Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Examining what Drew Dalman meant to the Bears (Hour 1)

Episode Date: March 5, 2026

Leila Rahimi and Mark Grote opened their show by discussing how retiring Bears center Drew Dalman had a big impact on the team. After that, they discussed how the game of football takes such a physical toll on players. Later, they reacted to the breaking news that the Bears are trading receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills.

This hour is brought to you by almost free teeth.com, save on dental implants today. The views and opinions of Lela Rahimi, Marshall Harris, and Mark Grody should not be taken too seriously. Especially when they give advice. Do not take Marshall's analogies, literally. Especially when it comes to Russell Dorsey. The sports thoughts of Rahimi Harrison Grody may change at any time. It's just sports. Okay, thanks.

Bye. Bye. Rahimi Harrison Grody. 10 to 2 on 104 3. The score. With the other guys, the one-arm guy or something? The one-arm guy. What are you talking about?

Are you the Avengers? I thought in Tyler's open, I heard Caleb describing somebody with one-arm. Or maybe I'm just so sensitive to, maybe I'm projecting. Who else was there, Larry? I took over for a one-arm man. There was a one-arm man playing out. You're listening to an Odyssey through Mark Grady's mind on 104-3-the-s-s-4. It's quite the Odyssey.

Darnel's Bucky because he has the one-arm. That's it. That's it. See? Bucky. Who the hell is Bucky? Based on how you hear him. lyrics, this is actually a big win. I guess you're right. And Don't know, right

did basically play the entire season with one functioning arm. Don't mess with me on one arm guys. You know, you guys are right over me a lot, on a lot of stuff. But one arm guys, look at me, okay? One arm wonder. Grady, who's on your Mount Rushmore of one arm guys? Name them right now. Sikes.

That's right. I don't care. I'm not trying to solve a puzzle. Well, I am trying to solve a puzzle, and I just found a big piece. Buck, Bucky? Bucky Leroo, but that's a no Arm gun. Ground ball to shortstop. The throw is to second.

And again, the ball sails past LaGrange into right field. 6-30 has the right answer. Drummer from Def Leppler. Oh, that's it. That's it. The one-arm guy from Def Leppard. Is that four or after you had to fight with the one-arm guy? He had the soundbite correct.

Caleb Leaves did mention it. Yeah, see, and nobody else knew. I know a one-arm guy when I see him. Leila Rahini, Marshall Harris, Mark Grody. Midday's 10 a.m. on Chicago Sports Radio 1043, the score. Man, that show escalated quickly. We might have to stay low, like lay low for a while.

I do like thinking of myself as the authority in this town on broadcast radio and television, the authority on one-arm humans. I'm just shaking my head. And who? And me or God? Everything. Mostly the Twitch stream. Twitch.TV slash the score Chicago.

Our address changed, guys. We're at The Score, Chicago. Are they hot already? Yeah, everybody's up and chatting. There's emotes and stuff. People seem awake on this Thursday. We thank you for joining us. This is Rahimi, Harris, and Grotie on 1043.

The Score. It is Mark Rody and Lela Rahimi in with you. And I think that you pulled a meat. Everybody does this. The receipts. Yeah. You went back. for lack of a better term in our finding the wise we do want to know what happened and why

drew dalman did decide to retire suddenly we all started going back to things he may have said or hints that we may have gotten from like a Ryan pulls for example Ben Johnson Caleb Williams Drew Dalman himself and mark as the Bears reporter you did that you want to take us inside what you called the evidence locker room yeah absolutely ding-dink. The evidence locker room is in effect. And credit too, to my Take the North partners, Dan Weeder and Adams-Dazinsky. We did some of

this on the TTN episode as well. And you're right. And we discussed this. We're not entitled to know what's going on with Drew Dalman. Maybe the bears are entitled to know, but we're certainly not entitled to know. But that doesn't mean we're

not interested. That doesn't mean that we're not curious as to what happened. And it doesn't mean that we're not all working sources on the telephones, going back and listening to audio and seeing if there's any clues or any hints because we all missed it. We all missed it. And we don't know exactly what happened. So let me present to you, Drew Dalman, on Locker Cleanout Day, to hear if there is anything that he was saying at the that moment that might have led us or one to believe that he might have been thinking about

what he did and that was to retire at the age of 27 after one year of a three-year, $42 million deal. I think we're really happy with the progress we've made and with kind of the trajectory around, but I don't think anybody feels satisfied with the finished product. I know this is your first year here, but this team has been looking for a franchise quarterback forever. What are your thoughts on Caleb being that guy and what did you see from him all season? Yeah, I mean, I guess first and foremost, awesome guy, great teammate, great to have around, all those things, and then, you know, like all those superlatives as a player, like, as an O-line, can't tell you the amount of times that he's helped us out when we've struggled, or make huge plays for the team to keep us in games or to win games.

