Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - 5 On It & Bill Zimmerman talks Bears (Hour 3)

Episode Date: February 25, 2026

In the third hour, Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris discussed a variety of sports topics in the 5 On It segment. After that, Bill Zimmerman of Westwood One Sports and Windy City Gridiron joined the show to discuss the latest Bears storylines, including their need to bolster their defensive line. Later, Rahimi and Harris reacted to the news that left tackle Trent Williams and the 49ers could part ways.

This hour is brought to you by vasectomy clinics of Chicago. I got five. It's time for five on it. Rahini Harrison Rooney. Bring you five topics on their minds today. On 104-3. Number one. Bleacher reports Instagram account posted one trade they would like to see from every team in the NFL.

The potential transactions included. The Bears acquiring Cardinals Safety Buddha Baker for a 2026 third round pick and a 2027 fourth round pick. The Raiders acquiring DJ Moore for a fourth round pick and the Panthers acquiring Colquemette for a fifth round pick. So Layla, Marshall, would you be okay with any of these traits? I wouldn't be okay with all of the traits. I would be okay with some of the traits. I don't think a fourth round pick is enough for DJ Moore,

even though his salary is high. No. I don't think a fifth round pick is enough for Colquette. So I guess it's a. I like Buda-Bake. So I think a third round pick is okay. Now a third and a fourth the next year, and you know how I feel about the Bears in the third round?

I hope they avoid it like the plague because it hasn't gone well for them. And I know that that strategy is not going to work this time around because they need to use those draft picks. But the third round in the Bears has not been great, especially under the Ryan Poles era. So I just, I like Buda Baker. That's really what this comes down to. I think he's still one of the better safeties in the

league. His knowledge and game is up there to me, like top notch. I just, he can still affect the game by himself. So yes, the one with Buda Baker is the one I vote for. Okay, okay, question on the Buda Baker trade. Yes. So he's owed $30 million over the next two years. Are you extending him at eight going into his age 30 season? Because here's my ultimate question. Is the 14 million more than you would have to pay for Kevin Byard? It probably is, but I like Buda Baker, so my bias is playing in here. Okay.

Yeah, I'm probably, obviously, I have to reshuffle his contract. I don't think I would do any of these deals. Reshuffle the deck. I don't think I would do any of these deals. Buda Baker, congratulations. You're getting paid into your age 39 season. But probably 36,

and I know that sounds crazy, but it's Buda Baker. I think a third round pick and a fourth round pick is too much for Buda Baker. I think a fourth round pick is not enough for DJ Moore. And I think a fifth round pick is not enough for Colquette, given where they are with what they do out of two tight-in and sometimes three tight-end personnel. No, I'm just going to be a flat no on these trades.

Maybe I'm being, maybe I'm overvaluing my players. Maybe I'm pulling an AK right now and not doing the deals and getting rid of guys when they can be gotten rid of. But these guys, all three of them, them would be formidable forces, or excuse me, all two of them would be formidable forces for Ben Johnson's offense next year. You can't convince me otherwise. No, that's why fourth round and fifth round, like slide them up and then maybe we're talking.

Like, slide those picks up around. That's what I'm saying. Number two. During his NFL scouting combine press conference Tuesday, Bears coach Ben Johnson praised backup quarterback Tyson Bayesian. I do think there's a lot of merit to having a strong number two quarterback. which he certainly fits that bill on I'm of the mind that he's probably one of the best 32 in the NFL. His preseason tape over the last few years has probably confirmed that in my opinion. Later that day, Johnson joined Fox 32's Cassie Carlson and said this about Bejant.

I kind of joke about it. I've dusted off the same game plans in the preseason every year that I've been a play caller. And this is probably the first year with him at the helm that we actually had a quarterback complete overseas. 60% of his balls. And I think he was close to 70% completion, five touchdowns, winner. And so, I mean, that's just a credit to him. He really took to the offense really quickly, and he's such a quick study. I can't say enough good things about him.

That's Ben Johnson with Fox 32's Cassie Carlson. Are you buying what Johnson is selling about Beagent being one of the best 32 quarterbacks in the NFL? I actually am. What? Yeah. I love Tyson. I don't love him as much as Ben does, I don't think, because did you hear even the tone of voice then? It's like he's his son.

