WEBVTT - Ryan Poles on free-agent additions | Bears Weekly 0:00:01.000 --> 0:00:06.280 The new Bears Radio Network. One day into the new 0:00:06.320 --> 0:00:08.680 league year in the National Football League, and already the 0:00:08.720 --> 0:00:12.400 Bears are better. It promised to be a significant offseason 0:00:12.440 --> 0:00:15.400 for the franchise, and it is turning into exactly that. 0:00:15.800 --> 0:00:17.840 Good even everybody, thanks for being with us and our 0:00:17.840 --> 0:00:20.720 maiden voyage here on ESPN Chicago and the Chicago Bears 0:00:20.800 --> 0:00:23.200 Radio Network. This is Bears Weekly, and my name is 0:00:23.239 --> 0:00:26.880 Jeff Joningac. Joining me tonight will be NFL Radios, Jim 0:00:26.880 --> 0:00:29.840 Miller from Sirius XM, the former Bears quarterback, and our 0:00:29.880 --> 0:00:33.880 producer tonight, Tendra Smith in the ESPN Radio Chicago Studios 0:00:33.920 --> 0:00:37.080 Downtown Special thanks to our Bears producers here at Halis Haut, 0:00:37.159 --> 0:00:39.879 Dan Briley and Jordan tread Up as well. And we 0:00:40.000 --> 0:00:43.560 will kick off the program tonight by introducing none other 0:00:43.600 --> 0:00:46.520 than Bears General manager Ryan Pole's kind enough to take 0:00:46.600 --> 0:00:50.600 some time after what's been a whirlwind experience. Welcome to 0:00:50.640 --> 0:00:53.040 the program, Ryan, Thank you so much for taking the time. 0:00:53.120 --> 0:00:55.880 How are you feeling? First of all, all feeling good? 0:00:55.920 --> 0:01:01.000 How are you guys? Fantastic? Everybody's excited. I've been teasing 0:01:01.040 --> 0:01:03.760 you many times over the course of this process. Back 0:01:03.840 --> 0:01:06.280 before the combine that this was going to be the 0:01:06.520 --> 0:01:09.199 center of the football universe, at least for the offseason, 0:01:09.480 --> 0:01:12.600 and that is exactly what has happened. I've seen your 0:01:12.640 --> 0:01:17.240 face all over social media, Twitter, you name it, showing 0:01:17.280 --> 0:01:20.080 you in action, still shots. You have had a lot 0:01:20.120 --> 0:01:22.480 of attention on you in this Bear's franchise. How you 0:01:22.520 --> 0:01:25.520 feeling about what has been a great process and what 0:01:25.560 --> 0:01:29.759 has transpired so far. Yeah, I'm feeling feeling great about it. 0:01:30.200 --> 0:01:32.600 I kind of talked about it in today's you know press, 0:01:32.640 --> 0:01:37.399 are just really happy with my staff. We were prepared 0:01:38.000 --> 0:01:40.480 to take advantage of the situation where we were in 0:01:41.080 --> 0:01:43.800 I really take the organization to the next level, you know, 0:01:43.840 --> 0:01:47.400 by adding some really good players to our team and 0:01:47.520 --> 0:01:50.160 as well as some draft capital to help us continue 0:01:50.200 --> 0:01:53.360 our journey to get back to a championship caliber organization. 0:01:54.320 --> 0:01:56.760 Before we get into the details of what's transpired, I 0:01:56.840 --> 0:01:58.800 know you mentioned it in your morning news conference here, 0:01:58.880 --> 0:02:01.600 the staff has been unbelievable. You've said this all the 0:02:01.600 --> 0:02:03.880 way back to when you first arrived here. But you know, 0:02:04.120 --> 0:02:06.480 I'm not going to name everybody, but yeah, the Ian 0:02:06.560 --> 0:02:09.080 Cunninghams and the trade Cozios and the Jeff Kings and 0:02:09.080 --> 0:02:11.840 the Chris Whites and the Jjkosh. But we got analytics, 0:02:11.880 --> 0:02:14.240 we got salary cap, we got a plan. Did you 0:02:14.280 --> 0:02:19.600 treat this very much like a draft board free agency? Yeah? 0:02:19.600 --> 0:02:22.520 To be honest with you, we treated this the same 0:02:22.560 --> 0:02:27.560 way we approached every free agency, regardless of you know, 0:02:27.600 --> 0:02:31.799 what your situation is. You know, you should be prepared again, 0:02:31.840 --> 0:02:35.160 regardless of what the cap situation is or you know, 0:02:35.160 --> 0:02:39.680 any trade scenarios to you know, do things the right way. 0:02:39.840 --> 