Will the Chicago Bears Trade for Jonathan Taylor?

Summary

Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode Title: Will the Chicago Bears Trade for Jonathan Taylor?
Date: July 1, 2026
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola

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Overview

In this lively episode, Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola explore the Chicago Bears’ potential moves in the NFL offseason, with a focus on the hot rumor: will the Bears trade for superstar Colts running back Jonathan Taylor? The hosts also check in on broader NFL storylines, react to ESPN’s latest retraction involving a former Bear, discuss the evolution of high-profile NFL predictions, and even wade into the pop-cultural event of the season—Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s upcoming MSG wedding. The discussion is the usual blend of sharp football analysis, Bears-focused passion, and authentic, often hilarious dialogue that makes Forward Progress a fan favorite.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. ESPN Retracts Michael Pennell Jr. Story

[01:19 - 04:36]

• Dan & Matt on ESPN’s editorial update: ESPN removed an investigative story implicating former Bear Michael Pennell Jr. in a Dominican Republic disappearance, after Pennell’s reps provided exonerating travel and financial proof.
  • Dan: “Since the publication of the story…they removed it. That’s a huge [deal]. They removed it.” [02:19]
  • The hosts emphasize the significance, as full story removals are rare. They question whether ESPN will re-report with new info.
  • Matt: “Normally if there are further developments, you’d add that to the story... so their lawyers told them to do it.” [04:09, 04:29]
• Takeaway: They stress transparency and updating listeners on stories previously discussed.

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2. Brendan Sorsby Situation & Gambling in College Football

[04:38 - 07:40]

• Matt: Updates on Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby, who’s declared for the 2027 NFL Draft following gambling-related issues.
  • Hopes Sorsby “gets the actual real help that he needs... puts his life forward as a professional football player.” [04:53]
• Dan: Reads Sorsby’s statement accepting responsibility:
  • “I accept 100% responsibility for my actions... I did not have control of my gambling problem and it took getting caught for me to realize that, but it was truly the best thing that could have happened to me.” [05:55]
  • Critiques Texas Tech for deflecting blame and praises Sorsby’s accountability.
• Both: Agree it’s a tough but important step for the young player.

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3. NFL Offseason Predictions: Ben Solak’s 2026 Bold NFL Forecasts

[10:13 - 36:26]

Hosts’ Reactions to Solak’s Top Predictions:

(Excerpts from Ben Solak’s ESPN “10 Predictions for 2026”)

• Myles Garrett gets 20 sacks: “Not really outlandish or bold... It’s possible.” [11:13 - 11:20]
• Dak Prescott throws for 5,000 yards:
  • Dan (guessing QBs): “Jameis Winston!” [11:55]
  • Matt: “How did you get that?” [11:56]
  • Light-hearted trivia and camaraderie.
• Chiefs miss the playoffs:
  • Dan: “That’s a pretty big one.” [12:47]
  • Both: Dive into Mahomes’ injury, roster improvements, and the fierce AFC West.
  • “If Patrick Mahomes is healthy... it’d be hard to see them not make the playoffs.” [14:14]
  • Justin Fields as new KC backup noted.
• Texans win the AFC: “Not outlandish... their defense is just nasty.” [16:44 - 16:52]
• Saints win NFC South: Ponder “sleeper” status; both are unenthusiastic about the division. [17:14+]
• Vikings win the NFC North: Both react strongly—
  • Dan: “No, no. Absolutely no... Not as currently constituted.” [29:07-29:09]
  • Matt: Highlights QB room’s shakiness and defense as the only bright spot.
• Bears trade for Jonathan Taylor:
  • [31:02+]
  • Dan (sarcastic disbelief): “Who’s trading for a veteran running back? I got two words: lake house. This is July 1st... your bosses need content.” [31:34–32:26]
  • They mock the rumor, calling it “really dumb” [33:34] given DeAndre Swift’s recent success and injury-free play.
  • Matt: “He says Kyle Manungai is a likable thumper, but not for more than 10 or so carries per game.” [33:16]
  • Dan: “Trading for a veteran back—no words together.” [33:34]
  • Both agree it’s an impractical scenario.
• Other wild-card predictions discussed:
  • Sam LaPorta traded (shrug).
  • Brock Bowers: Offensive Player of the Year (reasonable).
  • Antonio Williams (Commanders WR): Offensive Rookie of the Year (“Who?” [34:13])

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4. Pop Culture Sidebar: Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s MSG Castle Wedding

[18:13 - 39:11]

• Dan: “Is anybody else a little disappointed in Taylor Swift?... Didn’t think she’d make a concert out of her wedding.” [18:24, 19:33]
• Matt: Would have pictured a back-yard or vineyard event.
  • Dan: “I just... didn’t picture a big bouncy house inside of Madison Square Garden.” [21:10]
  • Joking imagery of bouncy houses, beer pools, and shirtless Jason Kelce.
• Discussion on celebrities at the event (Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran, etc.) and lavishness.
• Reflection on the appropriateness of such overt display during “historic runaway inflation.”
  • Dan: “She could do anything in the world...I almost paid six bucks for Cheetos the other day.” [22:42]
• Both go on a silly tangent about their snack preferences (Cheetos vs. Munchos vs. Sun Chips), revealing personal quirks.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Since the publication of the story, [ESPN] removed it. That’s a huge [deal]. They removed it.”
  — Dan, [02:19]

