WEBVTT - Reflections on Bears' initial 53-man roster moves | Bears, etc. Podcast 0:00:00.680 --> 0:00:06.120 Cut over that DJ Moore episode Touchdown Touchdown Pairs. I 0:00:06.160 --> 0:00:08.000 am Jeff jonihat Witz is. 0:00:08.080 --> 0:00:10.480 On Dottie go up. 0:00:12.000 --> 0:00:13.800 What was like playing for Coche Googdom. 0:00:14.520 --> 0:00:16.040 I don't want to answer any questions like that. 0:00:16.079 --> 0:00:30.360 Pressure coming is a big trouble Doti gos motest Sweat. 0:00:25.960 --> 0:00:28.520 Bears, et Cetera brought to you by Miller Lighte with 0:00:28.560 --> 0:00:31.440 the voices of the Bears, Jeff Joniac and Tom Thayer. 0:00:32.520 --> 0:00:34.279 Well cut down day of the NFL is a very 0:00:34.320 --> 0:00:36.800 personal matter, tough day for a large number of players 0:00:36.840 --> 0:00:38.839 who go through a wide range of emotions from the 0:00:38.920 --> 0:00:42.720 expectation they might be let go to absolute shot. This 0:00:42.840 --> 0:00:45.280 episode eighty eight of the Bears et Cetera podcast is 0:00:45.280 --> 0:00:48.560 brought to you by Miller Lte. Assistant gm Ian Cunningham 0:00:48.560 --> 0:00:52.080 did an interview with the thirty third team balancing the 0:00:52.120 --> 0:00:54.440 excitement of the final fifty three in the season and 0:00:54.640 --> 0:00:57.880 thirty seven guys that essentially Tom Thayer would be getting 0:00:57.960 --> 0:01:01.440 fired sixteen could be back on the practice squad. It's 0:01:01.520 --> 0:01:05.119 not fun. He was released. You've been cut before. It's 0:01:05.160 --> 0:01:08.000 the toughest conversation you have to go through. But at 0:01:08.000 --> 0:01:09.959 the same time you're excited for the season if you're 0:01:09.959 --> 0:01:12.360 in the front office, so it's a weird feeling in 0:01:12.360 --> 0:01:15.280 the building. Can you relate to all that emotion right there? 0:01:15.360 --> 0:01:15.520 You know? 0:01:15.640 --> 0:01:17.960 The incredible sense of accomplishment when I was with the 0:01:18.040 --> 0:01:21.640 Chicago Bears was leaving Platteviell, Wisconsin and looking at the 0:01:21.680 --> 0:01:25.680 campus in your room rearview mirror and thinking, Okay, I 0:01:25.720 --> 0:01:28.520 got over the first hurtle and I made the football team. 0:01:29.000 --> 0:01:32.080 But the head coach will come into the room after that, 0:01:32.120 --> 0:01:35.000 fifty three assembles for the first time, and they're going 0:01:35.080 --> 0:01:37.160 to give the speech, and everybody gives it, and the 0:01:37.200 --> 0:01:39.640 same speech every year is look, this is not a 0:01:39.680 --> 0:01:42.520 finished product. This is not a finished roster. So if 0:01:42.600 --> 0:01:44.800 you think you've made the team for now and forever 0:01:45.480 --> 0:01:48.360 and you don't continue to work, we'll look to replace you. 0:01:48.720 --> 0:01:51.640 So there's always a little bit of apprehension with the 0:01:51.680 --> 0:01:54.560 good news of making a football team, but there's a 0:01:54.600 --> 0:01:57.440 certain sense of accomplishment when you walk out of training 0:01:57.520 --> 0:02:00.520 camp and you've kind of earned the opportunity unity to 0:02:00.600 --> 0:02:02.400 have a position on a football team. 0:02:02.640 --> 0:02:06.880 The practice squad will be put together announced later on Wednesday. 0:02:07.360 --> 0:02:09.119 Among the cuts that we're not going to go through 0:02:09.160 --> 0:02:11.520 each and every one. Is there anything that sticks out 0:02:11.560 --> 0:02:13.720 to you, I'll jump in right away before you give 0:02:13.760 --> 0:02:16.400 a give us your thought, but not a surprise. But 0:02:16.680 --> 0:02:18.600 I would have really loved to find a place for 0:02:18.680 --> 0:02:21.760 Reddy Stewart, the young cornerback. My guess is he'll be 0:02:21.800 --> 0:02:24.760 on the practice squad. Micah Baskerville has done a nice 0:02:24.840 --> 0:02:27.600 job both as a linebacker, but the Bears are really 0:02:27.639 --> 0:02:31.480 strong at linebacker, and he's a very good special teams player. 