0:02:43.399 So we we executed that really well. We were prepared 0:02:45.720 --> 0:02:47.640 or everything to go down, and I felt like, uh, 0:02:48.080 --> 0:02:51.079 you know, we made some really good moves. You know, 0:02:51.560 --> 0:02:54.799 everyone assumes it was your intention to move the top 0:02:54.840 --> 0:02:57.680 pick no matter what, but that's never the case. However, 0:02:58.600 --> 0:03:00.919 was it hard to remain patient because I'm sure you 0:03:01.000 --> 0:03:03.720 got a lot of potential offers and just resisting that 0:03:03.880 --> 0:03:07.520 urged to jump on a deal just because it looked 0:03:07.520 --> 0:03:09.800 good at the time when there could be others in 0:03:09.840 --> 0:03:12.080 the bullpen that you were yet to come or however 0:03:12.120 --> 0:03:17.000 this process worked. How did you deal with that? Yeah? Again, 0:03:17.080 --> 0:03:19.880 leaning on the staff that I half here, and you know, 0:03:20.040 --> 0:03:22.480 we had some really good conversations about you know what 0:03:22.840 --> 0:03:25.320 should we do in terms of be patient or to 0:03:25.520 --> 0:03:27.800 jump on some of the opportunities that we had. We 0:03:27.880 --> 0:03:30.720 played those scenario games out and felt like where we 0:03:30.720 --> 0:03:34.320 were and how we felt about, you know, the environment 0:03:34.560 --> 0:03:37.680 in the draft. We felt like this was a really 0:03:37.680 --> 0:03:41.480 good opportunity. It covered a lot of you know, things 0:03:41.600 --> 0:03:44.600 we were looking for in the trade. And then on 0:03:44.600 --> 0:03:46.320 top of that, when you had a player like DJ 0:03:46.440 --> 0:03:49.360 Moore into that before free agency, so you can make 0:03:49.400 --> 0:03:53.280 some adjustments to your plans. We capitalized on it and 0:03:53.320 --> 0:03:56.280 I think it turned out really well. Joining me tonight 0:03:56.320 --> 0:03:59.040 of course serious at m NFL radios. Jim Miller kind 0:03:59.120 --> 0:04:01.040 enough to join us as well. You take the floor, 0:04:01.080 --> 0:04:03.040 big jam. What do you got right? Good to talk 0:04:03.040 --> 0:04:04.600 to again, It was great talk to you and coach 0:04:04.680 --> 0:04:06.280 down at the combine. You were lying, you were a 0:04:06.320 --> 0:04:08.840 bit burning the midnight oil. That phone was even ringing 0:04:08.880 --> 0:04:11.600 when you were on set with us, and as you mentioned, 0:04:11.920 --> 0:04:14.400 you talked through all those scenarios you and you mentioned 0:04:14.440 --> 0:04:17.440 the hall. The hall you got in return because some 0:04:17.600 --> 0:04:20.560 some would be cautious to go down to slot nine, 0:04:20.600 --> 0:04:24.240 but you felt good about it and pulled the trigger. Yeah, No, 0:04:24.320 --> 0:04:27.240 it felt good about it, you know, when you look 0:04:27.279 --> 0:04:29.960 at that one to nine spot and then you look 0:04:29.960 --> 0:04:32.760 at your board and you see, you know, the different 0:04:32.960 --> 0:04:35.840 value buckets that you have. We knew that it would 0:04:35.839 --> 0:04:38.640 it would dry up, um, you know, the likelihood of 0:04:38.680 --> 0:04:41.200 it drying up a little bit quicker going to nine 0:04:41.360 --> 0:04:44.560 versus something earlier was the case. That's why it was 0:04:44.560 --> 0:04:47.160 so important for us to acquire a player like DJ Moore. 0:04:47.800 --> 0:04:51.680 Um that really supplemented any loss in that jump from 0:04:51.680 --> 0:04:53.000 one to nine. We knew we were going to get 0:04:53.000 --> 0:04:55.080 a good player that was proven, that's been consistent for 0:04:55.120 --> 0:04:58.400 a long period of time. So that that made us 0:04:58.400 --> 0:05:01.560 feel even better about the situation. Well, you discussed too. 0:05:01.640 --> 0:05:03.680 I mean, you have all these things converging here in 0:05:03.680 --> 0:05:06.720 the business season as free agency kicked off this year, 0:05:06.760 --> 0:05:09.159 so you're you're keeping your eye on the draft and 0:05:09.240 --> 0:05:11.479 focusing on those draft picks in your board as you 0:05:11.600 --> 0:05:14.960 just mentioned. And here you've been busy in free agency, 0:05:15.080 --> 0:05:17.000 you know, with the guys, whether it's a Nate Davis 0:05:17.000 --> 0:05:20.160 who you brought in from from Tennessee and DeMarcus Walker 0:05:20.240 --> 0:05:23.279 or Tremaine Edwinds and t J. Edwards. Just talk about 0:05:23.360 --> 0:05:27.680 specifically those linebackers and the expectations for them because Tremaine 0:05:27.800 --> 0:05:31.039 and both those linebackers really tremendous and really the face 0:05:31.080 --> 0:05:35.320 of the franchise when you look at Edmunds coming from Buffalo. Yeah, well, 0:05:35.760 --> 0:05:37.280 I can't tell you how fired up we are about 0:05:37.279 --> 0:05:39.960 those two guys. You know, first of the process to 0:05:40.080 --> 0:05:42.839 get there, you know, with those linebackers, And though I've 0:05:42.839 --> 0:05:44.640 got a few questions like why, you know, you talk 0:05:44.680 --> 0:05:46.760 about value all the time, why would you start there? 0:05:47.000 --> 0:05:50.160 And maybe a non premium position, but really in fregency, 0:05:50.160 --> 0:05:53.800 when you look across the board, sometimes you know a 0:05:53.960 --> 0:05:59.000 need and a value matches and it marries up really well. 0:05:59.640 --> 0:06:02.280 And we thought that that's exactly what happened at those 0:06:02.279 --> 0:06:05.400 two positions, where there were some other positions where from 0:06:05.400 --> 0:06:09.839 our valuations, the value of what it would cost to 0:06:09.880 --> 0:06:13.599 get it didn't match. So therefore we felt like those 0:06:13.640 --> 0:06:17.240 two things came together with the linebackers. M Tremad Edmonds 0:06:17.240 --> 0:06:19.520 is an unbelievable talent. He fits our scheme very well. 0:06:19.640 --> 0:06:22.880 He's gonna be a stud in Coachyclu's defense and All's defense. 0:06:24.320 --> 0:06:26.080 And he wanted to be here. I don't think we 0:06:26.160 --> 0:06:29.000 talk about that enough. And free agency, you know, money 0:06:29.040 --> 0:06:32.159 does talk. It's a huge driver. Um. But what you 0:06:32.200 --> 0:06:34.400 can sense about guys that are passionate about the game 0:06:35.040 --> 0:06:38.120 are the ones that want to be there. Sometimes they 0:06:38.160 --> 0:06:40.960 take less, sometimes they don't want to hear from anybody else. 0:06:41.000 --> 0:06:43.719 They want to be a Chicago beart. Both those guys 0:06:43.760 --> 0:06:47.279 had that, and that makes me really really excited about 0:06:47.320 --> 0:06:48.839 you know, what they're all about and where they're going 0:06:48.880 --> 0:06:51.440 to bring in this organization. And then even t J being, 0:06:51.520 --> 0:06:54.160 you know, a homegrown guy who's just from round the corner. 0:06:55.440 --> 0:06:57.839 There is no other free agent that's as fired up 0:06:57.880 --> 0:07:02.599 as him to play for his home team and to 0:07:02.760 --> 0:07:04.800 make a name for himself like the great that he 0:07:04.839 --> 0:07:08.400 walks grown up. This is Bears Weekly here on ESPN 0:07:08.480 --> 0:07:10.920 Chicago and the Chicago Bears Radio Network with Jim Miller, 0:07:10.960 --> 0:07:14.680 Jeff Jonah Yak. Our guest is Bears general manager Ryan pauls. Ryan. 0:07:14.800 --> 0:07:18.920 I had a chance to visit with DJ Moore, with Edmonds, 0:07:18.960 --> 0:07:23.120 also with TJ, and also with your new offensive lineman 0:07:23.200 --> 0:07:25.400 as well. And I'll tell you the one thing that's 0:07:25.440 --> 0:07:27.880 stuck out in each and every one of these they've 0:07:27.880 --> 0:07:31.480 been They've been working for some good organizations, but when 0:07:31.520 --> 0:07:34.480 they walked in here. They even the studios when we're 0:07:34.560 --> 0:07:37.560 interviewing them, they said, Wow, we just cannot get over 0:07:38.160 --> 0:07:42.120 this facility. This place is beautiful. This place has everything. 