• “I accept 100% responsibility for my actions... I did not have control of my gambling problem and it took getting caught for me to realize that, but it was truly the best thing that could have happened to me.”
  — Brendan Sorsby Statement (read by Dan), [05:55]

• “If Patrick Mahomes is healthy... it’d be really hard to see them not make the playoffs again.”
  — Dan, [14:14]

• “Trading for a veteran running back? No words together.”
  — Dan, [33:34]

• “I just... didn’t picture a big bouncy house inside of Madison Square Garden.”
  — Dan, [21:10]

• “You know, some calls it 'wedding festivities,' others are saying 'wedding.' Other are saying 'celebrations.'”
  — Dan, on the Swift-Kelce event, [36:53]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:19] – ESPN retracts Michael Pennell Jr. story
• [04:38] – Brendan Sorsby statement and NCAA gambling issues
• [10:13] – Introduction to Ben Solak’s NFL predictions
• [12:47] – Chiefs’ playoff chances (and Mahomes’ injury)
• [16:44] – Texans, Saints, and AFC/NFC sleeper picks
• [29:07] – Vikings NFC North prediction
• [31:02] – The Bears/Jonathan Taylor trade discussion
• [33:34] – Final reactions to Bears trade rumor
• [18:13] – Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce wedding speculation and snack debate (runs intermittently through end)

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Tone

• Authentic, fan-centric, and irreverent—the hosts riff off each other with a mix of genuine football knowledge and Chicago sports attitude. They’re not afraid to poke holes in viral rumors or shared assumptions, prioritizing real talk over hype.

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Takeaways

• The much-discussed Jonathan Taylor-Bears trade is dismissed as media fodder, not a sensible football move.
• Transparency in media is important—even when it means correcting or retracting formerly high-profile stories.
• Accountability (as in the Sorsby case) stands out as a positive example for young athletes.
• Solak’s bold predictions spark both laughter and debate, with the hosts separating realistic scenarios from July clickbait.
• Forward Progress continues to blend hardcore Bears/NFL coverage with the human (and humorous) side of sports fandom.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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

[C]

Come on.

[B]

10. 219.

[C]

219. Forward progress. A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 sports.

[B]

We give you forward progress on 312 sports. Boy, times are busy in the NF. Everything's happening. So much is going on and we stay on top of absolutely everything for you as it's going on with your Chicago Bears and everybody else. Right, Matty?

[C]

What, what, what happened?

[B]

Yeah, I missed something.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

The only thing that I did see that that really caught me. That's important because we discussed it in this space and I do think that in the interest of the, the fairness here that this is. An update has been issued by espn. And it's more than an update. Regarding the story that we walked you through. They did a long investigative story. Back on June 18, they published a story. I don't think we did it that day. We did it a little a couple days after. But ESPN published a big story about former bear Michael Pennell Jr. And the ensuing investigation into a death of a woman in the Dominican Republic who had disappeared a long time ago. But just recently there's been an uptick in the investigation, some questions about the possible involvement or knowledge of. Of Mike Pennell. And just today, ESPN put out an update to that previous story and it says on June 18, 2026, ESPN published a story about Michael Pennell Jr. And an investigation into the death of a woman in the Dominican Republic who disappeared Sept. 5, 2021. ESPN has determined the story contained errors and has removed it. That's a huge. They removed it.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Since the publication of the story, Pinel's representatives have provided ESPN with documentation, including travel and financial records supporting Pinell's statements to ESPN that he was not in the Dominican Republic at the time the woman disappeared. Pinel's representatives also issued a statement. So whatever smoke was going on in there, and I'm not going to walk you back through everything that we did, but the fact that they removed the story is telling. I don't know if they're repackaging it. I don't know if they're re reporting it with the new information and there's going to be a new version or I should say a new story, but I think that's a fairly big deal. And I just want to make sure that we put that there that, you know, that, that we're aware of the update to the story. And I just want to make sure if it is something that we mentioned here that we should mention that there's been this, this change editorially.

[C]

Yeah. It is significant that they remove the whole thing because normally if there are further developments or new understanding of, of the situation, you would add that to the story. But.

[B]

And that's what I thought.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

The headline says update. Yeah.

[C]

But then.

[B]

And it's, it's still the, the. They dated the story June 18, 5:22pm Eastern.

[C]

Right.

[B]

So technically this is the space where the story was.

[C]

Yeah, they were.

[B]

And there's. And just one graph that the story's been removed. So that means their lawyers told them to do it.

[C]

Yep.

[B]

So that's that.

