Full Show — September 15, 2026

0:00Hey, I arrived almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped a video call, uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat, and of course, still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to D-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multi-tasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more, I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get D-Mobile. So many reasons to join D-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com Fastest based on analysis by Uclos Beat Distant Intelligence data of national speed score results in incorporating 5G download to upload speeds for the first half of 2026.

1:26Follow what the heck with Matt Bellissai, wherever you get your podcasts. Wake up! Wake up! Come on, just wake up, man. David Ha! David Ha? You're muted, David. Sorry about that. Hello, George. So that was one of the best questions you've ever asked. Yeah, I'm sure it's going to get an answer just as good. This is Hall. Yeah! Okay, Hall. Check me out, man. Jared Payton! Me, we want you to see this. Jared Payton wearing his father's number number 34. I hear my name again, and I'm like, who's calling me? So I look back at the people working, and it's not them. It's this guy that's sitting down right by the door, and he goes, Jared, man. Man, I love you on the score, man. I was like, I'm going to be off doing it. The hot and painting show. What do you think of the bear's victory over the Panthers? Let's start the conversation with Don, who's on the West Side. Don, welcome to Hawn Payton.

2:28Good morning, guys. I want to say, man, that was all sensitive brand of football on both sides of the ball. He's been playing all seasonally, and I'll play the fish in the middle. Brad, it is uswego. Brad, welcome to Hawn Payton. Hey, guys, 59 points. Let's go. I mean, is this a dream or what? Vic, welcome to Hawn Payton. Hey, David, can you hear me? I can hear you, Vic. What a Vic! Good much, man. I'm calling to apologize to you, bro. A conversation about two years ago, and I said, Chicago media is the worst in the nation. I was adjusting fields, guys, and I was watching Taylor Blasch, and I said, that at this point is going to look like this. I can get it by adjusting. He was hyping them up. Good job, bro. Good job. We got a real one, and you're a real one, too. Thanks, Vic. Hey, Vic. Good memory. Thank you so much, love. Appreciate the phone call. How about that? Get up in the morning with the Hawn Payton show. Morning's 5.32.10. On Chicago's sports radio.

3:28But we did get a Texas morning. Did you ever wonder how Justin Fields would play in Ben Johnson's office? I saw that. Not for a minute. You haven't even thought about that. Not even once. Jared, no. Not even once. I think about it all the time. 103, their score. Good Tuesday morning, Chicago. Welcome to the Hawn Payton show. Chicago's sports radio. 103, the score. I am David Hawn along with Jared Payton here until 10 o'clock, talking about all things Chicago sports. And what a day it is to be a Chicago sports fan. Good morning, Jared. Good morning, Hawn. How you doing, man? Doing well. Big night. Man, huge night. Shots out though the Dustin and Brandon behind the glass. Appreciate you, boys. Good morning to you. And good morning, Chicago. Cubs, socks, bears. All fans of all three teams woke up this morning hopeful. Feeling like they still have a shot. Feeling like they're in the mix. Feeling if you're a Bears fan, like you have Super Bowl aspirations.

4:30If you're a Cubs fan, you're clean to that idea that, all right, maybe PCA can carry your team and how far can that go? And if you're a socks fan, you feel a sense of relief, I would think. Because last night, one of the biggest victories, if not the biggest victory of the season in a series that matters. You're playing relevant baseball in mid-September. They come away with a seven to three victory. They got it done when they needed to get it done. Both teams finding ways to get it done. Both, seven to three victories on for both ball clubs last night. And yeah, I think winning does that, though, David. Well, you wake up in the morning and all your teams are winning. You're coming off of a victory Monday for your bears as well. And both teams handle in business and baseball. With things close, especially for the white socks. It was a big, probably bigger win for them last night. It was a challenge to keep track of everything last night. Not gonna lie. It was a challenge. When you have all these, when you're switching back and forth. Okay. So which did you watch most of? Because Monday night football also was very tempting. Okay. To just focus on that because you had the return of Patrick Mahomes.

5:33He had, he injured his left knee, tore his ACL on December 14th. That was 90 months ago, right? Nine months ago. Yeah. Ten months ago. Ten months. But still, the recovery time to see him diving across the end zone. So I was locked in and Monday night football. But that way, I'm listening to the club. Oh, wait, I gotta check out the socks. Oh, wait, there's so much to do. So I had football on the big screen. And I was flipping back and forth through apps on my phone, watching baseball. So it was, it was good. It was hard not to though. When I started to see Patrick Mahomes running and diving into the end zone. And I was kind of worried to see what was he gonna be like back on the field. Was he gonna take chances? Was he gonna actually maneuver out of the pocket? And he was full gold. The boy is back. He is back. I'm surprised that he is back. I marvel at medical science.

6:34All these guys coming back as quickly as they have from Tony Killies. Tony ACLs. It's no longer a season or a season in a half recovery. It is all right. How fast can I get back? How quick can I rehab? Am I going to be safe? And it's gonna be sturdy. And Patrick Mahomes said yes, yes and yes. But it's a different, it's a different chief's team though when you watch that game last night. It's the Kenneth Walker show. Yeah, it is. They are running the football. And that boy is a mad man running like a monster on the football field. And now it changes dynamics of how they kind of go through their offense. Takes a lot of pressure off of Patrick Mahomes show. They blow off Broncos 31 to 10 at home. Great return for Mahomes. That was Kenneth Walker to the third. 23 carries 176 yards. That was a different chief's offense than we're used to seeing. Heavily reliant on the run game. With Patrick Mahomes doing what he needed to do.

7:34That's gonna be the way they win this year. That's why they went out and got Kenneth Walker to the third. Maybe because of Andy Reed. If he doesn't ignore the running game. Says he believes in the running game. But Patrick Mahomes at the stage of his career coming back from this injury. This is the right way to go in Kansas City. But they haven't had a, he hasn't had a running back like this before. That can carry the load, give the ball six or seven times in a series. And kind of take that pressure off of him. And I think that's only going to open up more for that passing game. Because they do have guys on the outside that can make place. Bownex, not good. Bownex did not look good. Another 2024 draft quarterback. Draft class quarterback that I think started a little slow this year. I'm not quite sure what it was, but maybe Rust. But he did not look very polished. Just give him a little time. You think so? I think yeah, I'm not saying he's going to be a world-beater. But I think he did start slow last night. But man, Kansas City's defense look fast too.

8:35What was going on with the Broncos defense? I thought they would be more stingy towards the run. They were stingy at all? No. They weren't making tackles. Maybe they spent training camp just going through the motions and not taking runners to the ground or whatever the case is. A lot of offense in the NFL. NFL tied a post merger record for the most week one points across the league. That tells me something's not getting done at training camp regardless of how physical the bears are. Outside of Chicago maybe. It doesn't seem like there's a lot of fundamental tackling going on because they're seeing a lot of miss tackles. You're seeing a lot of offensive football. That's kind of doesn't make sense. That's not the Sean Payton way though. You know, he's more of a guy that is old school that practices hard, that has guys tackling during practice. That's kind of concern for those Broncos fans. I would think so. That was a big game for them. I don't like these big division games coming in the first week of the season.

9:36The Vikings played the Packers and now the Broncos and the Chiefs. What did you want to wait ideally until at least week two before you get ahead to head, the Division of Matchup like that that's going to factor into the overall race? Yeah, but I was waiting for Monday night last night. You're waiting out there for Monday night? Yeah. So the Chiefs take care of business with the Broncos. 31 to 10. Kenneth Walker to the third, changing the way the Chiefs are going to win this year. But let's focus back in Chicago. Let's start with the baseball that I think was the most relevant. And that was the White Sox because they needed a victory last night in the worst way. They went into Cleveland. I don't think there was a ton of confidence in the Sox, or maybe it had been damaged slightly. Chris Gets a general manager made the trip, met with reporters before the game. Tough weekend for the White Sox because of the lows two out of three. Mike Shirley, the director of scouting resigns amid an internal investigation. It smells like a scandal.

10:36It smells like scandalous. I don't know what else is going on, but we'll find out perhaps at some point after the season. And they wanted to create this atmosphere. Did you see, Jared, in the sometimes report on the game, Will Vanable put up pictures of the White Sox during the season, like little snapshots of them having fun on the pathway or the hallway from the dugout to the clubhouse, to remind them just to relax. Now, if I tell you, Jared, just relax. Just, just, just, just relax. Relax, Jared. Don't, don't relax. I'm not going to relax. I'm going to be, I'm going to be moving around maybe just visually to see. So you don't have to say something. Maybe Will Vanable was like, you know what? Let me put these pictures up. This is, this is when we were having a great time. You can get back to this moment. Sometimes when a coach has to repeat himself or you're going through some struggles,

11:37or you had a long weekend, or you're trying to figure out how to get back the juices flowing, that you, you have to be reminded a little bit. But pictures, no coaches ever done that for me. It worked. It worked because The Sox got it done. Miguel Vargas comes through with a huge home run. You got Kyle Teo, who came through in the clutch. And you had them doing the types of things that they were doing when they were winning. And you had them getting pretty good pitching performances out of the way. And you had some nice performances out of a couple guys. Sean Neukum was the opener. He went in inning. Sean Burke looked like Sean Burke that were used to seeing or have seen most of the season, five innings. Giving up four hits and striking out four. And then my favorite White Sucks pitcher if September. Haken Smith. How about that boy coming in throwing gas. Nasty, nasty, nasty. Three Ks for him last night. And then they had the bat that people are still talking about in Will for some time. Tristan Peters, Tristan Peters was at the play and Tristan Peters had quite a season.

12:43And this was Gavin Williams near the end of his rope and Tristan Peters falls behind one and two and then an 18-pitch at bat coaxes a walk which I think you seldom see a walk change the complexion of a game but you often don't see 18-pitch walks as well. This is Tristan Peters after the game talking about that at bat. And then I got close to 110 pitches and I was like maybe I'll try to get in the 110. For you aware of it watching you?

13:43No I didn't quite see it. I saw it on video after but I love that. Whatever gets us fired up. What are you thinking? This is becoming seriously. Oh man. I don't know what pitches on it. I felt like I was up there for like an hour but I was just exhausted. Yeah, honestly probably after like eight pitches I'm like okay it's getting pretty long. So that was in the top of the sixth inning. So yeah it's rare that you really see an at bat like that just change the dynamics right. So I saw the longest played appearance in M.O.B this season tied for the third longest since 2000. That's crazy. And then the sixth inning just broke open. And that's what you're hoping for. So it was all when you kind of added all together just a solid night for the white socks to be able to get the job done. Socks win seven to three over the Guardians and tonight Davis Martin goes on the mound to try to extend that game in half lead

14:48and make them feel a little more comfortable. If they win this series it's huge for them given the stakes given how poorly they were playing coming into Cleveland. So we'll keep an eye on that but yeah Tristan Peters was the big at bat there. Meanwhile at Wrigley Field big night for the Cubs they also win seven to three. Pete Koramstrong, Homer, Pete Koramstrong, Stolenbase solidified his position as the leading MVP candidate. Must watch TV every single time and to see him in that space and when he's at his best you were saying can he put this team on the bat. They've been on his back. How much how much longer though David do you think he can he keep this up. Yeah, another month. Another month. Another month or so. Man. I'll take a month and a half. You're going to go into the postseason and this is what every piece do though. MVP's carry teams.

15:49You want him to be able to do that. You want everyone else to do their share too. Last night Pete Koramstrong certainly came through offensively but David Peterson was as big of a story or a contributor. He came through again. This is a very this is a brace team that's one of the best in the national league and David Peterson only allowed one run on three hits and six plus innings. So three measly singles. He struck out seven. He walked three. That was clutch. If we're doing the power rankings David Peterson just stepped right into the top five. When do we get a update? Top five. Okay, top five. I was on my side. Oh, are we going three top three? No. Where is he at though? I mean, does Gausman have a chance to get back into the top two tonight? Well, he's not top two. I don't know about top two. Does he have a chance if he does something against the first place? Braves though to get back into the top two. Possibly. Are you ready David? You want to do it? You want to do power rankings? You ready? Okay, yeah, we can go. We can go. Yeah, we can go.

16:49Here we go again. All right. It's time for high and payton's power rankings. What is it called power standing? Well, whatever it's called, it's time for. With high and payton on 1043, the score. I still think that when you look at number one, that means you want to have who is going to start for you in a playoff game, right? Game one of the playoffs. Yes. I still think I'm handing the ball to Clay Holmes. I still think I'm handing the ball to the guy who I trust the most. Yes, he did. Maybe not. He wasn't a sharp last time out, but I think Clay Holmes is going number one right now. Number two, I'm elevating. He's regained some confidence. Matthew Boyd. Matthew Boyd, I think, is the guy that I'm looking at as number two. Number three, is it crazy to add? Is it crazy to put Javier side in that spot in terms of level of trust? I think maybe it's a guy. I don't know that I would start him in game three.

17:50Let me say no to Javier side. I put David Peterson there. Okay. I put David Peterson there. Recessy bias. Who am I forgetting now? Oh, I'll put Kevin Gawdman for. Gawdman is four because. Gawdman down to four. Yeah, he's dropping down to four. And then I'm putting hobby side five. I'm putting hobby side five. Definitely putting hobby side five because I think he's a guy that has multiple uses. And he seems to get everybody out whatever you ask for. Jared, what's yours? Do you have five? I don't know. I don't know if I would put. I'm still kind of shaky. Maybe clay homes would be number two for me. I might actually put. All right, let's do this. I'm looking right now. All right, here we go. We'll do. I'll stay with you, David. Clare Holmes at at one. I'm going to go. Peterson at two.

18:50Gawdman three. And I'll go. Man. I'm sharing a cell with Dustin being the prisoner of the moment. Javier Assad. All right. Javier Assad's getting a lot of love. I wish I could give Colin race. What about Shoda? I'm going to show. Shoda didn't make my top five. Neither of your top five. No, neither of your top five. I feel like Shoda, if you're asking about daytime starts versus nighttime starts, is that silly to still feel a little bit hesitant about that? Not at all. It's a thing. And Paul Rankers are based on confidence levels. And my confidence in Shoda and Managa in a big series, say it's against the Phillies, I would not have as much confidence even though he's a lefty going against some of those tough lefties. Right now, I certainly would trust David Peterson more than I would show to Managa. Say it ain't Shoda. I just don't know about the, unless Shoda time is a matinee,

19:50I don't feel very good about Shoda and Managa. And I don't think you should. I mean, it's, it's what he's 10, 10 right now in the season at 3.88 ERA. I look, daytime Shoda is my guy. Night time Shoda scares me a little bit. Well, every time PCA goes up to the bat day or night, he's a threat to go deep. He's a threat to get on and steal a base. And that makes him an MVP candidate, the front runner likely to get the award this year. Last night was a special night because it's 42nd home run, tied Billy Williams, the sweet swinging lefty. That Pete Kerr Armstrong talked about after the game. But how the privilege to know him, does it put it into context at all? What does number mean 42 homers? I mean, yeah, if I'm going to feel any sort of way about it right now, I would just say that, you know, when you're mentioned in the same sentence is someone who's, who's a nickname is sweet swinging. You know, proud of how I've been swinging it and proud to be mentioned in the same sentence as Billy.

20:51Pete Kerr Armstrong mentioned in the same sentence as Billy Williams and referencing him. He went on to talk about the relationship, how he likes hanging around with Billy Williams and they have a rapport and that's really cool. Pete Kerr Armstrong seems to have an easy rapport with a lot of people from a lot of different age groups, backgrounds. I just like the way he handles himself with just the masses. I'm intrigued by how tough it has to be to be on all the time and the expectations when you are a guy at that magnitude, to be able to keep, you know, to have the season. I guess when you're in a groove, you find a groove, but it's got to be hard. Every single time you have looked at to do something crazy and now this 40-40 is right here for the grabbing for him to be able to take and just to put a stamp on the season that he's had, it's not even over yet, David, he's still in that conversation of 40-40

21:51and he's right there. Another stolen base last night. He needs three more to get to 40 stolen bases. He also talked after the game, Bruce will talk to Bruce at 8 o'clock about just his relationship. He's going to be asked about a lot with Caleb Williams and how they both are MVP candidates in a city that is very fortunate right now to see two players starting this path and this arc towards Super Stardom. And both good friends and their relationship as friends and seeing how it has kind of taken off for both of them and both of their respect. And there's similarities to how they both have gotten to this point where they are MVP caliber players or having MVP caliber seasons. I know Caleb Williams just has one game under his belt, but we're going to over react this week to everything bears wise. But Jared, and correct me if you think this is looking too far into it. But Pico Armstrong became a 42-home run guy,

22:53not because he suddenly learned how to swing that home run swing and he started lifting more and getting stronger. He became more disciplined. He became more selective. His mental approach helped his physical result. And so he wasn't chasing. So he got the pitch that he wanted and he took it out and deposited it in right field or wherever. He's got 42 home runs in an MVP season. Likewise, Caleb Williams has begun to show a lot more selectivity in what he, what receiver he chooses, what decision he makes. And so he's dropping into the pocket and he's instinctively waiting for somebody to come open. And those decisions are resulting in big plays. What did Drew Brees tell him in their meeting? Three more passes a game. So you can see him checking down to Kyle Menunga on Sunday. Those decisions, you can see the mind working that way.