And so I don't think, I don't know what else you can ask for. Is there a sense that you guys are well positioned going forward, but also that it's hard to get as far as you guys got this year. as a veteran do you have an appreciation for just kind of how close you were to advancing and do you think that might not you more than a younger guy you know what I'm saying yeah yeah I think yeah I don't think you can ever really count on oh we'll just do it next year you know like that so I think yeah you certainly like it sucks to come up short and you you know the opportunity that you missed out on but yeah I think that's one of those things like we gave everything we had and you got to come back again next year and hope that with increased effort,

increased focus, all those things that you'll push past that. Was that everything you thought he'd be when he decided to sign your agency? Yeah, I mean, I can't say I had like a super firm notion of what it would be like or anything. But I can definitely say it's an incredible coach, incredible football online and great leader. And it's an absolutely pleasure to play. So when I hear that, I don't hear anything that indicates at that point he was ready to talk about retirement yet, or at least, at least hint at it with people, even in a casual conversation with the media.

Yeah. And, you know, he diluted to next year, not aggressively or anything like that. You know, it wasn't like the theme was, like, we got to get back out, can't wait for OTAs and training camp, but there was an allusion to it. So it's just interesting, like going back and like, like, maybe. Now watch the film. Where is that that he did? Was there somewhere along the line that he got hurt?

but really the point is is even right there something he could have alluded if he had wanted to. If Drew Dalman didn't want to be in that locker room or didn't want to be made available, it would have been frustrating for reporters but he would not have had to

have been there. So the fact that he was present, the fact that he wasn't afraid to talk about next year still leaves us in a mysterious position as to what the thought process was then and when this actually started. Yeah, because he actually that's a valid point too, is he actually addressed the media.

And that's not something that you guys had happened with every Bears player last year. Notably, DJ Moore, I know you asked Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles about that. You know, and that was after a lot of discussion about the last play offensively that the Bears had this season. But Drew Dolman was there and he spoke up. And that didn't necessarily, to me, sound like somebody who was thinking about retirement. Now, he very well could have been. But at least publicly that was not the case.

Yeah. And he is like one of these professionals, professional. You know what I mean? Like just from being around him in the locker room. He was always there for open locker room. He was always available if he wanted to talk to him. And when he did talk, he gave good answers. So this may have just been him being him and doing his job that he signed up for until the last very drop,

even if he knew in the back of his head that he might not be back with the business. Bears. So that's part of it as well. Well, and also, just to that end, him doing his job or at least addressing media, how many Bears players would you say actually like to talk to the media, like a percentage? Yeah, I don't know what the percentage is. Like they understand it's their responsibility. That's a great question. I don't know. But I don't necessarily know how many of them know that you know what I'm saying.

Layla, that's a great question. I don't know if anybody in the locker room, like, actively is waiting for the microphones to come their way. There are some that are better speakers and that are more into it or more genuine in their answers than others. But off the top of my head, I can't think of one single player that like really wanted the attention. And we probably don't know who those players are because we probably didn't talk to them as much.

Like the players that maybe want, actually, all right, I'll give this up. there was one player in that locker room that I regret not speaking to more because I think he wanted to talk more because I think he someday wants to get into the business. You want to know who that is? I don't think anybody would, he was a defensive lineman for the Bears. He backed up mostly, wasn't overly prominent. His name was Chris Williams, the defensive lineman. And I had heard that he, you know, wants to be in this business someday and probably

would have appreciated a little bit more mic time. But it's tough when you go into the locker room and you know you have priorities and you have a finite amount of time. But I guess that is the one guy, I would say. And dang it. He signed a one-year deal. So we can't just try that again next season. And if he happens to pop back up on the Bears roster, then maybe I will make it a point to

bring more Chris Williams to the Rahimi Harris and Grotie show. Maybe Tevin Jenkins. Maybe he enjoyed. having the microphone. We know Cole Commet enjoys it, but I think that's just his personality. I think Kevin Jenkins embraced the challenge. I don't know if he embraced the challenge so much as he just has that personality where it's... Well, like David Montgomery. Like David Montgomery would use it as an opportunity, but I don't necessarily know that he liked it. No, he didn't. But he would do something when he was there. Yeah. You always knew something would be brought to the table.

