Will Logan Jones Win the Bears’ Starting Center Job for Week 1?

Summary

Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Host: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Episode: Will Logan Jones Win the Bears’ Starting Center Job for Week 1?
Date: May 28, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the Chicago Bears’ ongoing center competition between rookie Logan Jones and veteran Garrett Bradbury. Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola analyze the nuances of the battle, focusing on how reps and organizational interests influence “open competitions” in NFL training camps. The conversation extends into discussions about offensive line development, rookie adaptation, team chemistry, and underappreciated players from the 2025 season. The episode also touches on league-wide topics, including player activism, controversies, and media narratives.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bears Stadium Negotiations

Timestamp: 02:29-03:01

• Dan briefly mentions there’s “forward progress” in the Bears’ stadium talks, likening the negotiations to football metaphors (“they’re at the goal line, the half yard line”).
• Both hosts agree something is “close to happening,” but quickly pivot to on-field matters.

2. Organized Team Activities & Center Competition

Timestamp: 03:02–07:54

• Organized Team Activities (OTAs) are underway; Dan jokes about the difference now that former coach Declan Doyle’s “unorthodox” style isn’t present.
• Central question: How will the Bears divvy reps between Garrett Bradbury and rookie Logan Jones at center?
• Dan: “The idea of an open competition for a position is never really truthful. There’s always a thumb on the scale. Coaches always have a rooting interest.” (04:25)
• Matt echoes the point: “If it’s not equal reps, it’s not an open competition. And if you don’t have the same opportunity with the ones, you’re just not showing this.” (05:12)

Notable Insight:

• The hosts emphasize that how reps are distributed is the first clue about who actually has a shot—a vital but often-overlooked aspect of preseason hype.

3. What Does Logan Jones Need to Do?

Timestamp: 06:15–11:21

• Matt suggests the Bears want Jones to excel past Bradbury but won’t force the issue, and that true separation likely won’t be visible until preseason games.
• Both discuss the importance of deciding early to promote offensive line cohesion and avoid prolonged uncertainty, referencing how such indecision hurt the team at left tackle the previous season.
• Dan: “You can’t let your desires affect the reality of the situation and the legitimacy of your evaluation.” (07:41)
• Matt describes center as a uniquely tough rookie assignment due to mental responsibilities—making line calls, reading defenses, etc.

Memorable Moment:

• “Preseason is very different than regular season... and maybe, maybe Ben Johnson has a timetable in his head that, ‘I expect this guy to be the guy within this amount of time.’” (11:30, Matt)

4. The Iowa Center Pipeline & the Stakes for Logan Jones

Timestamp: 11:22–12:22

• Dan notes that Iowa centers are well prepared for NFL play thanks to the Hawkeyes’ reputation and coaching connections within the Bears.
• Because Logan Jones was a second-round pick, the Bears have flexibility—they haven't made the promises or commitments that a first-rounder would require.
• “Stakes are lower with a second round pick,” Dan notes. (12:04)

5. Jalen Johnson at Voluntary OTAs – Brief Breaking News

Timestamp: 12:22–13:19

• Jalen Johnson’s attendance at voluntary OTAs is disclosed. Both hosts agree it’s a strong signal for the defense, especially given the heavy expectations on the secondary.

6. Underappreciated Bears & Roster Analysis

Timestamp: 14:38–21:32

• Matt references Tom Blair’s NFL.com list, asking who’s the “most underappreciated Bear”—Dan jokes about overanalyzing (“I’m gonna Bernstein this” (15:12)).
• Dan’s pick: Colston Loveland, arguing he’s a “fucking superstar” who is the real engine of the offense, akin to the “Mahomes/Kelce thing.” (15:43–16:27)
• Matt says fans realize this, so his answer is Kyle Monangai, though Dan thinks Monangai might actually be overrated (“You hate the backup running back.” (17:05))
• They acknowledge DeAndre Swift as a statistically overlooked veteran (“5.39 yards per touch, eighth among all players…10 touchdowns, most on the team.” (18:40))
• They discuss the Bears’ WR and TE depth, asserting Loveland is the “primary receiver” and creates mismatches that open up opportunities for others (21:10).

Notable Quotes:

• Dan: “If you want a Mahomes-Kelce thing...people just don’t realize how great Colston Loveland could be.” (16:25)
• Matt: “He is the primary receiver.” (21:08)

7. Critiques of Bears’ Offseason Moves

Timestamp: 23:53–26:13

• Matt highlights Bill Barnwell’s (ESPN) “worst offseason move” for the Bears: failure to sufficiently address edge rush.
• Both hosts find this critique predictable (“That’s some high intensity noticing right there.” (26:19, Dan)), summarizing how few viable free-agent edge rushers remain.

8. Jackson Dart Controversy & Player Activism

Timestamp: 26:24–36:15

• Complaint about NY Giants QB Jackson Dart introducing Donald Trump at a rally and his social media activity—liking posts about mass deportations and limits to voting rights.
• Both hosts agree Dart is entitled to his views, but Dan insists, “Just own it…don’t pretend that you don’t like these things…just don’t lie to me.” (34:21)
• They riff on the broader tension between athletes’ political activism, celebrity, and fan expectations: “You can be that. Fly your flag. Wear that hat and be that. Just don’t tell me you’re not.” (36:00, Dan)

9. Around the NFL: Mike Vrabel’s Media Chops + Josh Jacobs News

Timestamp: 37:19–49:32

• Mike Vrabel (Patriots) has clearly had media training; Dan jokes about his evasive, noncommittal answers following his public scandal.
• They discuss how media figures, facing personal or professional crises, weigh the timing and potential value of “telling their side of the story”.
• The Josh Jacobs domestic violence case update is shared—with no formal charges yet filed and both legal sides expressing caution and optimism.

