Pat Murphy had a pep talk in Brewers' comeback win over Cubs (Hour 2)

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, 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 D-Mobile. So many reasons to join D-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uclosepetextintelligence data of National Speed Score results in incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. Hey there, I'm Kendra Adachi, and my show The Lazy Genius Podcast

1:04helps 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. Get your morning starting with hot and patent on 1043 The Score. Get his chance once again. Have Murphy bringing us to corridor out. A strategy discussion here. Maybe a squeeze. Maybe something along those lines. A little bit more difficult with a force. The deal bar deals at low. Banger, ballgame, Lewis delivers. The brewers beat the comes. They welcome off in teneties and see your Lana comes through.

2:14Good Wednesday morning, Chicago. Welcome to the hot and patent show. Chicago Sports Radio 1043 The Score. Hello to the Chicago Sports Network audience. Thank you for simulcasting until nine o'clock. And I will begin the morning on this glorious Wednesday in Chicago asking the question of our fine friend, Brandon Fryer. Tell me again why we played Brewer's television and the highlight of the Cubs' loss in extra innings. I think it was important because they really broke down with Pat Murphy was talking about in that pep talk. And I think that was just a key to it. I remember. I remember. I know you told me that beforehand, but it just never gets easier to hear or listen to because it takes you back to last night. And for a Cubs fan, last night was hard to watch and endure and relive. Because yes, Luis Lara, after getting the pat on the chest from Pat Murphy, that's why they call him Patrick. His name is Patrick Murphy. They call him Pat, you know what? Patent on the chest.

3:15Patent on the chest. Making sure his guys are all good. And then he hits the base hit to bring in everybody and he has the Gatorade bath afterward. They do all the celebrating. That wasn't as bad as the three to one lead the Cubs blew in the ninth inning with Churio going deep against Jacob Webb. Jacob Webb, Jarrett, isn't this an amazing statistics? We need it bears repeating, right? It does. Because we did it in the 530 segment and we had callers who wanted to commiserate with us. It doesn't usually happen that early. Jacob Webb is last three safe chances according to Optistats. Two run walkoff homer with two outs in the ninth. A two run walkoff homer with two outs in the ninth. Then a two run game tying homer with two outs in the ninth. And that is the first time that has happened. These are the only major league pitcher to allow a game tying or go ahead homer with two outs in the ninth.

4:16And three straight save opportunities since saves became an official stat in 1969. Yeah, I mean there's always things you can work on every single day. But yeah, I'm tired of letting the team down to be able to be honest. It's pretty tough to watch every time I give up a homer. So yeah, it's about it. That was Jacob Webb last night. Take, hold himself accountable. Love that he's holding himself accountable, but man, where's the confidence at? It shattered. It shattered. But I don't know how this is what Craig asked to work with moving forward. And so trying to build confidence there, given his guys those high leverage situations and those opportunities and especially for Jacob Webb last night was the opportunity for him to really gain some confidence and really put it into all this. But it just adds on to the misery right now that Cubs fans are feeling. And for those stats, you just read that's crazy.

5:17You know why it's misery? You know why you know why it is misery besides the obvious. It's misery because you handled the Miz again. You withstood the Miz. You faced the Miz and you were tied knotted up. You were right there. And then you got the clutch hit from Carson Kelly. Carson Kelly comes through. He gets that's one of the best of bats he's had this season. That is one of the best of bats I've seen all season and it gets overshadowed now by everything that happened after that. His fist pump at second base, every cup fan was like, yes. You love it when Carson Kelly gets excited. So they have the three to one lead. Jacob Webb's cruising along. It's the ninth inning with two outs. You're like, all right, this is going to happen. And then it didn't. And then Turio had other ideas. And he dented the scoreboard. It seemed like what didn't that bounce off something? Did you see the confidence that he had walking up to the plate? I mean, he knew he was about to do something.

6:18That's right. That's that's when you know like, all right. I'm in this moment. This is my moment here. We're going to tie this thing. I got this. Don't worry about it. Cubs brewers pregame tonight, 605 Kevin Gosman, Logan Henderson and they matched up last Thursday night. It was a good one. And I think that this is another big one because the Phillies are a half game ahead of the Cubs. And that's what you're worried about now. Forget the brewers. I mean, that's really ridiculous. They're at a different level. They're going to win 100 games. That was their 90th victory last night. David, you know, they're a good baseball team. Yeah. Okay. Thank you, Craig. Thank you, Craig, console for reminding me. You can play the best teams in the league. You got to do it. You got to do a lot of things right to beat them. You got to do everything right to beat them. And the brewers out executed the Cubs in every little detail. But that's the one thing about this brewer squad. They do all of the little things when you need them to. Yeah, they're not hitting crazy home runs. Jackson Cheerio, he is the dude that you know has that power. But everybody else, they figure out a way to grind this thing out and come back in games.

