Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Dan Wiederer talks Bears' additions, Tyler Linderbaum's jaw-dropping deal (Hour 4)

Episode Date: March 9, 2026

In the final hour, Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote were joined by Dan Wiederer of The Athletic to discuss the Bears’ additions as the NFL’s legal tampering period opened. After that, Seahawks Radio Network sideline reporter Jen Mueller joined the show to share insight on new Bears safety Coby Bryant, who spent his first four NFL seasons in Seattle. Later, Rahimi, Harris and Grote reacted to the breaking news that linebacker Devin Bush has agreed to join the Bears on a three-year contract.

The score. Dan Weiderer, Bears reporter and senior writer for the athletic. You're going to be relying on a lot of young players, guys that have to materialize into who they thought they were. The Bears are who we thought they were. On-air contributor for 104-3, The Score. We'll mention this mainly because Dan Weiderer said we would mention this Nugget. Host of the Take the North podcast. We're going to take the North and never give it back.

Dan Weidwer. Thanks, Coach. We'll go first to Dan Wheatier. On Chicago Sports Radio, 104-3, The Score. Weezy! Do we have some news to talk about with Dan Waiter? He is Mark Grady's partner on The Take the North podcast. He is manning the athletic right now because Kevin Fishbane is on paternity leave.

Congratulations, Kevin. So Dan is in a lot of different places covering the Bears and he is doing it for us, also joining us via our hotline. Dan, what is the news that stands out the most to you today? And what do you think happens now with the rest of the safeties now that the Bears have signed Kobe Bryant to a three-year reported deal? Well, I think the biggest news in my world is that Kevin Fishbein's on paternity leave. This is a problem here in the athletics, free agency tracker world.

All kidding aside, a lot is moving fast and furious now. And obviously, you add a proven playmaker to the back end of your defense, but if it comes at the expense of subtracting a guy who was the leader in interceptions and one of the core team leaders of your team last year, you've got to kind of wait to see what that ripple effect is going to be. So a lot going on, really eager to see what. happens in the Bayard market. You're seeing some of these massive contracts given out. I think the Linderbaum news here within the last 20 minutes gives you an indication of why the Bears

didn't want to play in that deep end of the pool. And yeah, it's going to be a fluid day. Certainly a fluid day. And before we focus on today, just going back to last week in the Max Crosby news, I got to ask, you know, it sounds like, as Rich Eisen was one of several people who said that the Bears met the Raiders asking price of two first rounders. But the Ravens had earlier picks, does that mean that bears really were after Max Crosby to the level that maybe people don't understand? Not sure yet, Marshall. I don't have any reporting to confirm that or deny it at this point. So that's going to be something that we'll be pecking away at here in the days and weeks ahead to try to figure out just how active and aggressive they were in that sweepstakes.

I think that'll probably come to light in due time. But yeah, certainly, you know, on Friday, you're kind of waiting for things to sort itself out. And then you get the trade for Bradbury, you get the Crosby to Baltimore News, and all of a sudden you had two big answers to what the bears were going to do or not do at center and defensive line. Yeah, speaking of defensive line, there's another name there, a more modest contract, but the three years, $40 million to Neville Gallimore, a nose tackle. What did you think about that movement? What that might mean?

No, give those numbers again. I don't think you've won that's quite right there. Oh, three. I think it's three for 40 for Kobe Bryant, right? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you are correct. I don't, actually, you're right. I said three years, $40 million. That is for the safety, Kobe Bryant.

I don't have the numbers in front of me on Neville Gallagher, but is much more modest than, yeah, $40 million. Much, much, much more modest. Yeah, I think it is. Two for 12. Two for 12. There it is. The biggest, biggest news in the league if the rotational nose tackle had gotten

40 million. Good for him. Yeah, my bad. But what do you think about Neville Gallimore being here for $12 million in two? years. This will be his fourth team in four years. He has been primarily a rotational guy, a guy that can help your run defense. By all accounts, a good locker room guy is going to come in and give you some talent and depth in the middle of your defensive line, but not necessarily a guy that is going to be a huge splash or turn a lot of heads around the league. And so that seems to be

like a depth addition here, and we'll see what else they've got in store for that position. And always an important reminder on this day as everyone kind of feels like these four or five hours are the be all end all of the off season. The bears still get the end of the first wave of free agency. They get the second wave of free agency. They get the third wave of free agency and there is a draft next

month. So they have a lot of different avenues to go down as they continue to fill out this roster. You feel better? Marshal was literally asking me, Dan, to make him feel better about the lack of splash. And I said, dude, it's not even at the time. It's not even one o'clock. It's not even Tuesday. The league