23:54In both cases, the similarity is when they make these smart decisions, they lead to great things, big things and big seasons. Well, for PCA too, I think some of it is little mechanics as well, just kind of tweaking a little bit with his swing. But I think when you're in a groove and you feel like you're in a zone, you can be selective. It's easy to be selective when you're hot. Sometimes when you're chasing, sometimes when you're trying to figure out how do I get things back on track? That's when you're swinging at everything. So yeah, he can be selected there. For Caleb, same thing. I think for his mindset is he's more focused on, let me learn this often to get better at understanding my responsibilities and also where guys are going to be and what defenses are giving me. And then I'm going to make a better decision, a smarter decision. Sometimes when it's not there, I am going to check it down. So he can be selective as well. But it comes with growth, comes with more reps. And it comes with them just being locked in on their job.

24:55And what they need to do. That growth continues this week. Ben Johnson had little to complain about offensively. But when he did talk about his defense, I did not, it was not lost at me that he was calling out his cornerbacks. I think he basically was saying, Jaylen Johnson, Tyrick Stevenson, they need to be better. I have not spoke individually with Jaylen or Tyrick. I addressed the team earlier today and then they ended up breaking and going with their respective coaches. I'll circle back with them on Wednesday when we get back together. But both of them, I talked to them after the game, the locker room. They were excited that the team won the game. But I think both of them felt like they could play better than they did. And the tape appeared that way to me. I thought they both had strong training camps. And so really wanted to hit the ground running. And I don't think we did in terms of what we were expecting. In that game. So good news is this. We got a chance next week to come back and start all over again.

25:58We've had some instances in the past where we don't play as well as we want to one week. And we'll come back the next week and play a whole lot better. And I expect that out of them. They're pros. They know what it looks like. And I know they're also really resilient individuals as well. They know they're talented and this team needs them. So they'll bounce back. No problem. Jerry, I love that because it was a coach referencing or acknowledging that it needs to get better play out of those two guys at that position. But it didn't sound like a guy publicly calling anybody out necessarily. No, I think a little bit too early for that. But he knows what he needs out of those guys. Yes. Like this week is going to be another challenge on Sunday. You can't be not missing tackles. Soft and coverage and just your responsibilities. He knows he needs these guys to be able to step their game up because if not, it's going to be a long Sunday for them against the Viking.

26:58Plenty of bears talk ahead. Dave Wonstett is in studio 725. Bigs time, 825 Mike Floreo at 9 in between. We're going to talk Cubs and Sox with Bruce Levine at 8 o'clock. Our score baseball insider and a lot of other surprises and fun along the way. Keep it right here. It's on Peyton. We're here until 10 o'clock. Talkin' Chicago sports on 1043. The score, the pick six is next. It's pick six with Haw and Peyton where we debate the top six sports stories of the day. And then open it up to you. The Chicago Sports Fan. Call us at 312-644-6767. Or you can tweet your thoughts at Haw Peyton. Pick six with Haw and Peyton starts now. Kyler Murray remains in concussion protocol for the Vikings. Carson Wentz expected to start Sunday over at Soldier Field against our bears. What was the pros and cons of when starting from the bears perspective?

28:00And the 33 year old journeyman starting potentially a good or a bad development for him? I would be cautious. I think you want Carson Wentz over anybody else there. Even though a compromised Kyler Murray, I don't think he's going to play. It doesn't sound good in terms of the reports. And you hope that he's going to be okay. But Carson Wentz is 33 years old. I think yesterday I said he looked close to 40. That was maybe my own bias coming in. Like, oh boy, he looks old. And he kind of does. And it seemed like he's been around forever. Journeyman is the right word to describe him. Did you see where he gets a hundred thousand dollar bonus for every Viking victory? If he plays more than 60% of the snaps, that was worked into his contract, which was a modest contract, one year, three million dollars. In the NFL, that's barely above practice squad rate. I think that Carson Wentz is not a sizable investment for the Minnesota Vikings.

29:01And yet, he made history. The first backup quarterback the Vikings have had to throw three touchdowns in no interceptions in an opener since in his first start, Fran Tarkington. That was 1961. Wow. The Bears can come after Wentz. But if they do that, they're trusting the cornerbacks to go one-on-one with Justin Jefferson, which I think is dangerous. They're going to have to do that at some point. But I do think this is a good matchup for the Bears' defense. This is a good way for them to start to build or rebuild some confidence that might have been shattered on Sunday because of all of the points they gave up and given up 37 points to the Panthers and a very good Bryce Young performance. So I think that Carson Wentz in the huddle, in the pocket, facing Bears' pressure, gives the Bears a better chance to win. And he's the guy you do want to see.

30:02I don't want to see him knocked out and JJ McCarthy coming in and writing a script and the happy homecoming again. We've seen that movie before last year. I don't think it happens again. Carson Wentz is a guy and I think the Bears' defense is going to benefit from it. I'm going to push back on that, David. I hope Kyler Murray is good enough to play. I hope his head is good and he's cleared. Because I think he's going to still be working out the kinks a little bit. You saw that Carson Wentz, 12 of 19, 133 yards, three touchdowns, two of those two, Justin Jefferson. I'm really more worried about Justin Jefferson than anything else. I don't care who's playing corner back because of who's playing corner back for our Bears. I think you're going to have to put two guys. I think you're going to have to kind of have some kind of an umbrella coverage with Justin Jefferson. If you want to walk out of the soldier field week two, first home of three games at soldier field with a W,

31:02you got to do everything you can to take Justin Jefferson out of the equation. He didn't have two touchdown catches till when last year. He had an unbelievable first game. Eight catches, 92 yards, over 11 yards of catch. I think Kyler Murray might still be knocking off some rust. It might be better off with Kyler than Carson on Sunday. You scared Carson Wentz? Not scared of Carson Wentz. I think the better match up is Kyler Murray because I think he's still got to get his stuff together. No, no, no, no. I see where you're coming from, Dustin. But for me, you better choose wisely. Pick wisely, I should say, Bears fans, because yeah, I see where Dustin's coming from. If you want a guy that's still trying to figure it out, hopefully that Kyler Murray does get healthy and he's all fine. But for me, it probably is the play against Carson Wentz. I know he came in throughout the game and had to do what he had to do and those two touchdowns to Justin Jefferson and that connection does scare me a little bit.

32:10But the legs of Kyler Murray scare me the most. And that's when he is dangerous and that puts a lot of pressure on Dennis Allen and his defense, especially those linebackers to have to be in panic mode and chase mode when it comes to scramble drills. Carson Wentz doesn't give you that. So I believe that for for DA to have a guy that likes to be a pocket passer and Carson can move, but not as well as Kyler Murray. I think they can find ways to disguise coverage a little bit, help over the top with Dylan Thienhamin or ever Justin Jefferson is or whoever is going to be on the back end of that Bears defense to be able to help out. But I feel more comfortable of having a guy like Wentz in there than I do probably Kyler Murray just because of his ability to extend plays and uses legs. Here's the big question. Plenty of questions for coach Dave wants that two big segments started 725 this morning. Ben Johnson gave rookie safety Dylan Thienhamin a game ball in the locker room.

33:13Though on Monday he gave credit to Jalen Johnson for the force fumble, but had this to say about Thienhamin's first NFL start. Dylan had a great start to his career. I thought he was all over the field. You know, he's one of those guys throughout camp that that he would make mistakes, but rarely makes the same mistake twice. I think he's done a great job in the open field, making sure he's he's getting tackles ended up being our leading tackle tackler yesterday. I thought he had that force fumble. It turned out it was Jalen came in with the top down punch out. There in and so point in case though he was all over the place to a great job stop in the football when he had an opportunity to do so. All right. So you hear that was he Dylan Thienhamin the only bright spot on the defense. How big is this game on Sunday? Not the not the only bright spot. I mean guys made plays. Yes, you you do feel a little worried about the corner situation because well Tyreeks Stevenson and Jalen Johnson there were some plays where they got cooked. That's going to happen in the NFL.

34:19You got to find a way to be out of the bounce back. And guess what? This is going to be a great weekend for you to bounce back. Because you you got some athletes coming in with Justin Jefferson in this why receiving crew with Minnesota. But yeah, I give credit to Leake Mohammed for coming out and having to ball a little bit to get that interception. Thienhamin wasn't the only bright spot, but there is some issues. I got to give credit to also Montess sweat for getting off and Contavia streets for for ballin. Yeah, you know with the Bane doing the Bane through the celebrate Bane Selly. But you didn't know that was a Bane Selly. No, not until our textures gave me the info. So yeah, it's this is a big game on Sunday and I it's second game of the season. I believe every single game matters, especially a division game. And you have an opportunity to be able to take care of business. So yes, don't take this game lightly at all whoever's at quarterback. If it's Carson Wentz or Kyla Murray who's coming off the concussion protocol.

35:22You have to win these games when it comes to winning in your division. Take care of winning in the vision and winning at home in front of your home crowd. Correct, Jared. Home game versus a divisional opponent. That equals large big week. It's almost must win. And it's like must win. It's a second game of the season. Come on. David, how many games do they play? How many games do they play? 17. So this is not 162 when people are dust and you're getting all wound up. The clubs are off to a one and three start. Well guess what? They all count. Okay, this is a home divisional game. You're starting a stretch of three home. That's how rare is it to play three straight home games? You better get the job done. I mean, also, Si with Jared on the second best defender was Montessweb because if he gets a sack of game, it's going to be a really good year for Montessweb. Really good. We're going to really know what that whole sack dance sack celebration was that I had no idea what that was because he didn't do it enough so far since he's been.

36:25Aren't you glad that Jared told us what the celebration was goodness. Yeah, stay goodness. We know that. Sally. I think that Dylan Thinamon played fine. He got better as a game got longer. And that is a good sign. The way that he ran the alley aggressively, the way that he tackled with authority. I felt like as we said yesterday, there were a couple things where the rub routes, the pick routes, they got in his way in the red zone, he'll get better at recognizing those preparing for those and defending them. So he was the guy Ben Johnson gave the game ball to which I think is a good sign for him. Maybe I had a great sign for your secondary. No, because you coming now, you coming now and you do have the great challenge in Justin Jefferson. But Carson went, did not really spread the ball around to the other wide receivers. Jordan Addison didn't catch. I don't think he's got on the board. And Hawkinson is somebody that's going to challenge Thinamon and the safeties, I think, in a way that the Panthers Titans might not have.

37:28So this is a very well-rounded Viking offense that will find the holes in your defense if you give Kevin O'Connor long enough to do so. So good progress for the rookie safety. The first rounder that you need to be a guy that flashes every so often, you need to feel him. And I thought the two rookies were guys in the secondary that made an impact. Malik Muhammad and Dylan Thinamon, how good is your secondary though if your rookies are the guy standing out? This is a huge week for the bear secondary. I don't know if it's must win, but they must play well to give you any hope moving forward. I understand the question. That of course is Craig Council and here's a council question. Craig Council said that Dan's response and will play two minor league games this week. And if he's healthy after that could rejoin the Cubs Friday in Cincinnati after missing the last several months with an oblique. How important is once his return and where's your confidence level in the Cubs after Monday nights game against the Braavos growing, growing confidence back and forth up and down all over the place with the Cubs. You just don't know from series this year's what's tonight.

38:41Tonight must win Dustin tonight. The must win game. No, it's not. I think the Cubs have a chance to win a series against the Braves to stay ahead of the Phillies. They're clinging to that half game lead and the Phillies are going not going away. The Diamondbacks won and with a walkoff last night. The Padres are the hottest team in the National League. You got to keep playing at a high level and to play at such a high level, you have to keep winning series. Not necessarily every game. You're not going to go unbeaten for until the rest of the year. Dance, we swanson makes you better all the way around the way this team was constructed. Dance, we swanson it shortstop because of run prevention. It doesn't matter what he hits. You need to get your defense locked up, locked up heading into the postseason. He can win you a series with his glove. We saw that last year against the Padres. Get him back, get him comfortable. Get, I think Ramirez, he's your left handed designated hitter perhaps.

39:46Him and Conforto, whoever's got the hottest hand, you got flexibility, you've got some options. Yes, bring him back gradually. Make sure he's healthy, but you feel pretty good about the Cubs. By the time he gets back into the lineup, maybe they will have won a series against the Braves and have a more comfortable lead. You have a lead in the wild card spot, but you're only what two and a half three games out of being out of it. So every game, that's why you got to win. You can't just take it easy. Don't worry, we won the first game. Take it easy. Tuesday will come back Wednesday will win the series. No, no, no, every game, especially at home, you win every single game you can at home. Plus the Cubs, if you want to use the word lucky, the Cubs are avoiding the Braves top three pictures in this series. So you want to take advantage of that. You definitely do. And it's also important that Gossman bounces back the last time he was out there. He did not have a good outing.

40:49I think if we get down to it and the Cubs make the playoffs, which is the goal and everybody's hopes and dreams, Gossman's got to be one of those three. I think he's got to be you're going to go with a three man rotation in the wild card. He's got to take the ball in one of those three. And it starts tonight to prove to Craig Council and the Tommy Hottie, and a Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins that he deserves to be part of that. This is a big statement game for Kevin Gossman. All right, my confidence is like being on a roller coaster at Great America. Just up and down, up and down with this team. But hey, it's all good. It is all good. The importance though of having a guy like Danzby Swanson back to me is huge. Probably not as much when it comes to his bat. But as David was talking about more about his glove and what he does defensively to me. That is what is was huge. He was hitting what 216. That's fine. But the glove to me, that is what matters in this equation.

41:50Getting him back definitely helps out a lot. My biggest question mark and probably the biggest issue is when you have an oblique injury and something that's you never know what can happen. And those things could linger back just at one swing or a couple swings at the bat. So that's what scares me the most. Getting him back if this team can keep doing what they're doing. Get to October, then you have a chance to be able to have a guy back healthy. But bring him back when he's healthy. It's got to be a smart move instead of bringing him back too fast and re-injuring himself. It's a really a fair question, David. That's the voice of Bruce Levine. He'll be taking fair questions from Haw and Pete at 8am this morning. And AJ Przenski thinks the White Sox must make the playoffs or it's an organizational failure. That's his quote as he said on the file territory podcast. The moves they went out and make which were supposed to bolster it? Haven't worked. Then you look at some of the guys they have on the team in like Sean Burke, Davis Martin, whoever you want to use Anthony K.

42:52They faltered down the stretch. So in that list, the first time being through this, they're all away over their innings that they've ever pitched. That's we can get into that. That's a development thing for it. Not all just the White Sox every team, right? But yes, if they don't make it, this is an organizational failure. I'm sorry as a fan. I still think they're going to make it and I still think they're going to win this division. But if they don't make it, yes, it has to be looked as a failure because these playoff chances don't come along every year. Do you agree or you disagree with AJ and how did last night's outcome against those guardians affect your opinion? To say thing. Jared's very upset over that. No, no. I just I know I can feel like I love AJ. Yeah. Love AJ and I love the heat that he's he's putting out there rightfully so. But the label of of an organizational failure, I think I just think that's too much. We're looking at a team over two years over the last like three years who was trying to search to figure out just how to find a way to get some wins.

44:00And now they're in this position and I understand that it comes around not that often where you get a chance to lead your division or to go to the postseason. Like it is very, very tough to me putting that label on it is what I have an issue with this this team. It would be a failed finish if they could not you know get to the postseason but putting that label of organizational failure a lot for a guys that have fought their way to get to this point. No, it'd be a big huge disappointment. But to put that on the whole organization Dustin, I just I can't roll with that. Organizational failure is a very harsh criticism. Yeah. But I feel like who am I to argue and push back against AJ on this one? You know, not only did he play the game at a high level, he obviously played for the White Sox organization. I'm sure he's talking to people that that should be the mindset. If the you know, we could talk about this in December or January when the dust settles, whether it was an organizational failure.

45:08But I think right now with you know, 12 games left or whatever it is, I'm not going to do the math at the moment. The math that matters is two numbers. One and a half the lead they have over the Guardians and with the win last night, they take the season series. So if things do end up tied, White Sox get that tiebreaker because of that. So I think you need to look. I think the organization needs to say organizational failure right now in the present moment. If you do not make the post season, but I think in six, eight weeks, we could have another conversation right now. That should be the mentality. Is it because of the vision is so bad? Is that the reason why he's taking advantage of the one ever you can, right? The league is so bad. The league is so bad. The American League is so watered down or maybe having one of those seasons. And we might not have baseball next year. Oh, by the way, I don't think you want to factor that into it necessarily, but you can. I just did. You just did. You do what you want, man. AJ Przynski is talking like a captain in a clubhouse. And that is the way that you want your captain in your clubhouse approaching this series, approaching this week, approaching the rest of this season.

