Pro Football Weekly: Chicago

We made it! It's finally training camp week! The Bears report to Bourbonnais on July 27 and we preview it with writer Dan Pompei (@DanPompei) of Bleacher Report and WSCR. Pompei discusses the differences in covering camp in 2016 to previous decades (9:45), previews some of the players to watch like Kevin White and Leonard Floyd (13:15), as well as position battle at safety. Dan also analyzes Alshon Jeffery's offseason (29:30) and what's to come for the top Bears receiver. Kevin then wraps up the show with #1 on 'Bear Necessities,' Jay Cutler, and gives listeners 5 unknown Bears to watch in camp (34:30). Plus, no 'Bachelorette' update this week, only Bears talk!

Summer is coming to an end in the NFL world with training camps beginning next week, so Kevin recapped the big news of the summer, or not news of the summer, with Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) of CBS Sports. They talked DeflateGate (3:45) and then Will clued us in on John Fox’s time in Carolina (12:30), what he liked about the Bears’ offseason. The guys chatted about the “Cutler Narrative” (19:30) and how fans view quarterbacks, then wrapped up with some pop culture and TV talk. We then went through our ‘Bear Necessities’, important Bears ranked 6 to 1, and of course Kevin had to give his Bachelorette update for the week.

The guys are back from a summer break to bring you another Bears Mailbag, as Kevin answers questions about the Bears' defense, including Leonard Floyd's expectations as a rookie and recent Pro Football Focus rankings of the secondary. Kevin and John go through the recent "Bear Necessities" series, counting down the most important Bears from 15 to 7 with a preview of the final 6. Of course, Kevin gives a Bachelorette update, which had some football this week! The guys finish up with some talk about Bourbonnais - including which writer is the best bags player - and about our new snapchat, bears_insider. 

We reflect on the great defensive mastermind Buddy Ryan to open this week's podcast with guest Paul Pabst (@PaulPabst), executive producer for the Dan Patrick Show. Pabst talks about the ESPN 30 for 30 on the 1985 Bears, what that team meant to him, then reflected on Matt Forte's interviews on the Dan Patrick Show, his time living in Chicago, being a Cubs fan, Chicago pizza and much more. Kevin wraps up the show by revealing Bears ranked 20 through 16 in our 'Bear Necessities' series, which fans can read at profootballweekly.com/Bears.

It's Mailbag time on the Chicago Football Podcast! Kevin answers your Bears questions about the running back depth, Vic Fangio's exotic schemes, undrafted rookies with the best chance to make the roster, the secondary and much more. We also talk about John Fox's hair, then Kevin gives a Bachelorette update and then we close up shop talking about the O.J. documentary. We cover all the bases on the CF Podcast!

It's summer vacation time! For the Bears, that is. Minicamp and the offseason program came to an end this week, and Kevin recaps the big stories (Alshon Jeffery). Kevin talks with Comcast SportsNet's Moon Mullin (@CSNMoonMullin) (8:34) about what we can glean from the past few weeks of watching the Bears in shorts, the changes in covering the team over the years and some of the position battles to watch in Bourbonnais. Then we have an interview with new defensive end Akiem Hicks (27:54), who calls himself the strongest player on the team. Kevin puts a bow on the Bears' spring practices with some Jay Cutler talk and looking ahead to Bourbonnais in six weeks.

Player interviews are back on the Chicago Football Podcast, because Kevin hit the record button! Rookie CB Kevin Peterson discusses his motivation after not getting drafted, what he’s learned at the corner spot, his affinity for Russell Westbrook and more. Then, third-year defensive tackle Will Sutton describes what he’s learned at the nose tackle position and why he’s always the first one out of the tunnel before games. Kevin and John break down the roster battles at the CB and DL positions, as well as recapping this week’s OTA. The guys conclude the show looking ahead to next week’s veteran minicamp and the return of Alshon Jeffery. Minimal ‘Bachelorette’ talk this week, we swear! 

We've got another Bears OTA to recap, but no player interview — Kevin explains why, with an apology, but to make up for it, we have Melissa Jacobs (@thefootballgirl) of SI.com as a guest (5:34) to talk about her articles on Art Briles, Ray Rice, a 22-week NFL season, as well as life being married to a Bears fan (16:51) and, most importantly, if Bears fans should root for Aaron Rodgers' brother on the Bachelorette (23:48). The guys then make fun of Kevin for his TV habits and conclude the show with a breakdown of the upcoming competition amongst the Bears running backs.

We can talk football! Well, sort of. Kevin recaps the highlights he can report from the first open OTA to the media and puts in perspective these non-padded practices in May. Then we get to know two new Bears — safety/return man Omar Bolden (7:34) talked to Kevin about his experience with Denver last season, his brand #PositiveLiving, the Lakers and even dental floss. Rookie tight end Ben Braunecker (21:41) discussed life at Harvard, his hometown of Ferdinand, Ind and explained why it's ridiculous when someone says he's "too smart" to play football. 

We got to watch some (sort of) football last weekend at Halas Hall, as Kevin recaps Bears rookie minicamp. We played an interview with new QBs coach Dave Ragone (3:15) and talked with friend of the program Pat Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times (14:15) about the quarterbacks and some of the undrafted rookies Bears fans should monitor this spring and summer. Sixth-round pick DeAndre Houston-Carson went one-on-one with Kevin discussing blocked kicks and famous William & Mary alums (36:00). Next week, OTAs begin, so stay tuned to the Chicago Football Podcast!

