Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Full Show — February 4, 2026

Episode Date: February 4, 2026

Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris reacted to the Bulls making a pair of trades Tuesday. They also welcomed on FS1 host Danny Parkins to discuss the Bulls' moves and to preview the Patriots-Seahawks matchup in the Super Bowl.

The score. This hour is sponsored by WinTrust. The views and opinions of Laila 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. Rahimi Harrison Grody. 10 to 2 on 1043, The Score. It is our friend Paul Papps, host of the tailgate Saturday mornings. I see you are traversing the entire bay. How is that going for you, Paul? Well, you know what's weird out here?

They have these driverless cars, and they're like, they're not Uber. Yeah, Waymo. Marshall, I had no idea about Waymo. I went to cross the street the other day, and there was a car with no people, and I'm like, I had a staring contest. I didn't know what to do. Hey, what is the deal with the smart car? How smart is that? Those things are tiny.

Can you even drive them in traffic? Oh, I'm so smart. E equals FCC. squared. I drive a smart car. That's not smart in my board. Are you going to try a waymo? I have been in a waymo. I was in one in Phoenix. And it's an interesting thing. It's pretty standard for people out there, though. They're used to it. I got to tell you, I'm old school. I'm like a Chevy Nova 3 on the tree. I like old school cars and people. But I'll try to embrace this this week and get back to you.

You're not driving this. It's a death trap. We have breaking news. Oh, I like this Paul. I can't believe that. I love this. Paul's the Bulls have made a train. Get ready, Pam. Give it to us. Get ready. Oh, my God. Okay, it's happening. Everybody stay calm. What's the procedure, everyone? What's the procedure? Stay fucking go! Chicago, Minnesota, and Detroit have agreed to a multi-team deal that sends Jaden, Ivy, and Mike Conley Jr. to the Bulls?

Love Mike Conley Jr. Mike Conley to the Bulls. He's a stud. Kevin Herder and Dario Sarge go to the Pistons. Swords tell ESPN. I know you guys are going to have people on to break this down, but my first reaction list is it's it's step one of a second grade. I don't think that this would be the only thing you did. This might be a roster move to get the roster ready to do something else. I want you to put the word out there, but we back up.

Understand me? We back up. Layla Rahimi, Marshall Harris, Mark Grody, Midday's 10 a.m. to 2 on Chicago Sports Radio 104.3, the score. We're back up. Stringer Bell. We're back up because the Bulls are making trades with the rest of the NBA. Stringer Bell has the back at sea level in terms of their,

or their standard operating procedure. The declaration has been made. We back up. AK did those things he was supposed to do like three years ago. We back. Oh, man. Oh, my God. It's true, Ray.

You're right. You're right. A.K., I've seen the lights. The standard had been lowered and now we're... As we like to say about the dating scene, the bar is in hell. So let me get this straight. Back to average. Listen, I'm all...

Ultimately, I'm all for making... moves that further define the direction of your franchise, which I think we just saw the idea. Right now they have like seven guards, the Bulls, but they're making trades. So we back up. Guards are important. When you run at the pace, the Bulls run, I believe it's the fourth highest pace in the NBA. You need guards to push. I am aware, but like they have so many guards that I feel like they're just going to run a line

of full of guards. We got 5-8 running the point. We'll get higher in height from there. You saw Yuki win that jump ball. I have so much belief in him. Yeah. Yuki did win the jump ball. All 5-8 of them.

Listen, AK. And you know what? I'm not 5-8. I got miles to go before I get to 5-8. Shortest player in Bull's history out here winning jump balls over Casper Yacotunis. I have a message for A.K. right now. A.K., do not waste Yuki's window. You hear me?

Don't waste it. Is this what backup is? like. I know, I know it's Casperus. I just like to call him Ghosts because I see Casper and I just stopped there. Call him ghost. I like it. It's okay.

Like, I, I, on behalf of Aligni, who I adopted, because they're the public school and they disappoint me in various sports ways at times. I felt like I had to say it. Aligni, by the way, looking good. But that's, that's not why we are. We got a freaking Alinai on this show. Yeah, we act, Kendall Gill, that's right. We could ask him about those Alinai.

We will talk to Kendall later in our show at 1.25. And in the meantime, this is something. Like, you're not wrong in putting that in there, Tyler, that the bulls are back up because they had three straight years of no activity. Then we see, and you're starting to see the direction. And rather than pivoting a kayak for this team, it does feel like they're turning a barge. Yeah, it's just a slower, more deliberate process. Like, for example, a lot of NBA GMs, you know that they're good for at least two trades basic at the trade deadline.

You don't necessarily know who they're going to trade. You just know it's going to happen. That's not the case with the Bulls. And while they have talked about their direction and they said as much, you know, after the trade deadline last year, draft picks, as we know, weren't the priority when it came to first rounders, you know, that we've talked about that. However, we didn't necessarily know the exact direction. I go back to when Arturis Karashova said he wanted nine or ten good players, you know, formidable players, higher than role players, but not necessarily your nucleus of stars commanding supermaxes.

So how does that look? And for them partially it was last year collecting and gaining control again of their first round pick, who they used on Noah Essingale. But they got it back. Now it's, and then now it was, well, after the season, Arturis Karashev says, we're going to have more flexibility financially after the 2026 season. I took that to mean at the time that he was going to, therefore, get out of the Vooch deal, Nikola Vukovych, who he traded for at the trade deadline his first year here,

that I thought that that was going to be the indication because he was one of the highest paid players on the team, as we know. and so if Vooch's contract ended at the end of this coming season, that that's where the financial flexibility would be. We have gone through the roller coaster trying to figure out who had what value when. The Caruso trade is a good example of that. Alex Caruso gets traded to an Oklahoma City team that highly values him. The Bulls get back Josh Giddy. They see Giddy as part of their core.

Giddy now getting the $25 million, and they feel like that was part of their core. We say that they could have gotten a draft pick in exchange for that, but we start to see the direction again, start to take shape, right? Slowly but surely. And I think now, with trading away Vouch for Anthony Simons, flipping Dario Sarge in a deal, who they had traded for, getting Mike Conley, who we expect to see flipped, most likely, right?

Even though he's flipped or they just buy him out after the trade deadline. There it is. And then Jane Ivy being a part of this, whose age aligns. with Giddy and Modus Buzellas, you're starting to see the direction that they want to go in in order to put a team together that they think is going to work. See, you say barge, but by the speed in which they did basically three deals

to add assets, get rid of expiring contracts, this thing was straight out the banana boat tills, you know? Why did you got to bring up the Jimmy Butler, Dwayway? Because I love it. Because I love it. Because I love it all. Your body double Chris Paul. my body double, well, face double.

He's probably in much better shape than me. I don't know. I don't think that that's, no. I'm going to push back on that. I like that you mentioned the bar being in Hades. Because honestly, that's what those of us following this team are used to. Our expectations are so low when it comes to the Bulls. To see them pull off this flurry of moves. Layla, I got to tell you,

I didn't think they could trade Vouch for as much value as they got back for him. And that, to me, was like, okay, this is not only a good move to get rid of an expiring contract, but this is a move that brings value to your team. That second rounder, they got back in exchange for their second rounder, which was a second rounder from the 2027 draft out of the Denver Nuggets pocket, that they now moved on to the Celtics to get back a 2026 second rounder. That's this year. Very good, deep clash.

You might be able to move up in the draft of that pick, package it for something else. And then it's the pick of four different teams. that could be at the top of the second round. So basically like a later first round pick. It's, I didn't know A.K. was capable of this. So we think that we've seen the Bulls start to develop a direction. We wanted to keep the phone lines open here on practice it with me now. 1043, but you can still listen to 670.

The score, 312, 644, 67, we will do so for this hour because we know. I think there was a lot of skepticism appropriately when it came to figuring out what the Bulls wanted to do. But I look at it as simply as this, Marshall. The money will dictate A, how teams value players. Giddy's the most important to the Bulls. That's why he's getting paid the most. Nikola Vucovich was the second most important to the Bulls at 21.5 million. And you have to organize it by big rocks in a jar versus little rocks that fill it in. So moving Vouch, which was something that shocked you and I yesterday, because I didn't think it was going to happen, especially for a guy like Anthony Simon, who, by the way, on a side note,

probably indicates what I've been thinking all along, which is Tatum is likely back for the Celtics sooner rather than later. I don't think it's as aggressive as the February timeline. I do think perhaps maybe it's late March or April. Like, do they feel like that is reasonable? What's the hurry? You literally just need to have Tatum come back soon enough that he can integrate or really just reintegrate because everybody knows who Jason Tatum is. Yeah, re-assimilate. Yeah, for the, for the playoff push. Right. So they've been doing enough to stay in their respective mix. There's no question. But that means that they are going to move some pieces while they have this flexibility ahead of now tomorrow's trade deadline. So for the Bulls, again, they're faced with number one,

Simons is on an expiring deal. Jaden Ivy is on an expiring deal. But are they going to do what they did like, say with Josh Giddy, who was also on an expiring deal? And try to build what they think is a core. And is that core enough to actually compete and dare I say qualify for a actual playoff series in the East? Not this year. Yeah, I think they're positioning themselves to be able to make a playoff push. Maybe this year still. I know people are going to think I'm crazy after watching the Bulls go down by 25 points at the half and back-to-bag games for just the second time in franchise history. I know they're going to think I'm crazy. But once they get, you know, players over 5, 8, players over 6, 3 on the roster that are not named Lachlan

Oldbrick, they might have a chance to make a push. The East is really bad, Laila. It's really bad. But that is the hard part about trying to figure all this out is that you had to let the air out of the balloon. Like you had to rip the bandaid off. Say whatever you want. You are going to have to get worse to get better.

So trying to do that in a graceful or slow way is not the way of the law. league. And we see that you can shorten that timeline to use an AK phrase. You can shorten the timeline of tanking. The Oklahoma City Thunder showed you. But they did this in a much more deliberate and aggressive process, you know, acquiring so many draft picks, trying to hold on to other ones. The Paul George trade is really what's what started them on the path to therefore winning the title last year. Yeah. So, you know, it got painful before it got better, but the Bulls haven't really done that. So then therefore it's, it's, it comes down to me, understanding that I think they think some of these players who aren't fitting on other teams,

kind of all on what we saw what the Cubs do with Michael Bush, you know, when you're dealing with the Dodgers, like Gitties with the Thunder, for example. You know, Jane Nivey is with Detroit and we see now Simon's with the Celtics. If there's not room for some of these guys, because of the apron issue, which does change all of this, you know, are you picking up some of these other players from other teams? And maybe you didn't draft them, but they start to become the core that you think that you can build around with a guy you did draft and modest. So the issue here is because the first thing that comes to mind is when you say like the Oklahoma

City Thunder, the way they made that deal to give it out of Alex Caruso, but going back to the Paul George deal. Right. They got Shea Gilgis Alexander in the Paul George trade along with assets, right? And they let Shea Gilgis Alexander figure it out. The Bulls are unwilling to let a guy like Modis or Giddy figure it out. They're like, we're going to put capable players next. to you because we're going to make this push for what we believe could be a playoff team,

maybe a playing team. I think the biggest thing here is you're watching Cooper Flag right now go off for the Dallas Mavericks in a situation which is bad, right? But it's allowing, as we saw Jason Kidd get fined, I think $30,000 for talking about the criticism he faced for putting Cooper Flag at point guard and letting them lose their last five games while he's putting up games where he scores 49 points. He's letting him make the mistakes through the floor. Modis-Benzales hasn't been afforded that opportunity. to the degree that a Cooper flag has. He's just a role player, a lesser player, if you will, alongside Josh Giddy and Kobe

White, and at times, Trey Jones and Smith. I think the Bulls are afraid to let Modis be turned loose. Now, he's got work to do with his handle and everything, but in the meantime, they are doing something different than they've done in the past. They're acquiring a bunch of young players who, along with draft capital, will put them position to trade for a superstar because every year there's a disgruntled superstar or three. Janice. Janice is going to Minnesota, right?

Like, that's pretty much happening? I think so, but there's talk that he may make it to the offseason. If that happens, the bull might, they may have a chance to go get Janus because they may have more stuff that they put together if they move Kobe and or I.O. Well, and I save Minnesota because, number one, that became the overwhelming discussion yesterday through the NBA circles. And then number two, Mike Conley is here partially because they needed to create roster space. Now, the question becomes, can the Bulls flip Mike Conley like they did Dario Sorich before

the trade deadline at what, three o'clock, two o'clock tomorrow? Yeah, it's two o'clock tomorrow. Yeah, three o'clock Eastern. If they can't, it won't be the worst thing because they still have, you know, taken back expiring contracts and they can get the buyout done. That's not as big of a deal. I think what's most interesting is just to understand this moment in time. Arturz Karas Chavez, to me, is looking very much like he's in his Bulls tenure, what, six years deep,

at the same point where we saw Ryan Poles sitting next to Kevin Warren, kind of being adaboid while being admonished about not doing a good job in his first opportunity with the Bears, but he got a second run with Ben Johnson and company. He got a quarterback in Caleb Williams. Arturz Karas Chavez is being afforded that opportunity. to figure it out. What I don't like about it is that Michael Reinsdorf has basically said, yeah, take your time.

Do the slow development of your own players. No, no, no, no. Develop your own players, yes, always, but also be ready, be nimble, be able to pivot more like a banana boat than a barge when the next crop of disgruntled stars become available. Yeah, I want to get into, I know we don't have a ton of time left in this segment.

And what you're referring to is the scene where after the bears fired Matt Ebert, Fluse, Ryan Poles is sitting in a quarter zip next to Kevin Warren, who's in a suit, and there's been a lot made about that discussion and what's happened since. But the difference, I think, partially, too, is that AK was the assistant GM in Denver. You know, he had a higher title than Ryan Poles had in Kansas City. And AK had, I mean, the perennial MVP candidate, you know, as his, as his, resume and his scouting when it came to Yokic.

So I feel like he had a more established resume. They had a defined direction. They traded for Nikola Vucovich and they added with DeMar de Rosen with a very defined direction when they decided to go that route. Lanzo Ball as we saw was the guy to put all of that together for them. And then we saw, unfortunately, it was tenuous because they didn't have enough two-way players. Lonzo Ball goes down as part of that discussion. And then we saw how it fell apart because DeMar plays a slower pace of play than what the rest of the league does.

It was a formula that made sense at the time. But unfortunately, it was at the very end of a time and a salary structure in the league where that would have made sense. So now you have to pivot. And you see how Oklahoma City did it and they're the standard. You know, that's it. They're the standard. A team full of young players. They got five picks back, including SGA in that Paul George trade.

The clippers still have Paul George. So, you know, I say that to say it's a different situation here because the NBA changed, the CBA changed everything. And then teams were left trying to figure out how to put the pieces back together. And, you know, that trade was a fleece when you look back at it now. You know, it was a fleece. There's no other way of putting it. You don't get to fleece teams like that outside maybe the Kings in the NBA anymore. So that's why I feel you when it comes to the Cs.

sea change moment. You know, that was the sea change moment for polls and for Warren. But I don't necessarily know. I think we're seeing, we're still seeing every team in the league try to figure out how to tread water knowing that it's much different salary-wise for them. The NBA trade deadline isn't the same anymore because of it. Yeah, no, I think you're absolutely correct in the way that you're looking at our church's role in this current NBA compared to what it was back then. My issue is back then, he definitely was operating on a barge. very slow to pivot when something went wrong, aka Lonzo Ball's injury.

Now, though, I think he has learned, or I'm sorry, let me not ascribe that to him. I hope he has learned to be able to pivot quicker in a fast-moving landscape, as we've seen over the last, what, three days with the James Hardin trade and now not knowing what's going to happen to Janus. All I want for him to do right now

is to be a facilitator on some of these deals, get more assets if he can, move I.O. slash Kobe, if he can, to get a first rounder maybe somewhere out there, even if it's protected. And the other thing is, you want to get an A plus from me on this trade deadline? Find a way to get rid of Patrick Williams.

He's in the second year of that deal. Find a way to give rid of Patrick Williams. Second year of a five year. If you want to A, that's what you've got to do. Marshall has issued the challenge. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104.3, The Score. You can join us via Twitch. We are at The Score Chicago now.

TV slash The Score Chicago. Thanks to our Twitch mob for hanging out and having a conversation with us and with them. You can call us and text us. 312, 6444, 67, as we broadcast live from the Scores Hyundai Studios, brought to you by your local Hyundai dealers. Our producers are Ray Diaz. Tyler Buehterbaugh, Braden Friar helps us out and our video team, not only meeting the Twitch chat, but doing our socials as well. It is Connor O'Donnell, Jacob Stutz, Max Curtis, and Cody Westerlin. And now we have to ask the question. about one of the longest tenured athletes in Chicago. Did we see Kobe White play his last game? The friend of the show will discuss next. Rahimi Harrison Grody.