0:07:42.400 --> 0:07:44.760 And I had to ask my goat, they didn't have this, No, 0:07:44.760 --> 0:07:49.000 no they did, but it's not like this. How big 0:07:49.120 --> 0:07:51.480 is that now? Because you know we'd travels. These guys 0:07:51.520 --> 0:07:53.920 are gonna tell everybody else out in free agency. Hey, 0:07:54.160 --> 0:07:56.360 take a look at the Chicago Bears and the facility 0:07:56.440 --> 0:07:59.360 what they want to do for their players. Yeah, it's 0:07:59.360 --> 0:08:01.960 a big deal. It's a really big deal. And you know, 0:08:02.160 --> 0:08:04.600 again as a topic we don't talk about a lot, 0:08:04.680 --> 0:08:06.600 but you know, if you think about some of the 0:08:06.600 --> 0:08:10.560 college facilities and what these kids are are in, you know, 0:08:10.640 --> 0:08:13.680 growing up, a lot of times it's a downgrade when 0:08:13.680 --> 0:08:16.360 they get to the league, which is interesting, but it's 0:08:16.400 --> 0:08:17.920 not the case here. We have a state of our 0:08:18.080 --> 0:08:21.800 facilities and really, to me, it's even more important. You know, 0:08:21.880 --> 0:08:25.240 the aesthetics are cool, but the functionalities even better. Our 0:08:25.280 --> 0:08:29.480 sports science space are pre have in training space for 0:08:29.560 --> 0:08:31.800 these guys to make sure that their bodies are in 0:08:32.000 --> 0:08:35.160 great positions to be successful and healthy for a long 0:08:35.200 --> 0:08:37.600 period of time. That's to me. That's the cutting edge 0:08:37.640 --> 0:08:40.400 part that we have here, and a lot of people 0:08:40.440 --> 0:08:43.400 don't understand how nice this is. This has got to 0:08:43.400 --> 0:08:46.800 be a top three four facility in the NFL. So 0:08:47.280 --> 0:08:49.880 when that word does get out, um, it's important because 0:08:49.880 --> 0:08:51.720 we're gonna ask these guys to be here to master 0:08:51.800 --> 0:08:53.920 their craft and being this building for a long time, 0:08:54.760 --> 0:08:58.679 so to be in a place that is comfortable and enjoyable. Um, 0:08:59.120 --> 0:09:03.280 it's really important. Ryan fans want everything at once, and 0:09:03.320 --> 0:09:05.559 I knew this was going to happen because the salary 0:09:05.600 --> 0:09:08.280 cap space, the draft capital that you have, the draft 0:09:08.280 --> 0:09:10.520 capital you've created with the move from one to nine, 0:09:11.000 --> 0:09:13.440 and even what's gonna come around the corner next. But 0:09:13.880 --> 0:09:16.120 everything can't be done in one felt swoop. I mean, 0:09:16.160 --> 0:09:18.840 this is going to be a process and free agency, 0:09:19.400 --> 0:09:22.320 and I'm very proud to say this is how you've 0:09:22.360 --> 0:09:24.439 stated this since the time you got here. It is 0:09:24.480 --> 0:09:27.040 about value. It's not about just blowing out the budget. 0:09:27.040 --> 0:09:29.840 There is other needs coming down the road. You got 0:09:29.840 --> 0:09:32.480 to save money for a number of things, not the 0:09:32.559 --> 0:09:35.280 least of which knock on wood. You hope it doesn't happen, 0:09:35.320 --> 0:09:37.440 but severe injury to a prominent player that you got 0:09:37.440 --> 0:09:40.000 to go and get somebody else you're looking at extensions, 0:09:40.200 --> 0:09:44.120 just kind of capsualize what that means from an organizational 0:09:44.160 --> 0:09:47.160 point of view, because while you have the assets, you 0:09:47.280 --> 0:09:49.880 gotta do things in a proper way so you can 0:09:50.040 --> 0:09:53.439 have sustained success down the road as well. Yeah that's 0:09:54.200 --> 0:09:56.160 but I will say this to be like, that's why 0:09:56.160 --> 0:09:58.800 I have a really good team around me, because just 0:09:58.880 --> 0:10:02.319 like our fans, I want everything you know right now too, 0:10:02.640 --> 0:10:04.760 and I would love to spend every single time of it. 0:10:05.200 --> 0:10:08.040 But that's why I have an awesome team that allows 0:10:08.080 --> 0:10:10.640 me to see the big picture, um, to do things 0:10:10.640 --> 0:10:12.960 in the discipline way so that we can sustain this 0:10:13.040 --> 0:10:14.880 for a long period of time and be a healthy 0:10:14.960 --> 0:10:19.640 organization both with draft picks and draft