46:18You want that approach because you need it. You want those guys sitting around Muni, Marikami and waiting for Mike Vassel to wave his magic wand. You want those guys thinking that it's all or nothing. It is past fail. It is black and white. There is no middle ground. You don't want them compromising. You can't affect compromise. You can't accept compromise. So AJ Przynski, he can't help himself. I love this about him as an analyst. And this is the guy that introduced Ozigian last month as a retired as Jersey. This is a beloved member of the White Sox family. This is a White Sox legend. He was under 20. I don't need to tell you his credentials. His biggest credential is as a competitor. So even though Dustin, you're exactly right. The time for perspective. The time for rational thought and making sure that everyone understands and rationalization.

47:21It will be after the White Sox mists out of the playoffs if they do. But right now you want them to feel like all that matters is getting in. Just get in. All or nothing. And if you don't get it, if you don't pass, you fail. Organizational. Organizational failure. That's okay for him to put it out there. I love the way they responded last night. Let's hope it continues because they need that sense of urgency that we all have talked about. AJ Przynski, good for you again. All right, when he come back back to Bears on the pick six. Did you see the odds for the MVP in the NFL? Yes. Caleb Williams, pretty high. We'll talk about it next. It's the pick six on Hawn Payton Chicago Sports Radio 104 3 the score. Welcome back to pick six with Hawn Payton on 104 3 the score. I'm not talking necessarily about a pick six or something like that. After Sunday's a lead effort by Caleb Williams, only Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow

48:24have better odds to win NFL MVP. According to Bandual, Williams is plus 900. Is that an overreaction to one game or a realistic gauge of where the 2026 Caleb Williams stacks up? I think it can be both. It is a total overreaction in one game. And I love it because that's what NFL fans do. That's what NFL media does. That's the reality of living in a passionate football city. When you see Caleb Williams perform at the level he did against the Panthers. And you realize as a Bears fan or as a longtime Bears observer, you've never seen that before from a Bears quarterback. Goodness sakes, it's okay to get carried away. It's okay to dream a little. And when you allow yourself to do these things, you realize that yes, Caleb Williams has the potential to be a top five quarterback. He has the potential on a Bears team if they win at the rate that Ben Johnson expects them to win

49:30and will will them to win, then he's going to be part of that conversation. Much the same way that Pete Cora Armstrong is part of the conversation in the National League for the MVP. Different sports, same idea. You would have thought it was a little bit far fetched in June when he started his ascent. Oh, well, there's Otani. You're not going to be an Otani. He's never going to have the MVP over Otani. Well, he did. He's about to do that. Caleb Williams is on a similar path. Yes, they're good friends and that makes it fun to watch them grow together into superstars in this city. But I don't think it's far fetched to think that Caleb Williams can have as good of a year as Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen. Not after seeing Saturday Sunday, what he did Sunday was like, all right, young man, great. We know you can do that. You set the bar very high. Do it again and then do it again. If these performances continue, so will the conversation.

50:32Well, on CalShi, David, where I like to do my shopping, Caleb is... I thought you turned this into like a promo. Well, you brought up the where your odds ran according to the fan rules. But here's what's interesting about this, David. At CalShi, Caleb Williams is trading at 13% to be the MVP. So a hundred dollar trade would get you 7, 25 and a couple of sets. But he's the second shortest. This is the point. So it depends on where you go. Josh Allen, the point of all that Josh Allen's on top, it's 16%. Followed by Caleb at 13, Lamar at 12, Joe Burrow at 9, Patrick Mahomes 8. And then what about what we saw last night with that running back? What about that running back right now? What kind of walk? What about that? K9. The mean. It's rare. It's rare. It's going to go to a running. I understand that. But if he can, if he can kind of help Mahomes along and take some of the pressure off of him,

51:33he could be the bigger reason why they're winning and people will see that. Like he could be like a sleeper pick. And I know it's one week, but this is the time. He's trading it. Kenneth Walker, hundred dollar trade on Walker, $9,351. CalShi. Wow. Wow. Well, I'm going to go with it. It's both. The lines are in the numbers move so fast. But I think the conversation that we're having about Caleb being in this mix, in this mix is real. It is one game. So I, I don't want to overreact into everybody knows if you listen to the show where you see me on social talk to me in the streets. I'm all about Caleb Williams. Love him to death. But this, and when you look at the other guys that were named in the question, you know, Alan Jackson,

52:34who, who, who, who've been in that conversation, who, who have hardware, you have to be able to do it. It's all about numbers. So it's about, can you keep stacking up numbers? Can you keep on having a firework displays like you had on Sunday against Carolina? Because that's what's going to win you the award. So yes, does he deserve to be in that conversation after week one? Yes. So do a lot of other guys, but he has to prove himself weekend and week out that he's got, they can stay in that conversation because as, as fast as you can jump up, the faster you can fall, I think it also reflects there's confidence in the bears being able to have that kind of a season. Well, yes, the volume is going to be there because of Ben Johnson and what he likes to do with this offense. So he's going to have the volume. He has the, he has the weapons around him to do this, but it has to be consistent. So I want to see in week two, can you go up and put up even bigger numbers against a Brian Flore as defense at your crib with the blitzes that are coming your way?

53:40Then we can even then we can over react going into week three. I think that's a bad question for for Bryson. Oh, the Tiago splits are there. The new bulls head coach. Why are we talking bulls on a Tuesday after week one of the NFL is wrapped up in the Cubs and Sox Bulls one? Well, here's why because four more forward Taj Gibson retired after 17 season Gibson was drafted by the bulls in the first round of 2009. And he is a proud bull and he's had a lot of memories for the fans. And now he's joined splitters staff is an assistant coach thoughts on Taj Gibson. Can I go with my Taj Gibson moment? Please do that dunk on D Wade back in 2011. Three on one watching. Get your up. Yes, yes, yes. Get your up. Get some scoring over the rain. Reggie, would you get off me now please?

54:41It is the eastern. The carful finals. Are you expecting to see plays like this at the rim, but not from Taj Gibson? I mean, the UC is still probably shaking from that moment. The place where crazy. Never gets old. Never, never gets old. I think this is a smart move from Tiago's splitter because you have a guy that is well respected around the league. 17 seasons over a thousand games play for eight teams. I mean, this guy is what you want. And for a young ball club that is trying to figure it out, you need someone else's voice in there. You don't want to for Tiago. I know he's not old, but you know, you want sometimes voices around maybe your other coaching staff or as the young kids call them old heads. The old guys, the unks in the building, but they need somebody in there that they can talk to. And I think that I don't know if this wins you, you know, a bunch of games just by bringing a guy like Taj on to the staff.

55:45But I think inside of a locker room where you're trying to build a culture and you're trying to build something, he's the right guy. He's wore the jersey before here in Chicago. So he knows what it's about. And he knows where he and he has passion for this city. He has passion for the organization. So I think that bodes well and goes a long way with trying to build a culture for Tiago's splitter in this young bulls team. Well said, Jared. I'm going to throw a little bounce pass over to my guy, Brandon Fryer to answer this one for us. And I'm going to take it. I'm going to dunk it too, just like Taj did way that was the same when I had it ready because I thought Dustin Wood bounce pass it to me. And I had that ready, but you said it, Jared. That is the moment. That's the one highlight play. But when I think of Taj joining this team, and what they usually know about me, I love the bulls. Bulls is like one of my favorite teams. Bulls are everything. So this team that Taj is on with him, Noah, Derek Rose, like booze that team. I feel like kind of gets lost a little bit because they didn't win it. But during that period when it was just like that drought after Jordan, this was probably one of the most fun teams to watch during that time and Taj to me outside of Noah was like that grit grind heart and soul of that team.

56:57If you heard his speech with Derek Rose, I mean, like just the speech you give, I was like, this man knows how to motivate. And I feel like he's perfect for this and he's recently played. I think he'll be a perfect transition right away to get to some of these players, especially your best, but he's playing the same position as probably your franchise player right now could be, which is Caleb Wilson. So I just think it relates. I think it's perfect for this team. I love the move A plus him added to the coaching. That's a great point about Caleb Wilson. He will be able to get the insight benefit from the perspective of Taj Gibson, who frankly was here the last time the bulls were really any good. And if Caleb Wilson is going to be part of the new wave or the new era of anything that happens with the bulls, it's nice to have that link to the past. I think it also gets overlooked that as athletic as he was with the great donk and the tremendous defense and all of the things that he offered in all those years in the NBA and Taj Gibson played for 17 seasons.

58:00He was a smart player and smart players can make good assistant coaches because they can relate to little things that we don't even know what they're talking about or teaching or noticing. So Taj Gibson added to the staff. I think is a brilliant move by Tiago splitter who would know Taj well from playing against him for several years. They are the same age. They are 41 years old. Now Taj Gibson was a first on draft pick of the bulls a little bit older in 2009. Tiago splitter was in the league a couple years by then, but they work in temperories. They have a respect. I'm sure that that creates because of being opponents and now they are allies. All interested in the same thing, reviving this franchise and it began during the draft. The rising Graham has a big job ahead of him, but this to me adds to a staff that they announced yesterday. There's like one assistant coach for every player seems, but I'm glad that on that large staff, Taj Gibson is among the assistant coaches for the bulls.

59:09All right, when we come back, it's time for the extra point. Did you see what Chris Sim said about Ben Johnson chasing stats? Really? Come on now. Let's listen to it. We'll talk about it. Keep it right here. The extra point is next. It's hard paid Chicago sports radio 104 3 the score in with the extra point pending. It's time for the extra point with Ha and Peyton come out for the extra point on 104 3 the score. Set at this extra point on PFT live. Chris Sim is wondered allowed whether Ben Johnson might have been chasing stats late in Sunday's game against the Panthers in his quest to make NFL history. Now he's got to be careful and not lose games because you're chasing that though, like you talked about going forward on your own 20 yard line. You got to control the game and then all of a sudden it was like, uh-oh, now you're in a shootout. I do feel like there was a point late in the game. They got down to first and goal and I did feel like they were chasing a Caleb Williams touchdown past that that's what I felt like. Hey, I love the aggressiveness and the creativity, but don't go chasing stats and numbers that it's going to affect your football team and the winning of the game.

1:00:19That's the ultimate goal still and I do feel like there was a moment or two yesterday where they fell into that trap a little bit. Did that ever cross one of your minds and is that fair or an unfair take? Not at all. I think that's worth talking about though because did anyone else have that inclination? To me, it seems absurd to listen to Ben Johnson as often as we listen to Ben Johnson to think that such a thing would matter to a coach that is laser focused on just getting into the ends of the game. My sense is that the shotgun call in that short yard of situation was and in this may not be true, but just top of the top of my head, a different look than they have shown or they had shown inside the red zone at that point or that place on the field, which might have been able to set up a matchup conducive to scoring. What Ben Johnson is always going to always going to do is going to come up with the best formation, the best personnel grouping that is conducive to scoring. I don't think he cares even though I shouldn't say he doesn't care about how many points he scores because he was he's on the record is saying he would like to be the most prolific offense in NFL history, but I don't think that he's chasing stats to use Christmas words to help Caleb Williams pad his with a touchdown pass.

1:01:40Or whatever it is that he's looking for because he's not worried about who wins MVP. He wants to win the football game. He wants to pile up the points and he wants to embarrass his opponent. He said all those things. So I don't think this was necessarily an accurate depiction of what went down. I don't either. I mean, if anything, he was taking an exit lane into the whole whether or not it was too as I like to say cute to do what he did on that fourth downplay your own 21 yard line. I think we all agreed that it wasn't a terrible idea to go for it. It was a terrible idea to run the play. They ran. Yes. That right side of that line dominated all day long and I know all day was early day in that game right. Run behind that side of the line and I think big flip the other way like it was because he did that because he thought that his defense was going to give up a point even if they punted he they were going to turn around and give up another drive.

1:02:41So they were trying to use what I had suggested which was their best off their best defense was going to be a ground and pound control the clock offense and I think that's what he was looking to do just think the play call was wrong. So you know chasing stats. No, but guess what happened we mentioned. Chris Sims name and he's got a lower profile than he wants to out. Thank you Dustin. Appreciate you man. Well, I'll say this. Chris and I. Good friends man. It's my boy. But he is way off the mark here. You can question all you want the the fourth downplay. But that never ever crossed my mind that they're chasing stats and history and touchdowns. Ben Johnson was very clear at what he's trying to do. Very, very clear and if anybody should know that it should be Chris because Chris watches what Caleb does all the time and what Ben does all the time they talk about them all the time.

1:03:46So don't give me this that it's that that they're out here just trying to give another touchdown and they're trying to chase Caleb says this dude wants to win and that's all Ben Johnson cares about. He is not he is down there looking at his sheet saying how can we score as many points as possible and I am going to piggyback off of what. But Brad said yesterday. This bears defense is scary and not in a good way. So he has to score points and you can't hold up and just go oh yeah we're good. No, no scores many as you can. That's the mindset that will always be the mindset they are not chasing stats and history. Well, I guess they are chasing history. Well, you can. But it's not it's not his mind on the football field saying we got to get one more. No, that's not it. Yeah, and he's specifically talking about the Caleb Williams touchdown past that I'm not sure that is in Ben Johnson's forefront of the mind. No, let's just score points and win score points. Torture defenses, celebrate victories.

1:04:49Good do good better best and everyone will be happy. Yes. And everyone in Chicago was thrilled. Expectations are high as high as they've been. Nothing of that happened Sunday changed anything except for maybe made people dream a little bit bigger. Yeah. And you can understand that after scoring 59 points. Good mistakes. We got a lot of football talk ahead all morning long. We're going to be here to 10 o'clock. Hawn Payton talking football talking bears. Wani is here at 725 for a couple segments in studio. Bigs time eight 25 Mike Florial. Good to get his perspective because he was sitting there listening as Chris Sims said what he said. So we'll get Mike Florial's perspective at nine o'clock. But last night was a huge night for both baseball teams in Chicago. The Cubs took care of business at home against the braze. P. Corarmstrung did another P. Corarmstrung thing in homering and stealing a base and leading the Cubs to a 7-3 victory.

1:05:50Meanwhile in Cleveland, 7-3 victory for the White Sox in the beginning of what is the biggest series of the season. What do you think, Sox fans? How did that make you feel? 312-644-6767. All right, did you exhale? Are you still nervous full of anxiety because tonight Davis Martin is on the mound for game two of that series. How about you, Cup fans? Do you feel any better about the situation having a half-game lead over the Phillies in a wildcard race that is heating up fast? Let us know what you think. Call us. Texas 312-644-6767. Back after break to talk Cubs and talk White Sox. And before we get into the bears big time, it's on Payton Chicago Sports Radio 104-3 this score. Hey, all right, almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped the video call, uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat, and of course still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone.

1:06:51All at once? Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to T-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multi-tasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more, I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uglospeed Distant Intelligence The data of National Speed School Results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. The podcast Campus Files is back with more stories of scandal, crime, and intrigue on college campuses. It is not hard to destroy a college. It's almost like a university on a siege. Listen to and follow Campus Files, available now wherever you get your podcasts.

1:07:52It's time for a sent you been gone. Where we look back on things you may have missed since the last time we were together on the Harden Payton Show. On 104-3, the score. Oh, man, on here in the fourth. There goes Pete. Pitch inside through to second base. They'll never get a stolen base. Pete Armstrong, number 37. It's the one I'll pitch. Fly ball to right field. It's deep. Back goes Aconia. Near the wall. That ball has gone. Pete, throw Armstrong with a two run homer. Listen to this ground. Pete doesn't get all of this, somebody hits it. Well, Kuni goes back, keeps going back, and runs out of room in this ball lands. In about the second row and straight right. Home run number 42 for Pete, throw Armstrong. Oh, and one. Swings at the next. Teal out from behind, hold plate. Out of first, he's in time.

1:08:52And the white socks win the ball game. And hold the tie break over the guardians. Welcome back. It's Hard Payton, Chicago Sports Radio 103. The score. Beautiful Tuesday morning in the city where sports are going quite well. Thank you. Cubs, socks, bears. All three teams. All three fan bases. Energize. Feeling like they got a shot at something special. Playing games that mean a lot. Jared Payton, this is a great time to be a sports fan in the city of Chicago. I'm excited to be here. I mean, just to be able to see what this city is getting a chance to enjoy over the next two couple months here is just exciting. And for your bears to be able to win on Sunday, get the job done week one. And then both teams win in last night. It's got everybody's got a smile on their face. Everybody happy this morning. Thank you to the Chicago Sports Network audience for joining us on the Cyclecast till 9 o'clock.

1:09:52That was a CHSEN highlight from last night's victory. 73 white socks beat the guardians. Before that, it was the score Pat Ron and Zach. You heard Zach laugh it in the background. The Cubs beat the brave. 73 at Rigglyfield. Both teams back out of tonight against the Guardians and Cleveland for the socks. Back at Rigglyfield tonight. Cubs and Braves. Let's go out to Cleveland because I think let's start there, Jared. That was the biggest victory in a very long time. Maybe of the season for the socks. Just based on what it meant to their division hopes. They won the tiebreaker. You heard Connor McNight allude to that at the end of that highlight. They have now seven and four against the Guardians this season. They conceivably could lose the next two games of the series. They don't want to do that because now they cling to that lead. The game in a half lead. But they have won the tiebreaker, which could factor in many different ways. But you wanted to get that game. You needed to get at least one. They got it. The batter-spotted Vargas went deep.