0:02:31.880 --> 0:02:35.440 And then at the tight end position Steven Carlson, Brendan Bates. 0:02:35.880 --> 0:02:37.639 Those are the areas that I was going to look at. 0:02:37.720 --> 0:02:39.320 But again, it's a numbers game time because as a 0:02:39.360 --> 0:02:41.240 matter of how many offensive linemen you want to keep, 0:02:41.240 --> 0:02:43.200 how many defensive linemen you keep, those are the big 0:02:43.320 --> 0:02:44.160 numbers right there. 0:02:44.320 --> 0:02:47.560 Yeah, you know, guys like Strohman who had some game 0:02:47.600 --> 0:02:50.639 action understand what a contributor is on special teams. He's 0:02:50.639 --> 0:02:54.320 a multi talented kid and can play a couple different positions. 0:02:54.800 --> 0:02:57.480 Carls Jones Junior. I thought it was a guy. 0:02:57.320 --> 0:03:00.800 That puts some ability on display in the Hall of 0:03:00.800 --> 0:03:02.520 Fame game and throughout training camp. 0:03:02.800 --> 0:03:04.040 He runs really well. 0:03:04.320 --> 0:03:06.240 But maybe he's the type of guy that could come 0:03:06.280 --> 0:03:09.600 back to a practice squad Brendan Bates, like you mentioned, 0:03:09.639 --> 0:03:11.480 I thought he really had a chance to make this 0:03:11.520 --> 0:03:14.760 football team. And if he doesn't get picked up by 0:03:14.760 --> 0:03:19.240 somebody else, maybe he will come back to the Bears, 0:03:19.280 --> 0:03:21.720 because he's definitely a guy that I would like to 0:03:21.760 --> 0:03:26.240 invest some time, some coaching, some weight room, some dietitians 0:03:26.280 --> 0:03:29.400 in because I think he could grow into a quality 0:03:29.440 --> 0:03:32.000 tight end. And we know how many injuries there are 0:03:32.000 --> 0:03:35.120 in that position. And I'm confused about the quarterback position. 0:03:35.600 --> 0:03:37.400 You got rid of ripping, you got rid of read, 0:03:37.840 --> 0:03:39.920 and so you have two guys on the roster. 0:03:40.000 --> 0:03:41.520 Who was that third guy gonna be? 0:03:41.640 --> 0:03:44.360 Do they target a guy with as on another roster 0:03:44.480 --> 0:03:47.080 on another team that they fill can come in here 0:03:47.080 --> 0:03:50.200 and fill the void, or do they still have one 0:03:50.240 --> 0:03:52.840 of those two guys as a Canada come here and 0:03:52.880 --> 0:03:54.640 be that practice squad quarterback. 0:03:54.720 --> 0:03:57.720 Yeah, there's possibility both could be on the practice squad. 0:03:57.880 --> 0:04:00.640 The veteran influence in the young developing quarter back and read. 0:04:01.040 --> 0:04:03.080 So a lot of folks are wondering what was going 0:04:03.160 --> 0:04:04.400 to happen with Vaylis Jones. 0:04:05.040 --> 0:04:07.440 He kind of always wanted He left me wanting more 0:04:07.680 --> 0:04:10.720 because when Vaylas Jones Junior came aboard the Chicago Bears, 0:04:10.720 --> 0:04:12.680 we knew that he was a mature guy coming out 0:04:12.680 --> 0:04:13.280 of college. 0:04:13.720 --> 0:04:16.120 He was older than most of the guys. 0:04:16.240 --> 0:04:18.960 He has some really good qualities about him in terms 0:04:18.960 --> 0:04:23.400 of side speed, a thick body. But you know, when 0:04:23.400 --> 0:04:25.440 they gave him an opportunity as a wide receiver, he 0:04:25.520 --> 0:04:27.599 never came up with a big catch. When they allowed 0:04:27.640 --> 0:04:31.840 him be a punt returner, he made more you know, 0:04:31.960 --> 0:04:35.640 fumbles and drops than he did good secure catches. And 0:04:36.040 --> 0:04:39.200 we all know what the return game wasn't last year, 0:04:39.279 --> 0:04:42.200 but what it's becoming this year. And there's a lot 0:04:42.200 --> 0:04:44.960 of body styles that are changing in the returner and 0:04:45.000 --> 0:04:45.880 another running back. 0:04:46.120 --> 0:04:47.080 I don't think it's just. 0:04:47.040 --> 0:04:49.440 A plug and play type of position. I think you 0:04:49.520 --> 0:04:52.200 need to develop the instincts and the sight lines of 0:04:52.240 --> 0:04:56.159 a running back that can really help you turn the 0:04:56.240 --> 0:04:59.359 corner or become the running back that's expected of you, 0:04:59.520 --> 0:05:00.920 especially at this level. 