gear has not even opened yet. Dan, I just see lots of people. It's like holiday shopping. I see lots of people buying things. Like, wait, am I missing out on buying things? Like, I want to make sure that I'm keeping pace. The Tickleby Elmo sold out. Yes, Ticklemy Elmo sold out. I'm sure you guys have waited at the doors of Walmart on a Black Friday or two back in the day to just storm through the doors and get a TV. And sometimes it feels like you got to have it in that moment, but you could probably go back and get that same TV at a, you know, a little different price three days later. And so It's just, you know, you just got to kind of let this all play out. The NFL does such an amazing job at marketing this stuff that it does feel like a game is being

played today and that you've got to win today. I like that. But that's not necessarily the case in free agency, right? You've just got to, you got to understand kind of, again, the number of different avenues you can go down, the parameters you've set for yourself, which they do a good job with this front office under Ryan Poles at House Hall's Hall of doing and staying disciplined to those. And then you just go about understanding plans, A, B, C, and D and being very flexible,

because this stuff, as you know, and as you've experienced today, it moves fast. Is that what you would call the Raiders signing Tyler Linderbaum to a $27 million a year AAV contract? Three and 80? Yeah, I haven't seen the guarantees on that yet. But, I mean, the initial sight of that, you know, made my jaw drop because that's record setting for a center. And obviously, he's a very proven center.

He's a, you know, top of the league guy at that position. But, man, like, that's a heavy price to pay up there. obviously you're looking to pair them with a young quarterback with the number one pick that you're going to use next month in Vegas. And so that's fascinating. But you look at that deal. You look at the money that Alke Pierce got to stay in Indy. You look at Jalen Phillips going to Carolina on a four-year $120 million deal. Like there's some cash being handed out here today.

And, you know, like you just got to figure out where your place and all that is. Are you surprised that we're coming up on the league year and there really hasn't been any talk about restructuring for the Bears to create more cap space and to create more. more funds where they can get in that deeper into the pool? I mean, there's clearly in the shallow end right now, but the deeper end of the pool. Well, you don't always hear about those right away. And if there's a need for them to restructure something to make something happen, then I think they'll go down that route.

And a lot of times you're not going to do that until it becomes absolutely necessary. There's certainly mechanisms to do so. But, you know, you always got to remember that restructures, you know, that bill comes due at some point, you know. And so, again, like the bears don't have to feel like 2026 is the, the only season they have to go pursue a Super Bowl. You're trying to do this here with a head coach and a quarterback that you feel very confident in at this stage. And, you know, I like to remind people that this is still that kind of league, right?

If your head coach and your quarterback are all that they've been advertised to be at this point, you'll be competitive for a long time. Whether it's on Caleb's rookie deal on his second deal or beyond, whether it's on Ben's, you know, first two seasons or is, you know, next four. Like, you've got a window open here and you've just got to be very, very responsible about how you attack competing. within that window, and I think that's probably part of what's going on right now is they set their course. Quick theory for you, Dan, and a question, if I may, the theory is we're talking about the mentality of wanting the bears just to bust the doors down and give the deal out at midnight. You know what ruined it for the Bears in his franchise? Once upon a time ago, you remember the player, Dan. It was under Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo that they went to Julius Pepper's house,

and they were at his doorstep, and they signed Julius Pepper. So I'm just trying to think of the the mentality and where it is in Bear's history and some of the splashes that they have made in the past, but I always have to think about Julius Peppers. But my real question is, and you can comment on that if you want, is, is Marko Jackson the Bears starting linebacker for 17 games this year? Is that why they signed him to the two-year, and let me make sure I get this one, right? Two-year, seven-and-a-half million dollar deal? Yeah, I mean, he's set up to compete for that role, right?

And you saw when he was called on last year that he answered the call, you know, and did a great job during those stretches of no. November and December when the Bears were beat up at that position. And we obviously know Tremaine Edmonds is no longer here. We know that T.J. Edwards is recovering from a pretty significant injury. And so you've got a guy that you already know, and he's been productive. He knows Dennis Allen very well. And that gives you that comfort.

And so his return is a big deal. I think for Richard Hightower, the return of Daniel Hardy is a big deal. And now you're going through it. I think yesterday I had counted 39 open roster spots of which I thought probably 19 would be guys that could, you know, 19 spots in your week 1, 53 that weren't solidified yet. That's come down a little bit here today with DeMarco Jackson and Kobe Bryant and Gallimore. And they're obviously going to continue through the process. We also talked about just cornerback as well because Brad Biggs, Dan brought it up earlier today,

asking what the bears were doing. And that had been a position where it hadn't been as concerned because, well, they have multiple players signed as opposed to safety. You know, how do you examine what's going on there knowing Nashan Wright is also a part of this discussion as a free agent? Yeah, well, I mean, I think our thought all along was that Nashan Wright's production last year was going to price him out of where the Bears could keep him at, particularly given that they're paying, Jalen, they're paying Kyler in the slot. And obviously, you've got Tyreeks Stevenson with another year to see what he can do. So it's going to be interesting. I think when people talk about the Bears' ability to sustain the success they had last year or even go a little bit better,