1:10:52Tristan Peters had an 18-pitch at bat. And they got really good pitching from Sean Burke. Hagen Smith, goodness sakes, and the bullpen. I think last night for me, I was watching the offense kind of get back into a groove. That has been probably the biggest issue. Is that what runners in scoring position, you haven't been able to be able to take advantage of that. And so last night, it was the best case scenario. You got good pitching from starting pitching all the way through the bullpen. And then as well, the bat started to wake up. Probably the only bigger issue here is Montgomery and Mooney still kind of still figure out. But Vargas last night, he struggled in this month of September. And I know it's still early, but to see him last night get that home run, that hopefully is going to spark things. And you got to hope that those other two start to kind of fall false. You do wonder about what effect pressure has on young players. This is my first time for Montgomery through a pen and race.

1:11:52Certainly, Moonamara Kami is the season's longer. And this is his first experience in a pen and race. You wonder what effect that pressure has. This is a different series. Chris Gatz made the trip. Chris Gatz, the general manager, addressed reporters before the game. He referred to playing with house money. He referred to a lot of different things. But his presence alone made that feel like, all right, this one has some gravity. This one is not like the other series that the White Sox have played this year. This is for your fighting. Your fighting. Your fighting in your first place. And you got the guardians right there behind you trying to craft their, their crashing and sculling, trying to get to you as well. So it's a big series. I want to get to the phone lines 3126446767. We have some people who want to weigh in and just how important this series is and what last night might have meant to the White Sox. And perhaps it cubs too. But I want to take a moment because Hagen Smith is doing something that I think to Sox fans paying close attention, not a huge surprise.

1:12:52And they certainly respect and appreciate it. But boy, Derek, he is looking forward to the next episode. He is lights out since giving up that home run to PCA back in August 17th. And I think people will remember that August 17th was when he gave up the home run. He has gone nine appearances without giving up in earned run. This guy is nasty. He comes from the left side and he's pitching a couple of innings at a time, maybe just one sometimes two. And he's being used wisely by Will Venable. I'm not sure how he projects in the White Sox future. Maybe it says likely as a starter, but certainly he's a weapon in ways that they're using him now. But if the White Sox can find a way to get into the postseason, guys like Hagen Smith, Grant Taylor, Sean Newcomb, when it becomes all about the bullpen, all of a sudden,

1:13:53the White Sox take on a different profile. And they look a little bit more dangerous than they do now, limping into the end of the year. And also think to give credit to Sean Burke last night for going five innings and no earned runs. And so then it gives you a little bit of a breathing room for this pen to be able to come out and do what they need to do. Shots out to Hagen Smith though last night, a clean seventh and eighth. That's what you want from him. And he is, it just boasts confidence as this team is going over these next two games, trying to leave out a Cleveland. If they could, dude, if they could leave out, sweet, that's huge. Oh, sweet. Is that right? Is that right there? And it's possible, David. It's possible. Davis Martin on the Mount tonight against Foster Griffin, Sox and Guardians in Cleveland. What does it mean? They're trying to avoid this organizational failure. The agency presents. Zitsky said they are facing. Slow down. Slow down. I know. But he did say that. We want to hear this.

1:14:53We want to get to a phone call about what AJ said. But let's hear it. It's an entirety on the File Territory podcast. White Sox legend. AJ Prasinski putting it this way. It wouldn't be a success. I'm sorry. Yeah, they didn't lose 100 games. What do you do? They should have been better. But in his week of a league, in a week of a division as the AL Central is. Yeah, it would be disappointing. I'm sorry. Yeah, they'd be like, oh, look at all the strides we made. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. The division was coming. Yeah. But the division, of course, it's coming. But the division was basic. I don't want to say handed to you. But Tigers sucked. Okay. Twins weren't any good. Right? The royals who were supposed to be decent sucked. Right? The Guardians who again were supposed to be decent. They haven't, they've been a 500 team all year. You have a three, four game lead late into the season. You go out. The moves you've gone out and made. I'm sorry. The Luis Castillo move has not worked. Right? Obviously Joey Bark got hurt. Right? Doyle has not worked as a center fielder. He hasn't, he hasn't, he hasn't hit. Okay? Right?

1:15:53The moves they went out and made, which were supposed to bolster it? Haven't worked. Okay? Then you look at some of the guys they have on the team in like Sean Burke, Davis Martin, whoever you want to use, Anthony Kaye, they've faltered down the stretch. Right? So, and that, listen, it's their first time being through this. They're all away over their innings that they've ever pitched. That's, we can get into that. That's a development thing for, and not all just the white talks every team, right? Yes. But yes, if they don't make it, this is an organizational failure. I'm sorry as a fan. I still think they're going to make it, and I still think they're going to win this division. But if they don't make it, yes, it has to be looked as a failure, because these playoff chances don't come along every year. It feels like AJ Przenyski, there on the Faltaratory podcast here, it feels like he's back in the clubhouse. He's the catcher in the captain. He's putting pressure on a team that he believes maybe needs to feel it and respond. Yeah, I have to go back to, because I believe when he said organizational failure, I pushed back on that, but I also understand where he's coming from

1:16:54because of the allegiance and how much he loves his team. So, yes, I think he is. It's those words when you're outside of the clubhouse, and you know that your words could have an impact on some of those guys who might see this and push you a little bit more. He's a guy that knows. So, if a guy that knows on the south side inside of that clubhouse, what it means, he knows what it means. That right there was just a push, a little nudge saying, get this done. Don't let this thing slip away, because chances don't come around like this that often. And it's such a stark contrast to what Chris Gett said before the game in the socks dugout in Cleveland, quote, according to white socks.com. As a whole, Chris Gett said, we felt like we've been playing with house money. And that suggests that, all right, well, you know, we're out there and we're going to be happy if we end up cashing in and we're going to be happy if things go well, but we don't have to. We're not facing organizational failure if we don't. And I think it's just the way that you talk about a team when you're in the midst of it

1:17:56and maybe from a player's perspective, like AJ still talking like a guy who was trying to coax these guys into doing big things and play better. In the series that really is the biggest one of the season. Lots of reaction out there. Let's start the conversation. 312-644-67-67. Josh is in Peru. Josh, welcome to Han Peyton. Hi, big fan of you guys. So, yeah, as far as AJ's comments, I think that is so far out there on that side of the spectrum. They, half of these guys, more than half, don't have any playoff experience. You got guys that are way over in the inning's pitch. I agree it would be a failure, but I think to say an organizational failure is such a stretch and they've had such a good season. I think they do make the playoffs, but to say organizational failure, I have to agree with Jared that it's a bit out there. Appreciate it, Josh.

1:18:56Thanks for the phone call, Josh. What he was referring to specifically, I don't want to speak for AJ, but the one area where he does have a vowed complaint, if you will. The deadline moves have not gone well. And we came in here the day after the deadline and we talked about it and evaluated it. And I thought that Chris Gertz actually got a guy in Louis Castillo that was going to help them and show the back of his baseball card and be good down the stretch. I thought Brazobahn was going to be a guy that responded to the situation and was really going to get the best out of him. The Doyle was going to be somebody they might find a way to use. And Joey Bart, he got hurt, so it's not really fair to evaluate that. But none of the deadline moves have had impact. You can knock him on that, David. You can, you're rightfully so knocking him on that, but still this team is where they are. Right now, they're still, they're still in the hunt to be able to take the division. And so even with having some of those swing and misses on guys that you thought were going to help, they still have an opportunity.

1:19:56So I mean, this thing is not over. So yeah, you can judge those trades and trying to figure out those acquisitions if they're not going to kind of pay off. But the guys that are still inside that clubhouse got to be able to make it happen. They do need to make it happen. But I understand where he's coming from too, because if the White Sucks miss the playoffs, I don't know that I'm going to disagree with him. I don't know if I put it quite the organizational failure, but it's a failure. Player development. It will feel that way. Yes, it will feel that way. It will feel that way. Because you have been in first place since July 4th. You have spent the summer celebrating the resurgence of an organization that was left for dead. It hasn't had a lot to celebrate during 100 lost season after 100 lost season after 100 lost season. And here you are, Jared, close enough to taste the playoffs. And all of a sudden they're going to take that away because you couldn't finish the job. That is going to feel like failure. I understand where AJ is coming from totally. The time for perspective will be December. Or whenever you need to rationalize what happened if you miss.

1:20:59I don't think the time is now to like, well, if they don't make it, it's going to be okay. New. Now is the time you want to press it on the gas. But this crept up on him a little bit. This is the bottom of what this organization is looking to do long term. The biggest thing is that it's there for the taking right now. It is there for the taking. So you better take advantage of it right now because you don't know what next year is what's going to come next year. And so I get it will be a failure. But the organizational failure is just too much for me. Let's go up to the phone lines. Drew is in Hampshire. Drew, welcome to Han Payton. Morning, guys. How are we doing? Dude, well. So I think what AJ is saying, I'm saying this from a Cubs fan perspective here. I think what he's saying is the window to make the playoffs can be ever so fleeting, right? Yes. If stocks have an opportunity to make the playoffs this year, then opportunity might not be there next year. I think that's what AJ is saying.

1:21:59And you look at the Diamondbacks who went to the World Series a few years ago. They haven't even been back to the playoffs with that same core. So I'll hang up and let you guys talk it. Have a good one. What's standing point? The Diamondbacks are a great example. They're kind of flirting with the idea of getting into the wildcard. They were a World Series team that just have been challenged to duplicate that type of a season again. You can't take it for granted. You don't know what's going to happen next year. So many things have been magical this year. It's been a magical season. Can you lighting doesn't strike twice? It doesn't. So Flip it like for what Drew was saying being a Cubs fan. Flip this thing around, David. Okay. Cubs don't make postseason. Oh my gosh. This year? It's an organizational failure. Well, it's different, but it's a different dynamic. That's what I'm saying. Okay, you're right. Look at it that way. Yes. You can look at it that way because of how things, the expectations coming into the season, what people were thinking about. You look at that lineup.

1:22:59You look at everything that they had. Even with the injuries on the pitching staff still. With Cubs? Yes. They still should make the playoffs despite all those injuries, despite everything because of their payroll, because of their expectations. Look at they have the most productive offensive lineup in baseball. Exactly. But on the flip side, you have a lot of young guys who haven't been in this situation before. Arms are getting tired. There's a lot going on here. Guys put it in a position that they've, a lot of them that they've never been in before. So I'm just trying to give it a little bit of some grace. Now, if the Cubs were to somehow miss the playoffs and they are clinging to a half-game lead over the Phillies in the first place in the Wildcard spot, you've got the Diamondbacks two and a half games out. So it is still conceivable as we sit here in the middle of September, September 15th that the Cubs could miss out to. Now, that would be, I think, the definition of organizational failure.

1:23:59If the Cubs were to miss the playoffs, Dustin, can I get a amen or what, wouldn't that be the case? That's a better question for Dustin to answer. If the Cubs were to miss the playoffs, that would be an organizational failure. Yes. Without a shadow of a doubt. But again, the timeline, the timelines are different for these two ball clubs. They're built differently. It's not about money spent, even. It's just where they are at based on guys' contracts and age. That's money spent. And age. Right, but also, there's a couple of guys, key guys that are coming off the books right now. True, right? So they built this roster to get back to where they wanted to be in this little window. And part of that was when a couple of these guys, like Sayas Suzuki's contracts, were going to expire, which is at the end of this season. Let's squeeze in a phone call. DT is in homewood. DT, welcome to Han Payton. All right. This is almost like 2005 all over again.

1:25:00The socks had a big lead in 2005, and then last two or three weeks of the season, they kept shrinking and shrinking. And who were they playing? They were playing the Cleveland Indians at the cell. And who hits the home run, the 10th inning. They got done like one and a half games. Joe Creedy and the 10th inning and the whole thing spun around. And that's why they had that great playoff with only one loss against the California Angels. So that could the home run last night. That's your third baseman's doing it to see make Joe Creedy. That's a great memory, DT. So Miguel Vargas in the role of Joe Creedy saved the season. I hope that happens. I remember it well. That was a very near disaster, but the white socks persevered. Ozigian didn't let them fail. And so you look at that, and yeah, there's a connection there, but if the white sock

1:26:02going this kind of run, that they did win in 2005 after this home run, that would really be something. All right. We're going to shift gears. We're going to shift sports. We're going to talk bears. Dave Wonstett is here. I wonder what a defensive guy like Dave Wonstett thought about 96 points being scored in the season. Oprah setting an NFL record for offensive football. We'll talk to wanting next is home page Chicago sports radio. 104 three. The score. Hey, all right. Almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped the video call uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat, and of course, still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep. Story of my life. That's why I switched to T-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multi-tasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more. I'm totally switching.

1:27:03My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by UglospeedTist Intelligence, the data of national speed score results in cooperating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. He'd the call covers the entire NFL, not just the same 5 or 16s you're sick of, delivering news, weekly power rankings, plus previews and recaps of every matchup. Yes, we cover your team, and we do it with a touch of mirth, because football is fun. Why shouldn't your football podcasts be the same? Follow and listen to He'd the call NFL Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. Day one, Steph. There's head coach for six seasons.

1:28:04Stop it, stop it, stop it! Super Bowl champion. How much did he have? Yeah! He has the greatest mustache you've ever seen. Some say it's a symptom of manliness. Others are cons. The mustache. How long did it take you to grow that mustache? Don't believe it, he. I wish I could grow one. Day one, Steph. With Haim Payton. Open up the door, it's Day! Who gave D-A-B-A? Dustin, we're not gonna waste airtime on it. On 104-3 this score. How do you know coach Wanda? Everyone knows coach. Welcome back, it's Haim Payton on this Tuesday morning. Chicago Sports Radio 104-3 this score. Time now for our segment with Day One, Steph. Sponsored by ChicagoRiffinContractors.org, providing all weather protection for your business. Good morning, Dave. Good morning, fellas. Here we go. Here we go. Yeah, let's get our Super Bowl rings ordered. Let's go. Wow. What size are you? I'll see you in so five. Right?

1:29:04There we go. What a great start though, huh? What a great start. As a head coach, that could not have gone much better, I would think. Or do you look at it this way, Dave? Great score 59, but boy, you gave up 37. Does that outweigh the positives of the offense because of the defensive concerns? Or how do you view what happened on Sunday? No, you know, I think, and as you guys know, I go to training camps. I was in Pittsburgh with the Steelers. I was done with Miami. The Giants came in when we were at Miami, so I saw them practice and so forth a day or two. Usually it used to be back in the day, okay? That the defenses were always ahead of the offense because you don't have as much to install. And get to the football, be aggressive on and on. Offense is trying to get the timing and everything done. Well, if you look around the NFL, you know, that hasn't been the case in a lot of the preseason and start to season.

1:30:06A lot of defenses are not up the par because of limitations. You can only practice so long. You can't have pads on. You can't get better in some positions unless you're going against another person. You can't do it on the bags, you know, like you can maybe at receiver or quarterbacks, where the timing is a big factor. So I think all that plays into it. I think the Bears defense will take a big step of improvement this week. I really do for a lot of reasons. I mean, the quarterback, you know, the people we're playing, I think, will match up well with. But I look for the defense, you know, and people ask me, okay, what's Dennis Allen doing this week? You know, he's doing, he's looking at his scheme and saying, okay, maybe we don't want to play as much too deep. Maybe you want to play more quarters. Or maybe we want to play more man. Or, you know, what, we need to bring a little bit more pressure in this down and distance. So he's going through and then you look at it and say, okay, what players can do, what the best and who's going to be out there.

1:31:09So there's some juggling that's going on right now in Dennis Allen's mind. He's experienced. He knows what he's doing. So we'll be a lot better this week. I really believe it. You know, as a player, I know what it's like to be, you know, be on the starting side and then also being on the side where you are playing scout team. And trying to give a good look to, you know, either the offense or defense. How, as a coach, is it when you have two different dynamics of quarterbacks? Kyler Murray is a guy that can use his feet, cushion protocol. Don't know what his situation is going to be and Carson Wentz. He doesn't like to run a lot, sit back in the pocket. How is a coach do you go through the week to prepare for both of those guys? I'm getting ready for Carson Wentz, you know, just because of the injury and so forth. And I think Dennis Allen got the biggest smile on his face. I really do. Because now, you know, when you're playing, you know, Bryce Young from last week, okay?

