Ruben Hyppolite talks future with Chicago Bears | CHGO Bears Podcast

Ruben Hyppolite talks future with Chicago Bears | CHGO Bears Podcast

This is the CHGO Bears podcast. Let me tell you something. We got a huge interview coming up. His name is Rupen Hippoly, the linebacker, the fourth round pick. You want to stick around. It starts right now. And yes indeed, welcome in to the CH Geo Bears podcast along with my handy dandy trusty co-host Gregory P. Allen Braggs and aside of Adam Hog, don’t worry, Hogs in the interview. Hogs with the Hippolyte. We are here for you on this beautiful Friday alongside about to bring in your newest fourth round draft pick, linebacker out of Maryland and uh via via Florida uh growing up down in the in the in the in the beautiful sunshine, Ruben Hiplight coming up. But first off, Gregory, good to see you, buddy. You’ve done incredible work today, helping with interviews and mini pods and hosting. So, you are the MVP today, buddy. Know that. Oh, Stephen’s still helping plenty behind the scenes. So, uh, yep. We’re going to let him have a day and we’re going to have some fun. Talking to Ruben earlier was a lot of fun. So, I’m excited to share this with the audience. Yeah. Uh, everybody knows that I tend to fall in love with Bears players once I get to talk to them. And uh if if it goes well, they’re on my team for life. And if it doesn’t go well, they’re kind of off my team for life. That’s not exactly true cuz, you know, we go I we’ve we’ve had people jump back on the Karm ship who have jumped off it. Uh but but Ruben uh is on the team. This is I think people are going to really enjoy this interview. He’s he’s he’s super impressive young man. Got got a got a big- time heart, big- time desire, and um hey, easy guy to root for. And the Bears need help at linebacker. So hopefully Ryan Paul’s nailed this. Uh I thought the pick, you know, clearly caught literally everyone offg guard, but that won’t matter in the end if the guy can play. So Gregory, do you want anything you want to add anything before we start the interview? No, I think we’ll get to it and let the let the audience see it. I’m excited for everybody to see it. It’s a long interview, so enjoy it. Yeah, it’s a two-parter. Uh so we’ll be back with you to tell you some important things. But let’s kick it off uh earlier today, early this morning with the new Bears linebacker, Ruben Hippolyte. All right, let’s bring in the Bears newest linebacker to CHCO Bears. Yeah, Ruben Hippoly. Ruben, man, I want to start with this. It’s almost been a week now since you got drafted by the Bears. Um what what were you thinking there in the fourth round? Because, you know, I know for um a lot of Bears fans and and I I’ll just call myself out too. we’re kind of scrambling for information on you when the picks made and things like that cuz you weren’t invited to the combine. That’s well documented by now. Uh what was your own mindset though like you know everybody else has their own expectations. Where did you think you might be drafted last Saturday? Yeah, so um you know a lot of credit to my agent Christina Phillips first of all um she really prepared me well throughout this whole draft process. Um so we were really looking for like the run of linebackers when that was going to when that was going to happen. you know um I just watched and I saw a couple guys going to second and third round. Um and the fourth round came around I saw a couple guys going off the board and um I kind of knew I was going to, you know, put myself in play cuz I um you know I knew I handled my business in the in the interviews and at my pro day and stuff. So I was going to be in play uh to go. It was just a matter of when and where. Um and then I just started seeing the run happen. Um and you know got that call from Chicago. That was probably one of my best visits that I’ve taken. Um, and yeah, man, we’re here now, uh, by the grace of God. So, you know, just, you know, going through those strategies and stuff. When you say that visit was one of the best you take and what what made it that way? Just the people in the building. I met with everybody. I met with uh I met with Mr. Poles. I met with uh Mr. Cunningham. I met with Coach Johnson, Coach Smith, uh, Coach Allen, everybody. Um, just the support staff in there as well. um player engagement, uh trainers, equipment staff, met with everybody on my visit and um I feel like I meshed well with everybody there. Um and it was kind of like a perfect uh scenario for me. Um that’s what I thought. Um soon as I left there, I was like, “Yeah, this is somewhere where I want to play and u you know, start my career.” So, you know, thankfully they they gave me that call and u you know, I’ll be there next week. So, did they let you know anything specifically, Ruben? we were attracted by this about you. Did did you get any communication like that? Uh when I left it, it was kind of quiet. Um but you know, from what I’ve been hearing just throughout this process, usually the teams that are quiet on you are, you know, it means something good for you. Um so they