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

Episode Date: March 6, 2026

In the third hour, Leila Rahimi, Mark Grote and Fox-32 reporter Cassie Carlson discussed a variety of sports topics in the 5 On It segment. After that, Carlson discussed the Bears’ trade of receiver DJ Moore to the Bills and previewed what lies ahead for Chicago as NFL free agency looms next week.

This hour is brought to you by Cars for Kids. I got five. It's time for five on it. Rahini Harrison Brody. Bring you five topics on their minds today. On 104-3, the score. I got five on it. Number one.

Got a special edition of five on it. On 104-3, the score with Lailorahimmy, Mark Grody, and Fox 32 Chicago Sports anchor and Bears reporter, Cassie Carlson, in the house. Here's question number one. Yesterday, Bears traded receiver, DJ Moore, and a 2026 fifth round pick to the bills for a 2026 second round pick and released Tremaine Edmins, linebacker Tremade Edmins. What's the next move for Chicago?

And I'm going to put this stipulation out there. We're limiting this to one move. What is the number one move the Bears will make next? I'm scared that they're going to cut somebody else. I feel like this is Ryan pulls swash buckling through a jungle of cap space. And you don't necessarily know if he's going to be concerned. conservative in the path that he's swathing or if he's going to make sure that it's a it's a tight path or a wide path is colquemette next is deandre swift next?

Is anybody safe? One name only. That's what I worry about. So optimistically, because I want to wish cast this, they're signing Taylor Linderbomb in my opinion. That's an opinion and a hope. More of a hope, really, but that's what I want to say happens because there's a lot of people that are gone. And I don't know that I'm ready to deal with all of this yet.

Oh, so I have the same answer, Tyler Linderbaum, because again, I want it to happen. And I think it's the most important thing that needs to happen for Ben Johnson to create the number one offense in the league next year. We saw the importance of Drew Dalman. We know the importance in what he meant to Caleb Williams. Year two in Ben Johnson's offense, you could argue, is more important for Caleb Williams because he wants to get paid. The Bears are preparing to hopefully pay him. And you need to take that next step. The Cole-Komet thing is interesting.

It could be a restructuring of Cole Kmet's contract, too, because Ryan Pohl's, I thought he made it pretty clear at the combine that he would like to keep D'Andre Swift and Cole Kmet on the roster. And I feel like he named dropped those names because he kind of wanted them out of the talks of maybe they could be cut. Yeah. I mean, yeah, that's a great. The restructuring conversation is a good one because there are other candidates who I mentioned Joe Tooney and Jonah Jackson at the beginning of the show today. If you were to restructure their contracts, that's 14 Mildo right there. So that's a good one. I can't disagree with you guys on Linderbaum. I mean, that would be silly because we can't sit here and talk about how important

Drew Dalman was and then say, yeah, we'll settle for a rank and file average center. So it's incredibly important, but I have a prediction. I have a prediction. I think on Monday, we are going to be talking about a, we are going to hear that there is a deal in place for, I'm going to say, two years and $20 million for Kevin Byer to return to the Chicago Bears and continue to be the safety and leader that he is in the Bears locker room. That would be a good move that would make people happy. A reasonable take. You have a safety on the roster.

Yes, you have a safety on the roster. That is a start. You might need one. Am I crazy guys to think that Jonathan Owens might. I also think about him as a possible re-sign. Sure. Special teams. Yeah.

He liked it here. You need bodies. I think they're happy here. I would say that. I think more so than anything, it was like there was some rumblings of Kevin Byer could have created his own market to go. go play somewhere else and make a ton more money. And that would have been a huge concern because then if you lose that leader in the locker

room, you're like, where is the next leader going to come from? And I think that's the value that he really does bring to the bears. Well, he did change, though, because we talked about this too defensively, Cassie, was that he was a pretty important part of the defense last year under not 20, 25 season, but 2024. And then his role was not the same even when the secondary got depleted this next year. So maybe it just wasn't a fit for Dennis Allen. I don't know, as much.

He's very aware, though, just in some conversations I had with him about the way the NFL works. He's like, yeah, man, you start to hear them bringing guys into workout. Like, they pay attention to that stuff. You hear safeties are coming in. Like, he talked about it, you know, in Green Bay and other places that he's played that, like, he understands the rhythm and the heartlessness of the NFL. Well, he's, what, 32 years old? He's been around the block for a while.

I think he felt like, oh, he wants to play. I think he wants to play, like, potentially, like, four or five more years is that possible for Kevin Byard will wait and see when you're the interceptions leader at 31, 32 years old. It seems like the possibilities are endless for him. But to position himself, and I think a lot of it is Al Harris and how he positions his DBs to be in good situations. He always talked about like tails on tape. And it was the most that it's ever been emphasized in the secondary since I've been covering the bears that they were always looking at tails on tape and they were really able to capitalize on those for some reason this

year under Al Harris as the coach. And so I think that it's a combination of the group they had, Al Harris, that they want to be part of this defense. That's getting all these takeaways, whether it was a one-off or not. Number two. Which remaining bear is most likely to break Johnny Morris's record. 5,059 career receiving yards. In the career? Yes, Romo Dunez. In the career, note, Morris retired from the Bears in 1967. It's a long time. This was inspired by some text her yesterday who was having fun and said, who did Johnny Morris pay to get DJ Moore off of the team?