1:32:12And you're playing Kyler Murray's Caleb Williams, contain the first, when you put in a pass rush, you, well, we can't run this game or twist inside with the lineman because I don't think he can get out there and contain everything he comes back to keeping the quarterback in the pocket. And that's what kind of surprised me that Caleb made those plays that he did, which was incredible. Those runs, you know, we call them unscripted plays. No one's working on those plays in practice. He just does that on his own. You know, coaches don't want to admit that, but that's just all the player doing it. And this week, that's not that concern with Carson Wentz. He ain't going to get away from you. We can, I look for middle blitzes, I look for a bring, which is named Bush should have a big blitz day this week. Devon Bush, yeah, this is his type of game. Bring him from different areas in the field on blitzes and get some real pressure going where, because Wentz can't get away. Let's go back to the offense for a second.

1:33:12It looked like the first game of this season was so much like the last game of last season. And even though Ben Johnson wants to put that in the past, the one thing you want as a coach is that continuity from year to year, that consistency. And that offensive line allows you to enjoy that. The running game was clicking because it looked so similar to a year ago. And this offensive line with Braxton Jones, that was, I think, largely doubted coming into this season. They really controlled the line of scrimmage. You had Bradbury to the mix and you didn't see that much of a drop off. No. That's where the dominance began. That's where the dominance began. And I'll tell you, the little things that Ben does with the running game. Very similar. We did some of this stuff. Not to this extent, it doused. San Francisco does it probably the closest now of anybody that I'm studying and watching. But I mean, he does things with the receivers, you know, and everything with playing great defense for Lion Ball.

1:34:13Like an example, Dave. Like what, what bringing a receiver inside to block a linebacker? Well, yeah, yes, bringing them inside like on the long touchdown run, but I'm, you know, two receivers got blocks. You know, one burden motioned in and turned the guy out. Okay. And then Raymond was the outside receiver and he came in and sealed the guy off to create an alley in there. I mean, that all looks good on a board, but being able to execute it, you know, is a whole different deal. And the bears did it. And this offensive line, God, I mean, they, you know, now we are right sided heavy. I mean, I think we're someone told me we're close to 70% 67% run to the right, you know, but, but until they stop it, we'll keep doing it. And people ask me, why, what about Ben going forward on fourth and one? And I said, let me tell you something. I've been down this road a thousand times. And I think it came down to Ben's not a gambler as much as anything. He has confidence in those guys blocking.

1:35:15And, and you have to trust your offensive line, you know, coach quarter, quarterback sneak. When you're back, so already picking up like 70 yards of Gary. Well, you know, it wasn't like it was a yard or yard and a half. I mean, I remember, I don't know, it was first or second year here at the bears were playing the Vikings. And it's fourth down. And we weren't backed up that much on the 20, but it was like on the 35 maybe on, you know, backed up. And, and Ron Turner was my office a coordinator. Tony Wise, obviously, was a lie coach. And I said, hey, guys, if we, I want to go for it, if we make a first down, we're going to run the clock out the games over. I don't want to give the ball back to Warren Moon and Chris Carter and Robert, you know, I mean, they had a great outstanding offense. And, and Ron says, well, you know, I says, what do you like? Ron starts, you know, well, we could do it. So I said, hey, Tony Tony come in here. He's, I said, what do you like? And he looked at me. And I know, you know, Tony like a brother. And he looks at me and says, punt the ball.

1:36:19And I said, what? And now it's not head coach talking to line coach. It's me and Tony talking like we were on the score. And I says, are you put the ball? And Tony says, John Randall and Jerry Foughtner was out our starting center. John Randall Henry Thomas, two all pros. He says, coach, we can't block those guys and make it. It was like a yard and a half. Punct the football. You know, and so I walked one way and he walked the other. We punted the ball and then we stopped and we won the game. But I mean, the point is that Ben has so much confidence in that. No, you're personal. No, he believes in that personnel. He believes that he has the best interior three. Yep. In the league. So he's going to trust those guys to get that tough yard. 100% 100%. But I think you've got to understand. He had a great day. They had a historic beginning. It's is bad to just nitpick on one bad decision. But it is the nature of the job.

1:37:21That's one he may want back. I was surprised that he didn't accept responsibility for that being maybe a bad decision. Because he clung to that idea like, all right, I'm going to do what I'm going to do. Right. Yeah. And that's I think that's Ben. And you know, as long as it keeps working, you know, what do you want to say? I mean, what are you going to say? You know, I do think you'll think it I think it over against different teams differently. Maybe, you know, coach, you know, I'm the resident running back here. So anytime you get two backs over a hundred yards, you're doing something. Is that the Oklahoma wishbone? I'll be. Listen, we know Kyle Menungai is a guy that loves the run in between the tackles. But a guy that I didn't give a lot of credit to about. I thought he was more of an outside zone guy getting him into space is Deandre Swift. But he keeps showing me. I can run him in the A gap in the B gap. I can get north and south his ability to get tough yards also to make people miss has been so much fun to watch, especially in week one.

1:38:24Yeah. That couple of times he ran up in there and I said, well, there's a half a yard or yard gained and he comes out of it with four or five yards, you know. Yeah. And also seeing how he brings linebackers in by pressing the whole keep them sucked down and then have the ability to jump outside the cut for that touchdown. Yeah. It was like it was textbook. Yeah, it was and it was great because he had just signed a new contract. You know, and I know that's not part of it, but it is part of it. And so you know, George McCaskey was smiling. Okay, you guys want to meet a right to check for this guy Ryan Polz and Ben. Well, I wrote the check and boy, he performs like that. So that's a that's a pattern of back for everybody up there on a day 59 points and six touchdowns. And yet, coastal love and did not catch a pass. Yeah. Did they do something specific to take him out of the game plan or was just a matter of everyone else was open and Caleb Williams was living by what he had said in the in the preseason that basically the guy who is open is going to get the football.

1:39:34Well, how about who would have said, Colson doesn't catch a pass like you said, David. Birmingham doesn't score a touchdown. And the Bears score 50 number. I mean, who would ever drink that they were playing a two deep shell a lot, which does give you an extra safety valve. Let's keep it simple. There keep an extra safety valve deep, you know, for the past, teams play too deep when they don't respect the run and their nervous about you throwing the ball. You guys all know that they were playing a lot of two deep and running situations and Ben kept running a ball. So yes, probably in their minds, if you sat down and talked to their defense coordinator, that was a big part of their their defense game plan is to make sure we got somebody over the top of Colson. How much of a concert of the effort will Ben Johnson make this week to get him the football, though, because you don't want that to be a guy goes two games like that. He is.

1:40:34Well, he's going to get it this week because Brian Flores and I don't have it in front of me, Dustin could pull it up later on pull up because this this kind of this shocked me the 2025 last year's Vikings defensive rankings in the NFL. I was looking at this the other night coach, they were top 10 and almost every category on defense. And they are a pressure team. We know that with Brian Flores. So the answer your question, David Colson is going to get a lot of opportunities because, you know, when we got when you pressure, you have to cover one on one. So he's going to be in some good matchups. Alright, we come back. We will look a little closer at the Brian Flores Ben Johnson showdown chess match Sunday at soldier field Dave Wonsted is in studio here for another segment. It's on page. The top 10 page, the call sports radio 104 three the score. That's a tease for all you listeners. Stay tuned.

1:41:34Dave Wonsted with high and Peyton on 104 three the score. Welcome back. It's on page. The call sports radio 104 three the score Dave Wonsted in studio. Okay, Dave asked and answered total defense 2025 Vikings ranked third in total yards allowed passing defense second scoring defense seventh 19.6 points a game. Brian Flores Ben Johnson. What is Brian Flores going to do to respond to Caleb Williams MVP candidate in week one. He looked like a guy who was taking that next step. If you're Brian Flores, how do you approach that? Well, the number one thing is who's going to contain you have to keep and I was thinking about this. You know, I'm watching these games. How would I defend Caleb and I promise you Brian Flores is thinking this keep Caleb in the pocket and make him throw it on time. There's nothing you can do about the coverage. If you're going to pressure him. Okay, and I'm talking about I can only reflect back to defending. You know, the Steve Youngs of the world and Randall Cunningham's a Michael Vicks. Okay, as a defensive coordinator head coach.

1:42:48And the key was you almost get to the point where I think I would do this. I would tell tell my defensive coaches. I want Caleb to throw the ball. That's you know, but he's not going to scramble. He's not going to keep him in front of you. You're going to keep him in front of you. We're going to squeeze this pocket. I don't care if we sack him. You hear what I'm saying? I would just how I talk to the defensive coaches. Guys, but I don't want him getting out of the pocket. I want to squeeze this pocket and make him throw it on time. And then you turn to your secondary linebackers and say, Hey, you know, you got to cover burden and you got to cover Colson. Yeah, that's the other side of the coin. But that's that's the way Brian Flores with pressure. I think that's the way that they go. This segment with Dave wants that is sponsored by EOC golf play any golf course at home today. All right. So flip side to what Brian Flores is going to do. How does Ben Johnson kind to counter attack what they're trying to do because it's easier said and done to keep Caleb Williams in the pocket. I mean he's he's who Dean he might just find a way you could try to keep him there. He could find his way out. But what is it?

1:44:00What's the way out? But what has been Johnson doing offensively to counter that I I thought what their speed we have some receivers even the down the line guys. They're all fast. Right. That's kind of our our stamp is that our receivers can all run. Not necessary the biggest guys, but we can run. I think we're going to see and what's the toughest thing against any pressure. It's the crossing routes. Right. Whether it's a bunch thing together or whether crossing from one side to the other. Those crossing routes when you are in man coverage and you are pressuring boy if you get inside a guy or they make a mistake because I got him who's got him. Look a second confusion. You can give up some big plays as you know Jared. I think we're going to see a lot of crossing patterns of that type of stuff against this. I wish I knew the blocking scheme for how they use their running backs just by play. Calls like 60 would be Mike and Sam. If those guys don't come you swing or go to the flat. I want to know how because having a guy like Swift being able to get out on swings or flats with pressure coming could turn into a huge chunk place for them.

1:45:13Yeah. Oh yeah. I mean that's the next thing as a coach. What you're talking about is you sit there and you're saying, okay, do we want to leave the back and tight end in to protect our quarter back or do we want to go back to the back. Or do we want to get everybody out and then you're putting it on the quarterback. You got to get the ball out quick. That's the trade off. You know, Swift is obviously what you're alluding to is correct. He's more of a receiver than he is sitting there and just block a blushing linebacker. So, but that's that's the discussion that these offensive coaches have when you're facing a high pressure team like Minnesota. How do you see it unfolding? What's going to happen Sunday? Oh, I think I think because of us running the ball enough. Minnesota's got to be gap sound with running the ball and it may be tough running the football. Let's assume it is because of their defensive line and these guys are for real. Okay. Now the play action passes become a big deal. And when you get into play action passes.

1:46:19Man, and you're a linebacker or you're a safety and you got to decide stop the run or is love and releasing on a play action pass. That, you know, obviously the bears win that one. So I think the run game and the play action pass, not the drop back, not the drop back game. That makes it easy on the defense. We're hitting our gaps. We know who we got. I got this cat. I got this guy. I think we're good. Play action pass off of the run game is really the key for coming up with big plays against pressure. And that is easier said than done. Are you running the ball? I mean, everybody says that. But if the film doesn't show that you can't run the ball, they don't pay attention to it. Bears can run the football. The big insight Dave, almost as much fun as hearing you snap at Dustin, but during the break when he pointed out that the bear scored more points on Sunday than you. Your bears team did in the first month of December, the last month of your first season. December of 1993, the bear scored 57 points on Sunday the 2026 bear scored 59.

1:47:34That's what we were seven and five going into that straight. And I can name every guy. And we had some great guys. We had Jim Harball was our quarterback and Jim was getting the blunt of everything, which was so unfair. And he ended up leaving. But we had a free agent tight end Ryan wet night. God bless us all. You know, from Stanford, Bobby Christian in the back. Yeah, free agent. Teriobi receiver free agent Tommy Waddle. And I hate him. I think we ran out of tape. He had I never see I've never in all my 40 years of cohesion. So a guy that needs so much tape just to put his body together to go on the field. Tommy, I mean, he was so tough. And then Curtis Conway who that first year, you know, by every season starts snowing God, he won all he wanted to talk about was getting his flight back to LA. So we were we were in a little bit of a jam, you know, if we were a little I can't David Davis of way too smiley over there. It's a different era. But this I got it done. I can tell you the place we ran. And that same year, there's only been two teams in the NFL that have been top

1:48:49bottom five in offense, which we were. And top five in the NFL in defense. We were like third or fourth in the whole NFL in total defense. Wow. So that was when defense was well, the way bears fans are used to see the free agent on defense. That's right. It was Richard Dent. Hall of Famer, Gold jacket. Thank you. Good stuff, Dave. Great insight. Looking forward to Sunday, looking forward to all your shows throughout the week. We back on the score Thursday on the afternoon show. Keep it right here. We're going to switch to baseball when we come back. Bruce Avine will join us. We'll talk to talks, talks, both teams won on Monday night. We'll tell you how they did it. Keep it right here. Hi, I'm Patent Chicago sports radio. One of four three. Hey, I ride almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just rep the video call uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat. And of course, still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once. Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to demobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multi tasker. I see you.

1:49:57Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more. I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get to mobile. So many reasons to join team mobile. Find yours at teamable.com. Fastest based on analysis by who close speed distance intelligence, the data of national speed score results in cooperating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. Hey there. I'm Kendra Adachi and my show The Lazy Genius Podcast helps you be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't and you get to decide what matters. I'm not here to tell you what to do. I'm here to give you a new way to see. Episodes of the lazy genius podcast are full of compassionate time management tips and permission slips to do what makes sense for you. New episodes drop every Monday. Follow and listen to the lazy genius podcast on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. The score.

1:51:01You go wise to not allow yourself to get involved when people will say you and millions of the direter bring in a new era of Chicago's sports. I mean, can you can you enjoy that and take yourself out of the equation to know it's things that are happening for Chicago people. No doubt. I've gotten a much better understanding of it's still kind of is trippy but like. It's cool that people appreciate us being friends you know because that's that's where it all really stems from and. You know we've we've definitely talked about what we want to build here together but again that that all stems from from genuine appreciation of each other's abilities and craft and how. How we make stuff happen but I think it's all agreed upon or it's agreed upon by all of us that that we want to give people something to look forward to so I think that's where it's coming from and that's that's what it is.

1:52:05Welcome back it's hot paint in Chicago sports radio one or four three of the score on this Tuesday morning beautiful morning in the city of Chicago especially if you are a Cubs fan or a white sucks fan and we're talking baseball because last night as you heard Pico Armstrong. Talking about the Cubs seven to three victory over the Atlanta Braves and in that game PCA had four hits he went deep he stole another base he's now have 37 stolen bases and 42 home runs which brings us to our plumbers 911 hotline plumbing emergency call 1833 plum 911 local 130 plumbers get the job done right the first time Bruce divine is the scores baseball insider and he joins us now good morning Bruce. Morning guys how are you yeah that was Pico Armstrong talking about him in Caleb Williams owning this city owning it in a very good way wanting to be the pillars of a building a new foundation for Chicago sports a winning foundation going forward moving forward with two elite superstars and we're watching one of them play right now we watch one on Sunday and we're watching one day.

1:53:18You can play every day for the Cubs with the loving games lot no doubt about it Caleb Williams after week one has entered the chat in terms of MVP consideration in the NFL meanwhile Pico Armstrong Bruce is likely to win his first most valuable player at the age of 24 when you look at this season the body of work 2026 Pico Armstrong in your experience covering Chicago baseball especially just reduce it to the Cubs. How does that season stack up to other MVP like seasons whether it's so sir or Chris Bryant 10 years ago how does this season stack up. I mean it does in the sense that he is dominated pitching since what the middle to the late end of June and he's taken the best player in the sport out of the equation as far as MVP conversation more importantly what he does ever. What he does every day to make his team win it's just been incredible to watch I mean you know the brine MVP season of 2016 the Dawson year of 1987 they were there are some in their own right but.

1:54:34This one doesn't have to take a backseat to anybody I mean it's it's just the numbers are completely there across the board if you want to take strike outside the equation nobody seems to care about him very much any longer it's it's almost like a sing every area of baseball and he's done that I mean there is no conversation about you know a tiny any longer it's it's all about whether Pico Armstrong is going to be the unit. The unanimous choice of MVP Bruce last night any more meeting to the the win at wriggly last night beaten the first place breaks team. I think it's you know it's reassuring to that you can beat really good teams what you're going to have to do Jared over the next three weeks when you when you get into the playoffs and you're seated you're going to have to go out there and show you can beat Atlanta you can beat Philadelphia you can beat San Diego you can beat the Dodgers these are the teams you're going to have to beat everybody says well you have to get seated here.

1:55:45Because you don't want to play this team on the road yeah I mean there's an equation to that but the reality is you're going to have to beat them all okay you're going to have to beat all the best teams you're going to have to be up to it and you know what the cops it's certainly all about whether or not. Offensively defensively they can beat teams down and beat them in short series that that's going to be the key do they have enough pitching they have enough faith in the bullpen. That they're going to be able to win close games because that's that's basically all you see in playoff games. Regardless of the quality of the starting picture in these games they're not going to be in there after the second or third inning if they're not getting out and they're and they're not keeping their team in the game so it becomes a whole different season a whole different way. That manager is looking at their team especially in these two out of three games to begin the year to begin the playoffs where you know you have starting pictures to come in in the second or third inning if your starters not getting it done.