He's a proud dad. This is my large adult son, Tyson Baygent, whose father we all know. That's the funniest part. I think here's where this got really tricky. Let's let you into the media process, shall we? Essentially what Ben Johnson is saying when he says that he says that he's, He thinks Tyson Bayjeet is one of the best 32 quarterbacks is that he should start for an NFL team. So then we're like, oh, glad you're clarified that for the NFL team.

Yes, that's the point. So I said like, oh, that's interesting that basically Ben Johnson thinks that Tyson Bayesian should be a starting quarterback. I said a starting quarterback. I did not say the Bears starting quarterback. And we don't do that here at Rahimi Harris and Grotie. We're not trying to clickbait you. Not like that. that's crazy because we know it would happen.

Insanity would occur and it's not worth it. We don't even get clicks. You cannot physically click on our show. It doesn't really work that way. You can click on our videos and stuff, but we don't really get paid for those. So the way I see it, we had to come at you with the truth.

But do I think that to a man, maybe because some guys are too young, you know, to have the playbook knowledge or at least the completion percentage, they're younger? Do I think that is he one of the top 32? I think that that's fair. I think that there's probably an NFL team

that thinks he should be starting for them as some sort of insurance policy or at least like a bridge quarterback until they get to a draft that they may like better than this one. Is bridge quarterback a term? Did I just make that up? I mean, it can be. You said it and it made sense

contextually. Here's what I'm going to start with. I'm going to start naming backup quarterbacks from 2020. Malik Willis. You tell me if he's better than these guys. Tell me. Malik Willis is behind Jordan Love. He doesn't count of this.

Maybe he's one of the 30s. Okay. So that's why I'm not even talking about starting quarterbacks right now. I'm just going straight to backups, okay? Okay. Okay. So we'll start with Malik Willis since that's where you went. No, he's not better than Malik Willis.

There's been no evidence to say this guy is better. Malik Willis is pretty good. Kirk Cousins. No, he's not better than Kirk Cousins. I don't know. Is he better than old? old Achilles, Kurt Cousins. Kurt Cousins had the Falcons making a charge

to force teams out of the playoffs at the end of the season. I can't deny you that because I also thought that they were playing better. However, they had Bejohn Robinson. Okay, is he better than Russell Wilson? Russell Wilson threw for 450 yards in a game last year. Thank you. So that's already three. But it's the age factor too for those two.

But what we're saying is he just called him one of the best 32. I don't think he's one of the best 32. Marcus Marriota It's not better than Marcus Marriota All right Your bear's bias is coming through What has he done? No,

the completion percentage counts in this But to your question, Marshall, what has Tyson Bayesian done? Oh man, I can't believe I'm actually saying this. Also has me

wondering What, like, he hasn't had the chance. Okay, but his head coach, his head coach is talking about preseason state.

What makes Marcus Mariotta better, you think? he has a 66.2 QBR, I think, since 2020. You go off the ESPN and not RTG quarterback rating. I can go off rating too, but like what I'm saying is there's other guys. He's not better than Gardner Minchu. I've seen him over the course of a season do things.

A little magic there with Gardner Manchu. Over the course of a season, but no. Okay, okay. Is he better than Carson Wentz? I don't think he is. So I, you see what I'm going. Real question. Like six or seven backup quarterbacks.

The Vikings are the measurement. Because here's, we know them well enough. So we know how Carson Woods did with the Vikings. We know how nine did with the Vikings. We know how we obviously know how Kirk Cousins did with the Vikings. So if you're the Vikings, would you rather have Wens or Tyson-Bagent or Kirk Cousins is your backup? I've got two more examples that I'm going to give you. Vikings?

I think they'd rather have Tyson-Vagent. then what wait wait then wince as their backup i don't know i i'm not prepared to say that maybe i just don't believe in tyson baging the way y'all do the other two examples by the way andy dalton yeah that's a lot pause the age factors into this i've seen dahlton gets rid of the ball lightning quick i say the best for last joe james winston oh i wasn't i'm not put joe flacko's definitely better than tyson badec physical traits james is better okay So, because again, throwing the ball.

James has played more games. 15 yards down the field in a tight window, do you trust Tyson Bayesian? That's my, that's the question here. No, that, I mean, that is the question. And so, my answer is no. I think you can dick and dunk your way down the field, though, with Tyson Bayesian.

That's why it's a great backup quarterback. But I don't think he's one of the best 32. If you're the Arizona Cardinals, for example. Okay, that's more of, there's probably 35 quarterbacks better than the Arizona Cardinals starter at quarterback. You see what I'm saying? One of the best 32 is very specific.