have to remember that they didn't ever have full strength, Jalen Johnson. They barely had full strength, Kyler Gordon for four games. So if you get those guys back and playing at the level that you paid them to play at, all of a sudden you feel a lot better about your defense. Same goes with some of those guys up front, particularly Grady Jarrett, and if DiO Dangbo can come back off his injury and give you some splash that he hasn't necessarily provided at any point in his career, then you start to feel better there. And so, you know, we'll see kind of how this entire defensive a puzzle comes together. I think you feel confident that Dennis Allen has a vision, right, to blend this together.

I think partly when you look at Kobe Bryant's arrival today, you see a guy that is versatile. And, you know, DA loves those versatile DBs that can allow you to be really creative on the back end of your defense and keep opposing offenses guessing. How likely do you think as we talk with Dan Reader or senior writer at the athletic covering the bears? And the co-host, of course, the Take the North podcast, Mark Grody. And Dan, how likely do you think it is that the Bears get their needs met in a way that they can draft the quote-unquote best player available like they clearly did last year? That's what you do in March. And it really is a matter of, and I've said it a couple times here over the last few weeks,

that your goal is basically to set your team up so that if they canceled the draft, you'd feel okay going to the starting gate of the season ready to compete. You know, and so you would want to have placeholders. in every one of your starting spots, if possible, right, that allows you to then pivot and be flexible if the draft board breaks in a way where you're like, man, we really like this for this need, but this guy's just too good of a player to pass up on, right? And part of the reason that you don't have DJ more anymore is because Luther Burden fell into your lap last year on day two of the draft. And then it allowed you this year to kind of say, okay, we're going to take those resources that we had allocated to DJ, and we're going to use them in a different way.

And so that's the importance of this month is being able to set, yourself up so that then when you are trying to be a team that drafts and develops, you have the maximum flexibility on draft weekend to go after the premium talent that's available in every single round and most notably on days one and two. I want to go back to the D-line really quickly. You and I have talked about it on Take the North since really the end of the offseason when we start to look at their needs. I think we use the phrase they're going to have to, you know, hire from within, basically for the defense. And Diot Dangbo has to get better. Sharmard Turner is a second rounder has to show something, all of this to ask,

is there any name signing that could still be coming on the defensive line, Jonathan Allen, maybe defensive end, Adafé Owey, who I assume is not off the board yet unless it's gotten by us here in the last few minutes, anything on the defensive line, or is that the draft too? Well, yeah, I was going to say two things. The last time I checked in on Jonathan Allen, it didn't feel like there was anything moving in that direction. Okay.

As far as the bears are concerned, I do think you bring up a good point because the edge class next month in the draft is considered very, very strong. And so if you feel like you've started to lay out your draft board and you've matched it up against what's available in free agency, and you say, look, like, we can wait until late on day two. And we've got four picks now in the top 90 and still get a guy that we think can be an impact edge rusher. Then it gives you a little bit more patience and calm during this stretch when everything else is breaking loose. So that's important to remember here that this is a really deep edge class there. And then again, you know, one name that we haven't mentioned a lot of either is Juvon Dexter.

Like, you've got him still on the interior line and you're going to try to push to get the most out of him with what time you have left with him, you know, and see if you can start to, again, squeeze the return on investment out of the guys that you've invested either big contracts in or premium draft picks in. That is Dan Weider. We know you have a curfew since you have to be everywhere. You just never know what's happening. Yeah, we will let you get to it. So, Dan, thanks so much. and we look forward to the news that you report on this very big day in the NFL.

Thanks, Dan. Enjoy the week and stay calm. See, but. We're not necessarily staying calm. Yeah, why stay calm? It's actually the opposite of our job. Yeah, don't be telling us this. Don't calm.

Don't calm us down, Dan Wheeler. I need to stay calm or calmer than I've been. Are you calmer after hearing? Because, you know, Dan, he is the, what he does really well amongst other things. The perspective that that man gives is amazing. Okay. this is occupied my mind for the last few minutes.

Acupato? Listen to what this, listen to this deal. The Titans are signing X Giants wide receiver Waddale Robinson, who had a pretty good game against the Bears to a four-year $78 million deal with $38 million guarantee. Pard! Wadale Robinson just got paid. Are you saying you don't think? that he's

maybe worth that type of money $19.5 million per year? Do you? I don't know because his quarterback was concussed for much of the last season

so I'm but Wando Robinson has talent I saw the talent I mean we saw yeah he was in the right spots on the routes

against the Bears but what we know is if you don't have someone distributing the ball in an efficient way your talent's not going to shine I hello Jordan Jefferson

hello projection that's what that is because he's Okay, so that he had 92 receptions. And you're right. A lot of this you have to take with a grain of salt because of dysfunctioning offense, which very much was the case. 92 receptions last year.

