Will Logan Jones Win the Chicago Bears Center Battle before Week One?

Summary

Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Will Logan Jones Win the Chicago Bears Center Battle before Week One?
Date: July 21, 2026
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan and Matt dig into the most burning Chicago Bears training camp question: Will rookie Logan Jones win the battle for starting center before Week One, or will veteran Garrett Bradbury get the nod? Using recent national NFL coverage and their own analysis, they break down the battle in the context of broader training camp debates, discuss underrated coaching staff developments, and sprinkle in Bears/NFL roster intrigue. As always, their banter transitions to engaging side conversations—ranging from NFL media layoffs to high-stakes fast food trivia and culinary deep-dives.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. National vs. Local Bears Storylines (02:35–06:53)

• Dan reacts to Ben Solak’s national piece on top NFL camp storylines; notes lack of Bears pass rush and center battle in the “Top 5”:

  “Where’s the question about the Bears’ pass rush? ... If he did top 10, maybe it makes it there, but definitely wasn't in his top five.” (Dan, 04:33)

• Both lament that the Bears’ crucial preseason roster battles aren’t getting national attention—even though the sudden retirement of center Drew Dalman could be pivotal.

2. Logan Jones vs. Garrett Bradbury – The Center Battle (06:53–08:53)

• Solak's article spotlights Logan Jones as a rookie to watch due to the “pivot” left by Dalman’s retirement.
• Matt points out that some insiders claim Jones is “day one ready,” so Bradbury may only start if Jones fails:

  “There could be a scenario where Bradbury doesn't start a game for the Bears unless Logan Jones is unable to perform.” (Matt, 06:54)

• Dan contends that “training camp battles” are usually artificial—coaches often know their preferred starter already:

  “Generally my belief is they're decided before they even begin. ... There's always a thumb on the scale.” (Dan, 07:32)

3. The Illusion of Training Camp Competitions—Especially at QB (08:53–16:20)

• Extended riff about how most position battles, especially at QB, are “pre-decided” for chemistry and system reasons:

  “You can't have that [a real QB battle] sprung on you outside of your control ... You have to build everything that voice that they hear at the line.” (Dan, 15:06)

• They debate whether other high-profile NFL roster battles (Vikings, Browns, Dolphins, Falcons) are actually more interesting (and real) than the Bears’ center contest.
• Commentary on the complexity and importance of the center position—especially in an offense as intricate as Ben Johnson's.

4. The National Coaching Spotlight – Bears Staff Under the Radar? (24:08–30:20)

• Discuss Jordan Rodrigue’s article listing “breakout assistant coaches” for 2026—who from Chicago will be recognized?
• Matt guesses correctly: “Jim Dre” (Bears tight end coach) makes the list, not O-line coach Dan Roushar as they expected.
• Points to the reputation and depth in Bears’ tight end room (Kmet, Colston Loveland, rookie Sam Rausch) under Dre’s tutelage.

5. Fun Sidebar: NFL Media, Bears Coverage, and ESPN Layoffs (43:43–46:17)

• Brief commentary on ESPN/NFL Network merger and suspicious silence around internal scandals:

  “You don't want to piss off the NFL when you're trying to get that done.” (Dan, 45:06)

• Speculation about whistleblowing and media ethics as large numbers of journalists are laid off.

6. Interactive Segment: Fast Food Chain Revenue Quiz (34:10–44:24)

• Matt quizzes Dan on the top US fast food chains by revenue in 2025, leading to a spirited back-and-forth about industry trends, the “Subway slicer” marketing misfire, and food quality anecdotes.
• Revealed top brands (McDonald’s, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, etc.), with surprise about coffee chains’ dominance.

7. Culinary Hacks & Food Talk (46:47–50:14)

• Dan shares a “hot bar hack” at Chicago’s Cermak groceries for cheap, delicious meals.
• Matt describes making sweet corn, jalapeño, and pancetta risotto:

  “Easily the best risotto I've ever made...it was perfect. I always evaluate my food based on if I would charge someone money for it. That for sure—that’s on the list.” (Matt, 49:00)

• Banter about the best ways to rehydrate dried mushrooms and practical dinner strategies.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Center Battle as a Decided Competition:

  “If they want Logan Jones to start, they’re going to go out of their way to make sure they feed him everything just right...If they want him to be the winner, he will be.”
  — Dan Bernstein (07:32)

• On the Unreality of Most Training Camp Battles:

  “They're never as real as we think they are, I think...you know who your quarterback is.”
  — Matt Abbatacola (13:39)

• On the Impact of Center Play:

  “This is somebody around whose very specific idiosyncrasies you're building the offense and the tiniest details.”
  — Dan Bernstein (14:18)

• Grady Jarrett's Reaction to a Caleb Williams TD:

  “They had Grady Jarrett on the bench ... and they caught him on mic saying, ‘Oh my God, what the f---.’ That was the proper definitive response.”
  — Matt Abbatacola & Dan Bernstein (22:13–22:34)

• On Fast Food Revenue Surprises:

  “McDonald’s is number one and it’s not even close...Starbucks at 31.5 billion—that’s almost 10 billion more than Chick-fil-A.”
  — Matt Abbatacola (38:13)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• (02:35–06:53) – National coverage of Bears roster battles; overview of Solak’s “five rookies to watch.”
• (06:53–08:53) – Deep dive into the logic of the Logan Jones vs. Bradbury center battle.
• (08:53–16:20) – Extended discussion of the truth about training camp competitions.
• (19:15–22:34) – Reaction to Cam Scataboo’s backflip incident; Bears playoff highlight (Grady Jarrett’s live reaction).
• (24:08–30:20) – Bears assistant coaching staff discussion; Jim Dre as a national “breakout assistant.”
• (34:10–44:24) – Dan takes the 2025 US fast food revenue quiz.
• (46:47–50:14) – “Food hacks” and detailed cooking talk (incl. risotto recipe).

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Tone & Style

Balanced blend of analytical insight, grounded Bears/NFL expertise, and self-aware, fan-first banter. The hosts deftly move between detailed football breakdowns and irreverent, relatable side conversations, keeping the episode both informative for football diehards and warmly accessible to casual listeners.