7:24And that has been what this Cubs team has been all about, losing late games, blowing late games, especially against the brewers all season. So it was in the 10th inning, I believe, where there was a strategically placed blooper. I call it a blooper that fell between a diving match. Shaw who had to play left field in place of e and half. I can eat and have left the game with an injury. And Nico Horner playing shortstop. Now these two guys have played a lot together when Nico's at second base and match. Shaw's in right field. Communication should not be as big of a problem. But this was so perfectly placed. You know what would be. I mean, what the brewers do is like they seem to aim their hits. And it fell right between Nico Horner and Matt Shaw, who both made really, I thought, valiant efforts. Yes, they did. There's really no fault to be placed on any, but this is just baseball. It happens, right? You get seeing ice singles all the time.

8:27Craig Consul was asked about this. I think nerves still a little raw. Emotion still very fresh. And this was post game inside Craig Consul's manager's office. And then on the ball that fell between Nico and Shaw's, did you think one guy had a better angle or just right place? Are you serious? You didn't think they were going after it? No, no, no, no. I meant like, did you feel like Shaw had a clearer angle? I think it's two guys just going after the ball. There are balls that you're just going for and you don't know if you're going to get. That's the situation that the game's on the line and they're just going hard to try to get it. Craig Consul, cross the Craig. I like cross the Craig. I mean more of that. I didn't more of that, right? I mean more of that. I mean more of that. Are you serious? I mean, why do you want more of that? I just know how he is in his managing style. It's just a little bit different. I don't, you won't see him pat one of his guys on the chest and give him a pep talk before they go out in a big huge, high-leveraged situation.

9:29That's not who he is. He manages in a different style. It's different, but at these moments where every pitch matters, everything matters, I just need a little bit. I like fiery Craig just a little bit. I think they need to see some more of that. I don't want, see, we're asking a lot though, Jerry, because we just talked about previously. When Craig Consul runs his fingers through his hair in the dugout and paces and makes everybody nervous watching him, including maybe the picture on the mound. That's what happened last night. Post game, you do want to see him a little bit more fiery because you don't want to see him take everything so well. I do think sometimes last night was an emotional loss. I think we're going to have react to it like people hard this morning in a very cathartic way. But I don't want to be unrealistic of the demands of Craig Consul either. He's a guy that you would like to see show more emotion, but not to the extent where it makes everybody nervous. Is that thread in the need a little bit?

10:29That is. But also too, I think it's a weird situation because I don't want to see him looking nervous inside of the dugout when things are going wrong, running his fingers through the hair that I wish that I had. But I also too, behind the scenes, how is he? How is he with his guys? I'm sure he's very good with his guys. And I think you have to be, but at some point, like they got a... But see, the cups have a bunch of guys who are like Craig Consul. And that may be the bigger, so issues that they have a great offensive lineup. They've got a tremendous professionals in that clubhouse. They're all kind of wired the same way. So the only way that they're really getting fiery Craig is by going through and looking at the post game pressers. That's the way they're getting because I don't feel like he's doing that inside of the clubhouse. He's not doing that that way. I wonder. I wonder about that. That's where they're seeing it because he's got a lot of guys in that clubhouse that are kind of like him.

11:30312-644-6767. What do you think about the Cubs' loss last night? And do you like that version of Craig Consul? Like, are you serious? Are you serious? I think he got a little crusty and I don't really mind it. Here's 630. Jared says this. The bottom line is the front office has screwed this bullpen up from day one of the offseason last year. Where are all of the power arms? Okay. I think the bullpen is a valid point of contention. It's not been consistent down the stretch. It's been worse than that. It's been a liability. Here's 815. Gentlemen, if all Cubs fans everywhere myself included are going to sing the praises of PCA for MVP, it's only fair to also point out that he failed last night with second and third one out late in the game. For sure, it doesn't mean he's not good. This means one at bat wasn't good in his part of the Cubs team loss. All right, PCA can't win every night. No, you can't. And yeah, if you are the man, you got to be able to step up and come up in big time situations.

