Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Mike Florio talks NFL Combine & Bears give Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade (Hour 2)

Episode Date: February 25, 2026

In the second hour, Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris were joined by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk to discuss Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s dislike of the Packers and the latest storylines coming out of the NFL Combine. After that, WBBM political editor Geoff Buchholz joined the show to discuss the latest developments in the Bears’ stadium saga. Later, Rahimi and Harris reacted to the breaking news that the Bears have granted linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade.

This hour is brought to you by vasectomy clinics of Chicago. Ladies and gentlemen, joining us now is a man who's got a massive brain. Mike Florio. He used to be a lawyer, then he decided to take his talents to the internet. NBC sports. I'm sorry I'm late. I was talking to Robert Kraft. That is at the time for an airing of grievances.

Pro football talk. I got a lot of problems with you, people. No, you're going to hear about it. On Chicago Sports Radio, 1043, The Score. Mike Florio works nonstop for you. He does it for you. Mike Florio is the one who got us that incredible interview with Ben Johnson, where he still very much hates the Packers.

He joins us on our hotline. He is also on Twitch.tv slash the Score Chicago. Floreo is working at the Combine. He is the creator and editor-in-chief of Pro Football Talk. Mike Florio, thanks for joining us. Hey, good to be with you now. You can call at work if you want, but I'm just hanging around talking football. So I get paid to do it.

So no complaints. You're clearly having a good time, as judged by your interaction with Ben Johnson yesterday. Seinfeld references in all. What was your favorite part about that interview and what did you glean from the interaction? I just think it was great to have a chance to sit down and talk to him for 10 or 15 minutes. and, you know, it's just for the confirmation that he gets it, he understands how it works. And I suspected that the whole Packers thing was him being the guy that the fans want him to be. If you're going to be the head coach of the Bears, you're going to hate the Green Bay Packers.

And in his mind, if you're the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, you've got to hate the Bears. The Bears and the Packers don't like each other. He's fully in on what his role is. And fans love that. We see so much nowadays, especially, as, The coaching profession, which you land wherever the job is, you're not loyal to anyone team. You're taking the paycheck.

You want a coach, and the players go from team to team now. It's not like it was back in the 70s and the 80s where you play for one team your whole career. Fans love a little of that good old-fashioned animosity that they feel toward their rivals. So he's smart to be that way. Now, he may have some damage to undo at some point if he's ever looking for a job, but he's good enough that he's not going to be looking for a job. It's going to be the other coaches out there that are calling him looking for jobs when, you know, their runs end with some of the teams that

Ben's going to be beaten up on over the years. Well, and Mike, one of the things that we were talking about when we, when we heard his discussion with you was just even based on the cadence of the responses, this doesn't sound manufactured. That sounded fairly genuine when it came to just how he replied to you. You know, what were your impressions of the authenticity behind the that emotion. Yeah, I mean, I'd like to think after 19 years of practice law, I'm pretty good at smoking out when someone's full of crap. And he does seem genuine. He's very confident. One of the points I was trying to make with him, I just feel like that the first year for Ben Johnson in Chicago was vindication of what he has always believed, that he's got a strong confidence that isn't delusional,

and that what happened last year was a manifestation of exactly what he thought was. happened when he finally became a head coach. Remember the window it opened for him a year earlier. He deliberately decided to wait. That's got to be very difficult for coaches to do because they know that that window opens and it may not close and may close and never open again. So he waited and the window stayed opened and he landed in a great spot and it went perfectly well and I feel like it's just going to continue on that trajectory. And yes, season ended in a disappointing way. But, you know, the arrow's pointing up.

And I just love the confidence. I love what they've done. I love what he's done with Caleb Williams. And it just feels like, and it kind of oozes out of him. That, you know, last year was last year and everything's going to keep moving in the right direction. We're talking to Mike Floreo, creator and editor-in-chief of pro football talk. And Mike, the other thing that I thought was really funny about that conversation is, reasonably, it sounds like you understand where Matt LaFleau.