Yeah, okay, 815. Excellent, excellent point. Browns, where are you putting Bajit and Chador? I got nothing. Both of, they would have to both play eight games. And then whoever plays the ninth game? The sample. What happens?

Sample size is just too minuscule. For Tyson, Bejant, there is no sample size. I figured out the measurement, though. Did I not? Did I figure out a system? That is a measurement. It's either the Vikings have to decide out of those three who the backup is or eight games between each on the Browns in the ninth game that one individual plays is the winner. Or decider.

Or maybe they each play a half of the ninth game. I don't know. I just don't think he's one of the best 32 quarterbacks. I think the NFL should hire me to write their script. Part of the script. Yeah, that's a heavy lift, the whole script. Oh, yeah. You know what I do?

I'd make, like, pass interference reviewable. Don't do that. Yeah. We've done that. We've already done that. Weaponized incompetence does not count. Number three. It's five on it on 104.

Three, the score with Lela Rahimi and Marshall Harrison. It's time for a shout out. Shout out to all my Maxinistas out there. Here we go. What a five on it? Tyson, Baygett, and Max Crosby in the same five on it? Back to back. Raiders general manager

John Spy Tech said this to reporters at the NFL scouting Combine about Star Pass Rusher Max Crosby. Max is an elite player and I've been very upfront from the start when I got here that we're in the business of having really good players on the team and we need

a lot more of them and you know it's hard to build a great team without elite players. What has been your communication like with Crosby for the last month or so? Max and I have a great relationship He's in the building every day getting healthy right now. We talk on the phone, we text. So I have a great relationship with Max.

The reports that came out during two weeks are you comfortable that you know where his head is on what he's saying that he wants to be around. Max and I have had great conversations. I'm comfortable there, yeah. That's Raiders General Manager John Spitech talking about Star Pass Rusher, Max Crosby on a scale of 1 to 10 on the Higone meter. Trademark. Where would you rate Crosby's chances of leaving Las Vegas

after hearing those comments from SpyTech. Layla's looking to be like, I got answers. I do have an answer. I don't know if it's the answer. The answer I have is a seven. I think he's gone. But he could also stay. It's just there's only a 30% chance he's staying.

If you're Max Crosby, why do you want to stay there? Like, I'd probably wait until the moves are made, but it makes more sense to get traded before the draft because then there's plenty of people giving you this year's draft picks for him. You don't want another Michael. Parsons situation. Remember how that trade went down? When it went down and for how much it went down.

And you could flip that question about John Spitech. Why does he want him there? When you have the potential to get all that draft capital. John Spitech also kind of showed his bluff. Did he not? Like we were talking about Ben Johnson getting shorter in cadence with each

answer. Spitech got faster. He sounded like the micro-machines guy by the end of that answer. We have a talk. Like okay, I don't, it doesn't sound like it went well. Like, I understand you're confirming that you two held a conversation. That point, though, that you made about a new regime, when you know that you could get a lot of capital to build your team

in the vision that you see it, where they also need a quarterback, by the way, wink. That's me nodding. Mm-hmm. So if that said, if you can use one of the probably largest of possibly available assets in the league at any given time, Cash it in. Max Crosby would fetch you quite the whole. So the question is, how would you use? That is the one time I said I'm pro haul on the midday show.

And this is it. This is the one time. It wasn't when you thought it was back then just because some dork said it on the internet that I said it This is the time I think the Raiders should try to get a haul for Max Crosby And Crosby would be happy And the Raiders could get a lot of capital to rebuild their team

I feel like dork is amongst the endangered species on the language I don't hear that much so it was refreshing to hear the word dork I don't know the last time I heard the word dork Oh they yes they were dork Well didn't somebody say that you said this all? The nice thing about talking on a radio station is there's tape. You can go through the tape. You can see whether or not I actually said it.

But if you want to believe your fellow dork, that's up to you. But I'm issuing right now, this is the only time I've ever advocated for a haul on this show. Is your number higher or lower than a seven? Seven and a half. Ah, higher. Maybe an eight. Yeah, eight. Okay.

