Dan Wiederer is waiting for Kyler Gordon to give his side of the story (Hour 2)

0:00This is the official radio home of the Chicago Cubs. Listen to every game here on Sports Radio 1043 The Score. And always live on the Free Odyssey app. Rock casting live from the Hyundai Studios. Presented to you in part by your local Hyundai dealers, WSER. WSER FM and HD1 Chicago in Odyssey Sports Station. The Score! Spiegel at home afternoons on the score. With Kyler, are you convinced he's going to play for you? I don't know. I would hope so. I still have hope there. He's going to have to continue to work hard and get back to playing football. What specificity can you give us about what's going on here? I really can't. I think when people come back from injuries, there's different things that happen. Sometimes they return fast, sometimes it's slow. So it's really a timing thing and a healing thing and confidence thing. So I really don't. I wish I did. But we'll see.

1:02What an awkward situation. Caitlin Sharkey is with me here on the score. That's not the awkward situation. I don't find. I don't find Caitlin awkward at all. Tammy, do you find... Thank you. But the opposite, yeah. But we've had the Vegas precursor, you know, the formalities are a lot of the way. The particular show in a cabana in Vegas. There's the awkwardness in your swimsuit cover up. You're like, well, the awkwardness is gone. Yeah. And like, there's just no denying. Well, we know each other now. And then you come back and you do radio and it's totally just fine. Alex, right, you don't find anything awkward going on here today. Other than you and Tammy, your standard awkwardness. We're doing a radio show. What's awkward? Nothing at all. Thanks so much. Me bringing up Kevin Warren, apparently, was very awkward. Well, because you guys... Yeah. And you're... Alex, what happens with these radio talent people? They don't like when you have these great ideas and they don't think of that. So they will immediately just... We feel extremely threatened. No, it's a prime threat. It's extremely threatened. Yeah, we don't like surprises.

2:02We don't like when your thoughts might even be better than ours. Absolutely not. That's not allowed. So be careful about that kind of stuff. But no, it's awkward with Kyler Gordon. And in a similar way, it's been... You know, there's other stories swirling around. When I asked Craig Council the other day at the end of our Cubs interview, if you're at a situation where you think somebody's ready to play and they don't think somebody's ready to play, I was asking him about Ben Brown. But I might as well have been asking about Kyler Gordon. And this is on everybody's mind. Caitlin, let's listen to this and then react together. Dave Wonstead was awesome, as he always is, at five o'clock yesterday with me and Gabe. And towards the end of that segment, we got to Kyler Gordon. Here's Coach on what he perceives the situation to be. What's the answer? Nobody knows, except it's frustrating for a coach. Well, that's the thing. We're seeing that with Ben, you know? Yeah, well, we haven't even had... The Kyler Gordon stuff, the fact that the GM comes out, Coach, and says, I don't know.

3:07I wish I had more to tell you. I mean, that's a bad sign when the GM doesn't really give you anything solid. A week before kickoff, right? A week before the season, especially. No, I don't have a good feeling about that thing at all. I think they're moving on in their minds, you know? I can't get out. I can't wrap my brain around this. Speaking said that earlier that, you know, he's closer to not playing another snap for the Chicago Bears than he is for coming back. To me, I just... I can't wrap my mind around a Kyler Gordon. Don't get me wrong. Spider-manning and doing backflips, that kind of a character. I could see where he might fall off the path in certain moments. But he's supposed to be someone that's supposed to be contributing to this defense at a high level, a key component of this defense. So to just be like, okay, we're just moving off of this guy. It just seems weird to me, coach. I would be going to bet and I don't know this first fact. But I do know this. I'll say this on the record. It's not the Chicago Bears, guys. And it's not anything they're doing scheme-wise.

4:08I mean, you can be a hero if you're the Nickelback and Dennis Allen scheme. This is a Nickelback friendly scheme. So it's not the Bears. It's not the coaches. I think the guys, let's assume that he's hurt. And if he's not hurt, maybe in his heart, he's just, I mean, looking to happen to our center last year. Right? I wasn't the Bears. It wasn't the scheme. Our center last year just had enough help me out. I'm trying to think of his name. Domin. Drew Domin. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Domin just decides he had enough. And I'm not so sure that in the end of the day, Gordon's not going to sign with another team. You know, it's not the Bears. It's not the scheme. All that stuff. It's not the city of Chicago. All that. It couldn't be any better. It couldn't be any better for a football player in his time right now. And so I think it's just some stuff that he's dealing with. Whether it's injury or just, you know, in his heart, how bad does he want to do it? He knows what he has to do to play at a high level and not getting Bears.