floor is coming from on this? He's like, why am I in here? Like, what did I do to deserve this? Like, I don't, he said before, like, I don't know him. And I didn't think that was condescension. I just thought it was like him stating the relationship. You know, what do you think of just where LaFleur stands based on the conversation you had with Ben Johnson after that? Because I think you spoke for a lot of people who also think that's probably where LaFleur is in this. He's like the recipient of this. That's what makes it so hilarious. LaFleur is. entire vibe on it is, what the hell did I do? I just work here. And implicit in that is, it's not supposed to be that way among the coaches, because we see what happens. Assistant

coach spends a year with the Bengals, and then the assistant coach spends a year with the dolphins, and then the assistant coach gets a promotion to the jet, and then after a couple of years, the window opens to be a head coach, and he takes a job with the Texans. I mean, there's no real loyalty or allegiance by the coaches to anything other than the job they now have. So they're not going to get caught up in this whole band stuff. Hell, for all anyone knows, Matt LaFleur is going to be the coach of the Bears one of these days. So I think he just got caught flat-footed by this. You know, it's kind of like a little bit of the old WWE hype that we see where

that the two wrestlers, you know, they act like they hate each other, and then they're driving around in the car drinking a beer after the match. Like, I do think it's part of it is, and I'm not saying it's phony, I think that it's authentically contrived in that Ben Johnson knows if I'm going to be the coach of the Bears, I hate the Packers, period. I love the Bears, I hate the Packers. And as long as he's the coach of the Bears, he's going to feel that way. He may feel differently after that, but as long as he's the coach of the Bears, that's the way he's going to feel. And yeah, LaFleur is just kind of perplexed by the whole thing, and that just makes it even better.

Let's zoom out a little bit, Mike, because you're at the Combine, which is because, come this convention center of sorts every year we see this and so much happens over the span of this week setting up what plans are for the future for so many NFL teams, not just the players that they're trying to figure out in terms of who to draft, but maybe potential deals being done, free agency around the corner, all of that. What's your favorite storyline heading into this week and have you learned anything about that storyline being there for a day? Well, look, I want to know what the Raiders are going to do with Max Crosby. I'm going to try to get more information about where things currently stand.

Jeff George, how are you, man? Good to see you. Jeff George here. But I want to find out what the Raiders are going to do with Max Crosby. John Spitech, the GM of the team talked about it yesterday. And, you know, wasn't going to say very much, doesn't want to act like they want to trade him. They may want to try to talk him into sticking around, you know. That frustration that he feels over being shut down for the last two games of the regular season,

which caused him at least at the time to be done. with the Raiders. Maybe that phase. Maybe they can talk him into staying. And if not, you try to do a deal. This is the time to do a deal if they're going to do one because all the teams are here. Great opportunities to have face-to-face meeting and see what the trade market would bear for our Max Crosby. So I'm going to be watching that. I want to know what the dolphin is going to do with two-tongue by Loa. I don't expect me to be on the team. How are they going to separate from him? Are they going to cut him? Are they going to find a trade partner? So there's just a lot of moving parts. And we're getting closer and closer to free agency. And, you know, as we see every year, all hell breaks

loose those first couple of the days. A lot of guys changed teams and it feels like the deck gets entirely reshuffled for the next season. Mike Florio and cameo by Jeff George here on Rahimi Harrison Brody. The funniest part of that was him saying his name.

Exactly. Exactly. As if I had any doubt who Jeff George was. That was great. I also want to ask you, you mentioned too, we had some pretty interesting comments from Ryan Poles and Van Johnson yesterday regarding Tyson Bejant.

Poll said that he had gotten calls. Given that so many NFL teams could always use a good quarterback and Bejan's cap hit is incredibly low, we're happy for him as an undrafted free agent. But still, you know, how do you gauge that and what the true interest level may be? Oh, hey, he's a West Virginia kid,

so I've got a bias for Tyson Bejant, but we know how much they like him in Chicago. We know that they got him signed to that extension before we knew that Caleb was going to be fantastic in Ben Johnson's offense. It was a great safety net in the event that for whatever reason, things didn't work out with Caleb. And now because we know that Caleb is going to be who he is, this is an opportunity for the Bears to get a little bit of something

and to give Tyson Baylor a chance to go somewhere and play. We were talking about it before anything that's happened yesterday on PFT Live. We were kicking around the reality because the Falcons applied the franchise tag to Kyle Pitts, the tight end that was a rookie when Matt, Ryan was still there, and now Matt Ryan's running the show in Atlanta and first order of businesses to tag his former teammate. And we're talking about all the weapons they have. And it's like, hey, all they need is a quarterback.

