REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
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REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
Patriots & Bears Season Predictions w/@BKirms and @ChampInNM
We dive into in-depth analysis of the Patriots and Bears with special guests B Kirms and Champ, exploring offseason moves, rookie development, and playoff prospects for these historic franchises.
• B Kerms highlights Mike Vrabel as the Patriots' best offseason addition, bringing familiarity with the organization and strong leadership
• Drake May poised for improvement in year two with better protection from rookie linemen and new weapons like Stefon Diggs
• Patriots still have $60 million in salary cap space for additional moves before the season begins
• Caleb Williams showing early improvement under new offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's system, demonstrating quicker decision-making
• Bears adding weapons including Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen, and rookie TE Colson Loveland to support Williams' development
• Both teams predict to win between 8-10 games with Vegas setting similar win totals
• NFC North projected to be highly competitive with Lions, Bears, Packers and Vikings all capable of making playoff pushes
• Discussion of all-time greats for both franchises features Brady, Gronkowski and Harrison for Patriots; Butkus, Payton and Singletary for Bears
And welcome everybody to another episode of Real Talk. Doc, you doing all right today.
Speaker 2:Yes, I am. Yes, I am, brother. We missed last week I was on a vacation in Famarillion, so we got a lot to do. Tonight, led by one of our best guests and best friends, we went to Vegas together. Shine on sports specialty. Let's do it. Do the intro, brother.
Speaker 1:All right. So in this episode we are doing, we've done, most of the episodes. We have three left. We have the AFC East left, the NFC North left and the the big, powerful NFC North done today with this episode, and then we will do the NFC East next episode. So, yeah, so we have, as Doc said, a good friend. We've been to Vegas together multiple times and all that. So B Kerms joins us. Kerms, how you doing today, man?
Speaker 3:I'm doing good guys. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. It's a blessing brother. So, yeah, let's get right to it, baby the pats. So yes, yes yes, the past.
Speaker 1:Obviously last year, uh, the the season was not what you guys wanted. Obviously you guys got a new coach uh, you still have drake may, that's there and you got a lot of off-season pickups. So talk to me about but you're not even talking about the draft. Just talk to me about the patriots, off-season pickups, what you like, what you don't like, and and you know essentially what you love uh, well, I think the best off-season pickup was, um, a new head coach, uh, mike vrabel.
Speaker 3:Um, we know his success in tennessee and I think he kind of got duped by the ownership. And uh, you know one, what do they say? One man's loss is another man's treasure, or something along those lines. Yeah, so, um, he's very familiar with the organization. Being a former player, he knows, uh, craft very well. Um, you know he knows the culture in New England and um, you know, I was hoping Gerard Mayo would have done well as a former player as well. But, uh, you know, maybe he got a raw deal after one year.
Speaker 3:But Vrabel was out there, he was interested and I thought it was a great move. Yes and no, we needed a receiver. I like Stefan Biggs, I didn't really like the whole distance with him on a yacht or something like that, but when it all came clear it sounded like it really was much to do about nothing. It really wasn't a big deal. It just sounded like maybe it was blown out of proportion. I think he's still a good player. Obviously he's a little older now. He's probably in his early 30s, if I had to guess.
Speaker 3:So they say once your receiver hits 30 or more. There they tend to lose a bit of burst, um, and you don't know what you're gonna get. I mean, you're seeing that now with Washington. You know Terry McLaurin's about to turn 30 or 31 and he, they don't want to pay him what he wants to be paid, despite as great a receiver as he's been in his whole career. But uh, you know, that just sometimes happens when you get these receivers that turn 30.
Speaker 3:Um, you know, outside of that, I mean, yeah, I wish maybe they would have added a better receiver. I was hoping maybe they would have gotten dk metcalf in the trade with seattle, but uh, obviously it didn't work out. Um, yeah, I'm just trying to think off the top of my head. Um, I mean, they did do some nice stuff. They still have 60 million dollars, that million in salary cap. They still have the most cap space in the league. So, who knows, you know, do they trade for someone like Terry McLaurin? I personally don't think he's leaving Washington. Do they sign a free agent? Maybe someone like Gabe Davis Do. I mean, are they going to try to trade for? Is the Micah Parsons stuff for real? Is the Trey Hendricks and stuff for real? Do they make a trade with one of these teams and get another pass rusher on that line. I mean, there's a lot to answer questions and with all that money they can do a lot of things. So I'm curious what's going to be next.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely, brother B Kearns. I'll tell you, man, I love what you did during the draft. You know it's his own because you got a potential starting center from the University of Georgia. Jared Wilson, an all-SEC performer, you know 6'3", 3'15", can move his feet well, excellent at pass pro and he's excellent at run blocking. But you mentioned Gerard Mayo B Kerms and I'm interested in this because you started out strong man. You beat Cincinnati Bengals at home week one and you had another big win throughout the year and then everything went south after that, you know. So I don't think you got a raw deal, man. But I have no problem with Mike Rabel being a coach. He should have been the first choice to throw, but I think he needed another year off after exiting Tennessee. But I'm happy with the hire.
Speaker 2:I think your quarterback, drake, may Marlon and B Curbs he has a tremendous cannon. He's like a Josh Allen clone. Without the running he can throw the ball. You know air ADRs he did it in college and then pre-draft process, but he's a big kid. Anybody following Tom Brady is going to be on an enormous strain, but it looks like he has a good head on his shoulder. You mentioned Stephon Diggs becomes, I think if he stays out of trouble he can give you a solid year or two. You know he's coming off the big injury but you know I like your running back, singleton, and I love what you got on defense man and led by your head coach, Mike Frable. So it's one of those things where I like what, the addition, what you did in the offseason.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, Doc. Yeah, yeah. So yeah, that was my thought on that. You're in a tough division, though, with Buffalo, and we'll take it from thought on that. You're in a tough division with Buffalo and we'll take it from there on that. Yes.
Speaker 1:Very tough division. Tough division with Buffalo, miami's going to be there, the Jets they now have Justin Fields, so we'll see what's going on with that. But I'm going to talk about your quarterback, soke may. Um, he has a lot, of, a lot of promise. I mean, he had a decent year last year and now we'll see what he does. New head coach, new weapon and digs which is what you said earlier, kerm. So what are your thoughts on drake may this year? What are you thinking? Uh, how is he going to shape up against the other, let's say, average quarterbacks in the league in that range of you, you know, 12 to 20 years? How do you think he's going to do this year?
