabeticola]

Remember? Cause I got three pieces of chocolate.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's a gift receipt. I returned the dry bag and the rain jacket, and I'm like, all right, what do I need? And I got good. I got a bunch of wool socks. Cause they're really important to have good wool socks.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. From the guy at the gas station?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, these are from the backcountry.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like the good wool socks. And then I got these slides. They're fantastic.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, so you picked. No. So no one bought you these? You picked these out?

[Dan Bernstein]

I picked them out.

[Matabeticola]

Okay. So I've never heard of this brand. They look comfortable.

[Dan Bernstein]

So comfortable. I just walk around in them in the house. They're great.

[Matabeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

I love them. I wore them out the other day, and I'm just like, hey, look at me. I'm wearing slides just like, you know, I had. And like, wearing them to golf when we went out to golf instead of having to put my other shoes on.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

I throw the golf shoes in the trunk and I put these on. It's just great. Changed my life.

[Matabeticola]

What'd you pay for them? 60 bucks.

[Dan Bernstein]

60? Yeah. Yeah. All right.

[Matabeticola]

That's a lot for you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, it wasn't mine. It was a gift.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. I have several pairs I've had for years now. The brand is called Bronx. B R O N A X. I've got it. My Amazon. And they're the pillow slides.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matabeticola]

I've had maybe half a dozen pairs of those. Really? Yeah. I just wear them around the house.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I have slippers I wear around the house. I've got bombas slippers that Beth got me.

[Matabeticola]

So I have wool slippers that I wear when recordings. And during the summer when I'm in the basement, it's when it's 55 degrees on there. Yeah. And I'm frozen by the end of the shows, so. Yeah. And then the Bronx, I wear those around the house.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's a bad name, Bronx. Yeah. It sounds like a drug. It sounds like something that could give you exploding Taint Syndrome.

[Matabeticola]

No, it's. It's the cure to cure.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. So you take the Jardians, you get Fournier's gangrene, your taint explodes. But when you're going to die, you take Bronx.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. And I get Bronx because I can always get them on Amazon for around 20 bucks.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, that's about the most I want to pay. Yeah, I didn't really.

[Dan Bernstein]

I just.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

It was there.

[Dan Bernstein]

I looked and there wasn't a lot at backcountry because they don't really have fishing stuff.

[Matabeticola]

Did you get black?

[Dan Bernstein]

I think they're navy blue.

[Matabeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

They might be black.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, Black country is the name of a store.

[Dan Bernstein]

Back country, not Black Country.

[Commercial Announcer]

Oh.

[Dan Bernstein]

Different store. Completely different store. I wouldn't even know it would be there. But of course I went up to the. To the. They said, well, there's clearance stuff upstairs. And it's like, how would you know, looking at me that I want clearance stuff? They just took one look at me

[Matabeticola]

and they're like, the Jewel bag, that was your wallet.

[Dan Bernstein]

They were like, get off the main floor.

[Matabeticola]

We don't want other customers to see you go upstairs.

[Dan Bernstein]

What they did, they sent me upstairs and it was like, I don't want anything.

[Matabeticola]

I've never heard of backcountry.

[Dan Bernstein]

It was all extra small and like triple XL and. Yeah, they've got a lot of cool stuff.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

Whoa.

[Matabeticola]

They got a lot of long sleeve hoodies.

[Dan Bernstein]

The sun shirts. The sun shirt is great. It's got thumb holes in it in case you want the back of your hands to be covered by it too.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. All the ones I have have the thumbs. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is my first thumb hole one, I think, but I haven't checked.

[Matabeticola]

Really?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. I haven't checked the others for thumb holes. Maybe they haven't.

[Matabeticola]

That's nice looking. That's a nice looking shirt. I like that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Yeah, it is.

[Matabeticola]

Wow.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, you should. You should try Black country too.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, I'm gonna go there. Where's this store at?

[Dan Bernstein]

It is near. It's off of like Kingsbury and near the Clybourne north corridor. You know that area of Clyborne North? It's like North Record. I mean.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Old Orchard.