The great Kevin Harlan. I just pulled through the Taco Bell drive-through, and I've got a couple of big, nasty, Supreme Burritos right here waiting to beat. You know, the first thing they ask you now, I'm using the app. The app, no, I just want my burrito. I don't want to use an app. Bring a lot of mild sauce, because I'm going to escort it all. all over the way. Put some hot sauce on my burrito, baby.

Rahimi Harris and Grody, midday's 10 a.m. to 2 on the score. Nance turned it over down the floor. Kobe White on Nance. Got it, count it. Fowl at Bulls Nation comes to life here in Milwaukee. That is the voice of Chuck Swirsky. This is Rahimi Harris and Grotie on 1043 the score. And the Bulls did play a game last night. Is that what we're calling it? It happened.

They cut it to single digits, even though they were down by over 20, to a Milwaukee team that had, well, everybody sitting. Bulls end up losing by a final of 131 to 115. But one of the guys who did play on that game, and we were kind of surprised to hear, was indeed Kobe White. Kobe White drafted by the Bulls ahead of the 2019 season.

He ended up playing 30 minutes in that game. He had 21 points, 10 rebounds, three assists. So we are still trying to figure out, since the Bulls do seem to now be in the business of getting rid of players on expiring contracts or trying to get something for them, which Kobe White is on an expiring deal, as is Ayodosumu.

Do we watch Kobe White, one of the longest tenured players in the city, play his last game as a bull? I would hope so. Because everything that has happened up to this point, this season has led to this moment where you realize Kobe White is not part of the team's future long term. And the deals, the one that specifically brought back Anthony Simons, who is a walking bucket, who is a better and more efficient offensive player than Kobe, I think that seals it up for me. And so Kobe has given a lot. He has developed a lot.

He has gotten a much better, become a much better player. And really, he's earned kind of this distinction as being synonymous with the Bulls for a period of time. And that's it. He has been, he's also the last player left who wasn't an Arturis, Karnasovas, Mark Aversley, acquisition. That was under Gar-Pax, if you'll recall. Kobe was the Eastern Conference player the month in March. I love talking to him whenever we had him on. I feel like I've been talking to Kobe for years because he was.

still here when I was sideline reporting for the Bulls games. So it is something where I do, yeah, you have somebody around for a long time. You get used to who they are. You watch them more. That's just how it goes. You have a strong relationship watching him as a member of the team you cover or the team you watch than others. And so there is an attachment to Kobe White.

There's also a confusion because we were wondering this time last year if Kobe was going to get traded. We didn't necessarily know what his fate was going to be. in the off season if there was going to be some sort of trade. This has been like this for a while, just trying to figure out again the direction of the Bulls. And then also who fits in and how. So Kobe White, thanks to our friend Joelle Lorenzi

over at the Athletic for giving us this audio because he was in Milwaukee last night, was asked about the Vucovich trade, sending him to Boston, and also what he meant to him as a teammate. Overall, I know there's something not official. official, but you've spent a lot of time with Nikola Vuccivic over the years. Just kind of wondering what your thoughts of him as a teammate.

Obviously, I've been with him for, what, four years? We've formed a really good relationship just from off the court to own the court. I've been a guy that was a believer in me since day one since he got here. So obviously going to miss him a lot. Like I said, the relationship that we built on the other court, you know, meeting his family, his kids, his wife. So tough day. But, you know, like everybody else,

I guess it's part of the business. So we're supposed to be robots about it, I guess. How do you handle your own individual well-being on the day like this? I mean, are you talking to an agent? Are you just focusing on the game and not worrying about it? I'm trying to focus on the game, but obviously, you know, with a lot of stuff going on like this, you know, it's hard not to think about. But it's tough.

I mean, like I said, I've been with Voo's for a long time, so it's tough to see them go. You know, it's tough to see Kav got a little shit that we do. But, you know, you try to focus on the game and be there for my teammates. Is your mindset you want to stay here still? Yeah, I mean, obviously I want to be here. Like I like I said, I love my teammates. But like I said, at the end of the day, like I've been saying this since, you know, I've been asking me. You know, the front office is going to do what they think is best for the team.

And like I said, I want this team to do nothing but succeed. So whatever they feel is best for the team, you know what I'm saying. I just want to see everybody here win. You know what I love about the way he spoke, seeing this teammate go and understanding that his end is probably near is the same tone and the same sentiment in which he spoke about both Zach Levine and DeMarta Rosen, players that were honestly blocking some of his ability to get his shots up and shot creation and everything else. And if you remember before Zach Levine got traded, he was kind of in and out of the lineup,

leading up to his trade at the deadline. And I just, I admire his professionalism and the growth of a guy who was so young when he was drafted by the Bulls and what he has become a young man. Yeah, he was 19 when he was drafted. People forget how young he absolutely was because he was a true one and done. And so he's grown with this team. We've seen it. We've talked to him about it. You know, I've talked to him about it.

and how his good wasn't good enough for him. You know, there was an issue when it came to trying to figure out who got the ball and when, when DeMar and Zach were on the team. And I don't think it was out of fear. I think it was out of deference and respect. That was always my impression with it. And, you know, I felt differently about Zach's role on this team because I didn't think it was as simple as, oh, he was bullhawk.

No, no, watch the game and then you'll know why I think that. So getting back to that was he tried to do things to improve his own game and worked with Bull's staff in Peter Patton and Mr. Dribble too much who's famous on Instagram. He worked on his handle one year. You know, he then worked on his shot because he thought his three was too flat. And just because it was good enough in North Carolina, it was good enough to get him a lottery pick in the NBA, he wanted to be better. So I'm not surprised at all. And when he says, I guess they want us to be robots about it, this is such a hard. time for players. In every sport, the trade deadline is a hard time for athletes because you don't

necessarily know who to trust. You have an agent. You can't necessarily even trust them because they're moving people too are trying to help. The biggest example is Rich Paul and Clutch. You know, that's a lot, a big reason why a lot of players get him. So I say that to say, of course this is going to make him feel a certain way. It's hard to play the game when you don't know if you're even going to be playing for the same team after that's the only one you've known. And you remember how they talked about him when he first got here. Jim Boylan would call him an athlete. You know, they didn't, that's a way of saying you, you don't necessarily know where you were supposed to put him. So then he worked on his skills to try to help that be defined.

Well, yeah, he's clearly now defined as a combo guard who is deadly from three. Although I think the mental side of this has taken its toll on Kobe White. Just in the last week plus, right, Lela, every time I watch him, he looks like a guy who's pressing. Understand this. As much as he's grown as far as skill efficiency over the last couple of seasons specifically. This year, his average in points is down 18.6. His turnover's up to a career high, three turnovers a game. And she had last night.

Listen, it's been bad. He's five for his last 27 from three, right? You could see the threes he was taken. They weren't just barely off. There were some bad misses out there. and he's shooting a career low, 34.6% from three. I think he needs that fresh. Let this be over this saga.

Let me get my fresh start and get on with my career. I think that's where he is right now. Well, and that is part of this is when you have the feeling that you didn't fit in the team's direction for, oh, I don't know, at least a year, how would that not weigh on anybody? I mean, the public comments from Arturz-Karnas-Sovas talking about fitting a story. certain window and we're going to have way more flexibility. You look at your own contract. Oh, my contract will be up in that time period that AK is talking about. Well, and then positionally, look what happened.

Who did they acquire more of? Guards. Guards. So that would make it make sense. Now, here's the thing, though. Here's the rub. Is that number one? I think his numbers are partially down because of the calf issue that he's had. And we've seen how calves and Achilles are very much a problem in the NBA injury-wise. It's why we're talking about Boston Tradingway and Anthony Simons, right? It's why the Indiana Pacers aren't the same without Tyres Halliburton. So the numbers may be a bit affected by the fact that he's still not 100% yet, which would

make it make sense. And we know he's not because he's had to sit for this twice now. So I take that into consideration. But altogether, the Bulls have also had situations where I think, like, for example, last year, I thought that they were going to flip Kevin Herder and Zach Collins. They did not. So they may think that they can flip other. people. But I don't necessarily know that they'll be able to as quickly as they would like. Well, they certainly had their chance to flip Zach

Collins in the offseason. They won't have a chance to flip his expiring contract now because he might not even play this season. So that's one like miss from AK, but you could see why that happened. I mean, he was a very valuable piece of the Bulls when he was playing before he hurt his toe. I liked his

defensive profile to compliment what Vooch did. Out of the gate, it made sense. Definitely. I love the double bigs line up when they were playing that. That's when they were the most effective as a team. And looking at I-O-now, it's just I hope that his calf holds up for whoever he ends up playing for next. Yeah, Kobe, I mean, but when Kobe's on, the Bulls are a remarkably better team, and we saw that last March. The reason they were winning games is because Kobe was healthy and he was making all the shots. Like that went together for a reason. He would also pace the offense well.

Io paces the offense well. We don't know if I had to Sumu. There's a chance he might be traded away at this time as well. Although I think the likelihood is lower for him. I think Kobe White is the one who most likely gets dealt while we've still got a day plus here, a day in a few hours. Based on what happened yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised if both those guys get moved before Thursday's 2 p.m. deadline. But the difference is the Bulls are going to have to understand that what they value players at is not necessarily what the league does. And I think we're starting to see that happen now in some of these deals.

Yeah, if you even get for Kobe, let's say a second round pick and then a young. younger player that maybe isn't as developed. Someone who's, you know, better than Dail and Terry, but not as good as Kobe White or Trey Jones even. I understand it. We've gotten a couple of really good texts. 312, 644, 67, we'll let you keep the phones open as well. You leave yourself little time to figure out the future, says 773.

Simons is UFA and Ivy is RFA. FAA meaning free agent, unrestricted and restricted. And I think they know that, but you're right. And that's how they felt about, you know, they had to make a decision quick about giddy. But I feel like some of these players, they've had their eyes on for a while as well. You know, and that may be part of it too. But again, do the Bulls value players a little bit differently than the rest of the league?

And that becomes the concern. At the end of the day, do you feel like the Bulls can scout? Do you feel like the Noah, a Senge pick, makes sense knowing Derek Queen exists? Like, do you trust their scouting? Well, or the double down on Patrick Williams. And I don't like picking on Patrick Williams in a way. But it comes back to kind of a similar thread that we've seen being woven with this Bulls team. I actually kind of want to get into it next if you're okay with it.

Sure. Because we're trying to figure out what's next. And those two actually play a part that's bigger than it probably should be. So we'll do that next year on Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104. The score. 10 to 2 on 104 3 the score. They remain active. I would say it takes, you know, two,

sometimes three teams to make a trade. So they've got to find partners. But yeah, they've got a crowded guard room. And, you know, Kobe White and I would assume they have been out there for months. I mean, we've been talking about their futures dating back to last off season, given that they're headed to unrestricted free agency. But, yeah, our tourists and Mark and their staff. I've been busy this week.

And I think it's been pretty well documented. They've been active for a while. And they've obviously been able to find a couple of moves to this point already. That is Casey Johnson. He was on this morning with Mully and Haw. This is Rahimi Harrison Grody on 670, the score. 104-3, the score. You guys are supposed to yell at me every time I do it.

I need like a taser or something. Maybe not a taser. Before anyone yells at you, you're yelling at yourself. There's no need. I think what we have to do. Actually, you just described my entire life. I mean... Before people yell at me, I'm usually yelling at myself.

Exactly. All we have to do is, like, add on, Leila. If you do say 670 to score, because we are on 670 still, we just jump in and say, and 104-3. I know, and I do like the fact that people are doing their own science experiments and seeing if 670 or 104-3 works better. It seems like, and this is how we understand it, you know, farther out you go, 670 is better. But, like, when you're next to our building, you couldn't get 670.

So 1043 is a plus. Shout out to everybody on Lower Wack or listening to 104 through the score right now. Or behind a building that's tall. You know, you can do that now too. Welcome to 1978. I hear things get interesting in a couple of years. Why are you invoking my birth year?

I didn't appreciate that. It's FM. So yes, please fake tase me or something or I don't know. I need some sort of like Pavlov's dog. I like fake tase. Well, real tase is a little too much. So, like, what do you do? I was just on Amazon shopping for when you said it, Leila.

You put a tongue on a nine volt. Is that the move? It's like, but not like, Z. Okay, I've lost the plot. So looking at, I think Casey Johnson is right. What's next for the Bulls? We've got 24 hours plus a few more when it comes to the trade deadline.

We have 27 hours, 10 minutes and 13. I was going to say, 35 seconds. Yeah, I was going to say like 20, yeah, it was like four extra hours at least. So I got you. So I'm also looking at the Bulls,

like new spot rack with everybody. Oh, the new multi-table. Yeah. So Anthony Simons immediately becomes the highest paid player, 27.7 million. Then it's Josh Giddy. Then it's Zach Collins.

Then it's Zach Collins. Wait. How does that work? Explain that to me? Zach Collins at 18 point, really like 18.1. And then it's Patrick Williams at 18. Then it's Kobe at 12.9.

Isaac Okoro at 11. Mike Conley, Jake. Mike Conley's only making 10.7. That's because Mike Conley made his millions earlier in his career. Yeah, he knows what kind of deal he's going to get signed to. And he doesn't believe he's done playing to. Did you hear him say that? I love Mike Conley.

And like I'm with Grotie. If this sticks me back to the Zebo Memphis team, I'm cool with it. Oh my goodness. Grit and grind. I love it. So Jaden Ivy, Jalen Smith, next, Trey Jones, I.O. Modis, Noah, Dail and Terry, Julian Phillips, Lachlan Ulbrook on the two-way, and then Yuki Kawamura on the two-way.

Now, Casey did drop this nugget. Then he thinks that likely because of Zach Collins' injury, you end up getting a center on a two-way. That would make it make sense, right? They have to pick up another body, like somebody who can be a backup center on a two-way. Because right now, their centers are Zach Collins, and Lachlan Oldbrick. And Zach Collins may not play.

And they have seven guards. So I think here's what's next to them. I think they really should, if they can find a way to get Tar Yeson, which will not be easy because he's that good, they should get Tar Heeson. They should maybe even give up a little draft capital to get Tar Yen. Tell us why Tar Yen, who's currently with the Rockets,

I love this idea, but I want to hear why you think that this is such a possibility and a no-brainer. So even if he didn't fit, and he does, let me explain that, our church Carnishovic's vision for what a team should look like in the modern apron heavy NBA, where you have, you know, what do you say, nine to ten players that are really, really good? Yeah. He can be that guy. He fits the timeline because he's 24 years old.

He was drafted in 2022 out of LSU. Yes. Out of LSU, he was the 17th overall pick. So just outside of a lottery status. Who did the Bulls take that year? Hold, please. Oh, the 2022 draft? Was that Dailen Terry?

I just want to take a looksy here. That was Dalton Terry. He was taken one pick before Dalian Terry. Which I actually think plays into the idea that the Bulls would want Tari Easton even more. Because the Rockets take him one pick ahead of him. And I wonder if they were like, ah, that's who he wanted. They already have Jaden Ivy right now, who was the number five pick in that draft class.

Don't forget that they back. Back in the day wanted Isaac Okoro and lo and behold. Oh, so this is kind of like when AK got the pickback in the Zach Levine trade. So, oh, he's just working backwards. I, okay, okay. Well, the real comp, and this is the hell on earth comp, and it doesn't matter anymore. You're really bringing this up, aren't you? It's the 2017 MLV prospect list in the White Sox.

But that's not even a thing anymore. So, you know, but that's the extreme of the cop. It's very scarring. And hell on earth is not the right term. Are you sure? It just felt like it became inception. You know, where it's like, oh, why are they signing this guy? Is he on the list?

The talisman, the key, the thing that makes everything makes sense. Let me tell you about Tar Heeson. Six foot eight listed at 215 pounds. He's long. Here's what you need to know. He can play defense. In fact, he's a better defensive player than he is an offensive player. I'm letting you know that.

I'm letting you know that to also in my next breath tell you this. he's a career 38% shooter from three, including this year, he's hitting 48% of his threes on a career high four and a half attempts per contest. A three and D guy, you tell me. Okay, so when you talk about Josh Giddy, when you talk about Anthony Simons, when you talk about Jaden Ivy, when you talk about Tray Jones. Like, Giddy hasn't had a lob threat yet in a Bulls uniform. No, and it's been real sad. Like, you're right about that.

They're not enough loves on this team. Also, because they're in a good situation in this standing, Layla, some of the guys that you mentioned that will be back next year, whether it's Buzellis and Asengay, who are both making $5.7 million next year, that's not a lot. Trey Jones and Jalen Smith, who have been highly productive role players.