And we start connecting dots. It's like, well, Ian Cunningham came to Chicago. He knows a thing or two about Tyson Bayesian. Man, that'd be a perfect opportunity. You can do a lot worse than landed in offense with Bajon, Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and, you know, just all the, and the defense that they have. Like, you know, so would that really be a shock if the Falcons would try? try to do a deal for him. So I think multiple

teams should be interested, and he's kind of a guy that's flying under radar. And yeah, it's great to have him as the insurance for Caleb Williams, but I think he's got to the point where he's aren't a chance to go show that he can play somewhere. Is that like a conditional-type pick that you would trade for a guy like Tyson-Bajun? Like, if he makes so many starts,

you're giving up maybe even a second round. How do you view his value? Well, teams don't like doing conditional picks because it ties up multiple picks until we know whether or not the conditions been met. And then that would be 2027 compensation. So if you want to do a trade now,

teams going to want something in 2025. And maybe you could do one pick now with another pick on the back end based upon how many games he starts in 2020. I think more teams should have that kind of creativity when they're coming up with fair trade terms. But I don't believe teams like to have those. Because if you're going to do conditional picks,

you can't do anything with those other picks until you know whether or not that condition has been resolved. But Tyson's invasion is not worth the second rounder, right? I'm just talking about it. No, I don't know. I'd be shocked if it's second rounder, but it's a favorable contract, you know, and maybe the fair thing is like a four or five now

with an opportunity on the back end of something else, if the team that would trade forum is going to be willing to do that. A lot of it comes down to how many teams want him and how many teams get in the fray to try to get him. And the more teams that are trying to get him, the more obvious it is that people around the league think he can play. Mike Florio, live from the Combine here on Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043, the score. I'm glad you also brought up Ian Cunningham for a number of reasons.

Cunningham spoke for himself and advocated for the bears to get compensatory picks at the combine. That was one of the first things that he discussed. it was the first question that Ryan Poles was asked about as well at the combine yesterday. Poles had to advocate for the process because he was part of the process in Kansas City. I also believe that when you dangle a carrot like this from the NFL regarding their own rule where nobody's giving up any picks, these are compensatory. To make these two men have to justify their existence and to have to justify their work and their promotions is an extra layer of discrimination that I think is kind of insulting to the entire process.

what do you think about just the fact that they're still having to advocate for themselves, and this is still so subjective even though the idea is not? You know my feelings on this. The whole problem with the process is, and this is a point that DeMores Smith, the former NFLPA executive director, made a few years ago. He and I talked about it at the Super Bowl in an interview where we really just tried to peel the onion on the fact that there is no accountability. There's no one to make the NFL accountable for decades.

of hiring practices that don't comply with the requirements of state and federal law. So all of these other devices to try to fix the problem, they create their own problems. And there's always going to be unintended consequences when you create this strange carrot where if you properly develop a guy who gets promoted somewhere else, you're going to get compensation, and then you're drawing these lines. Well, when are you getting a true promotion? And is it a true promotion? and who's in charge of the football operation in Atlanta.

And you've got Matt Ryan, the president of football operation, saying things to make it sound like Ian Cunningham's the GM, not just basically the guy who's setting the table for Matt Ryan to make his decision. So when you've got Ryan saying it, when you've got Cunningham saying it, when you've got polls saying it, it becomes more glaring that the league office continues to say, nope, nope, nope, Matt Ryan is the primary football executive, the general manager in Atlanta isn't. And you just wonder if the NFL is going to stay stubborn on that or whether or not they'll eventually relent to what the facts seem to be telling us. Well, Mike, not to sap, but they can also just interpret it with the original role that Ian Cunningham had with the Bears based on how he didn't do the things with the Falcons that he did with the Bears. Ian Cunningham didn't speak at the Combine, for example, when he was with the Bears.

Well, he's doing it now with the Falcons. You could base his old job duties in Chicago based on his new ones, and you could tell it was a promotion. It's inherently why he left. I think that's a great point. Now, Matt Ryan is here interviewing prospects in these meetings that they do, and I was surprised to hear that. You know, Tom Brady's not here, and he's working in close collaboration with GM John SpyTech. So this is a real job that Matt Ryan has. And, you know, the initial feedback I got when this all first came up, and Matt Ryan,

said at the Super Bowl that Ian Cunningham's running free agency in the draft. Another GM texted, this is Matt Ryan trying to maybe give himself a little bit of a safe harbor. If things don't work out, I didn't pick these guys. I didn't draft these guys. But as far as the league's concerned, he's in charge. And I think enough's been said this week to justify another question to the NFL about, number one, is this really the rule? And number two, what's the spirit of the rules?