0:05:01.200 --> 0:05:03.000 Well, one of the guys that I'm super happy for 0:05:03.320 --> 0:05:06.000 is Daniel Hardy. He makes the football team at least 0:05:06.040 --> 0:05:09.960 right now with Montes Sweat, Austin Booker, DeMarcus Walker, Darryl Taylor, 0:05:10.360 --> 0:05:14.920 dom Robinson, and Daniel Hardy. Daniel really put forth some 0:05:14.960 --> 0:05:18.440 great tape this preseason. Was one of the NFC leaders 0:05:18.440 --> 0:05:20.159 in sacks with three and a half. I know it's 0:05:20.160 --> 0:05:22.039 just preseason, but he had to play that way to 0:05:22.040 --> 0:05:24.599 make this football team and he did. He hustles. The 0:05:24.640 --> 0:05:27.200 guy hustles, and he could play special teams, you know, 0:05:27.320 --> 0:05:29.680 And I'm glad you said that, because the first thing 0:05:29.720 --> 0:05:31.719 that comes to mind when you talk about Daniel Hardy 0:05:31.800 --> 0:05:33.040 is israel A Donaja. 0:05:33.200 --> 0:05:35.120 Israel A Donaje was a guy that kind of could 0:05:35.120 --> 0:05:37.320 play up and down the defensive line of scrimmage. But 0:05:37.360 --> 0:05:39.880 he is one of the greatest contributors on special teams 0:05:39.880 --> 0:05:42.640 of all big guys that I think I've ever been around. 0:05:42.839 --> 0:05:45.680 And I know kickoff coverage has changed a lot, but 0:05:45.839 --> 0:05:49.719 Daniel Hardy has the size, the athleticism, the escapability, the 0:05:49.760 --> 0:05:53.680 tackling ability to go out there and be a contributor 0:05:53.720 --> 0:05:56.600 at that position and probably on punt team on the 0:05:56.640 --> 0:06:00.800 interior as well. So that's the one thing about Daniel Hardy. 0:06:01.480 --> 0:06:04.680 He created his own opportunity because when Jacob Martin got 0:06:04.720 --> 0:06:07.720 hurt early in training camp, that kind of moves everybody 0:06:07.760 --> 0:06:11.159 in that line up one person, But I mean, how 0:06:11.160 --> 0:06:14.440 do you react to that advancement in that line? Do 0:06:14.480 --> 0:06:16.720 you duck your head in the sand and hope you 0:06:16.760 --> 0:06:18.760 don't get seen, or do you raise your hand like 0:06:18.800 --> 0:06:21.760 the smartest kid in the class and provide the right 0:06:21.800 --> 0:06:22.720 answer every time? 0:06:22.760 --> 0:06:24.120 And that's exactly what he did. 0:06:24.440 --> 0:06:26.600 And Martin he would be an ir with a chance 0:06:26.640 --> 0:06:30.160 to return as he continues his rehab. Same story for 0:06:30.520 --> 0:06:33.880 Larry Borum at offensive tackle. Others on the injured reserve 0:06:33.920 --> 0:06:37.239 list symbol Webster Dante Pettis do one. 0:06:37.120 --> 0:06:38.960 Thing to interrupt you do we know the story of 0:06:39.040 --> 0:06:39.920 Colin Johnson. 0:06:41.320 --> 0:06:43.880 He's been cut, yes, so he could be signed back 0:06:43.920 --> 0:06:45.680 to the practice squad. He could be signed back. 0:06:45.839 --> 0:06:47.600 You know, he would be the type of guy that 0:06:48.800 --> 0:06:51.760 if I felt through a training staff that he's the 0:06:51.800 --> 0:06:54.760 type of guy that could stay healthy for the long term, 0:06:54.920 --> 0:06:57.440 that I would possibly bringing back on the training camp 0:06:57.480 --> 0:07:00.160 because I know that he didn't contribute until late in 0:07:00.200 --> 0:07:02.880 the season last year. And if that's the guy you 0:07:03.000 --> 0:07:06.919 always need waiting in the wings when conditions deteriorate and 0:07:07.000 --> 0:07:09.359 maybe you start running the ball a little bit more. 0:07:09.640 --> 0:07:12.600 He is a good blocker from the wide receiver position. 