Smith is making $9.4 million next year. Jones is only making $8 million. That might be the best deal that AKs made, the deal to get Trey Jones. back in house for that cheap of a deal. They just have a lot of opportunities here to go big game hunting in a different way than what we've heard about. What about Chet Holmgren as a restrictive free agent?

Oh, I don't hate that idea. Offer him the biggest offer sheet you can offer him, and you'll have the room to do it. Well, and that's it. They've got two offer sheets that they likely have to get with who's on the books right now. So, Jaden Ivy, and then, well, it depends on the rights, but, you know, Anthony Simons, they're going to have to do something with those two. So then what happens next? But yeah, now that Zach Collins is your third highest paid player on the team,

slightly ahead of Patrick Williams, that lets you know how quickly things change. And again, the Collins thing, that would have been another contract that you could have moved. Couldn't do it, though, because he's hurt. But that's fine because $18 million still comes off the book. It's not the $18 million I'm pointing at to come off the books, but it's still $18 million coming off the books. You got three more years of that deal. Thanks for reminding me.

Thanks for reminding me. Just to let you know. Coming up next year on Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 670, The Score, let's shift gears and talk football because it is Super Bowl week. And usually there's some interesting interview regarding the bears that will come out of Radio Row. This year is no different. Ryan Poles talked to Sirius XM about his relationship with Ben Johnson and how it's evolved this season.

That's next. This hour is sponsored by Almost Free Teeth.com, affordable implants, life-changing smiles. I want to thank Ben for his dedication to this job. It didn't feel, he talks about being a first time coach. It didn't feel that way at all. His ability to take, like he said, the words off the wall and push that to his players and see them respond was incredible.

Even in some of the feedback we got, these guys were just doubling down on his message. When he got to the locker room, there was no hesitation. There was no great area. They pushed forward because they believed. believed in what he was saying and what he needed from them, which was incredible. That was Ryan Poles at his season-ending press conference. This is Rahimi Harrison Brody on 104-3, The Score. I almost did it.

I almost did it. Everybody suggested punishments that were hilarious, by the way. Dog collar on the lowest setting from 815. Make a donation everywhere, somewhere every time he say 670 instead of 104. three is from Texas. Isn't cattle prod the typical fashion? I think a cattle prod is stronger than a taser. I don't want to be the one to find out, which is which.

Well, one leaves a mark that's a little more permanent. That too. That's all I'm saying. But I did crack up at everybody who immediately had ideas. So that made me laugh. The cattle prod would have to say 104 to score, though. Yes, not 670. No, not a brand. Not the cattle brand.

That's what I was thinking. That's what we're all thinking. There are various poking devices for cattle. I don't want to get poked with anything. The brand is one thing. No, I am not getting a 104-3-the-score tattoo or a brand. It would help remind you. It would help remind you.

This is like people, you know, this is like, it's getting in the area of aspirational tattoos. Like, just because you put a tattoo on your body that said, oh, I don't know, the White Sox were going to win the division. Doesn't mean that that's actually going to happen. The White Sox might win the division, though. You want to put that tattoo on? Nope. Nope. Like, oh, I did a tattoo of this.

Or like people who, oh, God, 7.7.3, send a text to one of your exes. Okay, that's a horrifying punishment. So, all right. Say it with me now. 1043, the score. 104. I have yet to say the other. Every time you say it wrong, you have to write Super Bowl one word on the white board 100 times.

Superb owl. Superb owl. It's two words. Okay. Speaking of that, unfortunately, Kaling Kaler, because she is covering that Super Bowl, had to reschedule. So we wanted to move up one of our topics because if you recall, last year this time, we had a lot of discussion around the interviews that happened amongst Ryan Poles in the media on Radio Row. And then just some of the stuff it was said, like, for example, oh, I don't know, steps were skipped when it came to training camp.

do you remember that? And I'm like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Well, like, mistakes were made. Like, why are you just now saying this? You know, why at the Super Bowl, which your team is not playing in, and they weren't in the playoffs to get to? Are you just now saying this? Glad he said it.

But it was one of those moments where you're like, well, that's a bit of a red flag. So obviously, I was very keen on hearing what was said this time around. Better late than never on the whole steps were. skipped. Mistakes were made. Mistakes were made. There were oversights. Yeah. And frankly, there shouldn't be, especially with the chief executive of the football

operation of your football team. So Ryan Poles spoke to Sirius XM NFL radio. And I think, I feel like he kind of picked up where he left off with that type of discussion. Listen to what he had to say. He set the tone early. Communicated clearly what the expectations

were. And Caleb was all in for. And that's what he was looking for. It's one thing to say it, but then we got on the practice field. You could see that come alive. If it wasn't done the right way, we were going to do it again. We'll do it again. And we were actually in the exit meetings at the end of the season. Caleb was kind of laughing about it, doing a long drive drill and starting it over five times.

Like, he was going to make sure it was done the right way. And you could see growth through that. Do you remember at the beginning of training camp when Ben Johnson was just lighting them up and making them not only repeat things, time and time again, but sometimes just kicking the first team offense off the field. Oh, yeah. And I don't think it was, I don't think it was for show. You know, like, for example, Jalen Johnson practicing with the threes because he missed in voluntary practice because he was, he was at his annual golf tournament for his friend from high school who died.

That, that was for show. This is not that. Every time you bring up any relic, and I do call you. call them relics because it's ancient history to me of the Matt Eberfuss era. It is hilarious to me. I mean, okay, I'm going back to February, let's break out some receipts. Okay. I'm going back to February 28th, 2025 right now. And this is on, this is through our friends, the Bears Wire. They do a great job. Now, the headline says, Ryan Poles admits bears skip steps developing Caleb Williams. Speaking to PFT Live, pro football talk,

the NFL scouting combine, polls explained how he feels the organization failed in their first year with Williams. There were probably some steps skipped in the very beginning just in terms of building the foundation. Some of the things you have to operate at a high level in this league, even as a rookie. I think that he was accelerated and with that

as the league studies and figures things out, it gets exposed as you go along. That quote is still very important to me, just because either you learn from it or you didn't. And I feel like when you hear Ryan Poles say that, what did they do? They answered by getting a coach who made sure that the process in training camp was sound. The level of enthusiasm from Caleb Williams, and rightfully so, and understandably so,

for Ben Johnson's hire as opposed to what he was introduced to when he was drafted in Matt Aberfluse and Shane Waldron is breathtaking in contrast. And I get it. You just went through your version of hell as a rookie. And now you know Ben Johnson. You don't know like maybe how Ben Johnson does it, but you know he does that thing that you so badly want to do when you're on the football field. And so therefore, you're willing to almost strip yourself internally of all of your pre-beliefs, if you will, of what you think you know about football to make sure that internally you are stripped down to the stud so that you could be rebuilt and whatever this man wants to make you

because he knows what he's doing. Well, for example, how much did we end up talking about the stupid net drill video that dominated an entire week of the internet? I was there that day. And all those people are like, oh, you hate Caleb Williams, you hate him. And if I really hated Caleb Williams, as much as you guys claimed, wouldn't I have cared about the net drill?

Like some? I did not care about that. I was like, I saw him do it live. It wasn't a big deal. He's just throwing at a net. And he actually explained it. You know what a net is not? A receiver.

It just didn't bother me that. You know what else? When you throw it the net and you hit it where it's supposed to go, the net catches the ball. The net catches the ball. Yeah, I hear that works in soccer. stuff. Can't say that's the same for all of the Bears would be past catchers last season. That part

too. You know, that part of it. But I just, yeah, the point of it, though, was that when he was doing these drills, and I think a lot of it was to, frankly, upset, and I think there was a little bit of break him down

to build him back up. Not just Caleb Williams, but the entire Bears team. I think it was to avoid. Ryan Poles fairly admitting something that I still think came under his purview when it came to steps being skipped at training camp. We all make mistakes. Correct your mistake as quickly as possible. And I do give Ryan Poles credit for correcting some of his mistakes. And I also give,

again, Caleb Williams credit for willing to be broken down to be built back up again. And I give even more credit to Ben Johnson for figuring out how to do it. Because he figured it out. Like, everybody doesn't figure it out with every quarter. Who's playing for the Seahawks in the Super Bowl this Sunday? Well, Sam Darnold. He's been through several people who have tried to help him figure it out. Yeah, I need to do, speaking of receipts.

Okay. I need to do the deep dive on what exactly changed for Sam Dernold. Because I know he's touched on it a little bit. There's been a lot written about that. There's good citations, if you will. Yeah, I think I've got to do the deep dive either tonight or tomorrow night. And I know the Bulls play tomorrow on. Amazon Prime, by the way.

I know I've got to do like the deep dive on when he felt like the light came on for him in a way that made it all make sense. Because I don't necessarily think it was just Kevin O'Connell. Like, I think he unlocked him. But I think it had a lot to do with the willingness of the player. And that's kind of what this is as well. I think it shouldn't take that kind of quote. It shouldn't take the colossal mistakes the Bears made in Caleb Williams' first year, which to me was still very valuable.

You know, it shouldn't have taken all of that to get to the point. And I'm not to the point yet where I say, well, everything is fine and fixed because the expectation for the 1-1, who you believe can take your team to a Super Bowl, they did say the Super Bowl, the Bears, that that was their goal. You know, so now I feel like that becomes part of the discussion.

But I am glad to see that in retrospect, Ryan Poles understands what the difference was between one and the other. We are combing through Ryan Poles, who was recently on Sirius XM NFL radio here on Rahimi Harris and Grotie on 1043, The Score. And I love any time Ryan Poles, and I feel like on these specific types of interviews,

he's a little more forthcoming and less guard up as when he's maybe at the lectern in front of the entire beat. Which is why I didn't take a serious. seriously, the interview where he's seated next to Kevin Warren after they fired Iber flus. Like, I think it's fine to wear a quarter of. I think it's fine to wear a suit. No, it was fine that, but you couldn't ignore the look on his face.

Just the body language was the body language. The body language was the body language. I think it got, everything got exacerbated a little bit when it came to the visuals, but he's still the general manager of this team. And as we saw, it was not just his job. like the bears had to pony up the money to be able to do so and ultimately we knew that polls still answer to Kevin Warren. So they made,

they as a collective made the right decision. And sometimes that's what happens is in organizations. It's that one guy wants to do something the correct way, but that his boss or his boss's boss won't let him. And I'm not making an excuse for anybody. It's just, you know, as well as I do, you cover sports long enough. You know that maybe this guy wants to do something, but his boss says no. Well, now we have Kevin Warren coming in and making everything seemingly good on the football operations standpoint by allowing Ryan Poles to stay, making sure Ben Johnson is the guy, and letting Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen have a large say in what happens next.

And year one was a rousing success. And now we're all just kind of excited for year two and what even further this team can do as far as development of the players they have. and then adding whatever it takes to make the team better overall. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104.3, the score. If you're missing 104.3, we recommend you go over to B96 because you might be pleasantly surprised at the playlists and how they overlap. And in the meantime, we're talking about Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson,

thanks to a Ryan Poles interview he did on Sirius XM NFL Radio. So as we asked the question in our previous segment about what's next for the Bulls, Oh, yeah. What's next when it comes to the development for Caleb Williams? Coach is going to challenge it to be even more efficient, not only just with the operation, but just completions. And I think when you have special playmaking traits and then you lean onto that mobility and escapability, I think sometimes you don't take just the easy throw. So taking what's given to you and moving on to the next down to just staying ahead of the chains and just being more efficient overall. and I think that's what he's going to challenge him on doing,

as well as becoming a leader and a little bit more vocal. He was learning so much. He was in the fire. I think as he grows as a young quarterback, I think the leadership piece will continue to grow to. Two words, Layla. Runners, ball. I want to see more of those.

And then the leadership thing, I feel like that's been, the thing about the seven comebacks is that that team is following Caleb Williams, wherever he could take them at this point. because they've seen it firsthand too many times not to believe it. I think they've matched his energy the whole time. Seth Weckersham was on with Spiegel and Holmes on Monday,

and I strongly recommend you go back and listen to his interview because he talked about how Williams and his career is a bit of a slow starter and how the team took on that energy, you know, and not in a bad way because we saw what happens at the end of these games, but that that is an indication of how much they do mirror his energy. and he even talked about it throughout the season. I'm kind of surprised that Ryan Poles even brought it up because I didn't even think that was an issue

was that Caleb talked about being consistent and being remaining confident and steadfast even in late game scenarios where he felt like they where he felt like they still had a chance and everybody believed it. So that doesn't even come into question for me. I also am one of those people and I think you know this.

I don't necessarily think you have to be a, certain personality type to A, be a quarterback and be successful in the NFL, and then B, be a leader. Like, like, we laughed about Montez-Swett saying Jervon Dexter was a leader on the team. But the fact of the matter is, Jirvan,

you never questioned his effort, his hustle, his attempts to get up and disrupt a ball with a tip pass. Like, you could see why that was said. It's not always correlated like, oh, this typical leader is going to be the dude. I am a big believer that

there are different leadership styles and each of them can be equally as effective whether you are a super vocal leader whether you lead by you know example and just setting that daily this is this dude looks like he knows what he's doing you know the whole speak softly carry a big stick that plays and that plays in sports out of sports business whether you're in a rec league playing sports? Like, that just plays. Anybody who's played organized sports knows that leaders don't have to necessarily be the most vocal on the team.

Well, and even we were talking about this yesterday, you know, Jackson Smith and Jigba, his play is very loud and successful. He's not that way in personality. You know, he's a subtle and more like understated guy. Gets his point across. But, you know, that's a good example. I like the people who don't necessarily fit the mold. I find them interesting.

I love a little JSC. JSN had this wonderful conversation. I didn't bring it up to you guys where he was on with Marshawn Lynch. I saw the clip of it. Should we, we put it? Well, we got halftime open. Do we want to do it at a halftime? We could do that.

I have something for halftime, but we could do that too. We call it producing on the fly. My halftime can work anytime. But the Jackson, if you could turn it around, the JSN with Marshawn Lynch is hilarious. Yeah, I'm into that for sure. Because he wasn't sure about his name and hilarity. ensues. You can already imagine, right? Marshan. Hated speaking to the media became the media. There's so much, to that point, Layla, there's so much Marshawn Lynch content out there, you know,

at this current moment, especially with the Seahawks at the Super Bowl, like, oh, my goodness, it's great. You know what else is deep down, I'm like, did you know? You just didn't want to, people couldn't handle it? Is that the deal? You just knew like you were too funny enough for Vesant? Or were you just worried you were going to swear or something on the mic? The man is a full-fledged actor with starring roles in movies. He's horribly entertaining. And when I say horribly, I mean, in the best way possible. Like, he's funny as hell.

You all got two short whistle from blow to whistle? I'm going to give Marshawn Lynch all the credit in the world. And I'm going to say that he probably said to himself, I know I'm entertaining, but they're going to have to pay me to get this. You know what? That's not a bet. It was, uh, I think the league couldn't. I think we as a society were not ready for Marshawn.

Lynch's entertainment factor. You're probably right. What is the old, uh, it's, uh, the dark night, Heath Ledger's Joker, never do something for free if you're good at it. Well, that, that's Marciaun Lynch. That goes back to also Wall Street. Like anything worth doing is worth doing for money. Greed is good.

Greed clarifies. Yeah. If you're good at something, never do it for free. That was Heath Ledger's Joker in the dark night. And he was right. Yeah, there's a lot of archetypes that come from that movie. So yes, am I fine with ending this with credit to Marshawn Lynch for being himself? I certainly am.

We also want to say congratulations to our friends at White Eagle Auto Body, with locations in Naperville and Oswego for being this year's winner of our Score Big for your business contest. They've had their commercials produced by the score, and they will be heard during Super Bowl 60 right here this Sunday on 104-3 and 670, the score. Score big for your business is sponsored by People's Bank where better banking keeps moving forward, member FDIC. Coming up next year on Rahimi Harrison Grotie, our friends at CHGO, talk to a guy whose fate I don't know yet. Kevin Byrd, you know his fate yet? I know what I want it to be, but no, I don't know his fate.

I think we should examine and hear from Kevin Byard, who's been a tremendously good interview this whole season. So we'll do it next. Do 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.

To throw, zips one deep in a head. Yeah, that's right. That's courtesy of, is that, who is that? Fox or ESPN? Why did I think it was ESPN for a second? Because sometimes they all sound the same. It's courtesy of Fox. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043, the score.

104, 3, Leila. Get it right. I have to tell myself, guys. And Kevin Byard, yeah, seven interceptions. That led the league for the regular season. Devin Lloyd, two less than him at five. A group of five was Lloyd, J.C. Horn, Ernest Jones, Antonio Johnson, Xavier Watts, and Nashon Wright, by the way.