were quiet once I left my visit with them. Uh but but I felt good about it. Uh I had great meetings with everybody like I said before. Um and I was kind of confident that that was a spot where I would end up. Um, I just didn’t know, you know, when or where or how it was going to shake out, but, you know, it worked out for me. Ruben, tell us a little bit about your your career. I your college career. The I mean, you played a lot of football at Maryland and you I was watching some of your highlights, some of your film. I think I think it was your freshman year against Iowa if I had the year right, but uh you’re pretty pretty new to the Big 10 and at one point you the left tackle I think tried to climb to you and you just knocked them right over. I mean that’s a big Iowa offensive lineman. Um so does that kind of set the tone for the physicality type of football you play? Yeah, I mean you know I credit a lot to I credit a lot of my playing ability to the Big 10 and being in the Big 10. Uh, it’s probably one of the best conferences in college football. Um, you know, you see great competition every week. Um, you know, I’ve seen the IO, I’ve seen the Northwesterns. Um, I’ve seen the, um, you know, the Ohio States and Michigan’s, Michigan states, and, you know, every team in between. So, I’ve seen a lot of great competition. I’ve seen a lot of, you know, uh, big linemen. I’ve seen a lot of fast receivers, fast backs. So, I mean, um, I know that that’s what this league is about. Um, it’s about, you know, bigger, faster, stronger. and um I’ve experienced a lot of those things and I have you know some some of those skills myself. So um very confident in my abilities to you know go out there and perform but I think you know definitely playing the bigs had helped me you know prepare for this moment. Ruben, I grew up uh you know in the Chicagoland area rooting for Northwestern. The ultimate underdog at the time and they’ve they’ve transformed that program some uh since. And then I went to Iowa. So you know and and the Hogue to my to my right I guess for you is is a Wisconsin guy and Greg is his own form of of Purdue and in Indiana. So you got a lot of Big 10 guys here. Who did who did you want to beat the most? Who did you have the most this disdain for, if you will? Uh, I’ll probably say Penn State just being a Maryland guy or being a Florida guy going to Maryland that that kind of rubbed off on me as far as everybody’s dislike for Penn State. Um, Ruckers was always a great game for us. Um, and and that was a team that was always um, you know, that was always a tough game because they have so many greedy guys and um, guys who know how to win and they got a great coaching staff over there too. So, probably say you know Penn State and Ruckers, those two teams. He got he got he got Penn State too. That was a big time win, man. Congrats on that. That’s awesome. Appreciate it. Yeah. You talk about gritty guys from Ruckers. Well, one of them obviously is a new teammate of yours, Kyle Manung guy, you know. Um, talk about having to go up headtohead with him a few times. Yeah, that was a I tell everybody that’s the best running back I faced my entire career um in the Big 10. Um, he just, you know, has a great ability to run behind his pads. Uh, he’s fast. Um, you know, he’s slippery. He know how to get through the holes. Um, and he know how to finish runs like he’s physical. um you know when you look at him you don’t really expect physicality from a guy like with his size but when he runs the football and like like you definitely feel him when when you go to tackle him. So um like I said I played him for for about three four years so I had to see him every year. Um it’s always a good it’s always a good battle. Now we teammates now so you know never got to meet him before but hopefully I get to meet him and we get to you know build a good relationship. So does he talk on the field? A little bit. Everybody talks, man. Everybody talks. Um, everybody got a little um um you know, a little snarkiness to them. Uh but yeah, man, it’s always good competition. It’s always good ball. Um like I said before, so I mean it’s all good. Well, well, speaking of talking, I know you just, you know, you just got here. You pro, you haven’t even been the house hall since, you know, you got drafted, but um they’re trying to create this culture of competition. I think your head coach, Ben Johnson’s got some talking in him, too. um already chirping at TJ Edwards a little bit in a in a in an awards ceremony last week. Um are you are how much are you looking forward to this competition at this next level because I think these training camp practices this summer uh with Dennis Allen going up against Ben Johnson offense versus defense. I think I think there’s going to be a lot of talking going on. Yeah, I mean I’m excited uh speaking to TJ and Tmaine. Just learning from those guys number one first and foremost that’s going to be huge for me. I’m excited to They actually text me when I once I got drafted. So, that that was important for me and just, you know, knowing that I got