12:32But he's done that for this ball club, though. I look at last night. Savale was excellent. Savale, he definitely, in two winnings, he struck out four. Brian Thornton, who I wanted banished to Iowa or somewhere else, he was better. Ryan Rollison came through. This was a tight Chris talk game, one to one. And then the Cubs take the lead and Carson fell it. Kelsey, I can't got me all going. Carson Kelly, not Kelsey. Don't worry. This pump, it was emotional emotional hyped up. Some of you don't normally see from him. I just don't know what extent you trust Jacob Web again. But I also don't know what other choices you have. How would you feel the next time they're in a safe situation? Maybe it will be tonight. Nervous. I don't even have nails to bite anymore, Dave. I don't have it. I'd be nervous. And so if I'm nervous, I know that Craig Council has to be nervous.

13:36Let's go out to the phone lines. 3126446767. Eddie is in Logan Square. Eddie, welcome to Han Payton. Hey guys, good morning. This morning gave me a mistake overall. I think Craig Council doesn't have the bullets number one. But why are you looking at leaving Daniel Palencia, our fireballer and the bullpen? He tented us to use overuse his pictures and leave them in too long. You know, we got a band on first and second. We need some, we need the right picture at the right time. I think he's just not using our bullpen correctly. Eddie, thanks for the phone call. I understand where you're coming from. It's frustrating, but Daniel Palencia hasn't been the answer. Nope. There hasn't really, there hasn't been an answer. Unless the question is who's been the most volatile reliever lately in terms of predictability. He's been all over the place. Yeah, so that hasn't been, I, Cubs fans are searching for answers in rightfully so.

14:38But I don't know if there is an answer at this point. 317 has one text again, the brewers play situational baseball old school. They're a better team than the Cubs. They have been for the last five years. They might be the last team in the league that plays old school baseball. They do the little things right. They move runners over. They get them on, they get them over, they get them in. And they don't make too many defensive mistakes either. So I think that's definitely something that you look at and you have respect for the way that they have done that consistently. Back to the phone lines. Dan is in payloads. Dan, welcome to Haunt Payton. Hey guys, how are you? Thanks for taking my call. Just wanted to talk about the ball pen a little bit. I feel like it's one of those things that the bullpen seems like it's maybe more designed for, you know, on a 162 game season rather than these like high leverage, right? You know, three games like where you kind of got to buckle down and win against really good teams, right? I mean, like, it seems like a guy like Jacob Webb. He's been awesome for a huge portion of the season.

15:39There are other guys that have stepped up, you know, and done really well. But it's like when you get down into like a three game, five game, seven game series, you just look at it a little bit differently. And I'm wondering if that's kind of the root of what the problem is. Great phone call. I agree with Dan. I just think that it's to a point where it's not built for these high leverage situations. Didn't you have dreams and aspirations of going to a world series? I said that they are world series team. Not you. Not you. I'm just saying in general, that that's that was the mindset of this ball club. Yeah. I know. It still can be the mindset. They're a second place team with world series aspirations. They still believe they can get there. Dan's response is coming back. That's a great set. Maybe Justin Steele's coming in. Maybe Edward Cabrera is going to help. Maybe somebody else at Iowa. There's a lot of babies. A lot of babies, Jared. Too many babies for September 9th. All right. Let's go back to the phone lines. Clint is in Northbrook. Clint. Welcome to Hawn Payton. Morning, Clint. Good to be with you this morning.

16:39You know, we got to stop blaming Craig Council. This bullpen is decimated. We've had pitching injuries all year. And these guys just aren't doing their job. That's the bottom line. Lens is not doing his. Web since he got hit in the arm hasn't done his. And the brewers are doing to everybody what the cubs were doing at the beginning of the year coming back and late late in games. The thing that we were celebrating is being done to us right now. We got to stop blaming Council. He's doing absolutely everything that he can to win games for us. And he's the reason we're winning. All right. Thanks for the phone call. I understand, Clint. Council is not the biggest problem. It's okay to nitpick some of the line up decisions and in game decisions. That's just frustration more than anything. But it's a good point. I think the bullpen hasn't been addressed adequately. But it's because of the inconsistency and volatility that you see not just on the cubs but throughout the league. But I get the frustration. Let's go to John.