[Matabeticola]

Yes. It's right there.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's right there. Yeah, it's near. It's near the binnies. They used to be a Sam's.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

A Sheffield. Yeah.

[Matabeticola]

All right, I'll check it out. I like those shirts. I just ordered online, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, you could, but I had To. I had to go see because I had the gift receipt and I figured it's on the way home and I'll just. Yeah, stop. It's perfect. Although that area is a nightmare.

[Matabeticola]

So are you really excited about the slides?

[Dan Bernstein]

Kinda. I'm actually.

[Matabeticola]

You wear them with socks.

[Dan Bernstein]

If I. I don't go out of my way to wear them with socks, but I don't mind sliding them on if I have to have socks on.

[Matabeticola]

You know, kids, we're all with socks.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I don't care. Because that's a baseball player thing that you wear them in the clubhouse when you don't want to have your. Your painful metal spikes on your.

[Matabeticola]

How'd your family take to you wearing slides?

[Dan Bernstein]

They haven't really said any comments because they've been in the basement.

[Matabeticola]

Stanley's been in the basement.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, the slides have been in the basement because I wear them when I ride the bike in the basement.

[Matabeticola]

You wear slides when you ride the bike?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. I can't do it barefoot.

[Matabeticola]

Well, no, you should. Why don't you wear, like, athletic shoes?

[Dan Bernstein]

Because then you got to wash the socks and everything. Because I don't want to wear socks that I'm just going to dirty up a bunch of socks.

[Matabeticola]

So you wear sandals to ride a bike?

[Dan Bernstein]

It's a recumbent bike. It's not a regular bike. It's, you know, you sit down and your feet are this way. It's a seated. Oh. Oh.

[Matabeticola]

It's like one of those weirdo guy bikes. Yeah, they have the big flag off the back with a bag of candy for children.

[Dan Bernstein]

I might get one of those. Not the candy, but I. Or I'll eat the candy. I'll get a whole thing, fill it with Good and Plenty. It's such a. Oh, yeah.

[Matabeticola]

You wouldn't get any kids. Kids would avoid you. Yes, if you had Good and Plenty.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm telling you, liking Good and Plenty is a hack. Because nobody in the house will eat it because they all hate it.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, no one in my house.

[Dan Bernstein]

Even Zoe says to me, like, something's wrong with your brain. Like, I don't know how you can possibly like that stuff. There's something wrong with you.

[Matabeticola]

I can leave an open box on the counter untouched.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, absolutely perfect. And not a good way to lure children into your unmarked van.

[Matabeticola]

Right. If you're like, here, kitties, I have some Good and Plenty.

[Dan Bernstein]

I got some Good and Plenty for you.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

We're good.

[Matabeticola]

Creepo. Weirdo guy.

[Dan Bernstein]

Thanks. Okay, we're good. Move along. Nothing to see here. Get out of here.

[Matabeticola]

All right, if. I don't know if you remember this, but when Sam. I think it was Sam Rausch.

[Dan Bernstein]

I was gonna say Sam Rosen.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, Sam. When he. When he was first drafted, the Bears did a little Q and A with him, and we got to learn a little bit about Sam Roush. And I think, remember he said that one of the things he wanted to do was. Was go. Maybe it wasn't. Oh, no, that was. It was Logan.

[Dan Bernstein]

Logan Jones.

[Matabeticola]

Logan Jones. And he said he wanted to go to the Bean and that he talked about Chicago hot dogs and he wanted to try all the food. Remember we talked about him? So I saw this. I was just looking at the Bears website for other things. Came across the same thing they did. Like, quick facts. Learn a little bit about the rookies. And this was Xavion Thomas.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matabeticola]

So this is Xavian Thomas. Where do you think Xavian Thomas is most excited to go and do or see in Chicago? Same question that Logan Jones answered.

[Dan Bernstein]

What he's most excited.

[Matabeticola]

Logan Jones said the bean.