[C]

Yep. One short note here just to kind of put a bow on something that we've talked about for a few times on, on both DBU and forward progress is. Was it Texas Techs quarterback Brendan Sorsby? Yep. So he, you know, we, we talked about the NFL, his eligibility in college. Well, it's official now that he's released a statement saying that he is just preparing for the 2027 NFL Draft and that's all he's focusing on now. And I hope that, you know, just for his sake as a, as a young guy that he, he gets the help, the actual real help that he needs to deal with his addiction and gambling and kind of puts that behind him and puts his life forward as a professional football player and gets himself ready for that draft for 2027. And that's. He's not going to play football anywhere of any kind until someone drafts him if they do and if he doesn't gets drafted, if someone brings him on as an undrafted free agent. But it's gonna be a while for him before football is back in his life again. So I hope he takes care of what he needs to as far as his, his health and his, his addiction with gambling is concerned.

[B]

And what's important is the statement as part of this because there had been a pending legal action that is now completely dropped. But I think more importantly than the fight is this quote. This was a Statement provided to the athletic I accept 100% responsibility for my actions. Sorsby's statement read. I did not have control of my gambling problem and it took getting caught for me to realize that, but it was truly the best thing that could have happened to me. Because of this, I have been able to get the help I need and fully focus on my recovery. He said for and then these are. This is a memo that was sent out by the NFL that just said for purposes of league and CBA rules, Mr. Sorsby will be considered a draft eligible player for the 2027 NFL Draft. He will not be eligible to sign an NFL player contract until the completion of the 2027 NFL Draft. And source said he is fully committed to being the best version of myself that I can be while getting ready for the 2027 draft. So I think that graph about accepting the responsibility is key because unfortunately, because in Texas Tech did him no favors here because Texas Tech deciding bizarrely to take up the. This quixotic. Cause actually, probably the wrong word because there's. There's sort of something innocent about quixotic. There's. This was in no way innocent when they said, well, he has a gambling problem. So it's not his fault. For him to not take that out, for him to say, I have a gambling problem and therefore it is my fault.

[C]

Right.

[B]

Is a big step.

[C]

Yeah. Big step on his recovery and becoming that best version of himself. And yeah, you know, good luck to you and I hope that he stays on this path and we'll see where that develops for him and we'll circle back to it at the draft of 2027, see where it goes.

[B]

I don't know if he's any good. I. I don't know. I think the comp that I read from and I was looking at some work that was done by a guy who's really, really good, by the way, who works also for Gamut Podcasts and our sister network Score north up in Minneapolis. Guy named Thor Nystrom. Mm. He kind of compared him to Blake Bortles. He said that that would be the. The NFL comp. Okay, so that's what we're talking about. We're talking about.

[C]

He's had himself a career.

[B]

Oh, speaking of which, when I was. A couple days ago, I was walking by the lake, like right in front of. Right where the. The harbor turns in front of the Shedd Aquarium. There was a dude in a Blake Bortles jersey. Wow. I stopped him.

[C]

Yeah. Did you say. Did you talk to him?

[B]

I did ask him what was it?

[C]

Blake Bortles.

[B]

It was not actually Blake Bortles. No, it was. He was. He's like, yeah, I was. I was a fan. Like, okay, great. Like just when somebody asks you just say thrift shop. Just say thrift shop. Because that's cool.

[C]

He was a fan. He could say he was a fan.

[B]

Just say thrift shop.

[C]

He was one of.

[B]

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[D]

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[C]

on ESPN. Ben Solak. He wrote 10 predictions for the 2026 NFL season.

[B]

Oh God.

[C]

Listen, I, I love his approach. It's the only reason why I want to do this because I love his approach to it. He says, I like predicting the NFL season. I don't think I've ever gotten it right. But it's still a good time. So I came up with 10 early predictions. I tried to balance feasibility with outlandishness to these 10 bold preseason predictions.

[B]

Okay, so he, he admits this is ridiculous and he's leaning into ridiculous. Okay.

[C]

I refuse to be held accountable for any of them. Like when the saints inevitably go three and 14 or Miles Garrett has six sacks in his first season with the Rams. Let's start with some statistical picks. Screenshotting has been disabled on this webpage, so he gets it. Just having fun with it. So here's his first one and if I can dive deeper into any of these things, just let me know here. Miles Garrett will hit 20 sex.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Not, not really outlandish or very bold. Really. Right? Is it.

[B]

No, it's possible.

[C]

Yeah, it's very possible. So that's his first one, his second prediction, and this was. I thought it was interesting. Dak Prescott will become the 10th QB to throw for 5, 000 yards in a season. So it's been done 14 times by nine different players. Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Pat Mahomes, Ben Roethlisberger, Dan Marino, Matthew Stafford, Justin Herbert, and I'll give you a billion guesses for the last name. So nine guys have thrown 5,000 yards. Are you ready? I'll do this again.

[B]

Peyton Manning, Jameis Winston.

[C]

How did you get that?

[B]

Because I knew he did.

[C]

Wow. Good for you.

[B]

See, I'm not an idiot. I know some things.