5:10And he's a good enough player and smart enough guy that if he doesn't think he can get it done, man. It's that money and peer pressure that's too big motivators for pro players. Coach, it's one thing to decide you don't want to play anymore. And it tell the team and to retire officially and for them to figure out how to reallocate your money and you give it up. It's another, it's another to play some kind of weird sort of passive aggressive game and make them think that you still might go so you can get another year of salary or whatever. You know, that's, that's my fear. Is that it's like that, you know? Yeah. And then he comes back and somebody runs behind for a 40 yard touchdown, you know, or he misses a big put. Yeah. That's the fear. That's what coaches would have is, man, you come back. You that'll be all we know this thing. You know, every play is critical. And so I don't know. I wish I had an answer. I don't obviously bend doesn't have an answer. Ryan Poles doesn't have an answer. I know Dennis Allen doesn't. So we'll see what happens.

6:11Dave Wands said yesterday and Caitlin, your eyebrows raised at what point when he openly sort of questioned whether Kyler wants to play football in a similar way, the true Dolman decided not to play football. Yeah. I think that's something that we don't always consider because again, we're in such a athlete first mode when we're having these conversations about players. And again, like you mentioned in response to Wani about he could tell them that if he doesn't want to play football anymore. I don't know necessarily if it's a situation of Kyler Gordon not wanting to play football because we wouldn't be seeing those videos of him backpedaling in a backyard. If he had the desire to think that you think that necessarily could be the case. There's no contact there. There's no danger there. There's no violence. But why post that video? Why why why would somebody to provide the appearance of an attempt to get back? It's definitely a mental thing, I think, with Kyler Gordon. Maybe a mental thing of trusting where he's at in his injury recovery and his rehab process. And because I mean Kyler Gordon came here in what, 2022, there's a lot that's gone

7:15on within this team. Now would be a weird time to be like, I'm out on the bears because the bears are actually having success and they've turned things around and they have good, competent people inside that building. That wasn't necessarily the case early on. So for me, it'd be weird for him to be like, now I'm over it. But it is like a similar lead of our conversation in regards to the guardian cap, right? There's an expected level of fearlessness that you have to play with. I don't want to get hit. I wouldn't want to do that. I'd blow my Achilles if my cap is bothering me. Right. And cost myself another year of either a rehab or just personal discomfort. I like, I like do another stuff. I like riding bikes. I like hiking. I like walking around the city. I mean, whatever it is you like, you might not want it to do the violence of it. You might not want to put your brain at risk. And I have total respect for that. I get it when you're Chris Borland and you decide to walk away. You're Drew Domen and I decide to walk away.

8:17But when there's 40 million out there that you're trying to make sure you get as you slow play it, that's what it starts to feel like. Yeah. There's a slow play going on. There's a slow play. It's like, I don't understand what cards you're trying to put on the table. But you talk about the injury recovery and it reminded me of TJ Edwards yesterday talking to us about one of the exercises he had to do coming off his fractured fibula. And he's like, you know, you do this, this drill and you move your ankle in and out. And he's like, there were times where he was sitting there on the table going through this rehab process last year. He goes, I don't know. And he like was joking about it yesterday, but he goes, I don't know if I can do this anymore. Like there's a real thought when you're going through the rehab process, the physical part of it that we don't often see or consider. And again, this is not me standing up here defending Kyler Gordon's decision to whatever he's doing. But I think it sometimes we forget. And it reminded me yesterday when TJ Edwards was sitting there telling us like, there was a time I'm like, this ain't it for me anymore because it hurt so bad. It was so uncomfortable. It was so strenuous. He said that his wife took a picture of his injury and every time he doubted whether

9:20or not he wanted to continue playing his wife sending them that photo to remind them how far he's coming his recovery. And it's a little moments like that when you hear them describe this specific exercise or this rehab move that you're like, that sounds brutal. That sounds terrible. So I don't know what Kyler Gordon has felt or is feeling every time he steps out on a field and is running. And sure there's there's clearance in sports. There's medical clearance like, hey, you're able to go. Some guys love playing through everything. Some guys are super human. Look at Aussie Trapillo. He's ready to go. He looks like he wasn't even injured. Some guys are designed and built that way. Every kind of Gordon's not that guy. Yeah. I think it's fair to wonder. Texture transplant Tom said, glad you're Caitlin Sharkey on the score. Very likable on TV. And now the radio. Thanks, Tom. From transplant Tom. Yeah, I don't think he's actually been listening. But probably not if he's saying that was nice. We'll see what speaks as to say about your likability. Yeah, right. What? It's still really in the show. What's that she really? She's ready. Yeah.