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Selected Notable Quotes

• Dan Bernstein (on competitions):
  “There’s always a thumb on the scale. Coaches always have a rooting interest.” (04:25)

• Matt Abbeticola (on center competition):
  “If it’s not equal reps, it’s not an open competition.” (05:12)

• Dan Bernstein (on rookie centers):
  “All the stuff you’d ask quarterbacks, you gotta ask centers.” (10:58)

• Dan Bernstein (on Colston Loveland):
  “That guy’s a fucking superstar.” (15:43)
  “If you want a Mahomes-Kelce thing...people just don’t realize how great Colston Loveland could be.” (16:25)

• On player activism:
  Dan: “Just own it. Don’t pretend that you don’t like these things…just don’t lie to me.” (34:21)

• On edge rusher need:
  Dan: “I think they might have neglected the pass rush.” (24:51)

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Timestamps for Important Topics

• Stadium Negotiations: 02:29–03:01
• Bears Center Competition & OTAs: 03:02–07:54
• Evaluating Logan Jones/Offensive Line: 06:15–12:22
• Jalen Johnson at OTAs: 12:22–13:19
• Underappreciated Bears: 14:38–21:32
• Critique of Edge Rush Moves: 23:53–26:13
• Jackson Dart/Player Activism: 26:24–36:15
• Mike Vrabel & NFL Hot Topics: 37:19–49:32

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Memorable Moments

• Bears’ “open competition” truth bomb:
  “If you don’t have the same opportunity with the ones, you’re just not showing this. …If this guy’s got eight reps, you got to do the math.” (05:15, Dan)

• Loveland as Offensive Linchpin:
  “He is the primary receiver. If you look at how many of these plays are going to be designed, they're going to be designed where he is the one who's going to be open.” (21:10, Dan)

• Edge Rusher Satire:
  “That’s what we’re down to. So AJ Epanessa is hurt and nobody wants your guy. Nobody wants Clowney.” (25:33, Matt)

• Player Speech & Consequences:
  “He is… And as soon as you… What about for his speech? Well, 100% entitled to have this.” (30:41, Dan)

• Satirical Super Bowl MVP Take:
  “Instead of saying, I'm going to Disney World, you can say, well, what are you going to do now? I'm going to get all the Mexicans out of the country.” (35:00, Dan)

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Tone and Language

True to Forward Progress’ candid blend of expertise and unfiltered banter, Dan and Matt mix detailed football analysis with sharp humor, hard truths, and moments of genuine frustration. They don’t shy from strong language or social critique, maintaining a conversational, irreverent spirit from start to finish.

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For Listeners

This episode is a must-listen for Bears fans tracking the center battle and anyone interested in the intersection of football, media, and culture. You'll come away with real insight into camp competition dynamics, the importance of positional reps, and the Bears' hopes for their 2026 roster—plus a hefty dose of laughs and straight talk on the NFL’s current events.

Transcript

[Dan Bernstein]

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[Dan Bernstein]

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

[Matt Abeticola]

Come on. Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on three one two Sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

You have forward progress right now on three one two Sports. As we talk Bears and NFL. If you are interested in the very latest that appears to be going on with the stadium right now. I handled that in the DBU and there is some forward progress there. It appears to be that they are moving the ball down the field and extending the football metaphor into the negotiating room.

[Matt Abeticola]

They're at the goal line, Dan. Is that what it is? I think at the half yard line, the half yard line.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm not going to go there. The.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, it sounds like something's close to happening.

[Dan Bernstein]

So, like that there's. There, there's work being done. That this is all. There's stuff, there's noise, the building is shaking. I don't know, whatever's going on. But perhaps more importantly to you, there are Chicago Bears on the field in uniform doing football related things. They're in fact doing organized team activities. Not disorganized individual activities. Organized team activities.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, they can do organized team activities because Declan Doyle's gone. Where? Last year he was doing unorthodox things on the field. That's right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now you don't want that now.

[Matt Abeticola]

Now they're organized.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're very, very. Well, you can be unorthodox and organized. You can be. I don't.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's true. No, you're passive. But we don't know if they're doing unorthodox, unorthodoxed, organized activities.

[Dan Bernstein]

OOTAs.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, we don't know what they're doing.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, we don't.

[Matt Abeticola]

But we, we just know that they're organized.

[Dan Bernstein]

We're presuming.

[Matt Abeticola]

And that they're a team.

[Dan Bernstein]

That. And they're active. And they're active. And that they're moving toward a common goal, which is winning this and every other super bowl ever. Ever.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I'm kind of interested in how they're going to handle the division of reps between Garrett Bradbury and Logan Jones at center. I think that's going to be really interesting. And I've said this before about quarterbacks, and I guess it holds true for other positions, but more so for quarterbacks because that's the one we usually pay attention to because the Bears haven't been able to figure out who their quarterback is. And I always say this, the idea of an open competition for a position is never really truthful. There's always a thumb on the scale. Coaches always have a rooting interest. General managers have a rooting interest no matter what they say. And sometimes within the organization, it's not always shared. And I'm not saying it's a bad thing.

[Matt Abeticola]

And you're not saying that this is the case right now, one way or the other.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, but what I'm saying is what a coach can control is in the distribution of reps. Right. And if you say, well, it's an open competition, the first thing you look for is equal reps.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. And if it's not equal reps, it's not an open Competition. Correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

If you don't have the same opportunity with the ones, you're just not showing this. You can't. Then you're doubling the other person's opportunities. And, well, you only had two reps. You got to be perfect on all those. You screw one up, 50% of your reps are bad. If this guy's got eight reps, you got to do the math. And every single rep matters. Every single rep. They record everything and they watch everything. So I'll be really interested to know, and maybe we'll never know how much Logan Jones will get an opportunity to prove his mettle here and in training camp with pads on, with the ones. What do they want? Do they want him to accelerate his timetable? Do they want Garrett Bradbury to just be this. The. The rabbit out there and say, look, he's. It's his. He's a veteran. That's. That guy, 30 years old. That's a job. He's Udani Joe, Tony's buddy. That's a pro right there. You gotta do that. I think they want Logan Jones. Oh, that. I can do that.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I think. I think they want Logan Jones to be able to excel past Garrett Bradbury, but they're not going to force the situation. And if he does accelerate quicker and I think we'll, we'll. I don't think we're anywhere near seeing that or knowing that until they get into preseason game reps. And even then it's difficult, but that's going to be a big factor.