Speaker 3:I think he's definitely going to take a step up, no question about it. Like Doc said, we got a all American center from Georgia. I love, I mean, that offensive line last year. If it wasn't the worst in the league, it was top five, it was just dreadful. And getting Will Campbell in the draft at that spot was just a no-brainer. I mean, yes, it would have been nice if they took someone, maybe like a playmaker, like an Ashton Gentry, or couldn't take Travis Hunter, he was gone or maybe like a Ted McMillan. Sure, that would have been great. But we have a young quarterback and the number one thing you have to do is you have to protect them. He did show promise last year. He's a good athlete. He's got a heck of an arm. He just didn't have any weapons. But now, with Diggs and they drafted Kyle Williams in the third round from UCLA, I just did some research on him. I mean he transferred to Washington State from UNLV and in two seasons at Washington State had 20 touchdowns. He's got some size. He's got some good hands. I'm not sure how he's going to do in his first year translating in, I'm hoping really good things. But where they got him in the draft and what people like Daniel Jeremiah said. Like you know, it was a very good value for the talent and what new England needed. So that will definitely help Drake may overall. But yeah, I think he's definitely going to take a step up.
Speaker 3:I think the one thing about him that I like the most is he just seems like a really, really humble person. This kid coming out of high school out of North Carolina originally committed to go to Alabama but changed his mind and said you know what, everybody goes to Alabama. I'm going to stay home and play for the Tar Heels. And said you know what everybody goes to Alabama. I'm going to stay home and play for the Tar Heels. I think when a player does that where you can go anywhere you want and then says you know what, I'm going to go to school like North Carolina who's had some success in college? But it's not Georgia, it's not Alabama, it's not Clemson the fact that he wanted to stay home and help a program, I think, speaks volumes of his maturity and his attitude. I think he's going to be a great leader for the Patriots going forward.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Good response, brother. I like that. You know I'm pulling for you. But, kp Kearns, after all the success that the Patriots have Marlon, it's kind of refreshing to see what they're going to do with another kid, with another quarterback, a young kid on the center, and see if it translates not to seven Super Bowls but at least to postseason and going deep. He's only in his second year. Go ahead.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, absolutely. So looking at your predictions, I don't remember last year I don't know off the top of my head what did you guys have? Like five, six wins last year, if that? I think we only had like three or four. Yeah, it wasn't good. Yeah, yeah, I know it was bad. So, um, so look at now it's, it's most would say you guys are probably the most improved team this year. You guys drafted well free agency. You guys, for sure, won free agency with all the pickups, in my opinion, that you guys got, especially with what you needed. So you got the bills, which they'll probably end up 11, 12, 13 wins. Uh, miami and the jets. We don't know what we're going to get from those teams, nor do we know for your team, necessarily. But what's your prediction? What's your record going to be? I think you're oh shoot, I have had this, doc. I don't know if you have it, but the win total for you guys. Do you know what Kerms?
Speaker 3:Last I checked I haven't checked recently they've been consistently between eight and nine, so I think it's about eight and a half.
Speaker 4:I want to say Vegas.
Speaker 1:Respection if that's where it's at Vegas, respection.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that's it.
Speaker 1:So what are your predictions for the Pats this year as far as record wise, and what do you think you'll end up in the division race, and do you think you end up making the playoffs?
Speaker 3:OK.
Speaker 3:Well, in regards to the schedule, I'm looking at it right now. The first few weeks are pretty favorable. So we open up at home against the Raiders and I think they Vegas has that as about a three point spread, which pretty much they're saying these teams are even I think it'll be a close game. But the Raiders are coming in with they got a new running back in Jante. Pete Carroll is returning to head coaching. It's a one o'clock game out east, so it's a three-hour time difference for the Raiders. I'm just curious how Carroll, after taking a year or two off from the league, is going to do in his first week. And then, week two, we go to Miami. I don't really have a whole lot of worries about that game. I know it's a division game but I don't really have a lot of faith in Miami this year. Then, week three, we got Pittsburgh at home. Aaron Rodgers, third week, barring anything serious happening to him, which obviously I don't wish on anyone, but I think that's going to be a tough game. I know a lot of people. Steelers and Patriots are two teams in the AFC that people are saying are going to improve pretty good this year. And then another home game. So we start three of the first four weeks at home. And we got Carolina. I've got to be honest, I'm curious how Doc feels about this team because in this division I think carolina is going to be an underrated team. Um bryce young showed some promise towards the end of the year. Um, I like the like I said um, the video they're showing on this mcmillan kid um at wide receiver looks pretty good. So I think they're going to be better than people anticipate now how they do against the Patriots. I think it can be pretty close game. But after that they got three games on the road. They got Buffalo at night at New Orleans, who's not going to be very good, um, and Tennessee, we'll see. By then Cam Ward should be settled in. And then we got you know, I don't want to go through, give it every game here but then we, you know you got Cleveland, uh, the Jets, the Giants, and then we end the season for the last four games home against the Bills, at the Ravens, at the Jets and home against the Dolphins. So my prediction I think 8.5 is about right, I think 10 is maybe the most, but yeah, I think 8.9 and 9-8 is about right. And playoff prediction. I think they're going to either be the last team in or the first team out of the playoffs.
Speaker 3:When you look at the AFC, you know division winners. I'm picking Buffalo in the east. I'm picking the Ravens in the north, the south, I guess right now I'll still take the Texans. The west is the most interesting. I know everyone's going to pick Kansas City. Personally, I think, even though I don't like the injury to Slater, I think the Chargers are very, very good this year. I think they're going to win the division. So then the last three spots. You've got the Patriots, you've got the Bengals, you've got the Steelers, you've got the Chiefs Broncos. Maybe the Raiders can make a push. What about Tennessee? So the AFC is loaded. So fighting for those last three playoff spots, can they do it? Yes, if somebody put a gun to my head and said you had to make a pick right now, I would say they're just going to miss it.
