Interviews of the Week on 104.3 The Score: Sept. 28-Oct. 2

0:00Sleep better, train smarter, recover faster and feel healthier. Understand and optimize your sleep. Get coaching and insights for every age, stage and cycle. Track over 140 habits. Get a 360 view of your training and workouts. Never miss a second of that with a wireless and waterproof charger. Expect all new features all the time. Life can feel overwhelming, but on my podcast, From the Heart with Rachel Brayton, we're in it together. Every Friday brings you a new story. Listen to From the Heart with Rachel Brayton, wherever you get your podcasts. We're in a competition with Illinois. Obviously, Illinois Governor is contemplating right in for president. I don't think JB Pritzker wants on his resume that he lost the Bears to the state of Indiana. I know Roger Gidell visited Illinois a few weeks back and that caused a lot of consternation here in Indiana.

1:02And it's just I just want people to know that we're in a competition with Illinois. And they're not just going to seed the Bears to Indiana. So they're fighting back. And I'm still very confident as deal getting done in Indiana. I can tell you that the Bears are working hard every day on their hand in location. Literally every day. And I spoke to the Bears today. And which is typical. I speak to them a lot. That was Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott. I'm NBC five talking about Hammond's quest to land the Chicago Bears. Welcome back to Han Pate and Chicago Sports Radio 103, the score. There's another development though. As Thomas McDermott was speaking, meanwhile, the Bears were meeting with Governor Pritzker, the NFL Commissioner, state representative, Cam Buckner, House Speaker of the House, Chris Welch, and state Senator Bill Cunningham. And we have the story from our next guest who joins us on the plumbers 9-1-1 hotline. Plumbing emergency call 1-8-33-plumb 9-1-1.

2:04Local 130 plumbers get the job done right the first time. Brendan Moore writes for the Capitol News Illinois. And he had the story yesterday about the latest development in Illinois, which brings maybe this Bears a little bit closer to Arlington Heights. Brendan, good morning. Thank you for joining us. How are you? Good morning, and I'm doing great. That's great. Can you bring us up to date on what the scoop is that you had yesterday, what you were reporting, and what it all means as far as the Bears in Arlington Heights? Yeah. So my colleague Ben Zlinski and I had an interview already scheduled with the governor yesterday afternoon. So we were kind of prepping for that, and we saw the news release go out that the governor had met with Pat Ryan and Commissioner Gadelle and some of the key stakeholders on the Bears Stadium negotiation in the legislature. And so we kind of shift the gears and ask them about it.

3:04And I think the key, the key quote that he had was that there were all the right players at the table, and that he thought it was a helpful meeting. So notable who was there, obviously Commissioner Gadelle, who has been, the first known in-person meeting between the governor and the commissioner, although they'd been exchanging calls and texts throughout the year as the Bears have tried to get legislation done in Illinois. Pat Ryan, who is definitely stepped up his involvement in the past few months, and then some of the key folks in the legislature who are going to be required to help get this thing across the finish line if they can, and who was not in the room. Bears President Kevin Warren, Bears Chairman George McCaskey, were not in the room, although the governor said that they were fully brief. They knew this meeting was going on. You know, for a long time in this process, there was kind of a belief, at least someone spoke on the Illinois side,

4:06that they didn't always know who they were negotiating with on the Bears side. The Bears weren't always clear in what they wanted. We're not always easiest to work with. But the general belief is that there's been some positive momentum on the Illinois side in recent months that Pat Ryan has been helpful, and that the lead schemes to want to give on the Arkansas Heights another shot. So the fact that they're meeting six weeks before the veto session at the end of November can be viewed as a move in the positive direction, although it should be clear that they're not close to a breakthrough yet. But the fact they're still talking is significant. Brendan, it's very odd, though, because Kevin Warren has been in the mix of all this conversation of stadium since he took the job, and a lot of people, you know, believe that was one of the biggest reasons why he was hired here in Chicago.

5:07But the fact is they're saying not to read into it. How can you not read into it when he has been such a major factor of this whole entire process? Yeah, well, that really is a great question. And, you know, I think anybody that saw Kevin Warren retired, what the assignment was, which is to get the stadium deal across the finish line. And there would be Frank and me. I saw some post yesterday on social media saying that Kevin Warren had been fine-lined. Well, that's not really new. I mean, he hasn't been in these meetings. He hasn't been the front line person representing the Bears for at least a few months. I think if you go back to the spring to when he was more involved.

6:07I mean, I think that, you know, we've been talking to folks on the Illinois side, whether it's in government or lobbyists that are working on this issue. They are all pre-universal, and that Kevin Warren was not the most public person in this process, and that things started to move along a little bit more when other officials kind of picked up the ball. Karen Murphy is viewed as a trusted person. She's their stadium lead. It worked well with Illinois officials, and then Pat Ryan, again, is viewed as helpful. But, yeah, I mean, I think that you can't... It is kind of odd that such an important meeting would be held. And you don't have the team president or the chairman of the board in the room. We're talking with Brendan Moore from Capital News, Illinois here on Hanhond Paid in Chicago's Sports Radio.