[C]

You are an idiot. But yes, you do know some things.

[B]

Yeah. Jameis Winston did it.

[C]

Good for you. I would have never guessed Jameis Winston. Well, I, I would thought of James Winston.

[B]

I would. And I did.

[C]

Yeah. Good for you.

[B]

Sometimes neurons fire that you don't know exist.

[C]

The most recent was Patrick Mahomes in 2022. So he thinks he'll be the 10th quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards in a season.

[B]

Could happen. If he stays the keys health. You know, at his age, you stay

[C]

healthy through a lot last year too. All right. Here's his third prediction. The Kansas City Chiefs will miss the playoffs again. That's a pretty big one.

[B]

Yeah, it is.

[C]

He says two things I think are equally true. First, the Chiefs got better this off season. Second, it isn't going to be enough. Says they did a commendable job of building around their tent pole players like Mahomes and Travis Kelsey, which I think is an issue there. Chris Jones. Defense coordinator Steve Spagnolo's uncanny ability to turn middle round defensive backs into viable starters allowed them to endure the departures of Ward and Snead. Tyron Matthew, offensive linemen were acquired Joe Tuney and Orlando Brown Jr. Then quickly replaced. So he goes on to talk about the fact that they've. They've built up a better team. I also don't. I know that Patrick Mahomes, they're saying that he'll be ready for week one. And they showed some kind of video in the off season of him on the field, but not really in great detail. So I just don't know if now if Patrick Mahomes is close to anything healthy, I would, I would give them a shot to be competitive. But I mean, you look at that division with the Broncos, the Chargers, Raiders and the Raiders. And the Raiders, I think will still be on the bottom of that division, at least for this coming season. Until they get some things figured out and worked through, especially with Mendoza. But I just, I just don't know. I mean, it wouldn't be too surprising for the Chiefs to miss the playoffs because of the competitive nature of the other three or the other two teams. But if Patrick Mahomes is healthy or close to healthy and right and starting the whole year, that'd be really hard to see them not, not make the playoffs again. Yeah.

[B]

You also want to see how he comes back from this.

[C]

Sure.

[B]

You know, I think that that's fair, that once you get to a certain point in your career and you know that you're going to have to make some concessions to the way your game changes with age and injury, it's not going to quite be like what the Bears are dealing with now. Telling Caleb Williams, you know, hey, chill

[C]

out a little bit.

[B]

Let's, let's, let's just kind of lower the excitement factor when it's within our control. I, I still think that we're going to look at the super bowl that the Chiefs lost. At least I will for me, so far. I think peak Patrick Mahomes is the Super Bowl. They lost.

[C]

They lost to Brady and the, and the Patriots.

[B]

That's one of the best quarterbacking performances I've ever seen.

[C]

Yeah. He says a torn ACL in December is nothing to sneeze at if his recovery looks like it's going well. Every game Mahomes doesn't play in September is a game the Chiefs might fall behind in the division. So even, even if he does suit up for the season opener, he says against Denver, it's fair to wonder about his scrambling ability. A critical part of Casey's passing success as he gains confidence in his knee and early season loss could be the difference come playoff seating time. So, yes, that's a, that's a good opener there. Chiefs. Chiefs. Denver.

[B]

Well, I mean, you know who their backup is now

[C]

in kc.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Oh, yeah, it's Justin Fields.

[B]

It's Justin Fields.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Behind Garrett, they've Garrett Nussmeier and the guy who started from last year, Chris. A lot of coon. Probably not involved, but they, you know, they're especially because Travis Kelsey's coming back and he's not good anymore.

[C]

Yeah, not nearly as good as he once was. And that will be an interesting matchup too, because Bo Nix and his foot issues, the one that was, I think it was taken off by Sean Payton. He removed it and then put, I,

[B]

I, nobody told me about this crap. I wish I had known he had a bad foot when we drafted him. Why didn't you tell me?

[C]

So. Yeah. So we'll see how he comes back from that foot stuff. He says he's doing fine and we'll see where Holmes is at. All right. His next prediction is the Texans will win the AFC

[B]

if CJ Stroud returns to form. That's not outlandish.

[C]

It's not very.

[B]

Their defense is just nasty.

[C]

Nasty. Although he does have a disclaimer. He says, I reserve the right to change this prediction before Week one as we get more news about Denver quarterback Bo Nix is ankle and his health. The Bronco. The Broncos roster is really stinking good.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

But he says the Texans will win the afc, the Saints will win the NFC South.

[B]

That's become increasingly popular, almost to the point where the, the more people that start looking at them as a sleeper, the more I'm going again now. It's not fashionable.

[C]

It's. It seems. Yeah. Very fashionable. Yeah. Last year, three of the teams finished 8 and 9. Remember the Panthers, Buccaneers and Falcons. It all came down to the last week. Yeah. I just, I, you know, I still like Baker Mayfield. I'm not too big on the Falcons quarterbacks in that situation, although I think. I think TUA beats out Michael Penix for that. For that job. I don't. For me, it still has to. I know. It's. For me, it's still going to be the Panthers. I think

[B]

I would, I would care not to think about that entire division.