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Summary prepared for listeners seeking in-depth football context, sharp perspective on Bears camp intrigue, and a healthy dose of off-field fun.

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.

[Dan Bernstein]

10219 219.

[Matt Abeticola]

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

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, it's forward progress time you want it, you got it. We talked whether you want it or not. Yeah, you got it. You're here, so you must want it against your better judgment. So we have Bears and NFL thoughts for you here on forward progress. And I thought that I was going to get something that was just going to be perfect when I saw an article, Ben Solak writing the top storylines for 2026 NFL training camps.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

So I saw this.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I thought, all right, I know what one of these is going to be. As soon as I saw the first unanswered question that could be answered. The first question was, did the Texans do enough along the offensive line? I said, I don't know. I don't particularly care, but okay, I know what's coming. I know it's going to be here. It said, what did the Eagles offense look like? That was a question. Get to it. Get to it. How does coordinator Davis Webb change the Broncos? I don't know the answer, but I'm going to keep going. Is the Bengals defense ready to meet expectations? I'm going to answer that. I think no, because I saw what

[Matt Abeticola]

we saw last year. Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

I saw it last year. That's about as bad as I've ever seen.

[Matt Abeticola]

So you're looking for something very specific here, as was I. Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

So I'm scrolling, I'm scrolling. I'm like, okay, I know what's coming here. That there's gotta be. If we are talking about specific teams, possible contending teams and huge aspects of what we think matters in winning football

[Matt Abeticola]

last year, playoff team that have been

[Dan Bernstein]

sort of understood to be under addressed or unaddressed. Right.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

The next question, what sort of first team reps does Fernando Mendoza get and what does he do with him? Like, oh, we're running out of room here. How many questions are there going to be? And that was it.

[Matt Abeticola]

That was. Wasn't in his top five.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

Where.

[Dan Bernstein]

Where's the question about the Bears pass rush?

[Matt Abeticola]

Now? Maybe if he did top 10, it makes it there, but definitely wasn't in his top five.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know.

[Matt Abeticola]

And then.

[Dan Bernstein]

Then it's training camp. Battles to watch. Glad that there's no Bears on training camp because you know what, training camp battles are generally stupid.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Injuries to monitor. Okay, okay. Don't. Nothing. Nothing rose to that occasion. George Kittle is on here. Even though he. We saw him last night, looked healthy, looked healthy, happy, auditioning for a job.

[Matt Abeticola]

He.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, he looked. I don't know. He looks a little gross, though. Like he's all the. He Just.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, it's the long hair. Yeah. And you're not fond of tattoos either?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, I find that like tattoos for the.

[Matt Abeticola]

Just to look.

[Dan Bernstein]

He just looks kind of scuzzy. So then I got to. This surprised me a little bit. Five rookies to watch. And I scrolled and I said, huh, Guess who is on the list of rookies to watch.

[Matt Abeticola]

I know exactly who's on the list because I saw the same thing.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, sorry.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's Logan Jones. Yes. And what Solak says is I could have thrown the Bears center into the position battle section. Well, you don't tell me now says. But we could have will tag it here instead. The surprise retirement of center Drew Dahlman, who had signed a top of the market extension in 2025, left Chicago in a tricky spot. Its line from left guard to right tackle was the strength of the offense last season, both in quality of play and overall health. Suddenly, the Bears are scrambling for a new pivot. That's what we call it now. I guess the football cognizanti refer to it as the pivot. They traded for expatriate Garrett Bradbury. Not a permanent starter, however, so Chicago made Jones the first drafted center. Jones is cut from the dolman cloth. Not physically dominant, but smart and quick on his feet. Of course, the Johnson offense brutally complex, which would be asking a rookie center to manage protections and run adjustments right away. A recipe disaster. There's a lot going on in here. So Jones will likely unseat Bradbury at some point in the season. How well he performs in training camp will be the first sign of just how ready he is. Okay, so we got to get laser focused on this battle at the pivot.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. There's been a couple other NFL insiders and guys who need to fill content here during the desert wasteland of July that have talked about this position battle and have said that you drafted a guy who is day one ready to play. So there could be a scenario where Bradbury doesn't start a game for the Bears unless Logan Jones is unable to perform.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. What is the rule about training camp? Positional battles. Which is why I made fun of them in general.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. Well, you shouldn't have them. You should know who your better player is going into it.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're the coach.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

And generally my belief is they're decided before they even begin. Because if you are giving everybody every chance, it's all about the reps. Even if we give equal reps, there's always, always, always. Even though teams deny it more. So a quarterback than elsewhere. But there's always a thumb on the scale. There's always a thumb on the scale. So if they want Logan Jones to start, they're going to go out of their way to make sure they feed him everything just right, that they are layering everything in. You know, there's some things obviously they want to see. I'll put him out there now and put low, see if Logan Jones can make that reach block just like Garrett Bradbury did because. Or that he slid the protection. We changed it. You talk to Dennis Allen, you say, hey, throw this kid a couple curveballs today. And you do that. Let's see if he can sniff out some of these pressures and see how he responds. And they'll do that. But if they want him to be the winner, he will be.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. And I'm not going to be angry about it. Like, oh, then why'd you go out and sign Garrett Bradbury?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, they traded for him.

[Matt Abeticola]

But yeah, traded for him. I get it with a year left and 4 million. So it's because it's virtually nothing and you have to have a backup and people get hurt.

[Dan Bernstein]

And if you look at last year when their left guard ended up starting at left tackle in the most important

[Matt Abeticola]

game of the season. So it's totally fine.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Matt Abeticola]

If he's not the starter because he's a competent guy that can fill that role until you address it after this year. So going onto that article there by Ben Solak, the five training camp battles to watch, what I learned here and Ben's I read a lot of Solac stuff on Nesp, does a good job and he knows his stuff. I learned something here, not by what I read in this section, but by what I didn't read. So again, these are the five training camp battles to watch. So there was two I expected to see. Given everything we've heard from these organizations, they are number one. He has listed jets quarterback. I thought, all right, not interested. Not what I expected to see.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Second one was Chargers tight end. Okay. Also not what I expected to see, but also not interested. Falcons quarterback. I'm like, all right, now we're getting in the area that I'm expecting to see. Two other areas, Falcons quarterback. And that makes sense, I get it. But I also think I know who the winner is there. Then he has fourth Jaguars wide receiver. All right, not interested. And then last of the 5 49ers secondary. So what didn't I see? That I think kind of tells me a little bit about what I've already known. Two things Two teams.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Cleveland and Minnesota.