great vets in the room who done it at a high level. Uh that’s important for me and my development. So, I’m excited for that. Um Coach Johnson and uh Coach Allen, you know, just meeting with them. It was it was great to meet with them and talk with them and just talk ball with them and um those those are two guys who have great football minds obviously and uh have great energy. So, I’m excited to get to work with them and and just, you know, be in that area. um like being in a building around, you know, people like that with that caliber. Um yeah, it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be fun. Like, like I said, at the end of the day, it’s football. It’s about competition. Um you know, I love doing this. So, um you know, just excited to get everything learned, get everything down. Um and then go out there and just run fast and go hit and go make plays. Um you know, you know, bring some wins in Chicago. I I was watching you on on your podcast, Ruben. It was interesting. you were open like, “Hey, when I was growing up, I didn’t like football. My dad made me play the sport.” So, c can you just talk about that transformation to like you got to love it now cuz you know, you’re going up against the best of the best. The only way to be successful is to just want to do it every day. So, just that the the journey with the game, how would you underline that? Yeah. Uh when I was younger, I was like in denial that I was, you know, the hell of a football player for whatever reason. I didn’t know why. Um this just I was a baseball kid growing up. Like that’s what I wanted to do. Um, but baseball wasn’t exciting for me uh anymore. Like it got to, you know, nine innings and just like like when when when are we going to get some good action in here playing the sport? Um, I was good at it, but it wasn’t something that was going to keep me on my toes. Um, so like sixth grade I was like, man, I’m about to play football and just, you know, see where this takes me and really, you know, turn up with this. Um, started playing running back, so I wanted to play offense and go score touchdowns. So that’s what I did. Uh, but then I got to high school and I was like, okay, I don’t want to get hit no I want to go hit people. Um so that you know played linebacker and then earned scholarships and uh you know made it this far playing the position. So um journey’s been great. Um you know I credit a lot of it to my dad and keep forcing me to play it and he would always you know you know stay on my ass about that. Uh but I mean like I’m here now. Um you know I love the game. I love the game. I love the process of it. Um I love it because it’s hard. Um you it’s very challenging to be to be the best at this sport. Um, and and when you can be great at this sport, that’s how you know you put a lot of time into it. So, I just look forward to, you know, pouring pouring everything I have into this sport. Um, and uh, you know, giving them out. Just a quick lesson to the youngsters out there. When Ruben was playing in in in, I don’t know, fourth, fifth grade and playing running back, he just scored every time. Yeah. So, you know, if you think you’re good enough to get there in your fourth or fifth grade, you better be doing what Ruben was doing cuz anybody who makes it this far, that’s what they were doing. They were scoring every time. Not picking up six yards. No doubt. Yeah, I tapped out of baseball as soon as I realized I couldn’t hit a curve ball. That was when that was when it was it for me. Yeah, man. Them them them down and away balls. Yeah, man. Bye. See you later. Yeah, it’s over with. Yeah, for sure. I mean, so, you know, going back to some some of this college, you know, you know, perspective, you guys got four Big 10 players that get drafted here to the Bears. Is there any sense of pride with that? because, you know, as someone, you know, we’re all Midwest guys. I’m a Big 10 fan. See four guys have Coulson Loveland going in the first round, you know, for you and and obviously your years in the Big 10. Is there any sense of pride behind that? Yeah. Uh, no doubt. Um, like I said before, man, I feel like Big 10’s the best conference uh to play in. Um, you know, it’s the best competition every week. Um, it’s never a week where, you know, you can chill because there’s always, you know, teams that can, you know, beat you on every given on any given Saturday. So, um, like I said, I played the Michigan, I played the Michigan States, I played the Ruckers, I played the Ohio State. So, I, you know, the competition and and the tape is all there as far as, you know, production and just going up against great competition and making plays. So, um, definitely sense of pride knowing that, you know, we we could all come out of that conference um, and be able to play at the next level because of what we experienced. What was the hardest hit that you know when you’re meeting somebody in the gap? You know, what was the hardest hit that you can recall in your college days? I probably say going up with Kyle uh this past season. He actually um he actually scored on me. Um