10:21Top five. Yeah. Somewhere in that top five. Says Claypool and Nate Davis, Nate Davis, where divas, dominant and Kyler weren't. Hmm. I don't know. I see a discrepancy between dominant and Kyler right now, but I don't know. There's more to learn. There's definitely more to learn. The athletic football show and Robert Mays, our friend Robert Mays, have casted some doubt on the defense overall and admitted to some anxiety. Want to get your thoughts on this? There's Robert Mays and the athletic football show. What is keeping you up at night, Dave, about the Chicago Bears? Is it a side of the ball? We have not yet mentioned up to this point in the preview. You're probably thinking we're planning the Super Bowl route to downtown Chicago. Um, every single thing about the Bears defense, not only nightmare fuel, not only keeps me awake at night, but drastically alters my opinion of this theme. Like I could talk for another 30 minutes about all the things I can't wait to see about

11:24this offense. I'm terrified of the defense. I assume it's going to be bad. Kyler Gordon is officially on pup. And by the way, everyone in the building seems to hate him. I don't know what's going on there. It's a very strange situation. It's awful. Kobe Bryant, you already mentioned Cam Lewis is your starting nickel. I do think that for a mid August signing, you could do a lot worse than Xavier Woods, but he's hurt. Is he? He's been up. Yes. They're in a spot now. I was going to say Xavier Woods is a nice mid August signing, but you don't want to be making mid August signings if you have real aspirations to do something. We're in a spot now with the Bears, where because of your woods has been banged up throughout training camp, it sounds like they might have to start Cam Lewis at safety and have Malik Muhammad, who's their fourth round pick, started nickel. Cam Lewis has played less than 300 and safety snaps combined over the past three seasons. He was like a nickel in dime looks player for the bills. So this entire thing is just unsettlingly unstable in so many different areas.

12:33We talk about what's keeping you up. And I think it's like a theoretical thing for most of these teams. This is literally what is keeping you up tonight. Tanny was wondering in the thread if we have been underselling concerns about the Bears defense. And I got to say I have those concerns. I just think the offense is going to outscore those concerns. High scoring of offense ever because they have to be. Because they need to be. Yeah, I mean, their defense wasn't perfect last year. The turnovers were fantastic. No doubt. I mean, to do what they did from a turnover ball-hawking standpoint under Al Herit. Al Herit is still there, guys. Al Herit is still coaching these guys. Sure, it's not Kevin Byard or Nishon Wright, but who was talking about how great Nishon Wright was going to play last year? You have to trust the coachy and the players that they scout and bring in. And it's go time, right? Is it going to be perfect? No, but they sound confident. I mean, yeah, there's concerns, but I don't think it's keeping me up at night because

13:34they're going to drop 45 on everybody. The Buffalo Bills last year allowed 21.5 points per game, okay? Right in the middle of the pack. And on offense, they scored, uh, did the Buffalo Bills 28.3 points per game. And I went to them just because they're one of those teams that all year long felt like they were in those 35-31 games, those 30 to 27 games, the 41-38 game every once in a while. I feel like the bears are going to be in those kind of games a lot. And they'll probably be one score games. That's what the NFL does. They've built parity into it. They've mastered parity like no other sport. And is our guy good enough? Is our combo of coaching quarterback good enough? I sit here and I say yes. And that's why I go over on the, what's the win total? Not in a half? Is that what it is right now?

14:35I probably I go over on the win total. Yeah. That offense is going to cook. And Ben won't allow it to fail. And there were certainly times last season that you know, you're watching that offense as they were working the kinks out. Ben wasn't even in the first chapter of his playbook and they were doing more vanilla things to get the quarterback and the rest of the offense on the same page. There were times that I'm like, man, this team does not want to get in those shootout type games. I now feel like year two, their team, their offense, that can be in a shootout. And some games are going to require that given this situation of the defense right now. So. I think that the concern falls on the secondary a lot because obviously you lose a superstar and Kobe Bryant, your big splashy signing, lose him. You got a rookie safety. Your nickel corner is not playing. That's all cause for concern. But again, it begins up front. The worst scoring defense in the NFL last year was the Dallas Cowboys. They gave up 30.1 points per game. They scored 27.7 points per game.

15:37I mean, they shouldn't be that bad. Bears shouldn't be that bad. No, and this is on Dennis Allen. Like I understand that there's talent deficiencies, but you have helped put this defense together. And if you are the defensive coordinator that has functioned with an offensive minded head coach, pretty much your entire career. And you keep talking about we got to coach him up better. You just need to be OK to slightly below average for this team to succeed. So be OK or slightly below average. I have confidence that he can actually do that. I do too. Yeah. And he's the first one to say his coaching wasn't good enough. All of their coaching on the defensive side was not good enough. The fundamentals were not there. Well now these guys know the defense. They know Dennis Allen's defense outside of a few that are new additions this year. But and he knows them. He knows them. He brings that they bring in Dennis Allen guys for a purpose for a reason. Yeah. I think the offense is going to be explosive enough for maybe they get on teams, get up early