[C]

Well.

[B]

But I have to.

[C]

Yeah. Well, I mean, they make it pretty easy for you not to want to think about them.

[B]

I don't know. I'm not sure about the Saints. I.

[C]

Yeah, we'll see.

[B]

Yeah. Can I get back to something regarding Travis Kelsey while we have a little time, a little latitude here?

[C]

Yeah, sure. Because he's getting married in a couple of days.

[B]

That's what I was going to bring up here.

[C]

Yep. I.

[B]

Is anybody else a. A little disappointed in Taylor Swift? Not in him.

[C]

I don't care.

[B]

A little disappointed that she's doing the whole Madison Square Garden thing.

[C]

What do you. Why, though? Because it's not.

[B]

No. Full.

[C]

It's not going to be like a huge.

[B]

No, I just, I, I didn't think it was kind of in her character and my, my feeling.

[C]

Natalie told me that they. And I'm sure she'd read this somewhere and I'm sure it's accurate that they're. They're building like a castle inside MSG for the actual wedding itself, that it's not going to be Like a stadium type setting that I bet you within the setting they create, you're not even going to realize that you're inside msg.

[B]

Yeah, it's how it's supposed to look. And I'm hearing a lot of things because my rumor mill is different than most because I get the wedding industry rumor mill about the contracts and who's hired to do what and all that. So I just. I kind of hear. Occasionally I'll. I'll hear a little tail end of a phone conversation or I'll hear, oh,

[C]

really, someone's doing this.

[B]

And somebody's. But the bottom line is I just didn't. I didn't think this would be the kind of thing that she would want to make like a whole concert out of her wedding. I'm also wondering if this is going to just be a wedding celebration and they're actually married already or they're going to get married quietly in front of some close friends and family. It just. She could do anything in the world. She could. She could dispatch private planes for all her friends and bring everybody to any locale anywhere in the world. She could probably do it in space if she wanted. It's. I don't know. I'm not quite sure how to feel. I'm not, you know, and I'm only kind of a casual fan. I'm not a Die hard Taylor Swift fan, but it just. It just seems like it doesn't quite match up with what I thought they would want for something like this.

[C]

It's interesting that even have a thought on it, because when I heard that they were doing msg, I thought kind of the same thing, that it was kind of a surprise to me. I kind of envision her more. And again, I'm not a huge fan either, but my wife is, so I'm aware of all the Taylor stuff going on. I would have. I would have envisioned more of like a backyard kind of setting at home. Yeah.

[B]

I mean, or I was thinking maybe you go to Napa and you have a. Like a beautiful hillside at a vineyard and you have people there and you. You can. I don't. I don't know. I just did not picture like a big bouncy house inside of Madison Square Garden.

[C]

I hope it's not a bouncy house. You know what I mean? Although I think Travis would love that though.

[B]

A castle bouncy house.

[C]

Yeah, he would love that.

[B]

He'd forget to actually come to the ceremony because he'd be in there the entire time. And I guarantee you, all the grooms would be in there too. All the grooms would be trying to bring their drinks into the bouncy house with them.

[C]

Yeah. Oh, his brother would be shirt off within, within five minutes.

[B]

Totally. It probably will be anyway.

[C]

Yeah. But no, I, I, I'm still, I still think that whatever she's coming up with designing for this, it's going to be, I bet you it's gonna be remarkable, so.

[B]

Of course it is.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I don't doubt that the actual product or the actual, you know, event will be glorious. It, I just, I'm, I guess I'm a little disappointed that this is the kind of thing that she decided she wanted. I don't know, I, I thought that maybe she would say, hey, where it's about the partnership, it's about the love more than it is some showing off, some giant celebration. And more than anything, I didn't think the ostentatiousness. I thought you'd be above the idea of conspicuous consumption, especially at a time when so many Americans are, are paycheck to paycheck and dealing with, with historic runaway inflation. Gas prices through the roof, everything else, grocery prices at unheard of levels. I almost paid six bucks for Cheetos the other day.

[C]

Yeah, I, I get what you're saying, but Cheetos? I also think, well, first of all, you shouldn't buy Cheetos. I think it's why. That's not, that's not fair to put that, to put that on her. I mean,

[B]

why shouldn't I buy Cheetos?

[C]

Oh, is, they're not very good. Oh, I'm sorry, is there, did I stutter? Did you not hear?

[B]

Are we talking about your head? Crunchy Cheetos.

[C]

Yeah, I'm good. Yeah. Pass. That's a, that's a, that's a hard.

[B]

No, that's a hard. Stupid is what that is.

[C]

I've never liked them. Yeah, I'm not a fan.

[B]

What? Just don't, I'm just learning this now.

[C]

Yeah, we've never talked Cheetos before because I don't care for them.

[B]

What don't you like? The crunch? The cheese?