Because I don't care about what's on paper. as you said, it sure feels like Ian Cunningham had got a promotion, and he's the general manager. And even if there's another person in the organization who's got the president of football operations title, Ian's running the show. Matt Ryan said it, and the easy thing for the NFL to do is just give the bears the compensatory picks

and acknowledge the program that the league put in place to try to rectify decades of substandard hiring practices. Mike Floreo joining us here on Rahimi Harrison Grotie. He's the creator and editor-in-chief of Pro Football talk. Joining us live from the Combine. Mike, the rules thing. Every year, we do this thing with the rules.

Apparently nobody cares about the tush push anymore. Had there been any interesting developments with potential rule changes? Well, yeah. If the Eagles had won the Super Bowl, I think they'd still be trying to take out the tush push. As Sean Peyton said yesterday, this isn't a safety thing. They tried to claim it's a safety thing last year. And meanwhile, they changed the kickoff formation and introduced a thousand, more kick returns over the course of the year. It wasn't about safety. It was because

somebody didn't like it. And I think it was as simple as in the NFC championship last year, you had that moment where the commanders jumped offside multiple times to the point where they almost awarded the Eagles a touchdown. I think the commissioner saw that and said, we can't have this. We've got to get rid of that play. They took a run at it. It didn't work. And now they've abandoned it. This year, there really isn't anything that's like, oh my gosh, they're going to make some major change to the rules. Rich McKay said that the other day. that there aren't a lot of proposals. And I think it's an opportunity to get their act together when it comes to officiating an instant replay.

They admitted yesterday, Troy Vincent did, that there were at least five plays that they screwed up on replay review, including what was a very consequential call in the week 14 game between the Steelers and the Ravens, where Aaron Rogers caught a batted ball and was going to the ground and lost possession, and the Ravens intercepted it. They overturned the interception into a catch. And as I said after the Bill's Broncos playoff game, the same reasoning they applied to that Rogers play. If you apply that to the Brandon Cook's play, the bills have a catch there and they win that game. And Sean McDermott isn't fired.

And it just shows you when there are so many close calls and there are so many questions that come up, they have to button this up. And if there's not a bunch of other rule changes they're going to be dragged down with, they should focus their full resources on improving officiating and improving instant replay. so we don't have these situations where it's like, oh, my God, if they had just gotten these calls right, coaches would not have lost their jobs. That's 100% true.

And the fact that it's still coming down to this and that referees are still part-time is all outrageous. Mike Florio, thanks again. And thanks for the Jeff George cameo from the Combine. Thanks, Mike. Thanks, good talking to you. That's Mike Floreo featuring Jeff George from the NFL Combine. The best part was him going, Jeff George.

It's like, ah, it's Jeff George. Yeah, we know who you are, Mr. Cannon Arm. We remember you. Thank you. Yeah, exactly. Like the fact that it didn't even have to be brought up. That's good times. Mike Fulario, live from the NFL Combine.

Coming up next, there has been movement in the Bears Stadium discussions, both on the Indiana side with Senate Bill 27 that just got passed. And also, what is the latest regarding what we understand is a meeting in the state legislature in Springfield in Illinois this week? To sort it all out, we brought in the big guns. Jeff Buckholz from WBM, the news radio political editor next. Rahimi Harrison Grody, Midday's Tyndal 2 on Chicago Sports Radio 1043, the score. It was a very first game was in Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears, and I won the job starting with that game, that preseason.

And I can just tell you, from that moment on, I have been given nothing but the sweetest memories of the Chicago Bears. If you can't beat them, join them. I ask that you support this legislation. Let's go. That is former Coltspenter Hunter Smith and now Congressman in Illinois, State, or Indiana, rather. So you heard what he had to say. And that's what happened.

Senate Bill 27 did get passed. And we are here with a guy who knows how to talk about it. We called in the heavy artillery. Jeff Bokeholtz, the WBBM News Radio political editor, kind enough to join us in studio on Rahimi Harrison Grody. Great to be here. I'm sorry Grody's not here, although I understand his restraining order expires next week. So maybe we can be in a room together after that. Yeah, that sounds like Grody.

Jeff, just let's zoom out here and kind of take an audit of where we are in this process. Sure, let's unpack it, man. I'm ready. When you talk about where Indiana is and where Illinois is planning to be tomorrow, because there's a meeting tomorrow morning, can you walk us through side by side what stages the states are at with their negotiation with affairs? Absolutely. Let's start with Indiana because that's the thing that's most recently happened in the thing that we led into the clip that we led into. So the Indiana House approved their version of Senate Bill 27, which sets up the stadium authority. which would clear the way for the state of Indiana to issue bonds to build a domed stadium for the Bears, probably in Hammond, probably.