Number four. According to the tribunes, Megan Montemore, left-hander, Shota I'ma-Managa showed a, quote, notable uptick in velocity in all four of his pitch types during his 33 pitch outing in the Cubs exhibition game against the Padres on Tuesday. This included a 2.2 mile per hour increase on his four seam fastball and 1.4 miles per hour with his splitter. Are you at all encouraged by this tiny sample of increased Velo from Imanaga? I'm suspicious. Like when I read this, when you all be honest,

when you all read this, weren't you like, wait, where did this come from? Yes. How did this happen? Yes. Yes. I did. Like, right?

Yes. But also, isn't, and I'm not saying that it's not true. But isn't the radar got a little hot in Arizona anyway? And I'm not just saying that because it's hotter in Arizona. But like, it really is actually, it typically tends to be a little, it registers it a little bit of a higher speed. I've heard that. Home runs go a little farther.

like that's the issue here is is I want that to be the case I think that would help tremendously one and a half miles on the splitter do we really also did I just slip into Texan there I'm like one a half miles an hour extra on the split that that's the one

that gets me it's not even that it's two miles extra over two miles on the fastball one and a half on the split that dog will hunt but I just I need hitters to not turn on it all and send it out of the park I just am a little bit skeptical right now just because you came back. You've just had a very well-rested off-season.

Like, how's that looking at the World Baseball Classic, for example? Listen, it's Shodeminaaga. He threw 33 pitches, 23 for strikes. He gave up three hits. None of them left the yard. It's a good day for Shodanaga. Let's just build off of that, okay? Because you already know my feelings overall on Shodanaga,

and his propensity for giving up, who long balls. So yes, I am, I'm very much pleased with his first performance because it wasn't a disaster that ended up with balls flying over the fence. So your bar is low. It's the start of spring training. Yes, my bar is very low right now.

Yeah, I mean, that's really the goal. Like, keep the ball in the park. That's a fair goal right now. Number five. It's five on it on 104. The score. Here's our final question. Kobe White.

made his return while making his Hornets debut on Tuesday night against the Bulls at the United Center. How did it make you feel to see Kobe in a Hornets jersey? I'm happy for Kobe. It's, you know, it's as close to his hometown in North Carolina as can be. So for him, I think just finding a spot where maybe he could have a little more permanence and there's a big connection there is good. I always enjoyed working with him, you know, for many years on the Bulls.

And we had a wonderful interview with him back in March after he was named Player of the Month. So I'm sad, but I get it. Like, I'm happy for him that he's at a place where he can be at home. Do anybody notice Kobe was doing something that current Bulls can't seem to do, which is go wherever he wanted on the basketball court?

That's what is missed right now is understanding where the Bulls are from where they were a year ago. A year ago, they were gearing up for the best finish that they've had in years when they finish the regular season 15 and 5. They were gearing up for the month of March, as we are now. Right now, we're talking about an O for February Bulls team that will likely extend its losing streak to 11.

The next time they step on, actually, they better extend their losing streak to 11 because they play the Portland Trailblazers, a team they need to make the playoffs so that they can have Portland's first round pick because it is lottery protected. Got that? so they need to lose an 11th straight game. It would be a travesty. It would be malpractice if they don't lose Thursday night against the Portland Trailblazers.

But for Kobe specifically, all I remember is this is a guy who's now on a good team, an uptrending team in March, and now a year ago, this man didn't have a game in the month of March where he didn't score at least 21 points. And now the Bulls don't have anybody who could do that. and that is sad, but at the same time it is necessary, and we'll see just how far in the depths of the tank they fall. But you know what?

Overall was like, oh, Bulls did exactly what they need to. Keep it close for a while, and then bomb. They even let. They did lead. Also, quick note, Charlotte, North Carolina native Patrick Williams, shaved the hair off. I did see that. I did see that.

I was like, am I seeing this right? He still got some hair. It's low, but no more braids. Did you see it? Did you notice that? The braids are gone for Patrick Williams? Oh, yeah. No, that was subtle.

Yeah, that was a change. I was like, okay, no one's talking about this, but I know I'm seeing something I didn't see the last time I saw them play. That's a lot of hair, too. That takes a lot of hair to put in those braids. He had some nice braids. I want to know why he did it. I don't think we got an answer yet.

I don't think so. Inquiring minds? Yeah, I'll text, I'll text Joel maybe. Yeah. Joel Lorenzi? Yeah. Joel would be on top of it. We vote Joel Lorenzi.