Also a free agent now. Isn't that comforting Marshall to know? that the guy who got you seven picks and the guy who got you five picks are both free agents now? Yes. Like if you're managing the Bears checkbook, you're like, well, isn't that nice? I just like, when I try to evaluate moves versus moves, it's so funny how one year you could think, oh, this was great or this was terrible, and then three or four years down the road, actually it's the other way around.

Well, I mean, it's a wonderful problem to have, but it is just, very much a problem. The fate of Kevin Byrd, the fate of Nashon Wright, the fate of even Tremaine Edmins when you're trying to figure out what's going to happen next for the Bears, who also was up there at interceptions with four. So it's a jigsaw puzzle that Ryan Poles and the crew are desperately going to have to fit together. And number one, I think for all of us in our minds, and we even heard this when it came to Jaquine Bristker was who are you going to keep. And Brisker versus Byard was the discussion when we heard it talked about at the end of the season press conference. Who we didn't hear from after the end of the season press conference was

Kevin Byard, who's out and about because of the pro bowl games. Why are you throwing up the air quotes that were on a Tuesday? That man had an interception. For some reason. That man had an interception that he took off and ran back and I think it didn't count because there was a penalty on the play. I think there was like an illegal screen because you can't screen in flag football. I know a lot about flag football because I called the IHSA flag football championships this year and it was a delight. Screening in flag football does seem like a real illegal defense type of move. You can't block. The entire game becomes the entire game becomes rendered irrelevant if you're screening. Yeah, because that's just that's not allowed. Because that would be it. That'd be the end of the game.

I watched some of the Pro Bowl last night, but that's another story for another segment. My favorite's always Tug of War and then the big men commentating on the Tug of War. That's all I like. I miss Tug of War. I think we should be out here doing Tug of War. Pro Bowl games for adults? Well, we got invited actually by Herb Howard, I was going to say us two years ago. They were having the outdoor games and like I couldn't go that day, but I was like, that looks like so much fun.

And Tug of War was one of the things. Like you bring your team of adults and you see if you got what it takes against, other adults. Adult field day. Yes. I think that's what it was called. I'm not running the 100. No, I'm not doing any of that.

Potato Sack race. Get me out of there for that. I don't... The games of coordination, yes. But the games of like speed and... Power. ...violence? No.

Maybe hitting somebody. I mean, that's speed and power and violence. Yeah, but like just not the fast and coordinated part. Maybe like the willing to sacrifice your body for the cause part. you really want to be a linebacker. That's all I'm hearing right now. Yeah. And after the linebacker survey where they were asked about a lot of questions, it wasn't just linebackers, the player survey and hearing from all the NFC defensive players, I was like, yeah, you guys are my people. Okay. So he's more of a safety type, but if you want to be a

linebacker, we'll let you do with the full backs. I'm a linebacker, linebacker is me. That's a low center of gravity battle. That's why I feel like I would do okay. I feel you. All of that said, I can't play for the bears. Kevin Byard might not play for the Bears. So our friends Adam Hogan, Adam Johns for CH Joe, were at the Super Bowl. They're at Radio Row. And they talked to Kevin Byard

about the possibility of what basically we all want to know. So are you staying here or what? I think I was one of the only guys that he actually brought up by name. So now it's always good. I obviously hear your GM say that they want you back. And obviously I had meetings with him and Ben and they basically all echoed the same thing. And I said the same thing

as well. Like if all else is fair and all else is equal, everything's equal, I would love to come back to the Bears. I think just the city, the organization, has embraced myself, my family. We had such a great year this year. And obviously, and I kind of said this in my interviews on the after the exome,

it's like the hardest thing to do when I think in this league is to get the quarterback and the head coach right. And I think that's something that Chicago has. So I think that window is going to be open for as long as it needs to be. So obviously, I would love to come back and play for the Bears.

You know, we know this is a business, and I know Poles and Ben, they have a lot of decisions to make on the roster. They're probably still. trying to figure out how all that stuff works out. So like I said, haven't really had too much conversation about it because it's still January.

You know, I'm pretty sure when the combine comes around where all decision makers and agents are all in the same room, those conversations will probably pick up a little bit more. Okay. What do we always talk about with Kyler Gordon? We're like, oh, Dennis Allen mentioned him by name.

Yeah. And you remember when we played that clip when he went through the safeties, I was like, I noticed he didn't say Jaquam Bristker. out loud, but he sure made sure to say Kevin Byard out loud. I said he name-checked him, and I'm glad Kevin Byer was paying attention to the name check as well.

Why am I not surprised that Kevin Byard, respected veteran, leader in the locker room, NFL regular season interception leader, had the elevator pitch on lock. He nailed it. If you're going to go do Radio Row and hang out with a bunch of media guys, you've got to have a plan. But consider what else he said.

All things being equal. Here's the problem. What's the problem? I don't know that if all things are being equal, then I assume he's implying salary. And you and I were just going through a list of some of the highest paid salaries in the NFL. Let's give a frame of reference. Number one is Kyle Hamilton at 25.1 million.

That's why I said, let's give a frame of reference. Here's the frame of reference. That money is what Kyle Hamilton made the safety from the Baltimore Ravens last season. Additionally, you got to go. not doing franchise tag here because it implies the average of the top paid at your position. You got to go all the way down to number 24 because Kevin Byer was the 24th highest paid safety last year at 7.5 million. And if the Bears could resign him at a rate of 7.5 million for two or three years, they would absolutely do it. But the NFL Interceptions Leader is not going to get paid

$7.5 million, even regardless of the fact that he's over the age of 30. So Kirby Joseph at 21 and a half is number two. Antoine Winfield, 21, Derwin James, 19.1, Mika Fitzpatrick up there at 18.4. Point is, you have to go a long way before you even get to a number that Marshall and I talked about being 13 million, and that's Talanoa, Tala Noah Hufanga of Denver. Amani Hooker's at 13 and a half. Kyle Duggers at 14 and a half from Pittsburgh. Cameron Bynum of Indiana or of Indianapolis is at 15. So when I consider those numbers, even though he's older, don't you think for even like a year, he's going to get paid somewhere in that range? Is that crazy?

Josh Mattelis is getting 12. I threw out to you because this is a guy who's, what, 33 years old, going into his age 34 season. If the bears could get him on, let's say, a two-year deal where he's getting paid 13 million per year, would you be okay with that? and what was your answer, Lela Rahimi? I forget. You were kind of like, that seems like a lot. But then I made you look at all the other salaries.

And you're like, I mean, that's, yeah, we did that together. So I would say this. That would be what I think in a salary cap world, if you can get him to come back on $13 million per. And maybe it's a three-year deal with guarantee of, you know, let's say $30 million or something like that. It's a lot relative to what he got paid. But the problem is it's not a lot relative to who he is now among.

his position group. First team all pro. It was a steal. It was an absolute steel. First team all pro. You know, when you have our first team all pro and you are making plays in a secondary that was very questionable at times. Oh yeah.

I mean, the first two games. So you got to give credit where credit is due. He was an anchor on that team. And I think any other team that is interested in him right now understands that you're not just getting the first team all pro guy. You're getting a rock of a leader in a locker room kind of guy. But that's why I said, you know, he nailed that elevator pitch because he said all things being equal. Does that sound like a guy who's going to give a hometown discount to you? No, but it does sound like a guy who understands this is his last chance to get paid and

understand that the Bears as an organization have other people to pay and understand also this. You're getting paid not for your past performance, but what they think you will do going forward. Yeah, but I think somewhere in the middle is the fact that his production was so wildly high based on the previous contract. That's why it came up and almost doubled his salary at $13 million compared to the 7.5 year and last year. And you're right. I said that was a lot compared to what he was making, but not compared to the rest of these dudes who frankly have some questionable money on the books, some of them. Yes. And like Mika Fitzpatrick was paid for his past performance.

And I think he's a fabulous player. But you know what I'm saying. And now that looks like a deal. You know, Buda Baker, 18? Okay, for Buddha, don't you think that that's probably still relatively speaking, knowing Kyle Hamilton is getting 25.1, that's a deal. Here's what I'll say. If you take the top, let's say the top 12 guys, how many of those guys, safeties, that's

not a premium position, how many those guys end up playing on a playoff team? That's the point. Like Cameron Bynam is somebody who I kind of zeroed in on. I'm like, is that the kind of neighborhood money you're talking about here? And as we know, the Colts did not play in the playoffs. Javon Holland, not in the playoffs. JCP 8's the third. Not in the playoffs.

Zavian McKinney was in the playoffs. Lost to the Bears in the playoffs. Sure did. Trouvon Moring was, Mowry, excuse me, was in the playoffs. A lot of guys, more than half the guys, did not make the playoffs last year

in that top group. And Cameron Bynum is in, this will be the second year of a contract and he's only going to be 28. 33. Going to be 34. Yeah, that's the age. The age piece of this,

the question becomes, How much is age going to knock off the price of the contract for Kevin Byard? I thought 13 was a fair number, A.A.V. I thought it was a fair number. Also, some of these salaries are going to go up. Somebody's going to become the top paid guy, I would think. Oh, yeah, timing helps with that. Like, for example, Mika Fitzpatrick is only going to be 30 in 2026.

So, yeah. Either pay Kevin his money or keep your name out of his mouth. I think that's what Kevin's going to end up saying at the time. He just said it so well. He nailed the elevator pitch, man. Especially saying all years, you know, all things being equal. Like, he just, he nailed it. I would just walk around saying first team all pro.

That's what I would do if I was him. And then the fact that he's like, yeah, the GM mentioned be my name. Name checked. He said, I think I was the only guy that got mentioned by name. It wasn't just that he mentioned his name. He was like, I was special in him mentioning my name. Flawless execution. Yep.

Flaught. Flawless in the business. Flawless. Ah, I love it. Almost as much as much as I. enjoyed his play this year. Make that money, Kevin Byard. I just don't know if it's going to be here. We have to do this next, right? The, the clip you guys were talking about with Marshawn and Jackson Smith and Jigba. Do we have it? Oh, yeah. Are you good with hold? Oh, it's that good? It's that good.

It's just, it's Marchion Lynch. Anything with Marshall Lynch is amazing. And it makes sense because Seahawks back in the title game. All right. We'll do it next. We are careening toward the NBA trade deadline, careening. And you know who careened before we did? The Bulls. They did a lot of stuff. They traded away Nikola Vucovich. They traded away.

Well, we don't know that they're getting rid of Mike Conley yet. We just assume Dario Sarge was a bull for about four minutes. What was your favorite moment of the Dario Sarge era? I think it's when they turned that into Jaden Ivy. They traded for Jaden Ivy. The point is that. the Bulls are making moves. So we wanted to know what's next.

And do we finally have more of a defined direction for this team? You can't trade with the Kings all the time. They're not going to take all your players. You can't trade Patrick Williams to the Kings? They like former Bulls from what I hear. No? Okay. I tried.

I sent my water down disapprovingly. We also listened to what Ryan Poles had to say, remembering what he said last year at this time about training camp, and how that was a very different progress report when it came to Ben Johnson's season. And then we also heard the Hogan Johns podcast, an excerpt where they talked to Kevin Byard. If you want to hear more of the Kevin Byard interview,

that is available on the Hogan John's podcast, wherever you get your podcasts. It's laptop. We also talked about Marshawn Lynch because, well, this Super Bowl is a rematch of one that Marcion played it in Super Bowl 49. How'd that go for them at the end of that game? It's a Patriots.

What do you expect at that time in that era? I expect them to run the football. They absolutely should run the football. Yes. But all of that said, I said that I think Marshawn was ahead of his time. And maybe the reason he didn't speak to the media was because, A, he might have been afraid that he was going to swear on a microphone. Or B, that the league and us, we as a society just weren't ready. So this is the clip you were talking about, the get got pod with Mars.

The name's funny with Sean Lynch and Mike Robinson talking to Jackson Smith and Jigba. You got to tell me how to say your name, bro. In Jigba. In Jigba. You know what I'm saying? It's very phonetic.

If you just look at the word, every letter. School education, my you know. No, that's good. I said it right. Oh, J-S-N. Nah, because I was talking here.

Hey, it's enigma. Yeah. I hate my nigma. You hear me? He was an enigma to a degree. So you get the drift of it, right? What he was worried about calling him? He was like, it can't be that though, right?

I can't be saying it right when it's wrong. Wait, wait, say it again? And Jigba? Because you know I was going to call you. Yeah, yeah. And then Jackson Smith and Jigbo was just like, you could just call me J.S.N. He's like, no, no, no, I want to get your name right.

Seahawks. I'm a Seahawk. Oh, my goodness. I, why is he so funny? Like, what? I get it. Like, he really was worried about it. Oh, yes.

And he had every right to be. Oh, Marshawn. And credit to everybody who brought up the, the mortal, was it Mortal Kombat with Conan? Oh, I was just, yeah. 224. I forgot about Marshawn versus Gronk in Mortal Kombat on Conan from the last Pat's Hawk's Super Bowl movement. I, I loved the, uh,

I love it super. I think you meant memories. But yeah, the Mortal Kombat, the video game was so good. Finish him. Oh, that cracks me up.

Like what? Marshang is just on another level of life. We have time for this too on half time. Yeah, speaking of finish him. Yeah. How would you describe this clip that we want to hear from Dremon?

I'm sorry, what'd you say is tomorrow to a PM? What's happening? The trade deadline. And there's word out there. And Dramon has actually said, that he might get traded and then just see what the Warriors can get and then just resign with the Warriors next season to help their cause.

This is getting dangerously close to old school NBA trade deadline. You remember where like Jerry Stackhouse is like, yeah, I'm going to Minnesota for five minutes, but then they're going to cut me and the boughs are going to sign me again. And then the league was like, you can't say that. You can't do that anymore. But do you remember when players used to be very cavalier about it? They would tell you exactly what's going on. They're like, yeah, this is an aspect.

said balance. I'm just going over there for them to cut me. But yeah, so Draymond actually gets to the podium and he's like, you know what? This might be it. And he's kind of come to terms with, this might actually be his last run with the Warriors period. You know, this is

something I've never dealt with before. So I'm not, I don't really have like some guidebook or manual to how it should be. So yeah, if there's a point where I need to say goodbye, I'll say goodbye. Yeah, it is business as usual.

You know, come out, play, go home, come back tomorrow, fly, maybe. Play Thursday, maybe not. We'll see, you know. So it's business as usual for me, though. But, you know, I think a lot of people want to know, like, how I feel about it. Like, am I upset about it or, like, I'm not at all. Like, you know, I don't, if that's what's best for this. organization, that's what's best for the organization. No, I'm not like, oh man, they

me over or something like that. Like, I don't really feel that way. You know, if, um, if you would have told me 13 and a half years ago, like, yo, I'm going to hand you this sheet of paper and you can sign it to be in a place for 13 and a half years, would you sign it? And I would have signed it faster than you can blink. So what do I have to sit and worry about? What do I have to, like, be upset about? Like, I've been here for 13 and a half years. That's longer than probably 98% of NBA players than been in one place. And this guy from Saginaw has been in a place for 13.5 years.

I don't know that it ends at 13 and a half, but if it does, what a fucking run has been. I'll take the fine for it. What a fucking run. it's been. So that's that's that's just how I feel you know and I'm not I'm I don't sleep well after game so if I lose sleep tonight I promise y'all it's not because I think I'm getting traded I just don't really sleep well after game but I'm blessed I'm lucky you know I'm grateful like I said it's my family has not had to move anywhere since I started my family you know That's like

That's incredible I don't take that for granted It's guys that have been on the move every year Moving their family two, three times in the year I have so much gratitude For Where I am in my career The run that I've been on here

And like I said, I don't I don't know that it is or whatnot I don't I don't we'll all see I feel like he was He was thinking out loud real time with that and even though he understands all things come to an end

a lot of people in his same position wouldn't have handled it quite as graciously as he just did well and he's right if you had gotten an edict or a contract or something but you had to agree to saying you're going to spend 13 and a half years the same team arguably the best in the league over that span he has he has the right attitude about it

of course you don't I mean we know things come to an end all the time but it doesn't make it any easier when they do this qualifies as one of those I love it for him he's a four-time champion he's a future basketball Hall of Fame he's in the Hall of Fame yeah so like he's good he's what he's saying is

I'm good regardless but you need to take some time with with understanding and he's right like not not having the playbook on what it's like to have things end like the entire way he put that together, surprisingly, was the correct process. Why he's saying surprisingly?