[Dan Bernstein]

So we've got the Shador Sanders match up with Deshaun Watson and Dylan Gabriel. Still there.

[Matt Abeticola]

He is still there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. And then you've got J.J. mcCarthy and Kyler Murray.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. Those to me are two bigger stories than any of these five that he has listed here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Than Tua versus Penix.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I would put that in third. I mean, because again, if you don't have the quarterback, you don't have a team, period. I mean, you get the quarterback, you get the head coach. We've heard about that. We've seen that unfold before our eyes.

[Dan Bernstein]

That can make everything else less important, if you have that right.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct. So I would say that McCarthy and Murray and Sanders and Watson are bigger stories than some of these other ones he has listed here.

[Dan Bernstein]

So I know as a, as a Bears observer, that is one of the biggest non Bears stories to me right now. When is Micah Parsons coming back?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And you know, you can put Tucker Craft that it's, it's, it's Parsons. When is Parsons coming back? Who's quarterbacking the Vikings?

[Matt Abeticola]

Those are the two biggest non bear stories.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, I think so.

[Matt Abeticola]

Exactly. No, I agree with you.

[Dan Bernstein]

That relate to the Bears. Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

But I also think that if you're doing a national perspective that those two, the Vikings and the Browns quarterbacks are bigger position battles. Because we're being told that they are position battles. And I think we're not being told the truth though. I think Kevin o', Connell, despite of all the garbage salad he'll spew out to you and confuse you because I think he does that to not get follow up questions because he said.

[Dan Bernstein]

And then your guy in Cleveland, that's the Casey Stangle. Right.

[Matt Abeticola]

I think your guy in Cleveland knows already who his starting quarterback is.

[Dan Bernstein]

Todd, do you think he talks to the haircut troll? Yeah, under the bridge.

[Matt Abeticola]

But I think he knows football information. Sean Watson is the quarterback.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't tell Dion.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, no, I know we're not. I mean, Dan's not going to agree with that. But you look at what they invested, I mean, you're talking over $230 million in Watson.

[Dan Bernstein]

But they kind of. Yeah, but they've made their peace with the, with that expenditure. Right?

[Matt Abeticola]

They have after, after this, after this season though, if they can, if they can win games with him this year, you best believe he'll be starting. So I think Monkin knows that he's their starter already. And I also think that Koc knows that his starter is Kyler Murray.

[Dan Bernstein]

So why have to keep. Why do you have to get Carrot out there for J.J. mcCarthy?

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, I think, honestly, if he knows

[Dan Bernstein]

he's not the starter, he's not going to practice hard.

[Matt Abeticola]

Here's what it tells me. It tells me trade him. That that's internal conflict, that the Wolfs

[Dan Bernstein]

are asking him to do something that

[Matt Abeticola]

someone said they're not all fully in agreement. People that have opinions that matter on both sides of it. Otherwise you just say, your head coach, who's your guy?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, Quesnod says, gone.

[Matt Abeticola]

And if there weren't other people having opinions on the matter, then maybe the head coach says, yeah, we can't. This is not how you do a training camp.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or he had to grudgingly agree. Okay, we'll have a competition and the best man wins.

[Matt Abeticola]

Sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

And then he rolls his eyes.

[Matt Abeticola]

He's like, all right, knowing who the best man is.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. That. That's back to my original point that there's. These things are never as real as

[Matt Abeticola]

we think they are, I think. And then I think by not pointing either one of those situations out, which are two of the bigger stories in the NFL at the most important position, it kind of says something there, too. Because, like, listen, if you want to go into a quarterback competition with. With Garrett Bradbury and Logan Jones, great, you can do that.

[Dan Bernstein]

You mean a center competition?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. If they're in a quarterback competition.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, yeah. Did I say quarterback competition? Okay, yeah, center competition. But you can't do that with a quarterback like you. You know who your quarterback is. Like, it's okay. If you want to go into training camp in the first week or two and say, all right, these two centers who are pretty much like, you can replace one with the other right now because. Based on one. Because the guy's experience and knowledge in

[Dan Bernstein]

the NFL, it's more than that. It's not an outfielder. This is somebody around whose very specific idiosyncrasies you're building. The offense and the tiniest details. How much do we now know about. Which is your front foot about? Are you do turn this way or this way?

[Matt Abeticola]

The.

[Dan Bernstein]

The. The differences in cadences to make sure people don't jump off sides like that. That's why the idea of a quarterback competition can be so ridiculous. It's like, all right, well, okay, we played them all equal time in preseason, equal time in practice. Now we're going to make the big decision now we're to go play football.

[Matt Abeticola]

Because it's not plug and play. You can't do.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's what I'm saying you can't do that. You have to build everything that voice that they hear at the line. If in fact the guy gets hurt, you got to put somebody in different story. You got to get out of a game. You got to get through three games. I'll figure it out. But if you're talking about the setting up your ideal team to go win a Super bowl and have everybody learn, oh, he likes to do this, or he'll see the field in this order or this is his receiver blankie guy that he's able to see more than other guys because that happens is this guy and not this guy. Like, you can't have that sprung on you outside of your control. When you can control.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. Because an offense you build around Tyson Bajan is going to look very different to the offense you build around Caleb Williams.

[Dan Bernstein]

A lot worse.

[Matt Abeticola]

A lot worse. Sure. Yes. Agree with that. But they're very different.

[Dan Bernstein]

Correct.

[Matt Abeticola]

So it's not just, here's my playbook now here's the quarterback to run that.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're not. They're not interchangeable. I know they say next man up, and he's not. He does not at that position. Reps. No, it isn't really at any position, but more so that one.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

You need to invest the time to maximize what that guy does and how he does it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And only being. Because everything runs through that guy. That's weird how that works so well.