he ran through he ran through a tackle that I had on him. Um you know, that just goes to show his physicality, you know, how he runs behind his pads. It was actually uh this past season when they played us at home. Um, so that’s probably the hardest hit, uh, I’ll probably say, um, that I can recall as of now. Yeah. Yeah. Bear’s Twitter, of course, found that clip. Now we we got to even the score and find a clip where you got him for sure. Yeah, man. Yeah, man. It’s all bear. Did you guys played Michigan during the national championship season, right? We did. Yep. 23. Did you go up against Coulson at any point in that game or anything you remember from him? Uh, all I remember is she was making plays down the field. Like anytime we uh I remember I think we played him at home in 23. Um, it was one play where it was like third down, third long and he converted, I was pissed. Um, I think it was another play. Can’t I don’t know if he caught a touchdown or if he if it was defended uh by one of our corners at the time, but like he’s always like, you know, he’s always around to make a big play. Like he always has big play ability. So, um, that’s definitely a guy we was, you know, circling and penciling in all week, um, as far as, you know, game plan and making sure that, you know, we we, uh, we check him. Um, but that that whole offense was was something serious, especially when they had JJ and and Blake Corum and and all those and all those linemen um there and those receivers that they had too. So, it was definitely a fun it was definitely a fun game. Uh, came up short, but you know, it is what it is, man. Um, definitely enjoyed that one. Hey, hey, Ruben. I I just watching you and I think people can just kind of feel it here in this interview. Like you’re you’re uh you you got the big heart and I and I know that uh you you want to you want to inspire, you want to give back. Like that’s that’s part of what makes you who you are. Can you can you just uh sort of talk about just having this platform and what it means to you? I mean, yeah, cuz you know, a lot was given to me. So, I feel like it’s my duty to give back. Um especially with this position that I’m in. Um I didn’t get here by myself. So, um, there was a lot of people that helped me along the way. Um, so it would be I’ll be remiss if I, you know, didn’t help others, you know, um, come up like how I came up, you know, um, and just, uh, give pointers, give tips, uh, give back to the community, to, you know, the younger guys that I play with, um, and everything in between. So, um, it’s always important to give back, especially to me, cuz like I said, a lot was given to me, man. Um, it just wasn’t easy for me to get here. Um, a lot of hard work and and a lot of lot of grinding. So, um, you know, you know, when I’m in a position to give back, that’s what I’m going to do. And I’m going to do it, uh, you know, wholeheartedly. So, Ray Lewis, Ray Lewis was your guy growing up. Is that right? That was. Yeah. Yep. And you and you and you got to meet him at what, IMG? Is that is that And you were uh you played in his academy. Is that right? Yeah. He had he had um a camp every summer, I believe it was. Um, and I was able to I was fortunate enough to go twice. Uh, first time, you know, I met a bunch of guys like I met Devin Bush and um, uh, can’t remember, Dylan Moses. Met them two the first year. Um, then the second year, I believe Eddie George was there. Um, and obviously Ray Lewis was there. I got to talk to talk with him. He was upset that I didn’t go to Miami. I was surprised he knew about me a little bit, which was, you know, kind of eye opening. But, uh, won the MVP that second year. Um, which was, you know, a goal of mine. Um but you know just that whole experience was was a great week. Um you know put together a great week. Um just you know or a great couple days I would say. Um and it was just fun just you know picking his brain and then being able to go up against the competition that was there. It was fun. So I I enjoyed it of Ruben Hippoly. Uh yeah, this is um this is a it’s a wide ranging but a lot of Hey, props for Kyle Manungai, huh? Like that there Brags. Win-win right there. Two Bears, damn it. Yeah, for sure. Uh and don’t go anywhere because we’re going to have a second half of this interview coming right up. Yeah. Uh, and as Karm likes to say, but first, but first, shout out to our friends at Sunnyside, the cannabis dispensary, where it is your home for judgmentfree cannabis shopping, place where all kinds of visitors are welcome to explore and discover and purchase a wide array of high quality products. 