0:07:12.960 --> 0:07:15.480 So right now, wherever you want to categorize Dayless Jones, 0:07:15.480 --> 0:07:17.880 maybe just as a utility man. There's six wide receivers 0:07:17.920 --> 0:07:20.560 on the roster and they all are unique in their 0:07:20.600 --> 0:07:24.320 own way. Obviously with more Alan Aduonsay Tyler Scott, DeAndre 0:07:24.440 --> 0:07:27.440 Carter was a good chance to be the punt return 0:07:27.520 --> 0:07:30.440 man or the kickoff for turnman or both, and Vayless 0:07:30.560 --> 0:07:35.080 Jones the corners, heavy heavy corner. All of them can play. 0:07:35.400 --> 0:07:40.040 Jalen Johnson, Tyreek Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Terrell Smith, Jalen Jones, 0:07:40.160 --> 0:07:43.480 Josh Blackwell all play roles. There will be several of 0:07:43.520 --> 0:07:46.360 those guys that are impact players on special teams, and 0:07:46.400 --> 0:07:48.440 it gives you a lot of depth at all three 0:07:48.480 --> 0:07:51.160 of those cornerback positions, including nickel Tommy. 0:07:51.120 --> 0:07:53.960 Probably the most important position to have depth on in 0:07:54.040 --> 0:07:56.760 the modern day NFL of any other position that you 0:07:56.800 --> 0:08:01.120 can talk about, because to me, cornerback outs of quarterback, 0:08:01.480 --> 0:08:05.480 is the most difficult position in the NFL to fine talent, 0:08:05.800 --> 0:08:08.840 and when you talk about those number of guys that 0:08:08.880 --> 0:08:12.320 are that talented, if there is any type of hiccup 0:08:12.360 --> 0:08:15.080 with injury during the course of the season, you have 0:08:15.120 --> 0:08:18.480 a plug and play cornerback that's difficult to find. 0:08:18.600 --> 0:08:20.840 Jeff, Joniak and Tom there with you here on Bears 0:08:20.880 --> 0:08:23.680 et Cetera, Episode eighty eight. It's brought to you by 0:08:23.720 --> 0:08:26.480 Middle of Like Taste Like Middle Time, Celebrate Responsibly, Midder 0:08:26.520 --> 0:08:29.760 Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ninety six calories and three point 0:08:29.800 --> 0:08:33.720 two cars per twelve ounces. Okay, take me back to 0:08:33.800 --> 0:08:36.040 your time. What that moment is like from your own 0:08:36.080 --> 0:08:39.240 experience and what you've heard from others over the years 0:08:39.679 --> 0:08:41.719 when they do get that call or when you were 0:08:41.720 --> 0:08:44.880 called into Coach Wantstat's office and you know what we're gon, 0:08:45.040 --> 0:08:47.600 we're gonna move on, and you landed with the Miami Dolphins. 0:08:48.200 --> 0:08:50.199 What was your personal emotion. 0:08:50.760 --> 0:08:57.040 Such disappointment, such failure, self self failure. I was coming 0:08:57.080 --> 0:08:59.959 off of back surgery and I did I probably did 0:09:00.080 --> 0:09:04.160 and live up to what the expectations were of Tony Weiss, 0:09:04.160 --> 0:09:07.320 the offensive line coach, and Dave Wanstead and you know, 0:09:07.440 --> 0:09:10.280 Girling going with a younger group of guys. I hold 0:09:10.320 --> 0:09:14.120 no grudges before because of that. The difference is they 0:09:14.360 --> 0:09:16.280 always used to get you get a phone call from 0:09:16.280 --> 0:09:19.000 the secretary and Mary called me up and she said 0:09:19.040 --> 0:09:21.360 Tom coach Wantstead wants to see you and bring in 0:09:21.400 --> 0:09:24.720 your playbook. So there I carry in my three hundred 0:09:24.760 --> 0:09:28.439 page playbook that's in a binder that after you give 0:09:28.480 --> 0:09:32.640 it to that secretary, you know exactly what's coming next. Nowadays, 0:09:32.880 --> 0:09:34.840 they just whitewashed you from the. 0:09:34.720 --> 0:09:38.160 Tablet and you're not carrying anything in with you. 0:09:38.200 --> 0:09:40.960 So the difference in the modern day trimming down the 0:09:41.040 --> 0:09:44.040 rosters different than the old school trimming down to the roster. 