Speaker 2:Well, that's a good synopsis, brother, but it all starts week one and it's one of those things where it's most anticipated, going back almost a quarter of a century because of the tuck rule, you know, with Brady versus Rich Gannon during that time. So there's interest there. Where Raiders come to the win, you have to start 1-0, b Kearns, with that particular team, as I referenced, you started 1-0 last year, being the power over the powerhouse Bengals. I just don't see you losing at home to a Raider team that's in flux. You know, say what you will about Geno Smith, but the rookie running back is still a rookie. You know you're at the crib and you know Mike Vrabel knows defense and Marlon, I tell you, man, that might be a marquee game to keep your eye on if you're in Vegas. Man, I'm going to lay the points, be curious with you and I know I might get in trouble with my wife, but you're at the crib and Regal knows that Boston area. He played defense and I just think that the Raiders traveling across country is going to be a bitch. Now, after that, you asked about Carolina. I think Carolina being in my division, I'm very familiar with him. Bryce, carolina, I think Carolina being in my division. I'm very familiar with him, bryce Young, you know he did have a strong end of the season last four or five games. But here again, you know Vrabel is defensively. He knows discipline is going to be the key. I don't think Gerard Mayo defensively, especially discipline-wise Marlon, that's why he's out of the job. But I think Vrabel brings that sense of disability you know, not invincibility, but physicality is the word I'm looking for and discipline to the Patriots and especially on defense. And I think the kid, tator McMillan, going to Carolina might help them, and Chuba Hubbard at running back. But I eventually think that the Patriots is going to overcome that offensive Carolina.
Speaker 2:I'm not scared of Miami division. I'm not scared of the Jets. If everything goes well, call me crazy. I can see you win 10 games Sweet to Jets and you sweep Miami. Miami is a disarray right now. You might get swept by Buffalo, but that's neither here nor there. You're out of conference games like Carolina and some others. You do that and you might get 10 wins. Nine is the floor for me, and I'm not just saying that because I love you, I just think that Vrabel is a godsend for that organization and that fan base in Foxborough and Boston, you know. So yeah, there you go, brother.
Speaker 3:Absolutely, doc. I appreciate that and you know it's funny, doc, you mentioned the first week. You know, ashton, they got a new running back. Well, so do we. And Travion Henderson, I mean the kid just looked fantastic. I mean his first play in his NFL career. He runs a kickoff return for a touchdown against my wife's commanders. So, who knows, maybe Henderson goes down with a chip on his shoulder and says, hey, I'm the better running, I'm the better rookie running back in this matchup, and yeah, we'll see what happens. But yeah, I mean, should they win this game? Absolutely. But Vegas must know something if the spread is only three.
Speaker 2:And Marlon real quick before you continue on. I gave the Patriots a B+. You already know about Jerry Wilson. The center from Georgia is going to be a starter. But Will Campbell, they addressed the need and, as B Kearns referenced, you've got to protect your franchise quarterback. He missed some time last year and if you want to compete for one of those spots that you referenced, you have to. This kid Camel out of LSU was a freshman All-American at LSU, you know, and you can play left tackle and right tackle. I don't care about the short arms, you know, because it doesn't affect his play. So yeah, there you go, marty, and be Kearns.
Speaker 1:Yeah, let's do it all. Right. And now current. Before we get you out of here, I always have to ask a certain type of question, that that goes into history. Doc loves his history, so, um, I'm gonna ask the top 10 patriots of all time. So, of course, yeah, I'm sure brady's gonna be in there. Uh, you know, yeah, I don't want to give too much of your list away because I don't know. I don't know what your list is, but of course you know brady, brady's gonna be in there. So, top top 10 patriots of all time who you got?
Speaker 3:all right. So this is my list. Um, I'm sure I'm missing one or two um, or I'll be corrected on one or two, which is totally fine. Obviously, um top two off the top my head brady and rob gronkowski. And then then I got Randy Moss, teddy Bruschi, rodney Harrison, ty Law, wes Welker, julian Edelman, adam Vinatieri and Willie McGinnis.
Speaker 2:That's good. That's a good list, man.
Speaker 3:I like it.
Speaker 2:I have no problem. Analyze who your top three. Who your top three? You know? I know Brady has to be one. You gave you 10. Who's three? Was that in the order or just random?
Speaker 3:In the beginning I had Brady Gronk and Moss as my top three. I mean Moss. He only was there for a year or two, but he was so great. I guess if I had to go longevity number three, I probably would put Rodney Harrison, that's right.
Speaker 2:That's right.
Speaker 3:That's right, very good point.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, rodney Harrison man, I like that. Now, on my end, marlon Tom Brady, of course, is one. You got to put Rob Gronkowski at two, but yeah, I got Richard Seymour B Curms the big defensive tackle from Georgia.
Speaker 2:Richard Seymour is a four-time All-Pro for that organization. Corey Dillon, going back in time early in Brady's career, was a great running back. He started with the Bengals, marlon and B Kearns. I got to put Corey Dillon in there. He won two rings with you guys.
Speaker 2:Bruce Armstrong, the big tackle from the 80s, you know he was perennial all pro. He was at that time. Marlon, what Trent Williams is now for the 49ers at the time. Bruce Armstrong, blocker for Tony Eason and those guys. Julian Edelman you know he's another one. Vince Woolfolk you know, the big nose tackle out of Miami. He was great Four-time, five-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro for the Pates.
Speaker 2:Tyler, as you referenced, he has an. Adam Venturi and of course, as you referenced, you know, right ahead Now, adam Venturi, he should be in the Hall of Fame. But kickers is hard to get in. He's had some clutch kicks his entire career at the Patriots. Clutch kicks B Kermes, and I just think that he gets a raw deal when you mention the pickers in the history of the sport, you know, and he's a, he has to be up there. So there's my 10 right there. Brothers, yeah, let me repeat it tom brady, richard seymour, rodney harrison, cory dylan, bruce armstrong, julian adamant, rob grankowski, vince woolfolk, fork tyler and adam vinituri and I'm left out because this is before you know. You probably was born. Andre tipp, number 56, was an all-pro for the Patriots back in the early to mid-80s, and I'm missing some other cats, but yeah, that's my 10 right there. You guys got history, man Sick yeah definitely, doc.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I can't believe I forgot Richard Seymour. But yeah, I named my cat Seymour because of him and of course I left him off my list, so I don't know about that.