17:40John is in Darian. John, welcome to Haun Payton. Thanks. How's it going guys? Good. I think my topic with the closing role, I think they really need to go and push to get Edward to wear in the bullpen. I watch Edward compare a pitch all season. I know he's battled injuries. But when he comes back, he throws so hard and has different pitches that I think will work in that ninth inning role. And also gives him the utility in the playoffs to be an extended closer where he's throwing more than one inning at need be. And also Justin Steele coming back. I mean, you see how he is when he's lights out. Is the electricity, the stadiums always with them. I think that's another option that they can definitely use since we have so many starters that aren't getting the innings that they need. Thank you John. Yeah. I agree with Edward Carrera though that he was going to be supposed to be a big part of this this season. So yeah, if you can get something from him, I love that he does, he does throw the ball heart. So you get an opportunity, he can mix it up. He's no where he's throwing it.

18:42Does he have command? We don't know. We don't know. But you got to try him now. Why not? Answer to, by two word answer to his question about the bullpen is why not? Because nothing else seems to be working. Paul is in Valparaiso. Paul, welcome, Han Peyton. Hey, good morning, fellas. Yeah, just a couple of things in regards to last night specifically. Why not just stick with Savali? I mean, Webb, I mean, yeah, he did have a great two months. He went, you know, two months without giving up a run. But I mean, I think he's obviously that either the league's caught up to him. He's lost confidence. He had to arm. And he hit by a ball the other day. You can't trust him. I didn't keep throwing him out there saying these are our guys. These are typical Craig. These are our guys. These are our guys. We're going to stick with them. Why not go to the minor leagues? I don't understand how long it's going to take for them to get Shelby Miller ready. He's coming. He's 37 or 38 years old. Paul, that's a good phone call. Shelby Miller could be a guy that helps. I'm desperate times call for desperate measures, Jared. You want to do whatever's necessary to try to hang on and to win that first series.

19:44But for all hands on deck to answer Paul's question, I think it comes down to. Yeah, he's trying to get that confidence back in Jacob Webb. But at some point, you do have to say, did I tell you about Jacob Webb? What history he made last night? Oh, yes, I have at least three times this morning. It's 7.18. We're still early. We're still early. It's still very early. I might tell you again before 10 o'clock, just because that's the kind of history that makes an indelible impression in your memory. And you just don't want to forget as badly as you want. You wouldn't know. You want to forget it. You just can't. All right. Let's close out the phone lines with John in Milwaukee. He was at the game last night. John, welcome to Han Peyton. Good morning, guys. Yeah, last night was definitely devastating seeing that two-run bomb with two outs to go. But now I'm kind of getting worried that Arizona might come back. We still got a series where the braves and the red socks. Obviously, we had the tie breaker, but it's very possible, a 16 gauge to go. They could come back too. So I'm hoping that the cups can put it together, even though the bull type has been struggling.

20:45John, thanks for the phone call. Wise man, the diamond backs lurk and they are, they are 78 and 68. So I know that the Phillies are the third playoff team right now. They got a half game lead over the Padres and they things are tight. Things are tight. Things are tight. It's only September 9th. Come on. It's Craig, September 9th and the Cubs are feeling the effects of losing and blowing another game in Milwaukee. All right. Enough Cubs for now. We'll get back to it later. We got Bruce today to clock, but we're going to shift the beer. We're just shift the beers and bears. This early? Why not drink? Let's go. Dan Weeder, we'll join his next. We'll talk to him about the Panthers matchup week one and the start of the NFL season. It's on Peyton's Chicago Sports Radio 104 3-the-skill. 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

21:47group 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. Fastest based on analysis by Uglospeed Distant Intelligence, data of national speed school results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. Hey, it's Jen Hatmaker. Here's what I've learned in midlife. Joy isn't the reward you earn after all the work is done. Joy is the work. That's what this new series on For the Love is all about.

22:47The sacred, yes. It's choosing delight, rest, and pleasure on purpose. Because saying yes to yourself, that's the thing that finally lets you fill your table with everybody else. Come find your sacred, yes with me. Follow and listen to For the Love wherever you get your podcasts. Like, like, like. Dan Weeterer. And the dude is a tone setter and that's undeniable. And I don't even think Ryan Polk and anyone in that front office would deny that. On air contributor for 1043, the score. Listen, we're not going to accept this data's quote. We are going to push for more. We are going to strive for more. Co-host of the Take the North podcast. We're going to take the North and never give it back. Dan Weeterer with Ha and Peyton on 1043, the score. Bear it down, baby. Welcome back. It's Ha and Peyton, Chicago Sports Radio 1043, the score. Time now to go to the 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 Dan Weeterer is from the athletic and he joins us now.