7:07104-3, the score, and he had this story on Thursday about the meeting between the governor of Illinois, Governor Pritzker and Roger Gidell, the NFL Commissioner, and Pat Ryan, the minority owner of the Chicago Bears. And what's interesting, Brendan, as you know from reporting this, is that Pat Ryan's inclusion, even more so, maybe significantly, than Kevin Warren's absence, because he will be briefed on it, Pat Ryan gets things done, and he also gets things done in these kinds of deals with people with whom he's familiar and has worked before. He's a Northwestern guy, the stadium's opening tonight, Nevinston, as his legacy, and Chris Welch, former Northwestern baseball player, Cam Buckner, worked, he ran World Sports Chicago when Pat Ryan was the chairman of World Sports Chicago. These are people that are used to working with each other, aligning their thoughts and getting deals done. How significant is that, and then his follow-up to that would be when Governor Pritzker says exactly the right time,

8:10as far as the Fall veto session, does that suggest that this could be something that is imminent? Yeah, I mean, I think Pat Ryan's involvement here is very significant. I mean, I've been told that directly by everybody involved, that he's been very helpful, that he's been due to a kind of a conduit, because of what you mentioned, David, that he's a guy that has relationships with everybody involved. He understands the Bears organization and dynamics of the organization and what the team wants and needs. He also has a really good relationship with the governor, he's got that Northwestern connection. They also are both a billionaires club, they run around in the same circles, and Chicago's civic and business community. He's a guy that has a mover and shaker, and you mentioned the stadium opening in Evanston tonight, just Evan.

9:10He's a guy that's an stadium deal before. The Bears had not necessarily, I mean, even amongst ownership, the Macasties have never done this before. He's viewed as somebody with some experience in that regard. I thought it was interesting with regards to the veto session. The NFL put out a statement that said that timely action is essential for the Bears to find a long-term stadium solution. You can read between the lines, timely need the veto session. I think there's a general thought that the Bears, whether or not people believe Indiana, they are still doing their due diligence in Indiana, they are working there, they are having meetings there. I don't want to say that that is just a bluff. But, you know, the Bears are not going to, there is no deal in Illinois, there is no solution,

10:14and they're not going to wait around forever. I believe that the honest is to get it done in the veto session, although lawmakers will come back also in early January for a linked duck session ahead of when the new General Assembly gets sworn in. The governor expressed confidence that this can get done in the veto session. We have an election coming up in a little under five weeks. And once you get passed an election, oftentimes that's when deals can get hashed out and when there might be a little bit more political will than before an election. So it might be a sweet spot to get something done. Although I will caution that Governor Clifster has never been the biggest impediment to getting a deal done on the Illinois side. And if he's been very done home about getting something done, the issue has always been in the legislature. It's always been the legislative map. It's always been getting Chicago legislators to sign off on something that no likelihood would allow the Bears to lead the city and go to the suburbs.

11:24So that dynamic is still there. And that again is why it's important that they're talking right now six weeks out trying to hash something out because legislating and negotiating takes time. And the speaker, Senate President, Governor of All Make Clear, they want something hashed out before lawmakers return to the Capitol. So I think that's the goal here. I mean, that's the goal of having a conversation now, starting the ball rolling in earnest and try to get to where there is no drama in the end of November. They can just have the legislation to get up and ready to go. Brett and Moore from Capitol News Illinois, great job with the story, Brendan. Also working amid this during this week when I'm sure you're distracted by your white socks, making things happen. You've got to be excited about this series. You are a hardened socks fan. I heard socks, man. It was it was it was no wrecking, but so much fun to watch this week. I'll be at the ballpark next week. And you know, this team is just so much fun.

12:35So yes, it's the great time to be in Chicago sports band. Sox in three, four or five. I would love to say three, because I would love to see them clinch. I'm going to be a game three, but I have a lot of friends are going to game four and I want them to see a playoff game. So let's say socks in four clinch at home. Great reporting, great prediction. Really appreciate your time. Thanks so much, David. I'm going to send to Moore from Capitol News Illinois. Good stuff. Really, and he talks about sometimes, and you know this, Jarrett from just being in the business. It's their endipitous when you are planning something and you got an interview set up with somebody like he had yesterday with governor Pritzker that all of a sudden, news breaks like before you're interview all of a sudden, there's a statement from the governor's office. We just met with Commissioner Gidell and Pat Ryan and all the politicians that matter in this bears stadium project. Oh, I think we'll change our agenda, terrific timing. You got to know how to pivot and he has to understand the information he's dealing with and he crystallized it as well as anybody who is covering the story has still.

13:49Still a lot of question marks out there, but the fact that Roger Gidell was here, those conversations still with state are going on shows that there's still an opportunity for them to stay here, which I think is the ultimate plan. Well, also you, you know what you hear and you know what you, what they're not saying. So governor Pritzker has been cautious all along in speaking about this project and where it is and where it might be headed. It's been up to us to kind of read into it and project and predict. But yesterday when he said that the fall veto session that begins next month is quote exactly the right time for a deal to be struck. He is essentially making that no now to everybody who gets past the midterms and all the after the election that's, you know what? Let's figure this out. Figure it out with me too. Because it's time to make a deal and that's why that's why Pat Ryan is entering as the closer. He is the guy who you come, you come, you call him the ninth inning, the money man, 89 year old closer Pat Ryan, who comes in, who knows how to get things done.