[C]

I just, I don't like the taste. I don't like, I don't, I just, I don't, I've never been a fan of Cheetos. If, if I'm gonna eat Cheetos, I prefer the, the, what do they call the puffed. Yeah, the puffed ones are better than the crunch.

[B]

No, that's, no, that's for people with brain injuries.

[C]

No, I think.

[B]

No, you have To. No, you've got to have something like some sort of. Of. Of major neurological damage to. To prefer puffed Cheetos over crunchy Cheetos.

[C]

All right, here's. Here's what I. Okay, this is what if. This is what I. If someone who's buying a bag of Cheetos as a snack. I'm also picturing them getting a refill for their vape pen and, like, a Mountain Dew Baja Blast. That's what kind of.

[B]

What kind of vape pen?

[C]

Something comes kind of fruity flavor, like.

[B]

Oh, you mean like a, like tobacco vape? Not like the good stuff?

[C]

Okay, no, not the good stuff. I mean like a tobacco vape. Vape. Like strawberry. Strawberry.

[B]

Like a jewel.

[C]

Yeah. Okay, so they're getting a. Like a tobacco refill for their vape pen, a Baja Blast, Mountain Dew, and then Cheetos.

[B]

Now this from a guy who appreciates munchos.

[C]

Yeah. Because the greatest potato crisp ever.

[B]

So you. You like munchos because they're delicious and you don't like Cheetos.

[C]

I do not like Cheetos. I never have.

[B]

What about Cheez Its.

[C]

Cheez Its are good. I like the Cheez Its crackers. Yes, those are very good. Those are always here at the house. Like when we buy the snack box that has all the. All the individual bags, the variety of lays things. And yes, like, the Cheetos are always. I'm always like, I'm. Oh, like, oh, who's gonna eat these?

[B]

See, I'm like that with sun chips.

[C]

Oh, we like stone. We do the variety bag boxes. We do.

[B]

We would do the variety bag. And both kids, like, at the end, I'm like, well, we're down to the sun shifts. Both kids like, damn it.

[C]

Well, so no, we get the sun chips variety bag. So there's. Or box. So there's multiple flavors.

[B]

Oh, just that.

[C]

And we're always sun chips. We're always left with the sour cream and onion. That's like the original, the harvest cheddar and the. The sauce.

[B]

You only harvest cheddar sun chip, but not a Cheeto.

[C]

I generally don't eat the sun chips. I like the original and the garden salsa. But I'll eat the. The cheddar sun chip over a Cheeto. I'll eat most. Most savory snacks over Cheetos. Yes.

[B]

And I agree with you. It is not Taylor Swift's job to necessarily worry about because it's not necessarily her job to worry about what everything costs. I just. I thought that she would be very aware and Sensitive to the optics.

[C]

Well, I think, I think all that she gives back to the communities that she's in and all that she does for the people that provide the shows that she does. I mean, the way she takes care of her staff.

[B]

Yep.

[C]

From the bus drivers to what she does financially for those people.

[B]

Oh, life changing. Yeah, absolutely. Life changing.

[C]

Your dream wedding in MSG with a castle.

[B]

Although I dream wedding, is that hers.

[C]

And I never thought of it as being a bouncy house castle.

[B]

Now I can't.

[C]

I can't not picture that going up and down while they're saying their vows. Yeah, you ruined it for me. Now I was thinking this magical, like fairy tale castle type structure being built in msg. Now it's just a big giant bouncing house with a slide. And after they say I do, they come down the slide together. But. But Travis is shirtless, going head first right into a mini pool of beer.

[B]

And. And Jason Kelsey's on his shoulders, right?

[C]

Yeah, Overalls with no shirt. And they land in a big kiddie pool full of beer and they drink it in order to get well.

[B]

He's got his own beer, right? Isn't that. Isn't Jason Kelsey was a garage beer. Isn't that his.

[C]

Oh, is that. Does he have his own. I don't know. He had his own beer.

[B]

I think so. I think it's called garage beer.

[C]

Okay, I know Tom Holland has his own beer. That's growing beero B e r O Because he. He's not a drinker anymore. And so he comes up. He came out with a non alcoholic beer.

[B]

Yeah, that's his commercial for like Mr. Businessman kind of thing where he's like, I'm always doing business. When I'm traveling, I'm Mr. Businessman. Like, no, you're not.

[C]

So I just saw. Have you seen the new trailer for the new Spider man coming out? And it features Messi.

[B]

No.

[C]

Yeah. So apparently it's like a New York City. Obviously they're in Queens and they're like a convenience store type setting. And he's on the phone and Messi walks in. And so Tom Holland walks up to him and he introduces himself and he wants to say hi to him. And he's really nervous. And apparently Messi is on his phone and he's like tracking Spider man through Queens, like the Spider man tracker. And so then Tom Holland's like, oh, you. You want to meet Spider Man? So he's like, I'll be right back. And he disappears and comes back as Spider Man. And then the next clip Is him Spider man and Messi flying through the air and one of Spider Man's. Yeah. And it's. It was kind of funny. I mean seeing. Messy act.