And the joke was that he was going to remain like the 72 dolphins, you know, the longest tenured, receiving record for Bears and Bears history. And then I texted back, pop the champagne, Johnny Morris, like they always say when a team loses, pop the champagne, Miami Dolphins. I guess, I guess because he's so young in his career, it's got to be one of the rookies, right? It would have to be either Colston Loveland potentially or Luther Burtain. I think Roma Dunes A still could, depending on his career.

But I don't think Colson Loveling could get enough receiving orders just by nature of tight ends. That would be a wild amount of production every year. So I guess it's still either Roma Dunesay or Luther Burton, if it's a remaining bear. Longevity of career in Chicago alone could make it Colston Loveland. Fair. That's where my mind went of just how many years they're going to be in Chicago. Roma Dunezay, I keep going back to like, yes, we need Rome to emerge as wide receiver one. But then I also go back to he is not Ben Johnson's guy.

And we really don't know how Ben Johnson truly feels about Romadunze, especially coming off last year, where injuries played apart, started off so strong, but dropped off significantly in the last when he needed to show up, especially in the last game. And I know that weighs on Roma Dunezay. He was the most visibly upset and hurt by his role in the divisional loss at the end of the year in the locker room. I go back to Colston Loveland every time. I just think he's going to have the longest tenure out of the picks available in Chicago. So inevitably, he'd have the highest chance of getting closest. Well, is it Walter Payton third? He's in the top five.

So is Mike Ditka, tight end. So if a tight end and a running back can be in the top five, then I guess the tight end could. but yeah, that's just more about the bears that it does, I think. Because everywhere else it would far and away be a receiver. Which remaining bear is most likely to break Johnny Morris's record of five? None of them. Oh, my God. None of them will do it because it never happens.

I thought maybe Curtis Conway would do it at one point in time. I thought Brandon Marshall might do it at one point in time. I thought maybe Elshon Jeffrey would do it at one point in time. I had high hopes for Alan Robinson to do it at one point in time. I'm sorry. I know this is the, I'll just admit it. I am being jaded right now. None of these, and maybe I should believe in the power of Ben Johnson to actually make this happen.

None of those guys are going to pass Johnny Morris. It's just the way it works with the Bears. I'm sorry. Walter Payton is fourth. Alshan Jeffreys is third. Sorry. Alshan Jeffries. Yes.

Sorry Alshan's Jeffries. He's at the jewels now. Number three. Shout out to the jewels. This is five on it. No, 4-3 of the score with Layla, Ramey, Mark Grody and Fox 32's Cassie Carlson, all in the house today.

Here's question number three. This week, quarterback Aaron Rogers joined the Pat McAfee show on ESPN and had this to say about his thought process about the idea of a potential return to the Steelers. You've had to have done some daydreaming about what it would be like to be back with Big Mike, I assume, or

am I assuming incorrectly there? Day drinking? Well, I mean, what are we sitting here? It's March 4th. Fradency starts in a week. I've been spent a lot of time with my wife. We went on a ski trip. Just been laying low. There's a lot of other things going on with the situation in Malibu that have changed

some things. But I've talked to Mike. I've talked to Omar. There's been no deadline that's been put in front of me. There's no contract, you know, offer or anything. So there's nothing that I'm, you know, having to debate between. I'm, you know, free agent.

And, you know, again, I'm enjoying my time with my wife and enjoying this part of the off season. And, you know, I think there's conversations to be had down the line. But right now, I'm not, not, there hasn't been any progressive conversations. You know, I love Mike. And Mike and I have kept in contact over the years. I've, you know, had conversations with Omar. I really, you know, I think Omar, you know, enjoyed having me there. I think the guys, you know, had a positive response, you know, to our time together.

But again, there hasn't many deadlines set on me. There hasn't been any contract, you know, floated in front of me. That is Aaron Rogers on the Pat McAfee show. All of this kind of sounding a little familiar. Todd was mentioning general manager, Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy. Given that former Packers coach Mike McCarthy is now the head coach in Pittsburgh, does a reunion between Rogers and the Steelers make the most sense for both sides? I was under the impression that Aaron Rogers was the last man standing in a game of King of the Hill

and that Aaron Rogers won that battle when there was a face-off against Mike McCarthy and that that was a relationship that at the time had come to an obvious conclusion. Aaron Rogers says a lot of stuff. lot of stuff too much and I think Aaron Rogers probably wants to

remain employed and it sounds like based on some reporting today that Carson Wins is the preferred backup in Minnesota so why is that important

because I definitely thought that Brett Fav might follow the Brett Favv arc and go to Minnesota to complete the Jets Packers, Vikings trifecta

the FARC which honestly kind of would have been here for right I mean like I think that he was probably, this is very much me thinking. This is not reported. But can't you imagine being Aaron

Rogers knowing who he is now sitting on the bench watching that hole when it dominated our lives in a much simpler time, whether or not Brett Fav was retiring? And then what does he do? Go to the Jets? Okay. Okay, Erin Rogers. You want that time that Brett Fav took from all of us, don't you? You want to have the same time. You want to take that time from us as a society. Yeah, Aaron Rogers spoke for what? I think it's 75 minutes on the Pat McAfee show. And I hate that people tune in

and I hate that he is so interesting when he speaks and you're like... Because you don't want to like him. Is he interesting or does he just say stuff and make it sound slightly curious? Well, he knows how to make himself the center of attention in the NFL, which is why I truly

don't care what he does. I don't see Aaron Rogers as the threat at 42, 43 years old with the Steelers. Like, it doesn't matter to me. Like, I think he is going to wait as long as he can to make a decision when everyone's done talking about everything else and they can only talk about Aaron Rogers. Do you think he's really married? Well, I don't know.