16:39on teams and then Ben, we know how good Ben is with the clock and just like running the ball a ton to keep that defense off the field possibly. Yeah. That's a good point and it's nuance that's not considered sometimes when you just throw out numbers like I have been over the last few minutes. Right. There's a reason that Ben knows what he has on the other side of the board. Yeah. He has a strategy and a skill set. Yeah. And situationally you can achieve some of those numbers by by limiting the danger by having it on the other side. Let's ask our friend Dan Weider about this and other bears issues. Next, it is Caitlin Sharkey and me Matt Spiegel and the Spiegel and home show right here on the score. The score is kicking off football season with circus sports and Miller light. This coming Thursday September 10th, Rahimi and Grote will broadcast live from Cody's public house and Lakeview from 10 to 2 on Thursday. An hour show will be live from Timothy O'Tools in the street or bill from 2 to 6 p.m. That's next Thursday September 10th. It's all brought to you by circus sports sports betting the way it should be with no bet fees and by Miller light, the official beer of the Chicago Cubs.

17:40Keep it right here on the score with Speaks and Caitlin Sharkey. Bears fans, trust David Haan, Jared Peyton in the mornings to get you ready for the season opener against the Penners. Last year at this time, what did we say about the bear secondary going into the season? Strength of the team. Can you say that now? I don't know that you can. Look at them and where he was drafted. There are a lot of expectations. I think he's going to be picked on. Offensive coaches are going to scheme up certain things to test him. Listen to Haan Peyton. Mornings 5.30 till 10 a.m. Talking bears with a regular season closing in fast. This is where Chicago Comster Talk Bears sports radio 1043 the score. The segment is brought to you by almost free teeth dot com. Save undental implants today. Why pay more? Almost free teeth dot com. You can save up to 95% on full mouth implants. A brand new smile is finally within reach. Visit almost free teeth dot com today. Dan Weeter, his nickname is Weets. Dan Weeter. Well, mention this mainly because Dan Weeter said we would mention this. Bears beat reported for the athletic.

18:41I come out of the bathroom and it calls ringing it. It says no caller ID. Click hello. Hey Dan, Peyton Manning. I said, I'm out of second. I just got to get to a place where I could talk. Oh, I'm just a minute. Co-host of the Tink the North podcast. Tyson, Baygent Ladies and Gentlemen. Yes, sir. How you doing, Tyson? I'm great. Thank you guys for having me. Thanks for being here, man. It means a lot to us. And it means a lot to Gurney. How are the bears fans treating inside? We have the same question. But you guys had a long line of people looking to get autographs. Yeah. I mean, you know how it is. There's a couple hot balls in there. But everybody was wonderful. It was one of the back guys right there. Yeah. You stuck. You stuck. You stuck. He looks like he's been doing burpees. He looks like he's been doing the juice. That's a burpee garage. That's what it looks like. That is very possible. You're lagging to juice, then. Dan Wheeter. That's good on Fridays, aren't you? With Spiegel at home. On 1043. The score. Dan Wheeter is going to be part of our football coverage. All fall long looking forward to that.

19:43And we'll be hanging out on Fridays. So why not do it now? Speaks in Katelyn Sharky right here on the Spiegel at home show. And Dan Wheeter joins us on the hotline, which is brought to you by Potawatomi, Casino and Hotel, the Midwest, best Casino. What's up, Dan? How are you, sir? I'm doing great. How are you guys? Oh, we're wonderful. Wonderful. So, you know, I was with you, Dan, here in the studio when we realized that Dennis Allen was pointing a thumb about being coached up. And by the coach himself after Ben Johnson had talked about it. And so, wanted to check in on that. Through training camp, what kind of things to your knowledge has Dennis Allen been coaching up if differently or maybe just with a little more attention? And who has responded to it well amongst the team? Well, yeah, speak. I think the real witness test of this will come with the defensive interior when we get into games here soon, because I think they made a bet on depth there. They made a bet on development there. I think that group there responds to coaching.

20:43And so, there's been a lot about the way that they want to play football up front, the way they want to get off the ball and strike first and not be reactive. Look, I know I'm at the point now where I'm interested. That is an interesting sound as I believe the man was taken off the car and put on the regular phone. Is that what that sounds like? Are the other, I don't know, either way. The space capsule was ejected. And he's going through other things. Technology, man. Yeah, man. What a world we live in. I won't reestablish with Dan. It makes sense that his answer is on the interior of the defensive line where they've made a play on depth. And now we'll see, is it Contavia Street? Yes. They say it's saying nice things about him. Which was kind of not shocking, but you know, when a coach or coordinator gets up there and they're like, Contavia Street has had the best production of all the detacles. You're like, really? So I made an effort yesterday to watch Contavia Street at practice and I'm like, he looks good.