[B]

Okay, but he's not in. Is he in the movie?

[C]

No, no, it's just a trailer for the movie.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Yeah. With the. With the World Cup.

[B]

Gotta be. Do they. Do they have to say, hey you're. You're internationally. Your internationally famous soccer all time great Lionel Messi?

[C]

Yeah, I gotta. I gotta.

[B]

Yes, I am.

[C]

Yes. That's really funny.

[B]

That's because that. That has been. And I need a lot of Iraq poing for a lot of these people. Yeah. I only can identify by face a handful of. Of footballers.

[C]

Yeah. You see in the. In the background of the teaser too is Tim Howard in full goalie gear with his gloves and everything.

[B]

And you just. And his I'm Tim Howard T shirt on.

[C]

Yes. All right, more predictions here.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Okay. Here, what do you think of this one? The Vikings will win the NFC North.

[B]

No, no.

[C]

Absolutely no.

[B]

No. Not. No. Not as. As currently constituted.

[C]

No. The Vikings are coming off the JJ McCarthy year with various Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer intermissions. Brutal stuff. While the free agent signing of Kyler Murray should elevate them back to above average quarterback play. It's a bet the other three squads don't have to risk. He talks about the. The Vikings defense being main reason why. He says it's the only defense in the division that he trusts to actually live up to any expectations. The packers won't have edge rusher Micah Parsons for the first half of the season. They lost their defensive coordinator. The Bears defense was first in EP on takeaways and 30th in EPA on all other plays. It's unlikely they run that pure and turnover luck once again. The Lions had solid defensive metrics last season but have undergone enormous turnover in the secondary. So his main reason being the Vikings defense is the only one that he trusts. What I don't trust is the Vikings quarterback room and everything I've heard from Kevin o' Connell since the signing of Kyler Murray.

[B]

But I thought you were going to say you don't trust Brian Flores's swarming

[A]

D.

[C]

It's about the only thing I do trust is Brian Flores.

[B]

Brian.

[C]

Brian.

[B]

It's swarming again.

[C]

Sorry, here's a. Here's a couple other.

[B]

Broke out of the duct tape again

[C]

all over the field. What is that? What's that one camera they use? The Megalodon. Yeah, they're gonna have the Megalodon is following Brian Doors. Brian Flores is swarming D all over the field.

[B]

Sorry. It does that sometimes.

[C]

All right, what do you think of this prediction for this trade? Yes. Oh, good. Jonathan Taylor.

[B]

Jonathan Taylor, Colts running back. Yeah, I know.

[C]

Why is he making sure?

[B]

Okay. Yeah. You don't throw a rack poem for me. Are you Colts running back? Yes, I am. And I'm Tim Howard.

[C]

He will get. He will get traded, too. Your Chicago Bears.

[B]

What?

[C]

What do you mean, what?

[B]

For what?

[C]

All right, let's see here where he's talking about

[B]

who's trading for a veteran running back.

[C]

Well, so he. He talks about that, and this is a. Multiple paragraphs about it, because this would be a third contract for. For Jonathan Taylor.

[B]

Who is this? Ben Solak?

[C]

Yes. Okay. It's not very likely to. For. For running backs to get a third contract of that, but he makes an argument as to why Jonathan Taylor would, citing the other two guys who actually did in Chris McCaffrey and Derrick Henry.

[B]

Okay, I. I got two words for Ben Solak.

[C]

Okay, what are they?

[B]

Lake house.

[A]

I.

[C]

For him or for Jonathan Taylor?

[B]

No, for. For him.

[C]

What?

[B]

This.

[C]

It is.

[B]

It is July 1st. Whenever.

[C]

I don't know what.

[B]

How long he's taking. Ben, we can admit what's going on this time of year, and I know your bosses need content.

[C]

Well, remember how he prefaced this, though?

[B]

I know he did. I know he did. But this took a lot of work. I just. Next year, Ben, lake house for the

[C]

whole month of July.

[B]

S', mores, a little bit of fishing, you can rent yourself a jet ski, do whatever you want. You can skip rocks. But lake house.

[C]

All right, so here, let me read this one line to you. And you. You tell me if I think he's as incorrect as I think he is. The Bears make perfect sense. DeAndre Swift had a strong 2025 season, but he's not been reliable and has dealt with injuries for much of his career. Okay, like, think back to last year.

[B]

Even he wasn't hurt last year.

[C]

No, I don't remember. Right.

[B]

Not as a. Not as a Bear. Really? A couple.

[C]

He says Kyle Manungai is a. Like a likable thumper, but not for more than 10 or so carries per game.

[B]

I just picked your thumper.

[C]

The rabbit from Bambi at Taylor Swift's wedding on the bounce house.

[B]

Thumper. He's a likable thumper.

[C]

All right, so you don't like that one? All right, how about no, I don't like that one.

[B]

That's really dumb. Trading for a Veteran running back. No words together.