Do you? I'm suspicious. The podcast, the gossip show. Sports gossip. Gossip girl. That's right up my alley. They, uh, they did some digging and they found Aaron Rogers' wife, the identity of Aaron Rogers' wife. They did not release the name or anything.

like that, but they confirmed that this person is real and is married to Aaron Rogers. I hate that he said there's some stuff going on in Malibu. He wanted McAfee to ask the follow-up of like, he's like that guy who is like, says something so that the person asks about it. Well, he's, I can give you that update quickly because I listen to a lot of that long interview. And it was, he has a, he has had a beach house in which he has been stalked, according to Aaron Rogers. So that's what all of that going on in Malibu.

was and he needed to get out of that situation. Because he's being stalked. A likely story. Right, right. Does a reunion between Rogers and Mike McCarthy makes sense? Yeah, it does because it's wholly disappointing. And I would imagine even the Pittsburghers would be, I don't think that Mike McCarthy's hiring was very inspiring as it was to begin with.

So like the kind of the older guy who's had many bites at the Apple, who's probably got what a couple good years left him in as a head coach. Same thing with Aaron Rogers. So they're actually a perfect marriage, if not a completely disappointing marriage, to the outside world. They're the friend that you're like, I'm not sure. Is it going to work out? Yeah, I've got to support you, man, but I'm not sure if that's the right woman for you. As someone who had a disappointing marriage, watch out there.

Hey, if I had been watching over you, you would have been fine. We were functioning for quite some time. That's good. But, you know, sometimes it just falls apart and then it is a disappointing marriage. I don't think there's was, it was functioning to a point. But I feel like the air being led out of the balloon when they were together in Green Bay was long and frustrating. Yeah. But they also had the highest of highs.

Yeah. They did. And that's why I'm like surprised. Like I didn't necessarily know that they were like still on great terms. So I didn't either. I will give you a quick detail here. During this long interview he did with Pat McAfee, Aaron Rogers detailed that in Green Bay he had a meeting with Mike McCarthy where it was just the two of them.

they met in the sewing room for the where the there are you know they they they sew all the patches and the numbers onto the uniforms as to isolate themselves so they can just be one on one and they patched everything up at that moment when they were still in Green Bay that's how the story is told by Aaron Rogers he said that they patched it up in a sewing room how poetic he said that I mean that's my that's me being that's my doing but but you're a beauty thanks wait wait you're the beauty you're not a beaut you're the beaut you're the beaut you're the beaut you're the beaut Okay. I'm glad to you. I'm not the only one's skeptical of his relationship as well. Number four. Are the Bulls doing too much? Yes. What are you doing, Bulls?

That's not how you tank. What are you guys doing? You're not supposed to be doing all that, beating the Suns on the road, no less. Colin Sexton game? No, what? Bulls, no. You're supposed to be tanking right now,

especially against Western Coverage teams where the wins really don't mean anything. What, no. That was the wrong move. Well, I mean, it was good for the team, but still. Sun's headlines are like Sun's face worst loss of this season. Oh, I didn't even look at though. That makes sense.

Which makes me laugh. No, you should be losing. This is the tough dynamic of I'm sure that keeps Billy Donovan up at night. Is never been a loser, suddenly losing, wants to help his guys, doesn't know what to do. The February was the best month for the Bulls. You need to get out of purgatory. You need to get higher lottery chances. Cassie, I was talking about this yesterday.

Like, I'm driving around listening to the Bulls game on the radio when you don't have the advantage of seeing the players. And honestly, and Chuck can't do this and doesn't need to do this, but I need to know if it's a Bulls player. When I hear Leonard Miller just drained a three, what? Who does he play for? Nick Richards, Lachlan Allbrook, Yuki Kawamura. Know him a little bit better because he's an interesting story.

Gershon Yubiseli last night had 16 points. You can't have all those guys going into Phoenix and beating Phoenix 105 to 103. And shout out to our guy, Marshall Harris, who is our Bulls guy. And he could not have been more disappointed in what the Bulls did last night at a 105-103 win over Devin Booker's sons. I've got a good player for you, Grody. Yabosele, his nickname is the Dancing Bear. Oh, is it really? Oh, I didn't that know that.

Do you know the origin story? I don't. We'll have to find it out. Oh, I thought you had it. No. Yeah. Do we care? said that we were hanging on your other.

No, I thought, no, I was genuinely curious. The dancing bear. I don't. How many bears does Bear Sean get? Yeah, good question. Yeah, that's a seven bear situation. So I'd like to meet. Let's get you Besselli on the score.

I want them on Monday. Okay, while we're talking, uh, Bears legal tampering period. Legal tamper. Wait a second. So I only have eight and a half having been here 10 years. Cassie's from here. So she gets more bears out of the gate.

You're from Palatine? Yep. Palatine. What did I give you, 8.5 bears? Leila? Nine bears. Congratulations on your nine bears, Cassie. Good job.

Shout out to Mayor Schwantz, by the way. Out of Palatine. Other high school. Jim Schwantz, our guy. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Schwantz is still the mayor, the former bear. Yes, his daughter's my age.