21:44He looks good. He looks fast. He looks strong. What do you think about Contavia Street as an example of what we're talking about here, Dan? Yeah, again, we'll see. You know, and like I think that's the mode that we're in at this point where it's just time. It's just time to go get a handful of regular season games to test all this stuff out to see all the things that we've all been talking about. Since the spring, apply it to actual tests and again, we're nine days away from a meaningful game in Charlotte and all of sudden we have some evidence there to figure out what's happening up front, but street is certainly a guy that's going to factor in a dead rotation up front. Dan, you wrote a great piece in the athletic about taking the North and on the mission to never giving it back. And I appreciate those questions like this time of year and looking at how much the culture has changed and everything that we get to see every single day at Hallis Hall. When you think about the cap situation and the restructuring of what they're doing with salaries and contracts and all of those things, do you feel like this is the first time Ryan Polz is really being tested with how to be a savvy GM when you're talking about being serious, you're no longer rebuilding being a serious contender and sometimes managing salary caps and cap space and going all in as part of the deal.

22:58No question, and particularly when you're trying to sustain this acceptate when it's just like there are a lot of pieces to this puzzle and you've got to be planning for right now, while also having an eye toward the future and understanding kind of how to move all those cogs in the machine around so that you're able to be ready for big deals that you're going to have to give to in house guys be ready in case of emergency and somebody exits your plans and all of a sudden you've got to go fill that hole. You know at a time where it's just out of nowhere you know and that's going to happen sometime during this regular season where they'll they'll lose somebody and you know we saw it last year they needed to go out and get C.J. Garden of Johnson in October because they were so. Short handed in the secondary and so that's all part of this and there's a lot of moving parts financially to making sure you're you're healthy and nimble and able to react to things and again like the ideal situation here for the bears is to get stories like Darnell right. Where you got a first round pick that grows under the development plan of your coaching staff and does so in a way where you have to go reward him in a big way and then when you reward him in a big way you've got to figure out how that affects the rest of your your puzzle building and so that's going to be part of this process for sure to be clear they restructured the contracts of Joe to any diode dang bow and T.J. Edwards and freeing up about 17 million in salary capspace.

24:16I had read that headline and thought max cross be here we go. Like let's roll let's finally get going. Yeah it's finally happening we don't have to bitch about being broke but is this just to sort of cover what they were over and give them flexibility is it that boring Dan. It is that boring. I feel like you've been listening to the new Peyton and Hoshil in the morning because David seems to be really beating the drum for max cross be again and so. What do you mean by that David what do you mean by that Dan what do you mean by that. And so we're going to have to see kind of where that whole thing goes but right now they were over the cap and they needed to do some things just to move some things around to get get themselves in a place to be ready for the regular season and and here we are you know labor day weekend. Thank God the regular season is here I think I can't even can agree with me. It's just this this preceding is just a couple of points. You need real football. Dan and I were standing at practice yesterday the very long two hour practice.

25:19You're whiter man we need a game we need a game you'll get one it's coming. No lining no lining it's just observation check. Yeah we need to move all these storylines forward and we've just been stuck I think probably three weeks with a bunch of storylines where it's like yeah we know what this is now we have to test it out. But I'm a counter you're not being creative enough. I've got some stuff coming for you next week that I think you in particular schemes are going to enjoy it next week will be fine. I want to give you some things and stuff some Caleb stuff some some offensive evolution stuff it's I put the finishing touches on some stuff and I'm excited about it to be honest with you and so there'll be some fun stuff at the early parts of next week. I love when you get excited about your projects you write some long form pieces and yes when it when it's offensive in nature because we were talking about it this team's going to have to outscore the defense. You know I'll score what they allow and that says some some fancy football thinking right there out of me. But I mean maybe they're going to be one of those teams to win a bunch of 31 28 games I'm kind of ready for it. I'll be honest.

26:26I've been certainly ready for the 31 part. That's that's where their mindset is now obviously they they're hoping that they can solidify themselves and 30 themselves and defensive enough that they're not in a shootout every single week that as entertaining as that bangles game was last year. I think it took some years off a few people's lives because of what happened on the stretch of that game. I do think offensively the one thing that I left the preseason with was this just absolute admiration for the collection of of playmakers that they have and it starts with the quarterback. You've got a running back who the coach says he thinks it's prime to have a big year you've got at least three pass tethers who seem like they're on the offense and you just tear that up with a guy as smart as Ben Johnson is and and your imagination can run wild and right now I think that's where Chicago's at. Do you feel like Dan Ben Johnson we always talk about the quality and the character of a Ben Johnson guy like Ben Johnson's got his guys in the building it's very clear to see who they are on offense it appears to me like every single one of those guys is a Ben Johnson guy I don't know if he's just like that's because that's their coach and he's an offensive coach but on defense you can say I don't know necessarily who he's a Ben Johnson guy yet.