0:09:44.480 --> 0:09:47.160 But like I said, I was proud of what I 0:09:47.160 --> 0:09:50.439 accomplished with the Chicago Bears. I held no grudges. By 0:09:50.480 --> 0:09:53.480 the time that I was cut, I got home and 0:09:53.520 --> 0:09:57.040 I already had calls from four teams that wanted me 0:09:57.120 --> 0:10:00.080 to fly in for a tryout, Washington Redskins being one 0:10:00.080 --> 0:10:02.880 of them, Redskins at the time, Miami Dolphins being one 0:10:02.880 --> 0:10:07.040 of them, and Miami Dolphins needed help immediately. And so 0:10:07.520 --> 0:10:09.640 when you think about the fantasy of playing on a 0:10:09.640 --> 0:10:12.959 football team that's not in the Midwest, that you see 0:10:13.000 --> 0:10:16.880 these players that are ten all year round, I was going, Wow, 0:10:16.920 --> 0:10:21.040 that may be a chance to explore the AFC passing 0:10:21.120 --> 0:10:23.840 game football that I'm not really familiar with from playing 0:10:23.840 --> 0:10:27.280 in the NFC, So I went down there and had 0:10:27.320 --> 0:10:30.080 a great opportunity to play there for a year. But 0:10:31.040 --> 0:10:34.520 that initial call that you get one of the secretaries 0:10:34.600 --> 0:10:37.320 on the other end of the phone, it kind of 0:10:37.360 --> 0:10:39.640 gives you that nervousness and the pit. 0:10:39.600 --> 0:10:40.320 Of your stomach. 0:10:40.760 --> 0:10:43.240 Whether you get a call the hey, the doctor wants 0:10:43.240 --> 0:10:45.599 to see you, or Hey, your principal needs to see you, 0:10:45.960 --> 0:10:48.640 or the dean of students needs to see you, it's 0:10:48.679 --> 0:10:52.920 one of those calls that gives you an immediate queasy 0:10:53.000 --> 0:10:54.160 feeling in your stomach. 0:10:54.200 --> 0:10:54.680 And it did. 0:10:54.760 --> 0:10:57.720 I was thirty three, thirty two years old, and I 0:10:57.720 --> 0:11:00.440 felt like I was being called into Dean Roads office 0:11:00.480 --> 0:11:01.480 at Julia Katholic. 0:11:02.280 --> 0:11:05.959 There's a great article on the Tribune on a Tuesday 0:11:06.080 --> 0:11:09.400 of my Brad Biggs. He repurposed a story he did 0:11:09.440 --> 0:11:11.640 long time ago with Jeremy Snyder, a friend of ours 0:11:11.679 --> 0:11:14.400 who used to work in the Bears video department and 0:11:14.480 --> 0:11:17.240 now in the scout for the Canadian Football League. And 0:11:17.960 --> 0:11:22.000 he was the Turk and guys would hide. They try 0:11:22.040 --> 0:11:24.080 to find veterans that may have known it was coming. 0:11:24.120 --> 0:11:25.640 You couldn't find him, but he had They had to 0:11:25.640 --> 0:11:27.760 find him. Was a face to face thing it wasn't 0:11:27.800 --> 0:11:30.679 a phone call. You had to face him face to face. 0:11:30.760 --> 0:11:35.840 So just extraordinary stories. Indeed, and I'm certain it's not 0:11:35.960 --> 0:11:39.920 that way now and it's more of a congenial conversation 0:11:40.160 --> 0:11:43.160 and you know, come to the office and here we go, Jeff. 0:11:43.240 --> 0:11:46.240 Back in our day, before the invention of cell phones 0:11:46.280 --> 0:11:49.280 and text messages and emails and that type of contact, 0:11:49.600 --> 0:11:52.480 you could hear a faint knocko ound in the platt 0:11:52.559 --> 0:11:55.760 filled dorm room at five o'clock in the morning, at 0:11:55.760 --> 0:11:58.200 five thirty in the morning, and it would be the 0:11:58.280 --> 0:12:00.640 turk of that time, would open the door, aren't say, hey, 0:12:00.640 --> 0:12:03.600 coach wants to see you, and you'd see that poor 0:12:03.640 --> 0:12:06.840 guy walking down the hallway with his playbook in hand, 0:12:07.200 --> 0:12:09.760 and then coming back to his dorm room, no playbook 0:12:09.800 --> 0:12:12.840 in hand, and with the door open inside their packing. 