The Charter: A Chicago Bears Podcast

Ep. 208: Catching up with Mitch Trubisky and Akiem Hicks

On a special edition of the Under Center Podcast, Bears Pro Bowl QB Mitch Trubisky & Pro Bowl Defensive End Akiem Hicks join the show. Mitch talks to Bears insider JJ Stankevitz about the Jordan Howard trade (2:20), why the Bears offense can be one of the best in the league (3:25) how the playoff loss was like the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones (5:10), and why Anthony Miller can be scary good (6:00). Hicks joins JJ & Luke Stuckmeyer to discuss his charity softball game and his favorite to win the home run derby that’s also part of it (7:45), how Hicks learned from his ejection in week four ( 10:10) , why the Bears had to let last year’s playoff loss hurt to move forward (12:00) and of course, his thoughts on the ongoing kicker competition (13:30). Plus Roquan Smith has the biggest teeth on the team (14:00 ), and look out NFC North offensive linemen (16:15).See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 207: What to expect from the Bears’ kicking battle

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan dive into the Bears’ kicking competition to wonder if the team is better off now than it was on Jan. 6 (0:40), if the Week 1 kicker is on the roster right now (2:50), if Robbie Gould is on the table and how this thing will play out in the coming months (6:50). Plus, the guys offer up their rookies to watch after last weekend’s minicamp (14:45) and dive into looking at Mitch Trubisky and Leonard Floyd through the lens of fifth-year options (24:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 206: Casey Bednarski on the Bears’ kicking competition

JJ Stankevitz is joined by Casey Bednarski, who was one of the eight kickers participating in the Bears' kicking competition during rookie minicamp last weekend, for an inside look at how things went down at Halas Hall. Bednarski gets into what he proved (0:50), if he was disappointed to not be offered a contract (3:25), his kick-off against Redford Jones (4:50), his impression of the Bears' process (6:30) and his own personal background as a soccer player-turned-kicker-turned-pizza delivery guy (10:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 205: Interviews with Iowa State OC Tom Manning and Eddie George

In an Under Center Podcast special, JJ Stankevitz chats with Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Manning to get inside what kind of person the Bear are getting in David Montgomery (1:20), how Montgomery's game translates to the NFL (6:15) and if comparisons to Kareem Hunt, who Manning also coached in college, are fair (11:15). Plus, JJ and Paul Aspan sit down with former Heisman Trophy winner and Tennessee Titans star running back Eddie George to talk about his transition from football to theater (16:00) how to succeed as a rookie running back in the NFL (24:00) and why it remains so important to have a strong running game (26:45). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 204: A closer look at the Bears’ draft and Emanuel Hall

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan start by wondering which Bears player could do what Arya Stark did on Game of Thrones (0:20), then dive into what expectations should be for David Montgomery (2:00) and how to view the rest of the draft picks (7:00). Plus, JJ chats with Rivals.com Mizzou reporter Gabe DeArmond to get the skinny on undrafted free agent receiver Emanuel Hall, who many expected to be a mid-round pick and could be a steal for the Bears (15:30). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 203: How’d the Bears do in the draft?

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and John "Moon" Mullin return to the Halas Hall coat closet to break down what the Bears drafting Riley Ridley says about the team's philosophy (2:20) and how David Montgomery fits Matt Nagy's offense (7:35). Plus, what did Ryan Pace accomplish with his three late-round picks (14:30)? And Moon makes a point about the fallacy of "best player available" (17:15). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 202: Robbie Gould and Mock Drafts

JJ Stankevitz, Paul Aspan and Cam Ellis dive into Robbie Gould's trade request (0:20) and look at how realistic it is for the Bears to trade for him at some point. Plus, the guys reveal their mock drafts for who they think the Bears will take with their picks this year (12:15), with a few surprises in there. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 201: Reacting to the Bears’ schedule

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan dive into the Bears' 2019 schedule, first looking at if the NFL likes all the leaks that happened Wednesday afternoon (3:00), then onto the biggest games (4:45) and toughest stretches (7:30) facing Matt Nagy's group. Plus: What game will set the narrative for the Bears' season (12:15), what teams on the schedule will improve the most (16:05) and which teams will take a step back (18:20), and what each of the guys' biggest grip is about the 16-game slate (22:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 200: The view from Green Bay with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski

JJ Stankevitz is joined by Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Packers beat reporter Jim Owczarski to discuss the explosive Bleacher Report article on Aaron Rodgers/Mike McCarthy (1:00), how first-year coach Matt LaFleur will handle Rodgers (3:00), what went wrong for Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in Green Bay last year (5:00), how the Packers’ free agent additions will improve the team (9:20), where Green Bay goes with its two first-round picks (11:40) and how those in Wisconsin are viewing the Bears (13:55). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 199: Talking NFL Draft with Yahoo’s Eric Edholm

JJ Stankevitz is joined by Yahoo Sports Draft Analyst Eric Edholm to break down how deep a class of running backs there is in 2019 (1:10), what the Bears might see in FAU’s Devin Singletary (5:10), who would be a better fit between Penn State’s Miles Sanders and Iowa State’s David Montgomery (7:30), if there’s an under-the-radar running back who could thrive with the Bears (10:00), what other position classes have depth that could benefit the Bears (12:15), and if a kicker could worth a draft pick (15:15). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.