I approve this message. Coming up next here on Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104-3, the score. We continue our group reporting efforts, and I'm glad that everybody else has jumped in. Bill Zimmerman, who's the senior executive producer for Westwood One Sports, he's the deputy editor for Windy City Grutiron. Talked about a possible way around a roster spot that I hadn't thought of before. So we'll examine that next. Rahini Harris and Grotie

Midday's 10 to 2 on 104 3 the score I gotta have conversations and kind of see what like I said the best combination of players we can bring in we want him here we think highly of him he's a great teammate he's been productive pretty consistently

over the last couple years that he's been here so I've nothing but great things to say about him but this is the time now where we have to look at all the different scenarios to see what can allow us and put the best team out there. And I've talked about this before. It's just, you know, there's relationships there. There's a lot there that make it really good stuff.

But he's a guy we want here, but we have to look at all the person. You know, Ryan Poles, you sounded a little pensive. You sounded like you had given this a lot of thought. And I feel like that's been the case. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104. The score. That was Ryan Poles. speaking on his side session yesterday at the NFL combine talking to reporters.

Side session basically means you're just not at the podium. You're doing the little group to the side. That group to the side is often the people you see the most. You know, that's like the beat crew. So that's why we have that information. And we now go to our hotline. That is where we find our friend Bill Zimmerman. Bill is the deputy editor of Windy City Gridiron.

He is also the senior executive producer for Westwood One Sports. And he's nice enough to join us on Twitch. Twitch.tv.tv slash the score Chicago. Bill, thanks for joining us. Of course, guys. How you doing? Well, we're good. Now that we're all together,

we can talk about the search for the information that is elusive. It started with a report that you put out on Windy City Gridiron when it came to the possibility of an injury settlement for Dyer-Odango, which is a separate topic in and of itself, but then became all of us trying to start. search to find out which Achilles Dio O'Damebo tour in 2021 leading up to his

draft. And we've had a lot of people look, please don't use AI on this because the combination of words and the fact that he's had two Achilles tears is what makes this really tricky. In my sourcing, I can't find which Achilles it was in 2021. All he sees in his

A, I don't think in Marshall's sourcing either and in yours. So everybody, let's check. I have not found it yet. I also have not found it, Bill. And I think because of when it happened and it just never was asked specifically because it was before the draft that people just never got around talking about which leg it was. Have you found it? I was never able to get anything clear on that either. And it does, it doesn't, it's not critically important, but it is significant enough that it is something I think we would all like to know.

Well, and here's the point. And you and I were texting about this. what if it is the right one both times? Because in November against the Bengals, it was the right Achilles. If it's the right Achilles both times and a guy who's six foot five, who you depend to have speed and burst is an edge risher. That doesn't seem good to me. It wouldn't seem good to me either.

And by no means am I any kind of medical expert. But, you know, I try and talk to people who are in that world and know that world well. And, you know, what I'm getting is if it's the same. same leg twice, that is far from ideal. Look, the best case scenario, I guess, would be that he's torn both his Achilles tendons. That's not exactly something that football players would want either. But the way I kind of understand this is he's looking at a nine to 12 month rehab.

And next season, or I should say this season here, 2026, he will not be as effective as he was in 2025. And we certainly know he struggled in 2025. That rehab is not to get him up to 100%. that rehabs to get him up to maybe 80, 85% of what he was last year. If it's the same leg, that nine to 12-month rehab probably pushes from what I understand closer to the 12-month side. And then you certainly have to wonder with two Achilles tears in the same leg, how much that

affects his burst, how much that affects how he's able to play, because that's certainly going to be a compromised leg. Okay. And then that's what kind of we were discussing, Bill, in a previous segment in our 10 o'clock hour. That was at 1025 or so. We were talking about, is the timeline enough to let you know which one it is? I just don't feel, I don't feel comfortable enough, though, based on what Ryan Polson to infer whether or not he toured the same one twice. Yeah, I think, you know, we're going to kind of probably be left in the dark here. We know it's an injury situation, and especially this is an injury situation from before he was a

Chicago bear, before he was even an Indianapolis Colt. So if that's something he wants to keep under wraps, that's certainly not going to be something that's going to be easily dug up. And like I said, I don't know if it's critically important because I think either way, you're talking about a player who is not going to be at his same effectiveness level from a year ago. And of course, a year ago, he was not an effective football player for the Chicago Bears. So it's kind of a question, is it a slightly longer rehab? Is it slightly, instead of him maybe being 75, 80% of himself?