Speaker 1:I don't know if either of you guys, and forgive me if I missed it, but I'm just going to throw a couple names out there just in case. Let me see Wes Walker. We obviously know what he was. Yeah, who else we have here?
Speaker 2:Doc, you said Richard Seymour, right, yes, yes, he's on there.
Speaker 1:Uh, willie mcginnis, uh hi, dante hightower, uh, mike mike vrabel, teddy bruski, uh, and uh, let me see devin mccourty. So there's a lot aty, so a lot of great names. As you said, doc, some great history with the Patriots, for sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely Now in your division B, kearns, give me the order of finish. Official order B Kearns, august 20th. Official order of finish in the AFC East right now.
Speaker 3:All right, we're going Buffalo Bills 1, new England Patriots 2, new York Jets 3, miami Dolphins 4.
Speaker 2:I have no problem with that, marlon, because the Dolphins are a tragic mess, you know. That's very good. I had them. The same order too, marlon and D Kearns. I don't know what's going on down there with Tua and those people. Tyreek Hill wants out and that can't do good. In the locker room in the offseason he tried to say the right things but it's already out. He wants to be gone and they lost Jalen Ramsey to corner. He's out, he's in Pittsburgh. So yeah, I have no problem. The only thing I will differ with if the Jets somehow becomes in your division, win some unexpected games, because the coach there the new coach is. He played for them and he's good, you know he's very good.
Speaker 2:Breesall and Garrett Wilson are their playmakers, but you're dependent on Justin Fields to be consistent and that's been a problem in his career. It's interesting. So, yeah, I have no problem with your order of fitting. Yeah, good job on that.
Speaker 3:Thank you, Doc. Yeah, we'll see what happens with the Jets. Yeah, if Fields can improve on some things, especially with his throwing and everything, and stay upright, yeah, you're right, they can surprise some people Now. Will they beat the Steelers week one? We'll see.
Speaker 2:Yeah, good point.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, kerms. We appreciate you man. This was great Good rapid fire questions and all that. So we'll get you on, I'm sure, early midseason and, yeah, we'll go from there Appreciate you for joining man.
Speaker 3:Oh, thanks guys. I always appreciate being on your show. We'll have to do this again soon.
Speaker 2:Absolutely B Kearns. Next time we're in Vegas I'll make sure my wife knows we're going to Fremont first.
Speaker 3:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:B Kearns baby. All right, brother, thank you, god bless.
Speaker 1:Thanks, gentlemen. And then our next guest joins us, none other than champion new mexico. You've heard him on mainly on adam's show, adam shine show, and he's always talking about the bears, the good, the bad, the ugly, and from you know, justin fields, caleb williams uh, who let me see. Rex grossman uh, just jake cutler. You know all, all of the names that had him.
Speaker 4:Kyle Orton. Don't forget my guy, Kyle Orton.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah. So Champ Jones, what's up, champ? How you doing man.
Speaker 4:I'm doing good, man, I'm doing good. Thank you guys for having me Absolutely, champ.
Speaker 2:It's our pleasure man, very knowledgeable in all the sports, and I think that you, in my mind, you're the number one Bears fan and number one Cubbies fan. So let's go, marlon, what you got, baby, just love you.
Speaker 1:Absolutely so looking at what you guys did in the offseason, I mean you knew that you had an okay year with Caleb. You had my guy Keenan Allen over there, dj Moore, you had a lot of weapons around him, but it just didn't gel necessarily, maybe just that first year, but obviously now you got you a new coach, a new offensive system and all that. So what are your thoughts on what you guys did, not necessarily in the draft but just more so in the offseason in March, april and May?
Speaker 4:Yeah, man. So you mentioned, I think the biggest obvious addition is Ben Johnson, and you know he was one of the highest high, potent scoring offenses in the league last year in Detroit. And you know, not only did we bring him in I give kudos to Ryan Poles and company for bringing in Joe Tooney and Jackson. That's going to pay dividends, man, but the main thing is getting Ben Johnson and getting Caleb kind of retooling him, man, because you know he was a little bit off. It wasn't the worst. You know, he still threw for almost 3,600 yards. He had 4,000 total yards with his rushing, uh, you know he only had six interceptions, the least amount of interceptions out of the rookies last year, uh, but but still his.
Speaker 4:He wouldn't go on through his progressions. Last year he was looking to run and uses athleticism, athleticism, know, to get out of the pocket and create these plays. But what did we see the other night? Guys versus the Bills. You know it was two seconds, 2.1 seconds, 2.2 seconds. He was getting rid of the ball quickly, you know, and these weren't just screen plays and quick slants, man, these were. He went six yards for or six plays, 97 slants, man. He went six plays, 97 yards. He had chunk plays. I like what I saw the other night and that has a lot to do with adding the aforementioned offensive lineman and head coach.
Speaker 2:Well, champ, that's a good response. The offensive lineman here is the key. That's the key right there to protect Caleb, your franchise. That's why you drafted him. Got in some bad habits last year because he felt pressure and got a little skittery as a rookie, which is understandable. But the market improvement because of the free agency in the offensive line and then you drafted the tight end, koston Loveland, out of Michigan. So there's a chance.
Speaker 2:I'm not putting him in Brock Bauer's rookie for the Raiders last year, but this cat is an athlete man under a situation where his quarterback play this last year in Michigan was, you know, bad to say the least, you know, and he still put up solid numbers. So, yeah, I think the offensive lineman, the addition of Ben Johnson, marlon, was going to help the Bears going forward and I look for a market improvement from Caleb Williams, the first overall pick last year. You know this is not USC. Ben Johnson has erased some of those scatty, erratic behavior in the pocket and some of the bad habits he attributed to late in the year because he took such a beating. So, yeah, there, pocket and some of the bad habits he attributed to late in the year because he took such a beating. You're an incumbent tight end champ. I forget his name A kid from Notre Dame. What's his name again?
Speaker 4:Cole Komet.