[Dan Bernstein]

Sure it is. And it's funny too that they. I always like to use football talk and football things with football people. So I always hear the offensive line is a unit. They have to come together, they have to gel. They have to know we can't have lots of. You never want moving parts on an offensive line. So it's always reason to know sooner. You don't want to kick, just like last year with left tackle. You don't want to carry this thing out. So I would make sure that it is the competition as fair as it's going to be as early as possible where you want to, even before they put pads on, to be in a position to say if he can do this in pads, we've got our decisions made and do it and commit, rather than being maybe this guy. This guy blocks this play better. This guy's better when we're pulling. He's better in pass protection. Ideally, your start when you begin this season, when you are ready, but well before the actual first game, this has worked how you want it, but you can't let your desires affect the reality of the situation and the legitimacy of your evaluation.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. And, you know, I think as it sits right now, I still think Garrett Bradbury will be your starter for game one. I think he has a lot less to show and. Or prove than Logan Jones. Obviously, if Logan Jones can accelerate himself and show the mental aspects of the game outside of more than just the physical, then maybe he has a shot at it. I just don't think that's the game plan. Now, if Ben Johnson feels confident and Caleb Williams feels comfortable with Logan Jones as a rookie as the starting center, then it may go that route. I still think as it sits right now, Garrett Bradbury is your starter. And Logan Jones has a lot to prove and learn and show that he could play center at the NFL level. Because more importantly than being able to do your own job, it's understanding the defenses, understanding what's going to be expected of him, to call out protections and to understand what's happening offensively and what the defense is doing. So, yeah, there's a lot to it. I don't know if we'll ever know for sure in practices and preseason stuff how the, the snaps break down because, you know, I mean, we know that reporters don't get to watch a whole ton of practice anymore. There isn't a whole lot of live stuff happening they get to watch. So I just don't know. And unless he's asked directly about it and answers honestly about it, there's a

[Dan Bernstein]

lot of ways to fight. We can keep asking.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Just because a coach's press conference wraps up doesn't mean there isn't stuff to find out.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, but who knows how much stuff he'd share on the record. And you know, but yeah, I think it's a, it's an interesting question to, to evaluate, to look at, at Logan Jones, but has there been a situation you can recall where there was a veteran, that it was the veterans job, and a Bears rookie came in and said, yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, I know that there, there are examples of this where someone just takes the job way faster than you thought and completely. What's the word I'm looking for? Is obsoletes. The veteran.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Faster than you expected.

[Matt Abeticola]

Now, just thinking about it, I think defensively, for whatever reason, my brain just thinks it'd be easier for that to happen. A rookie to come in on the defensive side of the football and take

[Dan Bernstein]

over a spot, there's less to know.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I mean, so, I mean, defense is more Reassed center just sounds like a really, really tough position to come in and do that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. And I do think, however, that, that Iowa centers, because of the, obviously the success of Linderbaum and offensive lineman from Iowa. Yeah, they know. And this is obviously something to Declan Doyle, I think probably had an understanding of, because of his family association with the Iowa program and especially with some of the offensive linemen that there is. You know, you've gotten him on the board already. There's no way that you would have drafted him if you hadn't had him on a board and say, what's this front? What's this front? What's this front? If they shift here, what coverage are they in?

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

All the stuff you'd ask quarterbacks, you gotta ask centers, what's your responsibility? Who's the mic? Who's the mic? If they roll this way and you're identifying gap, gap, gap. Identify the mic. All right. Okay. Different now they do this, they roll this way. We're showing 13 personnel. Who's the mic. But now doing that on the board

[Matt Abeticola]

is a lot different than having live bodies trying to kill you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Exactly.

[Matt Abeticola]

Which is very different than your teammates in practices. It's still, it's all very different. And preseason is very different than regular season.

[Dan Bernstein]

So.

[Matt Abeticola]

And maybe, maybe Ben Johnson has a time timeline in his head that I expect this guy to be the guy within this amount of time. But Garrett and, and if he does take over for Garrett Bradbury, it's not like it's a three year deal worth 30 million that you're just like flushing down the toilet. This was a emergency signing because your center said I'm done. You bring this guy in at a very low cost for one year. So if he ends up not playing, that's okay. That's okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think it's a second round pick. It's fine. You're not looking at making a decision in the fifth year option. And the stuff you would with a first round pick. Things aren't accelerated quite the same way. And you haven't made him the same kind of promises. It's just this stakes are lower with a second round pick. We do have a little bit of breaking news within our podcast.

[Matt Abeticola]

What do we have today?

[Dan Bernstein]

Jalen Johnson is participating in the voluntary portion of off season program that is starting this week. Jalen Johnson is present and participating at OTAs. Okay, that's good.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's good because I don't think he's done that before. He's never been in voluntary stuff.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think it's great.

[Matt Abeticola]

I do too.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think it's good. And now we just got to get Kyler Gordon healthy.

[Matt Abeticola]

We need to soft tissue injuries to stop.

[Dan Bernstein]

Just got to get him healthy and everything will be fine. But that is a really good sign. That's a very, very significant player. For everything they want the Bears to do and apparently all of the weight they want the secondary to carry in all of the defensive responsibilities.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. Because they're going to have to help the pressuring of the quarterback.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, if they can just make him hold on a second a little bit

[Matt Abeticola]

longer, just a little bit longer, they can help the guys up front. All right, let me ask you a question.

[Dan Bernstein]

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[Matt Abeticola]

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[Dan Bernstein]

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[Matt Abeticola]

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[Dan Bernstein]

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[Matt Abeticola]

To finding more.