14:56And I'm just opening up a brand new stadium. Yeah, look what I did in the instant. Look what I did in heaven. Do one of those in Arlington Heights. We'll figure this out about that. Sleep better, train smarter, recover faster and feel healthier. Understand and optimize your sleep. Get coaching and insights for every age, stay at your cycle. Track over 140 habits. Get a 360 view of your training and workouts. Never miss a second of that with a wireless and waterproof charger. Expect all new features all the time. Fantasy football season is back, baby. Matthew Berry here in my podcast. Fantasy Football Happy Hour has the sleepers must and start to advice you need to win your league. So listen and follow Fantasy Football Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

16:04The 27th of December, 17th of the 4th. Well, that's a Mike March special right there. That's the old sucker sneak. Dr. Sneak goes March with that. He's been when he came here and the first I saw it. I said this guy's crazy, which Mike March was. I got to see if this is the play that I think it is. You know, it's an old play. It's an old but a good play right there. But when I was in Super Bowl, 38, we ran this play where we pulled both of our guards and I followed the center on a quarterback sneak. That's down right there. Third one. 17, nine. And watch her one or just a quarterback sneak. That could even be one of those good points. You see, the tackles are both outside and he just gets right in behind his big center and the McCullough. Both tackles and took it outside and there was no one over the center. So Kurt Warner could just take that quarterback sneak and just follow his son. Kurt Warner mentioned Mike March. You know, I've heard Ben talk about him sitting down and talking to Mike March. I know he's watched a bunch of hard stuff over the years.

17:06And when I watch them play, I do see some of that influence. It's been a big fan of Mike March for a while. He's heard me saying for a while on these airways of smart new was he would call his whole playbook and I'd even look at anything right in that he into his really smartest concepts and the place he called and the things he did. March is malicious when it comes to play call. Yeah, you got to blitz the Rams because I know they say they like it, but you still got to try to flip. Because once it gets rolling, it's a doomsday machine. March has one key around his neck, the quarterback has one around him and you can't let the nuclear clock start. It's all over and March goes right after Darrell Green, the guys relentless makes pat and look like a conscientious object. Speaker at home. After noon, done the score. We are very excited to again talk with Mike March and get an opportunity to talk ball with a legendary offensive coach because we might be at the dawn of seeing a legendary offensive coach with Ben Johnson and what he's done for the bears in the season and a couple of games. Mike March now joins us on the potterwater me casino and hotel hotline the Midwest, basketball, you know, Mike, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it.

18:17Oh, it's fun to be with you guys appreciate it. You got it. You got it. It's fun to think about your career, whatever we get a chance to talk to you and the relationship that this town has has had with you and how it has evolved and as Lawrence mentioned, our conversations are always illuminating. And further our football knowledge, were you watching on Monday night when the suckers sneak the quarterback sneak, which is the impetus for this phone call happened where you're watching and sitting up pointing at the television. Mike. I was at the point I was watching I started laughing and I had to text. Ben immediately and he got it after the game was laughing. I said, but he's the only guy I've ever seen run it, you know, it was just the tickle bears, fun to watch. That's cool that you texted him. Have you he's mentioned you before as an influence you've talked about him and as an admirer of his that's. Have you guys texted at times over the past couple years every once in a while.

19:17This spring, it's been some time in a call with him probably about an hour in a video call and talking about football and just some thoughts about, you know, being a head coach and running the offense and in those things, but he's a bright. I mean, he's a much better coach than I ever dreamed about being he's very bright. He's not afraid, but I think one of the things that we try to do that he definitely does is I watch his offenses. Every position. The details are so well coached and they just don't make mistakes are. They just like that that energy when they play the so sure themselves, the templates is automatically speeds up and. You know, it's a threat to him, you know, he's very clear is very detailed oriented, he's upbeat and you know, they're energized because they know, you know, they know exactly what to do in all those situations. There's no thought process. I just reacting, which is what you want.

20:17Mike, I get really excited when I watch what Ben Johnson does and part of it is his blending of different schemes like I'm. I feel like I'm seeing elements of wing T. I'm seeing elements of beer. I'm seeing air Cori. I'm seeing West Coast offense and that blending. I think he's doing it really well. I'm curious is someone that studies offense the way that you do. What does it say when a coach can take from different places around football's history and make it modern? Well, it's kind of what we try to do people don't realize it, but the biggest issue is the blending is important, but it's more than that. It's you want to take control of the temple of the game and dictates the defense and defense about set recognition and play recognition. I don't know what's coming when you line up, you know, they look at the tape. Hey, there in this formation. Here's what there is the place that you'll get when you destroy that by various formations have to have a play run, say 14 different ways in different personnel groups.

21:23The defense can zero in, which you're doing, it kind of puts them on their heels and that's the beginning of what we did. That's why we did what we did. And it's clearly what he does. He's very, very effective at it. They just can't get a beat on him. One of the things that I'm glad that you brought up that point because I feel like my mind opened up to something over the last year and a half. And it's the idea of I used to think of like formation shift motion as you're getting a tell and you're making them uncomfortable maybe with personnel. I never thought about it from the standpoint of communication. And I felt like when I was watching the Bears versus the Eagles on Monday that the communication that they were able to make look dysfunctional because of formation shift and motion really played into Ben's hands and allow for some explosive plays. No question you do it primarily we did it and I'm sure he does it too because he's run oriented as well as I was run oriented. We just didn't come across that way because the talent, but we had we kind of spread around that. But you want to make sure that you trying to get the run for sought opposition or late.