0:12:13.120 --> 0:12:16.920 And that's one of the most difficult things is friendships 0:12:17.400 --> 0:12:24.199 before cuts, because you don't necessarily make friendships before cuts, 0:12:24.400 --> 0:12:26.840 because you don't want to become close to a person 0:12:27.200 --> 0:12:30.839 that you're either competing against or you kind of feel 0:12:30.880 --> 0:12:34.720 that they're gonna get cut. And because that instant in time, 0:12:34.840 --> 0:12:37.560 that instant of uh, you know, you're not you you 0:12:37.640 --> 0:12:40.679 are on your way to adulthood, but you're still trying 0:12:40.679 --> 0:12:43.160 to compete to play a sport, and it's a it's 0:12:43.200 --> 0:12:44.200 a tough couple of minutes. 0:12:44.280 --> 0:12:45.880 Bears, et cetera is brought to you by a P 0:12:46.000 --> 0:12:48.160 and C Official Bank of the Bears and Busy Heart 0:12:48.200 --> 0:12:50.920 Seltz your flavors for every vipe ce Responsibly Most in 0:12:50.960 --> 0:12:54.520 Course Beverage Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Okay, let's take a look 0:12:54.520 --> 0:12:55.000 at the roster. 0:12:55.120 --> 0:12:55.320 Now. 0:12:55.559 --> 0:12:58.880 First of all, it's bigger, it's bigger, it's better, it's faster, 0:12:59.040 --> 0:12:59.600 it's deeper. 0:12:59.640 --> 0:13:02.760 Would you agree? You know? 0:13:02.800 --> 0:13:06.560 And okay, what's what's bigger, what's better, what's faster? The 0:13:06.600 --> 0:13:10.200 wide receiver position is faster. Defensive backs are fast. The 0:13:10.440 --> 0:13:14.440 linebacker position is gonna play faster because now they have experience, 0:13:14.800 --> 0:13:18.200 Tremaine Edmunds and TJ. Edwards and so those guys are 0:13:18.200 --> 0:13:20.160 going to play a faster brand of football along with 0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:22.760 Jack Sanborn and the rest of the crew. The defensive 0:13:22.760 --> 0:13:24.960 line is bigger. When you look at your Von Dexter, 0:13:25.120 --> 0:13:27.560 you will have what you have in Billings. You have 0:13:27.679 --> 0:13:29.960 what you have in Montes sweat. He's a big man, 0:13:30.240 --> 0:13:34.120 and you the rest of the crew that's gonna fit in, Uh, defensively, 0:13:34.160 --> 0:13:36.640 how they're going to fit in offensive line. 0:13:36.920 --> 0:13:39.920 Darnell Wright is a big man, so is Braxton Jones. 0:13:39.960 --> 0:13:43.120 They have some size on the inside with Tevin Jenkins 0:13:43.320 --> 0:13:46.439 and Hope you get consistency at the right guy, right guard. 0:13:46.440 --> 0:13:49.400 And you have Coleman Shelton right now at the center position. 0:13:49.880 --> 0:13:54.079 Uh. The tight end position is big with Mercedes and Uh, 0:13:54.360 --> 0:13:56.880 you know Cole and the rest of the the rest 0:13:56.880 --> 0:13:57.520 of the crew there. 0:13:57.559 --> 0:13:59.520 Matt Bryor on the offensive line, a big man who 0:13:59.520 --> 0:14:01.440 can play three positions. 0:14:01.160 --> 0:14:04.240 Huge man, big, big man. And you know the running 0:14:04.280 --> 0:14:07.280 back position's quality. I think DeAndre Swift is a great 0:14:07.280 --> 0:14:09.960 addition to this group of guys that came in here 0:14:09.960 --> 0:14:11.880 and made the position even more competitive. 0:14:11.960 --> 0:14:14.000 We always talk about players, but let's talk about the 0:14:14.000 --> 0:14:16.840 coaching staff. I think Maddie Refluse is in the right 0:14:17.360 --> 0:14:19.800 sweet spot right now for him. He's the head coach 0:14:19.800 --> 0:14:21.400 of this football team, but he's also going to be 0:14:21.400 --> 0:14:24.800 calling defensive plays and that's where his heart is. He 0:14:24.920 --> 0:14:28.560 just feels like it feels to me anyway, not from 0:14:28.640 --> 0:14:31.440 his mouth, these are my words. It just feels this 0:14:31.480 --> 0:14:35.720 is right in his wheelhouse. Okay, and he's managing the situation. 