Oh, really? But we went to opposite high school. Oh, okay. Got you. Ah. Are you guys cool now, or is it still kind of like a heated rivalry? Not a heated rivalry. No.

What is the high school? The actual original term. Palatine and friends? It's a TV series, isn't it? It is. Yeah, sorry. I haven't been, I've heard about it, but no, I meant the original term, to be fair. There is a hatred there, I would say.

But see, the problem was my junior high would split between both high school. So all my junior high friends went to Fram and then I went to Palatine. And then you're like, all right, I'll go to your dance. Like, that's high school rivalries. Okay. So it sounds civil but aware. Yeah. All right.

Tyler has the Yavaseli or. Jim, go ahead. So the reasoning for the nickname is because of his surprising agility and nimble footwork. Bear? Dancing bear. Dancing bear. All right. He's French.

Dancing bear. Wow, the bears are going up by the second. Go off, Gerey, Sean. Number five out of one of four three. The score final question, Team USA plays its opening game tonight in the World Baseball Classic. What's your interest level in the tournament? I think for me it's still high because of how exciting this was last year. Now, NFL free agency and the like has very much dominated my week

where I would normally be spending more time watching the World Baseball Classic. But when you have the stars that Team USA has and you know how this came down to USA versus Japan the last time, a lot of the games are on Fox. They are starting tonight. Yeah, so with Team USA playing tonight on Fox, right? Yes, you're right. I'm excited because of the nationality and pride coming off the Olympics in Team USA with hockey in particular. I feel like that's going to carry over into the WBC.

And of course, just like watching, I think more so, the Cubs players that are going to be in it in the early rounds. Once it gets to the quarterfinals, I feel like that's when I'll be more bought in. And if we do get USA, Japan, I think everyone's going to be watching. There are 162 regular season baseball games coming up. I don't know that I necessarily need to be hooked on more baseball.

I will watch it the same way I watch the Olympics. I'll turn it on for a while. I'll check it out. I'll see what the vibe is. I'll watch the Cubs and White Sox players if they're coming up in the order. That'd be cool. But I'll be honest. I don't believe, I mean, it could be different.

I don't think I will be glued to more baseball when 162 game season is about to occur. At least have Fox on in the background. I will. Just for you. Just for you. That's one way you can support, actually. Yes. I support Fox 32.

I support Cassie Carlson. Wallpaper TV slash World Baseball Classic tonight. on Fox. And they're playing Brazil. And I was just talking about how I can't speak Portuguese at all. Understand it anything. My eyes are on Team Mexico, baby. There you go. Who's the star?

You're going to call me out like that, 30? Havier Assad. Havir Assad, baby. Good enough. Good enough. Yes. Very good. Very good. Harvey Sott had a great world baseball classic for Mexico last time. He did. So go off Javier Assad. Cassie Kersa. Kersen is in the house with us from Fox 32. She did a ton of work at the NFL

Combine, sat down with Jeff King, who's now the assistant general manager, sat down with Ryan Poles and talked to him, did the same with Ben Johnson, did a lot of other reporting. So I think given the week that we have had as a Bears media, I want to know, do you look back on any of those conversations a little differently now doing what we've seen? We will talk to Cassie about that and more next. The Big Bear. Rahimi Harris and Grody, Midday's 10 to 2 on 1043, The Score. Hello everyone and welcome into First and North. I'm Cassie Carlson. Hey everyone, welcome into Chicago Sports tonight. Tina Lynn and Cassie Carlson with you. How do you prioritize what you want to do with this roster? Do you work from top down or how does that work from your standpoint?

I think the first thing is getting together with my staff, understanding what the landscape looks like. Then the next thing is meeting with our coaches. Make sure that we have alignment with what we need to have success and take our team to the next level. The wide receiver room under Ben Johnson just seemed to be heading in a different direction. And there's so many other. needs that this Bears front office needs to address now in free agency and it clears up $16.5 million in cap space that they're desperately going to need it. With Rahimi Harrison Grody on 1043 The Score. Love a good Rihanna song for the Cassie Carlson open. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043 the score. Cassie Carlson is in studio with us for the hour.

Yeah, what do you think of the montage? I mean, Rihanna, I'm honored. I'm a team Rihanna over Team Beyonce, so you guys knew me so well. I'm truly impressed. That was a Tyler Reuter ball production. I know you like Rihanna Grody. I do.

Yeah. Hey, cheers to the freaking weekend, you know? They play that at every Bears game. And every time I hear it, they do. Yeah, I noticed these kind of things.

I have tuned down the music at Soldier Field. Because a lot of times I'm like, there's no new songs. Like, they're all oldies. That's true. There's no doubt about that. Like I perk up for the Rihanna song. They play a steady flow of system of a down throughout the game.

They do? They do. They do. And then they play, what's there's a bear claw song. That's your deodorant. Oh yeah, that is my deodorant. But there is a bear, what was it? There was something that I thought was something that had to do with claws or something. I don't pay attention, I guess. But that's a good, that's a great. Rihanna's got some good stuff. Absolutely. Cheers of the freaking weekend. Indeed. And shine bright like a diamond. That's a really nice song. So all of that said, I feel like that. There was some shining bright, like a diamond. When it came to the work you did at the NFL Combine,

like you guys put in work at Fox 32. That was very evident, especially last week. And I was thinking about some of the stuff that Ryan Poles said, both of you heard it, DJ Moore when he talked about him, not only at the Combine, but at the end of season press conference. And he didn't back off. He said every single time, there are some serious decisions that we have to make.