[Dan Bernstein]

Xavian Thomas said the Jordan statue.

[Matabeticola]

He said outside of football. Just exploring the city, going downtown. I had seen something on TikTok. I forgot what it was called. It was like a big, good answer.

[Dan Bernstein]

The bean, apparently. The bean.

[Matabeticola]

The bean is the thing he wants to go see, too.

[Dan Bernstein]

The big silver thing.

[Matabeticola]

Yep. Describe your draft night in three words. He said, surreal, exciting and blessed.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, that's descriptive.

[Matabeticola]

Yes. Favorite college football memory? First touchdown versus Georgia. He was a freshman in Mississippi State. Who introduced you to football? He said, pretty much myself. Been playing it ever since I was 6. When did you first watch the NFL? He said, around 8. Used to get up on Sunday with my papa, go to his little ballroom and watch every game with him. He was a huge Saints fan. I used to sit down with him about 10:30, watch NFL on Fox, which is bad. Until 12. Then watch the first.

[Dan Bernstein]

He didn't say it was bad?

[Matabeticola]

No, he didn't say it was bad. I did. What's a hidden talent of yours? He said, I can sing a little bit. My dad knows how to sing a little bit, too. Ask what his karaoke song would be. Any guesses?

[Dan Bernstein]

His favorite karaoke song.

[Matabeticola]

Well, what his go to karaoke song would be. This is impossible for you to get right, but any guesses? How about give me an artist or two?

[Dan Bernstein]

Earth, Wind and Fire.

[Matabeticola]

Wrong. Young guy.

[Dan Bernstein]

Young guy?

[Matabeticola]

Xavion Thomas.

[Dan Bernstein]

He likes young gravy.

[Matabeticola]

I didn't ask. That's a good guess.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, he wouldn't like young gravy. Is, like, for, like, kids in the Northeast in college.

[Matabeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matabeticola]

Guys who. That's like, the young gravy is like today's Beastie Boys.

[Dan Bernstein]

Easy. Come on now.

[Matabeticola]

O is a different guy.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, no, no, no. You're not comparing young gravy to the Beastie Boys, are you?

[Matabeticola]

No, I'm just. Please don't listen to it.

[Dan Bernstein]

I've never heard young gravy, and I know that you're way out over your skis on that one.

[Matabeticola]

I wasn't comparing them. I was saying the demographic of the young people in the northeast that might listen to him would be the same.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matabeticola]

That's all I'm saying. So he said anything in the early 2010s, like, John Legend. Oh, CeeLo Green. He says, remember that one song? Forget you? He said, yeah, that one.

[Dan Bernstein]

You.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, he said he would do that one.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's not the actual lyric. This.

[Matabeticola]

I don't know your guilty pleasure song.

[Dan Bernstein]

His guilty pleasure song is Rihanna's umbrella.

[Matabeticola]

That's a good one, though. But no. Something by Sadie Jean. Have you ever heard of now? It's WYD now. But what do you. What are you doing now? Have you heard that song?

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe I have. Maybe I have. It's possible. I have.

[Matabeticola]

His sports idols growing up.

[Dan Bernstein]

His sports idols growing up. He is 22 at tops right. 22 sports idols. He grew up loving Patrick Mahomes, Odell

[Matabeticola]

Beckham, LeBron, Tavon Austin and Braxton Miller. Tayvon Austin and Braxton Miller.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matabeticola]

Tavon Austin.

[Dan Bernstein]

Do you remember the touchdown he had against the Bears where they started him out of the backfield in behind the quarterback?

[Matabeticola]

Oh, right, Motion.

[Dan Bernstein]

He came in. He came in motion left behind the quarterback, and then motioned all the way to the opposite, sprint motion to the opposite side and just outran on the pattern to the corner of the end. So they just threw it across the field to him for a touchdown? Yes, I think. Did they? It was a lick. A little shovel pass.

[Matabeticola]

Ivan Austin.

[Dan Bernstein]

It was. And all they did was just let him have enough Runway to go this way, this way, this way. It was like pulling a rubber band.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And then they just let go and back fired him across the field. Yep.