23:49Good morning, Dan. How are you? I'm terrific, fellas. It is game week. We've waited a long time for this to come to our doorstep. It is here. Getting ready to go to Charlotte this weekend. The locker room opened yesterday. A lot, a lot of good vibes going on right now. You're going back home. The way Ben Johnson's going back home. You once worked in North Carolina. The way he did, he attended school there and grew up in the state. Dan, I think that when you look at where we are, it's exciting. Today's the first injury report and everything hinges on health in the NFL. So how healthy are the bears as they get ready for the Panthers? Yeah, today's the first official injury report, even though the bears tell their first practice yesterday. So today there will be no workup at Halas Hall. So what you'll get is sort of an estimate of what today would have looked like versus what it looked like yesterday. I think the one that you're keeping the closest eye on is Roman Dunze, who Ben said on Tuesday was day to day this week with whatever injury ailment he suffered late last week and the final practice of the preseason.

24:49Beyond that, they seem to be an overall decent shape. We don't need to spend much time on the color Gordon Saga today. That's the, he and Kobe Bryant are obviously the two big, you know, July, August injuries that we've dealt with. But other than that, I think they're ready to roll and it should be fun to get this first test in Carolina. Dan, I think, you know, talk about the injuries and guys that Dunze is a big one. But I think also in that backfield with Swift and Menungai, both back on the field, how big is that going to be for this ball club? If they're both healthy, ready to go as they go to Carolina. Still curious to see what Menungai looks like coming back from that knee issue. But again, as you say, JP, to have him back practicing is promising. I think you guys have probably heard me for the last month and a half talking about what the Andre Swift looks like and how primed he seems to be in Benzone eyes to have a big year for them running the football. So I think it's going to be fun, I think, for this Bears offense to get to the starting

25:49gate of the season with a better idea of what they want to be as a rushing attack than they had last year. Remember the month of September or last year was a feeling out process and it wasn't very good in the running game until they got beyond that week five buy that they had. So I think it's going to be a really nice test on Sunday to see if they can get that established and start to loosen things up for both the play action game and for everything else Caleb wants to do. Speaking of tests on Sunday, the Panthers, I think a lot of people looked at that schedule release and they were like, all right, well, at least it's the Panthers and it's noon and there's not a huge primetime element to it and all those things. Dan, this is a playoff team with two defensive linemen that can wreck your game plan in Derek Brown and Jalen Phillips. How well equipped you think the Bears are with their offensive line. Wasn't the most rousing endorsement for Braxton Jones yesterday from Ben Johnson and I just wonder how you see that match up their defensive line, the Panthers and the Bears offensive line going. Yeah, and it's more than the defensive front too. I think Ben has expressed great respect for what they have on all three levels of the

26:53defense. You mentioned Phillips and Brown up front. I think Devon Lloyd is a big time playmaker at linebacker that can do a lot of things, whether that's in coverage or coming as an extra rusher. You've got J.C. Horn, who's a pretty good corner around the back end. They've got some things to deal with. Now, whenever you ask me these questions during the Ben Johnson era, I'm going to say I think that they're probably pretty equipped to handle it because Ben is so good at studying in a poning and finding their vulnerabilities, matching them up with the Bears strengths and trying to put together a game plan that makes this offense one of the best there is in football. Look, they made a jump last year from dead last in the league in total yard is up to sixth. That was a huge jump in a year that was really essentially a feeling out process for everybody involved. Now, you put that together with the continuity that they feel like they've got inside the building with the jumps that they're going to get from their quarterback and some of their young playmakers. You feel like this Bears offense is set up at full strength to take any test that's thrown at them and succeed. And they will be a good one for sure. I'm going to flip it to the offense of the Panthers.