So that was my recollection when I heard the DJ Moore news yesterday. Having sat down with Ben Johnson, having sat down with Ryan Poles and, Def King. Did you revisit anything that was said immediately when you heard about either Drew Dalman News or DJ Moore, even Tremaine Edmonds? What came back to you thinking about the work you had done? Well, thank you. First off, and shout out to our bosses at Fox 32. For the last three years, I've gone down there for the entire week. And it really is so beneficial to talk to all the national people that are down there too. And it was just such a different experience this year because

with the 25th pick and who knows if the Bears keep the 25th pick, it was like you could go in a million different directions on who the prospect could be that they're going to draft. So it was more so about the Bears and where they're at right now coming off of last year. The DJ Moore stuff, I thought starting at the end of season press conference when Ryan Poles talked about his toughness and everything that stood out with not missing games, other players around him looking at DJ on the field playing banged up and saying, well, I better be out there too. And then what he said at the combine about him having to make some tough decisions and not

knowing the different combination of players that they would have on the roster next year, reiterating the toughness and durability that DJ plays with. And then it was Ben Johnson who actually said that DJ probably knew the offense in each wide receiver position better than anyone else on the team. I thought to me, given that in combination with the salary that he was carrying and knowing he was going to be the highest paid bear next year and that he was in a receiver room where his production was the down to the least of his career, it was going to, always kind of the obvious answer that he probably wasn't going to be on this team next year.

And I felt like the bears were trying to boost his market saying that DJ Moore is, because there are a lot of questions about DJ Moore nationally, especially coming off of that interception at the end when Chris Collinsworth in real time on national television pointed out that he laid up on his route. And that created this narrative around DJ Moore. And there's other examples of times where people were questioning how he played and if he gave 100% every time he was on the field. And I thought that was them saying, like, you are going to get a really good teammate and player if you have DJ Moore on your roster.

So that's how I read the situation. Just the $28 million was a huge number that they just, they have so many more areas to fill. And now we're, there was no, I didn't hear anything about the Drew Dalman retirement at at the combine. I think everyone was equally shocked when that news came out this week. But knowing that and knowing that the bears had been in talks with him about that being a potential opportunity, they equally then knew that. It just wasn't a possibility to carry that salary with DJ Moore. I want to stand a wide receiver with you for a second because Laila and I were kind of debating it and discussing it. Layla said Luther Burden will be their number one wide receiver next year.

I think it's going to be Roma Dunzee just because he's got to. This is kind of his, like he's going to be in the NFL for a long time, but this is the year that will dictate what he eventually gets in free agency and what his career will really look like. Who do you think is going to be the most productive? receiver for the Bears next year. I keep going back to Colston Loveland and everyone's like, well, he's in the tight ender. I'm like, no, but he's a receiver. He's a receiver. He catches the ball. And Ben Johnson wanted him for that particular reason that he can do it all. And Ben Johnson is going to use him in his scheme every single year. We saw how this offense really emerged post-by week when Colson Loveland started getting

the targets and he really started emerging. And I keep going back to that. Colson Loveland had zero off season. He came out of college. He had shoulder surgery. had to rehab it and then came back in training camp and was like that was his like inauguration into the NFL and we saw him get better as the years went on. Roma Dunesay I think feels definitely the most pressure to become wide receiver one. Like I what I was saying earlier about I won't forget just how he looked. He looked distraught at the end of the season, both after the game and the next day in locker clean out.

Like he was almost inconsolable about the drop he had on that opening drive. And then I just think that he knew he had. had such a disappointing season, especially the way he started the year. You're like, oh my gosh, he is on track to have a thousand yards receiving. He's going to emerge in year two with Caleb Williams. Then the injury happens and then the drop off happens. And you just felt like he knows that he needs to step up. I think he feels all the pressure in the world. Like he's a top 10 pick. Yeah. He came in with this quarterback. Caleb Williams ascended. Roma Dunes equally needs to ascend. And it's all the conversations about the size that he has. And coming out, remember he said,

He doesn't believe in 50, 50 balls. Like he's like 100 or nothing. And the aggressiveness, I think, needs to come out. Like a lot of times we see him, I think, waiting for balls to come to him instead of being that more aggressive receiver that goes out and gets it. And so I think that's what I'm waiting to see from Rome. I think he feels all the pressure in the world. Luther, I love Luther.

I love his personality. I love his play style. I think he becomes the DJ more. and so I could equally see him being wide receiver one just based off of the physicality. I think you make a really good point with the catching style of Rome. It's different from what we saw in college. How many times would you see Rome go up and get it in college? Double team, triple team didn't matter.

You're facing a different secondary. You know, the University of Washington, you are in the NFL. But that was what set him apart. Was that Pinnix could throw it up there and he knew that Rome would do that. And I don't think we've seen that kind of, even though it's been something they've worked on. I don't think he and Caleb Williams are at that point yet because a lot of what you're catching is a runner's ball,

as you mentioned. Well, the runners ball is equally on Caleb Williams, because I feel like Ben Johnson has vocalized that too. He always said it when referring to Jordan Love, that Jordan Love is so good at a runner's ball. And it's like, you know that he wants Caleb to do that next year. Like that is part of the progression of his quarterback is giving his receivers runners balls.