[Dan Bernstein]

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[Matt Abeticola]

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[Dan Bernstein]

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[Matt Abeticola]

Yes, I saw this on NFL.com if you had to pick one player of last year's Bears roster, okay, who would you say is or was the most underappreciated player on the Chicago Bears? So it was a question that Tom Blair and NFL.com he went through each team and gave his his thought on who was the most underappreciated.

[Dan Bernstein]

Underappreciated by whom? Underappreciated by the coaches. Underappreciated by fans.

[Matt Abeticola]

Let's say fans. Let's say fans. He's taking this perspective on his own viewpoint.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. There's a lot of ways to go at this because you're asking me now. I'm Gonna Bernstein this.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I know. And I. You're already regretting asking you a question.

[Dan Bernstein]

I can tell. I know. I could tell immediately. I could see the corners of your eyes drop a little bit and you're just like, why did I?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I wish there was a dog here with a shotgun that could just blow me off this chair,

[Dan Bernstein]

drive me off this picture. My first thought is Colston Loveland.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. Why is that?

[Dan Bernstein]

Because nobody realizes that the guy's a fucking superstar.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think people realize that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Really?

[Matt Abeticola]

Like, outside of Chicago, Is that what you're saying? Because I think people in Chicago realize he's the best receiver on this team.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, if you have to pick a guy who they can't lose, it screws up the entire. If he gets hurt. I mean, you get. Because I was thinking Luther Burden, because I saw what his statistically, like his impact per target and per catch and per play, the number of times he gets huge chunks, explosives, and flips the field. But as far as that guy, who is who you know, Caleb can say whatever he wants.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. But his.

[Dan Bernstein]

His dude, his blankie, his bailout, his trust that if you want a Mahomes Kelsey thing. And like, I do think that people just don't realize how great Colston Loveland could be.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. I think.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think majority of the fan base, even the dumb people realize how great do you going to be?

[Dan Bernstein]

I do. I could be.

[Matt Abeticola]

I really do.

[Dan Bernstein]

I could be wrong.

[Matt Abeticola]

So this was interesting because my first thought was Kyle Menongai, underappreciated guy. Given where he was drafted, given what he. What he did, how he performed, I think he's overappreciated.

[Dan Bernstein]

Really? Yeah, I think.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, you always do that with the backup running back.

[Dan Bernstein]

I do with running backs. You hate the backup running back.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like the opposite of those bear strands with backup quarterback.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. You hate the backup running back because

[Dan Bernstein]

it's a backup running back.

[Matt Abeticola]

So.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he seems like a doll of a kid. I love him, but.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. So my first thought was comment on guy. So then I read Tom's piece here on the Bears. He says he was ready to make an argument for Kyle Menungai who rampaged to 947 scrimmage yards.

[Dan Bernstein]

Rampage to it.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's what he said. This is. He gets to choose his own adjective.

[Dan Bernstein]

Would you describe him as rampaging? Like, get out of his way or Kyle Menongai's gonna step on your neck.

[Matt Abeticola]

The Bengals game. That's about it. The Bengals game.

[Dan Bernstein]

The Bengals were all facing the wrong way. Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

They didn't want to tackle anyone either. So one GU. One guy had like 27 missed tackles. So he got 90947 yards as a rookie last year from scrimmage then he says. Then a fellow full season prognosticator, Ali Bunpuri, suggested going with DeAndre Swift and said reasoning that he might actually be the one on the ropes appreciation wise as the old hat veteran next to an exciting young upstart. He says, I found this to be much more in keeping of the spirit of this exercise. Monongai could be considered slightly below radar, which I don't think that is, but I think he's a little, little underappreciated. But Swift has been around accumulating the public expectations that come with being part of a multiple headline making transaction. Sure, there are plenty of miles on his, on his odometer and his contract doesn't go beyond the upcoming season. So he's through 2026.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I get it though. That's not a bad name.

[Matt Abeticola]

He still averaged 5.39 yards per touch in 2025. I didn't realize it was that high. Per touch, eighth among all players with a minimum of 150 touches. He still scored 10 total touchdowns, most on the team.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it's a pretty good argument there for DeAndre Swiss. And there was that one fourth down against the, it was against the packers where he ran the guy or he

[Matt Abeticola]

was caught backfield off to the right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Caught in the backfield dead to rights and he. And he. And he trucked the guy.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

That to me was like the play that sticks in my mind.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like that's a highlight for him this year.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's a highlight of like I have to get these yards and you have me and there's nobody else here. It was a nutcracker drill and he beat him.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I thought that's pretty good. That's a pretty good, pretty good decision there on DeAndre Swift. Again, 5.39 yards per touch, eighth among all players with a minimum of 150 touches.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that's, that's pretty good.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's real good.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I don't mind you having to go, you know, cherry pick through those stats because that's what you're trying to do with a point like.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. And then 10 touchdowns led the team. Yeah. So not, not bad. Not bad. But I get where you're coming from on even after you bernstein it.

[Dan Bernstein]

I get it because I could do this a lot of different ways, but

[Matt Abeticola]

I still think, I still think that Colson Loveland I mean, he put his name there. Dude. I mean, he was. That was a national. That's a national dude right now.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think. I think all eyes are on him.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. But it's still. Still.

[Matt Abeticola]

He's.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's also the, like, the history of the tight end position here that it's

[Matt Abeticola]

always been, oh, like a blocker, offensive

[Dan Bernstein]

lineman, with the exception of Ditka, which is the irony.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. Is that because he's the biggest meathead

[Dan Bernstein]

of them all and he. But he was ahead of his time.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

That. As a pass catching tight end, Ditko was like Gronk and Shannon Sharp and these guys. Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

And then.

[Dan Bernstein]

Then it was everything else until. Until Colson Loveland.

[Matt Abeticola]

We've had this conversation before about. About people minimizing the Bears wide receiver room because they don't have that true number one room of dunes. He hasn't lived up to his pick yet. Luther Burden is still developing.

[Dan Bernstein]

Big year for romance.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. It's a huge year for him. And we've always made the counterargument. Well, yeah. Because you're looking at a wide receiver room that doesn't hold the best receiver on the team, which is in the tight end room.