22:34And you do that by formation. That's number one. Number two, if you're getting a proper pressure teams, although said they have to reload their pressure based on changing the strength of the formation. And there's a lot of communicating going on. We had linebackers run into each other and I could show the down during the game at times. And it's really fascinating when look, those things start happening because you've taken control of how that game's going to be played now. You can't dictate to them. And the other thing he does what we tried to do is there's certain formations that defense like in this formation, they just had to check to this base defense. Once you get a defense to play a particular defense against a set, not even really zero in on. And he's done that continually in his career. And I think the biggest thing is that when I watch your running game, they're so integrated and so well coached at the offensive line and how they're running the football and getting four side of there. And it all starts there. And I would tell you, I've always said this, my entire career, everything starts in the offensive line.

23:41You have a good offensive line. It starts to create everything for everybody else, including defense. That's Mike March, who we're talking to. So cool and interesting to talk about Ben Johnson's offense with Mike March and think about the history of NFL offense. This idea of all the details, whether it's the offensive line, like you're talking about, or we heard Case Keenum and the wide receivers talk about, it's not 12 steps. It's 11 and a half. Like just all those little details, so everything works out. How do you get everybody to do that? Is that a personal magnetism thing as a head coach, urban offensive coordinator, like as a communicator? Are there skills that Ben clearly brings that you add to channel as well that are part of getting everybody to do that stuff? Well, the preparation is everything. When you go into that room and you start to put things up and how you want to play this game and what you're going to do for every game plan, for instance, and you start putting plays in and these guys see how different it is from everybody else. And they get excited about it because everybody becomes included now, not just a guy or two.

24:51We're not emphasizing martial fog unless it's going to win the game force in that particular situation or Isaac Bruce or whoever it may be. And everybody's included. They get excited about because it is different. And it's fun. It's just a lot of fun. And once you get the trust of those guys and what you're trying to do and what Ben's trying to do, then then you got them. And then the game really becomes fun because when you want one Ben walks in there to put in the game plan, you know, they're leading forward and they can't wait to hear what's going to happen. We're talking ball with Mike Martz right now on the Spiegel and home show and about Ben Johnson who drew some inspiration from Mike Martz in one of the plays that we saw on Monday night. Mike, throughout your career, what do the best play callers have in common? The best of the very best play callers, you go into a game plan of thinking that you're going to, this is how you want to manipulate the deep. This is the, these are the things that you want to try and get done against this particular defense.

25:54The good defense is invariably, you know, when they study you and if you're good at what you do offensively, they're going to be different. They just are. I learned that as a head coach, my second year with plant San Francisco ahead and like covered to ever. And Jimmy Moore, junior was a defensive coordinator. They came out and we planned for pressures and all kinds of weird defenses, which was what he was doing that. He came on cover too. Everything we had kind of went out the window where you learn. You have to change gears and you've got to take advantage of that. So you got to carry a pretty good playlist going into the game and you got to be able to change gears. You know, if they're blitzing, you know, we went down the line of one year, they came out for us on the nickel blitzes. So we went to our third down package and so you have to change gears based on what's happened on defense. You cannot let them take control that game back. Oh, this is what you're going to do. Yeah, we're going to answer that. Here's what we're going to do. You know, I guess a great pass for us. You come in with two or three tight ins and you pound them.

26:55So those are the kinds of things that are different that guys have got to be able to do to be successful and then does it better than anybody. Mike, it's funny. It's in the open. We played a snippet of I think it was Dennis Miller on the old Monday night football calling you a malicious play collar like that. You were that you were crazy that you were looking to inflict damage. We were talking to somebody who talked to Ben last week and said that Ben likes to talk about plays make them hurt. Like he wants to make the defense hurt based on a play. And what does that mean to you when you hear that? If you think of Ben Johnson making a play hurt to the opposition. Yeah, you know, you're going to I go in the game with the play that they're not out these are knockout punches. You know, and we played. I can't remember my first year with the Rams. We were playing Atlanta at home and we it was third and 18 and we had another 10 yards or so we could get a field going. They come out of the front. Hey, you know, if we just go check down, we can get a field go out of the some four times a dig.

28:00We're thrown at the end zone. We're going to score and we threw a touchdown. And then they go three now in the very first play of the next year is we threw another touchdown. So you just. And it was there. It's not because there's a great call. I knew what was going to happen in those situations for film. So you know, exactly how the safety and the corners are going to play and you get that same situation again. Well, you you've got to be in confident. You don't do it. You know, and you can't be afraid to call make that call because it might not work yet. It's hit me. Everything you're every fiber your bites of this is knockout. This you know, come on line up. Let's go play. So we've been having a discussion about. Ben has been checking pretty much every box like he's he's good with the fans. People seem to really like him. He under the players love him. He can dance pretty well too. He's a pretty good dancer. He occasionally takes a shirt off all that stuff. But one of the things that we've talked about this week, Mike is the concept of coaching coaches and considering that you had a bunch of different staffs where you've been the guy in charge of that staff.