27:56Dan, do you think that the Bears defense is going to have to worry about the mobility of a guy like Bryce Young? I think what you want to do, first and foremost, is figure out a way to keep that ground game from getting going. I think Chubu Huberger is going to get a lot of volume early and the Bears are going to have to try to stop that and turn it into a game where they can go after Bryce Young a little bit on their terms. And so, look, Bryce has got similarities to Caleb in a lot of ways. He's really good late in games when you give him an opportunity to try and go steal one. He can do that improvisational stuff that makes him very dangerous. They've got receivers now. You know, Temek Millen, obviously a huge rookie year a year ago. And there's a lot of optimism in Charlotte for where Jalen Coker is going. And so, look, I think this secondary, particularly if you're leaning in to two rookies, is going to need the veterans, the Jalen Johnson's and Tyree Stevenson's of the world to do their job and do it at a high level to make sure that you're not beat by like UCJP, you know,

28:58a play where it just becomes an extended play and you don't have the answer and they hit you for a big one and all of a sudden you're looking up the scoreboard and they've got some more points. We're talking with Dan Weeder from the Athletic here on Hawn Payton on Chicago Sports Radio 104-3, the score. So Dan, in the Athletic this morning, excellent story posted. And the headline is have Bears Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams found the key to unlock a new level of explosion. And in the deep dive, you referred to a couple of things they did over the summer in the off season to try to unlock a new level of explosion. One of them was showing Caleb Williams studying video of Aaron Rogers. Yeah, not just Caleb Williams, but the entire offense. And it's, you know, peak Aaron Rogers in Green Bay was as good as it gets in this league at extending plays and making you pay, right? And so we've all lived that in various capacities over the years of watching. The Packers be so good at their first play not working and then Aaron figuring out a way

29:59to make something happen. And so what Ben was doing there with the entire offense was just showing the purpose that the Packers had on all those plays. You know, there's a belief in Aaron Rogers's brain that this could be a dagger. You know, what we called didn't work now watch me. Okay. And so that requires a buy-in from everybody involved. It's the quarterback understanding what his responsibilities are. But then it's also the, the, the pass catchers out in pattern, knowing quote unquote the guidelines, press Taylor likes to call them guidelines rather than rules because there's feel to this and also understanding the stamina involved. Like you may be involved in a 10 second play. You may be involved in a 14 second play. So you've got to have your brain ready. Even if you're the fourth read on the play that was called to come alive when that play breaks down understanding what Caleb's capable of and be, you know, conditioned and mentally sharp to get to where he needs you to be and to unlock this new level of offense. I think Ben, press Caleb, everybody involved there feels like this could be a huge, huge catalyst to passing game production. And hopefully the first test of it on Sunday in Charlotte comes alive.

31:01Well, I'm all up for another level to this offense. I'm waiting for it. And I'm excited for it. I can't wait to see it. See what what Caleb Williams in this offense is can have the ability to take it to another level. But am I wrong for looking there on Sunday, just not for the spectacular plays, but just to watch him maybe make the easy plays, the check downs, all that stuff that was kind of an issue last year where you saw the hero plays, but taking what the defense was giving you was something that he needed to work on this off season. Well, that's why I love the juggle of this because what we just talked about with Scramble drill is something that the bears feel like is something that is going to lean into Caleb's greatest gifts. Now in reciprocation, they want the quarterback to understand that when we call a play and the first read is open, throw the ball to him, right? Like get that guy the ball in space and let him go do his work. If your first read's not there and we've gotten available, safety, valve or check down there for you, get it to him. Let the guy get the ball in space and go to work. Make sure your ball location is sharp and that he's got an, you know, a runner's ball

32:05to go, go get the maximum gain out of that play. There's a lot here, Jared, to what you just said about just doing the simple better and understanding the routine mundane stuff of the quarterback position that takes good quarterbacks to great. And so Caleb's going to have to do that all season. You should have your lens on that every single game that they play from Sunday through the, you know, the early parts of January when we get to week 18. So yeah, that's, that's a big, big box on the checklist for Caleb is to make sure that he's capable of doing the things that they've hammered into his head since they came back into the building in April. Dan, it seems that Ben Johnson and even Dennis Allen, when he spoke last week, talk about Jalen Johnson differently this training camp, then what we heard last year. Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm reading into it, but it does seem like they, if not going out of their way to be overly complimentary, they have been very complimentary of not only his skill set and what he brings to that defense as a lockdown corner, but his leadership,