capital. Uh. And yeah, 0:10:20.120 --> 0:10:22.200 that's the thing is like you know, when we see 0:10:22.280 --> 0:10:25.720 you know, online and Twitter about where our space is, 0:10:26.200 --> 0:10:29.000 there's plans for that money. Um, it's not just going 0:10:29.040 --> 0:10:32.880 to sit there. Um, there's plans for it. There's emergency 0:10:32.960 --> 0:10:35.240 funds just like most of us should have just in case, 0:10:35.280 --> 0:10:37.400 you know, the car breakdown or the furnace goes like. 0:10:38.160 --> 0:10:40.680 There's there's things that we have built in and reserves 0:10:41.200 --> 0:10:43.400 that we have so that we can do things the 0:10:43.840 --> 0:10:46.840 right way instead of panicking and have to do crazy 0:10:46.880 --> 0:10:49.480 things just to get buy an emergency situation. And then 0:10:49.520 --> 0:10:53.559 there's also opportunities that pop up throughout the season, if 0:10:53.559 --> 0:10:56.800 it's a trade or an opportunity to bring another player. 0:10:56.840 --> 0:11:00.720 And then on top of that, there's there's guys that, um, 0:11:00.760 --> 0:11:03.400 you know, we're looking forward to you know, doing extensions 0:11:03.440 --> 0:11:07.880 with sometime in August I'm sure, and keeping them here 0:11:07.960 --> 0:11:10.679 long term. So there's a plan for all of it. Um, 0:11:11.840 --> 0:11:15.240 we're being disciplined with it. And you know, it is 0:11:15.240 --> 0:11:17.839 hard when those numbers getting published and everyone's like, wow, 0:11:17.880 --> 0:11:19.240 you know, why are you not spending it at all? 0:11:19.320 --> 0:11:22.079 But there is a plan in place as a process, 0:11:22.120 --> 0:11:23.720 and we're going to do things the right way. Well, 0:11:23.760 --> 0:11:26.160 I think you said it earlier about the right price 0:11:26.240 --> 0:11:29.520 and certainly the character of the person that you're going 0:11:29.600 --> 0:11:31.720 to sign and bring into the locker room that you 0:11:31.800 --> 0:11:35.280 just mentioned, Ryan, And even today, you know, yesterday we 0:11:35.320 --> 0:11:38.400 saw a lot of the three in four year deals 0:11:38.440 --> 0:11:40.600 and then today even you know, with the signing of 0:11:40.679 --> 0:11:44.120 Andrew Billings and Robert Tonyan, the one year deals are 0:11:44.120 --> 0:11:47.160 already coming in and there's still really good players out there. 0:11:47.200 --> 0:11:50.400 I'm not asking you for your plan, but how active 0:11:50.480 --> 0:11:53.360 we continue to be in free agencies? You just landed 0:11:53.360 --> 0:11:57.240 two more. It sounds like, yeah, we'll be active again. 0:11:57.280 --> 0:12:00.560 This really shows how good our prostas is. They've been 0:12:00.559 --> 0:12:05.400 doing those evaluations since September UM and and there's some 0:12:05.480 --> 0:12:08.360 really intriguing guys that will continue to seek and see 0:12:08.400 --> 0:12:12.319 if we can you know, find common ground with UM 0:12:12.559 --> 0:12:16.000 and get into our buildings. So, uh, there's there's value here, 0:12:16.160 --> 0:12:18.200 and there's good players. I want to prove that, you know, 0:12:18.360 --> 0:12:20.360 they can they can do special things in the league 0:12:20.360 --> 0:12:23.880 and even go back to free agency again. So we're 0:12:23.920 --> 0:12:27.240 excited about that. And as I follow up, as you 0:12:27.280 --> 0:12:29.400 look at the trade and how you were talking to 0:12:29.800 --> 0:12:33.040 Carolina and how you were able to consummate that trade. 0:12:33.320 --> 0:12:36.320 Now as you have all this draft capital, you know, 0:12:36.440 --> 0:12:39.560 to to maybe to move up, to move down, do 0:12:39.600 --> 0:12:42.400 any of those discussions happen this early prior to the 0:12:42.480 --> 0:12:45.760 draft of you know, to have those relationships with other 0:12:45.800 --> 0:12:50.280 teams like you were able to forge with the Carolina Panthers. Yeah, 0:12:50.400 --> 0:12:53.520 I think you know, first, it starts internally. You start 0:12:53.559 --> 0:12:55.920 to uh, you know, when we get out of the combine. 