Yeah. I learned yesterday. Okay. David Montgomery, who was, I would say with the collective media, David Montgomery was a little bit difficult because he liked to throw our crap back at us often. That's what I mean. He would bring it. Sometimes it came across as mean-spirited, but then would be done with a smile. And he was always great. I was just talking about this with the weed man yesterday.

Dan Weiderer, for those of you who want to know. And if you need something, if you know what I'm saying, he's got it for you. But I remember like David Montgomery, if you talk to him one-on-one or in a small group, he'll give you some of the best stuff out there for sure. Oh, and then the thing I was going to add to that is, I don't know if people remember this, but David Montgomery is a big bowler. He likes to bowl, the game of bowling. So was Mark Potash. At one point in time during a press conference, David Montgomery asked Mark Podash, said, we should go bowling together sometime. And I think Pottsie said, yeah, he never happened as a tournament.

turned out, weed man, weansie, Dan Wheater went bowling with David Montgomery and a couple other guys. Just not like an average like Tuesday, probably wasn't Tuesday because that's the day off. That's fantastic. Isn't that hilarious? Yeah, bowling is, I mean, it's a great hobby, especially for a place that has a lot of winter months. So I'm into it. Like Diversity Bowl this time of year is popping. The house of the, what is it, rock and roll bowl right by the House of Blues.

Love that play. Great first date place. Great. First, like, an activity place. That is perfect for it. But, yeah, bowling never goes out of style. So your point about players not exactly seeking media out, Drew Dahlman was doing his responsibility there. Exactly, exactly.

And I've always appreciated when he's talked. I feel like his comments usually are thoughtful, and you get a solid answer. And he also, you could tell even when you talk to him, like he would say phrases like, narrow the aperture. And we loved that. because that was a great metaphor.

So in those moments, it's not like he shirked anybody. No, there was none of that. He alluded to next year. You didn't get any indication at that point in listening back to it. I mean, even that, even that is like really pressing it to think that there's something there. But yeah, no, to answer that question, like there was nothing about Dolman's personality. His professionalism was all there, 100%. We also have a bit as we continue on the evidence locker room here on Rehemi Harrison Grotie.

I don't know if you guys heard about this, but Max Crosby does a podcast. And I don't know if you know, he had Caleb Williams on it. Interesting. You've been hearing about all that? We may have heard something about it. We obsessed over that for two days. When I say we, I mean the collective everybody's, oh my God, Caleb Williams and Max Crosby. Because we know what they were doing.

because they wanted that attention. They knew that we would give that attention because it's Max Crosby and Caleb Williams. They knew what they were doing. Yeah, you're right. They didn't know what they were doing. Solid podcast producing out of Max Crosby, really? Yeah, we see you, Max Crosby.

Solid work. Yeah. Now tell your team not to cost us two first round picks to get you here in Chicago where you'll be very happy. But there was Caleb Williams on the Max Crosby podcast. talking about Drew Dalman. Did I have a beast of a sinner? Yeah, he's...

Dolman? Yeah, he's insane. Yeah, he's a beast. Yeah, he's a beast. He's supremely smart, you know, really stout, you know, sinner and things like that. I mean, he's unbelievable. But, you know, just helping him more, you know, building that bond, that belief and and trust between us and, you know, what we're seeing is, you know, same thing from, you know,

been to me to me to Drew's, you know, seeing, seeing eye to eye, eye and, you know, probably having more meetings with him, you know, throughout the weeks and things like that. See, that's the key part there, and that's the part, and we've discussed it. Just the importance, not only of that position, obviously, with the developing young quarterback in Caleb Williams, but that particular guy who is so smart and so good at identifying things that need to be identified pre-snap and helping Caleb Williams with that. and being in all of the quarterback meetings with Caleb Williams, which is unique relative to the rest of the offensive line.