[Dan Bernstein]

I would say the primary receiver. Like.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes, he is. He is the primary receiver.

[Dan Bernstein]

If you look at how many of these plays are going to be designed, they're going to be designed where he is the one who's going to be open.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. Because he creates the greatest mismatches. He's a tight end that is a big wide receiver. And through having him as a primary guy, that's going to and should open up Luther Burden, Roma Dunze. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because Colston Loveland's guy is either too slow or he's too small.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or both.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Matt Abeticola]

Or. Yeah. Too big and too slow.

[Dan Bernstein]

And this is. This is my basketball idea of play calling, if you have that. And I've talked to scouts about tight ends before. One scout, who I always love talking to, gave me great stuff. He used to say about a tight end, and I'm not going to mention who, because this guy. Maybe I can. It was Kellen Winslow Jr.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Who I believe is in prison for the rest of his life. Right. That he. He said about him coming out of Miami. He said, I'm not kidding. I would throw it to him every time. And I said, ha, ha, ha. He's like, no, don't. I would throw it to him every time. I said, could you do that at the NFL level? He said, well, we'll find out. But he said that that's a guy. If he's on your college team, throw it to him every time. And I have no problem with that at the NFL level either that. I know people get impatient and they want to show off all of their bells and whistles, but sometimes you can simplify the game if you have that matchup. If you say, okay, who's on Loveland? Is he too slow or is he too small? Well, if you run the. Run the too slow route or run the too small route, right.

[Matt Abeticola]

To see who it is, make that decision at the line. How's the defense lining up? Who's lined up across from him?

[Dan Bernstein]

And either do the thing when your guy's too small or do the thing when your guy's too small.

[Matt Abeticola]

Two plays. What's everyone else do?

[Dan Bernstein]

Clear out or no. Yeah, right. Make it easy for him to pray on that guy.

[Matt Abeticola]

Stay out of his way.

[Dan Bernstein]

Stay out of his way.

[Matt Abeticola]

You go deep, bigger guy. You do an in or an out.

[Dan Bernstein]

And put your hands up in the.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. And make noises.

[Dan Bernstein]

Whatever you got to do.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

So, hey, man, call it whatever you want. You can. You can. You can call it. You know, you. Option Delta, tactical, six, five, Check with me, zip, jumbo, whatever. But it's all what I just said. Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Either too big or too slow. Yeah. Too. Too small. Yeah. All right.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is a.

[Matt Abeticola]

This is a new take. I haven't. I haven't seen this yet. And this. And how deep are we in the off season here? We're like 15 weeks away from the Super Bowl.

[Dan Bernstein]

When you set this up as a new take, do you mean bad take?

[Matt Abeticola]

No, it's a new take. Okay, Listen to this. So I want a new take. Bill Barnwell, espn. This one won't make you sick.

[Dan Bernstein]

One won't make me talk too much.

[Matt Abeticola]

He went through each NFC and make the deal.

[Dan Bernstein]

Three feet thick. Oh, wait, can I stop singing now?

[Matt Abeticola]

You can. Oh, anytime you want. I'll just keep talking. It's fine. All right.

[Dan Bernstein]

I want a new take. Well, no doubt. All right, Sorry.

[Matt Abeticola]

So you haven't heard this yet, so hang on here. This was. This was great. So he went through each NFC team, and he looked at their off season, and he looked at the best thing they've done in the off season and the worst thing they've done in the off season. Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Here's what he has for the worst thing the Bears have done this off season. Are you ready for this new take?

[Dan Bernstein]

The worst thing they've done this off season. If it's Brand new. I'll tell you what nobody's talking about.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think. And this is just me talking here. I think they might have neglected the pass rush.

[Matt Abeticola]

Here's what he said. Not addressing the edge. Okay. So brand new. We haven't heard this yet from anyone outside Chicago. I'll skip the first two paragraphs and just give you the final one. The draft might have been a logical place for polls to look for a solution.

[Dan Bernstein]

The draft.

[Matt Abeticola]

But the Bears didn't add anybody to help out on the edge. Chicago also hasn't signed anyone in free agency. Again, though, there's still time to find a solution with players such as Joey Bosa and Hassan Reddick still available on the open market.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's what we're down to now.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's what we're down to.

[Dan Bernstein]

So AJ Epanessa is hurt and nobody wants your guy.

[Matt Abeticola]

Nobody wants him. Nobody wants Clowny. Apparently Clowny might go back to the Cowboys.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Who else is out there? The old guy from the Saints, Cam Jordan. Is he like, 42?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, 37.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think Von Miller is petitioning and lobbying Sean Payton for a job with the Broncos. He wants to go back there, so I don't think he wants to go anywhere else. So that's what we're down to. But I just thought it was refreshing to hear a different take from someone outside of Chicago. What the Bears didn't address this off season. So thank you. Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

For making sure we have balanced coverage.

[Matt Abeticola]

We've been talking about everything else with the exception of defensive line, defensive end, edge, rush.

[Dan Bernstein]

I like people who notice things. Yeah, that. That's some high intensity noticing right there.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's good.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's really good. Can we talk about Jackson Dart being a shithead? Okay. Okay, sure. All right. I'm just asking. Yeah, I wanted to, because what the hell, man? Like, if you haven't been following Jackson Dart, this is the second year quarterback. Second year, third year, second year quarterback, second year quarterback for the New York Giants.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yep. The Giants of New York, who proudly

[Dan Bernstein]

introduced President Trump at a recent rally or event or speaking engagement.

[Matt Abeticola]

So he was invited by Trump's camp to come introduce Trump the president.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he said, absolutely, I'll be there. And then Abdul Carter took to social media to say, what are we doing here? Like, I thought this was AI.

[Matt Abeticola]

This shit was AI. What are we doing here?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Matt Abeticola]

And now.