Speaker 2:Then you're going to run a two tight end off. You got DeAndre Swift in his seventh year out of Georgia, or sixth year out of Georgia. He's still relatively young. He can catch the rock, as you referenced during the preseason game, getting the ball under three, getting rid of the ball under three seconds. So, marlon, I'm predicting big things for the Bears. And I didn't even mention Sweat on defense, the edge rusher and some of the other defensive personnel. They had the corner Johnson. So, yeah, let's do it, champ. You know, let's go.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, man, let's go. Yeah, yeah, yeah, man. I mean that's all huge, doc. I mean you hit the nail on the head, man. And caleb, he just got a. Yeah, obviously he is a freak athlete, he's got a cannon for an arm. But but, hey, let's be a little bit more detailed and go through our reasons. So I'm seeing, I'm, I'm hoping for a big improvement as well absolutely go.
Speaker 2:Go ahead, Martin.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think it's going to be a very as we look into what. As far as the division, we know what the Lions are, we know what the Packers can do. And also to the Vikings, we can't forget about them. We haven't seen JJ McCarthy, necessarily, but the Vikings are still the Vikings. They're going to be competitive at home and division games are just going to be a pretty solid division game. So what are your honest thoughts on this team and what do you think this team can do in the division in regards to possibly making the playoffs?
Speaker 4:Man. So this is tough, man. I mean I got to try to take my buy-ins out of this right. I mean the schedule's tough, and not only the schedule's tough, the nfc north is stout as well. You got, you got a bunch of, you know, great head coaches. And kevin o'connell uh yeah, we don't know what jj mccarthy's gonna look like, but kevin, you know, ko sees a hell of a coach. We know that overall it's a good squad. Lafleur you know another really good coach and Dan Campbell over there with the Lions.
Speaker 4:So you know, I look at the Vegas odds, right, and I think we got I think they got us at eight and a half everywhere all over Vegas. I think that's a tough one, man. I mean, as a Bears fan I'm going to say the over, but not by much man. I think the Bears are going to finish at nine and eight and I'll be happy with that if I see, you know, some solid improvement from Caleb Williams. You know, to maybe potentially hit that 4000 yard mark which is a goal of his and Ben Johnson to hit or get super close to the 70% completion percentage. You know, if they could get closer or hit that mark, I'll be happy at 9-8, you know, and maybe do damage the following year, but I think 9-8 is probably a realistic thing for us.
Speaker 4:Can we do better? I do. I mean Doc, just rattled off all the names, man. I mean it's Cole Komet and Colson Loveland, at the tight end spot. It's DJ Moore, it's it's Roma Dunze and let's not forget Burden. He missed a lot of training camp. So, yeah, yeah, Lucid Burden, out of Missouri, Memphis.
Speaker 4:Missouri or Missouri, missouri, ok, yeah. So this kid's a stud man. He didn't get. He didn't get to play with the ones the other night because he missed a lot of training camp, but whenever he came in with the twos and Tyson Bainjit he didn't skip a beat. So there's potential for this team to do really good. But I'll kind of hone in and not get overly excited over the week one preseason game and I think the Bears are going to be right there around that nine and eight mark fellas well, marlon the champ brought up some interesting things here.
Speaker 2:First, the kid burden was number one recruit in the country at three years ago coming out of high school. He chose Missouri to set his own mark, and that's rightly so. But Roma Doozy, if you remember, uh, marlon, he was a number one or number two receiver coming out, might even be be number one to come out of college last year and he's going to have a DJ Moore you don't need to say more than he had over 200 yards receiving last year in a frenetic offense against some I forget who it was, but you know it departs of there, champ, and it all starts against Minnesota. You know and remember JJ McCarthy missed his entire rookie year. So I'm expecting Montrez Sweat and some of the other defenders to make a hard on JJ McCarthy under the bright lights of Monday Night Football. I don't know if that came at the crib or is it on the road, champ?
Speaker 4:It's at the crib Doc.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, oh hell yeah.
Speaker 4:Let's go. You make a great point. You know a young quarterback starting his first NFL career game versus. Hey, let's not forget Dennis Allen. That's a hell of a defensive coordinator, right? Yeah? And you're mentioning Sweat and Johnson. Kyle Gordon's a hell of a corner. You know, keep an eye on this name, guys Marlon and Doc Austin Book. He was a rookie last year In camp. He's been balling out in camp the other both preseason games. He's had multiple sacks. So this is a guy that I kind of expect to hopefully make him see a jump this year, especially under Dennis Allen. But you're right, doc. You know at the house JJ McCarthy going up against a Dennis Allen defense. And hey, we got Ben Johnson calling plays for Caleb Williams and the boys. So yeah, I think it's going to be a really good game, a competitive game. Monday night football.
Speaker 2:Marlon, nine wins and, if everything goes well, 10, because they got everything on offense that they need. You know, I looked at the stats and numbers. Caleb Williams did not have a bad year, and that's on an atrocious coaching. You know you can't put him in there as a bad quarterback. He was a rookie, you know. So you're not talking about Jamarcus Russell here, marlon. So let's be fair. Ben Johnson is going to do wonders with this kid.
Speaker 2:Now the weapons are there and on defense too, but I'm picking the Bears to have 10 wins. Man, nine is the floor. You know Vegas says eight and a half. You know you have to have a significant injury to a starter not to reach nine wins. You know, I know it's a tough division, but I think Detroit's falling back to the pack and I don't know if Jordan Love can elevate his play to the point where, at the very least, you can split with the Packers. You know what I'm saying. So we'll take it from there. Man, I'm giving you 10, and it's a solid 10,. You know, starting with 1-0 against Minnesota at the crib Monday night, that crowd's going to be jacked, marlon.
Speaker 2:Nothing like a bear crowd. You know bears. But go ahead, marlon. Yeah, I digress.
Speaker 1:We were talking quarterbacks and I didn't prepare Doc for this question. I'm going to ask him, but I would love to after Doc gives his answer. Champ, I want your feedback on this. There's a strong possibility that caleb could be the best quarterback in the nfc north, which is shocking. To say that a bears quarterback is going to be the best at something, which is. But when you think about jj, which, yes, you have justin jefferson, but we don't know what that connection is going to look like. Um, you have jared golf, which he's he just needs to be a game manager. He can hand it off to Gibbs and Montgomery and do dump-offs and all that. And then you look at Jordan Love, which some people love him, some people hate him. But, doc, my question to you is do you think Caleb has the chance to be the best quarterback to come out of the NFC North, coming up this year?