1:56:55You're listening to home Peyton talking to Bruce Levine here on the score and tonight the Cubs host the braves at Riggly pregame covered to 605 first pitch 640 crystal clear FM quality on 104 3 the score. And the northwestern medicine Cubs radio network Bruce we heard yesterday danceby swanson begins a rehab stint tonight he could be back with the major league team as early as Friday. Created nice situation for the Cubs what to do with Pedro Ramirez who has really been very good in danceby's absence and really very good all season long providing some key timely hits at times and playing adequate defense what do you think will be the move in terms of if danceby comes back. What role will Ramirez play. It'll be either him or can for to against right handers in the D. H.ing right so he's earned enough. A gravitas with this team to be able to be considered an important cog even as a hitter getting big hits timely hits never looking overwhelmed talking to Ryan Fleurty the bench coach on Sunday.

1:58:04He talked about that forget about the coaches in the manager he's impressed his fellow teammates has to be calm cool collected keeping them in in the pen and race and in the race to be the number one wild card I mean I think it's it's been understated. How important eco playing shortstop and this guy playing quality second base of been since danceby went out it's going to be a month before he returns maybe on Friday and the Cubs really haven't missed a beat defensively offensively you know there's all there's that occasional explosion from danceby but. They they have done a terrific job of replacing. Probably the best defensive shortstop this year in baseball. Bruce another start for Kevin Gosman tonight what is he need to show tonight is just another start for him or is this kind of another showing for him that he should get a ball in in the wild card start.

1:59:06It's it's all about him commanding the fastball in the in the splitter when he's commanding the fastball he gets a lot of swing and miss on that and then the splitter has to be down in the zone those are his two pitches basically it's. 80 to 90% of what he throws so we've seen the good guys and we've seen the not so good guys and it's basically on command you can say that about any picture any night in his case he can be dominant we've seen seven. Shout out in these a couple of times from him when when the ball is is being dispersed in the proper way the fastball is looking like a strike but it's off the plate and it's high and out of the zone and the splitter is down so. It sounds simple it's the equations not always that simple for Gosman but again Jared if you're asking me you know is this the most important start of the year for him I think they're they all are with 11 left you basically only have one game leads on Philadelphia and Arizona in the standings.

2:00:17I always remind David when we talk on Saturdays the lost column is the only thing that matters. They have a one game lead in the lost calm the good news is it's really two games because of the fact. That. They have the tiebreaker for both teams thanks that. So Bruce let's go to the white socks because they had a victory last night that feels like it might have been. The biggest of the year because of what it represented they now win the series with Cleveland and that may matter down the stretch they're clinging to a game in half lead they got the big homer from Vargas they got really strong outing from Burke who was piggybacking last night Kyle teal comes through in the clutch. But hey Smith did it again since giving up that home run August 17th the peak or Armstrong 16 and a two thirds scoreless innings nine appearances 25 strikeouts this guy I don't know if it's a revelation but certainly he's in weapon and the white socks are using him well what do you expect tonight.

2:01:21But you know you have to have a good starting pitching and you hopefully get it tonight but you're right David the bullpen has been a revelation for them and you think about. You know the the left handers that have come out of the bullpen and gotten big outs all year none of them were bigger than newcomers who started that game yesterday. He said continually had an ERA in the in the twos which is phenomenal for a guy that comes out of the bullpen either as a beginning middle or an end guy something like like Taylor does for the white socks as well so. It's all about pitching and you talk about a big game. I thought that was a huge game for the the white socks just the the field good part of maybe we're not clicking in all cylinders maybe we're not hitting the ball certainly. Merck me and the Montgomery's are not hitting the ball they're missing the ball a lot but we're able to compete and win against the team that people say it's superior to us they're going to pass us well.

2:02:29Now they have the three games they have the two games in the lost column and they have the third game because the white socks won the head to head competition against Cleveland yesterday. That's huge that means that the first time breaker the white socks have against Cleveland and that's going to be important as we watch these games a dwindle down to a few. Bruce that's the tough part I was going to go with Murkami and Montgomery both were quiet again last night and just both guys just seem to be stuck like how do they how do they have time to fix the issues and the problems that are going on with them right now. You know things so and you know I I understand. Vanable winning Miracami to be in the lineup it's going to be easy for me to sit here at 815 in the morning tell you guys. Murkami should be on the bench okay particularly against left handers. It's another thing to say okay may drop moves to shortstop at the next moves to second base you you put in another hitter who can get the job done a little bit more and against lefties for sure and against other people you have to be selected by using Miracami.

2:03:51Murkami you're pension moon. What would you do with it I would at this point of time you got to go with them you got to hope that he runs into one you got to hope that he gets hot again you're not pension moon a not in September you're not you're not but I'm not benching him I'm dropping the I'm trying to put him in a situation I don't care if it's second third fourth or seventh right now he's just it's swinging miss right and and Colson you know his credit as had some big hits but it's not much better you got. Poor guys in the lineup last night that are hitting to 10 or less okay most people don't care about baddling average I understand that but from the metric of making time tax he's not doing it right now so. If you think it's big deal to bench him I would talk to him about using him like a council uses players like credible uses players that is you bring in the guy when the right handers are coming in so if left handers start in the game I don't start him I don't know that I would go that far he you're talking about him being your left handed Randall Gritchick I'm not sure I'm there yet I think you have 12 games left.

2:05:13He's gotten you this fought you got to write him out you got to write this out just to see what happens I know it's a different series but I just don't I don't know that sounds pretty dressed that he's he's not getting you there right now. He's not getting you there right now and it's not punishment for him it's the reality he just is it's swinging miss you know to the 30 home or guy it's got 35% of his his at bans or strikeouts of his play appearances. 43% of his at bats or strikeouts. I'm not punishing the guy I'm I'm giving the guy a break against pitching that he's not able to finish this later Bruce we got a minute left I want to ask you about this Chris guess doesn't make every trip it tells you the gravity of this one that he's on it he spoke to reporters lot going on with the white socks of the past few days he addressed Mike surely the director of amateur scouting who a friend of the program we know him well Bruce he was resigned over the weekend amidst allegations of verbal harassment there's an internal investigation Chris gets talked about restructuring the front office as he strives to replace him he talked about trying to get his team to relax and play through this little slump that they were in what how did you read the presence of Chris gets on this road trip and what did you think of what he had to say about the future of the socks front office.

2:06:34I think it's awesome I mean the guy is stood up he's been a leader ever since Jerry Rangestor for a few years ago pointed in the job finger pointing at him all the time saying he was a lackey he wasn't good enough it's somebody that they settled on and he's proved to anything to be anything but that he's a tremendous leader without he he has leadership without an ego right so that's hard to have in in modern sports as a leader but he has done that. He did it again last night and he did it well I mean he he he doesn't shy away from from facing adversity or things that are going well for the white socks and he's your American League executive of the year. I give him credit for showing up and asking the questions I think obviously he knew that this called for that kind of presence and any responded plus it is it is as big of a series as they have experienced this year so tonight they're back at it Davis Martin on the mount against Foster Griffin for the Guardian's that's going to be another big match up Bruce thanks for your time look for to talk to the rest of the week.

2:07:40Yeah why don't we get a talk about a moonie again we'll get back to a bridge talk about to it. I can't hear you break you're breaking up you're breaking up. What's all talk next please. Okay Bruce divine the score is baseball insider we come back check your watches yes look at your clock it's big time here on page cougar sports radio 104 3 the score. Hey alright almost here are you ready just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago I just wrapped the video call uploading this giant file on my tablet looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat and of course still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone all at once. Yep story of my life that's why I switched to demobile they have the fastest 5G network. Okay multi tasker I see you honestly I never imagined I could do all this at once it's awesome say no more I'm totally switching my post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get to mobile.

2:08:43So many reasons to join team mobile find yours at teamable dot com. Fastest based on analysis by who close beat distance intelligence data of national speed score results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. Hey y'all I'm Maddie and I'm Poodle and together we host the podcast reality gaze we are two ridiculous homosexuals who love nothing more than talking about reality television and tearing it a new one. So whether it's 90 day fiance love is blind love after lock up or any other trash TV show about lonely hearts looking for love your gay besties got you covered Joe new shows every week follow and listen to reality gaze wherever you get your podcast. Let's go. Oh. Bigs big. Bigs. Bigs. Bigs. The bigs report with brand bigs bigs.

2:09:45Bigs. Bigs. His name is Brad. Bigs. Brands big stocks football with you. Welcome back it's on Peyton Chicago sports radio 104 three the score time now to go out to the plumbers 911 hotline plumbing emergency call 1833. Plum 911 local 130 plumbers get the job done right the first time he is the football man for the Chicago Tribune the best source of bears information anywhere. Brad bigs morning Brad morning boys what's going on so easy question difficult answer. Are the bears the best offense in the NFL? Yeah. Yeah. Right. I'm for sure but you know long way to go different ways to measure it but right now after one week you see them go out and put up 59 points. They're at the top of your leaderboard. Yeah.

2:10:45You think that's going to be the case in a month two months. Can that be the case in three months. Yeah. It can. It can. Well I mean but first we got it okay what is it? Is it simply points? Is it yards? Is it you know how are you kind of. What's your criteria but yeah they're more than capable of that. And you know we'll have to see remember what Ben said. A couple different ways since the game ended Sunday in Carolina and that was. Yeah. Basically finding a way to get back to the plane to get to the airport one and out. So that's going to look a little bit different each and every week. You know what is it going to take to get a win. And he doesn't care what it takes. It's just about achieving.

2:11:45That result. We'll see but yeah the more than capable of any and all of that. Brad when you break down the film and I know when Ben Johnson looked at the film you. We all saw the amazing plays from Kayla Williams either with his feet or some of the crazy throws that he had. But Ben really talked about yesterday was just how he liked how. Kayla would reset and take what the defense was giving him dump it it off instead of forcing things down the field as much as we look at all the spectacular things that he does. That to me was the biggest thing going into this year for him. And it seems like he's having a better understanding of this offense. Well if you're going to talk about. Set the goal for. Getting a major uptick in completion percentage and Ben's talked about that but. I don't think he I don't think he's obsessed with it like people talk about it like it's this. Be all end all goal that they've put in front of the quarterback and that's not the case.

2:12:53But yeah he's over what 71 72% in the game is over 70% for the game and like I said yesterday morning three or four those were throwaways where you understand it like that's the play you got to make. I'm not going to run in the next down but I agree. Checking the ball down in a couple instances going to that second read that's kind of sitting in the void there in the middle of the field. And that's not something they did a whole lot of a year ago. Remember through the first five six games last year. He wasn't throwing the ball in the tight ends at all the running backs. So a lot of passes last year 34 for swift 18 from a nung guy that's you're basically talking about three. Running back receptions per game. If he's checking it down just a little bit more.

2:13:55They had to reach that number and then with the screen game and everything else that number is going to go up a little bit and. Second in five second and four after one of these little check downs that are spot to be in the second and 10. You're listening to haunt patent here on the score in the second with Brad big sponsored by S wing professional tools made in the USA for over 100 years S wing dot com. Okay Brad you know things are going pretty well when Ben Johnson's Monday zoom begins with a question about the origin of no block no rock. And then is followed up by the decision to go good better best after the game. What is the most pressing issue facing Ben Johnson this week it seems like things could not have gone much better when you score 59 points. But there's got to be something there that requires immediate attention. What is it in your mind? Well I mean the defense right you know I don't care who's a quarterback for. The Minnesota Vikings on Sunday they've got to they've got to be better defensively and and then I guarantee you they've moved on from film review of Carolina and are taking a real close look.

2:15:11And then I think that's what Brian Flores and the Vikings are going to throw out him on Sunday. And Flores. Was long been known as the guy who wants to. A sudden pressure fiber more past rushers as much or more than anybody in the league and they blew the lid off that this past Sunday against the packers. And then they look at some things and they said the Vikings were pressuring it at 75 80% of the passing attempt. So they're going to have to have a plan in place to handle that and then counter punch right how are you going to beat. The Vikings and what they want to do to you because they are giving you a weakness in your defense. You just got to find a way to exploit it. I think the one thing that jumps out to me Brad is in week one. This bears team.

2:16:11A lot of flags on the field man they have to clean that out that has to be a point of emphasis for for Ben Johnson going into this week. Yeah, I mean it's something you're going to talk about every week. They had what they have 12 penalties. Carolina had some two. You can't go forward with well, I mean it was only 57 yards. I'm not going to bring up. I'm more worried about funding them. I'm worried about what florists is bringing that up and trying to tighten up that defense. I think some of the penalties that they had are probably quick, correctable things that can be reviewed in the meeting like it. But still, man, how you get a delay game out of a time out is a athlete to me.

2:17:14They've been able to do this for a couple of years now under with multiple quarterbacks and multiple coaches. You ought to be able to keep those five yards in your pocket. Didn't seem like there was a confusion over when they were going to restart the play clock though because they were thought that it was already restarted. They were going to put his hands toward the air and I don't know, Brad, not making an excuse, but it did seem like that was a misunderstanding as much as it was. No, there was some type of absolutely. There was some type of miscommunication there, but you've had your time out. You've got your play go, right? And because there's always something to explain it how there's a flag coming out of a time out. I don't, I'm not putting it to I wouldn't have a ton of concern about the penalties that they had in that ball game, but they better be ready for Minnesota in the bears traditionally faired well against the Vikings in solid to field.

2:18:17I know that wasn't the case a year ago in the season opener. But I talked about it for a long time saw some really talented Vikings teams come to soldier field against more mediocre bears teams and really have some problems. So bears are going to be ready because Florida is going to be taking these highlights the 59 points all that he's going to be showing that to his defensive guys and he's going to have them flying high coming into this game. I would imagine if they're watching the highlights Brad, then they're watching that run game. That's going to be a point emphasis for them to be able to stop. Let's say they do early on that bears don't have success early on running the football. Do you think Ben stays with it? Because sometimes coaches find a way when things aren't working to get away from them, but that's their bed bread and butter. Yeah, that's going to be that's going to be what they're foundationally based on as long as Ben's here, I think like that that's really like you talked to him about.

2:19:24Hey, what boy, what'd you like most from the game? And he said, you know, he starts talking about the man, I run and some of these blocks and that that's absolutely where he's at. I would not have. I mean, what happened on occasion maybe when you get to the end of a game and you feel like maybe the coach got away from the run game a little bit. Yeah, that's going to happen from from time to time, but with Ben as the coach, I don't think that's something that you worry about happening consistently. What are you hearing about Kyler Murray and concussion protocol? Obviously Carson went stepped in and they they really I think went 29 this score, 29 on answered points after that happened. Don't expect that to continue necessarily, but he is a veteran. He does have some limitations as well, but Kyler Murray, if he's healthy, would get the starting. Yeah, I would presume what do you what do you think that's going to happen there? I can't venture a guess with Kyler Murray, but I can say that.

2:20:28Murray was in meetings yesterday with the Viking, so he's in the protocol, but he's not at least yesterday. He wasn't in such a way where you know, he had to stay home in a dark room, which is which can happen to guys with concussions that that physically they feel very poorly. So he's good enough to show up to be part of the meetings yesterday. What that means potentially for Kyler Murray's availability this coming Sunday, I have no idea. And you're just guessing if you're if you're trying to predict it at this point. But yeah, when it came in and played, you know, the guy's been around a long time. He got things going for him and yeah, he doesn't move real well, but the pairs have you got to prove they can rush the quarterback real well.

2:21:28And that has to be to me, one of the biggest things they have to get going because you got Montez getting a sack and streets getting a sack as well. Can they get some pressure with a guy if let's say when season in the pocket, he's a guy that's not going to move around a lot. Brad, they have to find a way to be able to generate some type of pass rush on Sunday. Yeah, and that starts probably with being better at first down, right? You get you get wins in a situation where it's second and longer, where it's third and you know they're throwing and then you're setting up opportunities for you guys to potentially get home. The run defense needs to be better to the panthers hit him for well, five point seven yards of carry the other day and Carolina basically had to kind of ditch the run game. And then they were late in the third quarter, early fourth quarter because there were chasing so much and time was of essence and they couldn't stop the bears from running the ball at all.

2:22:34So I would imagine they feel like they've got to they've got to be better play in the run and earn your opportunities to go hunt the quarterback like the more opportunities you can create to get after wincer, Murray or whoever it is. Better chance you're going to have for success. Great stuff, Brad. Appreciate you joining us this morning. Look forward to a really interesting week to see what happens with the Vikings quarterback situation and how the bears handle success. Thanks guys. Have a great day. Brad Biggs, football man from the Chicago Tribune. Interesting in terms of Ben Johnson praising Caleb Theanham and Monday at the podium for the job that he did. And being somewhat critical of an honest about the jobs of cornerbacks did. I don't think it was Jalen Johnson's or Tyrick Stevenson best day. It looked like it was their season opener and I think they're going to have to really take that next step. Ben put them on notice without putting them on blast.