29:02I'm curious when we hear football people say that what do they mean and how do you enact coaching coaches? It's so hard today guy. I can't express you how difficult that is today. It wasn't for me because it's a dancer about half the size of the art today. So you have guys and it there's a buy into it. You know, it's very fortunate with the Rams that everybody was on board with what we're doing. But you go someplace and it's easy for the players to buy it. They want to be different. They want to, but sometimes it coaches. I had a hard time with Jim Hannison because he was so old school and finally I had to tell Jim and me what's the matter. Jim is scared. And of course, we all start laughing everything, but he took that to heart and they kind of kind of got us go to a little bit. I said, look, don't be afraid to be different. You know, we're going to get criticized for being different, but it's going to win. It's going to be one of the reasons why we win. You know, and that's what's hard is the buying today staff. There's so many people on that staff.

30:03I don't know how they do it. You have to keep everything on the same page and the buying is incredibly important. And you know, the impact, if there's just one guy that's not, you know, he's not totally in it. That's it. It'll get you. Mike, we just watched Ben and Case Keenam put together a game plan in a week and Ben dominated the Eagles with the third string quarterback is 38 years old on a Monday night. It was and to hear them talk about it, what's that like? What's that? What's that like to have a backup all of a sudden you got to work with and to build it together and make it happen in a week. You know, Mark Bouldier was at third quarterback when he started, you know, we thought that Jimmy Martin was going to have to Kurt went down to him. Mark was going to be OK. He heard his name. I find out on Wednesday. Now Mark hadn't taken a snap throughout the season. He just threw the receivers. He took no snaps with the team, but he prepared at night like he was a starter.

31:05And we went on a tear, you know, he comes out of Oakland was in the feed that we beat them at home. You know, and he had a incredible. I mean, he just took off and it's all about preparation and the belief it to belong. You know what I mean, there's just no intimidation there at all. This is, you know, this is a great opportunity. It's my, his answer to me. I said, Hey, are you ready? He said, Yeah, it's about time. Oh, you know, he's about time. Well, that's what you want. Those are the guys you want. And those are the kinds of guys that love being around the Mark Bouldier, you know, Kurt was that way. He was a third team guy. You know, Trent Green was a third team guy. He became the starter, you know, John kit, all those guys were guys have been kicked around a little bit or certainly good enough. But people look at him as being backups and when they get the opportunity, they got something to prove. And case you came to me, certainly no backup. He proved that, but there's so many guys like him, the league that can't crawl out from underneath that because they're not giving the opportunity.

32:08What are your best tips for that? Like we hear all the time. Hey, I prepare like a starter. That's hard to do without actual reps. So I mean, we're talking about at the highest level, the NFL, but even down to the prep level guys playing eight you ball. How can someone figure out how to best prep like a starter? Well, that's the difference between guys that make it and don't because you guys that don't have don't ultimately have that belief in the confidence and they have that passion for the end. These guys all have such great passion. They were determined to make it. They just want to take no for an answer. So when they got it, there was no nervousness about them. They just couldn't wait to get to the field. You know what I mean? So, yeah, I mean, there's a great passion and belief in who you are that just cannot be, you know, chipped away at you. You can't get to them. You know, they have such a great strong belief in themselves. And I think, you know, obviously Casey's that way. And we've got the great pleasure to talk to Kurt Warner every week about Bears quarterback play. We've had it for a few years now.

33:08And we've learned about Caleb and Ben and and a little bit about him and you. What was it like to build what you and Kurt Warner built together with the greatest show on turf? Well, he's he was so incredible. We go into practice and we had to deal with blitzes and we start dealing with blitzes differently than every else in the league. We start getting the ball really quick on on high rots. Even our ones we would we throw the ball hot if they're blitz and central people nuts and yes, such great success against the blitz because he could see it. And he knew exactly where the ball had to go and we started. He his quickness is an ability to do things a lot of the reach further and further and. I hear it was a big throw and see that, but he did. And so with that, you keep power more on and I think towards end there. Obviously his play got to full that which was my fault and you know, it's stressed him, but.

34:08Hit he had he was so unusual. His ability to see things quickly and digest it and react to it accurately that he's up there and there is you in that category. Mike is always a pleasure to talk football with you. I now have a page full of notes. I have to go back and and listen to this again to make sure I got everything, but we learned so much whenever you're on the air and our listeners do too. Thank you so much for your time today. We appreciate it. What's a real pleasure. Thank you guys for having me. Hey, you got it Mike. Thank you. I got it. I want to go out there. I want to go make plays. I want to be there for a guy to ride a left. Sleep better, train smarter, recover faster and feel healthy. Understand and optimize your sleep. Get coaching and insights for every age, stay in cycle. Track over 140 habits. Get a 360 view of your training and workouts.