1,100, 1,014 yards. That's it. That ties him for 14th. Four touchdowns total, but it's the Giants last year. 11 yards per catch, which is 71st. I wonder if this is going to be the news. Blanky, for lack of a better word, for the Titans and Cam Ward. We were talking about Blankies last week.

Well, I think Brian Daebel really likes Wondell Robinson, so that makes it make some sense. Clearly, offensive coordinator now for the Titans and former head coach who obviously saw everything that he's capable of. And I know he didn't necessarily have a starring role until last year, but he has had 90 plus catches each of the last two seasons. 622 yards out of the slot. That was good for second to Trey McBride in the league. maybe that's the idea there. Not even Pooka Nakua had that many yards in the slot. He only had 594 during the regular season.

A little hot read action for Robinson going forward. No, you know what? Bless them. All of these people who are getting to the Titans, right? Ridiculous pay to the Titans. It's funny because when we were having our show meeting. That was Ryan Porth, by the way. That's how I'm going to whiteboard that.

People were just like, why is Grotie just spouting up? When did you get in? When did you get in? Because Ryan Porth, one of our bosses here at the score is huge Titans fans, so he knows all minutia. And when we were talking, discussing our teams that are dysfunctional in the NFL, he raised his hand and said, I offer the Tennessee Titans. I don't know what he thinks about this, but we'll find out.

It's a big swing. All right, boy, bye, sir. It's a big swing. The Raiders have, according to Adam Schafter, agreed to terms with receiver Jalen Naylor on a three-year $35 million deal with $23 million guaranteed for Ken Sarnoff and Joe Dibendetto of one-of-one agency. That is a locally-based firm, so that is news regarding the Raiders.

They are going to use some of that $11 million of cap space. 27 million of it going, though, to Tyler Linderbaum. There was a question on a text line about, well, what if he retired? He's his own man. How about we let him decide what he wants to do for a living in for how long? It's like Dalman has started a trend with centers doing one of doneers with their contract. And there was some news out of the Saints as well.

I believe they picked up... More like the a a inch. Well, I think they're trying to make a flash. They signed Travis A-TN, so that's supposedly happening. And there is news about Travis Kelsey reportedly expected to return to the cheese for his 14th season. Did you catch the A-TN money, by the way? I did not. 52 million for four years.

Oh, man. That's why I wanted to make cheap. He got it. He is good. He's very good. He wanted to be close. closer to home, but the way you're looking at me after I told you before, that's to be Ian Rappaport on X.

Hopefully they caught her on Twitch. Twitch. That's a lot of money for a position that doesn't get a lot of money these days, unless you're like Sequin. Sequin doesn't make that much money. Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Well, he was what, he signed two years ago, right? Yeah, yeah, and he's only played one season.

Are we close to extension time? But they won the Super Bowl. They did. Ding, ding. Yeah, you ding-d-d-d-d-b-d-bump to me. Every time you make a point, you have to either have ding-ting with some sort of sound.

I'm getting NFL slap-happy right now. Let's get serious. Who do we have coming on? This is great. She's a person that I have looked up to in my little old career. We have Seahawks reporter Jen Mueller, who also was a very big fixture for the Mariners broadcast as well out of Seattle. Joining us next to talk about the big news regarding Kobe Bryant.

So Ray, nicely done. Rahimi Harrison Grody. I don't want to break time, I want to yell a person. Can we handle more Anthony Herron? Middays 10 to 2 on 1043, the score. Rogers, downfield, looking for Austin, picked up by Kobe Bryant. Number eight picks off number eight. And down across the 45-yard line.

Second pick thrown by Rogers today, and Kobe Bryant, who had three of them last season. That is Adam Ameen on Fox Sports. This is Rahimi Harris and Grotie on 1043 The Score. And we go to our hotline. That is where we find Jen Bueller. She is at Jen Talks Sports on X. She is the Seattle Seahawks Radio Network sideline reporter, the founder of Talk Sporty to me,

and somebody who inspired me for many years. Jen, thank you so much for joining us today. Thank you so much. That's a great way to start this conversation, as if I wasn't already excited to talk a little football. Well, it's true. Got to give the flowers where they're due. Jen doing things when not a lot of women's sportscasters were out there doing things.

So thank you for that. You are welcome. Thank you. In the meantime, the vaunted Seattle defense is a little less strong today with the signing of Kobe Bryant over to the Bears. What do you make of just him moving and what he meant to a championship season for the Seahawks? Yeah, I mean, he's part of the best defense. defense in the league and one of the best defenses that we have seen in a while. So he was a key piece, and he started 15 games. That is the most time that we have seen him on the field during his career.