[C]

We won't get into this one. But this is just the. The pick. They're. The trade. Sam Laporta will get traded to the Panthers. And because of this, he talks about the contracts of other guys and how they're not gonna be able to pay everybody and that Sam Laporta will be the. The odd man out of getting contract extension. Brock Bowers will win Offensive Player of the Year.

[B]

That's reasonable.

[C]

Yes. Antonio Williams will win Offensive Rookie of the Year. And I'm glad that this was the first word in this paragraph because it says who? Because that's what I said.

[B]

Who.

[C]

He was the 71st pick of the draft, the ninth receiver off the board, so he thinks he will be the Offensive Rookie of the Year for the Washington Commanders.

[B]

I'm not in a position to agree or disagree with that. I.

[C]

Okay, I just. I put my hands up and say, I don't. I don't. I don't know.

[B]

I don't know. Ben. Ben, I just think you gotta. You have to marshal your vacation time a little bit better.

[C]

All right, well, there you go.

[B]

That's.

[C]

That's all of his predictions.

[B]

Okay, well, those are all really good predictions.

[C]

I just like the fact that he just wanted to have fun with it. Knows that it's all.

[B]

Yes, I understand.

[C]

And, and this was a lot of work, though, as you said. I mean, there's. There was a ton of stuff you put into this.

[B]

It's a lot of. Just a lot of.

[C]

A lot of words like, hey, Ben, we need 100,000 words from you by June 30th. And then you go on vacation and Ben's like, okay, I got you.

[B]

It's like what the Tribune does with Brad Biggs now. Because if you notice, especially during the season, the minute a game concludes, Big stays in the press box, or he immediately runs it forever long. And then he gets a couple hours sleep before he goes on Monday mornings on the radio. Hey, guys, what's going on? All right. Because he's up all night doing a massive content dump that they use all week. So he basically works his. His Sundays or his game days for the Bears, take care of most of his week. It's a great way to do it. It's like, like the way a snake eats. And I guess there. There's just enough there that nobody else is going to have. If you've got all your sources and your things, you're not going to get scooped on anything that some of this stuff can come out. I just, I do hope that, that when this kind of thing is done, that there's an editor who might find something in the middle of this and say, oh, we were going to run this on Thursday, but we have a responsibility to run it now because it's news. So as long as they take care of that and they're not holding anything back, that's depriving the readership, viewership, listenership of what they need to know. I'm cool with that. So it is possible they told him, give me 20,000 words on the NFL, then go away for a while.

[C]

Then go away for a while somewhere. So when is Taylor's wedding? Is it Saturday? Is it the fourth?

[B]

It's a wedding celebrated. They haven't said it's a wedding yet.

[C]

Okay, well, I thought they did.

[B]

I don't think so. I think they said celebrate her wedding.

[C]

Yeah, maybe you're right. If they do the bounce house, though, I hope they have like Nerf guns or something else fun to go with it. Or like water guns, like nice giant squirt guns. That'd be fun.

[B]

Let's see, the latest is there. You know, some calls it because I'm calling wedding festivities. Other are saying wedding. Other are saying celebrations. All right, Thursday, intimate rehearsal dinner with 100 close family members and friends. Friday, main oh, wedding ceremony and reception between 1000 and 2000 Notable names expected to attend. Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran, Zoe Kravitz, Carly Kloss, members of Kelsey's Kansas City Chiefs fraternity music. He says, oh yeah, he's already in the chocolate fountain.

[C]

Just covered in it.

[B]

He is the chocolate fountain. It's gonna be pouring over his head. Musician icon Stevie nicks and Tim McGraw.

[C]

Oh, they're gonna sing at the. At the wedding.

[B]

Rumored to perform.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

And apparently fairy tale castle and garden crews have been spotted loading in massive shape shipping crates labeled garden party alongside a giant white staircase, trees and greenery to construct a custom castle set piece inside the main arena. TMZ documented crews rolling out a standard red velvet carpet only to quickly tear it up and replace it with a custom purple fabric to align with Swift's personal aesthetic. Every square inch of the arena's interior is being covered with neutral covered fabric to take advantage of complex event lighting. And engineered by the production team behind the ERA Tour. Zero tolerance, strict no phone policy. There will be custom watermarked invitations tied to non disclosure agreements. New York City Street Activity Office has approved official permits to shut down vehicle and pedestrian traffic completely along portions of West 31st street and West 33rd street over 130 police officers, alongside specialized security in the National Guard, have been deployed to establish tight perimeters, costing upwards of an estimated $160,000 in city overtime. All right, then. Well, that's which I'm sure she'll pay back.

[C]

Yeah, I can't wait to see the wedding. And we're going to go.

[B]

Yeah, I'm glad you're invited. Just make sure you sign that NDA that's connected to the watermark on your invite.

[C]

And I won't bring my phone.

[B]

And then just, you know, tell me how. Tell me how it all went. Enjoy.

[C]

Yep, I will. Thank you.

[B]

All right, well, that's it for Forward Progress here, a Bears and NFL podcast, part of 312Sports.

[C]

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