35:15Never miss a second of that with a wireless and waterproof charger. Expect all new features all the time. Sometimes it feels like the news is full of things that have never happened before. And that is not exactly true. In fact, it may have happened this very week, hundreds or thousands of years ago. I'm Sally Helm, host of the podcast History This Week from the History Channel. Trade embargoes, Thomas Jefferson tried them. Rent too high. We've been arguing about that for a while. Each episode is proof. The past isn't that far away. Listen to History This Week available now on Apple Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. For me, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to win. Never Calamore. I'm a standard, you know, standard, which how you play obviously you want to be, you know, aggressive and just kind of make our presence felt. Seven year NFL veteran Rodgers. And Rodgers is set. 10 seconds on the clock. Lock to and Galibor. Collaborate.

36:17Trying to escape from the pocket, keeping the play alive and how he's taken down. Great pressure from Neville, Galimor. Defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears. He's a big, powerful guy. He's got a little bit more suddenness and quickness. I've been going against Nev since since the senior born. He's always been a very big body, very fast, strong. Deep in. We can see. We take away. Oh, got out the second half. Helmet job. It's hard for me to single out one single person. I'll have more game both tomorrow. You guys. Neville, Galimor with Rahimi and Grody on 1043 The Score. Heck yes. Neville, Galimor. Hey, bear is joining us on our video stream to watch search the score Chicago on Twitch and on YouTube. Neville, Galimor part of a defense that is now shined in back to back weeks, especially in the second half of yesterday's game against the Eagles where they shut out Philadelphia.

37:22Bears win 27 to 7. Neville, Galimor. How you doing, man? Welcome back to Rahimi and Grody on the score. How are you, sir? I'm doing very well. Thank you guys for having me once again. Yeah, man. We love talking to you and we'll have you on every week if you will continue to accept our invitations. We absolutely love it. What was that like? It would just heard the post game locker room and Dennis Allen, the often scrutinized defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears in his second year. As we said, back to back second game, he gets the game ball. What was that moment like for you guys post game? It was great. It was great, man. One day night football in Chicago. It's a sight to see had to be there and it was great, man. You know, same thing that I harp on time, a time again. You know, you wanted to make our presence felt and you know coach, you know, he had a plan for us and you know,

38:22it was our job to fulfill that plan and you know, good things happen when you got the coach in the place on the same page for a common goal. And you know, we did what we needed to do to get the job done. You guys rattled the cage early and often and I feel like it was a nice counter. You know, on the other side, you see what Vic Fangio is doing, Neville. I know game recognizes game there, but there were also some key adjustments that were made. You know, say, Juan ripped off a couple big runs and I feel like you guys were able to contain him, especially in that second half. What did you think of just the adjustments that were made defensively to really contain that Eagles offense that can be so potent? You know, again, it was more so the little things, you know, and again, I'm going to hear me say. Standard, I over and over again, and there's really just kind of getting back to what we did. You know, that's a great team. You went up against, you know, say, Juan's a great running back. You know, you look at J. La Hersh resume, you know, what he brings it to was so, you know, we had to be on our eight game. But it was the biggest focus was making sure that, you know, how often can we be ourselves, you know, in the heat of the moment and just focus on, you know, what we need to do.

39:28And I feel like that that paid dividends last night. You know, obviously, you know, they may play. You know, there's always things you can clean up, but I feel like defense. We had an opportunity and we took advantage of it to come together as a group. And, you know, to just be us, to be us as much as possible. And, you know, good things happen when we're all on the same page. I love, man, the second half defense that you guys play. I was talking about this earlier, like every all five of the drives that Philadelphia attempted. There's a different stars on every single play. Like the first drive is three and out. Dylan Thinam and TJ Edwards come up with stop. Back in drive, Jalen Johnson with that sick three yard tackle for loss on McKay lemon third drive. Your guy Montess sweat comes up with a sack two yard loss fourth drive. There's TJ Edwards with the interception in the end zone is that's the way it's supposed to work, man. Like with playmakers making plays, right? Right. Yeah, you know, it was very man. Those guys stepped up, you know, those guys did what they needed to do, man.

40:32And again, you know, it goes back to the preparation, you know, it's no fluke. And those guys had games like that. It goes back to, you know, it starts off in practice. So those guys came ready. You know, they got us right. And they made plays when it's time to make plays. You know, those are our guys, man. But again, shout out to the defense as a whole shout out to Dennis Allen. Man, for doing what needed to do to make sure we was in the reposition to make those plays. Well, I don't know if you see in the video that's been going around. Where TJ Edwards looks like he's in the huddle with Jalen Hertz and the rest of the Eagles before that interception. We know he was listening at the line of scrimmage. And sometimes you can't tell, you know, when you're watching the game on TV, how close that truly is. And then you see that video come through. Now, TJ talked about it a little bit this morning on our morning show with Hawn Payton. But Neville, he said he was trying to see if he heard any terminology that was the same from when he was an eagle. He said he did not, but I just don't know that he may be telling the entire truth there to be, you know, polite and professional because he read that perfectly.

41:38You know, what did you think of that? And that's my linebacker and I'm sticking beside him. So, but I will say TJ, he's a very smart guy man. He knows it in and out to the game. So that I play made that's just him watching the tape and being locked in. And I think that's the reason why the tell it was great. And I think, you know, it's a part of the game as an entertainment that comes with it. So I mean, it kind of just married each other. I thought it was great, but I feel like it really just came back to the film study. You know, playing it, playing, you know, playing it over his head. So when he can't talk to make that play, he did. But you know, like I said, it's my linebacker. So he said that's what we going with. That's what happened. And that was his, he had his hands on another one earlier in the game. It seemed like he really knew what was going on, Neville. Great player, mate. You know, great plays a big top game. I wanted him to get that second one. I wanted it a bit of even greater fat at tuba.