[Dan Bernstein]

And then, of course, all of it's New York, so everything's going crazy. And it got to the point where now Boomer Siason obviously is. Is mad at Abdul Carter saying that you can't do that because I guess Boomer believes that there are certain people whose activities should stick to sports and certain who shouldn't. Right.

[Matt Abeticola]

Now, I will say this. I think Abdul Carter should have gone to Jackson Dart instead of taking the social media for it. But I get it. He's a young guy and that's what you do. You go to social media and put everything out there for you.

[Dan Bernstein]

I also don't think he likes Jackson Dart.

[Matt Abeticola]

He may not. We don't know that. I haven't read that anywhere. Now, apparently they've talked and they're good. Jackson Dart. That's. That's the reports. Abdul Carter. Abdul Carter said we're good. Yep. Jackson Dart met with the team and addressed it with a few players in particular before OTAs. So what's come out since then and has been brought out that Jackson Dart has been following and liking posts from President Trump going back to 2023. And some of the. Some of the posts include mass deportation, anti racial, gender, racial ideology.

[Dan Bernstein]

These are all ways of saying all the shitty stuff. Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

So now the New York Post also reported that Jackson Dart didn't receive permission to go do this because he didn't need to.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

But what they would have told him if they were informed ahead of time. Now, this is the Post reporting this. The Giants would have said, hey, reminder to you, you're representing yourself, not the New York Giants. Apparently, they weren't very happy about the Go Blue chant that he started in the crowd, which is a Giants thing. They would have preferred he'd not done that because he wasn't there representing the Giants. He was there representing himself, even though he's the fucking quarterback of the New York Giants. So I kind of think anywhere you go, you're representing your team.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're the quarterback.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. You're the quarterback of the Giants. You're the quarterback in New York. So whether you go out there saying you're representing yourself or that you're always representing the Giants, maybe that's a conversation to have with your players ahead of time, if that's important to you as the Giants.

[Dan Bernstein]

So

[Matt Abeticola]

here's a. This was on yahoo. Sports and J.D. wolf, he kind of dug into this.

[Dan Bernstein]

I've got it here.

[Matt Abeticola]

You do?

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, I have it where. This is one of the likes from Jackson Dart. Stop the migrant invasion. Carry out the largest deportation operation in American history. Stop the migrant crime epidemic. That one was liked.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Also talking about racial gender ideology and critical race theory to cut funding for schools who engage in Racial content. Liked that. Also changing election procedures that include same day voting, limiting voting access. He liked that. So there's a lot in here where I think there are all kinds of follow up questions and that's okay. He's. He is. And as soon as you. What about for his speech?

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, 100% entitled to have this.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're Absolutely he can. And if he wants to be a proud American and express his views, go ahead.

[Matt Abeticola]

And he wants to go in and introduce the president at a, at a rally.

[Dan Bernstein]

Go ahead.

[Matt Abeticola]

Listen, if I support Jackson Dart's freedom to be able to do whatever he

[Dan Bernstein]

wants in that regard and it helps me 100% who he is.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Which is a shithead because we don't

[Matt Abeticola]

wear signs in this country. Some people wear hats. But I prefer signs on everyone to know who you are. Now I know who Jackson Dart is and that's great. I support his right to go do all of that to like those messages, to think the way he wants to think. I disagree with all of those things that he's liked but he has that right and I support his right to do that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. And all that, you know, the Charlie Kirk stuff and all that. Go ahead.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And it helps tell us who you are. It tells your teammates who you are. It tells your opponents who you are. I just find it fascinating when it comes to some of the decisions that these guys make where we've had a million examples of all time greats and heroes and they always say like never meet your heroes, never find out too much and always compartmentalize and know that you can look, you can love that Jack Nicklaus is one of the greatest golfers you've ever seen. But it doesn't mean that you have to kind of, you know like in what he traffics when it comes to how to treat other people. Those kinds of things. Same.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, Tiger woods is an example.

[Dan Bernstein]

Of course there's a billion of these examples but not of a second year player. You're not even. It's one thing once you've established yourself and once you've had your career.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And you've. This is. But to do this now, it's, it takes a lot of guts. And if this is cool. And I said the same thing about Matt Shaw, same perfect example. You're a rookie, your second year player, you're whoever you are again, both established everyday guy, both first round draft picks. Go ahead. It's just, it's a new, this is a new phenomenon of people deciding that they are proud enough and that they've got the Constitution enough to withstand whatever slings and arrows come their way. That's the part of free speech. It's consequences. And if you are okay and you're a grown ass man and you're like, yeah, this is how I feel, this is what I like. And when I like it, I meant I liked it. And it has to do with all of these things. And I do, I want mass deportations right now. Just same thing I said about Matt Shaw. Don't give me reasons why it doesn't represent who you are, what you think. Just own it. That's all. That's the only. Really, I want Jackson Dark to stand up there and say, hell yeah for mass deportations. Don't pretend that you don't like these things once you've already established that you do. Just don't lie to me. Don't say, oh, well, that was just a thing or that's just. Those are my beliefs of if either you do or you don't. And that's cool. If you say, I stand with him on everything. I don't want black people to vote because I don't think they should have the vote.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

You wanna say that?

[Matt Abeticola]

Go ahead.

[Dan Bernstein]

And you say, I don't think we should have immigrants in our country. They don't contribute anything and they're leeches in our emergency rooms and get them out.

[Matt Abeticola]

Go ahead.

[Dan Bernstein]

If you think. I don't think schools should be teaching anything about the history of slavery in this country.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, right, you can have that thought

[Dan Bernstein]

you're absolutely entitled to. Now don't start now though. I don't want to hear saying, well, I didn't really know what was in that video. I didn't really watch it or I just, I was, you know, I just used to like stuff. And uh, I don't want to hear any mitigation. I don't want to hear any mealy mouth. I don't want to hear it. Just please, please do us the have the courtesy to own it. Yeah, that's all.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's fine.

[Dan Bernstein]

And you can be that. And I hope you go ahead and when you lead the team to the super bowl, instead of saying, I'm going to Disney World, you can say, well, what are you going to do now? I'm going to get all the Mexicans out of the country.