[Matabeticola]

What's the best advice you've ever received? He said, I have a few.

[Dan Bernstein]

The best advice that he ever received.

[Matabeticola]

Yep. Xavion Thomas.

[Dan Bernstein]

I would say it is eat your vegetables because there are kids starving in other countries.

[Matabeticola]

No. Were you told that? No. Okay. Because you were probably never told to eat your vegetables. You probably ate them.

[Dan Bernstein]

We just had Like, a lot of meat and potatoes.

[Matabeticola]

You didn't eat any veggies growing up?

[Dan Bernstein]

I ate some. No, I know. I like some veggies, but it wasn't like. Like, what's his name? Like, Al Michaels.

[Matabeticola]

Is there a veggie? Oh, he doesn't eat any veggies. No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, he takes the parsley off his mashed potatoes.

[Matabeticola]

That's hard to do, too.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know.

[Matabeticola]

Without losing some of the mashed potatoes.

[Dan Bernstein]

He does with. He, like, brings up tweezers with him to do it. No, he doesn't ask. Somebody has said that he will fastidiously remove the tiniest bits of anything that could possibly be a vegetable. But he eats the potatoes.

[Matabeticola]

So I've cooked a lot. I've cooked a lot of potatoes. The parsley is put on after the potatoes are cooked.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Matabeticola]

He could ask for them not to

[Dan Bernstein]

put parsley, I guess he does on the potatoes, but occasionally they.

[Matabeticola]

That would be easier in my estimation, other than taking out the cheese.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm not answering for Al Michaels. He's explained it multiple times. He said he just. When he was a little kid, like a baby, he never liked vegg, and his mother never gave him vegetables, and that was that. And he's 80 years old, so he won.

[Matabeticola]

He says, don't let anybody tell you what you can't do is one.

[Dan Bernstein]

Even those pesky law enforcement officers.

[Matabeticola]

Anything is possible when God is in your life.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that's true.

[Matabeticola]

And this last one I've liked. I've heard him say this before. Be where your feet are. I like that. Be present.

[Dan Bernstein]

Too dirty down.

[Matabeticola]

Be in the moment. No, be present. Be in the moment.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's true. But not on the feet. But not on the floor. I'd like to be above where my feet are.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, Unless you're riding a bike, then you wear slides.

[Dan Bernstein]

The bike doesn't go anywhere.

[Matabeticola]

I know it doesn't go anywhere. It's in your basement, moron. I get that. You're not riding a bicycle around your basement for exercise. Put a clown costume on. Beth, come on down.

[Dan Bernstein]

Honk, honk. And the giant bike flag is scraping the ceiling like a bumper car getting the power.

[Matabeticola]

And Zoe's like, I need to get the hell out of this house.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, she will soon. Yeah, we're gonna. We're gonna lay down the law.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, you moving her out?

[Dan Bernstein]

It's time.

[Matabeticola]

Does she know?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, I think she's.

[Matabeticola]

I think she does now.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matabeticola]

Sorry, Zoe.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's it? You're leaving?

[Matabeticola]

Zoe, It's Tuesday at 12:20.

[Dan Bernstein]

Gonna be out by the time I get home.

[Matabeticola]

That's right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Everything out. All of it, gone.

[Matabeticola]

All right, Sam Rausch. A couple of questions from Sam, because this was interesting. He. Apparently he lived in Malaysia and Indonesia. Did you? For a little bit. Did you know that?

[Dan Bernstein]

Was he captured?

[Matabeticola]

No. I would assume as a child. It was for family reasons. I don't know why, but he lived in Malaysia and Indonesia.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, some, like, weird.

[Matabeticola]

Why do you got to go, like, weird religion or something? Oh, yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, it sounds like maybe. Was it, like, Tim Tebow?

[Matabeticola]

See, is that your first. Because my first thought was military.

[Dan Bernstein]

Went to the Philippines to circumcise people. Like Tim Tebow. He was a child.