27:36Do you feel that way on offense like they're all just all in all the time. I think there's a lot of them right and that's where the excitement comes from there and you know like I go back to Darnell for a minute because he had that elbow injury a couple weeks ago and when it occurred like oh man you just rewarded the stat huge contract and now you've got this flare up of an elbow issue that was bothering him last year and he misses like half of practice and a little bit of the next day and then he's ready to roll for joint practice and a hundred degree heat and Tennessee and so those are the types of things where it's like you know Joe Tuni you can set your watch by him right like you guys never. You guys never going to miss time knock on wood there's a reliability factor there there's an investment in what you're doing every day factor there and then you know you feel like Ben has gotten Caleb to kind of turn the screws a little bit tighter in his own approach to things where he now can be the leader of a lot of this stuff and and really push this offense in the right direction. Is there a prevailing theory about the Kyler Gordon situation that is yet to make it to media publicly scuttle but that no one has written quite yet.

28:42I speak I'm waiting for Kyler to have his say in this matter beyond you know sort of I don't want to say theatrical but I'll say theatrical you know social media videos right like we need to see Kyler Gordon we need to hear from Kyler Gordon. There's clear disconnect here and it's obvious that there's another side of the story and and I'd like to hear Kyler side and then I'll allow us to kind of go into the jury deliberation room and figure out what exactly is happening here but but certainly this has been a frustrating.

29:45I mean I think that's a pretty serious injury flash discomfort things and never miss a practice you know they mean until like that's what you're looking for and right now that the next time you can feel comfortable about Kyler Gordon in your plans is when he's healthy for like seven straight weeks you know they mean that seems like a super steep mountain to climb for a guy that we saw play three games last year and now miss an entire you know six months of of training on the lead up to the the regular season. And at this point do you feel like not that he'd be a liability if he's out there but how much do you think like you said seven games I can't even imagine what seven games with Kyler Gordon on the field would look like for the bears because he hasn't had those stretches in his entirety in his career here I mean do you feel like at this point there just game planning to get whoever's behind him ready and good to go zero question about that latter point I like it Ben's body language is pretty easy to read this tone is easy to read and it's clear. That for a guy who's so big on trust he's he's done you know he's done with with worrying about this they are really you know driving into getting Malik Mohammed ready to play that role they've obviously got contingency plans if that doesn't go great for rookie trying to figure this out in real time against you know good NFL teams with regular season meaningful stakes on the line but yeah it's clear that they're not sitting there just saying well wait till we get Kyler back they pivoted they've moved in the new direction and when he gets back it's going to take a long long time.

31:14I've been looking around for any NFL offense that has ever used four tight ends at the same time bears have four on the roster I found the chiefs toying with that back in 2021 they were toying with that just kind of messing around with some Andy read stuff but I don't I don't know how much it's actually happened if it's happened at all in the NFL but you know 13 personnel with the three tight ends bears going to rival the Rams this year Rams were number one last year at 30% bears were sixth they certainly want to use that that personnel grouping a lot and they've got three really good ones in love and combat and rouse that are are going to get them out of the gates in a way that allows them to do what Ben wants to do which is make the same things look different different things look the same and really just create matchups that that expose and opposing defenses weaknesses. It was interesting I think yesterday to hear from press Taylor talking about his favorite part of crossing this bridge into an actual game week and being able to kind of study and opposing defensive coordinator and and figure out the tenancy and figure out the vulnerabilities I think they're really eager now as a staff to get into this game week and just dive headfirst in this preparation to do things that they know after you know developing things throughout the entire off season training camp that they can use this strength and allow us a chance to put those to use.

32:41Using their strengths and I appreciate the game prep part of it as well. We were going back to our main point I think the coaches get to a point to where like okay this is who we have this is who's on our squad the tendencies it's time to like dive in and I already know that Ben is not even probably sleeping is he prepares for care. Yeah I like that'll probably be in the office all weekend I'll probably get you know a few hours here and there to go visit with the family but this is his time of year and he's ready to get this show started. Look I think we're all eager again to not just the Carolina game but this first collection of games is it's a really fun slate of you know first four weeks here for the Bears to take a lot of different tests and figure out who they are and we saw last year after four games they figured out some weaknesses and they made them strengths the running game in particular. And so it's it's that time of year now where it's time to learn exactly who you are as a football player you've been a wrinkly with your boy lately Dan I was love seeing you there and running India. I actually we went off for the first time this season on Sunday evening and set through a little rain delay and then so PCA hit two home runs become plus.