[Dan Bernstein]

You can say it all runs through the center, too.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I just think. I. I just think that those two positions might be answered without these fake quarterback tryouts and competitions coming up, particularly at. At that position. You just can't. I mean, Todd Monkin knows going into that job who his guy is.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think one thing about Todd, I think confidence in his own decisions is not a problem.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know if he's gonna be right or wrong, but I don't think he's gonna do a whole lot of waffling. I think he's gonna have some strong feelings. You know, I think it's really important to be smart about managing your finances. And that's why I believe Monarch is the app that can help you in doing so. Monarch's like having a financial advisor in your pocket. It's a personal finance app, and it tracks everything that can help you take care of your financial picture. Accounts, investments, saving goals and spending. Most apps only tell you what you've already spent. Monarch helps set goals, map out big purchases, and see if you're actually on track before it's too late to adjust. There's an AI Weekly recap. It flags spending spikes, net worth, shifts and upcoming expenses. And you can ask the AI assistant anything about your finances. How much did I spend on travel last summer? Can I afford this vacation without touching my savings? Write your own money story with Monarch use the code [e-mail] to get your first year of Monarch Core Half off at just 50 bucks. That's 50% off your first year at monarch.com with the code DBU.

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[Matt Abeticola]

All right. A couple other things to follow up on the cam Scatterboo. So we talked about that yesterday. He did that flip and I saw. Did you have you seen the video of him doing it and falling?

[Dan Bernstein]

I didn't see the video.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. Yeah, it looks like both ankles give out. It doesn't look good at all. So. But he's fine. Says he's fine. So a little more on when it previously happened because remember in that story we read that he had done the flip before this off season and I found out in reading another story that he did it at a charity softball

[Dan Bernstein]

game in May, Right?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

And so he's with other other Giants at a charity softball game and he does the flip and he lands at no issues. Everything's fine. Got a conversation with head coach John Harbaugh saying hey, you know, this is great. You know, I love the enthusiasm, the energy. I love who you are, but stop doing that stuff. And now you fast forward. Yes. A few months.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think we. I think we mentioned that.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Yeah. No, but we didn't say specifically where it was, what he was doing. I didn't know. I didn't know if he was at some fan thing, but he's at a charity softball.

[Dan Bernstein]

He was in a backflip competition.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not to be confused with black flip. Black flip, which is very different, which

[Matt Abeticola]

is what they did to Bears offensive lineman

[Dan Bernstein]

when they turned Luke Elkin into Darnell Wright.

[Matt Abeticola]

What we didn't. What we didn't know yesterday for sure was that Harbaugh had a conversation with him. We just said, if. I said, if I'm John Harbaugh, I call him up and say, dude, listen, I love you, love your attitude, love your energy. Got to be who you are, but stop doing fucking backflips. And we didn't know that that had happened, but it actually did happen. And Harbaugh was like, dude, no more of those. And then you go to this fan fest thing that he's at, and he does one and falls. So, I mean, if you're Harbaugh, are you on the phone with him tomorrow, like, immediately after that saying.

[Dan Bernstein]

But especially after seeing his quote, they say, I ain't got no brain, then fuck it there.

[Matt Abeticola]

So we know Harb already told him 1. Stop doing the backflips.

[Dan Bernstein]

Mm.

[Matt Abeticola]

Didn't stop him.

[Dan Bernstein]

He probably forgot.

[Matt Abeticola]

I didn't think about that angle. Maybe he did. Maybe Harvard calls him up. Hey, listen, I fucking told you, stop with the bet. No, you didn't. No, you didn't. What are you talking about? Dude, we talked in May after the softball game. I'm just. What softball game? I don't. I didn't. Wasn't in a softball game.

[Dan Bernstein]

Who are you?

[Matt Abeticola]

I play football, so I'm not ruling

[Dan Bernstein]

out anything with that guy.

[Matt Abeticola]

Harbor did talk to him about it, and it didn't really matter. I guess. One other thing I saw. I was watching a preview of the Bears upcoming season, and they were showing highlights of all the comeback from.

[Dan Bernstein]

Where. Where was this preview?

[Matt Abeticola]

Bears website.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

And they had sideline footage of the defense watching the Rams playoff game. When Caleb threw that touchdown. The Cole Comet. They had Grady Jared on the bench. Yeah. And they caught him on Mike saying, oh, my God, what the fuck is what he said?

[Dan Bernstein]

What else are you gonna say?

[Matt Abeticola]

So great. And he's like, you could just. And this is A veteran guy who's been around, 33 year old. He's been the game. Yep. And. And the reaction was as real and genuine and it was great. It was like a fan. He's like, oh my God, what the fuck?

[Dan Bernstein]

That was the proper. That. That's. That is the definitive proper response.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

That sums up how we all felt.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, it was, it was pretty awesome.

[Dan Bernstein]

I just. We were so like mentally shredded by that game.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, some of those post game shows were just. Were exhausting. Yes. Like walking into it exhausted.

[Dan Bernstein]

I remember starting the postgame show and just already feeling like I had, you know, been. I don't know, like they put me through something. Like, you know what I felt like, I felt like I'd taken the SATs.

[Matt Abeticola]

You know that feeling, that emotion, that being that emotionally drained.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

It was just like mentally, mentally when you come out of there, you come out of like the AP tests and all, like all of the high school testing and you're just like, oh God, that's how I felt starting some of those Bears post game shows.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And if you're new to or newer to forward progress, we do have live post game shows after every game. Can't be there. Yes. Doesn't matter if it's Thursday or Saturday or Friday or Sunday. Yeah. Oh, he did get fired.

[Dan Bernstein]

Art Scott.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, a lot of guys got fired.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, there's. We're all day. I think people are getting.

[Matt Abeticola]

Ryan Clark got fired in the middle of a segment. He was like, they were on a

[Dan Bernstein]

commercial break and he was told apparently Carl Ravitch was.

[Matt Abeticola]

Didn't do the last 10 minutes of the show.

[Dan Bernstein]

Apparently Carl Ravitch was told he was fired by a reporter and not by his own bosses. They called him. He's like, he had not heard yet when we contacted him.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like, oops, not good. So, yeah, so if you're new to forward progress or newer to us, thanks for being here and just get ready for that football season as we do live post. Live post game shows with your interaction.