Because there's plenty of times where we saw receivers open or running into open space. And it was like throw the ball, like throw the ball to the spot. And he just didn't release it soon enough. And he always seemed a little timid in that sense, too, in my opinion. I always love hearing the national perspective on the Bears because sometimes it's wildly off and hilarious. And sometimes it's spot on your time at the combine. Did you talk to people on the national level that gave insights on our humble football team here in Chicago?

The two quotes that stood out to me most were from Rich Eisen, who, you know, we're trying to get a feel from what's the national narrative around the bears, what should their window to compete for a Super Bowl be? And Rich Eisen said something great. He was like back in 2018 with Nagy and Trubisky, like I felt like I needed to see more. He said after watching this past season with Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson, I've seen enough. I don't need to see anything more. Like, these are the guys.

These are the ones that are going to bring a Super Bowl back to Chicago. The Ben Johnson safety valve is so nice. Nice. Because with all this, like, all that is going on right now where you don't have your offensive line intact right now. You just lost maybe your best wide receiver. It's like, oh, yeah, but there's Ben Johnson. He makes guys better.

But also Ryan Poles saying, like, they're going to meet with coaches, see what Ben Johnson wants. I think Ben Johnson's going to be like, for my offense to operate, I need a center. Like, that's what he had in Detroit with Frank Ragnow. And we can talk about the retirement of Frank Ragnow, which came at a way different point in the offseason or right before the season. but that is such an integral part of how his offense is run is having a center that can handle everything at the line of scrimmage.

Remember when Caleb Williams had to handle that all his rookie season? And that was a, everyone was like, why is this rookie being tasked with all of this? Well, he didn't have to do it all in his second year. And it allowed him to play more free and allow the protections to just be more accurate and right and read defense is better. And so you need that center position, in my opinion, more than anything. The other good quote that we had was, from Mike Florio.

And he said the window is unlimited when you have Caleb Williams. So whether or not he's on a rookie contract, whether or not they have to pay him, like you got your quarterback. Some of the stuff that we saw, he believes, is more magic than Mahomes. And so really the possibilities are endless when you have your guy at quarterback. The limit does not exist. Yes. We're talking to Cassie Carlson.

She hosts a show, by the way, called the offseason with Cassie Carlson. Does that air tonight on Talk? It does. It airs tonight at 6 o'clock on Fox Local. and you can watch it on the Fox 32 YouTube page. We're having Dan Weider on tonight along with Olin Kruits. I know him. I know both of those guys.

So no better person to talk about Drew Dalman's retirement as he's been on the score all week than Olin Kruits. Except our show. Except the midday show. I didn't mean to bring it up. No, we've been laughing about it because we joke that everybody, we've got to get our time in with Olin at some point because he was on the morning show and the afternoon show. How about Weedsie, man? Like he did the morning show today. Apparently he's doing an hour here.

he's doing your show. That man needs a break. He's joining us Monday as well. He's not with us Monday as well. Dan Weirer does not get a break and he'll be on the offseason with Cassie Curlson tonight. I think we have time for this. So I'm going to make a judgment call. I want to play back the interview you did with Ryan Poles where you talked to Ryan

Poles about, oh, this is DJ Moore. Okay. I thought it was DJ Moore. It was Darnell Wright. So let's do that next then. Let's talk about Darnell Wright. next because I think his position on this line is just as pivotal as everything else that's going on when it comes to trying to figure out who they might sign and where and how.

So Darnell Wright, Cassie Carlson's conversation with him, and then more from just her impressions from the combine and the impressions of a wild weakened bears land. Next. Harrison Grody. Can you imagine Lovey Smith doing the whole good, better, best thing and saying bleep the Packers? Come on, guys. Good better best. Never let rest. I'll see you on Tuesday.

Middays 10 to 2 on 1043, the score. More Rihanna for Cassie Carlson. By the way, I just want to give you this one note. She does say it's Rihanna. That's how you pronounce her name. Well, that's better for Chicago. Rihanna. Rihanna.

Rihanna says a lot of stuff cooler than we do. Is it Rihanna or Rihanna? Rihanna. I say Rihanna, but Rihanna is still. Okay. So it's all good by, Rhianna. It's like my guy, Dan Levy. Levy.

It's not. Has anybody ever called you Casey? Oh, every day. What? Yeah, I respond to it. I respond to it. That's shocking. You've learned to just accept it.

Yeah. You're just like, whatever. Well, after you, like, correct someone, like, once. You're like, I can't keep correcting them. Yeah. That's what happens in sports a lot. Like, in locker, like, guys just accept the mispronunciation of their name because everybody does it.

And at some point, especially in the NFL, it's embarrassing to, to, like, And then their mom's like, no, it's actually this. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Whose mom was it that did that? There was a... I feel like this happened to a bear recently. It was.

Good. There was a bear's... Oh, I remember who it was. It was Mitch Trubisky's mom who said his name is Mitchell. Mitchell. It's like Matthew Stafford. It's not Matt Stafford. Exactly.