0:12:56.000 --> 0:12:58.920 There's some some medical pieces, there's interviews, there's some things 0:12:58.920 --> 0:13:02.000 that will slightly us the board. We'll look at numbers 0:13:02.040 --> 0:13:06.280 and how many guys we have in certain value sessions 0:13:06.280 --> 0:13:10.559 of the board, and in those brainstormy sessions start to 0:13:10.640 --> 0:13:12.640 kick off. And then as we get closer and then 0:13:12.800 --> 0:13:15.920 into September, you'll start to make those phone calls and 0:13:15.960 --> 0:13:18.280 see if you can set some things up. And obviously 0:13:18.280 --> 0:13:21.120 you just gotta stay, you know, pretty fluid because you 0:13:21.160 --> 0:13:23.960 know the draft takes you know, different shifts in turns 0:13:23.960 --> 0:13:25.760 that you don't expect, so you got to stay ready 0:13:25.760 --> 0:13:27.959 and have kind of all those scenarios planned out. But 0:13:28.360 --> 0:13:32.000 you know, the relationship piece and anticipation part, that's something 0:13:32.040 --> 0:13:36.280 we'll do really well and be prepared. All right, Right, 0:13:36.320 --> 0:13:38.520 we're gonna let you go. Jim snuck a couple in there. 0:13:38.559 --> 0:13:42.160 Andrew Billings, big nose tackle, great leviash, stalemate guy takes 0:13:42.200 --> 0:13:45.600 on multiple blockers for the three technique and the linebackers 0:13:45.640 --> 0:13:49.040 to flow. And Robert Tuny and reportedly also joined the Bears. 0:13:49.160 --> 0:13:52.079 Another local guy. You got several local guys, and they 0:13:52.120 --> 0:13:55.800 already I'll bleed navy blue and orange, don't they they do. 0:13:55.920 --> 0:13:58.000 They do. That's an important piece. They got a lot 0:13:58.040 --> 0:13:59.839 of pride and want to get this thing back like 0:14:00.040 --> 0:14:02.320 well do all right, Ryan, thank you so much. Good 0:14:02.400 --> 0:14:04.720 luck with the rest of the way. All right, thank you, 0:14:05.240 --> 0:14:08.479 thank you, Bears gentlemanager Ryan Poles. Coming up my conversation 0:14:08.520 --> 0:14:11.679 with newly acquired wide receiver DJ Moore with Jim Miller 0:14:11.679 --> 0:14:14.360 from Syria sex M NFL Radios Moving the Chains. I'm 0:14:14.400 --> 0:14:17.520 Jeff Joniac and this is the Chicago Bears Radio Network 0:14:18.160 --> 0:14:20.480 is Bears Weekly with a voice of the Bears for 0:14:20.600 --> 0:14:27.200 twenty three years. Jeff Joniak on the Bears Radio Network. 0:14:28.880 --> 0:14:32.280 So far, so good, free agency building, some depth and 0:14:32.400 --> 0:14:34.840 some key roles for the Bears so far. Just a 0:14:34.880 --> 0:14:38.360 couple of days in to the free agent officials signing period, anyway, 0:14:38.400 --> 0:14:41.240 Jeff Joniak. Jim Miller from Sirius XM NFL radio's Moving 0:14:41.240 --> 0:14:45.120 the Chains joining us. Great interview there, Jim with Ryan Poles. 0:14:45.280 --> 0:14:47.840 I mean, my gosh, how many offers do you think 0:14:47.920 --> 0:14:51.040 he had for that pick? And then just going after 0:14:51.080 --> 0:14:54.760 your talent and still trying to remain you know, consistent 0:14:54.840 --> 0:14:57.920 with the plan and don't overspend. You know, you've heard 0:14:57.960 --> 0:14:59.880 me say, there's many times I'm not a big fan 0:15:00.120 --> 0:15:03.760 free agency because it does get expensive, especially with a 0:15:03.760 --> 0:15:06.560 team right now that he's trying to be draft conscious 0:15:06.600 --> 0:15:08.600 moving forward and build that way with these young players. 0:15:08.640 --> 0:15:12.120 But they've targeted a great age range twenty four, twenty five. 0:15:12.160 --> 0:15:14.120 Ectre may Edmonds came in the league at twenty. You 0:15:14.200 --> 0:15:16.480 got to remember that came in the league at twenty 0:15:16.560 --> 0:15:18.880 and this will be a sixth year. But he's twenty, 0:15:18.960 --> 0:15:22.840 he's twenty five. And you get a free agent like TJ. 0:15:23.120 --> 0:15:26.480 Edwards born and raised here, you get DJ Moore in 0:15:26.560 --> 0:15:29.080 a trade at the age of twenty five. I mean, 0:15:29.080 --> 0:15:32.000 that's outstanding numbers right there for what they're trying to do. Yeah, 0:15:32.040 --> 0:15:35.040 that's the cherry on top, is how I've stated about 0:15:35.080 --> 0:15:37.960 DJ Moore. I mean, really, his first five years in league, 0:15:38.000 --> 0:15:39.880 he should have four out of five, should be over 0:15:39.920 --> 0:15:41.720 a thousand yards. He probably would have been over a 0:15:41.760 --> 0:15:44.480 thousand last year if it wasn't for the rotation of 0:15:44.600 --> 0:15:49.080 quarterbacks down there between Walker and Sam Darnold in Baker Mayfield. 