And, you know, that's something that we've heard from our interview with Joe Thomas yesterday. That was excellent. Olin Cruz has alluded to that and talked about that in his discussions with both our afternoon show and our morning show, Mully and Ha, today. So that's something that you hear echoed. But some are better than others at it. and I feel like to help Caleb Williams transition into a new offense, you couldn't have asked for a better partner in that combination.

That's what makes this so tough. It really does. I heard Mark Potash was on in the 5 o'clock hour yesterday with Lawrence Holmes after he was abandoned by his partner. Spiegel had to take Rubin on a high school tour, which is pretty cool. I'm looking forward to hearing if he's going to a certain high school that I live near. But Potzi kind of had a different. look at it as in like you could get a good product still for less money now uh it's not

inconceivable that you can replace drew dalman and still be in good shape my counter to that though is and i'm surprised that that this wasn't in potsey's equation the the very recent lack of success under ryan poles um and even previous to that with centers Hell, I mean, and we don't go through the usual litany of names, but I guess I will. Lucas Patrick and Sam Mustifer. And then you even go back to when Cody Whitehair was playing the center position. Like he was a good set, like, okay, I guess, but he wasn't a great center. So this has been going on for a while since like the steadiness of somebody like a Roberto Garza.

And then going all the way back to Olin Cruz, obviously. Here's the stat. In the past 11 seasons, after a long stretch in. which Olin Kruits and Roberto Garza were the stalwarts at center. The team has used seven week one starters. That revolving door cast has included Dalman, Coleman Shelton,

Lucas Patrick, Sam Mustifer. Coleman Shelton was the center with the Rams past year. He's doing fine. He's doing fine. Sam Mustifer, Cody Whitehaired, James Daniels, and Will Montgomery. I blew, I'm glad, maybe not glad that you just brought up

James Daniels because I had forgotten that that man did play center for the Chicago Bears. This season he was supposed to shine with the bears, he tore his peck. Yeah. That's what happened. He did. And his center time was I'd have to look again, but I do believe it was very abbreviated.

But yes, James Daniels did play some center for the Chicago Bears. Now, I mentioned Olin Cruz. It's more on him in a moment. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043 The Score. That's Mark Grotie. I'm Lailahaheimie and you join us as well as we broadcast live through the scores Hyundai Studios brought to you by your local Hyundai dealers. You can text and call us and you have and you've made several jokes already about Mark calling Dan Weeder or Weedman. 312-644-67 is our number

where you can do that and more. You can also call us at that number. And then you can join us on Twitch, twitch.tv slash the score Chicago. Our address changed. It's still free, but our address changed. So tell your people. Our Twitch mob is up and chatting. We are also at the score Chicago on YouTube as well. Our producers are Ray Diaz, Tyler Beaterbaugh, Brandon Fryer, helps us out too. And our video crew is Connor O'Donnell, Jacob Stutz, Max Curtis. They also do social and alongside Cody Westerland. Let's get into what some of Olin Cruz had to say,

because he is somebody who everybody looks to when it comes to opinion about the offensive line. You know, when Drew Dalman signed here, people wanted to know what Olin thought. And he gave a lot of perspective when it came to. to the hardship of playing the position. We'll listen back to some of what Joe Thomas had to say and put it together and understand next. Amy 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 it rest. I'll see you on Tuesday. Midday's 10 to 2 on 1043, the score. This is Rahimi Harrison Grody on 1043, the score. And we are in the evidence locker room. Mark Grady found some audio from Drew Dalman when he spoke at locker cleanout.

We also heard Caleb Williams talk about Drew Dalman on Max Crosby's podcast. I just said podcast, okay? That doesn't mean we're going to talk about Max Crosby coming to the Bears. I just wanted to mention his podcast. Why don't you want to talk about Max Crosby coming to the Bears? We've done it. Oh. Nothing is new yet.

Ray's over here saying Max already. Max. Let's go, Max. And his podcast is called The Rush. How about that? Nothing is laid back. No, nothing at all. Do you think he added the extra X to his name by himself?