Is he, you know, 65, 70% of himself? I think it definitely has an impact, but it's not like, from the way I understand it, it's not like it's career ending if it's the same leg twice, but it could be career altering. Bill Zimmerman, the senior executive producer for Westwood One Sports Deputy Editor for Wendy City Gridiron, joining us here on Rahimi Harris and Grody. And Bill, I agree with you that that might not be the critical part. The critical part is what we heard from Ryan Poles in talking about him being an expected contributor next year, despite the fact that this Achilles tear took place in November of last year.

And so we are looking at a timetable where clearly Ryan Poles thinks he can contribute in a year's time or maybe even less than a year's time. And as we know, with Achilles injuries, that's not usually how that works. It's usually the second year back from an Achilles injury when a player looks more like himself if he ever gets back to being quote unquote himself. Yeah, I think that that's the big issue here is the Chicago. I think they very much understand that they have a defensive line problem. And if they are going to make a jump to be, you know, and obviously playoff, great season,

everything, that next jump to really be in that next tier of Super Bowl contending teams, they need a defensive line, they need a disruptive defensive line. They have a lot of money committed to this defensive line already. And of the three big contracts, two of them are aging really terribly. And of course, the Dio O'Dangbo one is at the top of the list. So if you're talking about O'Dangbo being a contributor, despite the contract, to me, you have to look at him as a rotational player. And if they're just committing extra dollars to this defensive line for a year before they can get out of O'Dangbo and potentially Grady Jarrett,

I think that's what you have to look at it if you're Ryan Poles. You can't look at this guy as anything close to a starting caliber player, even though that's what you signed him for. So I think the bears need to look at this and understand that they need to make at least one, maybe two, two significant moves on the defensive line. And if you have really expensive rotational players, that's the way it needs to be in 2026. Bill Zimmerman, making a good point, when you branch out to the defense overall, knowing that guys like Deshaun Wright, Kevin Byard, have to get more money, knowing that T.J. Edwards

is unhealthy right now. You know, he's suffering from that broken leg injury. Noah Sewell, Achilles' chair. How do you consider the defense as a whole knowing that you're spending? so much money up front. Well, and I think that's where the bears need to be careful. And we know they can open up a ton of money if they restructure some contracts and move stuff into bonuses and spread it out over the length of those contracts.

But if you do that, you need to be confident that that player is part of your future plans. Like, you can restructure Grady Jared a little bit and bring that cap number down this year. But then I think he's got four million dead if they come. cut him next year. But if you're going to restructure that money and free something up, then he's going to have eight or nine million dead. So do you want to do that? You don't want to restructure Grady Jarrett if you want to be able to get out of that after this year. You know, O'Dangbo's cap number is just gigantic and the dead money is even more this year. Like we talk about an injury settlement. That's pretty much the only way they're going to be

able to move him because, and that's O'Dangbo having to basically be willing to give some money back. And if I'm dying O'Donengbo, I'm not doing that. So it puts the bears in a complicated situation there. You mentioned T.J. Edwards. That contract extension, I didn't love it at the time. And certainly, you know, I didn't know he was going to have a significant injury here. But that's another one where he's got significant money this year. You can't really get out of it this year. So, you know, we talk about DJ Moore and they were noncommittal there with DJ Moore yesterday. But at the same time, if you were going to restructure DJ's Moore's money, you're going to push money into the future if they can't end up trading him, if that's what they're going to do.

So the bears have to maneuver certain things here. Jalen Johnson, obviously a guy you could restructure, but what Jalen Johnson are you getting in 2026? They're not going to get out of it for 2026. But again, at the same time, can you be confident you're going to have Jalen Johnson based on how he looked last year, which maybe that was anomaly and he's going to get back to his 2024 self?

But if we don't know that based on all the injuries he was dealing with last year, are you confident Jalen Johnson will still be part of this team in 2027? I think that's why we're seeing the bears being very pragmatic about what they're doing financially here because they really need to see, do these guys have a trade market? What money can they get off the books without pushing money down the road and making getting out of some of these contracts that unfortunately have not aged well easier in the future? Bill Zimmerman, the senior executive producer for Westwood One Sports Deputy Editor for Wendy City Gridiron with us here on Rahimi Harrison Grotty. Bill, I got to ask you because you brought it up in one of your articles about the possibility of an injury settlement with Dio Dengbo. And it looks like that's off the table now because Ryan Poles is actively saying this guy is going to contribute next year. Yeah.