[Matt Abeticola]

Or I thought you were going to go to the White House. Jackson, you just won the super bowl and you're the super bowl mvp. Where are you going now? You going to the White House?

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm going to Go take away the blacks. Right to vote. Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, back to you guys in the studio.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's Tracy Wolfson.

[Matt Abeticola]

Thanks, Tracy. We'll be back after this.

[Dan Bernstein]

Cool.

[Matt Abeticola]

Thank you.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, that's a good turn. You need Charles Barkley.

[Dan Bernstein]

At that point, he was too busy watching hockey.

[Matt Abeticola]

Barkley. That's a stupid shit.

[Dan Bernstein]

I didn't see it. I was watching hockey.

[Matt Abeticola]

Charles, you didn't watch the Super Bowl. No. So, yeah. Hey, listen, that's how you feel. That's what you want to believe. That's what you choose. That's the. That's the guy you're going to. Hey, that's all you, man. That's.

[Dan Bernstein]

Fly your flag.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wear that hat and be that. Just don't tell me you're not. And don't walk away for. Don't. Don't try to tiptoe away from any of it. Just don't do that, because that's loser stuff. There's. And we don't believe already. I can tell you I don't believe you because he's going to try.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And he's already had too much winning. So.

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[Matt Abeticola]

Hey, Mike Vrabel met the media yesterday because of the Patriots OTAs. I want to share a couple things that were asked and answered.

[Dan Bernstein]

Can I say you talk about evidence of media training that. I don't know if he's gone to wiener counseling or what he's done, but one place he has definitely gone is some very specific coaching. This man has been coached about how to turn a difficult question into a completely different answer. Because you don't do what he did without a lot of practice.

[Matt Abeticola]

One of the first questions he was asked was about describing the process of balancing family and football. How that's unfolded for him since the news of Diana Rossini and his wiener counseling has come out. And Vrabel said, really good. I appreciate that. My family is great. I love Jen. I love the boys. I love my personal friends.

[Dan Bernstein]

And Lamp.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's what I thought too, yesterday. I love Lamp.

[Dan Bernstein]

Mike, are you just looking at things and saying you love them?

[Matt Abeticola]

But I love. He says, I appreciate that. My family is great.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, but they hate you.

[Matt Abeticola]

Who knows? Maybe they do. Maybe they do, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

He's not saying that his wife loves him.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, he loves her, and he loves his boys and he loves his personal friends. He doesn't really love his acquaintances, just his personal friends. Guys down the hall don't really give a shit about them.

[Dan Bernstein]

But my personal friends and tacos.

[Matt Abeticola]

Love them.

[Dan Bernstein]

I love tacos.

[Matt Abeticola]

So here's what's interesting. He was also asked if he might be away from the team in the future.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, for further counseling.

[Matt Abeticola]

Now, this seems like a really easy question to say.

[Dan Bernstein]

No.

[Matt Abeticola]

Hey, do you plan on being away from the team? No, I'm not. I'm here. I'm good to go. Here's what he said. He says, I can't tell you anything other than I'm going to be out there today in full force. So I'm going to focus on today and the excitement that we've had and that we've built so far.

[Dan Bernstein]

The next question is, where would you reasonably expect to go otherwise?

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. So, Mike, if you're here today, that's great because you're here today, which is cool. If you're not here tomorrow, where would you be instead?

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm just happy when the creek don't rise. Good Lord willing, feet at the floor,

[Matt Abeticola]

he leans on the podium and it shatters. I don't know. I thought that was interesting. I think, you know, unless he knows of subsequent counseling sessions, is he, you know, hey, I'm going to be June 1st. I'm not going to be here either.

[Dan Bernstein]

You know what's going on, right?

[Matt Abeticola]

What's going on?

[Dan Bernstein]

I think, because when you. What he's terrified of. If at some point Diana Rossini, after receding from the spotlight, figuring some things out, trying to figure out where her career is going or how she's gonna make money, whatever that is, she's got a story to tell.

[Matt Abeticola]

We said that a couple weeks ago. I asked, when does she talk?

[Dan Bernstein]

When she cuts the deal. Is the Answer. Because you know that they're dangling, whether it's a book publisher or a documentary or a podcast or something like. Or all of it, if she owns that content. Yeah, that's that the value of what she could say. Who knows what else is out there?

[Matt Abeticola]

Because here's the thing. When you look.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's what he's worried about.

[Matt Abeticola]

When you look at our society and a really. A story like this, of this magnitude, there's always someone out there to take the payday for the story. Why wouldn't someone do that then? Why wouldn't someone.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because here's why. I will tell you exactly why that in her position, and I can, and I will tell you this from experience, that when I got fired, the number of people that reached out after and when I sort of disappeared for a while because I knew that the best, that I had to disappear because I had stuff I had to do, and I just wasn't comfortable and I was embarrassed and I was ashamed and I was scared and I didn't really know exactly what to do. But then over time, when I. When enough people were calling about, hey, I'd love to. Love to have you on. I'd love to have you talk about this. I'd love to. And then you start to realize, well, if this. There's value in this, like, I'm not gonna give this away. I go give this somebody else. I'm saving this for whenever and wherever.

[Matt Abeticola]

So you're thinking how she can monetize it beyond like one sit down with.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

You know, with someone or whoever.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is a project. Like, if there are publishers and that's. I want to know what else there is. She may be like, oh, boy. If people really want. Well, they really want to know.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's what I was thinking.

[Dan Bernstein]

But she might want to know that her career's over first. Like, you don't go nuclear with that until you. And the first thing you have to do is, is. Is because a year is a year is a. Of a lifetime. If you can go a year and it's possible that somebody's like, you know what we need? We need an insider right now. We need a splash. And everything will be things that appear to be massively important. A year later often don't look massively important. And we kind of look around like, what? What was that?