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Visit empiretoday.com for full details. All right. All right. Let’s get right back to it here. Adam Ranks coming up uh in about I don’t know, call it 14 minutes. Uh he’ll be with us the second half of the show. But back to the linebacker from Maryland, our new best friend, Ruben Hippoly, part two. And you went to Maryland because you wanted to be like change a program big like I I want to put put my st I see I love that everybody you know if I’m I’m going to Bam I’m going to No, no, no. I’m going to lift these dudes up and that’s and that’s what happened. So yeah, I don’t know if love that but I love that. I would have drafted you just on that alone, Ruben. Right there. That’s that’s the type of heart I’m looking for. Yeah, man. Yeah. Well, Ruben, you talk about goals, you know, and now you’re looking at rookie mini camp next week. Obviously, this is going to be a big summer for you. What are some of your, you know, early goals on when you, you know, meet the team and you start to practice with these guys and you get to training camp here later in the summer? Yeah. Uh, football-wise, you know, see the field as early as I can, uh, special teams, make an impact on that, obviously, and then, you know, earn a role to play on the defense. Um, learn the defense and really, you know, earn the trust of the coaches and of the players that I’m playing with because if you don’t have those two things, then, you know, it’s not you don’t have any value. So really earning trust um amongst you know the players of the building and and everybody involved. Um and then from a person from you know personal wise um personal standpoint just you know getting to know the guys um them getting to know me um and you know find a place to stay um getting all the essential things that I need to get done. So uh but no I’m just you know taking it one day at a time uh not looking too far ahead um you know just being where my feet are um enjoying today. you know, I’m here on this interview today. So, looking forward to killing this. I got a couple meetings after and then, you know, when when the time comes, you know, report to Vin Camp, you know, go kill it and handle my business in there and then kill it with the workouts and whatnot and then, you know, just take it day by day, week by week. Um, and, you know, get those small wins, those small daily wins. So, yeah. Yeah. Ruben, I’m the special teams coach here, so I’ll grill you on that that side of things. You I mean, I’m just I’m looking at your speed. I’m looking at your size. I’m looking at your heart like Karma was just talking about and I’m putting you on on every phase here. Uh what’s your what’s your special teams experience? How much did you do at Maryland cuz you know the kickoff’s different in the NFL but I could definitely I’m throwing you out on there immediately. Punt of course. So I mean what what are you looking for from the special team side of it? Yeah, I was a I was a four core guy early in my career so I played everything man. Um played kickoff, kickoff return, punt punt return. Um, but as I got older, like uh like junior, senior, I would I became a starter. So, they started taking me off. I’m like, well, just keep me on, you know, one or two. Don’t take me off of all of it. Like, I need this. Like, don’t do that. Um, so I was I was a starter on the punt team. Um, like my whole career. I did never came off of that. Um, and then, you know, obviously played punt return and kickoffs from early in my career, but I mean, I’m I’m I’m used to special teams. It’s not something I’m running from. Um, I understand that that’s what’s going to get me on the field early. So, well, well, I’ll tell you here in Chicago, you know, they used to have a guy named Devin Hester returning kicks and they would have starters starters like Charles Tilman would refuse to come off the field on special teams reps. I mean, they were they were literally like competing over who could get the key block to spring Deon Hester. Um, so there’s a lot of pride in special teams in Chicago. Yeah. and and Ruben Hogue, you just made his day. Uh because you know he just just to clarify, he does it on the high school level. He’s not the Bears special teams coach. You probably know that, but I just want to make sure that you we have that we have that under wraps here. Hey, uh two things, Ruben. One, uh I I think we can’t go through this whole interview without without shouting out Mama Hippoly here because uh I I hear she’s like just huge on the Instagram supporting everybody. kid. So, what what what can we tell what can we talk about mom here and how she helped you get here? Uh mom is huge. Um like I tell everybody, man, like I kind of I kind of, you know, grew up with her. And what I mean by that is we’ve been through a lot together in life and um you know, she’s been with me every step of the way. Um and she’s helped me out a lot as far as my development uh as a man and just uh being there when I needed her um and and vice versa. So, um, she has she’s supported me, you know, um, it’s been great. She came to every one of my home games, uh, for these past like two, three seasons. Um, you know, she she’s she’s made a way and found a way to do that. So, um, you know, I’m forever grateful for her and just, you know, her ability to always, you know, show support and, show love um, to me um, and and my younger sister in all that we do. So, uh, mom’s definitely uh, definitely important, man. Um, and and I love her to death and I’m I’m glad that I was able to, you