Because of what he's known for, his antics. His reactions at times are not always... We just heard examples of two men just nailing the plot, right? Like Kevin Byard and now Draymond, right? That doesn't always happen. Especially when you're just thinking out loud or saying something out loud like that. Only two years in difference in age, and you're seeing some maturity, some wisdom from a couple of wily

Vets. Growth. But yeah, Draymond with a little gratitude on the run there is what that was. Also, we got food dropped off today. Speaking of gratitude on the run, I love it when I can give McDonald's sauce news. I know how you guys feel about the Donald sauce packets. You like me and saucy. But McDonald's sauce news is a big deal for those of us who are into it.

Hot honey sauce is available in Chicagoland starting the 27th. So it just dropped last week. Get it while it lasts. Hot honey brings the heat for the cold winter days here in Chicagoland. And it actually did. It's not, it's more hot than it is honey and I like it that way. So it's available on all of your favorite chicken menu items, including the hot honey snack wrap, hot honey McChrispy sandwich and McChryspy strips and nuggets as a dipping sauce.

The way you just threw that. Because it's sauce news. You know what? You say it's hot. I didn't find it to be that hot. to be kind of tangy. I'm good with it. It wasn't too hot for me.

You tasted more honey than hot, and I tasted more hot than honey. You know what? I don't know this. And I would say as personality types, that tracks. You know what? You might be right on that. You see the sweetness in people and I see the heat. That's not an unfair statement.

No, it is not. See, this is why we discuss McDonald's sauces. Download the McDonald's app today to order hot honey via McDonald's delivery or to pick up at your local. McDonald's. So thanks to the crew. Five on it is next. We have a lot of NFL questions that I think became more in-depth than we

realized. So we'll do that next. It's time for five on it. Rahini Harrison Rooney. Bring you five topics on their minds today. On 104-3, the score. Number one. Yesterday was Bulls' executive VP of Basketball Operations, our tourist

Karnassovis. Best Day Since When? The day that they traded for Vooch on the midday show. Okay, so like he wasn't on the midday show, but Dan and I were interviewing Casey Johnson. You know, because everybody's like, oh, Leila, won't be good for the show. What does she know?

Well, what you forget is that I worked here every day for over a year previous to that. And in that time, Kevin, Casey Johnson was on our show. And it was, I believe it was the day of the trade deadline. And it was in 2021. And we had found out that Arturos

Carter Chavez had traded for Nikola Vujovitchvich. And Dan and I went crazy. And I believe we were both wearing black turtlenecks at the time, which was a strange thing because we always tended to match. And we were like, whoa! And everybody talked about it and they laughed. But that's how I felt.

So I think me that this was his best day and his most effective day. since then, and that's an easy one for me to say, but for the midday show listeners, if you know, you know. Very specific of you. I'm going to be a little bit more specific. To the hour, to the minute, for the career?

Immediately following the Bull's 125, 118 win over the Kings on February 17th, 2022. With that win, the Bulls guaranteed they would go into the All-Star break in first place. You in first place. That was the peak of the Arturish-Karnas-Sovas era. He is fighting so hard to get back to that. Don't know if he will. Clearly, he's been given an opportunity to do so, but that to me was the best day of the era because that was the day his whole realized vision came to fruition. Unfortunately, that team did not remain 17 games over 500. They had won five straight at that point.

That was when DeMorosen became the first player in the 75-year history of the NBA to score 35 plus in seven consecutive games while shooting over 50% from the field. Wasn't there also, that was the stretch where that January, the game winners had happened, the late December, early January. Yeah, he had some game winners in there as well. So, like, that was it. That was the prime Bulls in the Carnassovis era, AK.

And ever since then, it's been quite downhill. Whoa! There it is. Number two. Hold on, but it went like this. So Casey was talking and then suddenly he paused. And then Dan and I were like, wait, did we lose you to the Sylons? And then he's like, no.

Our tourist carnishovas just traded. the Bulls just traded for Nikola Vukovitchevich and we were like, oh my God, it's at her. And then that's when we heard the whoa. Whoa. That's what happened. Number two. What was your favorite moment of the Nikola Vukovitchevich era, aka the Vucci Maine era? Shout out to Stacey King.

I mean, I was going to say it was that stretch that Marshall talked about where the Bulls at one point were in first place. And I'm pretty sure Chief Moosher Danny, Danny Parkins. I'm pretty sure, and I'll ask him this in an hour. I think he made a bet on the Bulls to win the East at the time. Don't you guys remember that? Like, Danny, Danny, because the Bulls were not quite in first place when he made the bet. I want to say this was about late November, early December, is.

And he was like, I'm going to put a bet on the Bulls to win the East. And then we're like, wow, that's a bold choice, Danny. But that was it. They were absolutely at that time where they were, winning games. Demar was hitting game winners. They were incredible. They were the cardiac bulls. And the concept

was fully realized. They had the center they wanted. Center was more offensively minded than defense. We know that. They had Lonzo ball healthy. He was making everything go. He made it all make sense. Damar was shooting well.

Zach Levine was shooting well. Everything was great. And yes, they were a legit contend. at that time in the east. It was at December 2021, January 2020-ish time. So that was my favorite time of the Vouchera. That's when I feel like he got there and immediately you understood the picture

that the Bulls wanted to paint. I like that answer. I just like my little bit more. Was it 22, 23? Is that what I'm thinking of? 21-22 is the stretch. It was 21-22? Okay. Yeah. They finished 10 games over 500.

that year. Yeah, they made the actual playoffs that year. They tied the series 1-1 and stole home court advantage from the Milwaukee Bucks, and then they lost the next three games in a row. So just giving an update. And also, by the way, by the way, did the Miami Heat game not annoy me more because it was the same heat team that also just sent the Bulls packing in the play end game last year?

Is that way the loss bothered me even more that they were down by as many of his 54 points and I was like, stupid heat again. Really? They weren't even at full strength. I know. But neither were the Bulls, but still. Okay, I just wanted to get that out there. All right, so my Vouch moment, very distinct.

Again, it's a post-game moment. You may remember back on November the 22nd, I believe, the Bulls beat the Wizards who were 1 and 15 at the time, 121, 120, and Vooch hit a bunch of big threes down the strength. to help secure the one-point win. It was Ring of Honor Legends Night. And there was a post-game interview with the aforementioned Casey Johnson from CHSN. And Jalen Smith ran up on him,

trying to celebrate. But Vooch was clearly annoyed because Vooch is like, why is it taking this to beat a team that is 1 in 15 as the Bulls improved to 9 and 7 on the season after starting the year 5 and 0? That's that veteran sensibility for you. his sensibility was my

sensibility and I think all Bulls fans were on board with how Vooch felt in that moment. Yes, we won the game but this is embarrassing in the way that we had to win this game. And so the Bulls having come back from a

16 point deficit to the 1 in 15 Wizards, that's when I realized oh Vooch gets it now. He understands they're not good enough as currently constructed to do the types of things. he would like to do in the postseason. And I think he's fell that way for a while

because they were supposed to have played through him for a long time. And even in like the season opener last year was an issue. And I'm not saying last year is in 2025. I'm saying last year is in like 2024. So the game high 28 points from Booch, including eight in the fourth quarter, taking a back seat to the side eye that he gave Jalen Smith and company because there were other bulls trying to celebrate too. Like this ain't.

It ain't it, fellas. This ain't it. And guess what? It's not Butcher's problem anymore because now he's in Boston. Number three. This is five on it on 104.3, the score with Laila Rahimi and Marshall Harris. Here's question number three. According to ESPN's Adam Schaefter, the Jets, are hiring former Panthers and Colts head coach, Frank Reich, to be their offensive coordinator. It's yet another offensive coordinator job that didn't go to former commander's OC Cliff Kingsbury. Is this the biggest surprise of this year's hiring cycle? The fact that Cliff Kingsbury does not have a job. I think it is. When you consider how hot Cliff Kingsbury's name got with Jane Daniels' rookie year

and the arc that he and the Washington commanders were on at the time, and we know Jane Daniels got hurt, we know that the league was, observers of the league were concerned about these simplicity of the offense and that it would be found out, but there were a couple of factors that went into what happened to the commanders this last season, injuries being part of it as well. So all of that said, I didn't think that Cliff Kingsbury would be a mutually parting ways with the commanders at the end of this year. And then I also flash back to what was the discussion we had at the time surrounding Kingsbury here? The scuttlebutt was that,

I mean Bervloos didn't want to hire Kingsbury because of some sort of concern about like over, you know, like insecurity or that he would override his decisions or things of that nature. And that's why Waldron was the dude. I was not as hot on the trail of that. I thought it probably had more to do with fit than anything else. Like working with Dan Quinn may have seemed like a more, a better fit for Cliff Kingsbury at the time than being part of Matt Eberfluce's staff as an assistant. Clearly that fit wore off though, huh? Well, that's the thing here is that I did not think it would result in Kingsbury not having a job this season as a coordinator.

So the reason why this is not the biggest surprise of this year's NFL hiring cycle, because I'm going to go back to yesterday. I'm sorry, but Matt Neggie getting a real job calling plays for a guy of the level of Harbaugh in New York with the Giants and an actual quarterback who has legs. I don't mean that like he can run because, yes, Jackson Dart can run, but legs of like a possible flourishing career. Although, if I look back at Matt Nagy's track record with young quarterbacks, it doesn't look that great. Also, how much stock do you take into the reports about like Todd Munkin and Harbaugh not wanting to fire him as OC unless he say got a job? You know, he was going to move on if he got a head coaching job.

But that was part of the reason he was no longer with the. Ravens because that makes me wonder about how he views the OSE position like Munkin and the Negi. That's interesting. I hadn't thought about that. I have. Clearly. Yeah, it's just been rattling around in my brain for reasons that I can't tell you.

I think that kind of makes sense. And Harbaugh might have just been like I need something different. If it comes about fine. If it doesn't, I can work with it. Harbaugh seems like a guy because of his background. Remember, both those guys come from. from the Andy Reed Tree. Harbaugh's a special teams card, you know.

Yeah, so I think he might be more open-minded than most who are either offensive or defensive-minded more so, where it's got to be my type of thing. Listen, I wish Matt Nagy all the luck in the world. I would love to see a redemption story out of him. I just don't have any faith that he can develop a young quarterback after knowing what we know now about his time with Mitchell Drewiski and others, by the way, Justin Fields. I do.

And those others. us. Number four. Friend of the show and pro football talk creator and editor-in-chief Mike Florio. He's going to join us on Friday, by the way, at 11, from the Super Bowl. Floreo recently answered this question in an interview with front office sports. Are Pro Bowl games dead? Well, they should be.

Nobody cares. Next level take is this. They moved it from Sunday to Tuesday night, so the ratings will crater so they can get rid of it. When you're having Joe Flacco make the Pro Bowl, when you're having Justin Fields say no thank you to the Pro Bowl. Like it's not an honor anymore. It doesn't feel like an honor. No disrespect to those players.

They deserve credit to be NFL players, but the Pro Bowl is supposed to be something special. So just name the teams. We don't need to have a flag football game. We don't need to do any of the other stuff. I predict the ratings are going to be bad, and that's going to be enough to get the NFL to say, let's just be done with it.

It's Pro Football Talks, Mike Florio, with Front Office Sports. Are you buying Floreo's theory on what the NFL is doing with the Pro Bowl games. He's basically saying that the NFL is going to tank the Pro Bowl. Like he's saying the NFL is sinking or tanking or however you want to put it, that they are setting the Pro Bowl up to fail by putting it on Tuesday night. And since I watched it last year on a Sunday and I did not watch it last night,

I tend to agree. So I think it could be, they could just, it matters for people's money. I think that that is valid. So if that's the case, maybe you just announce the teams at the NFL honors, like you do other aspects. You know, like it used to mean a free trip to Hawaii. Guys weren't paid as much. Like it was more of like a vacation and something fun if you didn't make the Super Bowl.

Well earned vacation, by the way. Yeah. And before everybody's contracts got to the point where you're afraid to play at all, if you get injured, that that would be a concern. Like the money became different and so therefore everything else did. So I think he's right. that the event itself, like moving it to a Tuesday was a bold choice, and then moving it to the same destination as Super Bowl was also a choice.

They look like they were playing in a warehouse, Leila. They look like they were playing in a giant warehouse. So I think he might be onto something, although it is crazy to say like the NFL would be taking its own event. But I think you should still name pro bowlers, just put them in the NFL honors awards show that they're doing because people love award shows, right? Like, that's become a big deal. I'll say this.

this used to mean something because of the spectacle of it all. You're going to the freaking Pro Bowl and you're in Hawaii and these guys look like they're having the time of their lives. They're relaxing. Almost felt like a good old boys club like convention setting, if you will. And this is company retreat. It looks great. Obviously, expenses were not spared in the way they are now.

Like, we're just going to fold you into the city we happen to be in to celebrate the Pro Bowl. it feels like in a time where the NFL is making more money than it's ever made before as a league, it feels very secondhandish. And while they may not be tanking it, I will say this. The little bit I did watch at the Pro Bowl last night, they did look like they were having fun, the guys who were participating in it. But he makes a good point with the Justin Fields saying, I'm good. And Chador Sanders is out here starting the Pro Bowl.

It's become more rec league than Honorary type. deal. I quickly have a suggestion for the NFL. Give it to me. Make it a late night talk show event. Make it like, okay, you have so many players that have their own podcast, current players. Amman Raus St. Brown is great on his podcast. Make him the host. Have these guys come on, have them tell compelling stories and joke around with each other on the stage, and they can honor everybody and do something that way instead of these games that are not very interesting. and someone could get hurt. Absolutely.

That's my suggestion. It's a good one. Number five. Japanese slugger Munataka Morakami recently told White Sox Management that he wants a modification made to the club's locker room.

Here's what general manager Chris Gets told MLB.com, Scott Merkin, quote, one thing he did notice is we didn't have a bidet in the locker room. That's new to him. It was like, okay, that's new. We can do that, unquote.

So that's Chris Gets to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. So here's the question. Hey, White Sox, can you give us more details about this, please? We were obsessed with knowing how many bidets were being installed in the clubhouse or if it was just one or then what it was going to look like and then how to use it. And then why that was a request. And I have had a bidet when I stayed in, I think, yeah, both Korea and China. Definitely in Korea. I had a bidet at my hotel there for three weeks when I did the 2018 Olympics.

and I didn't know how to use that thing and had all these buttons on it and I did the same thing that I think Tyler did where you press it and then the water sprays out of you and you're like, ah. Yeah, I had to turn it off manually. It hit the wall. Yeah, exactly.

Exactly. It just resulted in chaos. To the windows. To the wall. It inappropriate, but so is bidet talk. So we're here. It's not inappropriate. So the thing is, is that I didn't,

I'm with him on this. Like, number one, how many bidetes? Number two, is it one of the ones with all the buttons and stuff? Did you know they're heated? A lot of the seats in Japan are heated. Ray has extensive bidet experience. Oh, yeah, I've got some friends in Colorado. They have a very nice house and they have not one bidet but two.

So when I'm in Colorado, that's where I stay and I use that bidet. It's great. Listen, it's not inappropriate. Personal hygiene. Personal hygiene talk is never inappropriate. I appreciate. The fact that Mooney is like, hey, y'all, I like to have clean body parts to ensure my cleanliness. I do, too.

I do it a lot less efficiently. I understand the bidet can be a little overwhelming for a first-time user. But trust me, experiment a little bit. In a shiny, honey. You're going to feel even more refreshed than you normally would. And see, that's the issue here is that clearly some of you aren't using enough toilet paper. Women use the bathroom differently, as we know. Like during breaks, I'm like, it takes me a longer break to use the ladies because the process is different and all.

That's fair. But like, so that's, I think that's it really is, is, you know, how much toilet paper are you really comfortable with using? And that's where the bidet comes in for some of use. Because I think me talking about it versus you guys talking about it, we might be on two different pages here. I think we're definitely on two different pages. Yeah. Because I'm like, I don't need this every time. She sits every time she goes to the bathroom.

I do not. I'm just going to stay. And I didn't even really think about that until this moment. I'm just going to stay for the record with the bidet, without the bidet. I am a very clean individual. That's it. Just like use enough toilet paper and, you know, when you take showers, make sure you get everything. I'm telling you.

But no, it's culturally better. I'm glad you said take a shower, by the way. Tyler and I looked at each other like Layla. No, but you know what I'm saying. Take a shower. But you know what I'm saying? I'm just like, this is, hey, how much, like, are you guys using like one square of toilet paper? We're like, what's happening here?

That's my point. That exists? Like, why is, I don't know. I don't do that. These are people who have no home training. That's what I've learned. But that's it. People you're describing.