He is tenacious. He is gutty. I always enjoyed conversations. I find him to be very thoughtful. He is very intense. He has always had something to prove, and I think that he will continue doing that in Chicago. It's unfortunate. You can't keep the entire defense together, but I know that John Schneider and McDonald's, they kind of expected that that was going to be the price to pay for success. Jen, I think you summed up nicely when you talked about the best defense in a while because that's how dominant this one was on the way to a Super Bowl. My question is this. With him specifically, Kobe White, what impact do you think he'll have?

Brian. Oh, Brian. My bet. Kobe White. I just did. I've done it 10 times already. Yes. I'm sorry.

We used to have a basketball player. His name was Kobe White. He just got traded. It's fresh on my mind. because it's quite all right I love basketball so anyway Kobe Bryant another basketball player

but that's not who I'm talking about right now right right his impact off of that team and now on the Bears what do you think his immediate impact will be on the Bears well again

it's just kind of the way that he is able to fly around and he really did grow his game the coolest thing about Kobe is just the story that the four years in Seattle tells I mean he started as kind of a slot guy. He was so versatile in college that it almost was a challenge in the first couple of years in his career. And what you have seen in the last two years, specifically with Mike McDonald, is how he has handled that safety role, because that is not where he started

when he came in as a rookie. And when you take a look at past completions, I think this year they were completing about 59% of the passes against him. He, you know, has the ability to get those past deflections to have the interception, you had the highlight there. I'd have to study that Bears' defense a little bit to know, but here's the thing. And I underestimated this early in my career, and I don't now. When you get somebody who has been there and done that, you have been through the playoffs, you have been through the battles with some of the best teams in the league, you know, in your division, you have won a Super Bowl.

There is part of that that you just can't put a number on and you can't put a price on, and it's really hard to explain what it's like. when you have somebody in the locker room who knows what that feels like and knows that should look what that should look like. His leadership skills are going to be as important as anything that you see on the field on game day from him. Oh, that's huge. I mean, Bears fans listening right now. You should love that because the Bears just had two really good locker room guys

and Kevin Byard and Jaquan Bristker, who, as we speak right now, are still available. And to Jen's point, yeah, like you look at his career, Kobe Bryant's career in 2022 as a rookie, He's 17 games as a DB. He was a cornerback in 2023 where he played it in 11 games. The last two years are interesting because he was a strong safety, Jen, in 24, and then he became the free safety in 25, and he has the four interceptions. You didn't have three interceptions last year as a strong safety. What's his best position, like, and why the change?

Well, the change happened with Mike McDonald's and just finding a single spot for him on the field. And I think what really helped him was having Julian loves. I mean, I think you guys are familiar with Julian. He's from the Chicago area. But he had a similar trajectory in his career, but he played all over in the, you know, kind of the back end of a defense. And so when he got to Seattle, he really worked with Kobe and said, look, here's the mindset you have to have. Here's how you stay sharp.

Here's how you make this work to your advantage. And that's where things, you know, kind of took a step in that next direction for him. I think also when you look at Kobe, you're playing alongside some pretty special guys. You moved him to safety because now you've got Devin Witherspoon who can play, you know, inside and can be that cover guy on the slot. And you've got Nick and Worry now who's listed as a safety. Granted, he can play at all three levels. But I think some of that was just the pieces that you had on defense. I think you saw everybody take a step under Mike McDonald in year two just because of how talent was deployed from.

all different spots on the field. We're talking to the Seahawks Radio Network, sideline reporter Jen Mueller, here on Rahimi Harrison Grotian, 1043, the score. And just to digress a little bit, because he is an Aligni guy, Devin Witherspoon, he proved to be such a special pickup and really was deployed excellently in that Seattle playoff, Ron.

Yeah. Yeah. And I love how talented he is. I think I love how he talks more than anything. I mean, he never stops talking. He is supremely confident in his skills. I am sure he gets under the skin of a lot of guys. But you're right. When he hits like he does and he's just got these natural instincts. And in some ways, Spoon reminds me of Earl Thomas from the Legion of Boom Days.

But here's the difference. Earl Thomas would sniff out of play and he would just leave his zone wide open. And people would be like, what are you doing, man? And I remember a point in time where the coaches told Earl, you cannot do that because you haven't communicated to everybody else. Spoon is instinctive, but he plays within that system really, really well. And I do love the fact that they decided to send him on those blitzes early against the Patriots. He's got the ability.

They just weren't doing it very much. And because there's versatility, you know, you knew it was going to be unlikely that you meet Kobe and keep all of those guys. You're also going to have to pay Spoon in a couple of years. And I'm sure that all of that weighs into the decision to allow Kobe to get a chance to go and win with the bears. Well, and also just to follow up, we were looking at some of the stats on Kobe Bryant, Jen, and it is comparable.