And like I said, that injury settlement, because if you cut Dio Dengbo this year, I believe the number is 22 million dead. And his cap number is 20 and a half million. So you actually make the cap situation worse. You have to sit down with O'Donbo and see if he's willing. to lower the amount of cash he'd have. I mean, it'd still be a big number. We're still talking, what, 14, 15 million? Not like he's going to take 7 million and walk out the door and do something like that.

Now, again, the way I understood it, you know, about a month ago was that they were going to approach him and talk about that. Maybe they did. And O'Dangbo and his representation said, we are absolutely not doing that. So now Ryan Poles, I'm not saying that absolutely happened. I'm saying that could have happened. And now Ryan Poles is saying that he is a part of this team moving forward because they understand he has zero trade value and he has a large number that they can't get out of this year.

So if the injury settlement is off the table, and like I said, that would have to be O'Dangbo saying, all right, I'll give you some money back. But there's no benefit for O'Dangbo doing that other than being a nice guy. And the bears gave him this amount of guaranteed money, you know, whatever it was 11 months ago. If I'm dying O'Donbo, I'm saying, look, you guaranteed me that money. I'd like that money. Like there's no reason for him to do that. So I think if that was something that was broached, it was certainly something that's not going to happen. Bill Zimmerman, thank you so much for joining us on Rahimi Harris and Grotie. If you want to see more of his work, you can go to Woody City Gridiron.

The man is full of information and you also have a podcast. We should probably plug that right now as well. Tell the people what it is. Yeah, it's the Bears Banter podcast. It features a lot of different Bears people, you know, personalities from around the Chicago area, some national people as well. You can catch that on the Second City Gridiron podcast feed. Bill, thank you so much.

This has been informative, and at least we're still trying to figure out all together as a team, which Achilles it was. So one of our suggestions on the text line was to Google image search from that year, which I thought was a great suggestion. So I started to do so, and do you know what I found? What have you found? I found a picture of Chris Emma. Oh. Talking to Montes. That's interesting.

Some people like Chris Emma. They do. So I'm going to keep searching, but at least we found Chris Emma. Bill Zimmerman, thanks so much. Thanks, Bill. Thanks, guys. A mystery for the ages. Indeed.

That was Bill Zimmerman, and he does great work over at Windy City Gridiron and on his podcast as well. Coming up next here on Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043, the score. Did we find our version on the offensive side of the ball for a Max Crosby comparison? We might have. I will explain next. Rahimi Harrison Grody, Midday's tidal two.

We've got some opportunities there, whether it's free agency or the draft, and certainly some of our own in the building as well that we're looking to continue to develop. And so we look at all the opportunities out there. And we've got a lot of conversations going on for what that's going to look like. And it's not just that one position. It's really a lot of them. We have a lot of guys currently that are free agents that we've got to make some tough decisions on. If we can't bring them back, and like I told them at the last meeting, I wish we could bring

everyone back, but that's just not how it works. And so if we can't bring them back, then we certainly have to look to fill that void somehow. Don't have a guilty conscience about it. Just accept your decisions, make your decisions, and have no regrets. This is 104-3, the score. That was Ben Johnson talking at the comment about the left tackle position. Nice M&M pull there by you. our team, Ray Diaz and Tyler Buterbaugh. Excellent song. It's kind of a scary song, actually, now I'm thinking about it. It's a wild song. If you think back on the lyrics.

A lot of Eminem's songs are wild. Of course, absolutely. Let's just call a spade a spade here. Now, when it comes to, uh, there are a couple of names to get the people going here on Rahimi Harrison Grady. Oh? Outside of the Bears, for example. The biggest name I think right now is definitely Max Crosby. And we had to, you have, quite the boondoggle when we had Max Crosby and Tyson Bajent together at last in the five on it segment at noon. I think

we may have found the offensive equivalent to get the people going. Trent Williams. He plays offensive line, right? Last check? Yeah, he's one of the best left tackles in the league. Oh, left tackle? Did the bears don't they need a left tackle?

Ben Johnson at the Combine was talking about the Bears' issues of availability at left tackle. Sources told ESPN's Adam Schaefter yesterday that that Trent Williams and the Niners are, quote, struggling to find a contractual solution, end quote.

Williams is entering the final year of his contract. His salary cap number is only 38.84 million. I'm sorry, give me that salary cap number one more time because I think I misheard you. 11 billion times infinity. 38.84 million. That includes a base salary of 22.21 million and it has a $10 million option bonus due in the coming weeks.