33:06which is something that I think is a new phase or element of his game in his seventh season. Have you noticed the same or how would you describe that dynamic? There's no question, particularly as of late that that bold Ben and Dennis have been very complimentary of the way Jalen made his presence felt down the stretch of training camp. And there was a moment in practice a few weeks ago where the whole team gathered up and it seemed like to be an animated discussion. Everybody thought initially that it was Ben getting the group together and relearned after practice that it was Jalen. And Jalen talked about this with us a little bit yesterday, saying like, I didn't want to wait until practice was over to say, guys, that wasn't up to our standard. We weren't doing it. It was time in the moment, in real time, to call it out, to bring everybody together and say, we're capable of more than this. This standard has got to be higher. And so I think that level of passion that Jalen brings, that competitiveness he brings, the coaching staff wants him to be more outward with that. So not be keeping that to himself. And so a guy that has this level of talent that can now have his voice be heard and get people to respond is a big, big deal and look like the fact that he went through this

34:08entire camp without any sort of concern about where he was health wise is a huge deal. Again, we can contrast that with Kyler Gordon. Both guys missed a lot of time in 2025. Jalen fought to get back. He fought to get back in the season last year. He fought to get himself back to 100% this year. And I think the coaching staff has respected that investment and that level of competitive tenacity he has. And I think they know they've got something they can work with. What about on the other side with Tyreek Stevenson, Dan? Are they confident in him as well? Yeah. Good conversation with Tyreek in the locker room yesterday. And Al Harris said something to me. I think it was in the spring about how some of the things that he teaches, which is play the system rather than the man. Sanders takes the second season for that to fully sink in. We've seen the ball production and the guys that have worked under Al Harris have had. I think Tyreek understands that opportunity is there for him. If he takes the coaching that's being applied to him, we all understand the discussion on focus with him. But I think he understands what's at stake for him this year financially and personally

35:10and what it means to the team. And so I think it's going to be fun to see what kind of jump Tyreek takes in this next stage. Dan, 30 seconds. Can you make a prediction? Are you qualified to do that yet? I am qualified. Yeah, certainly. Am I? I mean, are you prepared to? Are you willing to? I know you're more than qualified to. I'm qualified. Yeah, I think I can do this. I haven't gotten a score yet. I think I'm probably going to take the bears by four. Then they're going to qualify. Then give me a score. All right. I subject to change by the time we get to our official take the North score. But I'm going to go 27, 23. All right. That's good. That's good qualifications. I love you, Dan. I never doubt it. Thanks, Dan. Appreciate you guys. Dan Reader from the athletic. Yes. You know what I meant. I know what you meant. You were always qualified. And so is Dan. Does a terrific job. That's a really good story. People should check out Dan Reader in the athletic this morning talking about the offseason and the Bears offense and Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson. And certainly another step forward they plan to make.

36:12So does Jalen Johnson? And there's been a lot of conversation as we just alluded to about what he did at training camp to assert himself as a leader. He spoke yesterday on Tuesday as to why he feels this season is different his seventh year as a Chicago bear. We'll hear from him next on Han Payton Chicago sports radio 104 3. 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 gopananas 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.

37:14So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uglospeed Test Intelligence Theat of National Speed School 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, y'all. New shows every week. Follow and listen to Reality Gaze wherever you get your podcast. The score. Welcome back to Ha and Peyton on 104th 3th of score. Honestly, I would say we had a talk and I would say you have my years being here.

38:15I've never had a talk of a close-and-we got a chance to win the Super Bowl. So I think when he said that, it puts some things in perspective for me. And we have the opportunity to do something special. So I think for me, it just sparked a different level of my competitive nature that I haven't had since I've been here. So you're just going out there and competing. And then one of the guys would be better, one of myself would be better. And then just holding us to a different standard, a higher standard. And then really just going from there. Welcome back. It's Ha and Peyton. Chicago Sports Radio 104th 3th of score. Caitlin Johnson talking about the conversation he had with Ben Johnson. That was unlike any other. He had had with any Chicago Bears coach because it included the words Super Bowl. And they were used in a way that represented the main goal. I find it almost inconceivable that, Caitlin Johnson, and I'm not questioning that, that he could have, this is seventh year as a bear. So he played for Maddie or Fluce.