Like he was, his parents actually named him M-A-X and he's like, no, bro, I need two. Give me two X-Xs. There's an origin story to this, actually. Oh, there is. So I'm on to something again as we investigate. This is the investigation show here today. It was because he was. Because he was 11 pounds and 9 ounces when he was born.

Okay. So they're like double X. Is that what it is? Like he wasn't chill then either. He came out rushing the quarterback. How could this guy not be with the bears? Starting with his mom. The doctor said, oh, we got a football player.

Do you know what's funny? Okay, so 11 pounds and 9 inches at birth is wild. Like that is... It's a big baby. It just sounds painful. It's a big boy. Poor mom. There was a guy who his claim to fame was he was the heaviest baby born in the state of Louisiana, Herman Johnson, and he did indeed become an NFL offensive lineman.

A little fatty baby? But not, but no, it was like, I guess, but at that point, it also has to do with your height and just your size overall. Yeah. I mean, all babies have a little cute chub. A little bit. Yeah. But, yeah, so, and he was a buddy of my brothers, not the one who tried to play football. He has no traits, your brother.

Zero. But you were like, yeah, my brother's friend is the heaviest baby ever born in Louisiana. Like, ta-da! Hey, if he comes to the Bears, I think I will ask him, Max Crosby, all right? So I'm really projecting now. Will you add a third X? Triple X. M-A-X-X-X.

Just sack the quarterback again. See, I knew this is what was going to happen. The whole thing just goes crazy. Herman, by the way, was 15 pounds and 14 ounces. Oh, man. Yeah, well, and you said he became an offensive lineman? He did, yeah. And from what I understand, like a nice fellow, at least to my brother and those who knew him.

Okay, all right. Wouldn't want to face him opposite the line of scrimmage and all, but yes, that was the case. So this is just the Max Crosby podcast. See how we went crazy there? And we heard Caleb Williams talk to Max about Drew Dalman. Now let's go back to just, it sounds silly, but I truly don't, there is no real way to describe what your body goes through as alignment in football, is there? I feel like that's the case. We can, we can explain it, we can try to describe it, but until you do it every day, it's really

hard to understand just that aspect of the job. I agree with that. Your head going straight forward on every single play. I think Olin alluded to something like that this morning. So yeah, I mean, we talk about it all the time. That's, that's where the car crashes are in the trenches. So let's listen to Olin, talk to Mully and Haw about just the toll it takes on the body, especially having been a center himself. Who would have known? I was the journalism major. Who would have known that?

So I was working on that. My media, my budding media career was the only thing I was thinking about. Obviously being really sarcastic here. But that always goes on, as you guys know, walked away from the Saints, you know, mid-season. And a lot of that was, obviously, we didn't get along real well there. And that story's out there with the coaches, the coach there at the time and went through some things. But, you know, really wasn't sleeping well at night, waking up with sweats, always had pain, always trying to get back on the football field at 34 years old with 190 starts.

All those things were starting to creep up on me. Didn't like my game. It was very hard to do. And it just had to be worth it at that time for me. So, hey, man, listen, like I said earlier, congratulations to Drew on his career. Congratulations to the things he's done. But when this game, when it's not for you anymore, when waking up in the morning, lifting the heavy weights, eating the right food,

keeping your weight on, doing the running, doing the skill work, doing all the things as you guys know at my gym, I get a chance to see a lot of guys work through and go through the work and go through the process of trying to get better in NFL, all the hours they have to put in and all the grinding that they have to do

on their skill work, on getting stronger, on keeping their body healthy. By the way, guys, while you're doing that, you know, your body is taking a beating. You do have to worry about later in life. And I'm here to tell you, it's not to cry about it, but everyone goes through this, no matter what job you have. But once it's over, it's just you and your family. And no one cares when your health insurance is not being paid anymore.