[Dan Bernstein]

Jordan Rodrigue writes football for the Athletic and does a great job of it. And she wrote this big piece, assistant coaches who could break out in 2026. Okay, so what does that mean? That's my first question. Like, what does it mean? It's just a coach breakout. Does it mean you get a head coaching job? What does it mean?

[Matt Abeticola]

Does it mean you get recognized?

[Dan Bernstein]

Exactly. So she said, july's breakout month in the NFL. I thought it was nothing month, but,

[Matt Abeticola]

oh, it's when everyone goes through their. Who's going to Break out for the season.

[Dan Bernstein]

Everyone's optimism is sky high. The sweaty slog of training camp hasn't hit yet. We in the media are giddily producing a frenzy of predictions. So she said some ground rules or parameters for a list of potential breakout assistance created out of conversations with team and league sources, my own observations and film study, plus a couple of extra tidbits from our writers. Here are the bullet points. The assistant coach does not have to be a coordinator. The coach may be well known to one fan base already. Congrats. You guys know ball. But could make a greater impact locally and nationally in 2020. 2026. Some coaches may be poised to receive interest for higher level jobs, but to be included here, they do not have to be future head coaches or future coordinators. They might just be really, really good at the job they have. The point is, you'll notice their work. I paired some coordinators together because the overall potential of or intrigue in the tandem, she said. My list, my rules. Okay, I want to see how long it takes you to determine the Chicago Bear that made the list go. You can. You can.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I'm going to have to.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, I'm going to give you open book here and you can look up all their names. You can go through. You can pick one, but then I'll read you the paragraph and I just want to see how many guesses it takes you to get the Chicago Bear, Because I have one that I thought and it was not that one.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, let me guess. J.T. barrett. Nope. How about Jim Dre? Jim Dre. Not Jim Gray?

[Dan Bernstein]

Jim Dre is correct.

[Matt Abeticola]

Really?

[Dan Bernstein]

Other than quarterback, Bears coach Ben Johnson has made it clear that tight end is the most important element of his layered, explosive offensive system. That especially highlights Dra, whom Johnson retained from the Matt Eberfluss era staff.

[Matt Abeticola]

Really?

[Dan Bernstein]

Dre will be coaching one of the most talented position rooms in the NFL featuring Cole Comet, Colston Loveland and rookie third rounder Sam Rausch. I thought it was going to be Dan Roshar because offensive line coaches do a lot.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And his name kept coming up last year. And I think Dan Roshar does do a lot with this offensive line and it's going to be a good offensive line. But the number when we already talked about the center position battle, left tackle position, potentially open. Open or battle, whatever you want to say.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, that.

[Dan Bernstein]

So I thought for sure it was going to be Dan Roshar. But no, she says Jim Dre is the guy.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Another name in here. Baltimore Ravens Declan Doyle saying he's the subject of much curiosity around the league as he enters his first season as Baltimore's oc. He's kind of scrolling through to see if there are any familiar names because we know that there are a lot of these assistant coaches simply go from team to team here and there. There is an Illinois name on here. The Rams. Nate Shieldhouse, their offensive coordinator. Did you see who the Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach is who was named on here?

[Matt Abeticola]

I knew it. I forgot. Who is it?

[Dan Bernstein]

It's Josh McCown.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, that's right.

[Dan Bernstein]

A lot of scrutiny on him this season. Kyler Murray, J.J. mcCarthy. Scrutiny could shift to interest and then to excitement should Murray play as well, as many are expecting him to under McCown, Kevin O' Connell and Wes Phillips. So yet here's another really smart football person who's certain it's going to be Kyler Murray.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like obviously it's going to be Kyler Murray.

[Matt Abeticola]

You know, I just noticed on the Bears coaching staff, their defensive quality control coach.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

Is Kenny Norton iii.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

I didn't know that he was part of the staff.

[Dan Bernstein]

And is their running backs coach is Eric Studsville, right?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. So he's a. He's a. That's a rebound coach. He was. He was there before, wasn't he?

[Dan Bernstein]

When I covered the team. He was quality control with Wanstead. He was kid.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, he was a kid under Wanstead.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

That's right.

[Dan Bernstein]

But Eric Studesville as a running backs coach has done a lot of that. That Miami Dolphins stuff. Some of those little misdirection plays. He's well schooled in the Mike McDaniel running back. I expect to see some. Him make some tweaks that Dre.

[Matt Abeticola]

He. I didn't know this about him. So his eighth season overall in coaching, he was with the Cardinals, the Browns and Stan. I didn't know he was at Stanford as well too. A lot of tight ends coming out

[Dan Bernstein]

of there and ran a pro offense for a long time.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. So look at that. Second guess pal. Like that.

[Dan Bernstein]

I do.

[Matt Abeticola]

I went by position smart.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, I'm impressed. Thanks. But the fact that that was an Eber fluke guy.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

So maybe we can add him to the Eberfluz legacy along with Bermuda Grass.

[Matt Abeticola]

And it ends there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. So grass and dream and the. And.

[Dan Bernstein]

And the death of Hard Knocks. The Bears officially killed Hard Knocks.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's still going, doesn't it?

[Dan Bernstein]

I know.

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't. I haven't watched. You don't watch any.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's no need to watch anymore. They killed it. No swearing.

[Sponsor Voice 2]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

So we'll have no. No swearing. Still can't believe that.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, let me ask you this. I looked at some over unders. I think we did this with the Bears win total. You know what the win total is for the Bears? What the line is set them at

[Dan Bernstein]

nine, nine and a half. Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

So would you go over under that? I'm not going to ask you now because we just don't know. But I want to give you some other ones here for Caleb Williams. These are individual prop bets for Caleb. His passing yards is. They're having it set at 3575 and a half. So 3600. Yeah, I agree with that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. But there's injury. If healthy.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, sure. If healthy.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know this is all because the limiting factor on all of this is inj.

[Matt Abeticola]

So last year he finished with 39 42. His touchdown mark this year 24 and a half. He had 27 last year.

[Dan Bernstein]

Up, up, up.