39:16He played for Ben Johnson. He played for Matt Nagy. Did Matt Nagy never mention the Super Bowl as an objective? They probably did. Okay. But he didn't believe them. He didn't believe them. And people inside of that locker room probably didn't believe them. Now they actually have a chance. I love that he's giving voice to it. I love that he's stepping forward. And I love that we're talking about Caitlin Johnson in these terms. Because you remember the first day of training camp, the first time we heard from Caitlin Johnson this off season really was when he proclaimed that he was playing for 31 other teams. And that there was basically a contract here, which he's under contract. And I think he's got another year. But basically he was out there and it sounded to me, I interpreted that as somewhat selfish. This is the opposite of that. And the way that he's been described in the last week or so by Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen,

40:18depict a player that's taking his leadership role seriously. I love all this because I believe Jalen Johnson is closer to being at the top of his profession or as his job than anybody on the defense. I think him and Caleb Williams are the closest to being to the top of the interpretive rankings at the position. Jalen Johnson is a top 10 quarterback. Caleb Williams can be a top 10 quarterback. So if Jalen Johnson can have the kind of year that he's capable of having, the bare defense is going to be much better off. And this super bowl talk will be more than just folly. Well, it's funny that we can have, listen to someone speak at the podium, David, and have different interpretations of what that message was. What did you hear? What I heard was a dude that was hungry and just wants the ball. That's how I took it. I was like, oh. At the beginning of camp. Yeah, when you said that 32 other teams, it's just like, yo, I'm here to prove myself not just from where I'm at but for everybody else to see what I can do and where I can

41:23get back to. The last season was tough. That was tough. I mean, to battle back, but to figure out a way to be able to not be yourself, but still be on the field. And you are you are paid as one of those dudes that play that position to see him come into this camp and then to hear the words of his, his head coach talking about him. And I, I'm going to, I'm going to save this a lot because if, if you're, if Ben Johnson is talking about you, he respects you and there's something that you're doing that he truly, truly likes and that it's making an impact on the team. If he doesn't like you, it's not saying that much. He'll be really short. So there's, I think there's something to this grind that he put himself through the mindset that he has of being a leader on that defense. Know what his responsibility is and especially with the defense that we know is at the moment, we don't know really how they're getting after the quarterback. So that's going to put a lot of pressure on him going up against opposing teams. Number one receivers locking them down to be able to say, all right, listen, at least

42:26we got this covered on this side of the field. Starting with Teppek Millen on Sunday. And it's not, that's not yes, not going to be easy. Not going to be easy. Big big big receiver. But he took a good year, but he loves those challenges. I know you both, you love the challenge, but you can't, you, you, you can't help certain things. You're going to, first of all, it's not all on one guy to stop on the receiver. No, it's that's unrealistic. Even if you travel with them, even though the Bears don't do that all the time, but the challenge exists because there's going to be a receiver like Teppek Millen every week. Yes. Just look at the schedule. I thought it was interesting, Jared, that Nick Lavery, the green beret, US Army green beret spoke to the team and it had an impact on Jalen Johnson. And Nick, Nick Lavery is a guy that Ben Johnson last year during a team meeting read from a book and it was very powerful and had an impact on him. But Jalen Johnson, wherever he's finding the motivation, it seems like it is resonating within him.

43:26And it's, he's, it's getting through to him. And he's treating it seems this year as a year that if he can stay healthy, he can do special things. It's kind of the opposite of one of the other cornerbacks that are in that room alongside of him, right? That are, that, that seemed to be, and not, listen, we can only go off of what we hear and what is being reported. But you have one guy that's all the way bought in who is trying to find a way to be dominant again at his position to another guy that we still, we don't know where he's at and what he's doing. I think that Jalen Johnson, it's impossible to know this, but do you think that he could help bridge that communication gap with Kyla Gordon? From the sounds of Ben Johnson and how they're talking about him, yes, he's one of those guys inside of that locker room that could maybe mend this, but I told you, I dare sometimes when a guy's not on board, the way that everybody is on board and everybody's bought in that sometimes you become an afterthought. And I hope that's not the case because a healthy collar Gordon could help this team out,

44:28immensely, but some guys might be like, hey, you're not here? Out of sight, out of mind. We'll go back to Bears Talk later in the program. Stacy Dales is going to join us at nine o'clock, she'll have plenty of thoughts. Chris Chalios is at 8.45, but when he come back, we're going to talk Cubs, we're going to talk White Sox, we're going to talk baseball because Bruce Alvine will be with us on the hot patent show, Chicago Sports Radio 1043, 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 team 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.

45:31That's a sign you've got to get team mobile. So many reasons to join team mobile. Find yours at teammobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uclav Speed Test Intelligence data of national speed score results in cooperating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. How we made your mother is the how I met your mother rewatch podcast with me, Josh Radner, and series co-creator Craig Thomas. Follow how we made your mother wherever you get your podcasts.