You know, Kevin Byrd, of course, had seven interceptions that led the NFL in the regular season, but Brian had four to his name, and that just goes to show he's got a nose for the ball. Well, yeah, and remember, you've got so many guys that made plays on defense. I think you're going to see another level of Kobe Bryant, because everybody was kind of splitting those plays and those highlights, as is it. evidenced by the Super Bowl, right? This is not a knock on Ken Walker, the Super Bowl MVP, who just went to the Chief. He was amazing down the stretch. But really, it's that defense and the fact that they were so unselfish. They didn't care who was making the plays. Kobe easily could have

had more interceptions. And I think you are going to see those numbers go up because he will be given a chance to be in a larger role in to shy. Jim Miller, joining us here on Rahimi Harrison Grody. She is the Seahawks Radio Network Sideline Reporter. She's also a founder of Talk Sporty to me. I understand she is also a cooking host. She does it all and she's cooking with us right here on Rahimi Harrison Grotie. I got to ask you, as the team kind of takes its next step, the Seahawks I'm saying, you're losing guys because that's what happens every year, but especially when you're successful.

What do you think the Seahawks will look like? What do you think the biggest difference will be a year from now without guys like Kobe, not white, but Bryant on the team. It is going to be interesting because you do have versatile pieces. You know, I would expect just right now, straight across the board, without making any other moves, right? You're going to slide a guy like Ty Okada is to play that role. That's what happened earlier in the year when there were some injuries.

He's a guy out of Montana State. He proved to be more than capable of holding down that job, and they just re-signed him. So they have somebody in the building who can put. play that role. Of course you want to add on and you still want to have pieces, but what's interested is how Mike McDonald talked about a guy like Nickyman Worry, again, listed as a safety, played at all three levels of the defense. And he said, look, if we determine that the best spot is playing corner, he could play corner for it. Like, it would take drafting a couple of other guys and having, you know, just kind of some moving pieces. But we could do that. I would

feel comfortable with his capability and skill set. I do think you have guys. that allow you to kind of pick and choose best available for the overall skill set, not just the position. And I know from talking to John Schneider in the past, they have run into trouble. He personally says this. When he reflects on kind of the things that he has done, you try to pigeonhole like the one for one, right? We lost the safety.

We got to go out and get the exact same guy. No, you don't. You need to go out and find best talent for the defense so that you can keep doing the unique things that you're going to be doing. So I don't know that it ends up looking that much different. I think when the pieces across the front start moving and those edge rushers, I think that's where you start to have a different look and feel to the defense in general. John, one more question from me, back to Kobe Bryant, the bear's brand new safety three years and $40 million can play strong safety and free safety. It also looks like he's a very willing

tackler. And I know people are like, well, duh, he's, you know, he's a safety. But we've seen Eddie Jackson was here. He was great, but he was not a willing tackler. I see a 70 tackle season, a 73 tackle season, a 66 tackle season. Is that indicative of the way he plays? Yes, absolutely. He will put his nose in there along with his shoulder, his, you know, arms and all of those things. You were going to get somebody who scraps, who fights. He is not going to give up easy yards. He's going to be a sure tackler. And that goes back to his days at Cincinnati, right? That's not a surprise. That didn't change in the NFL. That has always been one of his strong suit and something you can consistent count on from Kobe.

Jen, this has been really informative. We thank you so much for joining us today. Thanks, Jen. You are. Oh, no. Do we lose Jen? There you go. Sorry, you broke up, Jen one more time. Jen, you inspired all of us, not just Layla. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, thanks for giving me a chance to talk football today, guys. We're happy to do so. That is Jen Mueller. She is the Seahawks sideline reporter. She is at Talk Sporty to me. If you want more of her work, you can find it on X. And yeah, she does do the cooking shows.

I forgot about those. She does everything. Where? I'm very much impressed. Like YouTube thing or something? Jen is everywhere in all media. But I want to know where I could find her cooking show. Longtime Mariners host as well.

Why, you going home and cooking something, that, Grotie? You know what? Maybe. I think I saw Jen because the White Sox broadcast was, or on CHSN, they were using the Seattle broadcast,

and I think I saw her in the booth. Yeah, she was Mariners until, at least I think last year or a couple years ago, because their broadcast changed hands as well. Okay. They were root. Oh, so their MLB run now? I'm not entirely sure off the top of my head.

There's like 15 teams. We got to sort that out, yeah. We do. Did you figure out where the cooking? It's not on the food network, is it? I'm looking at clips on her Twitter page. She's good about Twitter. So, you know,

She still cares about Twitter. You can find everything Jen does as well on YouTube at Talk Sporty to Me. Talk sporty to me. Is that a poison song? Talk dirty to me? Yes. Yes, it is. I do think musically.