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely Without question. I'm not saying that because Ciampa's my good friend and buddy. I'm saying that Jerry Goff in Detroit, even though he's won some big games and been to the Super Bowl with the Rams, he's lost some horrific games, mainly last year at home. Washington put a 48 on their asses. That should never happen. We had one of the best, if not the best, record in the NFL last year. Jerry Kauf is what he is in his seventh or eighth year, I forget. And then you mentioned Jordan Love, who's been up and down. He had a terrific two years ago, but last year he fell back to earth to what he really is.
Speaker 2:So Caleb Williams has a chance, gentlemen, to do the business and say I'm the best quarterback in this division with the weapons that he has and we don't know about JJ McCarthy with the live bullets fly. When the live bullets fly, if you will, champ what he's going to bring to the table. He won a college championship in Michigan. They missed all of last year. And then you start on the road in a division. I'm expecting him to take some lumps, gentlemen. So yeah, I'm trying to be kind to Jared Goff, but he is what he is, man. People have lost money on his ass in big games and I think Caleb Williams can pick up the slack. Jordan Love, I like his skill set. He brings, he's been flashy, he has some good games, but under duress he's, you know, and I love to coach LeFleur. But champ, to answer Marlon's question, I think he could end the year with 32 touchdown passes and over 4,000 yards for Caleb Williams. Why not? You know, look at the weapons and look at the coach. To answer your question, marlon, go ahead.
Speaker 4:Okay, yeah, yeah. So as a follow-up, yeah, you know, year one under Ben Johnson I do think it's possible. There are tons of weapons on offense, a revamped offensive line, you know a quick game mentality. He's going to do a lot more play action, which I love. For Caleb, he's going to be under center a lot more. So I think the potential is there. I look at the one thing that gives me a little bit of pause and I'll be honest, I'll be fair and honest here. You know, obviously the nfc north is stout. We're playing the afc north man, so we're going up against the bangles, we're going up against lamar jackson and the ravens, but but, but still, you know that that's no uh excuse. I do think caleb's got a shot to maybe be, I think, in the future. That question I could say a little bit more confidently this year. It's just year one under Ben Johnson and a tough schedule this season. I think the possibility is there, but I'm not 100% on it yet, though as a Bears fan guys, I give myself a lot of pause, man.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 4:We're always an offseason champ, right? You know, everything looks good in preseason, so I always have that little thing in the back of me. But like man, don't get too hyped into this, let's see what the regular season brings.
Speaker 3:Hey.
Speaker 2:I'm a Chargers fan, so I know firsthand Real quick, marlon, I'll piss in Cleveland as the win. The defense for the Bengals is not on that. Now you've got to shut them down with your style of defense. But the Bengals can score. The Baltimore thing you brought up and then the Steeler thing. The Steelers have a pretty good defense, you know, with TJ Watt and Cameron Haywood. But other than that, if you go 2-2, losing to Baltimore and Cincinnati well, baltimore and Pittsburgh, let's say just to be kind, because Lamar is Lamar and they got a pretty good defense led by Roquan, your ex-guy. But if you beat Cleveland and Cincinnati 2-2, you can't ask for more than that, man, you know you just can't. So yeah, go ahead, marlon. Cincinnati, you're two and two. You can't ask for more than that, man, you know you just can't. So yeah, all right, go ahead. Go ahead, marley yeah.
Speaker 1:So looking at the, you were your uh champ. You were mentioning pre-season earlier and just getting excited and all that stuff. So if, if this team does, if this team figures it out and and and does, which you know, we'll see what happens but if they end up making the playoffs, how far do you think this team could go? Obviously, you know Philly is going to be there. Washington should be there, you know there's. There could be a team or two in your division that makes it so how far do you think this team could go in the playoffs this year?
Speaker 4:If we were to make it, you know, you know I it's more than likely gonna be a wild card spot. So therefore, you mentioned the eagles. You know, if we're going up against the eagles, you know we're probably not gonna win that game, uh, but it just kind of depends who we play. Can I see us winning any game in the in the playoffs? Sure, I can't, probably that's the most uh, you know winning one. But but most, most, most likely, you know, if we go up against that eagle squad in the playoffs, we probably won and done. But but again, you know, as a best fan, I'm shit, I'm, I'm hoping to get back to the playoffs. Man, I miss it. It's been a long time coming yeah, yeah, man doc.
Speaker 4:Doc, you know, the last time we were there, marlon, it was the double doink.
Speaker 2:That thing killed me right there. Yeah, I remember that, the kicker.
Speaker 4:He took a beating too.
Speaker 2:Yeah yeah, Well, champ, in that division, give me a one through four in order, I ask. Be curses. I'm doing the same with you. Let's go and you're honest.
Speaker 4:Order in order. Okay, I've given this some thought, fellas, and I know, I know the lions lost ben johnson and aaron glenn. Um, I think dan campbell's a hell of a coach. Uh, jared Goff, he's a game manager but a damn good one man. And there is Gibbs, there is Amon Ross, st Brown that that team still has a lot of talent. They lost a couple of great play callers, but a lot of talent. So I think the I think the lions win it.
Speaker 4:Um, I guess I'm man y'all are killing me with this question I'll go ahead and say I'll go ahead and give it to LaFleur and the Packers getting third, and I say us number three and Vikings four. Now, I could be totally opposite. You know that's a great thing about the NFC North this year, man, I think all four of these teams have a chance to win it. But I don't know, I just I'd hate to get burned as a Bears fan and come on here sounding all cocky because I can't do that, man. But once this live bullet starts in the regular season, we'll see. We'll maybe revisit this topic, but right now I'll say Lions, Packers, bears, vikings.
Speaker 2:I'll say Lions, bears, vikings and Packers. I just have a problem with Jordan Love in a big spot, you know. Yeah, I love Vikings defense and their defensive coordinator, the ex-Miami coach. He's a machine. I love Dallas Turner on that D and the outside edge rush from Bama in his second year. I just think the Bears just had Montez. Sweat is a monster. And you got the other guy, booker. Booker had three sacks in the preseason game, wasn't it Three? So it's one of those things where I got to go Bears too.