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

It just happens. So she might be saying, look, let me wait a year. Let me see what the interest is going to be, and then I'll see if I can get back into this business because I Love it.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's what she wants. That's. That's the angle I was thinking of.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

If she wants back in, what opportunities might be available by her not talking? Well, like what, what, what becomes available because. Okay, so you're not going to go

[Dan Bernstein]

nuclear and I'm not going to burn down the lead.

[Matt Abeticola]

X, Y and Z as well as, you know, Coach Blockhead as well.

[Dan Bernstein]

It depends what she knows.

[Matt Abeticola]

You're not doing that. Yeah, there is an opportunity. Or there could be an opportunity available for you if.

[Dan Bernstein]

And what after that?

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

And is that a one time thing or is there a larger role as, I don't know, NFL critic or somebody who really is, you know, outside of the tent instead of inside the tent? I don't know. These are all things she should be thinking about right now with her advisors and trying to figure it out. But there are going to be financial. Financial reasons and professional reasons and mental health reasons for a lot of her decisions. But the point is, it's not in Mike Vrabel's control.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he just has to have that Sword of Damocles out there that if

[Matt Abeticola]

the other shoe drops.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, it's the sword that drops. The sword of Damocles.

[Matt Abeticola]

The other.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah, the sword that hangs by a thread.

[Matt Abeticola]

But isn't the other shoe. Isn't that a. Is that a phrase too?

[Dan Bernstein]

But it's different. The sword is different. No, the sword.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Because a shoe can't cut your head off.

[Dan Bernstein]

A sword. The sword.

[Matt Abeticola]

Have you ever seen a shoe cut someone's head off?

[Dan Bernstein]

I have not. You have.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's a sharp shoe.

[Dan Bernstein]

He'd be a sharpshooter.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, I have a sharp shoer.

[Dan Bernstein]

A sharpshooter, sure.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. Yeah. A sharp shooter. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

The hat from Goldfinger.

[Matt Abeticola]

Goldfinger, yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

007 odds kill people. Yeah, because it foreshadowed it with the statue.

[Matt Abeticola]

What are you doing? What is that arm? Hey, wait, whoa, whoa. What is that arm?

[Dan Bernstein]

He's flinging the hat.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, I thought you were doing something different.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, no, that's a different mechanic entirely. No, you. You would know it if I were doing that. I mean, even doing the pantomiming, actually doing it, we're all in trouble and we're all getting sued.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, that's not the comedy police.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, no, no.

[Matt Abeticola]

Different police.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, the comedy police. You know, because they, they show up with the squirting flowers and the lapels and the honking horns and like, you know, 20 cops got a tiny car.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right? So. All right, so, okay, so he's Then he's preparing himself for maybe something down the road. That why he might need extra counseling? Because more information came.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's what I'm thinking. It's like, oh, boy, I need extra counseling. Or even saying, like, hey, did you know you were one of six coaches and four executives? Like, who knows, right?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I might need tomorrow off. Why? I don't know. I don't feel good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or maybe there's pictures. Like, does he know that there's another picture of him running around naked? I don't know. Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, yeah, That's a good point, too. Yeah. Because he knows what's out there.

[Commercial Announcer]

He.

[Dan Bernstein]

He knows that this has been going on for eight years.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's not a good way to live, man. It's not. He should just get it all out there on his own. All right, let me tell you. Let me give you the story, because he's not getting fired.

[Dan Bernstein]

Listen up, people. I'm gonna say this, and I'm gonna say this once. Exhibit A, right? The reason there's a wiffle bat sticking out of my ass.

[Matt Abeticola]

Patriots media gets together. Hey, we were just called it. Rabel's gonna speak. Oh, they might have cut somebody. Or maybe they sound somebody. No, no, no.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's naked. Except for only swim fins. Where was this?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now, she and I would snorkel often. And picture two. Yeah, snorkeling trip.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think you should do that. He just get it out there because he's not losing his job.

[Dan Bernstein]

So. No, he couldn't. Now, we know that now, right? He's not losing his job. They don't want him to. Everything's awesome in his world. And Drake May says he's the greatest human being and everybody's everywhere happy, happy, happy.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, something else to follow up on from yesterday. Green Bay packers running back Josh Jacobs was released from jail Wednesday. That's yesterday, after his arrest on several domestic violence charges. After reviewing the available evidence in the case, the Brown County District's Attorney's office has not yet prepared a formal charging decision. That's attorney David L. Lassie said in a statement. Our office has requested additional investigation as there is reason to believe that additional evidence may exist that would impact whether criminal charges are appropriate and what charges would be issued. Mr. Jacobs will be released from custody at this time, and a final charging decision will be made by our office at a later date. His lawyers then shared a second statement. We are extremely pleased that Josh has been released from custody and that no criminal charges have been filed against him. As we previously stated, we encourage everyone to keep an open mind while the matter is fully reviewed. We remain confident that once all of the evidence is gathered and evaluated, it will confirm that no charges should be brought against Josh in the future.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's a pretty confident statement.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes, it is. So he gets arrested. His lawyers are like, hey, did you guys know X, Y, and Z? The attorney's general office says, hey, we need to investigate more. Apparently. Sounds like there's more evidence to be had.

[Dan Bernstein]

And the fact that he would be on his own recognizance at the moment, like, they did not hold him. He was held without bond.

[Matt Abeticola]

Without bond on five different charges.

[Dan Bernstein]

So he went from some felonious. And he went from held without bond to out. No flight risk.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. No bond on. Yeah. Two felony charges, three misdemeanor charges to the next day. To the next day being released.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. He was not bonded out.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct. He was released.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. Okay. So stay tuned is all I would say. And keep an open mind, like his lawyer said. Yep. Well, his lawyer's right in this particular regard. Yes. That will do it. For forward progress today, a Chicago Bears, Bears and NFL podcast.

[Matt Abeticola]

It wasn't me. I didn't do it. With Dan Bernstein and Matabeticola on 31 2, sports. All right, that's it. We're all done now. You got anything else to say, jerk?