[Matt Abeticola]

Interception set at 11 and a half and last year he had seven.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he. A lot dropped.

[Matt Abeticola]

Lot dropped, yes. On both ends of it. Defensive players and his own wide receivers. Were they third or second highest?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that's a good number. I don't know. I'd have to really think about that one.

[Matt Abeticola]

And then his rushing number is set at 325 and a half. And last year he finished with 388.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I. If the offense is rolling, it's going to be lower.

[Matt Abeticola]

Should be ideally, yes. Ideally, yes. And if he is making better, quicker decisions, then yes,

[Dan Bernstein]

I might. My instinct is to go under on that is to trust Ben Johnson and go under and just think that maybe those yards instead of. Instead of being Caleb Williams's feet, that they will be passing yards that are padding his total because he just flipped it to Swift or he flipped it to Manon Guy. Don't let managing your money be scary. Don't let it be intimidating because it's not. I think having intelligent control of your finances and your investments is really important and I believe Monarch can help you in doing so. Monarch is an app that functions like a. A financial advisor in your pocket. And as you get older and more people are relying on you to do this right, Monarch helps you do it. Helps you hit savings goals or a net worth milestone. Helps you realize when a large percentage of your income is going somewhere unexpected. I love the fact that Monarch lets you compare your investments to the Benchmark S&P 500. Most apps are going to tell you what you've already spent. Monarch helps you set goals and map out big purchases and see if you're actually on track before it's too late to adjust so you can write your own money story with Monarch. Use the code [e-mail] to get your first year of Monarch Core Half Off. At just $50. That's 50% off your first year at monarch.com with the code DBU.

[Sponsor Voice 2]

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[Matt Abeticola]

All right, I'm going to do something different here instead of talking about food, like what we're going to eat because

[Dan Bernstein]

we did it on dbu.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, no, I have. I have a question for you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes?

[Matt Abeticola]

Because I looked this up over the weekend and I don't even remember why I was looking up the total amount of revenue that McDonald's brings in in a year. I want to ask you, can you tell me the top 10 fast food chains last year based on their revenue,

[Dan Bernstein]

one through 10 based on revenue.

[Matt Abeticola]

Revenue of 2025.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now, this is. This is gross revenue. This isn't profits, right?

[Matt Abeticola]

It's not. Definitely not profits.

[Dan Bernstein]

Gross revenue, the amount of money that they brought in. All right, this is. Oh, geez.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

This is all.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is worldwide or is this us Worldwide?

[Matt Abeticola]

Because I thought that this company would be number one by a lot, and it wasn't. And it would know it actually, you

[Dan Bernstein]

know, because of Asia. I know KFC does really well. I'm gonna. I'm gonna. No, I'm gonna. Now I'm overthinking this. It's like I'm.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, no, no, no. You know what? No, no. Here, this list up. I'm sorry. Us only. Us only.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, it is us.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Do us only. Sorry.

[Dan Bernstein]

McDonald's.

[Matt Abeticola]

McDonald's is number one. It's not even close. Right?

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, that's. Yeah. That.

[Matt Abeticola]

That at 54.5 billion.

[Dan Bernstein]

Subway.

[Matt Abeticola]

Subway is on the list at number nine. 9.5 billion. It's good, though. I wouldn't have guessed Subway, but good for you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, they're huge.

[Matt Abeticola]

There's two on here. You're never going to guess. I just know chipotle that. Number seven at 11.3 billion. And a lot of that is from

[Dan Bernstein]

my son Hank and my wife and daughter.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay,

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, let's just play the hits here. Let's do Burger King.

[Matt Abeticola]

Burger King is number eight at 11 billion. So just under Chipotle.

[Dan Bernstein]

And above Subway.

[Matt Abeticola]

Just above Subway.

[Sponsor Voice 2]

Good.

[Matt Abeticola]

You're doing good, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wendy's.

[Matt Abeticola]

Wendy's is number five at 12.6 billion.

[Sponsor Voice 2]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

How about. I'm trying to think of what I'm not thinking of because I don't necessarily patronize it, but other people do. How about. Let's try kfc?

[Matt Abeticola]

Not on the list.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

But worldwide it is.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because of what it does in other countries.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, particularly Asia. Yeah, you're spot on with that.

[Dan Bernstein]

How about Popeyes? It is not what they're charging now. I'm shocked with the.

[Matt Abeticola]

There is a restaurant on this. Oh, Chick Fil A. Chick Fil a is number three. Yes. 22.7. And that is without being open on Sundays.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why can't that. And that's three.

[Matt Abeticola]

You said that's three. So you have one, three, five, seven, eight, nine. Five, seven, eight, nine.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, boy.

[Matt Abeticola]

Buddy, you're missing Taco Bell. Taco Bell. Thank you. Number four at 16.2 billion. I looked it up because I was curious to know the revenue difference between McDonald's and Taco Bell. And I knew. I knew McDonald's would make a lot. I didn't expect it to be nearly. I mean, what is that? Nearly 40 million.

[Dan Bernstein]

Arby's isn't on here.

[Matt Abeticola]

Arby's is not on here. Again, there are. So there's one that I think you should have guessed already, but there's two that you're never going to get.

[Dan Bernstein]

Do the pizza chains count?

[Matt Abeticola]

There is one on here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Domino's.

[Matt Abeticola]

Domino's is number 10. All right, so these are the two. I didn't. I don't think you'll guess these two.

[Dan Bernstein]

Any hints? Is it like a five guys or a Smash Burger or an in and out or.

[Matt Abeticola]

I'm going to give you one hint and you'll get it immediately because you don't think of these for fast food. You think of them for coffee.

[Dan Bernstein]

Starbucks.

[Matt Abeticola]

Starbucks is number two.

[Dan Bernstein]

And number six is Dunkin.

[Matt Abeticola]

Dunkin Donuts.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

Dunkin gets in at 12 and a half billion. And Starbucks, I guess that counts. Starbucks at 31.5 billion.

[Dan Bernstein]

McDonald's. Starbucks, Chick Fil A. Taco Bell, Wendy's. Dunkin, Chipotle, Burger King, Subway, Domino's.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, very good. Nicely done.