33:47Okay but sorry but he saw the two home runs my my kids rocking the PCA Jersey cost us a nice clean 200 plus every kid in Chicago I feel like on the north side is the PCA. My kid also has a buzz cut which I think is not a coincidence either PCA goes yard last night and my son yelled up from the basement he was due. Yeah it's been three days unbelievable Dan we'd or thanks but I look forward to talking to you this year that's for sure. I got to talk to him. Yeah thank you Dan tonight the Cubs road trip begins in Miami against the Marlins pregame coverage begins at five thirty five first pitch at six ten in crystal clear FM quality and one or four three the score and the Northwestern medicine Cubs radio network when we come back let's touch on a confluence of former college teammates I hadn't even realized was happening at bears camp and it involves an incredibly important player on that defense more bears coming up with Caitlin Sharkey and me Matt Spiegel on the score Chicago it's time for today's Toyota Tacoma game day lineup on 104 three the score brought you by your Chicago and Toyota dealers Toyota let's go places tonight the north

35:01and the car is on the site is our in Miami to take on the Marlins coverage begins at five thirty five first pitch at six ten on 104 three the score do not miss the action as they continue to make their push for the post season this has been your Toyota Tacoma game day lineup on the score. Let me tell you about Daisy French onion dip this is Spigs and I love snack as I watch the games of course we all do whether that is chips or sliced veggies fresh carrots out of the bag whatever football season means game day snacks and Daisy French onion dip accompanies all of those beautifully it's a great tasting creamy flavor made with real herb spices and simple ingredients you recognize delivering that fresh homemade flavor in every single bite picks them up make every game day a win with Daisy French onion dip speak at home I'm just saying Lawrence you were saying some stuff last week my memory is correct this is why Danny left after noon time the score honestly excitement you know I was excited to you know getting a new building with new guys and learn new

36:13new game new game and you know obviously coming to a place with familiar faces all was exciting definitely going to add up to our corner room with like from the tape that we watched his man cover skills short area court this is really good speeds really good sticking coverage so we look before getting your mom boarded and you go that is Clark Phillips the third followed by Ryan Poles and before that is an amazing shot that my partner Lawrence Holmes don't call him Leonard don't do it that Lawrence Holmes took at me as I said something so that's why Danny left Danny Park is and you heard Jalen Johnson laughing in the background J. like oh it's crazy. It was Leonard. Where are you? Where are you? Part 6 right Leonard part 6 folks if you get that reference please get your affairs in order Jalen Johnson a very important man

37:15I'll talk about him in a second but Clark Phillips the third the newbie the corner that they acquired from Atlanta along with the fifth round pick and the next your deal had some overlap with Jalen Johnson that with with Jalen Johnson at Utah I think they were both youths could he could you describe the two youths here's Clark Phillips the third just missed them so like I was early in rollies I was getting in like January late December and he was leaving because he didn't play in the last bowl game so it was like I was pulling up and he was dipping so I like to say he passed the torch you know we probably talked at least once every every year so you know he's always catching up and I'm always asking questions like my rookie I had a lot of questions for him like what's this and what's that and how to do this and so he's been someone that I lean on you know That's pretty cool to Utah I mean since you said passing the torch like where were they showing you film of Jalen like was that without a doubt yeah without a doubt now it was like he was

38:21somebody that I definitely watch obviously would have been the same defense that I was coming into it was easy to watch that film with the same calls same players it was like okay this is where you fit this is what you're going to do and you know go make place and we did that so what what are your conversations been like with him since you got here honestly help me with the defense I mean after practice just today we were talking about just the nuances and you know to find things in the defense that I'm I need to be aware of from the inside perspective from the outside perspective and how we fit and all those different things love that that is a pre existing relationship that now can be part of the fabric of the secondary and Jalen Johnson's being asked to be a leader more isn't he yeah and I think he's done a good job of emerging as a leader and I think it's the first time that I've noticed it I mean I now that I didn't think Jalen Johnson wasn't leading this defense at certain times but again he was dealing with injuries when he first got to Chicago everything was a mess you didn't know who was a leader on this team and I don't think he necessarily felt as much responsibility to be a leader as he does now like Kevin Byrd's not around anymore who is basically a coach for that entire defense as well it's up to Jalen Johnson you have rookie you have rookie players you don't have anyone on that D line maybe then outside of Grady Jarrett that's going to be the you rah rah like get it together kind of that's not Montez's sweat personality so when you look at leaders on the defense and who they are leading by example and then maybe being even more of a vocal leader it has to be Jalen Johnson and I think his time is now he's healthy he's feeling like himself I think it's