And no one cares about all the other things that is going on in your life and you take care of yourself. No one calls you. No one calls a check on you. No one sees how you're doing. So that's the things I'm sure they talk about. And that's the thing. The only reason I mentioned that is that's the things probably he talked about with his dad for years in his house. He has an inside view on what it looks like when you retire for the NFL,

what it looks like when you play for a while, what it looks like when you walk away because of an injury and what it looks like the fact that, look, if you do have this money in the bank and you don't want to do this anymore, then don't go ahead and enjoy your life and move on. The only question I'll ask about all of this because that was laid out really well by Olin Kruitts. And we kind of know that, but only if you play,

really, really know that. But if we are to presume that collectively as a sports society that generally we understand what these guys go through, that there is a line of sympathy that we get like, I think we're educated enough on head injuries, understanding with the beating that these guys go through, wouldn't it be, if Drew Dalman came out and said that and just said, look, I don't want to take a chance. I decided I talked to my family. I don't want to go through life worrying about something like that as a decision I came to.

Don't you think most people would understand? I mean, there'd be people that would be pissed off. So I guess the question I'm asking is, if it is that, if it is that that he is just worried about injuries, why doesn't he just make that public? Why doesn't he say it unless he thinks that people wouldn't understand? But I think people would. I think that's your opinion about it. You know, I think it depends.

I mean, we're doing two whole shows talking about this and just trying to get into his mind and understand what the why is and how it affects the bears. And I wonder if part of the, you know, the plus about retirement is you don't have to talk to the media anymore. We're not entitled. I absolutely. I will keep, we're not entitled to anything from these guys. We could ask the questions.

We're never entitled. I just think that if he, if that's it, if that's it and that is the, you know, most of us amateur speculation going on right now, that seems to be the most popular. theory is either an injury occurred or he is just being conservative and talked to his family and wants to have a quality of life. We would probably understand. The sad part is I think about, for example, former Bear Nate Davis, who basically quiet quit the team. He's got ping pong to play. He quiet quit. See, he admitted it. And I... We wouldn't be asking why, because we would pretty much know. We get it. Right. There was never a greater example of that than when they needed him to actually

play and do his job against the Patriots and he said he had back spasms. Right. Right. What was worse? Him saying he had back spasms and couldn't play in that game or that he wouldn't talk to me, Mark Grody, because he had to go play ping pong. I mean, which is worse? Since they happened to you, which is worse?

It's not even for me to judge at that point. It wasn't even bad because at that moment I literally laughed. I literally laughed. He put his hand on my shoulder and he knew he was saying something to me. I wasn't going to like and he said it and I laughed. So Joe Thomas, though, also talked about the pain that he went through in his career and playing Hall of Fame level football as the left tackle for the Brown. So listen to what he had to say with us yesterday.

I mean, I retired after 11 years. I didn't miss a single play until my 11th season, but that was all she wrote because by the time I'd finished 10 and a half years in the NFL, I was sliding down the stairs on my butt because I couldn't. walk after games. My knees hurt so bad. They were so swollen. I was getting injections every week and getting my knee drained. It's a beating, even if you're not getting the big injuries, which I was able to avoid for 10 and a half years, and I didn't miss any time. You're still accumulating wear and tear and beatings on the body and the mind. And it beats you down. And really, like, mentally, I was in probably a worse space than I was physically by the end of my career,

because dealing with all the rehab and wondering if you're going to be healthy enough to play on the weekend and trying to make up for lost practice time because you're injured, it wears on you because it's a stressful game as it is when you're a young player, not to mention when you get old and you're trying to deal with, can my body keep up with these young bucks? Oh, and by the way, I'm older and I'm dealing with some injuries. I'm dealing with some inadequacies because my body just isn't the way it used to be. So I totally understand it's hard for people to really wrap their minds around a guy who's so young in his 20s just signed with the Chicago Bears to retire. But everybody's body ages differently. And it's hard to know what that beating was unless you're actually living inside of that person.

I'm still blown away that that guy played 10 years without missing a snap until his, I guess, 10th year. That's pretty amazing. But your body goes through that. And every day you go through this routine. And if you have it down and you have it down to that. level where you're a Hall of Famer. You know, I get why in that mode you're not, you're not stopping. But maybe sometimes it's when you get the break that you realize how bad it really was.

It's funny, man, because there's some guys in the NFL that are the complete opposite of that, too, like in terms of, I'm talking about the conservative, the early retirement, the being concerned about your body. And there was a guy that played on the Bears for the last four years that was like that. And that would be DeKuan Bristker, who anytime he had, and he took, he did the protocol with concussions, but the idea that he would like maybe step out or step back out of it like was laughable, at least from his perspective. So it's funny, the varying degrees of, of passion about football versus the opportunity

cost of football. That's it. It's an individual choice. And don't you remember the press conference where Jaquan said we're briskers and we don't, yes. You know, we don't back down. Absolutely. Yes, Jaquan, I agree with you.