It has to go back to the state senate now because the House amended it, so the Senate has to concur in those amendments. There's no action on it today. It'll probably, the soonest it'll come up will be tomorrow. And Indiana is kind of on the clock because their legislature is set to adjourn at the end of this week. the session's supposed to be over. Though Governor Mike Braun could bring them back for a special session if you wanted to, that's probably not going to happen.

This thing's been sailing through the Indiana legislature, and I have no reason to think that that's not going to happen. So that's where we are in Indiana. In Illinois, it's been called the pilot bill. It's payment in lieu of taxes. This is the bill that would allow the

bears to negotiate and lock in long-term property tax rates for the Arlington Park property that it bought three years ago for a stadium. This proposal is coming up in a House committee tomorrow. It's sponsored by Representative Mary Beth Canty, who represents that area. The governor has indicated he is on board with this. He thinks there's broad agreement in the legislature.

We'll see what happens in the committee. But Indiana's got a little more daylight to work with in terms of when their session is over. It's not supposed to end really. The general session doesn't really end until May. But a lot of their timing may be dependent on what happens in Indiana. Well, and the thing I want to ask you about, Jeff, before we get to the Indiana side of this bill, which I think we're still trying to figure out the taxing framework and there's a lot. It's complicated, yeah.

On the Illinois side, there's been discussion surrounding when they say tax certainty, they want a guaranteed property tax rate, which is not something that like a resident of Illinois gets, not something that like somebody who owns a house case. That's true. That's true. So part of that, now we're trying to figure out. Does that mean the entire plot of Arlington Heightsland? Like if, say, the Bears want to do the whole apartment, say it's a Wrigley concept. All right?

Say it's like Wrigley Field. If there's apartments at the stadium, do those apartments get the same, like the owner and operator apartments get the same tax certainty, quote, quote, that the stadium does? Or is this just for the stadium regarding the property tax concern? So my understanding is that this would deal with the stadium and whatever entertainment properties. Obviously, if a residential development were built there, then the developer of that residential property would incur the property tax burden until such time as it's sold to a private owner, and then that's what happened. So we're talking about kind of the stadium plus whatever

development is owned by the Bears. And in a conversation last month with the mayor of Arlington Heights, who I know has been on the score a lot, he mentioned that without that kind of certainty, without the ability to negotiate a long-term property tax rate over a period of 20, 30, 40 years or whatever, you know, the bears would be subject to reassessment every three years, just like everybody else who owns property in the area. And the estimate for what the property tax bill would be on that land is somewhere between $100 and $200 million, which is a lot of money. I mean, right now, the assessed value of the empty plot of land that used to be Arlington Park is $3.3 million.

That's what the bears are paying in property tax right now on an undeveloped piece of land. They're paying in property tax rate based on $3.3 million. That's correct. And the assessed value or rather the property tax bill on, for instance, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles is like $9 million. But property tax in California is not a major part of how the revenue of the state or the taxing burden of the state is calculated. Correct. It's calculated to be a graduate. state income tax, entertainment tax that plays in, they're all different. The property tax burden

for everyone is minuscule compared to the rest of the state taxes that are incurred. That's true. But it is, but it does look at the sort of competitive pressure the bears may feel as they look at how to develop this area and whatever financial obligations they have versus owners of other NFL teams. If I owned a house, I would also point out my dad's property taxes compared to what I own here. Yes. That would be an argument that I would also use. and try to use. Yeah, sure. And it's true.

And back to income taxes, the other issue, of course, is that Illinois doesn't have a graduated income tax. The governor and others have long favored one and the effort to pass one failed some years ago. Like the income tax in California, just the state income tax, goes up to 13 and a half. I am aware. Yeah. And I've also paid the state income tax in California. I did not pay 13 and a half.

I wasn't bawling out that badly. But that is a point to be made when it comes to all of this, which is why the Bears, of course, yeah, I'd use the California property taxes comp as well. Yes. I just, you know, the overall scoreboard is different when Stan Cronky puts in $5 billion of his own money into the stadium. Right. You know, what's a couple million between friends after that yearly? Yeah, a million here, a million there. Pretty soon you're talking real money.

