The Charter: A Chicago Bears Podcast

Ep. 188: Previewing free agency with The Ringer’s Robert Mays

JJ Stankevitz is joined by The Ringer’s Robert Mays to look ahead to free agency, and if Ryan Pace will have the ability to be aggressive without much cap space. Plus, why Robert sees Adrian Amos as the better fit to return to the Bears, not Bryce Callahan. 1:00: The Callahan/Amos question is a strong indication of where the Bears stand heading into free agency2:30: Is it realistic to expect the Bears to improve with internal growth, rather than major roster changes?5:45: Does the lack of ability to tweak the roster make the Bears’ risk of becoming the 2018 Jaguars higher?9:00: Would you rather keep Bryce Callahan or Adrian Amos?13:00: Is it at all realistic or even possible for the Bears to be aggressive in free agency? Maybe going after Le’Veon Bell?16:00: Where do the free agency splashes come next week, outside of Bell?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 187: As the NFL combine gets underway, what’s the Bears’ plan going forward?

Producers Slavko Bekovic and Cam Ellis check in with J.J. Stankevitz -- who’s at the NFL Combine -- and the three discuss Cody Parkey, the Bears’ draft plan, how the offense should expect to progress in Year 2, and more. 0:45 – Bears confirm Cody Parkey is out2:00 – Leg strength a priority when looking at kickers?4:30 – Would the Bears consider drafting a kicker?8:00 – Ryan Pace ready for all draft scenarios but focused on best player available10:00 – Pace keeping draft strategy close to the vest15:45 – Mitchell Trubisky entering year two in Bears offense18:00 – Bears addressing inconsistent running game21:30 – How does Jordan Howard fit in 2019?23:00 – Harry Hiestand the x-factor for Bears offensive line25:00 –Bears have become an attractive free agent destination27:15 – Futures of Adrian Amos and Bryce Callahan32:00 – The switch from Vic Fangio to Chuck Pagano on defenseSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 186: Running backs of interest at the Combine with Rotoworld’s Josh Norris

Rotoworld draft guru Josh Norris joins JJ Stankevitz on the pod to break down this year’s crop of running backs and which of them could interest the Bears in April’s draft. Plus, Josh offers his thoughts on if a diamond-in-the-rough edge rusher could be available late in the draft and what the Kyler Murray circus will look like this week in Indianapolis.1:30: How deep is this year’s class of running backs? Can the Bears find value in the middle rounds of the draft?3:15: What traits stand out when looking to project pass-catching ability for a running back from college to the pros?4:30: Josh offers a few running backs to watch at the Combine and in the coming months11:00: What portions of testing at the Combine are you looking at for running backs?14:30: How is the class of edge rushers shaping up?16:40: Obligatory…but thoughts on Kyler Murray?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 185: Shedding light on the Bears new DC from the golf course

Former Bears Head Coach Dave Wannstedt joins Luke Stuckmeyer and Bears insider JJ Stankevitz from the golf course in sunny Florida to shed light on his recent conversation with new Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano (1:30), Ed Reed's Hall of Fame belief in Eddie Jackson (3:00), whether he'd prioritize Bryce Callahan or Adrian Amos in Free Agency (6:15). Plus how he'd handle the Cody Parkey situation...since he had a similar experience with Jim Harbaugh when he was coaching the Bears (9:30).See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 184: What should the Bears aim to accomplish at the NFL Combine?

With the NFL Combine starting next week, JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan look at if the Bears should still focus their draft strategy on taking the best players available, or if needs at running back and/or kicker should supersede that. Plus, the gang dives into what questions they want to hear answered from Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy next week and wonders if the thought of trading a draft pick for a running back is a good idea. 1:00: What questions do we want answered by Ryan Pace & Matt Nagy next week?7:40: Do the Bears need to shift away from taking the best player available to drafting for need?16:20: Robbie Gould is likely to get tagged by the 49ers. Now what?20:45: Thoughts on trading a pick for a running back…like Cleveland’s Duke Johnson?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 183: Just how good has Ryan Pace been?