So you know how we're like, just push the money down the road, just like to make it go into the next year, the next year. Well, that time has come for the 49ers and Trent Williams. And that's why I say there's no such thing as a left tackle store. I mean, there's a left tackle store, but it's very expensive. The left tackle store is Cartier. It's the kind that has a security guard standing out front. That's what the left tackle store would look like.

More like Hermes, where you have to buy to buy in to buy. Okay, that's fair too. That's one way to do it. I just, for Bears fans out there who saw that news and thought, oh, they can just get Trent Williams. No, they can't. Let me just stop you right there. They cannot. But I thought that they could just get Trent, just get Trent Williams.

They don't have that money. It's like when your parents told you and you wanted to stop at McDonald's to get that happy meal, we ain't got McDonald's money. Maybe your parents didn't tell you that because maybe you're well off. But that's what my parents told me. And you know what? We got McDonald's at home. They do not have Trent Williams at home, but we'll find something you can eat.

How about that? We have Trent Williams. I can't. I can't. I can't even say it. But this does give the idea that some team. could have Trent Williams. What team is that?

You said 38.84 million? A team which has a spare of 38.84 million. Just laying around, right? Now, the latest report out of California is from Nick Wagoner, or perhaps this is, yeah, this one is out of California. And the headline says, John Lynch is optimistic that the 40-nighters and Trent Williams can reach a deal. Trump Williams has been a pro bowl or how many times?

I don't know, a million? Like, he's, I just, it doesn't even matter to me because I just know that if you put him at left tackle, your problems pretty much go away. That's how I feel about him. I'm counting one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve. That's outrageous. Twelve times, three times first team all pro, two times second team all pro.

A future Hall of Famer, no doubt, Trent Williams. Yeah, that's not even a question. But he's also in his age 37 season. You know, you've only got one year left on the deal, so that makes the wiggle room very difficult. Unless you're the 49ers. I don't know what you do there, especially with that bonus money.

But he's playing, so it's just a matter of where is he going to play. He's going to play probably in San Francisco. I can tell you where he's not going to play. Think about all of the salary cap maneuvering San Francisco had to do to get under the cap. We kind of like push that news by the wayside. But do you remember when we're like,

do you want any of your team? Like how many big name free agents left when they had to pay Brock Purdy? You know, and Trent Williams' money was part of this. Yeah. No, I get it. I'm just saying they should be able to figure it out if both sides wanted to figure it out.

That's the thing. If Trent Williams is like, I do want to finish my career here, they'll figure it out. I know he's, I don't think it's the same as Max Crosby because like age for one. Like Trent Williams is 37, Max Crosby's 29. But also Trent Williams plays for a team that wins. There's that.

That's a large factor in the difference. Just like I actually said the Raiders should go for the hall, that's when I actually said you do the hole. Oh, okay. That one time, there's not exactly a comp for this kind of transaction that would have to take place. Pro Hall. Laylorah Rhumi.

That's something I'm going to write that down. on your name tag. Very funny. Very funny. 773, good question. What is the Aldi brand Trent Williams? Well, I like Aldi. And Braxton Jones is available, but here's the thing.

Just like I told you, there's no left tackle store. I think Braxton Jones will go somewhere for more than just a year. I think I told you last week he was like the third or fourth highest rated available left tackle. That's it. I mean, there's no such thing as the left tackle store. You can't just like trade for one. you've got to draft and develop a dude

and you'd better hope that that works out. Or you could just have a guy brought in, signed as an undrafted free agent from north of the border, and maybe he'll work out. The 40-nighters went to the left tackle store and that's why they now owe him $38.84 million. So Theo Benedict is not the Aldi Brown.

That's, that's... Is that the thrift store, Trent Williams? No, because the Bears decided to choose him likely over Braxton Jones, but at the time, Braxton Jones was still getting over a broken ankle. So there's that piece of it as well. And also Trent Williams was drafted number four overall. Back in the 2010 NFL draft,

I just want to, because I know you said 37, I just want to really make sure people understand he is a veterans vet. No, he's the standard, you know, and that's the part of this as well. Next on Rahimi Harrison Grotie, we go live to the NFL combine and check in with Chris Emma, who I found at that Google Image search when I tried to figure out which Achilles Dyer-Dangbo tour in 2021.

So we'll talk to him next.