But, like, I, you know, we read those buzzfeed compilations on our Apple news apps. You and I talk about them all the time. And how many times is it somebody saying that, like, somebody doesn't have proper hygiene? Ever since I read the one about people saying they don't wash their legs, they just let the water run down. What is that? Noted Bears fan, Ashton Coucher is the one that really brought that to the national conversation. I can't even, I can't know. I'm washing all of the

parts every time. This is the part where you yell. Jail! That's when you were jail. Jail. Straight to jail. That's like, uh, that's the line from community. Or no, parks and wreck. It's parks and wreck with the guys in the uniforms. They're like straight to jail. Uh, yeah. So that's, that's my

issue here is I'm like, what, what aren't you all doing that you should have been doing with the BDay? Baday talk on the score. I mean, it's very compelling. Hey, we're looking for Biday sponsorships for 5 on it here on 104 through the score. Bring them through. FM. Yeah, I just, I got questions as to what y'all are.

It's different for women. I think it just is, and I just have to understand that. Coming up next to her on Rehemi Harrison Grady, is it appropriate that we're going to talk about the protector of the year or one of the guys who's nominated? These texts are amazing, by the way, about the day talk. These texts are amazing. 708 follows my rule.

Like, you wipe until the toilet paper's white, the end. Like, what's the deal here? I love this. Oh my goodness. I can even read some of these texts. Well, here's one you can read. That's really the best and most appropriate one. From 630.

It's water. Wiggle your butt. No, they say it's a water wiggle for your butt. A water wiggle for your butt. See, this is how we get kicked off the air. Somebody said, we're just out here talking, well, that word we thought you were going to say, not shower, the other one. We are.

We are talking that. Yeah, 847 is right. Don't be flushing baby wipes. That's a whole other issue. Yeah, that do not. flesh baby wipes. They make these wipes. There's certain ones that are...

That are bad for your plumbing. But there are some that are you can use that are okay with the plumbing. You got to read the labels. I don't think any of them are okay for the plumbing. Some of you aren't getting enough fiber either. Okay. Joe Tooney talk. Joe Save us.

You're not even here to do it, but you'll do it next. Rahimi Harrison Grody. Midday's Tyndal 2. On Chicago Sports Radio, 1043, the score. And we talked to you about Tune when you guys got him in the summer. You've had almost a full season. How do you describe like what he means, what his impact?

Yeah, I mean, he's a, he's just a winner. You know, he knows what it looks like. Gets his work done. I think he does a, he's a positive influence throughout the week of preparation. I mean, we just went in a walk through. And, you know, he's the same guy every single day, the model of consistency in terms of his performance, but also in terms of how he goes about his craft, you know. And then in the game, he just, you know what you're going to get every single week.

He's been very durable. He's very smart. And I think he's been a huge part of our success up front. I don't think there's any doubt. You heard Ben Johnson talk about Joe Tooney. We joke and sometimes on Rahimi Harrison Grotty call him old Joe Tooney. But that's because he takes a day for rest every week. And it just doesn't matter.

He's been that consistent. He had to move over to left tackle in that last postseason game, the playoff game against the Rams. He wasn't a problem. That's what Joe Tooney does. He can play guard. He can play tackle. He's here for you.

So I'm not surprised that Joe Tuny is nominated for the NFL's first ever Protector of the Year award. And while the name is a little giggly, you know, protector of the year can mean a lot of things. what is very consistent is how Joe Tunney has played and how he has been a symbol of success the entire time he's played in the league. So I'm happy to hear that he would be part of the group nominated

for an award that I frankly think should have happened a long time ago. Yeah, and if you go through trying to figure out who should get this award, it doesn't take long to figure out exactly how he became the guy, And the biggest competition here is within the division, Penae Soule. Let me break it down for you. When you vote for all pro, there are 50 voters, okay? And they do it by first place votes and then you get second and third place votes.

Understand this. Amongst linemen, Penae Soule got the highest percentage of first place votes. Fair enough. He at the right tackle position got 45 of the first place votes. You know what? the other five votes went to all one player. Darno right. So that's good news for the Bears, first of all.

And then after that, the second highest percentage of first place votes for any lineman was Left Guard and Joe Tunney at 31. So he gets 62% of the first place votes. So to me, that's who the main competition is. The problem is Penae's really good. He is every bit of a generational talent on the other. offensive line for the lions. We know that. And people get put more into the tackle position as opposed to the guard position.

But as you said, the versatility, his ability to pop out at left tackle for a second straight season in the postseason, it's got to say something. It's also got to say something that he was on a winner. You know what Pinae Sewell did not do this year? Go to the playoffs. Did not play in the postseason. So I think that's one of the reasons. And Tuni, not to call this like lifetime achievement e, but obviously you have to build a reputation first. We all know that usually your first pro-Bull caliber year or all-pro-calibre year, you usually don't get recognized for that award. It's usually backing it up with a second straight type of year that gets you on everybody's map and then you get the votes. I just think

Tune is due here. It's the inaugural, so I don't know what they'll do, but Tune has as strong a case as anyone. The man didn't give up a sack all season. The sixth finalist for the most outstanding offensive lineman award, which is what the protector of the year is, is Garrett Bulls, the left tackle from Denver. Aaron Brewer, the center for the Miami Dolphins. Creed Humphrey, the Kansas City Chiefs Center, Quinn Miners, the right guard for the Denver Broncos, Penae Soule, as we mentioned, and Joe Tunney.

We'll find out tomorrow who the protector of the year is. But as much as we as a show and as a station talk about the offensive line, and as much as the Bears commentators who we love to hear talk, whether it's Tom Thayer, Olin Croutts, James Big Cat Williams, we love talking offensive line. but I'm glad to see that the league is finally acknowledging how crucial they are to quarterback success. And we talked about our Bears Awards last time we did our show yesterday. Bearses.

The Bearses are the much longer title, which doesn't deserve to be repeated. But in that, we also discussed the meaning of a lot of these players. And I said, for me, like MVP2 was Joe Tooney when it came to just what his reliability level was. and also the veteran presence he added to the team. This is just for the Bears. But if he's on your line, you tend to win. AFC East and Super Bowl in 2016. AFC East and Super Bowl in 2017.

AFC East and Super Bowl in 2018. Won the Super Bowl in 16 and 18 with the Patriots. Won the AFC in 2019. Miss the playoffs in 2020. It's 2020. Won the AFC West in 2021. Won the AFC West, won the Super Bowl in 20, when the AFC Weston won the Super Bowl in

in 2023. When the AFC West and made the Super Bowl in 2024, won the NFC North in 2025. The dude helps his team, specifically the quarterback. I hate that that just reaffirms your whole stance on 2020. The fact that this man has been to the playoffs every single year

of his career, except 2020. And the Bears made the playoffs in 2020, but if you know me well enough, you know that I feel like it just doesn't really count, except for Ced Gardner Johnson. Let me throw something else. at you in this discussion. The Bears led the NFL and sacks allowed per game. 1.3.

That's the lowest mark of any team. Detroit, anchored by Penae Soule, 18th, 2.3 sacks per game. That's a whole sack more per contest. Yeah, they had injuries on the line, though. And it wasn't Sewell who allowed those. He only allowed two all year. I'm just saying the guy that was there, hey, bears had injuries at left tackle. And right tackle.

Bears had whole position changes at left tackle. Well, yeah, that too. That too. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. This is all going to be part of the NFL honors award. Why do you think it took so long for them to come up an award, come up with an award like this? This is something that should have been lock, stock, and barrel years and years ago.

With the salary cap, I think a lot of times, you know, awards also indicate that a guy should get paid more. And maybe it was something where, you know, the more awards they hand out, maybe they thought it diluted the importance of the others. The Pro Bowl comes to mind. Oh, my goodness. But that's kind of the point here. You know, certain accolades mean more or less now.

But to acknowledge offensive linemen, I think it's the right thing to do. Also, we have better metrics now to measure their success. That's certainly true, whether it's Next Gen stats, pro football focus, basic watching film, the eye test. Right. And I don't always agree with pro football focuses offensive linemen grade specifically. because I feel like there's a weight in their algorithm that's off. It's kind of like how Zips values shortstop more than third base,

so inherently you're going to have a higher war projection at short than you would at third. You know, like there's certain, they have to weight the algorithm a certain way to make it make sense, but sometimes they're inefficiencies and that's where they come in. So all of that said, I feel like we now at least have an understanding of how to properly respect the people who play these positions. And I think we are a good group to know that. Like Bears fandom is a good group to understand. So here's what Joe Tuny told our friends at the CHGO,

Hogan Johns and football coverage podcasts, about his appreciation for being recognized. Super humbling, super thankful. And, you know, got to shout out Dionne Dawkins for kind of being the engine, the driving force. And, you know, Roger Goodell and the NFL for creating this award. So it's really cool. And, you know, very humbling to, you know, shine light on our position.

and it's just an honor to be mentioned along the current players that are, you know, also finalists and, you know, the panelists, the judges that made decisions, just to be in that conversation is amazing and very thankful. Is that an overdue award you think, or do you think Lyman are okay staying in the behind the scenes a little bit? Well, it's kind of a double-edged sword because, you know, I don't think, a lot of, most of lying guys don't like recognition, but I still think it is, it's great to honor people that don't always get them limelight. So it kind of goes both ways, but, you know, I think it's great to, yeah, to celebrate it, though. Yay, Joe Tooney. Listen.

Should we just celebrate him anyway if he doesn't get the award? I was to say, is that going to stop him from, you know, going to the Hall of Fame? Well, I don't know what they're going to do the voting process between now and the time he's eligible for the voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So let me knock on wood on that one. I mean, we can get him a cake or something. Joe Tuny should be celebrated. Again, he's my MVP of the Bears in 2025. And I think he's going to come back with another strong 2026.

I just hope he doesn't have to play left tackle. Yeah, we all hope that Joe Tuny does not have to play left tackle. I would like to know what the plan is at left tackle. Stares in the direction of Hallis Hall. Coming up next year on Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043, the score. Let's get into. an idea that has been floated out several times by the owners because inevitably it's going to happen.

The players are not making a good enough argument against it. Next. Rahimi Harris and Grody. Midday's 10 to 2 on 1043, the score. This is Rahimi Harrison Grody on 1043, the score. And I'll just take you inside the conversation that Marshall and I were just having. Because Marshall goes, oh, man, that's crazy. It's like 1245. and there hadn't been any trades.

Shams is here to save your day. The Dallas Mavericks, according to Shams Sharadia, are trading 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, Jane Hardy, DeAngelo Russell, and Dante Exam. To the Washington Wizards for Chris Middleton, A.J. Johnson, Malachi, Branham, Marvin Bagley, the third, two first round picks and three second rounder. So now the, so now,

we're seeing draft first round picks being exchanged more than one you say involving a trade with Anthony Davis in the Mavs? You know what's funny about this? More than one. This means that the trade wasn't that bad that Anthony Davis

Look what Anthony Davis is giving when Luca Donchich is not involved. What did I just tell you about? You can't just trade with the Kings anymore. Who's the other team you would trade with if you can't trade with the Kings? Probably the Maver's at this stage. Wizards?

Wizards? No, Wizards? I think the Wizards, this is a good deal for the Wizards. At first glance, Chris Middleton, old. But good. Like, people like playing with him. He's, like, fallen off a cliff. His production has fallen off a cliff.

But at least, like, as far as a teammate is concerned, you know that guys like playing with him on a team. He's not that far behind Mike Conley in terms of production. Now, yeah. Yes. But even a couple years ago, like. Yeah. A factor.

And then from the Luca draft class, someone had drafted ahead of Luca. Marvin Bagley the third on the move. Secure the Bagley, as we used to say. And then DeAngel Russell, I don't know what he's got left. Dante Exum. I like him as a backup player. I am shocked that they moved AD despite him being hurt.

That's when you take the run. He's got that hand injury. But when he's healthy, I'm sorry, sorry. If and when he's healthy, that's a nice pairing. Trey Young, Anthony Davis, in the East. I mean, that's it. That's what this was about, was getting a complimentary player to Tray Young.

That team would sweep the Bulls. Ligament damage in his left hand is what AD is dealing with. And he's already out more than they thought he was going to be out, right? Because wasn't it? It was like early January, they thought six weeks. Yeah, it's going to be more than that. But let me ask you a question. If you were the Bulls, would you have tried to put it together a package for Anthony Davis?

No. Okay. So you're good with this. As an outsider, I'm saying. Yeah. Yeah, as an outsider. Like, as an outsider, I'm surprised that the Mabbs got to move Anthony Davis because everybody thought that because he was injured that they weren't going to be able to move him.

As far as a referendum on the Luca Donchage trade, it makes it still bad. It's interesting because I'm wondering if that pick is this year's pick, because Washington, do they have a pick this year? That's what I'm trying to figure out because right now they have the fifth worst or tied for fourth, worst record in the NBA. So Shams qualifies by saying Dallas is receiving a 2026 Thunder first round pick

and a 2030 protected Warriors first round pick in this deal from the Wizards. So not the shit. Yeah. So along with second rounders in 2026 in Phoenix, 2027 in Chicago and 29 in Houston sources tell

ESPN. So they're able to make this move and keep what is going to be a lottery pick this year. And that lottery pick is going to keep them with a chance, double digit percentage chance of getting the number one overall pick and an almost 50%

chance of getting a top four pick in a loaded draft class. I wonder what this trade would have fetched had AD not had a hand injury. I don't know that it would have been that different. Or maybe the team, there would have been more teams interested. Also, the Mavs able to get this off the books?

That's the big part for them. Because I don't know if you guys know, but Anthony Davis is owed a lot of money. And that money is not going down anytime soon. If you look at... 773 says Anthony Davis sentenced to Washington. If you look at SpotRack, he is on a three-year $175 million contract. That's the Lakers money right there. That is a crazy...

That's that Laker money. That's a crazy deal. That's over the CBT money. It's a lot of money And doing the shorthand math on that That's just under $60 million a year SpotRack is doing the cool thing now Where if you look at the teams via salary

You can see how much room is left in aprons So they're at least trying to clarify it for you a little bit Which is nice So for the bulls like they clarify the apron space So I appreciate that delineation It kind of helps you visualize it Getting back to our original topic Which I know we don't have much time for

I take it as this. The NFL owners have wanted an 18 game season for as long as I've had a professional career covering sports. Basically 20 years. Is that fair? Almost that long, maybe 15 years. They've been like, we don't need all these preseason games. Let's expand to 18.

And they've slow-rolled it a little bit. I feel like Jerry Jones started throwing this out there a long time ago. Additionally, they've boyed. The Frog. They're like, oh, okay, you don't want 18 games? Fine. How about a Thursday game? Oh, what about another Thursday game?

Oh, now we're going to flex a Thursday game or two. Now we're going to flex a Sunday game or two. Flexing Thursday games is crazy because that's your whole... How do you feel about Saturday being flex? They've done all these things to not only keep that as a negotiation tool, but get more in exchange from the players you use. Union. So like the last run tiers we've talked about on this show

with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, is that 18th game? Do you feel like the reply no from the NFL Players Association was sufficient enough when they said they do not have an appetite for it? Well, I don't have an appetite for a lot of things. Like raw kale.

But you know what? It's good for you and at some point it's going to happen. The 18th game is not good for me, but I know it's probably going to happen. Kale is delicious. And just like I would argue kill. No, like raw and dressed, like straight off the stock camp. I eat it out of the bag. Like off the Pizza Hut salad bar decoration can.

Yes, I'm with that. I eat that. You know why? Because I know it's good for me. Just like the NFL is going to tell the NFLPA, it's good for you to have more money coming your way because an extra game means everybody gets more money, including the players.

The projected salary cap is over 300 million. That's all? With 17 games. So. Like, they keep careening toward this. Kind of like we're careening toward this. trade deadline. This keeps being brought up and I just feel like it's only a matter of time before they get their way. But here's the other issue. They've used all these other things to get their way as

well. So now where in here did the NFL Players Association actually get something they wanted in exchange for giving all this up? They got something. I can't remember what it was. The fact that you and I can't think of it. Off the top of my head, but they're going to get more, listen, I just don't see how in good conscience the NFLPA can go forward with this unless they get a second buy. They need a second buy if they go to 18 games. Given how the NFL negotiation has gone so far, I don't even know that they would get a second buy. Or if they do, it's going to be wrapped with something else the owners want, like an international game for everybody every year. Oh, well, that's part of the plan.

Roger Goodell said that not too long ago on the Sports Hub. the plan is to have every single team play one international game every year. So then therefore the owners get something else they want? Yeah, basically. They're trying to grow the game. I don't knock the idea of you growing the game. It's just at what cost. Clearly the cost is not going to be high enough for the owners not to do it.

Well, I think the fact of the matter is the players association can't dig in their heels enough and fight back enough with other counter-counter, I don't know, any sort of counter. It's the weakest union of the major pro four sports in North America. Because guys can't afford to sit out a year. Because if they can afford to sit out a year, then some of this stuff would not have been executed the way it has been in years past. Anthony Heron is taking offense at our conversation.