JJ Stankevitz, Paul Aspan, Laurence Holmes, and Cam Ellis debate just how good Ryan Pace has been during his Bears tenure, wonder if Allen Robinson was underappreciated this year, and give their predictions on the likelihood of signing either Antonio Brown or Le’Veon Bell. 00:17 – Laurence describes not watching the rest of the NFL playoffs with the rest of New Orleans 02:46 – JJ polls the room on their confidence in Ryan Pace heading into the draft05:11 – Laurence goes into why he’s not been as crazy about Pace’s tenure as others have7: 30 – Ryan Pace’s mid-round picks have historically been great – but can they take the next step?10:03 – Allen Robinson may have been underappreciated this year11:15 – a deep, deep dive into the Bears’ kicking woes since Gould left 16:03 – How confident are we that Pace can find a suitable kicker?21:28 – Cam defends Cody Parkey for some reason 24:15 – How likely are the Bears to sign Antonio Brown or Le’Veon Bell?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 182: What lessons should the Bears take away from the Super Bowl?

JJ Stankevitz, Paul Aspan and Cam Ellis look at how Matt Nagy can learn from Bill Belichick’s schooling of Sean McVay, and what Ryan Pace can learn from how the Rams went all-in to reach the Super Bowl. Plus, the gang wonders if a recent trend of second-year coaches reaching the Super Bowl is good news for the Bears in 2019. 1:20: Is it a total crapshoot to try to win the Super Bowl as long as Belichick & Brady are together in New England?6:10: What should Matt Nagy have been watching for in the Super Bowl? 8:00: Should Ryan Pace follow the Rams’ blueprint in building the Bears’ 2019 roster? Can he?18:15: Kudos to Matt Nagy for running away with coach of the year honors24:00: Do we like Bobby Massie’s contract even more now that details of it have been reported?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 181: We don’t appreciate Bobby Massie enough

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan break down Bobby Massie’s four-year contract extension and look at why it was a smart move to retain him, even with Bryce Callahan and Adrian Amos set to hit free agency. Plus, the gang likes what they heard from Chuck Pagano last week and offers up Super Bowl predictions for Sunday. 1:20 - Does keeping Bobby Massie mean the Bears believe their running issues weren’t the fault of the O-line?6:10 - Why Massie is worth the reported $8 million/year salary8:30 - Is returning all 11 starters on offense a good thing?11:30 - Why not make Bryce Callahan the priority?15:00 - What’s the priority now that Massie is under contract?18:25 - Thoughts on Chuck Pagano?27:00 - Super Bowl predictionsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 180: Mitchell Trubisky is a Pro Bowler!

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan wonder if Mitchell Trubisky’s trip to the Pro Bowl can be beneficial. Plus, they talk about the Bears going to London next year and how Ryan Pace can fix issues at kicker and running back in the offseason. 0:25: What if you had someone who both knew Sean McVay and was friends with Manny Machado? Would they be an NFL head coach or be playing for the White Sox?1:20: Mitchell Trubisky is a Pro Bowler. Did he deserve it? Does it matter?6:30: Why it’s cool to see Charles Leno and Cody Whitehair get Pro Bowl nods, too9:05: The Bears are going to London! Neat opportunity, or cause for concern?12:45: Did the NFC/AFC Championship games make you think the Bears are closer or farther to the Super Bowl?15:10: Would you rather your team lose on Cody Parkey’s double-doink or on an absurdly missed pass interference call?19:10: How should the Bears go about fixing their kicking situation?23:00: What does Ryan Pace need to do to address the run game?26:40: Sneaky positions of need for the Bears in 2019See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 179: Bears seem to close door on Cody Parkey, but not Kareem Hunt

JJ Stankevitz, John “Moon” Mullin and Cam Ellis digest Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace’s end-of-season press conference at Halas Hall, including the pair leaving the door open for signing Kareem Hunt, Nagy’s criticism of Cody Parkey, the hiring of Chuck Pagano and more. 0:30: Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy leave the door open for signing Kareem Hunt8:15: Nagy was not happy with Cody Parkey’s “TODAY” show appearance. Is he done in Chicago?16:00: What should we expect from Chuck Pagano as he takes over the Bears’ defense?26:00: Odds and ends on Bryce Callahan and Leonard Floyd as the offseason beginsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.