The Charter: A Chicago Bears Podcast

On this episode of the Under Center Podcast, JJ Stankevitz, John "Moon" Mullin and Cam Ellis react to some of the crazier predictions various outlets have for the Bears this season. First, the guys respond to Phil Simms calling Chase "Daniels" one of the worst backup QBs in the NFL (0:44). If Trubisky goes down, Moon says there are several players who can step up and take over a game so that Daniel won't have to lead the Bears to wins himself (4:23). JJ even thinks Daniel is better than several QBs that have started for the Bears (06:45). What positions have the best/worst depth heading into this season (07:50)? And who are some Bears depth players that would be starting if they played on other teams (12:45)? Then, the crew reacts to a Sports Illustrated prediction that has the Bears going 7-9 and finishing last in the NFC North (14:08). Plus, the fact that they had the Bears DBs ranked 17th in the league is simply preposterous (16:25). Moving on to Trubisky talk, JJ isn't buying the idea that Trubisky will make more mistakes in Year 2 of Nagy's offense (19:50). Finally, the guys share their thoughts on Andrew Luck's surprise retirement (23:33), and Moon compares the news to when former Bears linebacker Bryan Cox opted to have thumb surgery mid-season in 1996 to avoid long-term damage to his hand (28:06). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

J.J. Stankevitz is joined by John "Moon" Mullin and Cam Ellis to debate whether or not Mitchell Trubisky, and the rest of the Bears starters, need preseason reps to fully prepare for Week 1. Plus, the guys share their latest thoughts on Eddy Pineiro and the kicking situation. 00:40 - Moon doesn't think everything adds up with Matt Nagy holding Trubisky out of preseason games 03:20 - Highlights from Matt Nagy's Wednesday press conference on the growing trend of coaches sitting starters in the preseason 05:45 - Cam understands why coaches don't want to risk injury in the preseason, but also thinks something else may be afoot with Nagy sitting Trubisky 08:10 - Is joint practice the future of preseason football? 14:00 - Can teams really get the same quality of work done in practice as they can in a preseason game? 19:50 - Talking about Kalyn Kahler's Sports Illustrated article that gave an inside look to the Bears' kicking competition from rookie minicamp 21:20 - Moon says that the Bears are actually in a worse position now, than they were last year with Cody Parkey 23:15 - Did the Bears do future kickers a disservice by fixating on 43-yard kicks? 24:50 - All the guys are excited for Olin Kreutz to join Football Aftershow this season See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Under Center Podcast, J.J. Stankevitz is joined by John "Moon" Mullin. To start, Moon takes a moment to remember Cedric Benson, who died in a motorcycle accident on Saturday night (00:30). Then, the guys discuss the Bears' surprise announcement that they released Elliott Fry, leaving Eddy Pineiro as the only kicker on the roster (05:40). The guys toss to highlights from Matt Nagy's press conference on Sunday morning where he explains why the Bears decided to cut Fry now, how they think the move will help Pineiro and whether the competition is officially closed (07:55). Finally, J.J. explains why the end of the kicking competition was just like the end of the Bachelorette (12:10), and which kickers on other teams the Bears may still have their eyes on in the upcoming preseason games (16:40). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, John "Moon" Mullin, and Cam Ellis convene after the Bears' first practice of the month at Halas Hall. The trio cover Tuesday's fight between Prince Amukamara and Javon Wims (1:15), Mitch Trubisky's role in controlling practices and the team's leadership structure (7:00), and the recent online criticism of Trubisky before debating whether it was warranted (11:30). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz and John "Moon" Mullin chat after the last training camp practice of 2019 about if Ian Bunting is forcing his way onto the roster (1:40), how cornerback depth was a positive development in Bourbonnais (5:40), the latest in the kicking competition (11:10) and their overall impressions of the offense and defense as the team heads back to Halas Hall (16:25). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz and John "Moon" Mullin break down the final open practice of training camp and how Bears fans showed up in numbers this year (0:22). JJ then goes over his 'jersey of the day' as he spotted a Bernard Berrian jersey and others he spotted at camp (4:56). The guys go over practice notes on Anthony Miller, David Montgomery and rookie wide receiver Riley Ridley (6:29). JJ gives an update on Trey Burton who was back at practice today participating in individual drills and Nagy's comments on his progress (9:22). JJ previews his article on tight end Ian Bunting and his potential with the team (10:31). The guys then give a kicking update on Pineiro, Fry and rumors of top kickers across the league that could be an option (13:05). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and John "Moon" Mullin break down the Bears' 23-13 preseason-opening loss to the Panthers. The guys talk about the latest update in the ongoing kicker competition (1:00), David Montgomery's impressive preseason debut (3:30), the biggest negative of the night (11:30), and how the starters looked in their very short appearances (14:15). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz sits down with Bears matriarch Virginia McCaskey for a chat about her memories of growing up with the NFL, what her favorite moments from 100 years of Bears football are and how she views the re-birth of the team under Matt Nagy heading into its centennial season. 0:55 - McCaskey on her experience of the Bears 100 Weekend Celebration in early June. 2:08 - McCaskey on what young fans should know about her father, George Halas. 3:28 - McCaskey reflects on the first ever playoff game at Chicago Stadium. 5:00 - McCaskey on memories of George Halas on the barnstorming tour. 6:33 - McCaskey's thoughts on the present-day Bears and the fan base. 7:08 - McCaskey on Matt Nagy and his sense of the history of the franchise. 8:27 - McCaskey on opening night vs Green Bay and the rivalry between the Packers and the Bears. 10:17 - McCaskey on the 2018 season and hopes for the future. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

J.J. Stankevitz and Cam Ellis share their thoughts on the Bears' final practice before the preseason opener, this Thursday against the Panthers. To start, it was a better day for the offense (1:35). Cam thought Mitchell Trubisky looked more decisive, even though he threw two picks (2:20). On the defensive side, Roquan Smith has been great in coverage (04:30). The guys list what they'll be watching for on Thursday (06:20), and why the tight end position battle feels different than the others (09:50). Plus, will there start to be some separation in the tight WR depth competition after the game (11:25)? And how important it will be for the Bears to evaluate their draft picks and UDFAs in game action for the first time (14:20). Finally, the jersey of the day is revealed (16:40), and the Curse of Khalil Mack is proposed (18:15). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Monday's training camp daily recap, J.J. Stankevitz is joined by Cam Ellis. The guys start by going over injury updates for Trey Burton and Riley Ridley (0:25), and a brief kicker recap (0:45). Then they dig into Mitch Trubisky's inconsistent camp, so far (2:10). Plus, why QB coach Dave Ragone says "bad" reps or interceptions in training camp can be productive (03:40). Cam thinks the expectations fans and media may have for Trubisky to produce now are a bit unreasonable (05:15) and J.J. doesn't think there are any indications Trubisky will take a step back-- it will be more a question of how much he improves (06:15). On the defensive side of the ball, Buster Skrine had a heckuva day (08:45). Plus, are the Bears getting ready to stash Emanuel Hall on the IR (11:10)? The guys reveal the jersey of the day, but it was tough because there were so many great options (11:50). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz recaps Saturday's Family Fest practice at Soldier Field (0:20), plus hear from cornerback Prince Amukamara on the state of the defense (6:00) and right tackle Bobby Massie on why he was so eager to stay in Chicago (12:25). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz and John "Moon" Mullin recap Friday's practice and look at how well the defense is playing so far (0:20), how the running backs looked in live tackling drills (4:10) and jump into a long-ranging discussion about the buzz around Bourbonnais thanks to an entry in Friday's training camp jersey of the day contest (6:45). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's podcast JJ Stankevitz is joined by John "Moon" Mullin as the Bears return from their off day. First, it's another limited day for Adam Shaheen (0:33). Wideouts like Marvin Hall had a great day, but Anthony Miller or Taylor Gabriel have yet to "flash" (02:00). However, JJ has yet to see any ill-effects from Trey Burton's off-season surgery in his play (02:40). Also, Kyle Fuller and Kyle Long combined for one of the funnier moments of practice (04:00). Moon doesn't think the passing game is in rhythm, but the run game looks solid (07:00). JJ recaps Eddie Pineiro's day kicking (07:50), why special teams coordinator Chris Tabor wants crowds to be quiet again after kicks (08:25), and why it's important for both Fry and Pineiro to kick at Family Fest this Saturday at Soldier Field (10:10). Plus, why it wouldn't be terrible if the Bears ended up starting a kicker that got cut by another team (13:50). Finally, the jersey of the day contest comes down to three finalists today (15:35). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz and Cam Ellis share their thoughts after the "first chunk" of training camp concludes. So, after five practices, who's gotten off to a strong start? And who's looking to improve after an off day on Wednesday? Adam Shaheen has missed three-straight days of practice with a lower-back issue (1:00), is it time to be concerned about his multiple injury problems in his short career? On the positive side, the kicking competition has been tight-- in a good way (03:15). However, one missed kick did get a kid to yell, "Parkey!" (04:05) Could the Bears' future kicker still be on another roster (06:05)? Emmanuel Hall is also dealing with nagging injury problems, which was his biggest knock heading into the draft (07:40). Another WR fighting for a roster spot, Javon Wims, has impressed by catching seemingly everything thrown his way (09:35). Plus, how Allen Robinson has helped Wims during camp. It may not be fair, but for the sake of having a third stock down, Bradley Sowell's transition to tight end hasn't gone perfectly (12:20). Meanwhile, Mike Davis has looked great running the ball, and has already started to develop a good rapport with Trubisky catching the ball (14:30). The final stock up goes to Allen Robinson's role in the offense as he's getting a lot of targets and the Bears are clearly trying to get the ball in his hands (15:30). Finally, JJ reveals the jersey of the day (17:15). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz and Cam Ellis go over a crummy day in Bourbonnais in this episode of the Under Center Podcast. Elliott Fry missed a couple kicks in the rain, but Matt Nagy wasn't going to let the weather be an excuse (0:50), however Fry did make several good kicks, too. The rain wasn't going to shorten practice, either, because Soldier Field is often a nasty place to play (2:25). Guys in the middle of the depth chart enjoyed good days at practice (3:35), plus, is Mike Davis running under the radar with all the focus on Tarik Cohen and David Montgomery (7:05)? Then, the training camp jersey of the day is revealed (10:20). In the second half of the podcast, JJ joins David Kaplan and David Haugh to interview Akiem Hicks (12:40). Hicks explains how success can be harder to manage than failure (13:20), why he decided to sign with the Bears in 2016 (14:35), the advice he got that helps him take care of his body (16:35), his Madden rating (19:50), how Ryan Pace prioritizes high-character players (22:05), and much more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz and John "Moon" Mullin dive into David Montgomery's "welcome to the NFL" moments, (0:30), Sunday's training camp jersey of the day (6:00), update the kicking competition with Eddy Pineiro's showing (8:10) and look at what's leading to the overwhelmingly positive vibe in Bourbonnais over the weekend (10:50). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz and John "Moon" Mullin look at Elliott Fry's big day in front of a big crowd in Bourbonnais (0:20), digest an interesting chat with Danny Trevathan (2:30), look at how much of an impact Mitch Trubisky is already making (5:00) and shout-out the thousands of fans who showed up on Saturday (9:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz and Cam Ellis run down Friday's action from the Bears' first training camp practice of 2019 (0:20) and dive into Trey Burton's return to the field (1:30) and why he and Adam Shaheen are so important to the Bears' success this season (2:45). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz and Cam Ellis check in from Bourbonnais as the Bears players report to training camp. The duo discusses the enthusiasm among the group as camp begins (:45), any lingering effects over how last season ended and where expectations stand (2:30), a disciplined Mitch Trubisky entering his 3rd year in the NFL (4:00), and how good Khalil Mack thinks Roquan Smith can be (6:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan wonder if we should be concerned about anyone going on PUP (3:00), then dive into their final training camp preview with a look at how the players around Mitch Trubisky can make him better (4:30) and then what the Bears’ QB needs to do to make sure he takes the necessary step forward in his development (25:52). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan are back with their training camp preview of the Bears' defense, looking at if it's fair to expect this group to take a step back without Vic Fangio (2:00) or if it's possible to repeat as the league's No. 1 defense (10:00). Plus, the guys look at which players the Bears need to improve to remain one of the NFL's best defenses (15:15), debate if Leonard Floyd can be better (20:00) and look at the future of the defense as a salary cap crunch looms after 2019 (25:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Paul Aspan and Cam Ellis kick off their "State of the Bears" training camp preview series with a look at how Ryan Pace's front office has performed (2:00), what improvements the guys want to see from Matt Nagy (12:30) and if there's any hope for the team's kicking woes in Bourbonnais (25:10). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bears insider JJ Stankevitz goes 1-on-1 with Bears all-pro safety Eddie Jackson at a hydration awareness event. The two discuss Jackson's impact on the community in Chicago (:40), why the Bears "plan on taking this whole thing" (1:40), how Chuck Pagano makes the Bears D better (2:00), and how pumped he is for the opener against Green Bay and why they have extra motivation against Aaron Rodgers (2:20). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz is joined by ESPN Lions reporter Mike Rothstein to dive into how close Detroit is to cleaning house (1:00), expectations for Matthew Stafford (5:50) and T.J. Hockenson (10:00), what new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell’s scheme looks like (13:45), where the Lions are strongest and weakest on defense (16:50) and if this team actually respects Matt Patricia (22:20). Plus, Mike discusses the story he co-wrote on the rise and fall of the AAF and what it would take for a spring football league to succeed (26:10). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan wonder if John Fox had a point about the Bears having the worst offseason in the NFL (1:00), then offer up some prop bets for the Bears in 2019 involving Eloy Jimenez's home runs and Khalil Mack's sacks (5:00), undrafted free agent rookies making the roster (10:00), when/if the Bears will cut a kicker during the season (12:45), running back production (16:30) and how many games Adam Shaheen will play (25:50). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, John “Moon” Mullin and Cam Ellis look at Mitch Trubisky’s comments about wanting to play his whole career in Chicago and what the implications of a megacontract for him would be (0:30). Plus, the guys update the kicking competition after Chris Blewitt was released (15:30), how much the offense has grown during the offseason (20:30), if there’s any concern about Trey Burton’s injury (23:30) and the remarkable team chemistry that’s been on display at Halas Hall (27:30). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz and Cam Ellis recap what they learned from the Bears' kicking competition during OTAs (2:30), and look at what to expect from it in the coming weeks and months. Plus, they dive into how well Cordarrelle Patterson is fitting in the Bears' offense (12:30) and look at benefits the team is already realizing in moving Bradley Sowell to tight end (17:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and John “Moon” Mullin debate what’s important and what’s not during OTAs (2:30), then dive into the Bears top 100 players list that tore the fanbase apart (16:25) and look at which current players could be on the cusp of becoming some of the best in franchise history (26:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz and Cam Ellis dive into a few interesting developments from OTAs at Halas Hall on Wednesday, including Bradley Sowell’s position change (0:30) and Leonard Floyd’s upside (5:30). Plus, hear from Eddie Jackson and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix about how the ‘Bama safety pair came to be re-united in Chicago (12:30). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Paul Aspan and Cam Ellis do a deep dive into the free agent scrap heap and look at players who are still available and could help the Bears (2:30). Plus, JJ chats with Minneapolis Star-Tribune Vikings reporter Andrew Krammer about what’s going on with Kyle Rudolph (18:10), what Gary Kubiak wants to do with Minnesota’s offense (21:30), what the vibe around the Twin Cities is with Kirk Cousins (25:30) and what to expect from the Vikings’ defense (28:40). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On a special edition of the Under Center Podcast, Bears Pro Bowl QB Mitch Trubisky & Pro Bowl Defensive End Akiem Hicks join the show. Mitch talks to Bears insider JJ Stankevitz about the Jordan Howard trade (2:20), why the Bears offense can be one of the best in the league (3:25) how the playoff loss was like the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones (5:10), and why Anthony Miller can be scary good (6:00). Hicks joins JJ & Luke Stuckmeyer to discuss his charity softball game and his favorite to win the home run derby that’s also part of it (7:45), how Hicks learned from his ejection in week four ( 10:10) , why the Bears had to let last year’s playoff loss hurt to move forward (12:00) and of course, his thoughts on the ongoing kicker competition (13:30). Plus Roquan Smith has the biggest teeth on the team (14:00 ), and look out NFC North offensive linemen (16:15). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan dive into the Bears’ kicking competition to wonder if the team is better off now than it was on Jan. 6 (0:40), if the Week 1 kicker is on the roster right now (2:50), if Robbie Gould is on the table and how this thing will play out in the coming months (6:50). Plus, the guys offer up their rookies to watch after last weekend’s minicamp (14:45) and dive into looking at Mitch Trubisky and Leonard Floyd through the lens of fifth-year options (24:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz is joined by Casey Bednarski, who was one of the eight kickers participating in the Bears' kicking competition during rookie minicamp last weekend, for an inside look at how things went down at Halas Hall. Bednarski gets into what he proved (0:50), if he was disappointed to not be offered a contract (3:25), his kick-off against Redford Jones (4:50), his impression of the Bears' process (6:30) and his own personal background as a soccer player-turned-kicker-turned-pizza delivery guy (10:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In an Under Center Podcast special, JJ Stankevitz chats with Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Manning to get inside what kind of person the Bear are getting in David Montgomery (1:20), how Montgomery's game translates to the NFL (6:15) and if comparisons to Kareem Hunt, who Manning also coached in college, are fair (11:15). Plus, JJ and Paul Aspan sit down with former Heisman Trophy winner and Tennessee Titans star running back Eddie George to talk about his transition from football to theater (16:00) how to succeed as a rookie running back in the NFL (24:00) and why it remains so important to have a strong running game (26:45). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan start by wondering which Bears player could do what Arya Stark did on Game of Thrones (0:20), then dive into what expectations should be for David Montgomery (2:00) and how to view the rest of the draft picks (7:00). Plus, JJ chats with Rivals.com Mizzou reporter Gabe DeArmond to get the skinny on undrafted free agent receiver Emanuel Hall, who many expected to be a mid-round pick and could be a steal for the Bears (15:30). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and John "Moon" Mullin return to the Halas Hall coat closet to break down what the Bears drafting Riley Ridley says about the team's philosophy (2:20) and how David Montgomery fits Matt Nagy's offense (7:35). Plus, what did Ryan Pace accomplish with his three late-round picks (14:30)? And Moon makes a point about the fallacy of "best player available" (17:15). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Paul Aspan and Cam Ellis dive into Robbie Gould's trade request (0:20) and look at how realistic it is for the Bears to trade for him at some point. Plus, the guys reveal their mock drafts for who they think the Bears will take with their picks this year (12:15), with a few surprises in there. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan dive into the Bears' 2019 schedule, first looking at if the NFL likes all the leaks that happened Wednesday afternoon (3:00), then onto the biggest games (4:45) and toughest stretches (7:30) facing Matt Nagy's group. Plus: What game will set the narrative for the Bears' season (12:15), what teams on the schedule will improve the most (16:05) and which teams will take a step back (18:20), and what each of the guys' biggest grip is about the 16-game slate (22:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz is joined by Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Packers beat reporter Jim Owczarski to discuss the explosive Bleacher Report article on Aaron Rodgers/Mike McCarthy (1:00), how first-year coach Matt LaFleur will handle Rodgers (3:00), what went wrong for Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in Green Bay last year (5:00), how the Packers’ free agent additions will improve the team (9:20), where Green Bay goes with its two first-round picks (11:40) and how those in Wisconsin are viewing the Bears (13:55). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz is joined by Yahoo Sports Draft Analyst Eric Edholm to break down how deep a class of running backs there is in 2019 (1:10), what the Bears might see in FAU’s Devin Singletary (5:10), who would be a better fit between Penn State’s Miles Sanders and Iowa State’s David Montgomery (7:30), if there’s an under-the-radar running back who could thrive with the Bears (10:00), what other position classes have depth that could benefit the Bears (12:15), and if a kicker could worth a draft pick (15:15). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Paul Aspan and Cam Ellis dive into that explosive Bleacher Report article about the Packers (1:00), debate an interesting point Rotoworld's Josh Norris made about the Anthony Miller trade (8:00), congratulate Robbie Gould on his smashing victory in Chicago Football Madness (14:50) and look at a few teams that could be dark horses to contend in the NFC this year (19:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan are joined by former Bears kicker Robbie Gould to discuss his Cinderella run in Chicago Football Madness (1:45), why he should defeat George Halas in the final (4:25), his memories of being a young kicker on a Super Bowl team in 2006 (7:30), how he experienced Cody Parkey's double-doink (11:00), what advice he'd have for Chris Blewitt and Redford Jones (13:55) and how the Bears can generate pressure in their kicking competition (16:45). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan dive into the Jordan Howard trade and if it makes sense for the Bears (0:35), get into what Aaron Lynch can bring in his return (9:30), update Robbie Gould's Cinderella run in Chicago Football Madness (14:30) and debate which team is the Bears' biggest threat in the NFC North (19:30). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the latest episode of the Under Center Podcast, Paul and Cam dial up JJ from Arizona, where he spent the week covering the annual Owners Meetings. With over an hour’s worth of Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace interviews to sort through, the guys break down all the notable bites, including the kicking competition, Cordarrelle Patterson’s role in the offense, opening the season at Soldier, and more. 1:00 - JJ's take from Pace/Nagy media availability 2:00 - Taking stock of the Bears' current kicker predicament 10:00 - Just how much will Corarrelle Patterson contribute to the offense? 14:00 - Bears vs. Packers to open the 100th NFL Season is a big deal, right? 17:18 - News and notes from around the meetings 18:00 - Is Cody Whitehair and James Daniels' position swap a smart idea? 20:00 - Pace tipped his hand a bit on the Bears' edge depth ideas 23:00 - Checking in on the Bears' WR unit-- what does 2019 hold for Javon Wimms? 29:00 - Some final love for the world's most pleasant curmudgeon, Vic Fangio See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's been a almost a week since the Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix signing and it's still looking like a total win for the Bears. JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan on why the Bears appear to have gotten a bargain (1:00) , how Dix could be the perfect fit for this defense at this time, and the chemistry he'll have with former 'Bama teammate Eddie Jackson. Plus probably too much punter talk after the Bears bring back Pat O'Donnell (9:30), and some more edge rusher possibilities in the next wave of free agency (14:00). And of course an update on the Chicago Football Madness as 7-seed Alex Brown makes a desperate attempt to launch a comeback and avoid an upset against 10-seed Robbie Gould (22:10) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It is a Chicago Football Madness edition of the Under Center podcast. In the spirit of March Madness, Alex Brown and John "Moon" Mullin join JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan to go through a bracket of the biggest Bears names in the 2018 (1:30), 2006 (14:00), 1985 (30:00) and Legends (36:00) regions to see who is the last man standing at the end. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan look at the Packers having better Super Bowl odds than the Bears, if recently-cut Eric Berry could make sense in Chicago and take a deep dive into Cordarrelle Patterson with NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry. 0:30: The Packers have better Super Bowl odds than the Bears? Huh? 6:00: The crew makes fun of the Giants 8:00: What's going on with Bryce Callahan? 10:30: Could Eric Berry make sense as a safety option? 16:00: Cam takes his Cordarrelle Patterson victory lap 22:05: NBC Sports Boston Patriots reporter Phil Perry joins to break down what the Bears are getting in Patterson See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan wonder what the Bears will do with the cap space freed up by re-working Khalil Mack’s contract, plus dive into a big day for the Green Bay Packers and debate just how good Aaron Rodgers’ side will be in 2019. 1:00 - The Bears created $11 million in cap space Tuesday morning. What should they do with it? 6:00 - So…any shot at all Le’Veon Bell signs in Chicago? 8:30 - Bidding farewell to Adrian Amos 13:30 - Will a spending spree in free agency make the Packers any better in 2019? 17:30 - How does Mike Davis fit in the Bears’ plans? 23:30 - Evaluating the addition of Buster Skrine See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan break down what to expect from the Bears next week in free agency, if Landon Collins is a realistic target and why Clay Matthews – yes, Clay Matthews – would fit the kind of guy the Bears need as depth at outside linebacker. 0:50: One final debate: Bryce Callahan or Adrian Amos? 5:15: Could Sherrick McManis realistically replace Bryce Callahan? 9:50: What other impending free agents of their own should the Bears try to keep? 13:20: Throwing some names out there as potential free agent targets for the Bears 23:00: Reaction to Chris Blewitt being reportedly signed 25:00: The Bears are a destination for free agents, so could that play to their benefit? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.