know, put in the work that I could that I can do um to have her experience the moment like uh we did uh last week. Did Did she uh push you to stay in school as long as you did? Was that an NIL thing or did you not think you were ready period? You just needed more reps like cuz you know you had you have you know you could have left earlier in theory but I you you went about it the way you did. So I’m curious as to what went into the the way you were looking at it. I just wanted to uh get that degree before I left. I I didn’t want to declare and have to come back to school. I’m like, I’m not coming back to school. I’m not doing that. Uh so that was really my thought process behind it. Um after my senior year, um I was like, well, I got it was like, well, it was about like three and a half years that I was in school and I was able to, you know, I had the opportunity to finish it earlier. So, um but I couldn’t because of uh COVID. So, that 2021 summer, I couldn’t take any classes. So I would have I would have been finished with school by like my junior year. Um but you know the co thing happened and uh kind of pushed it back. So I was able to finish in three and a half but like after that I was like you know I have another year. I’m not in a rush to go anywhere. Uh I just you know let let me put another you know great year together. Um so definitely wanted to get that degree and then uh put another great year together on tape so I could just you know show that I’m a complete player um and show the body of work. So that that was my thought process behind that. I love it. Uh I it only took me five years to get out of college here, Ruben. So congrat I’ll finish with this. How big was that pro day for you? Because I you know you didn’t have the combine opportunity but you you put that 442 up there and that seemed to to really catch the eyes of a lot of teams. Yeah, it was huge. Um, you know, actually the story behind that, I was um I was actually um I went to the Hoola Bowl and I had a great had a great week at the Hoola Bowl. Like I had a lot of interviews. It it was good. Everything was good. Um and I came back to train um back at Florida and I called the NFS. I’m like, “Hey, like you know, am I am I getting an invite? Like what’s the what’s the deal?” So it uh I called them twice actually and they were the first time they was like, “Nah, like uh you’re not on our list. just, you know, call back next week or something or a couple in a few days and and we’ll let you know. So, I called them back twice. They’re like, “No, just get ready for your pro day, like, you know, didn’t get an invite. Sorry.” You know, the whole spill, blah blah blah blah blah. I’m like, “Okay, cool.” So, from that point on, I’m like, “Okay, well, I’mma just I I got one shot.” So, I mean, let let’s train and let’s do what we got to do to, you know, uh, make some noise. So, um, I was training with a test academy, uh, based out in New Jersey, but they were in Florida. Um, so I was with Kevin Dunn and and Otto Balden and um Chad Wilson, JT, those are our coaches down there. So, you know, from that point on I was like, well, I’m not going to the combine. So, you know, let’s uh let’s turn up for the pro day. So, um I I was hitting crazy numbers uh every day, but it was like a it was just a constant grind, just a you know, chopping wood, carrying water type of mentality that I had. Um, and then when I got to the show, I mean, it was just I practiced so many times, so it was like, man, now it’s just time to go execute. So, it’s what I did. Um, obviously the 40 was the main event, but I did that. But, I mean, I I feel like I put a great day together, you know, with the with the position drills, um, and just all the other testing. Uh, wish I had that 55 back, but, you know, had dead legs. But, uh, but everything else was good, man. and um just a testament to the you know to me locking in and not you know worrying about the things I couldn’t control and then controlling things that I could and you know I made I made it work. So all right well you know you you had a great pro day. You got the speed you know the grit the heart you’ll meet a guy in the gap all those boxes are checked. So I’m curious what you feel like are the other boxes you need to check what you need to work on here going forward to make yourself the best professional you can be. Yeah. Um I’m always working on block destruction, man. I think that’s as a linebacker, that’s something you always craft and you always constantly um you know are trying to get better at. It’s a lot of techniques, a lot of different ways to do it. Um but that’s that’s the only thing. Um obviously I don’t know anything about the NFL, anything about nothing. So I’m, you know, I’m I’m willing to come in and learn and be a sponge. Um but I’m also coming in to compete. Um you know, at the end of the day, it’s football. um it’s just at a higher level with higher stakes and I understand that. So I’m just excited for the opportunity in general um and excited to you know compete and get better um and be the best player that I can be be the best