Which one? Anthony Herod has texted you and I, and he says, I know you're both Southern, but did Layla seriously utter boiled the frog in casual conversation with no reaction? Because he knows my euphemism, aunt. Yeah, that's, what's wrong with boil the frog? Well, Tyler and I reacted over here like, whoa, what, what? I've never even heard that.

I've never heard that. So the idea is you put a frog in a room temperature or pot of water on a burner. I understand the concept of boiling. Right. But then, but the point is you, that's the process. That's the idea. Okay. So you slowly raise the temperature to where the frog doesn't hop out because he doesn't realize it's boiling.

Yes. Devious. It's evil, man. It's evil. It's like, hey, we want 18 games. Frog and pot. Y'all never heard that expression before? I have never heard that.

Never. Okay, yeah, that's us. Hey, hey, we want 18 games, frog and pot. But then it's like, oh, you don't want 18? Well, what about what about Thursday games? They're slow rolling them. There it is. Then it's like, oh, well, what about a flex game?

Raise the temperature. Then it's like, oh, well, what about everybody have an international game? Raise the temperature. Next thing you know, 18 games boiling water. Dead frog. Thank you. I needed that context. And wow, that's even, uh,

That's crazy. I'm sorry, I did not know. I've never eaten boiled frog. It's just a euphemism. I've had frog legs. So there's that. You have? Yeah.

It tastes like chicken. That really is an appropriate comp. Absolutely. I'm sorry. I didn't know that that was not widely understood. No, that's a perfect comp for this whole NFOPA situation. Is it?

Yeah, that's the whole idea. That's how they're negotiating. Next thing you know, they're going to be playing 20 games in the frog. is crisp. We're all careening towards a pot with a boiling frog in it. That's what's going on here. So, thank you, Anthony

here, and for adding in that much-needed subtext. I love aunt. I want to argue with Anne about something. I know. In the meantime, let's argue with Danny Parkins about something. Here we go. Next. The score! I could do Stephen A's job, guys. It's not that part.

Danny Parkins. QB1 party. All are invited. Host of Fox Sports 1's first thing first. I can see paths to Seattle winning without Sam Darnold having a statement game. But I don't know that I see a path to New England winning the game without Drake May having a statement game. The Bears, plenty of reason to doubt them.

Caleb Williams, no. Former host of 670 the score before he abandoned us. That's a Caleb Williams custom, baby. Jersey number one is going to the Raptors. You guys made it seem like a Chicago Bears fans. We had our guy, Danny Parkis, all these guys. Danny Parkins on 1043 the score. Wait.

Ooh, 104 3, 3 the score for Danny Parkins. You know Danny's happy to be in FM today. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 670 The Score and 1043 the score. And we announced the FM thing with Danny. So let's talk to him now. Danny joins us via the Circa Sports Illinois hotline. Download the Circa Sports app today. He is at Danny Parkins on X.

You can check him out on the newly expanded. First thing first OT from four to five on Fox Sports When. Danny, how are you? I'm even more handsome in FM. That's what I found. I don't think it works like that. Yes, yeah, yeah. Run faster and jump higher is what I was told.

Yeah, I think that's what it does, Marshall. You can take your fancy radio acumen and your television history and your manicured jawline and you say that that's not how it works. but for those of us over here, I'm much more handsome on the FM. And Danny is on Twitch with us at Twitch.tv slash TheScore Chicago. He's the one wearing a suit and tie. Yeah, you're the dressed up one here. That's true.

I just taped an interview with Cooper DeGine of the Philadelphia Eagles. Did you ask him about his love life? You know, she shot it down. So we talked about it a little, but no headline there. I just enjoy that his podcast is called Exciting Mikes. And it's him and Reed Blankenship off of the Exciting Whites meme, which is my favorite meme on the internet. And so we talked about that for a while.

I asked if he saw himself as an inspirational figure to young white people who want to grow up and be cornerback. So you guys can just stay tuned to the OT to hear his answer. It's pretty spectacular. That is a great meme, the wine store meme. I prefer the exotic whites over the exciting whites, but I hear you. I laugh every time I see the exciting whites meme on the internet. Like Cooper Flagg with a dunk, exciting lights.

Like it is. MacMachlan. I could have done 10 minutes with Cooper just on exciting. Like, why hasn't Riley Moss been on your podcast? Like, is Jason Seahorn a mentor? I was about to say, shout out to Jason Seahorn and Merrill Hodge. Yeah, exactly. He's the first white defensive back to have a sack in the NFL since Jason Seahorn.

I have a research department. They looked that up. It's been over 20 years since a white corner got a sack. They're like, you want that you want that you want, they want that to be their first question to Cooper de Jean? I'm like, yes, I do. And so that was like the production meeting that I had this morning was about how many questions I could get off about exciting whites and exciting minds. Hold on a second. Nikki Bella is 20 years older than me?

Oh, you didn't know the story? I didn't realize she was 42. Yeah, that's why I asked Danny. Danny knew exactly what I was going to ask before I asked him. I do my research. Yeah, age is just a number. Until it's your number. Hey, you know, it is what it is.

Shots fired. I don't judge. Now, Danny's younger than me. Danny just turned 40. I have not yet turned 40. Oh, wait. You said it, though. But I love that she said it.

You were conceived during the 85 Super Bowl. So yes, that would mean you haven't turned 40. That's right. Born in October of 86. So coming up in eight and a half months or so, I will turn 40 this year. October of this year, I turned 40. What are you going to do? I bought myself a trip to Pinehurst.

For me and seven guys were going and doing a four-day, four-day golf trip at one of the great golf. all venues ever. So yeah. So we're going to go, going to go play a lot of golf at a place that's in the rotation for the U.S. Open and have some fun with some lifelong friends. I told my boss is out here. I was like, I need two days off. They said when? I said 365 days from today. I booked the trip one year out and said, I'm taking these two days off next August to do the four-day golf trip. So very excited. And then in the next year when like the younger guys in our grade turned 40, we're going to, we're going to do Ireland for golf. So this year,

Pinehurst, next year, Ireland. Love that. That is a solid plan. Nice planning skills out of you. Thank you. Yeah, Ireland isn't booked yet, but inevitably I'm going to be the one who has to put that together. But thankfully, I only work one hour a day, so I have time. No, because see, even all that research department stuff, that took more than an hour. No, that's true. I had to text them to look up if Riley Moss had been on the exciting Mike's podcast. That's true. I did have to do this. Yeah, yeah. That's a real conversation that I had today with Troy. I was like, can you find the last white, actually, this is how good my researcher Troy is. I didn't even have to ask him to find out that Jason Seahorn fact. That was in my inbox at the time of our 10 a.m. show call that the last

white defensive back to have a sack was Jason Seahorn. So yeah, Troy's my man out here. He does great work. Danny Park is joining us as he does each and every week here on Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043 the score. FM. You can check Danny out and you just told you what he's talking about on first things. First OT from 4 to 5 on FS1. Exciting mics. He wants to be an exciting mic.

He's just an exciting Danny. But that's okay. Also, is Robbie writing things down for you? Robbie's doing great work. Robbie's doing excellent work. He's contributing every day. He's learning. He's very ambitious.

He's got a nice sweater collection. He does. I just feel like I feel like you stepped up the wardrobe game department a little bit. The hair is always like styled and blowdried here. So like we're getting the best version of Robbie out here, I would say. In terms of the physical appearance, you guys got great Robbie as well. But in terms of he's not, you know, he hasn't yet shown up in like a ripped T-shirt or basketball shorts or anything like that. Not a Josh Giddy jersey that he was gifted on his way out of the door?

No Josh Giddy jersey. Yeah. So honestly he might just, he's lying. to all of us. He's doing a great job. Well, I think his main team, the Pistons, I think you may take issue with Jaden Ivy being traded. I know you talked a little bit about the NBA trade deadline. I saw your clip about James Harden. So what were your takeaways just in the Bulls at least trying to get out from some of their expiring deals? Yeah, listen, I think it's very unexciting. But it makes sense in terms of if you've come to the

decision that you're not going to sign unrestricted free agent, you know, Kobe White or Iodosum, and then you bring in a restricted free agent like Simons or Jaden Ivy. Like that's a good use of assets because you can then like let the market dictate it, save some money, audition those guys, and that sort of thing. But it's, they, they trade. Vooch, like three years too late. I just can't get excited about, like, well, you know, that second round pick could be a top four pick in the second round. Like, I know it's an exciting draft and it's a deep draft, but I would much rather

than sacrifice 40 games of basketball or 30 games of basketball, whatever it is, to get as many ping pong balls as possible for the top of this draft, to try to get Boozer's kid or Peterson from Kansas, who might be the best guard prospect to enter. the NBA since Luca or the kid from BYU or on and on down the line. And so, you know, I just, it's good that they're making moves. It's good that they're not losing assets for nothing. I do think that Ivy is a totally reasonable gamble of a top five pick with upside. And we'll see what the medical show in terms of if they think he can actually play

70 regular season games and 25 playoff games if this team's ever ready to make a run. Like, that's a huge question they have to answer. but it's not exciting. It doesn't really move the needle. You know what I mean? The Wizards have 13 wins, and they're going to have a top five pick in the draft, have Trey Young and just traded for Anthony Davis

to go along with Trey Johnson and Alex Tsar. Like, that's a big swing. It probably won't work. It might not. But that is a big swing for a bad team and that is at least something that you can really get excited about. it's tough to ramp it up too much with any Bulls optimism these days. The good news, Danny, is with their current roster, they may be able to satisfy your ping pong once

because that roster is not very good. Now, I expect them to try to go out and get some kind of a big, but a guy named Lachlan-Oberg might be getting extended run. And let me tell you something, that will equal a lot more losses. Yeah, you know, like, I hope you're right. I hope you're right. It'd be nice for them not to be the nine.

seed hosting the second play-in game, right? It would be nice. The chiefs have the Arrowhead invitational of the AFC championship game. The Bulls have the Bulls invitational of the 9-10 game in the play-in. It'd be nice to shake that. Yeah, very different. It'd be nice to shake that up a little bit. But I just, I have to see it before I believe it. Because there's really, really bad team. I got the standings right here, and you guys are talking more Bulls basketball than I am these days. But like, they have, the Bulls have 24 wins. There are four teams in the East with under 20

and five teams in the West with under 20. And there are five teams in basketball with 13 or fewer. Like there's just a, there's a huge gap between the Bulls and the truly awful. teams and the truly awful teams are positioning themselves to go get potential superstars. Like, I would just, I don't know, I would much rather be 19 win Dallas with Cooper Flag than 24 win Chicago without. And does one guy completely change everything? No, of course not. But it can be, it can be a building block towards something and the Bulls just seem to be stuck in

purgatory. We're talking to Danny Parkins, who is hosting First First OT on Fox Sports One. You can check that out from 4 to 5. And Danny, I also, of course, want to get your Super Bowl pick. You know, we touched on it a little bit when we've had you on, but just now that we're a few days away

from the big game, what do you think of the matchup with Seahawks and Patriots? So I think that the Seahawks are better. Yeah. I just think they're a better team. Drake May is a better quarterback than Darnold, but Arnold's coming off the best game of his life.

And so I think if these teams played 10 times, I think Seattle wins seven of them, maybe eight. So New England obviously can win. And I think like if I'm making the case for New England, it's they've got the better quarterback and the Patriots defense is playing by far their best ball of the season recently. Milton Williams has been an absolute monster. He wrecked last year's Super Bowl. Maybe he wrecks it again. This year, Christian Gonzalez is one of the first.

the great cornerbacks in the NFL. And while the Patriots have gone through Chargers' top 10 pass defense, Texans' best defense, Broncos top five defense, now Seattle, you know, number one scoring defense. Seattle, they had the buy, then they played San Francisco, who's a terrible defense, and they played the Rams, who have been a terrible defense since Thanksgiving. So, like, the Rams have, or the Seahawks have not been challenged with a legit defense like New England brings into the game. But I just think if you did top 10 players in the game, seven of them are on Seattle. If you do top 20 players in the game, 13 of them are on Seattle.

So my strong lean is to Seattle and a win in this spot. Well, and I flash back to the conversation that we had, Danny, where you said, tell me a team in the NFC and who's left in the playoffs and I'll tell you their flaws, and that was back at the divisional round. And even then I felt like Seattle probably had the fewest of the flaws. What did you think? Yeah, I mean, it depends when we had that conversation. because before, if it was before Thanksgiving, I think the Rams had the fewest flaws.

The Rams defense post Thanksgiving, you know, just getting worse and worse and worse. And my thing with Seattle, because I had Seattle in the Rams as one or two on my like top 10 Tuesday was every week since week 11 of the NFL. So like I said that the NFC championship game was the real Super Bowl. I thought those were the two best teams. The flaw or the question that everybody had with Seattle that I think is totally fair is like, do you trust Sam Darnold to get it done in a big spot? And then he just had the best game of his life and the biggest game of his life

and won a shootout with Matt Stafford in the NFC championship game where down the stretch of that game, they were trusting Sam Darnold to make throw. It's like they weren't playing the clock, they weren't playing conservative, they weren't running the ball, they were throwing when they easily could have called more conservative run plays and trusting Darnold. And he kept delivering. So again, Patriots, the defense is better, but I do think Darnold at least answered the question of can he do it. Now, will he do it?

Who knows? But can he do it? He now clearly can. Danny Parkins joining us here on Rahimi Harris and Grotie. Some breaking news. Breaking news here on Rahimi and Harris and Grotie brought to you by the Take the North podcast. Tom Pelliserra reporting. The Cardinals are hiring Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator.

Sources tell the insider, Hackett 46, was the offensive coordinator for three seasons under Matt LaFleur and Green Bay. Now he teams up with Mike LaFleur in Arizona, 21 new offensive coordinators at the end of the day when everything, the dust settles, Danny. How surprised are you that it's been this volatile? And what do you think of this one? I think that, you know, that job was never going to go to hyper in-demand people because they don't have a quarterback, nor do they have a path to get a quarterback, right? because they're done with Kyler Murray there. So those are good jobs because there are only 32 head coach jobs and there are only 32 offensive coordinator jobs.

But if you're an offensive coordinator for an offensive head coach where you're not going to be calling plays, most likely, and you don't have a quarterback attached to it, like that's not a great gig for Nathaniel Hackett, right? Like Matt Nagy has a better gig than Nathaniel Hackett just got because Jackson Dart, Malik, neighbors, John Harbaugh is not going to call the plays. he's the top offensive mind there.

In terms of the volatility, yeah, I mean, 10 is a lot. And I think that these billionaire owners are getting more and more impulsive because a $10 million salary means absolutely nothing to them when these teams are worth $6, $8, $10 billion. So there's just much more turnover that's going to happen in the league. And, you know, so most likely we sit here three, years from now, and at least seven of these 10 coaches have already been fired. Like, that's where the numbers are trending as this thing's going.

Danny Parkins, we always appreciate the time. We look forward to talking about the post-super Bowl world with you next week. Thanks for coming on. Absolutely. Can't wait to do it. And congrats again to the score. FM. It's been years in the making.

And I don't know the origin story behind the weiner circle video. that Grody did. But that was, like, I don't know who called that in, what favor, how that came about. I haven't asked anybody yet. But that was, that was good work. That was really good work. It was all improv. They told him to show up.

He didn't know what he was doing. And he showed up and showed out because that's what, that's what Mark Grody does. No, yeah, I, I could tell that there wasn't a script. I meant, like, who, like, put it together to get it on the big board. Like, but, yeah, I mean, do people have a sense of humor about the mayor Johnson letter, by the way, because, like, I'm not sure if they do it. I'm not sure if it's going to ruffle any feathers there. But, like, you, the, the wiener circle, universal approval rating. Like, what a great thing to be the testament of, like, the score going to FM.

Mayor Brandon Johnson signing a proclamation. I don't know. He's a P1, apparently, so we'll take it. Yeah, well, I mean, do better. Danny, we look forward to talking to you next week. That is Danny Parkins. Thanks, Danny. on the Circa Resort and Casino hotline, surca las Vegas.com. We keep it rolling here with our guests on Rahimi Harrison Grotty on 670 the score, and we'll talk to Kendall Gill about the Bulls moves next. With the fifth pick in the 1990 NBA draft,

the Charlotte Hornets select Kendall Gill for no noise. Here it is 21 to 12 Bulls. Hornets have scored two points of the last four minutes. Until then, Kendall Gill. Kendall Gill, Baseline, penetration, and a right hand,

from his tippy toes, Sean Bradley was six. Whenever we had a blowout loss like this, he would come into the locker room. He was like, guys, want you to go get a drink? Let's get on the bus. Let's get out of here.