You are briskers and you guys don't back down. And Jaquan studies film, like a lot of people I think should. You know, he's exemplary when it comes to how he would put work into his job day in and day out. But at the same time, that doesn't determine how you get hit and what happens afterward to affect your health, you know? And that's a part of it too is understanding sometimes you need an advocate who isn't just you, you know, for the body. Well, right. And obviously, Dolman has his dad and his family and all the information that. he needs. I'm reminded of when Bob Stoop suddenly retired because it seemed like it was sudden. He was in his 50s and everybody thought he had a lot of years left coaching college football and he was so successful.

And there was a report and a discussion talking about how his dad was a football coach and just seeing, you know, how much time you don't get later in your life. Like if you've got the money and you have you have an inkling and you're able to make that work for you, why you'd want to step away sooner than people expect you to. Yeah. And it's, it is that. It takes a lot away. Like you,

you spend more time with us than you do your family at times. And we even had, Mike McDonald, you know, we played the audio of him talking about when he gets to see his son during a Super Bowl season for the Seahawks. So I think about that aspect of it too.

When that's your family and you see the late stage of what happens, how much that stays with you. And maybe you don't want that to be your life later. Right. And the people around you can only handle so much of it, too, because of the absolute consumption. Like you, the wives have to be so supportive or have to sign up for this lifestyle of absentee husband. And I don't mean that. You know what I mean? It's like with the work. It's not abandonment. It's just the job. Right. You sign up for it and there are benefits to it. But it's, there's a lot that goes into it. That's the business we have chosen. But if it doesn't have to be, I see why you would want to get out.

when you feel like you've made enough to sustain yourself. Yeah. By the way, when is Olin Crout's going to be on our show? Because he's been on a couple times in the last 24 hours. So, like, when's he on next? You want to leave us out? Yeah. What's going on?

Oh, it's fair. I don't think he'd be okay with that either. Yeah. You know? You got to love your kids equally. He's due to be on at any minute now. Poor Olin. Listen to him on my walk home yesterday and then listening to him on Mully and

this morning. It's all Olin radio. And you know what? That's okay. The more crutes, the better. That's my guy right there. That's right. Yeah.

And really, you guys are the ones who have that relationship, you know? He calls for you. He should be sitting right here. Just chiming in when he feels like it. Punching me in the shoulder if he wants every once in a while, whatever he needs. Grotty loves a shoulder punch. I do love a good shoulder punch. I grew up with two brothers, you know?

Ah, you flinch. A lot of punching that goes on. Some painful punching, too. Coming up next, let's switch gears. Let's shift gears. Jory Paris from CBS 2. You know her as a sports reporter and anchor there, but she's also one of the most talented people in Chicago's sports media.

Saying the anthem last night at Northwestern just did an absolutely fabulous job. So we'll talk to her about that and more. Next. Ah, the fake, lawyers. Looking down field. That courtesy of Fox, that was voted, the moment of the year at the NFL honors. And it was also the last time. when he accepted that award that DJ Moore spoke publicly as a Chicago bear.

The breaking news coming down just moments ago. Adam Schaefter reporting that DJ Moore is being traded to the Buffalo Bills that will be activated when the league year begins on March 11th. Compensation is still being discussed. The trade cannot be processed until that year begins. We're getting more news right now from Schefter. He's followed up on Twitter saying Chicago has a former first round wide receiver in Roma Dunesay and drafted Luther.

burden in round two last year in Ben Johnson's first draft, which we know. To go along with tight-in, Colston Loveland, who was drafted in round one, that made moving DJ more possible, and he is now headed to Buffalo. He had 244 catches during his time with the Bears for 3,012 total receiving yards. That's over three years and 20 touchdowns. So I feel like this is, uh, this goes back to what Ryan Poles alluded to at the combine, Mark. And he did it again at the season. in ending press conference prior to that.