player to play the position in the in the near future. That that’s my goal. Last one for me, Ruben, when that phone rang, did you were you like whoa I I was expecting fifth, sixth, even undrafted like from from the whole thing like hey I didn’t get invited. I’m going to have to prove it at some point here. or were you like or were you kind of like it’s coming any m any minute right now? So, uh Saturday morning like 1:00 am I, uh I wrote on my mirror. I was like fourth or fifth round and I circled it and then uh I went to I went to go journal like I I got a journal. So, I write in my journal and stuff like that. Just like writing about how I felt um what I wanted to happen um and just like what I was thinking. And this at 1:00 a.m. So like like it wasn’t that I couldn’t sleep. I was just like, man, I just, you know, I’m ready for the day to just, you know, go through it and and get and get to it. Um, and then like I said, um, later like Saturday at 12:00, so 12 12 uh p.m. comes and I’m sitting there like, you know, everybody’s there, all the family and all that stuff. So, I’m just like, “Okay, let me let me wait for this run to happen.” Um, and then I just started seeing linebackers flying off the board like, you know, in the fourth round. So, I’m like, “All right, like I don’t know what’s going to happen. And I I just know like my time coming. I don’t know when, but it’s it’s going to come cuz what like what I did it it was um like the performance I put on and then all the interviews that I went and like all the 30 visits I went on like I knew that I did something to impress somebody. I don’t know who I don’t know who but like I was prepared in all of them. So I’m like the phone going to ring. I just don’t know when it’s going to ring. Um I didn’t expect it to ring in the fourth. I’ll tell you that. But I knew it was going to ring some somehow someway. Um, and then phone rang, saw the Chicago area code, and I picked up said it was a recorded line. Then, uh, uh, you know, I heard, uh, Mr. Poles on there, and I was like, “Okay, cool.” Like, like this is this is real life for sure. Um, and the whole family was excited. So, it was a great experience, man. Um, you know, definitely would relive it again if I was, you know, able to, but you know. Well, yeah. I mean, force you only get to live draft day once, but um you know, hopefully there’s a lot of great days like that in the future with the Chicago Bears and and and and some W’s for you on the field. I think you got a lot uh a lot of great moments ahead of you in your NFL career. So, uh on the way out, man, I know the podcast was kind of on hold during the draft process, but uh why don’t you tell our listeners and our viewers uh where they can catch that out in the future? Yeah, it’s uh One Speed Entertainment on YouTube. Um, that’s where we’re at. That’s where you can find us. You go on there and then you could uh out go outreach and find all of our social medias from there. Uh, so that’s the that’s the pod. Me, myself, Dante Trader Jr. who got drafted by the Dolphins. Uh, Bo Braid, he’s with the Ravens. So, you know, just, you know, three teammates kicking it. Um, talking about our college experience. Um, we have a lot of guests on there. um you know, our former teammates, you know, we we had women’s basketball players, Cheyenne Seller, she just got drafted to the um to Golden State. Uh I can’t remember the team name, but she got drafted out there out west. So, she’s doing her thing. So, it’s a lot of great content on there, man. Y’all go check it out. Nice. Yeah. Well, if you ever need any help, just let us know. We’re happy to lend a helping hand as always, now that you’re in Chicago. But that’s only if that’s only if you answer this the the question that we always ask. It’s a prerequisite. And that’s Jordan versus LeBron. And this is an important one here. Um, I’m gonna go uh LeBron personally. All right, you’re out of here. Goodbye. No, no, no. Let him let him let him let him talk. Let him talk. I want to hear it. I’m going to go LeBron personally because I grew up watching LeBron. But if if we’re talking about, you know, mentality, like style of play, um like the ability to like bring like a a whole human race together to watch, you know, one guy play on the court is definitely Jordan by far. Um but, you know, I didn’t I didn’t watch Jordan, so I don’t know, you know, I don’t know that effect. Um obviously I’m assuming y’all do, but I don’t know. So I I came and watched LeBron, especially when he was in Miami. um you know uh that run they had uh with with Wade and Bosch like that was like and I’m from there so that was like yeah well let me just tell you from a fans perspective obviously Jordan captivated the world and this city but uh nobody reigns supreme like the Chicago Bears in Chicago. So uh you’re on a great team with a great fan base and uh if you guys get get going here we’re going to be uh this city is going to be electric. All right, enough with the Bears. Let’s just go back into this conversation real quick. Reuben, they lost to the Mavs. He was guarded by He was