You're right, Leila. An angel got its wings today. Mark got a song named correct. Oh, my God, man. Is that song by Whale? Oh, yeah, whale. No. Polk it out.

Polk it out. I thought it was whale. Man, there were a few years where I thought Wale could do no wrong. I felt like he was just producing hit after that. Can he do wrong now? Or is he just kind of done his thing and, you know, how music moves on? No, he's still, I mean, he's still an amazing artist. I don't think 40s, 30s, 40s?

I think late 30s, right? I have no idea off the top of my head. Waleigh full, Irene. I'm doing it right now. He's 41 years old. 41. Wollet is 41? Yeah, I said late 30s.

I was a little bit off. My bad. Good for Wale. Good for Wale. Congratulations on being 41. Seriously. Good job. We don't make it to 41.

Also, everybody reacting to the Mike Evans news, you are appropriate to do so. That also happened. Mike Evans reportedly going to the 49ers. So he was a free agent for about 35 seconds. We got some. Adam Schaefter. Look at that. Wouldn't you see there that I probably had a correct assumption that they needed to do something about linebacker?

According to Adam Schaefter, former Browns linebacker, Devin Bush, reached an agreement today on a three-year $30 million deal that includes $21 million guaranteed with the Chicago Bears. That's per agent. Tell me if you've heard this name before. Drew Rosenhaus. Three years and 30 is not nothing. Okay. There it is.

Devin Bush, young. He's 27 years old, played in 17 games this year with the Cleveland Browns. He'd had a career with Cleveland. Our internet today in our studio has on all of the days, even our wired internet has been woefully behind. Yeah. So that's been a lot of fun. No, three interceptions for 164 yards is something that he had this year. I was concerned about linebacker, and it looks like I wasn't the only one.

Thank you. 2019 first round pick. I guess we can talk about it more on the other side. 125 tackles. Yeah, we should talk about it more on the other side. Two sex. More on this pickup. And if we have time.

A familiar phrase entered the chat over the weekend. Next. Rahimi Harris and Grody. Bears tight end. Cole Komet. Cole, welcome to the party, pal. Well, thanks for having me. I heard it was a big day. So naturally, I dropped everything I had going on today.

You've complained a lot through the years about not being able to hear the score on the 670 AM dial when you're inevitably cruising around downtown. And now that we have an FM signal, Cole, you can now hear the score. All day, all the time, all you want. You can hear all the Bears hot takes you want. Well, that's perfect. I'll make sure I blast that in the locker room. Beautiful back!

Rahimi, Harris and Grody. Midday's Tyndall 2 on 1043 the score. Clino Burrow will be back and some changes they'll make in the offseason. First and goal from the seven. Burrow quick release has it deflected. It's intercepted. And the Browns may have a chance for a pick six. Bush.

He's got up one man to beat. He's looking for Miles Garrett for some help. He got some help. And Devin Bush will score. That is one of two of Devin Bush's pick sixes. That one against Joe Burrow. Been chilling at the Holiday Inn. Why do you ask, Chingey?

This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043, the score. Who's the highlight courtesy of so we can be illegal? That would be CBS and Tom McCarthy on the call. Oh, Tom. Of course. The Phillies announcer. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043, the score. and the reason we bring it up is because,

lo and behold, the Bears also thought linebacker was a position of need, given that they released Tremaine Edmonds, and we knew that guys like Noah Sewell were injured, and the reports are, per Adam Schaefter and others, former Browns linebacker, Devin Bush, reached agreement today, on a three-year, $30 million deal with the Bears, that includes 21 million of it guaranteed. And Bush, by all accounts, seem to have a bit of a renaissance,

with the Browns. And the two pick six is a good example of what he was able to do. Sounds like turnovers are still a priority for this Bears team, does it not? Yeah, and they have a really good middle linebacker in Carson Swessinger. It was a rookie last year. So that might have been part of what they're thinking and in him being expendable against the Bears last year. He had a tackle and an assist and a pass defense. And the Bears 3-3 win over the 80 Cleveland Browns. Those are some of the few highlights the Browns had in that game. But yeah, Bush, three picks, 164 yards worth of that, 125 tackles last year, 27 years old.

That looks like a good product right there. That's a good lineback. And it makes sense if you're the Browns. You have the defensive player, excuse me, defensive rookie of the year last year in Swessinger, as you guys just described him. So for them, it's like... D-R-O-Y-D-P-O-Y, too. Yes. Yes.

And so you look at what they have on defense, this made him expendable. And for the Bears to give him good money and to get a guy who's not past his prime. You know, he's going to be 28 when the season starts. And it sounds like by all accounts that there was a hope amongst Browns fans, rather, that maybe Devin Bush would give them a hometown discount, but that did not happen. And the Bears had the money because they were able to free up some space. you know, Tremaine Edmonds leaves as we talked about. That was an expected cap casualty.