[Matabeticola]

Who, Sam Roush.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, he's not circumcising people as child was. They say, give that guy a knife. Go cut a couple foreskins off, young man. You know, you got to grow up sometime. I think they were circumcising people against their will. I think they were just holding them down, and they were just even people. Maybe the first one didn't take. They had to do. They had to go back for extra. I don't know.

[Matabeticola]

All right. Childhood due to family work and highly nomadic lifestyle.

[Dan Bernstein]

What I'm telling you, weird religious thing.

[Matabeticola]

While his family's moves were extensive, taking him from his birthplace of Georgia to California, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

[Dan Bernstein]

Probably missionaries.

[Matabeticola]

His time in Southeast Asia gave him a unique upbringing.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why was he in Southeast Asia? Does it say?

[Matabeticola]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

If they're not saying, it means they don't want to say.

[Matabeticola]

All right. Well, anyway, he was asked what was his biggest learning that he had from that experience. What did he take away from that experience? He says, it's far. It was interesting living in Asia, just kind of being the odd one out. Not something I'd probably experience living in America. No, Sam, you wouldn't. It was a cool experience. You got to do a lot of interesting stuff, have unique experiences as a kid. So it was awesome. What were some of those unique experiences you had? He said, we had a cobra in our yard once.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that's bad.

[Matabeticola]

That would be bad.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm sure they have a cobra guy and Cobra Kai. I'm sure they have a guy you

[Matabeticola]

call a snake guy.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, like the guy I watch.

[Matabeticola]

But it's probably not a guy you pay. It's probably just a guy in the neighborhood.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's a guy on Instagram I watch who's really cool. Bruce the snake wrangler. He's in. He works in San Diego.

[Matabeticola]

Okay. And he just captures snakes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, he's an educator and he also. He releases the snakes. He does tutorials on everything. I like him. And there's a guy named Noah Fields who is a herpetologist.

[Matabeticola]

So, like, mouth stuff, like lip diseases?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, no, he's not a herpes otologist. A herpetologist. And he goes in the field and I like watching. I don't know, I find it relaxing.

[Matabeticola]

What's a herpetologist?

[Dan Bernstein]

A herpetologist is a reptile expert.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, it is?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. And they flip over stuff, and in hot weather, the snakes are underneath and they take pictures of them and you learn all about them and.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, amphibians and reptiles.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it's really cool. I learned about the box turtle and the gray rat snake and king snakes and the timber rattler, which he also calls a canebrake.

[Matabeticola]

What do you feel about. How do you feel about. I know you like to capture animals and release them back in the wild. How do you feel about, like, hornets nests? You know me. The removal of hornets nests. My favorite thing to do in the world is what?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, light them on fire and destroy and.

[Matabeticola]

Okay, so those. You'll burn. Oh, okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

I get. I can hear them scream. I. It gives me sustenance, the deaths of wasps and hornets.

[Matabeticola]

You got very evil there. You turn.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm telling you, nothing gives me more joy than killing. The eradication of, like, paper wasps. Oh, I'll spend all day doing that. So if I see one on our neighbor's garage, I will ask permission to go and get a tennis racket and a spray can. And I'll stand there all day just watching them die. Not the neighbors, the wasps.

[Matabeticola]

I saw a video.

[Dan Bernstein]

Might be wasps. The neighbors.

[Matabeticola]

There was a wasp nest, like, on a front porch, and a guy took a. Took a big bucket. No, he took a big bucket. Oh.

[Dan Bernstein]

With gasoline.

[Matabeticola]

And put it.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

Did you ever see that?

[Matabeticola]

With the gasoline?

[Dan Bernstein]

Everyone's gas legion. Yeah.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, I'm sorry.

[Dan Bernstein]

I didn't.

[Matabeticola]

I was late to the gas.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's the fun. Then you'll get. I. I mean, I doubt watching them

[Matabeticola]

fall in and, like, die.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's okay. That's okay. But it's not as much fun as hitting him with a tennis rack.