0:15:49.120 --> 0:15:51.440 I mean, it was a revolving door and that's tough 0:15:51.480 --> 0:15:54.040 for any team to go through. I think the Bears 0:15:54.040 --> 0:15:56.200 fans are more. You're well aware of that when you 0:15:56.240 --> 0:16:00.680 don't have that position solidified, and certainly his numbers suffered 0:16:00.840 --> 0:16:02.600 last year, but this is a top tier talent. He 0:16:02.720 --> 0:16:06.160 is definitely a true number one. So they've have helped 0:16:06.200 --> 0:16:09.400 themselves there and then obviously last year with Claypool and 0:16:09.560 --> 0:16:12.240 hopefully Darnel money will get healthy again. In the continued 0:16:12.280 --> 0:16:15.600 development of Velis Jones Junior alone with Saint Brown, it 0:16:15.760 --> 0:16:18.240 is much better. And I think bringing in a veteran 0:16:18.320 --> 0:16:20.960 offensive lineman like Nate Davis and they're all in that range, 0:16:21.080 --> 0:16:23.080 that's that's what you want in free agency. You want 0:16:23.080 --> 0:16:25.400 those guys, like you said, in the twenty four or 0:16:25.440 --> 0:16:29.440 twenty five, twenty six, twenty seven year old range, where 0:16:29.520 --> 0:16:31.960 you know they're kind of coming into their prime, and 0:16:32.000 --> 0:16:34.200 that's where these guys are. And the Bears, I thought, 0:16:34.240 --> 0:16:37.360 have targeted those type of players that have helped themselves 0:16:37.360 --> 0:16:40.320 early at the right prices. You know here he talked about, 0:16:40.640 --> 0:16:42.760 you know, you couldn't get a deal done with Roquan 0:16:42.840 --> 0:16:44.800 Smith a year ago, and that you know he wanted 0:16:44.800 --> 0:16:47.720 over one hundred million dollars essentially, So you get two 0:16:47.760 --> 0:16:51.800 guys really under that number that are both highly productive 0:16:52.080 --> 0:16:55.800 and still young coming into their prime their careers. So yeah, 0:16:55.800 --> 0:16:58.240 I think it's they've done a nice job. There's more 0:16:58.240 --> 0:17:00.480 work to do. I think everybody understand and said, I 0:17:00.480 --> 0:17:04.000 think Ryan Poles just said there is more work to do. 0:17:04.080 --> 0:17:06.400 But already, Jeff, you're seeing a lot of one year 0:17:06.440 --> 0:17:09.200 deals out there, and there's some markets that have taken 0:17:09.200 --> 0:17:11.000 a hit. Look at the running back position. Man, they're 0:17:11.000 --> 0:17:14.480 getting diced and sliced out there in free agency right now. 0:17:14.520 --> 0:17:16.760 So there's some deals to be had and the Bears 0:17:16.760 --> 0:17:20.720 aren't done well. DJ Moore certainly a key piece to 0:17:20.800 --> 0:17:24.480 this whole puzzle. Earlier conversation I had with the newly 0:17:24.520 --> 0:17:28.359 acquired wide receiver from the Carolina Panthers. Well, first and 0:17:28.400 --> 0:17:31.920 foremost welcome, Welcome, How does it Field? Hey, I'm glad 0:17:31.920 --> 0:17:34.760 to be here. It feels amazing. It's a new opportunity, 0:17:34.840 --> 0:17:39.760 new journey, new faces, new city, to bring the excitement 0:17:39.760 --> 0:17:41.639 and the fund that you have as a person and 0:17:41.760 --> 0:17:45.480 player to a new establishment and organization. Now I'm here, 0:17:45.760 --> 0:17:47.920 I'm here, and I'm grateful to be here. Does it 0:17:48.040 --> 0:17:51.480 sting at the beginning? Does a sting a little bit? 0:17:52.040 --> 0:17:55.600 Give that little initial sting, But it's the business and 0:17:55.760 --> 0:17:58.439 you