So again, I think the pattern to be had here, if you look at them reciting to Marco Jackson, which I feel like we all feel like was a solid move, citing Daniel Hardy, who seems to unite us all in our celebration of him, then also getting Kobe Bryant, who had four interceptions last season, Jen Mueller telling us in the previous segment that she thinks that number could easily increase, but when you're on Seattle, you just know you have to share defensive accolades. leads. And then now this,

career high three interceptions for Devin Bush, it very much sounds like turnovers are still a huge priority to this Bears team. Do we feel like DeMarco Jackson slash Devin Bush is the way they're going to go until everyone else is healthy? Is that satisfactory?

Yeah. I feel like they found the linebacker they needed to replace Tremaine Edmins. I like it. I mean, I do think that they still have to get something out of room in Hippolyte as a fourth-round pick. and maybe they will. Maybe they will. But yeah, I think that's a pretty good one-two punch right there, I think, with those two guys. And then figuring out, like you said, what the depth is going to be in that linebackers. Now they just have to sign three more safeties. Yeah. Yeah. When you say it like that, and it's accurate, it's, it sounds daunting a little bit. But not, not at. I mean, the, obviously the signing of Kobe Bryant makes it a lot more palatable right now. Like you know who one of your starters is going to. And it's not just because you know that they have one of those four safety spots, Phil, but it's a pretty good signing. Like, it's a high-level player that you're getting off of a Super Bowl team.

I don't know about you guys, but I still keep refreshing my social media, trying to see if Kevin Byard has landed anywhere. There's been any news breaking on Kevin Byard. Nothing yet. No. What is going? I'm not saying the Bears necessarily. I'm just curious to who he might be flirting with or who he might be closing in on a deal.

with right now. Honestly, I think this is positive news that some team just didn't come in and lop him up with a bunch of money. Like, because that's what we've seen today is a lot of the teams scooping up players by flashing the cash. Flash the cash. Yeah. That cash works.

Kevin Byard, no change to the bio. Okay. The Pro Bowl is still the link. All right. That's important stuff these days. Although he's an adult at 33. He may not do all the past. aggressive, yeah, he may not, he doesn't, he would not come across as that passive aggressive social media mind games guy.

No, and not just that, but his last post, at least on axes of him appreciating Tremaine Edmonds. Okay. So, yeah, that's quite the opposite, which I feel like all of us would assume out of Kevin Byard. He seems like quite the adult. But good to know, at least, for, as we try to just see what happens to him and where he goes. This is good from next-gen stats. This is courtesy of Roger Blanco, the producer over at Fox 32, who you may have seen last night. I did. I did see Roger Blanco. Shout out to Roger Blanc. Such a nice man.

He really is. Kobe Bryant allowed the second lowest passer rating among safeties in 2025, this per next gen stats. 51.4 minimum 25 targets in coverage. Bryant's four interceptions were tied for the fourth most at the position. So you see the passer rating list. It is Antonio Johnson. Then it is Kobe Bryant at 51. 1.4 for the opposing passer rating. Then it is Kalyn Bullock, Jesse Bates, and Xavier McKinney. So that is nice company when it comes to the compliment out of next-gen

stats. I'd say it's been a pretty good 24 hours, and I put the 24 hours in there just going back to DeMarco Jackson, Daniel Hardy being put in place, Devin Bush, Kobe Bryant, Neville Gallimore. Pretty good, I'd say. Would you guys agree with that? Pretty good. I'm putting the pretty before the good.

I'm not saying good. I'm saying pretty good is what the bears have done so far. I just don't want to see regression. The very least I can ask for out of this team after winning their first playoff game in 15 years is regression at any of the positions where they had a log jammer, perhaps cap casualties. And they need to be better on defense. We all knew that. You cannot go through another year where you are depending on big, splashy interception plays to be the part where you won on defense. You've got to win up front more.

And maybe with some of these signings, they've started to get closer to that. I can't call anything that we've seen splashy today because of the net positive, even though you got a guy like Kobe Bryant, Tremaine Edmonds was good last year. You know, you just want to see, can you, with the salary cap, the way it is, get better? And I think that we're a long ways away from answering that. We have more to come here on Rahimi Harrison Grady because Lawrence Holmes and Matt Spiegel have entered the building. They're in. They're in.

Where'd you get in? They're in. They're in. They're in now. I think they got in about an hour ago. When did you get in? More on that later, Pat Hughes. We heard what you did over the weekend.

So Lawrence and Holmes, or Lawrence and Holmes and Matt and Spiegel. Oh, it's going to hit a hell of a show right now. Hey, man, negotiating period is open. Next on the score.