[Dan Bernstein]

Interesting yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

So Starbucks at 31 and a half. 31 and a half billion. That's almost 10 billion more than Chick Fil A.

[Dan Bernstein]

And that's just revenue.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, just revenue.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because I'm trying to think what is either more expensive to produce or.

[Matt Abeticola]

Or more.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or their stores cost more they need. It's really interesting when you start thinking about.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And then my guess is as far as profit, I always think about the Subway model and how, I don't know, how they buy ingredients and how they hedge against some of these ingredients. Meanwhile, can I point out something with Subway, do you notice? Remember that whole thing about the freshly sliced.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

I go in every Subway I go into right now, that slicer is mothballed.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's either sitting out or it's just there for show. They tried some whole thing corporately to compete with Jimmy John's and compete with Jersey Mike's and be like, hey, look, we're slice. And so they're. Oh, we can slice it too. And everywhere I go, I've never, ever, ever seen anyone using the slicer.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, so whenever that campaign came out. Cause it's within the last two years that that came out. Yeah. Where we're going to slice our. The meat right in front of you. Now, I've been to a Subway once and I went because of that, as

[Dan Bernstein]

stupid as it sounds, money did that lose.

[Matt Abeticola]

I went, because there's one in what? It's Mundelein, not too far from me. And I was driving past, I'm like, you know what? They do it different now. I'm going to go check it out. I haven't been there in forever, since I worked at the Score was the last time I was at Subway. So I go in and I order my sandwich and just pulls the meat off the pile right there in front of me.

[Dan Bernstein]

Was it. Well, they sliced it earlier, so I

[Matt Abeticola]

was like, well, all right. Well, I guess they. I guess they're not really doing that. So. Yeah, that was a big deal.

[Dan Bernstein]

It was a huge deal.

[Matt Abeticola]

And you, you go a lot. Obviously a lot more than I.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I kept it, see? And my. My sandwich, there is always tuna. So they're not doing any slicing anyway.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Slice my tuna. I want you to bring out a whole bluefin tuna.

[Matt Abeticola]

And would you break it down in front of me? Yes, I. I would, like, want you to process it. I don't package it into a cat.

[Dan Bernstein]

It could be skipjack. It could be blackfin. Whatever it is. I have to see that tuna and see it processed right here.

[Matt Abeticola]

So for tuna, they just open the can in front of you.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

Nope.

[Dan Bernstein]

I want it gutted, I want it filleted. I want it cooked. I want it processed.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Some poor kids, like, I don't make enough for this. Yep. I can't. I don't even know how to do it. Fish isn't even dead.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's bleeding all over the place.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. So they, they, they don't slice right in front of you.

[Dan Bernstein]

No.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like, they said they were going. Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

They made a huge deal out of it, those slicers, outfitting all of their stores with that slicer.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, then they had to have a slicer, didn't they? Didn't they? So the meat came sliced.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, it still does, but they. And the truth is, even some of the places that fresh slice it work ahead. Unless somebody come in the morning and do the fresh slicing.

[Matt Abeticola]

Jersey Mike's doesn't.

[Dan Bernstein]

There are places that say, well, everything's fresh sliced. And they're not lying.

[Matt Abeticola]

Jersey Mike's does it right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Literally has to do it right in front of you. And that's why that sandwich cost $23.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right? Well, it's also. They say it's a foot long. I'm pretty sure it's like three feet.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's the giant.

[Matt Abeticola]

Those are huge. Those are huge sandwiches.

[Dan Bernstein]

But it's $23.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, it's very expensive. I know. No, we'll. We'll order from there. And God forbid you door dash.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's really. Oh, no, no.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, it's great. I mean, if you, if you door

[Dan Bernstein]

dash, I might do that tonight.

[Matt Abeticola]

Jersey Mike's. Yeah, I mean, you're gonna. If you're getting two sandwiches or we get a sandwich and she gets a wrap.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, you know, explain this to my children.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's at least 40 bucks.

[Dan Bernstein]

Explain this to my children, please. Explicitly. Just please explain it to my children. When you're door dashing a salad.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. You shouldn't pay 27 for a salad. So the boys were. The other day, they wanted Wingstop.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay?

[Matt Abeticola]

And I. There's one in Mundele. It's not far. And they said, when's it going to be here? And I go, well, I'm going to go pick it up.

[Dan Bernstein]

See, that's the great thing about living in the city of Chicago. And they said, no fast food. Anything is far.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. They said, why are you going to go pick it up? And I go, because I don't want to pay 50 bucks for a dozen wings. Not interested in doing that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wings are expensive enough now.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. So. Well, good Job on that list. Thank you. I knew you'd do well. And I knew. I knew the coffee ones would get you, because you just don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know. I should take.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's fast food, but they actually. Starbucks actually has pretty decent food.

[Sponsor Voice 2]

I know.

[Matt Abeticola]

I know. It comes already made and it's got a nuke it.

[Dan Bernstein]

But I'm an egg bites guy.

[Matt Abeticola]

I love the egg bites with the bacon and gruyere. Good stuff. And then their ham and Swiss on croissant is really good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is it?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And then my boys, they do like the Dunkin Breakfast sandwiches and the. Their hash browns are actually really good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Those are the little ones right around crispy crowns. Like Hardee's.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. They're really, really good, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't sleep on a Hardee's breakfast now.

[Matt Abeticola]

You don't see Hardee's, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know.

[Matt Abeticola]

We'll get Hardee's around here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Hardee's Breakfasts.

[Matt Abeticola]

Where was it? We were driving back from somewhere. It was probably baseball. And there was a Hardee's attached to a gas station.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, there's. I think there's some down 50. I think we're in Indiana, maybe.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. And I was like, oh, Junior is Hardee's also. Same thing.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Yeah. Seen that, too, coming back from sports. So attached to a gas station. Yep. But it's usually either a Subway or McDonald's with the gas station.