[Matabeticola]

I'm kind of surprised by that in you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, I love it.

[Matabeticola]

So he said. Those bastards said we had a cobra in our yard. Which, as I agree with you, would be bad. He said there were rats in everybody's roofs, which. That doesn't sound good. No, that was just to say when

[Dan Bernstein]

the cobra eat the rats.

[Matabeticola]

Maybe that's why the cobra was there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Could be.

[Matabeticola]

Maybe you wouldn't want to get rid of the cobra, so maybe you wouldn't call the snake guy.

[Dan Bernstein]

But you don't want a cobra around

[Matabeticola]

as a snake guy. Not snake eyes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right.

[Matabeticola]

It's G.I. joe.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, they're making a movie.

[Matabeticola]

They've already made movies.

[Dan Bernstein]

But no, Danny McBride is making a G.I. joe movie.

[Matabeticola]

They've made G.I.

[Dan Bernstein]

joe movies before, but he's doing it differently.

[Matabeticola]

I know, but I'm saying. But they've made them before.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, sorry. Fine. Forget it.

[Matabeticola]

Well, I don't want.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't care. Sorry. I'm not gonna watch it anyway.

[Matabeticola]

What role is Danny McBride playing?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't need to tell you you're not interested. Ask me now. Don't pretend you're interested now.

[Matabeticola]

I'm not, but I'm.

[Dan Bernstein]

Whatever, man.

[Matabeticola]

Well, what role is he playing?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. Who cares?

[Matabeticola]

Oh, don't be a baby. Seriously.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're such a. He says it's gonna be a live action.

[Matabeticola]

Okay, you got it. Good. Thank you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Live action, grounded, suspense filled film that stays true to the classic comics. It's not a comedy.

[Matabeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

The story will focus on Duke leading a squad of Joes.

[Matabeticola]

I'll see that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Set in Springfield, Illinois, a fictional town.

[Matabeticola]

Did they help the Bears get the stadium deal done?

[Dan Bernstein]

That is secretly.

[Matabeticola]

Is that the mission of the Bears?

[Dan Bernstein]

Of the villainous Cobra organization?

[Matabeticola]

Ooh. So Sam Roush said he would spend his days barefoot like you, running around catching lizards and doing fun stuff like that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, that's cool. But why was he there?

[Matabeticola]

I don't. I can't.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know.

[Matabeticola]

Just said. It just said for work.

[Dan Bernstein]

His parents. Work. What was their work?

[Matabeticola]

I don't know. So remember when I told you when Xavion Thomas was asked, describe your draft night in three words?

[Dan Bernstein]

And he said, surreal and exciting. Exciting and fulfilling.

[Matabeticola]

Lasting.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. Yeah.

[Matabeticola]

Okay. Sam Roush, describe your draft night in three words. I kept it small. I'd say small family and just excited.

[Dan Bernstein]

Small family, Just excited.

[Matabeticola]

I'm so excited to be here. But we kept it small, really. Just my family.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matabeticola]

Who was with you? Sam. And was it large? No, no, no, it was small. One of my friends was in town, so he came as well. That was cool to have him there, but wanted to keep it small and just keep it about family. I love them. They've supported me so much through all of this. I like my family. I like lamp.

[Dan Bernstein]

So Sam Rausch's father liked to move a lot, played safety At Duke.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, he did.

[Dan Bernstein]

And his mother played college volleyball at Montana State.

[Matabeticola]

That's not why they were in Malaysia though. No, it just says for work.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. I just wonder what kind of work takes you to Malaysia.

[Matabeticola]

Malaysian work.

[Dan Bernstein]

Malaysian work. Important Malaysian work. Okay. His travels, his lineage. His stop at Stanford.

[Matabeticola]

Wait, in his stop there. He was there for a bit. He spent some time there. Yeah. Like Malaysia.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, he's. He's probably going to be better than Durham Smythe, right?

[Matabeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

He better be made stops across three koala.

[Matabeticola]

Better be able to catch the ball.