42:38You know, that's my guy, man. Shout out to TJ. That's my dog, man. And to see him go show up against a team news formula. I know that was a great feeling for him. So for him to step up and make those plays, man. I'm proud of him for that because I know that meant a lot to him. All right. I got to tell you something, man. Neville, because you, one of the appearances that you made and we're watching them on Twitch. And you can see them on YouTube. You were rocking the Cubs hat. You were rocking the Cubs hat. And that made a lot of people happy. Now you're rocking the white socks hat. And the white socks people are responding on Twitch as we speak right now. They're very happy to see you that you have even things up. You're playing the game very well, Mr. Gallimore. I feel like we all should be happy because if I'm not correct, if I'm not wrong, aren't both in the playoffs or both teams in the playoffs. You are correct, sir. Yeah. The white socks are at Houston at four o'clock. So just a few hours from now and the Cubs are in San Diego 9 p.m. start central time. We got to stay up all night to watch these baseball games, Neville.

43:41Come on now. I'm just doing my job as a dad as a respect to the game. You know what I mean? Oh, yeah. So I got a job to do. We appreciate you guys got the day off today. Like what's the deal? Like did you guys get players day off? It's going on. I don't like to say time off. But yes, we have some time away time away. You know, you know, I mean, we still got to do our job to get our bodies right. You know, get the little things taken care of. Excuse me to make sure we're good to go for the mom. But yeah, time away, man. A little victory Tuesday, but a ton of shake back and then we got to get ready for this upcoming Sunday. Well, I think we're still in the 24 hour rule where you get to celebrate the win for 24 hours. And by the way, don't think it's lost on me that that's a former teammate of yours on the other side. Jalen Hertz. I know you guys played together. You know you. So I don't know. Yeah. How did that go for you? By the way, like it's interesting.

44:41We face a college teammate, but then you're in that competitive role on the other side. No, it was great. You know, Jalen Hertz. That's my guy. I got a lot of love with respect for him. And he's a competitor. I know he's going to continue to he's going to do great things this season. And it's always love, man. I actually got against him a couple of times when I was I was playing for the Rams. So just it's always loved going against a, you know, a former teammate and you know getting after it. But you know, when you step on the field, I got a job to do. He's got a job to do as well. So there's no hard feelings after the game. After my show them love, you know, it's always bigger than football at the end of the day. But you know, we're competitors. This is a job. And we got to do our job to the best of our abilities. How was the whole case kingdom vibe? I mean, I was I was at the game last night. It how do you describe what you saw from him and the crowd reaction and the post game and just all things case kingdom from last night? I think the word is immaculate, man, because I think it started.

45:43I remember we had this conversation last week. And I think that's one of the things I mentioned. I'm excited for the opportunity, you know, for for handing this step up and and do his deal. And you could tell from the start of the game. From the moment he walked out ran out the tunnel, man. You could tell different. And that's why I go about to say, man, the Chicago fan base. Man, every every week that there's a new, the love just keeps getting enhanced because the love that they showed him when he ran out the tunnel. And it was a ziplike like he's been the guy. And that just goes to show you that, you know, you know, the next man up, whoever gets the opportunity, like the fan base, people are going to ride and people are going to, you know, support their own. So for me, that was huge. Like there was no drop off the whole fan base. The whole stadium was going crazy when he ran out. And I feel like when you talk about a team, man, for when you talk about the organization, when you talk about a fan base that can come together, that just kind of goes to show you like how deep the love is.

46:46And that was huge and for him to go out and perform in front of his family and do his deal. You know, it was great. And to be honest, I got to see it firsthand, even in training camp. And you know, there's there's no age. He's just reminding guys that there's no age limit. I'm performing at a high level, you know, and I'm excited for him. I decided to keep doing this thing. And you know, it was great. It was a great talk. Well, and to me, just the fact that he had a gap at employment, you know, comes out of retirement, Ben Johnson had to convince him. Yeah, these are the things that you just don't hear about very often at all opportunities like that and then performances that he had last night. All right. It was man, and to be honest, I was news to me. But again, like it just it just goes to show how deep this game goes right, you know, so clearly, you know, Coach Johnson and him had a connection and coach Johnson to see something in him for him to be a help. And you know, even from, you know, from a mentor standpoint, kind of playmaking standpoint. And like I said, I got a chance to see it firsthand in training camp.

47:51Like what I what I've seen in that game, I've seen him practice. So shout out to him, man. And if you're just being who he is, 100% of the time, what I love about case came up, what you see is what you're going to get, man. And then out the locker room, he's just in my 100% of the time, cool down the earth, you know, like stand up guys. So shout out to him. Neville, and this is not something you're responsible for for knowing about or really even understanding or comprehending and that is the the quarterback issues that the bears have had in the past. And like having to go to second and third stringers and that being bears a bears fan way of life. And it doesn't always work out very well to have had to have had case kingdom. Do what he did last night and just to dominate. I'm just giving you this for your own information is just massive for bears fans because it was a nightmare, honestly. I'm sure it was a nightmare for you guys when Caleb Williams gets hurt. And then and then Tyson Baygent is in concussion protocol. And here you are weird things happen in the NFL.