[Dan Bernstein]

Almost always a subway.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Seems to McDonald's a lot. And there's a lot of Dunkin's inside gas stations now, too.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Instead of having their own coffee. But nice. Nice job that. And McDonald's is king. 54.5 billion. It's a lot of food.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. But again, it's all about the total. You got to subtract the costs.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I mean, they're. I mean, what's their. I mean, their revenue's got to be under. Under 10, right. I would think. I mean, what they actually profit, I should say. Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Net.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Net is probably under 10.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. They got to start firing people. Got to do what ESPN is doing.

[Sponsor Voice 1]

Oh.

[Matt Abeticola]

Which, by the way, want to mention that real quick with the acquisition of NFL Network by espn, kind of makes sense why they're not talking at all about the Rossini Rabel thing.

[Dan Bernstein]

You think that they. Because they're now invested in the NFL in a different way. They already kind of want.

[Matt Abeticola]

As the process was in play, though. You're not going to.

[Dan Bernstein]

You don't want to piss off the NFL when you're trying to get that done.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

So you're like, oh, by the way. Yeah, we'll just ignore the fact we're

[Matt Abeticola]

not going to look at our own reporter. And she may have been doing massive

[Dan Bernstein]

scandal, but I was tampering with the

[Matt Abeticola]

business of the NFL.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. I think they got away and just go, so if you're Diana Rossini, that's a gift to you. Like, she's sitting on a gold mine.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, there'll be.

[Dan Bernstein]

She's sitting on a gold mine.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I guess we'll see. I guess we'll see how. How smart she is or people around her.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, she's going to have to pay a lot of lawyers first to say,

[Matt Abeticola]

hey, yeah, I got this to say and I won't if you want to give me this.

[Dan Bernstein]

She's got to pay a lot of lawyers to make sure that she's not going to get, you know, sued back to the stone age.

[Matt Abeticola]

But now I wonder with people being let go, what they might want to share now too. Hey, here's the knowledge I had of this particular situation now that I was kicked out in the middle of a fucking segment while I was doing a show. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And if you know that the ESPN itself is not going to cover some things now, the NFL Network is not going to cover some things. That's a valid vacuum that she can fill if she times this just right.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, yeah, for sure. Yep. All right then.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. So forward progress.

[Matt Abeticola]

Are you adequately hungry enough? Yeah. Okay, good. Me too.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I always it. I swear to God, every day around this time, I always have like, you know. That sounds good. That sounds good. Last night, dude. Hack. Here's a hack.

[Matt Abeticola]

By the way, what'd you do? Oh, yeah, you didn't tell me what you ate.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. You know Chicago grocery store, Cermak. Cermak Fresh Foods.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. I used to have the one on Halstead and 31st, right across from.

[Matt Abeticola]

Is it a wholesaler or. What do you mean?

[Dan Bernstein]

It's a grocery store. Okay. There's several of them. There's one up right next to off of Pratt and Ridge, off of Western Cermak, man. Like, they're house made Mexican stuff. Like if you get.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, that's where you and Jay went though, after. Okay, that's where you were.

[Dan Bernstein]

So every time we go play Robert Black and what happens is after like 7 o', clock, they take all the stuff from the hot bar and they fill plastic containers with random stuff and it's pounds of food for pennies.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, so that's what you got pennies.

[Dan Bernstein]

I paid $6.99 for nine pieces of chicken. And this is their guajillo pepper roasted chicken rubbed with guajillo peppers and a huge thing of Puerto Rican arroz con gondules with the sausage in it. And then he got a thing with the chuleta de puerco and salsa verde. Arrows y frijoles. And frijoles. Charles, man, it just. They pack, and they just want to

[Matt Abeticola]

get rid of the food and good stuff. Oh, yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, that. But you got to get there at the right time. Telling you it's a hack. That's what I did last night. So I got to figure out tonight.

[Matt Abeticola]

Tonight we're going to order something tonight, because I made that risotto last night.

[Dan Bernstein]

Dude, tell people about the risotto. You sent this to me. I was sitting on the couch next to Jason, and I showed him the picture, and Jason actually said, where's that from? I said, that is from Matabata Cola's kitchen.

[Matt Abeticola]

So I did a. He's like, no. Yeah. Sweet corn with jalapeno and pancetta. It was risotto. One of the best risottos ever made.

[Dan Bernstein]

Sweet corn, jalapeno. It's almost like a perfect elote.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. With that.

[Dan Bernstein]

With the pancetta in there.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, it's like an Italian elote.

[Dan Bernstein]

Come on.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. It was great. It was so good. I knew you'd appreciate, too, the. Just the way it looked. It was perfect. Perfect. I always. I told you this. I. I evaluate my food based on if I would charge someone money for it. That for sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's on the list.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes. That was easily the best risotto I've ever made. And I love my. I do mushroom risotto normally.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's what I usually do too, but

[Matt Abeticola]

I felt like I wanted to use the corn. Do something with sweet corn.

[Dan Bernstein]

Do you use dried creminis ever?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Have you heard the trick of reconstituting creminis instead of using water, use cognac.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, I never have.

[Dan Bernstein]

Somebody said the other day, like, they.

[Matt Abeticola]

I've done it in stock and broth, obviously, fry.

[Dan Bernstein]

Reconstituting dried creminis. I don't know if you want them to sit overnight, but, like, in cognac, and then you just use them like you usually would with your shallots and butter. And apparently, like, the. The alcohol obviously cooks out.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, but that'd be good if you're doing, like, a steak and have those mushrooms with your steak. That'd be a nice combo. All right. Yeah. So I think tonight we're gonna order out. We don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think I'm hungry. That's Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears podcast.

[Matt Abeticola]

And you're welcome for it. Yeah. All the angry comments.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. If you came here for football, I wanted football. Well, you get plenty of football. And then. And then you get whatever you get and you don't get upset. Here on 312 sports for progress is stopped.

[Matt Abeticola]

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

[Dan Bernstein]

The following ZipRecruiter radio spot you are about to hear is going to be filled with F words.

[Sponsor Voice 2]

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[Matt Abeticola]

Fantastic.

[Sponsor Voice 2]

So whether you need to hire four, 40 or 400 people, get ready to meet first rate talent. Just go to ZipRecruiter. Com. Zip to try ZipRecruiter for free. Don't forget, that's ZipRecruiter. Com. Zip. Finally, that ZipRecruiter. Com. ZIP.