On Part II of our "Getting to know the rookie Bears" Podcast, we interview experts on the four remaining Bears picks. Former Georgia QB and current color commentator Eric Zeier (2:20) talks first-round pick Leonard Floyd, FloridaGators.com senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) (13:24) breaks down third-round pick Jonathan Bullard. Then two head coaches wrap up the draft — William and Mary's Jimmye Laycock discusses sixth-round pick DeAndre Houston-Carson (23:56) and Western Michigan's P.J. Fleck tells us about seventh-round pick Daniel Braverman (34:44). We wrap the show with some analysis of the 2016 draft class.

In Part I of our special 'Get to know the rookie Bears' podcast, we have 5 guests to talk about 5 of the 2016 Bears draft picks. We open with Kansas State offenisve line coach Charlie Dickey to discuss second-round pick Cody Whitehair (2:39). West Virginia play by play man Tony Caridi (@TonyCaridi) is next to talk about inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (10:20). CaneSports.com writer Matt Shodell joins the podcast then to analyze safety Deon Bush (22:48). Staying in the secondary, Northern Iowa defensive backs coach Brandon Lynch gives his insight on cornerback Deiondre' Hall (33:11), and Indianapolis Star writer Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) concludes the show with his thoughts on running back Jordan Howard (42:51).

In our final pre-draft podcast, we get the nitty-gritty nuts and bolts on Bears targets from former NFL player and current SB Nation writer Stephen White (@sgw94). Stephen breaks down Ronnie Stanley (5:16), Jack Conklin (10:15), DeForest Buckner (13:32), A'Shawn Robinson (17:58), Shaq Lawson (20:40) and Leonard Floyd (25:37). We conclude the show with Kevin's 7-round Bears Mock Draft (34:30) and a preview of our draft coverage. 

We swear, only a week more of draft speculation, and Bleacher Report's Mike Tanier (@MikeTanier) joined Kevin to continue adding fuel to the fire of pre-draft talk. The guys discussed the media coverage of the draft (3:04), the 12 options for the Bears at No. 11 (10:17), the Ezekiel Elliott predicament (15:08), then talked about Mike's Johnny Manziel story (20:33) and wrapped up with the NFL schedule release (37:10). Kevin, John and Dan ended the show with "watchability" rankings, the best-to-worst Bears games on the schedule for 2016. 

It's time to get (kind of) serious about the NFL Draft, which is two weeks away, so Peter Schrager of Fox Sports (@PSchrags) joins Kevin to discuss his favorite part of the pre-draft media hype (2:42), potential Bears prospects like Ronnie Stanley (6:49) and Ezekiel Elliott (12:02). He also gives us the national perspective of what the Bears are building (16:27) and his take on Jay Cutler. Following the interview, Kevin & John answer your Bears draft questions in a special podcast mailbag (24:05).

The CF Podcast goes Hollywood! Actor and Chicago native Desmin Borges (@desminborges), who plays Edgar on FX's "You're the Worst," joins the podcast to talk acting and Chicago. Borges gave us his 2016 Cubs prediction (5:35), then discussed what it's like to be a part of a unique comedy like You're the Worst (7:25). Desmin tells us about his upcoming off-Broadway play 'Crude,' (16:26) and then described his Chicago roots (18:49). Desmin and Kevin talk Bears, from Desmin's favorite Bears memories to being Jay Cutler's hype man on the podcast (30:42). The podcast wraps up with Desmin's Bears prediction for 2016, and then a look ahead to our Chicago Football draft content and upcoming podcasts. 

The recently re-signed WR/returner Marc Mariani makes his return to the Chicago Football Podcast. He tells us about the process of deciding to come back to the Bears for 2016 (4:51), discusses the new touchback rules and how they may impact the kicking game (12:32), gives some insight on new Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains (20:20), tells us his Final Four picks (30:10) and who's allowed to poke fun at Jay Cutler in the locker room.

It's time to start talking NFL Draft, so CBSSports.com's Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) was the guest this week. A Bears fan, too, Tom talked with our Kevin Fishbain about the exits of Martellus Bennett and Shea McClellin (5:07) and then analyzed some of the Bears' options at No. 11 in terms of defensive linemen or offensive tackles. Tom also had some players for the Bears to target in the middle rounds. We also talked John Fox's media methods (21:00), Bears fans compared to other Chicago teams (27:30) and which Bears player Tom would like to have a beer with (30:37). The podcast concludes with a one-minute lightning round of non-football questions with new Bears ILB Danny Trevathan (37:32).

On this week's episode of the Chicago Football Podcast, former Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly joins Kevin Fishbain to talk about how one determines the best long snapper of all time (4:00), what Warren Sapp did to him before a snap (7:30), the Bears' free-agent haul (11:45), Brian Urlacher's hair (28:00) and Kevin's fifth grade class (30:05). Kevin and Patrick also discuss the Bears' draft needs Pat's time as a midday host in Chicago, and Jay Cutler's hair. 

It's a new format at the Chicago Football Podcast with our post-Combine return. Kevin Fishbain recaps the Alshon Jeffery move and previews what's to come next week in free agency and then is joined by Jarrett Payton (@paytonsun. Jarrett talks about his experiences at the Combine (7:31), his high school soccer career (5:35) and who he thinks the Bears should take at No. 11 (11:01). Jarrett answers our 'Cutler 6-pack' of questions (21:27), discusses how he got into the media (26:36) and makes his case for players the Bears should sign next week.Copyright © 2016 Shaw Media. All Rights Reserved.