He had no words. Sound advice right there. Yeah. Okay. That's what you got to do after a buck-whip it like this. Yeah, definitely, for sure. There's nothing to talk about at all.

You just got to take it to the woodshed, So let's get on the bus. Let's go back home to Chicago and let's regroup. With Rahimi Harrison Grody on 1043, the score. Safe to say we've all been there before in life. That was Kendall Gill, the 15-year NBA veteran, the flying Alainai, and also the Bulls pre-game and post-game analyst. You just heard him there with Cam Smith on CHSN.

He is at Kendall Gill 13, and he joins us on the Circaresort and Casino Hotline. Circa Las Vegas.com. Kendall, how are you today? Hey, Layla, how are you? Good. We wanted to get you on to talk Bulls anyway. I don't know that Marshall and I thought we were going to see so many deals happen

before we ended up talking to you today. What do you think? Well, I mean, I was surprised about Anthony Davis. I just found out about that one a few minutes ago. you know, now he's moved on to the Wizards. But actually, the Wizards are building something out there. I mean, they just got Trey Young now, Anthony Davis, and they've got a couple of young players in Saar.

And, you know, it looks like they're putting something together. Yeah, Trey Johnson is also looked really good for them early on in his NBA career. I know they probably don't give you hazard pay for dealing with games like you just dealt with back-to-back. I was listening to you guys talk about it first time since 1969. That's the third season of the Bulls existence that trailed by 20 plus at half time in back-to-back games. What do you say about what you've had to witness over the last couple of appearances by the Bulls? Well, I mean, it's tough this time of year, especially when you have trading room or swirling. Then you have two players traded that were major parts of your rotation.

And then there's the unknown. You know, the trade deadline is tomorrow, but you never know. Some more deals can be made. You know, I think that, you know, they traded boots and they need another center because the only center that we have right now is Jayman Smith. We don't know when Zach Collins is coming back. So, you know, if it were me, I would bet that they're going to make another move. Yeah, and to that point, I was really.

curious because I know they have no interest in tanking, they have no interest in just surrendering games, but with the roster right now, they can't do what they're doing. So is there someone you're looking at right now for them to be looking to trade for with the trade deadline just over 24 hours away? Okay. If I'm the GM... Talk to me. And I'm out there and I'm swinging my back. I'm going to swing big. I'm going to go for Yonin, Ante Coupo. And, you know, I don't know who the Milwaukee two bucks would want off of our roster, but my responsibility as a GM is to win. And, you know, there have been several reports out of Milwaukee that Janus knows that it's time for him to move on.

And, you know, listen, he wouldn't have to move that far and come to the third largest market in the country. And, you know, I think if we can get Yonis, then that really makes things bright around here. Even though I still think the Bulls, you know, when they're healthy, have done a great job this season with winning, but it's just unfortunate for this year's team that, you know, we've just been decimated by injuries. But if there's no Yonis, then I'm looking at Sabonis from Sacramento. So I think that the Bulls need somebody to replace boots right away.

Here's the thing, Kendall. I think in either of those deals, they'll probably ask for modest or giddy, don't you? Yeah, but I'd have to seriously consider that, you know, for a player that, in my opinion, is the second or third best player in the league right now. And I still think that he has four or five good years left in him, you know, at this level. So, you know, you acquire guys to sometimes move on to better things. And as much as I love Josh, as much as I love modest, you know, Yonis has to de Koupoor is a once-in-a-lifetime talent.

So you have to look at that. And a guy that moves the needle, he's an immediate game-changer. Well, the problem with that, two problems I see. Yonis controls where he goes next, number one. But number two, if that deal happens and you trade those players, Janice doesn't have anyone to play with it. It's kind of like him being back in the Milwaukee situation on a team not good enough to make a run at a title,

and that's got to be the goal now. And the other thing is, when you look at what else is out there for the Bulls, I think they have a better chance, because I don't know that Moss is going to get traded before the deadline tomorrow. They have a better chance of making a run at him after the offseason starts when they can maybe get some more stuff together if they trade Kobe and or I. Oh, yeah, my grandfather, you can tell me this, a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. Yes. Go for it now. Okay. And, you know, I wouldn't give up both modest and jobs. It's one or the other. you know so I would have to have something of course if if the deal was able to be made for

the answer to the coup I would have to have somebody here to play with them of course you know I wouldn't give them both up so you know you as a GM you have to think about that so you know not not not both of them would you give up one of those guys for subonis though no okay so we're on the same page there but I think yeah and I just feel like with either one of those and especially Janus, the price is going to start. You know how it is, Kendall. If you're asking for Janus, which you're in your rights to do, they will then ask for Gidey and or modest because they are in their rights to ask in return. And then maybe the negotiation would start. Yeah. And then the good, as you just said, the negotiation would start from there. So, you know,

but the Bulls have a lot of assets. I mean, you know, Anthony Simons, we're a very good young guard. And, you know, I was surprised that this was his eighth year in the league. But, I mean, he's one of the better catch and shoot players in the league, averaging 14 points a game and really gave it to the Bulls the last time that he played him. I mean, I think he had 27 points, Jaden Ivy. So you still have pieces that you could throw in the deal for a player like Yonah.

So, but, you know, we have to wait and see. I mean, I'm not privy to any information. I'm just telling me. I'm just going off the cuff telling you guys what I see. No, I get, I mean, that's, we say it all the time on this show. You've got to start with your craziest trades and your ideal trades to get them out of your head to then work on the ones that are realistic or more likely to happen. I do think, though, that trading for Ivy, similar to what you talk about with Anthony Simons,

Jaden Ivy, you know, shot creator, somebody who is young and fits that same timeline, and you know, what do you think about him being a bull? I was so excited that they traded for him. because I loved him at Purdue. Consensus, All-American, a guy that can, like Iyo does, can get downhill, create shots, can shoot the basketball and has a huge motor. And I think that, you know, because of his injury, he just, you know, fell out of the rotation because when he was injured, the Detroit Pistons, they just got good.

You know, they got better while he was out, and, you know, there was really no spot for him, you know, in the foreseeable future. But, you know, this guy's the former fifth pick in the draft, okay? He was there for a reason because he can really play. So, you know, and, you know, as much as I like what Kevin Herder brought to the team, I think that the Bulls did a really good job of not having to give up a comparable value for a guy like Jayneyev. Jay Nivey, in my opinion, is a stud. Will you be surprised if both Kobe and I are on this roster tomorrow? And will you be surprised if either of them are on the roster tomorrow? Anything is possible.

You know, I'm not surprised at anything in the NBA. I mean, you look at when Luca Dodgers was traded last year, I thought that that wasn't possible. But listen, this is the world we live in, and AK's Mark Edwards' job is to put the best team on the, floor that can win. And, you know, look, I-O, the way that he has played this year has made himself a valuable target for teams.

Kobe White, of course, you know, a lot of teams would love to have Kobe's talents because of his ability to score to basketball. So, you know, it's, you know, I said on air yesterday, I was like, I hope nobody bought a house. Yeah, I heard you say that. Because, you know, you never know in this league. but, you know, we just have to wait and see guys, you know, and as much as I love IEO and Kobe, you know, if it makes the team better, then you have to make a deal.

Well, you know, Modis doesn't have to buy a house because, you know, he lives here, just straight up. My question is- Yeah, yeah, he could go to his mom and dad. Exactly. So based on what you said earlier, maybe it was a year ago where you talked about him comparing him to Cooper Flag, after seeing Cooper Flagg dropped the 49 points and now seeing Modis's development, do you stand by what you said about those two guys and modest being on that same level, or do you see the areas I see where he has some serious work to do primarily with his handle? He's got to tighten that handle up. He's got to tighten his handle up, but I'm still sticking with what I say. Listen, he did a move

yesterday to push-cross. He got into the slot. If he develops that, then that's going to take his game to a whole different level. I don't know if you guys remember when he had the basketball. Oh, yeah. He came in the down court. He got in a slot. He pushed cross and went in and dunked it. I don't even think he really knew what he did, but that is a move that Josh Giddy uses all the time. That's a move that Russell Westbrook used all the time. Derek Rose, John Morant, and now you've got a guy at 6'10 doing it. And I tell this to people all the time, guys, Cooper Flag is the number one option on Dallas.

Miles Buccellus is the third or fourth option on the Bulls. So, you know, and look, I'm not taking anything away from Cooper Flagg. He's a great player, great player, but I'm sticking with my hometown guy. because I believe in his talent. It's understood. And we were talking about this earlier, Kendall. The game last night, I think, was also indicative of the trade deadline is not fun for players. Even if you think you're a made man, no better example than Luca Donchich.

And the reaction the league had last year to seeing him get traded. And I believe somebody, I forget which player said, but he's like, if the Don gets traded, then there's no hope for the rest of us. Meaning like, even when you bought your house because you thought you could, you know, what is it like as a former player at that time? Because I've heard like guys can't even trust their agents. Like you're on a weird alert that makes it hard to concentrate. Well, let me tell you, I give you a perfect example.

When my, the second time I went back to the Charlotte Hornets, I saw the owner, George Shen in the hallway. And it was, I don't know, probably maybe December. And I just got back to the Hornets. And I was playing great basketball. I saw the owner and he said, Kennoe, look, you know, he's going to be here for the rest of your career, you know. And, you know, I bought a house and everything.

And I thought that I was going to be there three days after I bought the house. And three days after, and a couple days after I talked to George Shin, he told me, you know, you're going to be here for the rest of your career. You know, they traded me to the New Jersey Nets. Wow. Three days? Three days after I had spoken to him. Did you speak to him after the trade?

No, I never saw him again after that because I had to get on a plane and get to New Jersey. Wow. But, I mean, that's how it is, man. It's business. And you have to understand that going in. That's why I tell players don't ever buy a house where you don't have roots, man. You know, because you never know. Things change so quickly.

Yeah. Things change so quickly. And, you know, if a GM thinks that he can make his team better, it doesn't matter really who you are. I mean, and there's only a handful of guys. that really could not have gotten traded. That being Magic Johnson, Kareemaduzi Bar, of course, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

You can put those. I'll take those six. Yeah. That wouldn't get traded. I think given the history of when those guys played relative to now, I'd say that that's the safest bet. You're absolutely right. Kendall, it's always great talking to you.

We appreciate the time. All right, take care. Thank you so much, Kendall. What's bug you about the Alighti soon enough, man. You got a big game for the Kendall Gill household tonight. Yeah, yeah, I'm headed down in a couple hours, so we'll see. All right. Well, Kendall, good luck, Northwestern taking on the Illinois.

And thanks for talking to us. Okay, bye-bye. That was Kendall Gill. We always love talking with Kendall. And yeah, that's a house divided among himself. Man, that's crazy. That's where his son decided to go to school, Phoenix Gill, of course, playing for the rival that he went to school for, and Illinois is doing things.

Oh, yeah, they have, yeah, they've got potential all of America. American Canada. I watched that Nebraska game and I was thoroughly impressed. Oh, absolutely. Yeah, they Brad Underwood knows how to work the transfer portal. You know, he doesn't complain about it. Coming up next, let's stay with, let's stay

with some basketball talk because Dwayne Wade and Shaq took a podium together. I can't believe what happened. Is this Petty next? Rahimi Harris and Groh. Ashley, don't be petty. We're at FM and we're adding to our Is This Petty Production Value, Tyler Beterbaugh?

I love what I'm hearing. You guys know we play the game. Is this Petty? We play it often because, well, there's a lot of petty stuff that's happening out here in the sports world. And now we turn our focus on Is This Petty to none other than a Chicago man from Harvey lives here in the city. Dwayne wait The heap brought back their 2006 title team for a two-day 20th anniversary celebration this week

They had a gala on Monday followed by an encore event for fans to see at their home game against Atlanta on Tuesday night And Dwayne Wade and Shaq took the podium together Listen to Shaq and ask yourself Is this Petty? Dway and Shaq Spoh was talking a little bit pre-game Just about the inspiration this could have for his current team

What was it like, I guess, being around the current group of heat players? on the franchise, and what do you think, you know, this could inspire for that unit? I'm familiar with guys on the team. Are you? Yeah. Name five players. I'm not going to do that.

But I'm the guy that always try to stay out the way. Like I saw, I mean, this is BAM's team, and, you know, so I shook the hand, show my respect. They showed their respect, but, you know, I'm not the guy that we did this. We should, I've, you know, never really been that guy. You know, hopefully we, our story can inspire them to do better. And I don't even know the record. What's the record? It ain't good enough.

So he has other organizations that he's a part of. He got Orlando and he got an L.A. So we ain't read about what he's talking about. Yes. I hope this is my organization. See how you talk to? me. I love this.

What about inside the NBA? He has a whole job. A whole job. What about the job where he keeps up with the Lee? Like not even a Tyler Hero mention? Listen, five heat players is not very hard. You've got former All-Star and NBA champion, Andrew Wiggins. We talked about Casperos Yakuchonas earlier on the show today.

We did. Although he's a line-ey. That's not even one of the guys I would go with, though. Like, if we're talking about the five most should-be-known players. Terry Rozier. This year's All-Star. Norman Powell, Bam, Atabio. Andrew Wiggins.

I said Wiggins, so that's four, right? See, I can't even remember. So Tyler, Andrew Wiggins, Bam atabio, Norman Powell. I'll say Davion Mitchell just for the heck of it, but there's, Calilware had himself a game against the Bulls and that stupid play in that I hate. There's guys. And maybe you had the best one.

Scary Terry. Are you? Yeah. So next time they try to get Chuck to play who he play for, maybe Chuck should turn over the reins to Shaquille O'Neal. I just was dying laughing because I was like, wait, don't you guys have Inside the NBA? Now, granted, inside the NBA has not been on a lot, which they've talked about, but still, still.

Also, some fun from that he gala, because we had this make the rounds. Iso Maddie, who runs a very successful social media account in the streets, got to interview Bam out of bio and Asia Wilson. And, you know, Asia was really kind to people during that condensation delay here. She came to the game and she took pictures with fans who had like her jersey on in the stands. My man, my man, my man. She was supporting her boy, right? Yeah, they are a power couple and Asia's like nice and approachable.

So they had some fun with this when they were asked this question. Give me your scouting reports of each other. Oh, scouting war. You like that? Thank you. Thank you, Asia. Ooh. Scattery war or bail.

He likes going left. A little bit. Send him baseline. I would say send him baseline. Yeah, you don't go baseline. You go middle all the time. Baseline. You can really, whatever you're about to say to me, I'm about,

whatever she's about to say, I'm about to say. Why? No. It's the same. Listen. You're supposed to say you can't guard her. Um. Yeah, see him based on, contest, like make just hard shots, make them think a little bit, make them think, just show him different looks.

Because if Bam gets a whole of the, your first coverage, oh, it's done, he's going to pick you apart. But if you show him different looks and make him think, you might have a chance. That's my scounder for it. I can't get too much because the opponents might be cocking me. All right, ma'am. Don't piss me. She loves to go left. We all know that.

She loves to go left. I would say people don't double her enough. Enough. And cut the cameras. Yeah, people don't double her enough. By the time they start doubling, she has 25. It's too late at that point. That was good.

That was a really good question. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you guys for coming over here. I appreciate it. Cut the camera. What a messy question. It's just a messy question.

It's a good question. Did you see BAM's expression on his face when she was answering? He was like, oh, no, don't do that. Don't do that. Don't do that. That's what his eyes were saying the whole time. It's such a good question. It's one of those where you wonder why somebody hadn't asked it before.

Yeah, yeah. She does a great job with that social media, by the way, running up on players and their significant others. And it's a fun follow. Much different energy from old Shaq and Dee Wade over there. This is my organization. See how you talk to me. I mean, he had a point. He had a point.

Dee Wade had a point. If I could only cover one. sport. If we only had one sport to cover. You would pick the NBA? No, I'm just saying, like, think about, think about how lethal we would all be. There's only so many hours in a day. True that. True that. I love it all. Yeah, but still, like, you know what I'm saying? If our job was just the NBA. So you're wondering why Shaq didn't know those names on the heat roster. He runs, he runs Reebok too, you know. It's a busy guy. He's a busy guy. Wait, doesn't he, he's doing business with Modis, isn't he? Isn't modest part of that? Yeah, I believe

So, I mean, I remember last year. Yeah. I don't know if he's a shoe free agent or if he's still a rebot guy. There it is. See, Shaq's got a lot of irons and a lot of fires. And so concludes another episode of Is This Petty. And from what I understand, old brother of Matt LaFleur over there, Mike, we might have to play Is This Petty with old Mike LaFleur tomorrow because he issued one

in the Cardinals press conference apparently. So we might have to do that tomorrow. another round. In the meantime, we'll talk to Lawrence Holmes and Matt Spiegel next.