That's our desire to one syllable quarterback names. Tom Brady. Nice and easy. Yeah. that's that's the uh the desire for the one syllable quarterback name although i have called mad stafford matt stafford forever like going back to probably just college days just because that was always how he was named mattie matthew matthew that one might take a while but good to know about riana riana then i just sound like i'm trying to imitate her well i'm stumbling out of the gate

this is cassie carlson she's on with us today watch her show tonight on fox 32 the offseason with Cassie Carlson. We also have some news that just keeps coming from the NFL, and it's in the division. This is for me in Rappaport. Lyon's veteran left tacker, Taylor Decker, announced that he will be released. Taylor Decker put out a statement on his Instagram page so you can see that for yourself, but Taylor Decker no longer going to be the Lions left tackle. Played for Ben Johnson. He's been very durable since 2022, has played in at least, well, he played in 14 games last year, 14, the previous year, 15, 17, so who knows? That frees up some cap space for the lions, who, according to my over-the-cap.com,

salary table of the NFL, and I know there are some updates to be made here, this morning when I put this page up, the lions are $6.5 million over, so that would free up some space for them according to that. Everybody in the division, man, it's wild. The Vikings, like, ridiculously over the cap, the bears were, the lions. What you got, Green Bay? Can you get over the cap? I don't even know what Green Bay Sitch is right now.

I'll tell you, because I've got the table. Nice, nice. Green Bay's situation is that they are $4.3 million under. Because, of course, they are. I feel like they're always under. Right. We hadn't been hearing much. Yeah, that's, well, and the extended Gunacuncunst and Matlo Flore.

Remember when that was a fun piece of drama, whether or not Matt LaFleur's job was on the line? But then he got the B minus on the report card. Was that his grade? He got a B minus. It went down. See, that's good, though. I want to get to the point where that's the way we're grading our coach, because there's an expectation in Green Bay, right?

They're expected to win, expected to go to the playoffs. A B minus still gets you to the playoffs. I guess so. I mean, are you kidding? Kevin Stefanski, the grade was a C-minus. And remember, it gets you another job. Two-time head coach of the year and you get another job. That player survey does matter to me.

I'm glad you brought that up because I feel like it does help you gauge what you see on the field a bit. Well, and like we were surprised, I was surprised at least to see that Dennis Allen got a C plus because I thought we were all giving him credit for finding ways to make the defense work when he had all these injuries. And apparently players felt differently about him. Yeah, that was surprising as well. I want to get to this because I like receipts and you did a lot of work. So we're going to bring them. As much as I've hoped for Tyler Linderbaum, for example, you and Ryan Poles, Cassie talked on Fox 32 about the very real situation. This is pre-Drewdahlman's retirement. This is. is at the Combine about Darnel Wright, who is a big piece of this financially and for the future. We talked about the offensive line, Darnall Wright, was a huge piece of that as well, knowing that he's up for an extension. Is that a priority for you this offseason? Yes, it's definitely a priority. There's a lot going on right now. We'll eventually start having those conversations. It's been cool because anytime you have a new coaching staff come in, you're hoping that they saw the same vision as you did. And in terms of Ben, Dan Rochard,

Kyle the van. They share that vision. Not only, you know, we're excited about where he's at, but we're really excited of what Darnow can be. If he continues to put in the work that he has been, we think he can be, you know, a really talented tackle in this league and help us win championships. Okay, so before we get to that thought, we have more news in the division from Adam Schaefter. The Packers Edge, Rashon Gary, announced on Instagram that he is leaving Green Bay. Whoa. Wow. He's 28. Let's read this statement. Green Bay. When I got the call in 2019, it was one of the greatest moments of my life and it always will be.

The opportunity to represent Green Bay and Packers Nation across the country and around the world is something I will never forget. Like all chapters in life, this one has come to an end. I want to thank everyone who supported me and my family throughout the years. The love, the energy, and the memories mean more than words can explain. on to my next stop. Nowhere near done yet. That's in bold. And then he busted out the measurements. All 6'5-275 can't wait, signed Rishon, Bain, Gary.

Just do a combine for free agents. A free agent combine would be awesome. Oh, people would attend that. Let's see how they stack up now. Interesting. And then a free agent combine for guys who think they still got it. Right. You're not in the lead right now, but you feel like you still got it.

That will be a separate combine. So what does that all mean? Does it mean he's going to go do like broadcasting or like what? No, no, I think he wants more. He just wants out of Green Bay. You don't remind people you're six foot five for no reason. Yeah. Okay.

Wow. He had seven and a half sacks last season, but they were all in the early part. And he really dropped off in the second half. And I know in Green Bay they were a little bit disappointed because you have Michael Parsons. And they thought that that what we're looking for in Chicago, someone opposite of Montefat, sweat who can take the chips off of him for Rishon Gary then not to be productive when he had Micah Parsons. I think a lot of people viewed his season as really disappointing. So Rishon Gary's because I think it's because of the contract. I feel like it was kind of the same way

Montez Sweat was treated last year. And you're right, Cassie, there was a lot of discontent when it came to how few sacks Gary was producing. I respected him because I felt like he was rushing Caleb Williams a lot. Like there was the one-two punch of Micah Parsons and then he was getting in Caleb Williams' face, even though he wasn't getting home. pressures were still there, but it's the contract that might have been the issue. Four years at $96 million. So that I think was a big part of the reason a lot of fans had the feeling they did about him. And that contract was supposed to go.

That was 2023 through 2027. He seems like such a perfect compliment, though, to Micah Parsons. You're right, Cassie, though. I mean, he did drop off and he never did get, just looking at the number. He never was a double-digit sack. I think nine and a half was the most. So I always had a healthy fear of him, though, like from a bear's perspective going into game. So this is, I think, good news from a bear's perspective.