I also, and this is off topic, but just because people have asked this, I feel like it's worth bringing up. There's also a $100 million tax payback. that the Rams and SOFA are supposed to do. I don't know how much the charges factor in because they're tenants of that stadium. But that is supposed to happen in connection with the building project in California. So that's something to keep in mind as well.

There is an understood like tax partnership there. So looking at it right now, Jeff, I guess my biggest question is, do you get the sense that all things being equal? And when I say equal, I don't even really mean equal. I just mean if they get what they want from Illinois and Illinois can agree to it,

and it's not killing taxpayers and the governors and all of the representatives' eyes, they're going to build an audience heights. That's where they have the land, right? Do you see this huge advantage that Indiana has right now? Because I don't.

The thing about the Bears is, I think we talked about this a little bit last week. The Bears, none of this is, there's no rational appeal here at all, right? This isn't something you can look at it on a balance sheet. People are attached to their football. teams, right? The Bears in particular, I mean, anybody who's listening to the station knows how very invested everybody in this area is in the Bears. And I think the McCaskey family understands

that. And I think the McCaskey family understands at some level that if they end up moving to Indiana, they're going to end up looking worse in the eyes of the fans. I was talking to Judson Richards, who I know is a host on the score. often fills in on our side of the floor as well. And he was taking calls on his last show. And I asked him, when you talk to people who were calling in, who would they be prepared to blame if the Bears bolt to Indiana? And he said, most people said the McCaskey family.

And I think they understand that. I think they understand it's a business and we have to get people in the door in order to make this work. And if cutting a deal like this in Indiana causes us to lose some of that fan base, you know, that's got to be taken into consideration. I agree with you, Marshall. I do think they're going to wind up in Arlington Heights. It's just a matter of how much money it's going to cost them. Our segment with WBBM political editor, Jeff Buckholtz, is brought to you by almost freetheth.com, because confidence should never cost a fortune. Look, the reason why I asked you that question,

because I wanted to, you're as ingrained as anyone in this whole process and how it works. And I told Lela last week, look, this would come down to, Yes, they're definitely going to get a better deal in Indiana. How much money are they willing to save to make that move? And I think as long as Illinois can figure it out without it killing us, me, you and Lela and everybody else, the taxpayers, they're just going to do the Arlington Heights thing. Yeah, I think part of, so the bears have already said, and there's been a lot of conversation. And I was talking to some people I know and not that long ago were like, well, Indiana or Illinois shouldn't. and build the Bears a stadium.

And of course, that's not on the table. Right. The Bears have said, we're going to build the stadium. We're going to pay $2 billion to do that. And the governor has said, Governor Pritzker has said, I'm down with helping them with infrastructure around, wider roads, better, you know, water delivery, whatever they need to do. And so what we're talking about now is this bill, this pilot bill that would let the bears get some certainty, as Lela points out, in how much.

property taxes they're going to be paying on this development in the meantime. It doesn't seem like a big lift, but it is because you've got a lot of different interests involved. The lawmakers who represent Chicago are not super crazy about giving the bears any assistance in leaving Soldier Field, which of course they'll be in until 2033. So I wouldn't be surprised if the final version of whatever this bill is includes some way, A, to take care of the remaining debt on the Soldier Field renovation from 20 some odd years ago, to make the city of Chicago in some way whole for losing the bears to the suburbs. I also, when people talk about the Indiana bill, want people to know, there's a lot of concern and ambiguity when it comes to the amount of additional taxes that are on that bill, especially for the residents of Northwest Indiana, anybody who uses the tolls in the northwest, the region, that part of the state,

and then what's on top of that? So, like, for example, there's been discussion, Jeff, about the 1% food and beverage tax and Lake and Porter counties. Yep. But that's in addition to a preexisting tax that's 6%. Like, what could you tell us about the extra taxes as far as what we know that Senate Bill 27 to have? Right. So there's that tax, which you mentioned. There's a hotel occupancy tax that would take effect for that general area.

Which would, like, double that one from 5 to 10%. It's a pretty sizable chunk. And in the debate in the end, Indiana House yesterday, the House Speaker Todd Houston finished up right before the vote and made the point that the bonds, and they're going to have to borrow money to build this stadium, that's clear, the bonds that they will issue in order to get that money will be paid for with revenue that comes from that area, from those taxes, that higher restaurant tax, the higher hotel occupancy tax, whatever higher tolls are paid for on drivers.