2:23:36That's how I looked at it. Like these guys know they got to be better and at some point and this is going to be a lot of pressure on Dennis Allen did to get things right and corrected inside of that defense of medium. We'll hear what Ben Johnson had to say about his cornerbacks and the challenge ahead of them because Justin Jefferson is coming to town talking bears next and on Peyton Chicago sports radio. 104 3 the score. Pa in Peyton in the mornings on 104 3 the score. Cadbury fires it back here. Sonner low bow trot slow it down. Bounce free into the corner. Here's Benard making modes knocked off a stick. He's able to recover. You'll try it from his old job for the hat. He's got it. Conner but hard. Samkin career. Hatrick. 5 2. Harks. A high flipper. And everyone's going home to bliss.

2:24:37On this cold night in Chicago. Spirit and game. He's had a good one. Welcome back. It's on Peyton Chicago sports radio. 104 3 the score. We'll get to Ben Johnson's comments on his cornerbacks later. But we have breaking news here on the score brought to you by I dot. At some point in the day everyone is a pedestrian. Slow down and give them space. Share the road. It's not a game. Breaking news. Conner but Dard. 21 year old. Black Hawks. Centerman. Is the 37th captain of the Chicago Black Hawks. They named him this morning. He had this to say about the news. According to the statement that was just released moments ago. Quote. Being named captain of the Black Hawks is an unbelievable honor and something I'm truly humbled by. The captains who have come before me have left an incredible legacy. To now have the opportunity to carry that tradition forward is something I don't take lightly. I am grateful to the organization and my teammates for putting their trust in me to lead this team.

2:25:41We're building something really special here and I'm committed to making the entire Black Hawk organization and our fans proud. End of quote. Conner but Dard. Congratulations. 21 year old captain. Press conference. At one o'clock right here on CHSN and on YouTube. Conner but Dard answers questions about being a captain coming back from his shoulder surgery. What to expect this season and the rest of his career. 21 years and 60 days old. Making him the second youngest in team history behind Jonathan Tays. That's a great comp. That's a tall order. No, no, no. I'm not, I'm just saying. I love the fact that they did this and Dustin was talking to him. It shows. Listen, this is your team. It's time. It's time. It's time. Your team moving forward. We're behind you and they made the investment with the extension.

2:26:41No, he's battling through trying to get back from the shoulder surgery. But it shows that it's his team and it's his time. And I think it's a great move. I think it's a great move too because it's inevitable that he was going to ascend to this leadership role. You could have put other people maybe under consideration for that job. Maybe somebody who doesn't necessarily have the dynamic rare skill set that kind of a Dard has to offer. He is your best player. Sometimes that doesn't always mean he's going to be your captain. Patrick Kane for example. You think he would come to town and maybe he would be somebody that would fill that role. That's not really Kaneer. Kaneer has always been a guy that has been as much of a complimentary piece in the dressing room as the leader who's going to take charge. The vocal part of it, the expressive part of it, you wonder about Conor Baudard. And I don't mean that in a negative way. I just think that's part of his growth. That's going to be part of the maturation process that we have seen frankly in Caleb Williams.

2:27:42Now we're going to see hopefully that encounter Baudard. Night in, night out, he's going to be the guy that has to have something to say. I think there's something to say about the growth in time and given these young guys to have a voice. Maybe he's going to have to grow into being that vocal leader. I think what you know about him is that it comes with what he does on the ice and how he takes care of business and how he kind of goes after his craft. Now it's more of a vocal role. And I think that's what's going to be exciting. We might not see it on the outside. No. But it should be felt inside of that locker room. If he's doing it right, that's the way it will be. Because there won't be as much external noise. He'll be able to keep things inside the way hockey players and hockey teams like to do it. This is year four. Can you believe that this is year four for Conor Baudard? He's had some injuries. He needs to stay on the ice. What's he comes back, which according to projections, could be as early as late October, early November coming off the shoulder surgery.

2:28:44You want him to stay there because when he is on the ice, he's a dangerous player in 200. And he's got 203 points in 219 career games. This is somebody that's a threat, whether it's scoring a goal with his dynamic ability to handle the puck and stick handle. Or it's finding a guy in the way that the eyes in the back of his helmet, it seems. He can set people up with the best of them. But 219 games, 203 points, that's a pretty good pace. You'll take that. I'll take it. I don't want to miss missing a lot of games. 30 goals and 45 assists last year. And now he's ready for the next step. This is an exciting time to be a Hawks fan. Again, we talked early. We talked throughout the show. Cubs, socks, both headed to the playoffs or they're in position right now to make that possible. The Bears coming off a 59 point victory. And here, one of the big stars in Chicago, Conor Baudard is named Captain today.

2:29:49That 1 o'clock press conference right here in CHSN. That's a big deal. That's going to be a lot of fun to follow. And you hope that they can get off to a good start. They report this week. Jared, it's hockey season, baby. It's hockey. David hockey. Let's go. Let's go. They play Saturday. I think Saturday is the game first game against the wild. I was looking ahead to next week's college football season on Saturday. Yes. Seeing what was next week. Yes. And on that one app I use, I have like follow favorite teams, right? Black Hawks are one of them. I'm like, wait, what? I'm like, I want you far. No, no, no. That's Saturday. Hawks are wild Saturday. Pretty seasoned game on Saturday. Yes. And I think they play a limited preseason. The season starts earlier than ever this year. I think it starts in September. We'll get some of the details later. Bottom line is Conor Baudard is your captain. Conor Baudard is your leader. Conor Baudard is going to take this team as far as it's going to go. Patrick Kane is welcome with open arms. Who doesn't love the fact that Kaneer is back?

2:30:49Man, that right there, that dynamic is huge. Frontel, Nazar, Byron, this team has a lot to be excited about. Spencer Knight in net. I think this is going to be a fun year, a fun start to the season. So breaking news here on the score, Conor Baudard named the 37th captain in Chicago Black Hawk history. All right, back to the NFL, back to football week one, last it forever. From last Wednesday through last night. It seemed like it took a long time, but it was fun. It was interesting. And we'll talk about all the fascinating details with Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk. When we come back, it's Han Peyton's Chicago Sports Radio 1043 the score. David Hawke. Hey, all right, it's almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped the video call, uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat. And of course, still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life.

2:31:49That's why I switched to T-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multi-tasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more, I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uglos Speed Test Intelligence Theat of National Speed Score Results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. I'm Jennifer Scher. And I'm Angela Kinsey. And we're the office ladies. We're still talking about all the hilarious behind-the-scenes details from the office, with icons from the show like Rain Wilson, Greg Daniels, Malora Harden, and so many more. And we can't forget our two conversations with office ladies' superfan, Billy Eilish.

2:32:49Hello. So join us for brand new episodes every Wednesday. And revisit the office rewatch every Monday. Follow and listen to office ladies wherever you get your podcasts. Mike Floria, pro football talk.com, NBC Sports, footer.com slash pro football talk. Hey, buddy! We get better, buddy! We get better, buddy! To the game, B-B! To the game, B-B! Boom, B-B! What's up with this? Game, shot! Game, shot! NFL Insider, Mike Floria, with Haim Peyton on 104-3, the score. Welcome back. It's Haim Peyton, Chicago Sports Radio 104-3, the score. Beautiful Tuesday morning in Chicago. Time now to go out to our plumbers 9-1-1 hotline. Plumbing emergency. Call 1-8-3-3. Plumb 9-1-1. Local 130 plumbers. Get the job done right the first time. Pleasure to bring in our weekly guest on every Tuesday morning at this time. From pro football talk, it's Mike Floria. Good morning, Mike.

2:33:49How are you? Doing great. How are you guys? Doing well. Week 1 is over, finally. Wow, it lasted a long time. You were from Seattle to New Jersey to, whoa, a long week, but it was fun, Mike. What stood out to you the most? Yeah, it was Seattle to Pittsburgh, to West Virginia, to Pittsburgh, to Connecticut, to New Jersey, to New York. I mean, I was all over the place over the past week, but it was a lot of fun. And the scoring is off the charts, 791 points in the 16 games played. The Bears did their part with 59. Mike Tomlin, the long-time steel-er was coached now with NBC. He's got a very simple take. They don't prepare the way they used to. They don't tackle the way they used to. They don't go after the quarterback. Really, they never have gone after the quarterback during training camp of the preseason. But the reality is, the offenses seem to be ahead of the defenses. There used to be a time where the defenses were ahead of the offenses, but a lot of points, a lot of fun. The NFL likes it that way. More points, more excitement, bigger audiences, more money.

2:34:51They want the points, and they'll be thumping their chests in the coming days over how many points were scored in week 1, and they want to see more of the same. And the Bears obviously trying their part to score 59 every week if they can. Mike, we talked leading into Sunday's game about what this offense could look like. Were you surprised by the record-breaking day that Ben Johnson, Kayla Williams, and company had on Sunday? I'm always going to be surprised by 59 points, always. And they just kept going, and they just kept going. And it's easy to forget the moment early in the game where they went for it fourth and short from their own 20. What are you doing? That's the one big caution for a team that has aspirations to score, score, score, score, score, score, score, score. Don't make decisions aimed at scoring points that could cause you to lose games. And you want to temper the idea that we want to score, we want to score, we want to score with,

2:35:53we want to do what's right in this specific circumstance in this moment to win this game. That's where there could be a challenge at some point. There could be a win that melts into a loss all because there's this broader goal of maximizing the points. Maximize the wins. Don't maximize the points. If the points get maximized in the process, that's great, but the goal is to maximize the wins. You're listening to Haun Peyton here on the score and we're talking with Prof. Botox, Mike Floreo, sponsored by Toyota on Eden's. Okay, Mike. So yesterday I really enjoy the content you guys continually and consistently provide. On PFT Live, your co-host Chris Sims had this to say, we're going to listen to Sims and we're going to react to it about Ben Johnson, shot good formation inside the five looking for a touchdown. Now he's got to be careful and not lose games because you're chasing that though. Like you talked about going forward on your own 20 yard line, you got to control the game. And then all of a sudden it was like, uh-oh, now you're in a shootout.

2:36:54I do feel like there was a point late in the game. They got down to first and goal and I did feel like they were chasing a Caleb Williams touchdown pass stat. That's what I felt like. Hey, I love the aggressiveness and the creativity, but don't go chasing stats and numbers that it's going to affect your football team and the winning of the game. That's the ultimate goal still. And I do feel like there was a moment or two yesterday where they fell into that trap a little bit. Mike, I knew what Chris Sims was coming from. We didn't see it the same way. Wonder what your response was. Yeah, look, my response is we were watching nine games at once. So I'm going to defer to whatever Chris saw in that moment. I haven't gone back and rewatched that moment. But the broader point is, as I was saying, you can't let a desire to ring up certain numbers, overcome the desire and the necessity to win games. That's something Kevin O'Connell of Vikings coach has learned.

2:37:55He admitted that on Sunday after they somehow came back down 12 in the second half and one by 17. First team to ever do that. Be down by that many points, that late in the game and ultimately win by 17. He's gone through so much quarterback adversity and he prefers to have the same guy every week. Every year that they have the same guy every week, they make the playoffs. Every year that it's this revolving door, they don't. He's learned to live within the unpredictability and the adversity of having different quarterbacks in the game. And the idea is to win, to have a total team effort aimed at winning. And that's always got to be the goal for every team. And it's great that they've got aspirations to be the greatest offense ever. But anytime I hear a team say, we want to have the most points. I hear a player say, I want to have 2000 yards rushing, whatever it may be. Now all that anyone should care about is winning enough games to get to the playoffs and then when you get there win the Super Bowl. That's the only thing that really matters. All the other stuff is just details.

2:38:58So that's where Chris is coming from. I haven't gone back and broken down that specific play to come to a conclusion one way or the other. But the caution is don't let anything other than winning the game get in the way of what you're doing in any given moment. Well, I know you said you were watching so many games. One of those games coming up this weekend is a big one here in Chicago. You got this bear's team going up against the Vikings. And are you looking forward to that matchup with Brian Flores going up against Ben Johnson in the offense and defensive mind of who wins. And we know what Brian Flores likes to bring a lot of pressure and seeing how Ben Johnson can combat that. It's already week two. There's going to be a lot of coffee. There's going to be a lot of red bull. There's going to be not a lot of sleep as Brian Flores tries to figure out how to slow down that offense. And as Ben Johnson tries to figure out how to counter the pressure that Brian Flores likes to bring. And Vikings bears. He's always a special game for me. I grew up as you guys know of Vikings fan. I somehow still managed to be a gigantic water patent fan, even though the two don't mesh.

2:40:04But my son was born 30 years ago today. And on that day, the Vikings and the bears played at soldier field. So that game is always going to be a big game. However it goes. However it goes. But here's hoping that it's not another 59 point massacre. Hopefully it'll be a little more competitive and maybe go down to the wire and give everybody a game to remember. Mike, there was so much that happened around the league. But I maybe recently biased because it was the last game played a week one last night. The cheese take care of business against the Broncos. And they did it in a way that I felt like was remarkable that Patrick Behaumbs was on the field. We've talked about that and how quickly he came back. But also because of how they won. And I wonder if we're watching an evolution in Kansas City. Kenneth Walker, the third canine as Patrick Behaumbs referred to him. He had 170th rushing yards. The most rushing yards by a chief's running back in the Andy Reed era.

2:41:06They gave up 10 points. We know what spags can do defensively. Are the chiefs changing to a running team that plays good defense away from the Patrick Behaumbs offenses? Were you used to watching now? Yeah, it's not evolution. It's revolution. And look, they're trying to work. Behaumbs back from the tour in ACL that was suffered nine months ago yesterday. And you don't want him running around changing directions. Hair on fire, putting extra stress on the knee as he plants and then spins the other way. You could notice last night when he ran the ball. He was taking short choppy steps, putting less of that long stride, not putting that knee out there as a potential target. You can see how he's changed the way that he plays. And the chiefs, when they went on side Kenneth Walker, the third and gave him 14 million a year. I said, you know, they're kind of like the guy who buys the membership for the gym and plans to go every day. But then when it's time to go, we'll see if he goes.

2:42:07They made the investment in being a running team. I was skeptical that they actually would follow for a with it. But last night they did. And between his rushing and receiving Kenneth Walker, the third had more yards than the entire Broncos offense. So it worked very well. And you're right. It's recency bias. We got to see it on national TV as a standalone game. It wasn't tucked into the cluster of noon central kickoffs. But it's jarring. And it's a wake up call. Nasty wake up call is what Bo Nick's called it for the Broncos because they got the Jaguars coming to town on Sunday. Jaguars beat them in Denver last year. They got the Rams for a Sunday night game. And the Rams could be on two and very desperate to get a win. So all of a sudden that one seed, you know, it is so hard to get that one seed. And after you get it, you feel like, all right, next year we get it again. It is so hard to go back to what Dennis Green used to call the Valley of zero and zero and start over, especially when other teams are paying closer attention to you.

2:43:07And in the AFC, the Broncos are one of the teams that every other team is going to be paying the most attention to Mike. I'm not trying to overreact. I know it's only week one. We're going into week two. But the giants, man, they look like a different organization, a different team with John Harboh do you agree? Absolutely. And I thought this would happen. I think they're going to win that division when John Harboh showed up in Baltimore in 2008. The reason he got the job is because they weren't good the year before. He turned them around quickly. They made the playoffs at least the first three years he was there. He made them relevant. He got to a Super Bowl in his fifth season and won it with the Baltimore Ravens. So he knows how to change a culture quickly and on the fly. And we've heard different anecdotes and observations about how it's different this year than it's been for the giants. And they came out with a very straightforward formula that they committed to running the ball, getting manageable third down situations, converting on third down, playing keep away from the Dallas offense.

2:44:14There were multiple eight minute drives in the second half that the giants turned into touchdowns, putting maximum pressure on the Cowboys to make it happen. And after the Cowboys cut it to a one-score game, there was a key moment. Third and on on the first set of downs in what became the final drive of the game. Jackson Dart delivers the past to Isaiah, likely 12 yard gain and that lays the foundation to just run out the clock. The giants have a team now where the offense can keep the other offense on the sideline, which when you're playing a team like the Cowboys, that's the best case scenario. Keep them on the sideline, keep pounding away at their defense slowly but surely. And that's a formula we're going to see the giants keep using. And on the nights where it works, you're going to see them win. Mike, how long is Miles Garrett going to miss and is there any buyers remorse in LA? I don't know that there's buyers remorse. I think if there's any remorse, it would be from his failure to make it clear how he felt.

2:45:16And I can understand he's wanted out of Cleveland. He finally gets his wish. He's now on this super team and they're starting the season in Australia. And everyone's expecting Miles Garrett to pick up where he left off last year. He's got this knee problem that he kept him out of practice. It was bothering him. When he sat after the game, he was more concerned about his health than he was about performing. My reaction was why was he in the game then? And I wonder if he told anyone that he felt like he couldn't be his full self because he was worried about his knee. I think once the Rams realized what was going on, look, we got to get it fixed. So arthroscopic surgery on into reserve. He'll miss four weeks. Big games coming up. They got giants, Broncos, Eagles, and then the bills on Monday night to cap week five. And they're sitting all alone in the basement of the NFC West after one week. Nobody expected that. And that's why we get so caught up in the preseason hype.