Speaker 2:I'm going to give Minnesota a chance only because of the defense coordinator and knowing that McCarthy is a rookie, pretty much is Courtney, and knowing that McCarthy is a rookie pretty much. But the Packers are bringing in a rookie receiver also, and I know they got Josh Jacobs in this town. But the Packers have defensive problems too. So it's all going to decide one game apiece. I'm struggling with the Lions only because of golf. I can't give you the division, I'm not going to do that. But yeah, I'm sticking with my four right there, champ, go ahead, molly.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, all right. And last question I got for you, champ if you were to put together just 10, a list of just 10 all-time Bears, doesn't matter the position, you can give me 10 quarterbacks if you want Just the 10 all-time Bears players in history.
Speaker 4:What do you got? Yeah, man. So I'll kind of I'll run through 10, through 6, kind of quick here and then I'll speak on the top five a little bit. But I'll roll with Hampton Sayers, dent, mcmahon and Ditka, as my is my six through ten. All great players, man, uh, I was super young whenever dent and ditka mcmahon you know I'm way young whenever they were doing, but I still remember all the uh I had. I collected the football cards back in the day, you know, back in the day. I mean we're all old, we remember the vhs stuff. I had highlight VHS tapes of them old school Bears. But man, I love all them players right there. Now we get into the five. You know, singletary, he's one of my favorites, even though I was super young, still one of my favorite players to watch. Man, just Mike Linebacker. You know he lives and breathes that position. So, singletary, my number five. My number four is Devin Hester.
Speaker 4:I mean this dude, this dude, he's an all-time great kick-point returner. I mean the things that he was doing, man. I mean hell. Go look at the Super Bowl versus Peyton Manning and the Colts. What did they do? They kicked it to him. What did Hester do? Return it back for a tutty.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 4:And I still remember, like it was yesterday, man, the NBC cameras go to Peyton Manning on the sideline after he returns, like who the hell kicked it to him, you know? Like even he knew that that's a weapon of ours. Man, that's one of the main reasons we made it that far was devin hester. So love my man, devin hester. Number three brian erlacher. Uh, all-time great mike backer. And this was me, you know, whenever I was in college I've always been a Bears fan, but just understanding the game a little bit more obviously a hometown hero. I was a Bears fan before he went, but that even made it that much sweeter. So love my man. Brian Derlaca, that dude is an absolute beast now. Top two I mean Dr Prye knows where I'm going here. It's Buntkiss. Number two, that dude. I mean I don't think they made a helmet still to this day that'll fit the guy correctly.
Speaker 4:They're like scrunched up his forehead. But you talk about bringing the pain to opposing offenses. Man, this dude, when he went out to go hit you, he wanted it to hurt, so you got to love Dick Buntkiss. And then obviously number one, man, this dude, when he, when he went out to go hit you, he wanted it to hurt, so you gotta love dick butch kiss. And then obviously number one, sweetness. Um yeah, just just an all-time walter payton man, I mean, one of the all-time greats. Oh man, hold on one second. That's great stuff.
Speaker 1:Hold on one second now with this, with bears have a little more history than the past. So I know Doc can probably give me this top 30 right now, but I'm very interested in seeing hearing your list, doc. So go ahead.
Speaker 2:Yeah, man, when I talk about the Bears, they were one of the charter members in the entire NFL in the 20s. So their name list is great man. But when you think of Chicago Bears champ, it starts with Dick Buckus. That's it, you know. End of discussion. I'm a 51. He was so good, marlon, that he won the NFL defensive player of the year on a team that won one game, 1969. That's how dominant he was as a defender. One game he was the defensive player of the year, you know.
Speaker 2:And Dale Sayers is two, walter Payton, three, mike Singletary, four, mike Ditka, who is an all-world tight end for the Bears. You know you got Jimbo Colbert, the all-pro tackle on that Super Bowl team, fire time all-pro. Richard Dent. Oh man, hall of Famers man, brian Urlacher, dan Hampton, another Hall of Famer, devin Hester. All of them are Hall of Famers. And I'm leaving out Wibble Marshall, you know I'm leaving out Jim McMahon. You know he was a quarterback on that Super Bowl team. You know he might have been a game manager but he made plays. But you just can't the Bears, other than maybe the Steelers as far as name recognition, and maybe the Cowboys in the Hall of Fame, I think the Bears when you talk about, regardless of the success of the team champ. These are names that are historic.
Speaker 2:Sweetness, yeah, you know Gale Sayers. Dick Blackus, mike Singletary you know Mike Dicker, I put a lot of tackle in there. Jimbo Curry, the guy from Pitt he was an all-pro man, I left tackle. Richard Dent, man out of Tennessee State, and, of course, dan Hampton in the middle with the fridge. And what was the guy from Texas ALS? He was on the D-line too Ridge. And what was the guy from Texas ALS? He was on the D-line too.
Speaker 4:But that happened with the machine.
Speaker 2:Yeah, mcmichael, mcmichael, yeah, and then Devin Hester, marlon Nothing but Hall of Famers from the Bears, regardless of the team's success. The Bears sucked in the 60s and when you mention Buckets and Sayers, you say, yeah, those are too stalled, I don't know how they were so bad. He said, yeah, those are two stars. I don't know how they were so bad. They had two Hall of Fame all-time players like that. But there you go, there's my, and I left out, like I referenced Louisville, marshall, number 58, marlon he was all pro, I left him out. And Jim McMahon of course is Jim McMahon Willie Gall, some of the greatest players in the history of the franchise. But you ask for 10, 10 and there you go right there. But it starts with buckets, marley that's what I said.
Speaker 1:I knew, I knew you'd give. You can give 30 off top. I already know. So so, champ, champ.
Speaker 4:Thoughts on doc's list yeah man, I saw it off on that 100 percent. I mean, all of them are hall of fam, all-time greats. Whenever you think of classic old-school Bears, the top three names right off the bat, off of everybody's head, is Butch Kiss, singletary, ditka Sweetness, I sign off on that all day, dr Falcon.