And he said, we didn't have to go to the taxpayers for extra money to pay for bonds for Lucas Oil or for Bainbridge, even in the depths of COVID. And I had to go back and listen to this this morning because I thought he said this and he did. He said, and we won't have to do that, I am sure, in this instance. And boy, the phrase I am sure was doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence. Like, he can't guarantee that in five or ten years the state of Indiana is, isn't going to have to go to the residents and say, hey, we need to help front this because the, you know, the bears aren't, you know, the bears can buy the stadium for whatever the outstanding debt is. But there's a scenario where they aren't in a position to do that. And the state of Indiana winds up being on the hook. And Governor Pritzker made that point yesterday when we were talking to him down on the southwest side. He said, I don't know if the taxpayers of Indiana really know what they're going to wind up getting socked with in taxes. Are they going to be okay with that?

that? He said, I guess we'll see. And I think I said on this show last week that people hate taxes, but they love football more. So, I mean, maybe that's a moot point, but that is going to be something that, and as usual with something like this that kind of gets rushed through at the last minute, it's one of those things where we'll find out what's in it after everybody passes it. That's Jeff Buckholtz. He is the WBBM Political Editor. Happy to join us in studio today. We are thankful for your presence here and the latest information. So what's the next thing we're looking for. It's that meeting tomorrow morning. Yeah, it's to the hearing tomorrow morning of a committee in the House down in Springfield where they'll consider this

proposal from Mary Beth Canty that would create the ability for the bears to negotiate long-term property tax rates. We'll see what happens. Everyone's weighing in now. The governor has said he's not opposed to it. So we'll see if it makes it out of committee and then we'll see where it gets scheduled. The House Speaker, Chris Welch, who is from Chicago, has a sort of an informal rule that he doesn't bring bills to the floor unless he can get at least 60 votes for. So he's reading the tea leaves and counting noses as much as everybody else is. So we'll see what happens if it makes it out of committee. Yeah, hopefully they show up this time. Jeff, thank you again. That's Jeff Buckholtz coming up next. It's halftime and something that may be a memory for you

might get unlocked next. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotty on 1043, the score, and we had a record scratch. We got a little bit of breaking news. Breaking news on Rahimi Harrison Grotie on the score is brought to you by the Take the North podcast. You know it as TDN. The Bears, according to Brad Biggs, have granted permission for linebacker Tremaine Edmonds to seek a trade, according to a league source.

He is under contract for the 2026 season at $15 million. still young and was pro bowl caliber player through the first 10 games before a minor injury. He finished the year healthy and led the defense in tackles. That is per Brad Biggs. I was not expecting a trade to be part of the discussion. I think most of us thought based on Tremaine Edmonds' contract structure, that he would be an inevitable cap casualty. But this is the bear's way of trying to get something for what they might think,

is nothing if they release him, then that would make it make sense. This is something that happens all the time where a player knows that they're going to get traded, a player, or excuse me, cut, or the team knows they're going to cut them and like, well, before we do all that, let's make sure we can't get something for him. This happens around training camp time a lot of times. We talk about final roster cuts. First opportunity to find your own destination and not be claimed by somebody else if you're getting cut. I like this as an option for the Bears and specifically for Tremaine Edmins because

he's now got his representation out there on a hunt for something that fits him as he goes into a contract year. It does make sense for Tremaine Edmonds. It makes sense for the Bears and it I think just further cements the idea that we likely saw the last of Tremaine Edmonds in a bear's uniform. That's where I feel is this is headed. Oh, I already had resigned myself to that two weeks ago, I think, when I started doing the numbers and understanding once that new cap expected was released and looking at the bears and where could they maybe restructure, I was like, but the easy one is Tremaine Edmonds. It's just too easy. It saves you 15 million in cap space. It's a lot of cap space. And that is a big deal.

And that goes back to to the point that Ryan Poles made about the linebackers, though, yesterday is if he's without Tremaine Edmonds, which that looks like it is likely going to be the case, then now you've got to figure out who's healthy and who's left and who's a possible free agent target. So that's where T.J. Edwards' health comes into play. It's where no Sewell's health comes into play. And what the linebacking core is going to look like, that could be a part where Dennis Allen really makes a big difference. And again, four safeties are now free agents on the Bears team. Like we said before, it's about prioritizing what the needs are on that side of the football

because everything's so much more clear cut on the offensive side. So that becomes the priority. And I just wonder what my trust level is. And when I say my trust level, I'm trying to gauge myself. How much do I trust Ryan Poles? I trust him more than I did this time last year, certainly. Is it full trust or is it just knowing that Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen are excellent at what they do that make me say they'll figure this out. I mean, yeah, I don't necessarily know if they'll

fill the roster spot. But as far as figuring it out with the best fit, you know, that's, that becomes a bigger concern. So, you know, arguably Tremaine Edmund's best year as a bear last year, even though he was injured, as Brad Biggs mentioned, just he looked like the best version of himself playing for the bears, not in his career, but just with the team. But when it comes to trying to get a possible trade. Given the contract structure, I wonder how likely that would be the case, you know, in reality.