0:14:35.840 --> 0:14:39.040 He's got twenty five twenty six assistant coaches on this 0:14:39.120 --> 0:14:41.520 staff to help him out. And then you got the 0:14:41.520 --> 0:14:45.400 offensive coordinator, Shan Waldohn. He's impressed us both not only 0:14:45.480 --> 0:14:49.480 is in his demeanor, his understanding and explanation of what 0:14:49.520 --> 0:14:51.920 he wants to do, but also in what he's called, 0:14:51.920 --> 0:14:54.280 at least in the preseason balance. Yeah. 0:14:54.320 --> 0:14:56.360 You know one thing about Mattie Refluse, since he took 0:14:56.440 --> 0:14:59.960 over play calling last year, that's undeniable. The defense got better, 0:15:00.360 --> 0:15:02.520 and whenever you have the head coach that's making the 0:15:02.560 --> 0:15:05.680 calls on defense, you have a certain you capture the 0:15:05.680 --> 0:15:09.080 player's attention with a little bit more seriousness. I think 0:15:09.120 --> 0:15:12.560 the addition to Eric Washington, defensive coordinator, is a great 0:15:12.600 --> 0:15:16.040 addition to the intelligence of the staff. He's a really 0:15:16.080 --> 0:15:19.720 good person. He relates really well to these football players 0:15:19.720 --> 0:15:22.040 and they have a lot of respect for him. And 0:15:22.080 --> 0:15:25.000 that's all the other assistant coaches on defense as well. 0:15:25.360 --> 0:15:28.120 Matt Eberflus is also a good influence on a young 0:15:28.240 --> 0:15:31.520 quarterback because he knows exactly what a defense is trying 0:15:31.560 --> 0:15:34.680 to do to defense against the quarterback they're playing against, 0:15:34.960 --> 0:15:37.880 and so that relatable message to a young quarterback like 0:15:37.960 --> 0:15:44.520 Caleb Williams is super influential and educational in the development stages. 0:15:44.920 --> 0:15:47.600 And listen, I don't know Shane Waldron very well yet, 0:15:47.880 --> 0:15:49.840 but from what I see out of him and the 0:15:49.840 --> 0:15:53.080 way he calls the game in training camps and the 0:15:53.120 --> 0:15:56.280 training camp games and in practices itself, and when you 0:15:56.320 --> 0:15:59.600 look at the balance and the inclusion of everybody, I'm 0:15:59.640 --> 0:16:02.440 super excited to see where this regular season is going 0:16:02.520 --> 0:16:02.800 to go. 0:16:03.240 --> 0:16:05.760 In the first portion of the season. 0:16:05.880 --> 0:16:07.760 Tastes like middle time. Go to Middle of Light dot 0:16:07.840 --> 0:16:10.440 com slash bears pod to find delivery options near you. 0:16:10.520 --> 0:16:14.320 Celebrate responsibly. Midder Ruined Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ninety six calories 0:16:14.320 --> 0:16:17.720 and three point two carbs for twelve ounces. So the 0:16:17.800 --> 0:16:21.240 owners passed a new rule that would have allowed a 0:16:21.240 --> 0:16:23.640 third quarterback to be elevated from the practice squad an 0:16:23.720 --> 0:16:28.480 unlimited number of game days. So the NFLPA rejected that. 0:16:28.680 --> 0:16:32.640 So the proposed change of a quarterback emergency role was tabled. 0:16:32.680 --> 0:16:35.560 So that impacts well you do now with the roster. 0:16:35.680 --> 0:16:37.520 So Bret Rippin, for example, he had one hundred and 0:16:37.520 --> 0:16:39.840 thirty one point four quarterback rating in the preseason look 0:16:39.880 --> 0:16:42.600 great and can look very very good, and is a 0:16:42.680 --> 0:16:45.360 veteran guy that can provide some help in that regard. 0:16:45.680 --> 0:16:48.160 So if you're going to choose address a third quarterback 0:16:48.200 --> 0:16:50.440 on game day, you got to keep him on the 0:16:50.520 --> 0:16:53.720 active roster. Now, you can be elevated off the practice squad, 0:16:54.080 --> 0:16:56.680 but you can only be done three times on game day. 0:16:56.760 --> 0:16:59.600 So how do you feel about this rule? Obviously it's 0:16:59.600 --> 0:17:04.240 about money the Union would like to pay a third quarterback, 0:17:04.400 --> 0:17:06.399 but this would have been a good move for the 0:17:06.560 --> 0:17:09.520 entire NFL given how many quarterbacks the league has gone 0:17:09.520 --> 0:17:11.520 through the last two years. 