[Dan Bernstein]

He played rugby for the Jakarta Komodo Rugby Club. That's the second Komodo mention on 312 sports today.

[Matabeticola]

It is.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, I don't mind the.

[Matabeticola]

But he didn't eat the Komodo dragons like the hobbits.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, they didn't eat the Komodo dragons. They ate the. The.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, the carcass of the elephants.

[Dan Bernstein]

Of the elephant relatives that were killed by the Komodo dragons.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. The elephant relatives.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matabeticola]

Not the elephants themselves.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, they were. They weren't elephants is my point.

[Matabeticola]

Right. Because they were the. Yeah, the relatives.

[Dan Bernstein]

It was before elephants had evolved.

[Matabeticola]

Evolved from what?

[Dan Bernstein]

Ancestors of elephants.

[Matabeticola]

What did they evolve from?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, some combination of these other pachyderms of like.

[Matabeticola]

It's like a fish that grew legs, turned into an elephant.

[Dan Bernstein]

Mammoths and mastodons and. Well, I mean, everything came from that originally.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah, everyone. Everything did.

[Dan Bernstein]

The fish that. Yeah. But not the bony eared asterisk. No, that's on its own. Yeah, that's where its feet is. That thing that's present.

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[Matabeticola]

The espn, they did this thing. They do this every year.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know if you've noticed this

[Matabeticola]

before in other NFL seasons, but they ask league executives, coaches, scouts to help rank the top 10 players at every position.

[Dan Bernstein]

I have seen this.

[Matabeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matabeticola]

So I wanted to look and say they did it yesterday with running backs.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't think any bear is going to be on there.

[Matabeticola]

You're correct. There's not going to be any bear. Number one is Bijan Robinson. Jamar Gibbs. Saquon Barkley is three. Christian McCaffrey. Jonathan Taylor. Derrick Henry is six. James Cook is seven.

[Dan Bernstein]

HN on there.

[Matabeticola]

Devon HN is eight. Kenneth Walker is nine. And Breece hall from the Jets.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. No love for Ashton Genty.

[Matabeticola]

Honorable mentions. No Bears. No Bears. No Bears. No Bears. Also receiving votes, Dan DeAndre Swift. Okay, he received some votes. All right, next question for you today.

[Dan Bernstein]

Egypt just scored again. Now your guy's going to be out. Your guy is going to be out.

[Matabeticola]

There's still 13 minutes. No, there's 23 minutes to go. Don't go away, though. Seriously. Stay with it.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's a beautiful sport. Whatever you do, don't leave. We need you. My children will starve. Do not turn the channel. Oh, my God, we're all gonna die.

[Matabeticola]

All right, today, ESPN did the top 10 cornerbacks. Corner. C O R N E R. You know, cornerback.

[Dan Bernstein]

I would say Jalen Johnson, but I cannot do that in good conscience. I My guess is Jalen Johnson's on the outside looking in because he barely played last year.

[Matabeticola]

Let's see if you're correct. Number one, Pat Sartain. Number two, Derek Stingley Jr. Three is Christian Gonzalez.

[Dan Bernstein]

Four. A lot of people in the 25 under 25.

[Matabeticola]

Devin Witherspoon. Another one. Five, Trent McDuffie. Another guy. Number six is Quinyan Mitchell. Another guy. Young man's game. Seven is Denzel Ward, the Cleveland Browns. Number eight is JC Horn of the Panthers. Number nine is Sauce Gardner of the Colts. Did Jalen Johnson make number 10?

[Dan Bernstein]

My guess is no, he did not.

[Matabeticola]

Cooper De Jean from the Another one.

[Dan Bernstein]

Those are almost all young.

[Matabeticola]

All Young, all under 25. But honorable mentions, Jalen Johnson, Chicago Bears. Time on task has been an issue. He missed a lot of camp and game action, but he's young 27, so he should be able to get back to the top of his form. He's got juice when he's full tilt, and that's an NFL personnel evaluator.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, but you got to play, man.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Get out of the tub, get on the field. Play.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. Well, I mean, he played more than.