just gotta go with the punch. General manager Ryan Poles, 0:17:58.680 --> 0:18:00.480 he was gonna make a trade. It gonna be a 0:18:00.560 --> 0:18:02.440 big trade. It was. You know, I keep saying we're 0:18:02.440 --> 0:18:05.919 the center of the football universe this offseason. But you 0:18:06.080 --> 0:18:09.160 had to be in the deal to close the deal. 0:18:09.320 --> 0:18:11.960 So that's a big, warm hug from the big guy, 0:18:12.240 --> 0:18:15.240 isn't that? It is just to know that I was 0:18:15.280 --> 0:18:18.600 the exact player that the Bears want it and they 0:18:18.800 --> 0:18:22.480 wound up getting it. Was just a big old bear hug. Yes, 0:18:22.560 --> 0:18:25.439 And I'll tell you there's a bunch of boxes that 0:18:25.640 --> 0:18:29.040 these guys want players, and just going through your history 0:18:29.040 --> 0:18:31.720 and talking to some folks that you know and have 0:18:31.800 --> 0:18:35.560 played with, you check every single box and the funny 0:18:35.600 --> 0:18:38.520 thing is here, Yes, you're gonna catch some balls. But 0:18:38.880 --> 0:18:42.840 the blocking and you're an outstanding block. You're like digging 0:18:42.880 --> 0:18:46.160 out dbs and everything else that is for They show 0:18:46.240 --> 0:18:48.360 highlights of the blocks here before they do the big 0:18:48.359 --> 0:18:50.679 catches in your team meetings. So is that part of 0:18:50.680 --> 0:18:52.719 your big game? That's part of the game. You know, 0:18:53.080 --> 0:18:55.679 I do the dirty word before the excitement work that 0:18:56.040 --> 0:18:58.600 down the field, passes and stuff. Blocking is like a 0:18:58.640 --> 0:19:00.920 part of the game that it's going to excel the 0:19:01.040 --> 0:19:04.560 run game but also open up the downfield passing game. No, 0:19:04.680 --> 0:19:06.880 the thing about it too, it's just not getting the way. 0:19:06.920 --> 0:19:09.199 I mean, you gotta, you gotta. It is one too, 0:19:09.320 --> 0:19:12.600 and it sounds like everything you do is about one too. Yeah, 0:19:12.760 --> 0:19:15.080 I don't want to do everything. I'm a man that's 0:19:15.119 --> 0:19:17.959 gonna do everything and are gonna I'm gonna want to 0:19:17.960 --> 0:19:20.400 do everything to help the team win. This has been 0:19:20.400 --> 0:19:24.919 an offensive starved franchise for a long long time, one 0:19:24.960 --> 0:19:28.320 hundred and three years, from the quarterback play to just 0:19:28.359 --> 0:19:31.240 scoring points. So the fan base is buzzing right now 0:19:31.320 --> 0:19:34.400 because they feel they got a number one receiver coming 0:19:34.440 --> 0:19:37.919 in here. They're doing the math and and they're thinking big. 0:19:37.960 --> 0:19:41.879 Your highlights are crazy. It's the desire and that's a 0:19:42.000 --> 0:19:46.680 Chicago bread thing. Like the fans love your style of play. 0:19:46.920 --> 0:19:49.640 How would you describe it to those who haven't seen 0:19:49.680 --> 0:19:55.600 you play? Exciting, never knows to come go from a 0:19:55.680 --> 0:19:57.800 short play and could be a touchdown, it could be 0:19:57.880 --> 0:20:02.560 amazing like juke move or something. Just some of the 0:20:02.600 --> 0:20:04.920 excitement and get the fans out of their seats and 0:20:04.960 --> 0:20:07.640 hopefully the winds follow. Yeah, I've been doing some math, 0:20:07.960 --> 0:20:11.200 the yards after the catch, the yards after the contract, contact, 0:20:11.320 --> 0:20:15.400 broken tackles. I'm a big guy about first downs, first times, 0:20:15.520 --> 0:20:18.000 leading the touchdowns. And I think you've had, you know, 0:20:18.000 --> 0:20:20.880 two hundred and fifty at least fifty to fifty five 0:20:20.920 --> 0:20:24.480 a year. Is that important to you to be known 0:20:24.560 --> 0:20:26.280 as a player that Yep, I'm gonna get in the 0:20:26.359 --> 0:20:28.480 end zone. But I'm gonna move the sticks for you too. Yeah, 0:20:28.800 --> 0:20:31.240 it's all about moving the sticks. Move the sticks, you 0:20:31.280 --> 0:20:33.480 stay on the field. Stay on the field at least 0:20:33.440 --> 0:20:36.240