Do we feel like when I say Tremaine Edmund's era, like if it's a three-year era with the Bears, what would you say about that era? Underutilized? Maybe it took the organization too long to find the best usage of him? I think the guy who wanted him on the team didn't put him in the best position for him to succeed with his skill set.

Which is kind of ironic, right? I think it happens. Like, you would expect, hey, I really want this guy. This is the guy we should pay the money to. Go get this guy. Go goes and gets him. He's not performing quite like you had envisioned. But that's why a change of scenery is good for somebody.

Brad Biggs also points this out. He says Edmonds is 28 in May. And if he reaches the open market, he will be one of the better. linebackers available will be interesting to see if the bears can attract an offer. So I guess, you know, given his favorable contract, I wonder if that does make him more likely to be a candidate of desire for other teams. But this is definitely, they're letting you know, Tremaine Emmons ain't coming back. It's just a matter if he departs via trade or via the cut.

Ben Devine with this news nugget, he covers the Chicago Bears and is part of the NFL draft coverage for the Bears. So he points this out. The Bears have met with Missouri defensive end Zion Young at the NFL Combine. So we're also starting to get some updates here and there when it comes to seeing who's talked to the Bears and who they're meeting with because they also talk today. So Zion Young was also at the podium. And according to CHGO said that he was impressed after meeting with the Bears and also, you know, as a former teammate of Luther Burden at Missouri. So there's that angle and that connection as well.

We are two months away and all you're reminding me like throwing these names out, who's your guy is just around the corner? It's just around the corner. I mean, it's a long corner. It's a big block. Let's put it like that. But it's getting me in that moment. Is your guy around the corner is the question.

It's the Bears guy at 25 around the corner or a second round or a third rounder. Well, third rounder be of use for Ryan Poles. These are all questions I have concerning who's your guy. Will Layla be triggered by the Bears attempting to use a draft pick in the third round this year? On a punter. No, I'm playing. That was the fourth. I know, but I was, I want to combine your two angst and put them together. Yeah, yeah, you're not supposed to use a draft pick on a punner. You're also supposed to draft a center, like one that you actually think is going to play at center,

not just one who is your backup center or played center in college and then wasn't supposed to be that dude. But that's another story for another day. This also, according to Daniel Jeremiah, which is valid per Zach Pearson, this draft has three top 10 picks at edge rusher. Do we think that I doubt one of those gets all the way to the bears, but it does make me wonder about the edge rusher depth of this class, which a lot of people have talked about. I would say, I'm very confident that something is going to fall to the bears at 25

that are going to have everyone feeling good about it. Because 25 is not quite low enough where you're one of the last, couple of teams picking, and there's a lot of stuff that happens in the teams. Trades are usually made. We'll see. And because quarterback isn't really a thing in this draft, as far as first rounders go, that I want to see how much edge goes off the board before the Bears pick and tackle two.

I also just think about, I just think about the fact that, for example, watching Jackson Smith and Jigman in the Super Bowl last year, the Bears don't need a receiver. But watching Jackson Smith and Jigman in the Super Bowl, understanding that that was a deep wide receiver class, as we know, when he was drafted, and he was drafted 20th. Big difference between 20th and 25th, but gives me some hope for the later part of the round. That's what I'm saying.

Let's focus on what could happen in a positive manner, because you know what? It was a positive season for the Bears. I'm trying to carry over those vibes into the draft. Yeah, I wish that I could live on vibes alone. that's a Spiegel. Spiegel lives on the good vibes. I can't live on vibes alone.

I live on pragmatism mostly with a hint of vibe. So just to recap, Brad Biggs reporting this news moments ago, the bears have granted permission for Tremaine Edmonds to seek a trade, according to a league source. He's under contract for the 2026 season at $15 million. Coming up next year on Rahimi Harrison Grotie, it is time for five on it. Our pressing questions next.