We were suspicious of this. Our ears perked when we heard him talk about tough decisions that he had to make. Now we find out what those decisions were. You don't leave the door open the way Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson to a lesser degree did on

the final day at Hallis Hall this year. And maybe now it makes more sense too as to DJ Moore just kind of scooting out of there that it could have something to do with not wanting to deal with questions too about the very last play. But they were as transparent and ambiguous way,

if those two words even go together in regards to the combine. And at the end of the season, I will say this, good for DJ Moore. He is going to a perfect place. Like that's what I said about DJ. Like, don't, like, it would be hell for him to have to have gone to Las Vegas or something like that to again, again deal with young. quarterbacks. He had to do it with Justin Fields. He had to get used to him. He had to do it with

Caleb Williams. So quite frankly, from a Buffalo perspective and a DJ Moore perspective, if you care about DJ Moore the man, this is a perfect destination for him and Josh Allen. This is the first time that DJ Moore will have had and absolutely polished. And we know at this point in his career, an elite quarterback. A proven quarterback. A proven quarterback. A proven quarterback. Who many times had gotten really close to making a Super Bowl. Absolutely. So good for DJ in that regard.

That's what I thought the best thing would be for him. MVP. But it's a huge hole for the Bears. And Layla, you and I have talked about it, that regardless of what we saw this year out of the Bears' wide receiver crew, and the games where DJ Moore was not a factor this year, he was still your best receiver, he was still your most important receiver.

Colston Loveland led the team in receiving this year with 58 catches. 713 yards, but there was DJ Moore, who was second in that capacity, 682 yards receiving this year. He had the six touchdowns to go with it. Then it goes Roma Dunze, Luther Burden, and Colquette in that order. So DJ Moore, unfortunately, is no more with the bears, but I would say, Leila, that was a really good bear. He was a, that's the category. He wasn't great with the bears, but he was a really good Chicago bear. The second DJ Moore got traded to the Bears in the hall that netted them that first overall pick that they used for Caleb Williams.

Not only was that a bright spot, but DJ Moore was quality. He had come from a very successful run with the Panthers where he was coming off of at that point, seasons where he had had 1175 yards receiving to go along with four touchdowns because the Panthers didn't score a lot of touchdowns at the time. In 2020, he had 1193 yards. He had 1,157 in 2021. This also of note, Mark, this last recent season that we had from DJ Moore in 2025, that was his second lowest total in targets of his career. And it was only higher than his rookie season.

So when I consider that, you know, after the many years that DJ Moore has had, I feel like that was what was the indication that for whatever reason, the fit was not working. and Ben Johnson tried to do a lot of different things, I think offensively scheming up ways to get DJ more open. When he was called upon, he certainly answered the call. We saw him make game winning catches. We played the moment of the year for you from the NFL from 2025.

And he did speak happily at the time and recognize the Bears and Virginia McCasky at the time, the late Virginia McCasky. So he was available. But I feel like this was something that we all suspected would happen. and lo and behold, it did. It's epic in so many different ways. For the Bears, it looks like it would be a $16.5 million cap saving for DJ Moore.

As Layla alluded to, we're still in a little gray areas, specifically what the Bears will be getting back. But I think it was posed as a mid-round pick. So what a third or a fourth round pick for DJ Moore? Which would make sense given he was the highest-paid bear person. AAV at 28 and a half. Yeah, so that makes sense as well. And then just from the nostalgic part of a Bears perspective, there's only been so many good to great wide receivers that have ever walked through Hallis Hall that have put on the Bears jersey. And he goes down as one of those,

DJ Moore, and Alan Robinson, and Brandon Marshall, Al-Shod Jeffrey. Like, unfortunately, I'm able to name all of the quality wide receivers in Bears history. You just named after John Jeffrey with the same breath of DJ. Hey, he was terrific. He was terrific with the Bears. When he was here, he was very good. I don't know if he ever wanted to be here, but that was a quality wide receiver for the Chicago Bears.

So this is, even though we knew something like this could very well happen, it certainly feels a certain way. And we'll talk about it all day here on Rheemey Harrison Grotie. We will. We have continuing coverage of this. James Big Cat Williams is still next, right, Ray? So let's talk to James Big Cat Williams, get his thoughts on this very news about DJ Moore, and also the news about Drew Dalman. My, how things have changed.

Miss a little, miss a lot. This is 104.3, the score.