39:48you can't be a leader when you don't feel like yourself and I don't think he was that necessarily at all last year dealing with the injury even when he fought to get back he wasn't himself so now it's his time in Dennis Allen said he's a leader and we need him to be we've really enjoyed the relationship with Jalen through the years the best here yeah I mean I mean he is one of my favorites that I've covered in professional football like he is just he's so real he'll keep it real with you good batter ugly good better best I mean he is just someone especially all of the things that we're going on within the team and I mean it was him and Colchemet they were kind of riding this crazy way of this bears organization until you know these guys came in and write the ship so for Jalen it's been such a growing thing but he's always kept it real like I appreciate that about Jalen Johnson agreed agreed and I'm thinking about his relationships with other DB's I mean Eddie Jackson was the old head leading yes beginning of Jalen's career and Eddie would have guys over for meals over at his place and they would talk about stuff you know and Eddie was kind of looked up to an Eddie got paid before any of those a lot of those those young dudes got paid now Jalen's been paid

40:55and is still busted as a son working really hard as a guy who's gotten paid and you're right so without Eddie and now without Bired and without brisker right brisker led in a different way like an energy first kind of mentality and he was young I think it's also hard to be a leader when you're a young player you're still kind of finding your own way but I mean Tyree Stevenson's not going to he's not in that role for this cornerback group who said you look at position groups it's got to be Jalen Johnson it's got to be it's it's got to be where you hit to the never ending saga of Jalen Johnson's smoke alarm battery on this show was one of a joyous chapter was a really joyous chapter where where Jalen for a couple a couple of times in a row he just had the smoke alarm that was beeping and it was clearly it needed the battery changed and then one week he came back and said that he did change the battery and he did but Tani had isolated the sound oh no of that's torture just used to drop it in and it was absolute torture and Jalen was he couldn't figure

42:02out whether it was really a sharp and he knew it's not him really yeah the sort of boys like nah you're not going to give me I remember one time one off season I was like I wish a check in on Jalen Johnson and I'm like I hit Jalen I'm like hey can you do this zoom it was like April or mayor whatever he's like yeah yeah whatever he gives me the time he gives me the date like we're ready to go I pop on the zoom and he's like in the back of an Uber I'm like are you good right now he's like yeah let's go I'm like I'm like this is in radio Jalen I need you to be a little bit more steady you're going to be on camera this is for television purposes he's like all right let me switch up and he's just he he cares to and I think he respects the job we do as media members and and that's I know that doesn't mean a lot to spam bases and times who cares if they respect you well it helps us do our job okay you want these good sound bites you want good stories that has to be a two a street texture yeah there are no textures are saying that the smoke detector thing went on for way more than a couple of weeks oh say they say it felt like it went on for months there was that just quality of the radio I don't know it did go on for a while and shout out to Eric and uptown who says Leonard

43:10part six the movie so bad the bill Cosby himself didn't even watch it it was in it but he didn't watch it and that's your last bill Cosby reference for this show right here right now Caitlin sharkies with us it speaks and Caitlin sharkie and Tammy and Alex were all hanging out on a Friday afternoon the weekend is pending it's going to be Labor Day weekend none of us back until Tuesday let's go there's there may be a Sunday what what do you want on Sunday aftercubs they go I'm on the four cubs I got hit and run in the morning and then you're on aftercubs are you solo yes just me let's go live in local on the weekend right here on the score the joke in shift for young Alex here let me get a phone call and pick it up please somebody give me a phone call the legendary joke and overnight they gave this the old score Caitlin gave a bears linebacker you know an overnight show and you agreed to it you did it and he died a terrible radio

44:18death and the middle of the night been there been there but it's a different whoo it's like morning television like I think of what are people at WGN doing like what but they're legends their legends but because they're sleep deprived I think they're their best because they're just sleep deprived that make Thomas who low funnier probably does I mean yeah probably he's pretty funny he's pretty funny it speaks and came in sharky and the speak on home show when we come back owners behaving badly one of them penalized and the other one may not but his team might be sold he already sold one is a second one getting sold look it's a lot of teases trust me I'll explain next on the score bears fans trust lay there were he me and Margrody in the mid days to get you ready for the season opener against the panthers you can say oh you're critical of gale will you know I am following the instructions of the head coach and the general manager this is what I don't get about can't criticize Caleb we've seen bad and good from Caleb William the phenomenal was just so phenomenal that people lose their minds if you say anything other than what they think is just pure elite

45:20listen to Rahimi and Grody mid days tend to talk in bears with a regular season closing in fast this is where Chicago comes to talk bears sports radio 104 three the score this segment is sponsored by Chicago Land Roofing Council Chicago Land Roofing Council provides exceptional service and all facets of the roofing and water proofing industry if it's time to go solar call a professional solar roofing contractor to guide your solar roofing system selection find a highly skilled roofing contractor at Chicago roofing dot org