[Dan Bernstein]

And Kyler Gordon did.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. Who is clearly still hurt.

[Dan Bernstein]

Do we have an update on Kyler Gordon?

[Matabeticola]

I don't know, but that. That's one of the. When we're looking towards training camp, that's one of the things I'm most excited about. See, is seeing, like, Keith clearly is, like, I think I want to know now, how far away from the circle of trust is he? Like, can he still see the circle of trust?

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe he's closer to the Cubs bullpen. Circle of trust that he's Bears right now. We're two weeks away from starting getting stuff on this.

[Matabeticola]

I know. I can't wait.

[Dan Bernstein]

Real football stuff, like, actually pads and everything.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. That's going to suck, though, when there's actual football things to talk about. I'm going to miss.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're going to miss these.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, you know what we can do? Just make it longer.

[Matabeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

We do whatever we want or we get to add a second one where we're just, like, forward progress, except only stupid stuff. Well, we have unlimited opportunity.

[Matabeticola]

Are we going to do the one podcast we just talk about food?

[Dan Bernstein]

Eventually, why not? Okay, sure.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. Because I think if we do one about food, one about, like, the Bravo network, and one about rom coms, then I can stop doing all the sports ones.

[Dan Bernstein]

I could do a fishing one.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, you should do a fishing one. You should get that. Sponsored by black country.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's just what they need, is that partnership. We think we'd need a different field correspondent, but I'm working on it. I'm working on that.

[Matabeticola]

We're gonna.

[Dan Bernstein]

We're gonna get that done.

[Matabeticola]

Hi, I'm Dan Bernstein for Black Country. We're fishing smallmouth bass today here in the Chicago River.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I got. I already got guests lined up. Then we could do that. I could. I've got. I've got my buddy Tim. I was talking to him yesterday.

[Matabeticola]

My buddy Tim?

[Dan Bernstein]

My buddy Tim. He's. He's a. He's a shore fisherman.

[Matabeticola]

Like, he's, like, shorthanded or.

[Dan Bernstein]

S H O R E. Oh, no, he could. He could be our blackie weather reporter.

[Matabeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

You know, you put him out there. No, he's good fisherman. Really good fisherman.

[Matabeticola]

What's the weather? It's raining.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's going to rain.

[Matabeticola]

Thanks, Tim. All right.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's my guy.

[Matabeticola]

Yep. All right. We'll talk about that in our next meeting.

[Dan Bernstein]

The black fisherman meeting. How did you get into that one? How'd you get a ticket? How'd you get invited to the cookout,

[Matabeticola]

my friend?

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, good for you.

[Matabeticola]

I meant the three on two sports meetings, but yeah. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

You don't go to those either.

[Matabeticola]

I do.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, you did. I think you went to the last one.

[Matabeticola]

They're always cancelled.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know.

[Matabeticola]

Unless they're being canceled and I'm the only one that they're being canceled.

[Dan Bernstein]

We only have meetings so that they can be canceled.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. And seriously, having the last couple of

[Dan Bernstein]

weeks canceled, that's why it's the best. This is the best job ever.

[Matabeticola]

Yeah. So last. Last week was the second and we canceled it. Yep. I would have been at baseball anyway. Yep. And then we have one next week. Not this week.

[Dan Bernstein]

I already canceled it.

[Matabeticola]

All right. And it's funny, there's like 15 people in the meeting. All it takes is one person to say, I'm not going to be there. Well, we probably shouldn't have it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, we can't do this meeting then. What's the point?

[Matabeticola]

I love it.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's so good. It works. You know, less is more, I think. All right, that's forward progress.

[Matabeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Chicago Bears and NFL podcast on 312 sports.

[Matabeticola]

Oh, no. Where's the thing? Got it. I got it.

[Dan Bernstein]

We're good for progress has stopped. Forward progress.

[Matabeticola]

A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein

[Dan Bernstein]

and matabeticola on 312 new sports.

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