Speaker 2:Absolutely One of the most glorified historic franchises Marlon in the history of all North American sports is the Bears, regardless of the record. That's all you need to do is the names you know. And Urlacher when you mention middle linebackers it starts with Buckers everywhere anyway, but Mike, singletary and Urlacher just the three middle linebackers in one franchise alone, marlon. That says a lot Enough said yeah, you know, yeah, all know, yeah, okay.
Speaker 1:All right, champ, well, we appreciate you for joining, but I do have one last question. We did not get you on for baseball season, so just quick thoughts on your cubbies. How are you feeling? How is everything looking as it gets towards playoffs? What are your thoughts right now on your cubbies?
Speaker 4:So it's crazy ass. Uh, marlin I, I, the game just finished. Right, I was during the very start of this getting on with you guys. We had two outs. They had bases loaded. Uh, we were only up one. I was like kind of half-assed listening to you guys and half I was watching my bob day. But uh, we just took three or four of the brewers, guys, the brewers you know. Yeah, after the all, after the all-star break, we had a nice little four game cushion on the brew crew and all of a and all of a sudden our bats got colder and hell, I don't think anybody except for matt shaw and nico horner's hitting over 200. Uh, the bats got super cold. Pca, uh, kyle tucker, everybody's got cold on the bats and we started struggling there.
Speaker 4:Before you knew it, the damn brewers had a seven game lead on our ass yeah, 14 game winning streak yeah, 14 game winning streak, but we just took, we just been in, we just took three or four from them, doc, we just beat them just now again, we, we run, uh, they beat us game one and then we then we won three in a row, right after that, a four game series. So, uh, that that helps us, man, because our psyche was getting a little jacked up. Kyle tucker has just sat out his second game, you know. I think uh, craig council's giving them some days off just to get his mind right. Guys, I mean this king tuck, I mean this is, this is a all-star player from the houston astros and, and granted, he started the season off, great for us but he is ice cold right now, man, he can't hit the damn ball for nothing. But, uh, going into the playoffs tomorrow, like you ask.
Speaker 4:Um, I'm hoping to see a little bit more consistency out of the bats in general, like, like I mentioned Matt Shaw, the young cat we just brought up. We just brought up a kid, his name's Casey I can't even pronounce his last name right now off the top, but but he's doing really good playing right field. He's getting some basics. So, kind of bringing up some younger guys just to kind of get the whole club that's going. But if I can get a little bit more consistency out of, like PCA and King Tuck when he comes back and Ian Hap, I do like our odds.
Speaker 4:Overall Hitching's been good, good enough to win some games. I mean it's the bats that's really kind of lost us there. We've lost some games where you know we hold a team to two, three runs and you know we hold a team to two, three runs and you know that ain't no good man. You'd like to see a ball club put up a few more runs. So I think the Brewers probably still hold on to this lead. But I mean I do see the Cubbies making the walk hard and it just depends man. If the bats get hot maybe we can do some damage, but that's what it depends on for sure.
Speaker 2:Well, champ, baseball is in a better place, and Marlon, you might agree with this. You know the 80s, the Cubbies, the lovable Cubbies, you know. And Lee Smith, andre Dawson, the Hulk. We just lost Ryan Sandberg, another stalwart. Baseball is better when the Cubbies are relevant, you know. But I just have to ask you about the death of Ryan Sandberg, which came as a shock. I didn't even know he was sick. Your take on that real quick champ before you go To me. If it wasn't for Ernie Banks, Ryan Sandberg, marlon would be Mr Cub. Go ahead, champ.
Speaker 4:You know, doc, I haven't really thought of that, but that was perfectly well said. If it were for Ernie Banks, ryan Sandberg would be Mr Cub. I haven't even heard of that. But I sign off. I endorse that big time. You're right.
Speaker 4:I mean you talk about a generation like me, you know as somebody that's in their 30s, 40s or 50s. When you turn on WGN, you know back in the 80s, back in the 80s, early 90s, uh, that that that was a lot of, a lot of people's favorite player. I mean you talk about somebody that that was people looked up to. You know a hell of a hell of a baseball player, defender, really good hitter, and Ryan Sandberg man. I mean you, when you talk about the 80s Cuddy's, you think Andre Dawson, ryan Sandberg man. I mean when you talk about the 80s Cubs, you think of Andre Dawson, ryan Sandberg first and Andre Dawson, you know Grace, mark, grace and Maddox, but Sandberg is Mr Cub man. Yeah, that was a shock, you know. I did know he was sick and battling some stuff, but whenever you know he passed away, it was definitely sudden man. So I was like damn, this is a guy that we watched growing up on WGN, doc.
Speaker 2:Yeah, good point on that, brother. I just had to get your opinion on it. I knew the answer was forthcoming. It still hits you like a ton of bricks. So yeah, good job on that champ, love you man. Good job, yeah, right on appreciate you, champ, for joining.
Speaker 1:We'll definitely get you on uh early mid-season and see how your uh, your bears, are doing. Hopefully we're they're doing, you know, above 500 for sure. By that 500 I remember I think it was a couple years back, I don't know how long ago, but I remember the bears being 4-0, having having a 4 four. Was it last year where you guys had a four?
Speaker 4:no, hell yeah, last year we were four and two marlin yeah two going go, four and two going into the game versus washington and losing that hail, mary. Pass to jayden. Daniel sent us on a 10-game skid, Marlon, I mean we went from 4-2 to 12-4. I mean 4-12. That's funny. I mean that was bad, dude, yeah it was.
Speaker 1:I don't know why. I just thought of the great record that you guys had last year. But yeah, We'll check in with you midseason and appreciate you for joining, as always, man.
Speaker 4:Right on, man. Thanks for having me fellas Bear down.
Speaker 2:Bear down baby. Good job, all right champ.
Speaker 4:All right, let it out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, great, great episode, getting those two guys on for sure. So next week is going to be a special one. We're going to figure out I don't know when, we're going to do it with fantasy drafts and all that, but uh, we're going to get into the nfce, so we will dive into that. Um, other than that, doc, you got anything for us?
Speaker 2:no, it was a blessing having pete kearns and champ very knowledgeable with their respective teams. Man, this is one of our best shows ever with iconic teams the Patriots and the Bears. So good job moderating that, charlie I mean Marlon and let's do it again next week.
Speaker 1:All right, sounds good, all right, we'll catch you guys next week. Peace, peace.