2:46:16And there's nothing else to talk about because the games haven't happened when the games start everything changes and the Rams are a great example of that. Mike, I'm going to ask you this question probably every week. What the heck is going on in Cleveland? Hey, nobody seems to know. And I think the fans are getting the point where they don't really care. I've got some family members of big Browns fans and they've just given up. They need to see what should her Sanders can do. I understand why they thought there's this window early in the season with two road games at Jacksonville at Tampa Bay to get to Sean Watson a chance to do enough that maybe the home crowd will welcome him week three against the Panthers. Based on week one, that's like I've never put 59 on the Buccaneers for the Browns fans to be willing to accept to Sean Watson. And I feel like with Todd Monkin, he's so caught up in the Xs and O's and the nice cities and the nuances and the details of football. He loses sight of the bigger picture. And I think he's definitely lost sight of the bigger picture when it comes to the Sean Watson's performance.

2:47:18He was yesterday talking about the different little things that could have gone one way or the other and he made some good decisions ever some good moments. It was 34 to 10 and it felt like it should have been worse than 34 to 10. It was a bad showing anybody who watched it knows that the Browns look like the same inept team they've always been. So I think they're going to go to Shooter Sanders week three. The question is at what point do they decide? Shoulder Sanders in the long term answer? Let's put Dylan Gabriel out there with this coaching staff and see if he's the guy that maybe is the quarterback for 2027. Mike, we'll let you go, but just to let you know 30 years ago today as I'm sure you remember your Vikings beat the Bears 20 to 14 and Warren Moon had 230 passing yards in that victory. So I'm just curious. Did you name your son Warren or is he named after you? No, he's got my first name, but he's got my mother's maiden name is his middle name. So I didn't have enough time to process. We were in the middle, not me. My wife was in the middle of a very long and painful labor. So I didn't even know the Vikings had won the game until well after the fact.

2:48:27I think I saw it on ESPN with Chris Burman. It's on the highlight package. I had no idea that they'd won with my son nestled on my chest watching the highlights of that game. Happy birthday to him. I hope he has a good one. Thanks guys. Thanks Mike, Mike Floreo from Pro Football Talk joining us as he does every Tuesday morning. Interesting stuff around the league. And interesting honesty about his take on Ben Johnson and what Chris Simms had to say. I think we're going to be talking a lot to Mike about how the bear stack up against the best offenses around the league throughout the season. Yeah, and if this offense can stay consistent, which I think they're going to, they're going to have some, some bumps in the road, David, it's just the nature of the game. If they can find a way to stay consistent, Caleb can keep rising, get more comfortable. I think they have the opportunity to be able to score with the best of them. When we come back, there's another star added to the list of guys who in Chicago are young up and coming potential superstars, counter-bredard game to captain today.

2:49:32Pete Koromstrung talked about his friendship with Caleb Williams. You've got Caleb Wilson now to be counted out. Who on the white socks is a guy that fits that category. We'll talk about it next on Han Pait and Chicago Sports Radio 104 3 the score. Hey, all right. Almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped the video call, uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat, and of course still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to T-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multi-tasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more. I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com.

2:50:33Fastest based on analysis by Uclov Speed Test Intelligence, the data of National Speed Score Results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. Welcome back to Ha and Peyton on 104-3th of score. Ego wise you're not allowed yourself to get involved when people will say you and Williams-Bedard are bringing in a new year of Chicago sports. Can you enjoy that and take yourself out of the equation to know things you're attempting for Chicago people? I've gotten a much better understanding of it's still kind of trippy but it's cool that people appreciate us being friends.

2:51:37That's where all really stems from. We've definitely talked about what we want to build here together. That all stems from genuine appreciation of each other's abilities and craft and how we make stuff happen. But I think it's all agreed upon by all of us that we want to give people something to look forward to. So I think that's where it's coming from and that's what it is. Welcome back to Tom Peyton, Chicago sports radio 104-3th of score. Pete Crow Armstrong, the presumptive most valuable player in the national league, talking on Monday night after the Cubs, 7-3 victory over the Braves to Bruce Levine about the kinship that he shares with Kayla Williams. It's also at a time where we look around the city of Chicago. What a time to be a sports fan in this city right now because you have every team with a guy that you look at.

2:52:42Could be young ascending and near the top of their respective sport. And you have Pete Crow Armstrong with the Cubs, Kayla Williams with the Bears, Kayla Wilson with the Bulls perhaps. Maybe Montes Pizzellas? Yeah. Am I paying him not enough respect by saying Kayla Wilson? But Kayla Wilson drafted sounds like he's a young man ready to embrace all that comes with being a franchise player. Yes, he does. And so you're not wrong by saying Montes, but definitely Kayla. And this morning within the past hour we got breaking news here on the score. Connor Bedard named the 37th captain of the Chicago Black Oaks, 21 years old. He's the youngest of that bunch. He's older than Kayla Wilson, excuse me. He's older than Kayla Wilson, younger than PCA who was 24 in Kayla Williams. So I ask you this, socks fans or just Chicago sports fans.

2:53:43Oh, I got in three to five years. Who's who's who's that for the white socks? That's a great question too. David, but I got a better one. You go back to the old back in the days. There was that poster Chicago Times. And then it was Jordan, my pops, Andre Dawson. And it's a class of all seasons. You have that poster? I have the poster. My question is who's who if you had to take those guys out who's on that poster? That's an all-timer there. I just talked about, let's say we're remaking it with these young stars. Who, which three are on that poster? That had to be circa 87, 88, right? When Dawson, Jordan and your father Walter Payton were sharing... Where was that taken? I would love to have that.

2:54:44Love to have that photo. That would be very cool to have. But you have to go back. That's almost 40 years. Yeah. That's almost 40 years to where you see this kind of superstar talent at the same time in the same sports town. Yeah. I'm just talking about the... If you had to put your young stars on there, is it... Caleb Williams is on that. PCA is on there. It's like, who's that? Caleb Williams, PCA and kind of a dart are well established. Right now, I think in their respective sports. Kind of a dart. The only thing that's held kind of a dart back... Well, there have been two things. Number one, he's gotten injured too often. He's not been in the ice to say that he is a heart-trophy candidate coming into the season or if something to that effect. And number two, he's been on bad teams. The Hawks have not been good. So, he has an affected winning to the extent that you would have... You would want somebody of that caliber to affect winning. I got you. Caleb Williams is starting to experience that he did last year with 7-4th quarter-comebacks,

2:55:48which I think thrust him forward ahead of other quarterbacks in that class. Put him on the map. PCA is this year helping carry a CUB team that looks headed to the playoffs. No certainties, not in September 15th, unfortunately. But if they go a long way in October, he will be a big reason why. Caleb Wilson, we've... wait and see. Wait and see. Your question about who from the south side? Is that guy not even here? I'm not sure there's that person on this current majorly roster. Yes, current roster. I think Rock Chalowski would qualify as the guy most likely to be that guy in the organization. If we're talking about the next three to five years, if we're identifying the biggest star on each of the Chicago's five major teams, Rock Chalowski, to me, would be the odds on favorite to be that guy on the south side. And he's a guy that got shut down at Rookie Ball because he wasn't hitting

2:56:48and he was experiencing some, I think, the fatigue of a long, mentally draining season, a lot of things. But I'm not sure that his... I don't think that your jewellery is affected or the hopes are limited by the fact that he had not so great start to his professional baseball career. Been a long summer. I think that Caleb Wilson has a chance to be truly, truly special. Just from what you've seen in the short period of time at college at UNC to what you saw in Summer League, he's got those traits of being a superstar. And you hope that back in the way that you were talking about. Summer League soldier, huh? No, no, no, no, no. I'm just saying that you saw it in a short period of time in college. I mean, he's got all those gifts. He can jump out of the room, out of the room. He's got better at shooting. Hopefully that all kind of keeps going as the season progresses for him.

2:57:49But he's got all the traits to be a star. 312 says, how about we let Caleb Wilson make one official NBA basket before we annoy him, King? I'm not in annoy him, King. But do you think of his team, though? I mean, I guess the question is, is it unfair to Matas that we're already passing it up? I don't think so. No, no, no. Matas can be an above average player. Matas can be a very, the real reason why I go with Caleb Wilson is being that guy. I just dudes a dog. Like you just listen to him talk. I love what he has to say. I love what he has to say. This dude believes in himself. It's rare that you see a young cat that just feels like, you know, I got this. And the way that he speaks and has the confidence to be able to put it out there. Some guys come in and want to be real quiet. So yeah, he does have a lot to back up. But dude has everything that you want to be a star. 312 644 67 67 maybe we're overlooking someone.

2:58:51What about Hagen Smith? Not being fair to somebody. What about Hagen Smith? Hagen Smith can be in a all star picture for the white socks. I don't know what that looks like now in terms of, is he a bullpen arm? Is he going to start? He's certainly a guy that's going to get a lot of opportunities to come through in high leverage situations. Whether it's to be beginning of the game, getting the first three outs or the last three outs. I'm not sure yet. What about Miguel Vargas? Like he don't get enough love. I mean, he come up on big moments too. And I know it's still early by me. He's one of the most consistent plays at the socks. He might be the best third baseman in Major League Baseball this year. In terms of war, in terms of numbers. And if he leads, he could lead this team into the playoffs. Very quietly. They might need him too. They might, they do need him too. He came through last night and has the biggest win of the year. All right. He's the one guy of the 30 home run club right that's stepping up for this team right at the moment. Yeah. It seems like it's coming around for him right at the time that you need him. I don't want to be disrespectful to Vargas. I think he's probably in the Matas category though.

2:59:51A guy that is in a above average all-star caliber, but maybe not franchise player type. Is there any difference to that he wasn't drafted? Right. He wasn't drafted by the socks. That's a part of that. And this feels like, you know, PCA came in a trade, the Havi bias trade. That's a good point, not, but young. But still he was still a minor leager. It's not, it's about how you play, but also the also the cultural impact as well. Like that's how I'm looking at PCA and Caleb have something totally different. They are, they are captivating this, this town. Like they have those two are on a whole nother level. Everybody else is trying to get to that level. Why not do it for you too, Jared? But the Hawks were any good. Counter-Badar would be at the forefront of more conversations. I'm not, I'm with you. 7-7-3. Counter-Badar is a top 10 player in a 32 team NHL, even with injuries. Yeah, he's on the poster. I believe that Counter-Badar suffers in terms of stature and perception, whether it's in Chicago or around the league because the Hawks have not been good.

3:00:54And some of that has been by design. Some of that is just a team in the midst of a rebuild seems like taking a long time. But if they were better in a playoff team, he'd get more attention and respect. These texts are coming in. Yeah. The 615 says, Bregman's ahead of Vargas and War by the way. Oh, okay. Did that happen? I know that last weekend it was close. I thought, I thought Vargas was slightly ahead of Bregman, but Bregman's had an outstanding second half. So it is possible. And the 773 said, close among Gumri. Question mark. That's what I said going into the break. I like the idea of close among Gumri being that guy. I wonder how long a guy who's striking out 200 times a year is going to hit 30 or more homers to justify the strikeouts. And I'm just not as sure about him as maybe some guys. And let's face it, Rock has not done anything. We just don't know. And sometimes what we don't know can't hurt us in terms of perception and projection.

3:01:54And Rock Chalowski still seems like the guy who is one of one, first overall, and most likely to be a rock star, if you will, on the south side. They're supposed to be a Mooney. Wasn't it Dustin? Brandon. He's supposed to be. Right. That was the guy. That was supposed to be the guy. But I think you make a good point too. I think it's about like the impact to the coach impact that you can make on the team. I think that's the thing that's different between why Vargas don't even get a much credit, probably Mooney too. Look, you guys need to slow down and jump it off the ship on Moona here. Wait a minute. Bruce Benchschem and Aura Goe. I know. Bruce Benchschem and Aura Goe. I know. I would go Bruce on my bench. I'm just saying, look, I understand the numbers are the numbers. And you got 12 games left if you're the White Sox. 12 games going back tonight. Tonight's the big one. I'm just starting foster Griffin, Sox Guardians, in the land. Can I call it the land? Does it sound cooler? It does sound cool. You ever go to Cleveland? I'm thinking about Cleveland. What's so good about Cleveland? What's so good about Cleveland? You think Cleveland is cool?

3:02:55Nonetheless, you got 12 games left. You're not Benchschem, Mooney. Now, he's got more than 30 home runs. I mean, listen, I thought the same thing when Bruce suggested that Edward Kerbera, I go to the bullpen. I think you and I were some pottico in that. We thought Bruce was crazy about that. Well, now the only thing is Edward Cabrera's best I can follow the football did start. Edward Cabrera hasn't pitched yet out of the bullpen. Yeah, he did. He did? I missed it. I think he did over the weekend. I mean, I could have missed it. I was, I was happening. But a lot was going on, but I mean, it's like, when are they going to use him? Well, he's maybe preserving him for the big moments. I was surprised he was able to come out of the bullpen, or that was the design for him. But you look at the starting rotation, he did crack the top five. He wasn't in our power rankings. Oh, no, because he's a bullpen guy now. Yeah, now he is. But I'm just saying Bruce put that out there while he was rehabbing, and we thought he was out of his mind. Bruce knows what he's talking about. No, they haven't used Cabrera yet. Okay.

3:03:55I was right. I stand corrected. I knew you'd fact check me. I thought I looked it up before. I thought I looked it up before I did it. I said it, but I'm glad you're back. Oh, no, I'm glad to stop. A lot of names that keep track of. A couple of other things before we get out of here and get the transition. There's a great story again. It sounds like it's redundant, but Dan Pompey did it again. Dan Pompey and the athletic wrote a story about Mike Ditka, Duck Coach. He and Dan Hampton visited Duck Coach in his Chicago residence, and he wrote a really, he brought you in the room. And he did what great writers do. He painted a picture. He talked about where Coach Ditka is at this point of his life. And I thought it was really just an appointment look at somebody. Everybody in Chicago has an opinion and feelings about. So you want to check that out. It's on Dan's ex-feed at Dan Pompey.

3:04:57It's also on the athletic website. So it'd be worth your time. You know how much I love the coach, man. I've had some some interactions with him over the last two years. So I know it has. What's been your relationship like with with coach Ditka? It's always been great. I'll tell everybody that this is the real cool thing about about coach. And what I respect about him is that every time that I would see him after my dad would pass, passed away, he would always come up to me and tell me how sorry he was for not getting him a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Really? Yeah, he would always say that was the one thing that he thinks about every single day, every day. How do you respond when you say that? You know many times I've seen him since then. Over all time, it's a lot. So it's like, all right, Coach, I get that and understand because it's a big part of my dad's legacy. But but Ditka is a part of that. And so people would get upset with him because my pops didn't score. And so just to have that relationship with coach and always saying that to me, I would

3:05:58just take it in and you know, listen to him and not my head. I understand coach. I understand, but that really bother has bothered him throughout his life. Do you think it was, I mean, how did he explain himself for this and just offer an apology? It's just an apology. Just an apology, David. It's not like, you know, going through schematics or what happened at that time. He'd always just said he just, he kind of the game ran away from it. That's interesting. Yeah. That wasn't addressed in this story, but Dampompay addressed a lot of other things. Oh, by the way, more news, little tidbit, tidbit. We talked about the white socks and the guardians tonight. Davis Martin was listed as a probable starter. Apparently news, according to Jesse Rogers, who was in Cleveland, covering the series for ESPN.com. Davis Martin will not start. They'll use an opener, Chris Murphy, to get through the first inning or so. Chris Murphy. Not the usual approach, but Chris Murphy opens for Davis Martin.

3:07:00Interesting. Meanwhile, Wrigley Field tonight, right here on the score, pregame 605, Kevin Gosman needs a big outing. Martin Perez. Remember him? Remember him, socks fans? Martin Perez goes for the braves. Very, very interesting matchup. That stuff going on, and one o'clock, CHSN press conference, the black hawks will name Connor Bedard, the 37th captain in team history. They're not going on this morning, Jared. We got to a lot this morning. No, that's a lot of stuff. And a lot more to come with Leila and Mark. It's Rahimi and Grote and we'll talk to them next during transition. It's on Peyton Chicago Sports Radio 104 3D score. Hey, all right. It's almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped a video call, uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat, and of course, still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life.

3:08:01That's why I switched to T-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multitasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more. I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by UglospeedTest Intelligence data of national speed score results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. Every week on the Moth Podcast, real people tell their stories live on stage. I burst into tears. And I wasn't sure if I was crying because I hadn't been kissed in a really long time, or if I had just never been kissed like that before. To hear fascinating, heartbreaking, and sometimes hilarious stories from astronauts, teachers,

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