I just respected is what he still did. He would still change a play. Even if he didn't get home, he would still be disruptive enough. What, I'm not paying him the 96 mil. No. What, $19.5 million this year? So that's big because I guess that means that last year of the contract. I wonder if it was, I don't have the numbers right in front of me as far as the cap hit versus what he was going to get paid.

Because SpotRack already updated. Dang it. But that is big news. Out of both the Lions with Taylor Decker and the Packers with Roshan Gary. Wait a second. What are the Packers freeing up room for? It's just scary. And we're talking about that on the air or off the air,

about all the room that the Packers have or they do have some room, right? I believe we were on the air. Oh, it was on the air? Okay. These conversations are mostly eligible for off the air as well. So you just never know. Yeah. Usually what we're talking about during a break, just in case you're wondering as a listener, is more football.

Yeah, except for the coconut oil hair thing you guys were talking about. So Cassie knows, as somebody who has hair that you have to style for television. It's tough. It takes a toll. It could just break off one day, Grody. Hey, I've got the advanced SUV if you guys want some graphs of hair. FUE. FUE. I've got the FUE if you guys need some extra hair.

I've got it. I don't personally have it, but I've got it. You know what? I use a hair growth serum. Because I needed it after my hair was super damaged. There are various reasons why you need help grow in your hair, okay? Okay. So I use one.

I don't begrudge you guys that. I just want people to know the conversations that are really had. Yes. So it was that, yeah, hair products. I gave Cassie a wreck because you seriously end up with no hair. Like, after a couple years in TV. Like, don't look too close. It's all blowing it off.

Yeah, mine was like not long at all. Like now it is because I don't heat curling irons and stuff. Yeah. It's really hard being a girl groating. I, yeah, you guys do, yeah, see, I'm just like, I'm a four-on-one guy. I got everything I need in one bottle. You guys can't do that. Doesn't work that way.

Are you using pert plus plus out here? What year is this? Perth plus, plus, plus is what it is. Talk about that with your advanced FUE people. I eat it. I mean, it's like great. It's beautiful. Okay, so I think we have a little bit of time when Cassie left before we have to let her go.

But I did want to ask you about that Dernel Wright conversation because for Ryan Pulse to bring that up, I wonder how much that affects who they look for in center. and how they figure out the left tackle situation. Yeah, I mean, I more so brought it up, honestly, because like this was Ryan Poles' third interview in a matter of like 30 minutes with Bears media. And I'm like, all right, he's talked about everything. Like, how do we talk about something else?

And I go back to the Combine two years ago when Ben Johnson was just hired. And he, which he does frequently, is just bring things up, I think, very intentionally, said he saw Darnel Wright like Pena Sewell. And I think with the Bears and Darnal Wright, in particular, like, we all see the talent. And, you know, listening back to that one soundbite now, I kind of laugh because he said

there are some other needs we need to address. Maybe that was a little foreshadowing of Ryan Poles knowing that he was going to have to find a center as well, um, that I just think they're wanting to see consistency from Darnel, right? And they keep saying like, we just, we want to see him keep working hard and keep doing other things because they describe him as a unicorn. He played with one arm this year. And I think we all saw him. The one arm guy.

Yeah. Roddy was very big into the one arm. conversation. I asked him to name his Mount Rushmore of one-arm guys earlier this week. Guess who just made it on there? Darned all right. Technically he has two arms though. Technically But for his time with one arm, we honor him.

He can do the cartwheels. Don't ask him about it. But the talent is obviously there and I think he's been a huge part of the offensive line and the consistency that they were able to find on the right side. And I love, I think he likes playing in this system too. He had the best quote about Ben Johnson and

why Ben gets the best out of offensive linemen, and it was because he gives them specific, like, tasks and examples on on it. If you do this, it will unlock this for the entire play and the entire offense. And he was like, to have something tangible where you can like envision your role when you don't have stats was huge for him and his progress. It says a lot about the coaching staff too. And Dan Rocher, I'm sure, is a part of that as well. That is Cassie Carlson. Nice enough to join us for the whole hour here on Rahimi Harrison Grotie. You can catch the offseason with Cassie Carlson tonight, airing at what time, in wear. Yeah, you can catch it at 6 o'clock on Fox Local and the Fox 32 YouTube page with

Dan Weider and Olen Cruz. Thanks, Cassie. Thanks for having me. This is fun. Yeah, thanks for hanging out. Yeah, fun Friday. Let me know how the L'Oreal pre-chample. Yeah, I'll let you know. Very important. I want the best for both of you in your hair. I really do. I've always said that. Mine is healthy now because I don't have to heat style it every day. I did the cheat coat. You're in recovery. To get it back, that's what I use was the Loreale pre-shamper. I'm going to the store. All right, clues. There you go. You got a recommendation. You're welcome. We help people out here. It's what we do. Cassie helps us by getting us Bears sound, which is very important and will help her however we can.

Yes. Coming up next here on Rahimi Harris and Grody, we continue with talking to a lot of reporters in the know. We go to Buffalo and check in with Sal Capaccio, the Bills reporter for our sister station, WGR 550, talking to us about the motivation behind trading for DJ Moore and what the scuttlebutt is, what people are talking about in Buffalo regarding the trade and the return. Next.