48:56You're without your top two quarterback to have case kingdom. Do what he did. I'm just telling you really important to to bears fans to see this this moment. I don't know if you felt that or not or are feeling that from bears fans, but this is a bit of a revelation day for us. And you know, like you said, that is news to me because from what I've seen since I've been obviously, you know, still still still praying for a speedy recovery for Caleb. Yeah, you know, you know, that's the guy. But just from my experience, it's I've been here. Like the first thing that I know is that's why I said it doesn't really matter in the age limit position. Like from Caleb Williams to Tyson to case, like the one thing I jumped off the tape just being on the defensive side of balls. Like, you know, all guys can give it to you, you know, on the field of any moment. And I feel like that's a credit to their work ethic and what they've done and how they've gone about their business. So for me, it was more so like it was a sight to see because it's like whoever gets their opportunity.

49:59They're going to surprise you in a positive way. They're going to do some things and they're going to make some plays, you know, even me to even my man ties, we've seen glimpse last week. And it kind of goes to show that nobody bends or folds over here when guys get their opportunity. They're ready to shine and I feel like that's the stepping stone for really good team, you know, for great teams where guys know when their opportunity comes up no matter what time in the game, what time of the season that they're just like, okay, I'm going to go. I'm going to put my head down and my job is to still perform and do that. So for me, it's no fluke, but it's always a great thing when you see it come to fruition. I said, it is news to me. I don't, you know, I'm sorry for the I'm sorry bears faster what you got to explain in the past. You know, I wasn't there for that, but you know, that's why you know, cheers to new beginnings. Yeah, you're part of it. You're part of it. A lot of trauma you guys, you don't even know. I do want to ask you this too.

50:59Seven points against the Eagles, nine points against the Vikings. I know it was a loss. I know, but still to hold NFL opponents to only 16 points in two games. How does the defense feel right now about just the back to back doing your part, doing your 111, for example, for you? How do you how does the defense feel about what they've been working on the past two weeks? It's a positive feeling, but you know, at the end of the day, you know, I'm going to say we're all thinking that it's still a standard and a way to play type of style that we're chasing it. I'm not going to be a bit more costly trying to match or exceed that because you know, even when you look at it, you know, just being a competitor and BR team, you know, there's always, you know, just plays that's left out of there. You know, there's plays that could have been made that there's things that you know, you know, personally could have, they need to get claimed up. But you know, I think it's a great thing when you see the stuff that you're practicing and focusing on. Continue to show up. I think that's a good sign. So for us, like, you know, it's a long season.

52:04You know, you know, last, the last you could say the last two games, you know, defense, you know, took a step, but we got to go do it again. You know what I mean? Like we still, you still got a job to do. And to be honest, we got a job to even play better than the last, you know what I mean? So for us, you know, you know, we're the one thing I love about this group is that we got this neutral mindset. Again, we're good job, but we got to go back to work. There's things, other things that we got to clean up. It's still like it wasn't in moments. It was our standard, but there was still, you know, moments where it could have been better. And that's what I love about this group. Like, you know, we don't get caught up in the hype. You know, good, bad and different. We know that we need each other. We got to we got to make sure that we do our thing. I do want to ask you to see your away has Antoine Randall L senior socks hat yet. You know, like you said, you know, it is the time of weight day time off.

53:04So no, I have a come across. I'm sure if you listen to this or seen this, he probably have some words for me tomorrow. But I think I I wore it hoping that I would see if it was true of how he feels. So, you know, hopefully I might wear it again tomorrow just to get a reaction. You've done you've done the right thing. Now you've made a lot of people happy wearing the white socks out in the cups fans. I already told them that this climate. He's worn the cups hat before. Maybe there be a bulls or black hawks hat coming soon. So stay tuned. The evolving hat game for Neville Gallimor. Neville, thank you so much, man. We appreciate you coming on, man. Thank you all as always, man. It's all love from over here. Thank you, Neville. Yes, Neville Gallimor. He is our bear on the Rahimi and Grote show. So we talked to a cub next. I think we should. We had a bear. Let's talk to a cub. Our cub is Ian Haps. So we're going to talk to him in a second as you are listening to a plumber's 9-1-1 football months.

54:05On a Tuesday presented by Bucy Bank and Great Clips. That's right. We're going to San Diego. It's game day playoff day. And we're talking to Ian Haps next on Rahimi and Grote on 104-3 this score. Sleep better, train smarter, recover faster and feel healthier. Understand and optimize your sleep. Get coaching and insights for every age, stage and cycle. Track over 140 habits. Get a 360 view of your training and workouts. Never miss a second of that with a wireless and waterproof charger. Expect all new features all the time. Hey, this is Richard Ditch, the host of the Sports Media Podcast. If you're interested in what's happening with all the places where you consume sports, the Sports Media Podcast has you covered. I've been turning down interviews all week. A coat of coffee, reached out, Oprah, George Stephanopoulos. So I said no. I was booked on the Ditch Podcast before the Taylor Swift phenomenon.

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