0:17:11.560 --> 0:17:14.840 One of the dumber rejections of a smart rule I've 0:17:14.880 --> 0:17:17.399 heard in a long time in the NFL. And you 0:17:17.440 --> 0:17:19.800 know me, I don't agree with a lot of these changes, 0:17:20.160 --> 0:17:24.080 But you know, just to analogize baseball, do you like 0:17:24.119 --> 0:17:27.720 to see a position player come in and throw batting 0:17:27.800 --> 0:17:29.600 practice when they're right? 0:17:29.800 --> 0:17:31.960 Okay, So that's the same thing with football. 0:17:31.960 --> 0:17:34.520 Do you want to see a clever wide receiver or 0:17:34.560 --> 0:17:37.639 a running back or whomever take over at the quarterback 0:17:37.680 --> 0:17:40.480 position if you have multiple injuries? So you have this 0:17:40.640 --> 0:17:43.720 third guy that's sitting on the sideline, and how about 0:17:43.720 --> 0:17:46.880 this put him on the roster. If he doesn't play 0:17:46.880 --> 0:17:49.800 in the game, you pay him whatever his practice squad 0:17:50.040 --> 0:17:52.960 salary is. If he does play in the game, then 0:17:53.000 --> 0:17:56.960 you elevate that week's check to a game day check Listen, Jeff, 0:17:57.119 --> 0:18:01.560 it's going to indeed multiple quarterbacks the game day roster, 0:18:02.080 --> 0:18:04.399 and like the rule says, once you put them in 0:18:04.440 --> 0:18:06.040 the game, they're there to stay. 0:18:06.640 --> 0:18:09.960 So again, just a dumb decision. 0:18:10.160 --> 0:18:13.280 I think that's failing the game day roster of the NFL. 0:18:13.640 --> 0:18:15.520 So let me say this about because people have asked 0:18:15.560 --> 0:18:18.520 me that you know, don't know all the interestcases of 0:18:18.560 --> 0:18:21.199 the salary capitold or what a paycheck is for a 0:18:21.240 --> 0:18:24.200 practice squad player. So the minimum salary is twelve thousand, 0:18:24.320 --> 0:18:27.760 five hundred a week. If you have two years experience, 0:18:28.000 --> 0:18:32.280 the minimum is sixteen eight hundred per week. Maximum salary 0:18:32.320 --> 0:18:35.280 twenty one thousand, three hundred per week, So over an 0:18:35.280 --> 0:18:38.480 eighteen week regular season, if you are on the practice squad, 0:18:38.800 --> 0:18:42.760 and if you get elevated three times your salary you 0:18:42.760 --> 0:18:44.920 don't have to be elevated three times, but your salary 0:18:45.000 --> 0:18:47.679 is anywhere between two hundred and twenty five grand and 0:18:47.760 --> 0:18:50.440 three hundred and eighty three thousand, four hundred dollars annually, 0:18:51.240 --> 0:18:52.320 more than I ever made. 0:18:53.359 --> 0:18:55.680 I mean right, got on the practice squad, never worried 0:18:55.680 --> 0:18:57.560 about playing in the games, go out there and give 0:18:57.640 --> 0:19:01.400 my great padded effort one day a week for fourteen 0:19:01.440 --> 0:19:03.200 weeks and get paid that salary. 0:19:03.400 --> 0:19:07.760 That's pretty handsome and so uh yeah, I mean listen. 0:19:08.160 --> 0:19:10.840 It creates a lot of incentive for these guys to 0:19:10.880 --> 0:19:13.560 go out there and put in the same offseason effort, 0:19:13.840 --> 0:19:16.800 in the same seasonal effort to make the practice squad 0:19:17.040 --> 0:19:18.760 as you do to make an active roster. 0:19:20.000 --> 0:19:23.639 A couple of other things, Since the twenty two quarterback 0:19:23.640 --> 0:19:27.840 class was selected, there's only two players left on their 0:19:27.880 --> 0:19:32.000 original teams at quarterback. So pick number two forty seven 0:19:32.280 --> 0:19:35.200 Skyler Thompson to Miami and picked two sixty two Brock 0:19:35.240 --> 0:19:37.920 Paridy of San Francisco League. Willis traded to the Green 0:19:37.960 --> 0:19:41.320 Bay Packers number eighty six. So this is the status 0:19:41.720 --> 0:19:45.040 of quarterback play. Twenty twenty one wasn't a heck of 0:19:45.080 --> 0:19:47.480