being guarded by JJ Berea, who can’t guard you, Ruben. You were there. You saw that. You think MJ’s getting stopped by JJ Berea? I did see that. But they also came back and and and and they gave it to the Spurs and and you know, with Ray Allen, all those guys, that’s that’s the most legendary moment in history. Ruben, who hit the biggest shot against the Spurs? Ray Allen, right? He he brun just missed a three. He got bailed out. I mean, yo, you can’t do it by yourself, man. No matter how great you are, you need role players, man. You need role players. This is No, no, this is good. This is good. Ruin now knows if he wants to ever get in a LeBron Jordan debate, that guy right there, Mark Carman’s the guy to do it with. And if you want to completely avoid him in the locker room, uh, to avoid that debate, that’s the guy you you stay away from. Ruben, this is all true. I I have a running Friday conversation with Tyler Scott, one of the Bears wide receivers, and we talked Jordan LeBron for at length. He’s a big LeBron guy. Um, so you and now Colston Lovelin’s on the team. So all you I just, you know, as the old hat here, as the guy that was there for MJ’s rookie year, I have to do my this is this is my this is my calling in life, actually. So, you know, I look forward to discussing this further at your convenience. Yeah, no doubt, man. We could we could definitely, you know, shoot the shoot the stuff about that for sure. That’s cool. No doubt. Ruben Hib, man, awesome having you on. Appreciate your time. This was a great interview. We’re looking forward to seeing you in Alice Hall. Yeah, no doubt, man. I appreciate y’all, man. Bear down, man. All right, let’s see. Brags, you tried to get me out of there on that. I I would have gone another half an hour with Ruben and tried to, you know. Yeah, we know. Yeah, I know. Okay, fine. Uh, we we’ll do it another time. And who did I just see in the chat? Uh, Chris 518. MJ didn’t look like complete crap at 33 years old. Uh, that was in the middle of three repeat number two 518. Get your stuff together. All right, we got Adam Rank coming up here in a second. But first, but first, Yep. You’re going to give a shout out. I’m going to give a shout out here to Shady Rays, not Karm, me. Uh, cuz I I got like two different pairs of Shady Rays sitting right here. They give you a nice little case. Look at this stuff. This is how they take care of you. Our friends at Shady Rays are helping you get in the right frame of mind with their premium polarized shades that won’t break the bank. Shady Rays is an independent sunglasses company offering a world-class product rated five stars by over 300,000 people. Their sunglasses have durable frames and crystalclear optics. Check these out. Making them the perfect choice for all outdoor adventures. With so many colors available, you’ll find a pair that’s perfect for you. If your shades ever go missing or take an unexpected hit, don’t sweat it. They have the most insane protection in all of Eyewear. Every pair is backed by their lost or broken replacement program. It’s second to none. If you don’t love your shades, exchange for a new pair or return worry-free within 30 days. There’s no risk when you shop. Their team always has your back with personal and fast support. CHO listeners and viewers, go to shady rays.com and save 35% off polarized sunglasses with code cho. Over 300,000 people have rated Shady Rays five stars. So use the code cho today at shady rays.com. All right, they’re headed to Milwaukee. That’s right, the Cubs are and you can be too. Do it with our friends at Padawani Casino. Kick off the summer, right? This is tomorrow. Cody and Luke and Corey, they’re going to the north of the border battle with the Brewers. Uh, that’s right. Once again, tomorrow, Padawani Casino and Hotel in Milwaukee. Exclusive pregame party in the private room at the casino. Live show hanging out with the fellas. You get a buffet lunch. You get a drink ticket. And if you’re 21 or older, you get $100 in casino play with the Podawan rewards card. So if you go and get yourself a ticket, all chggo.com/event, you’ll see that that pregame party is 50 some odd dollars. So you’re getting a hundred bucks. They’re paying you to go on this trip, which is amazing. Uh we got add-ons for you can grab a game ticket, sit with the crew in the lower outfield. It’s on the Cubs side. Uh, make it a weekend if you want. Let’s go crazy. Let’s do it. Add a one night stay at the Podawatami for Saturday night. That’s the true way to take the full advantage of this deal. It’s all there for you. Go to allgo.com/event. Couple of tickets are left. So, get in there. Uh, these are the final few are going to sell out here. So, get involved. Shout out to our friends at Pawatami. And shout out to you, Gregory. Again, great job today. Uh, getting Ruben. And that was a total I saw Bo Chant. Karm, how do you feel about the pick now? I think it’s the greatest pick in Bears history. Eric Bochanton, I’m I’m excited to see what he can do, man. Hopefully um this will be the start of Ryan Paul’s draft genius if if indeed uh Ruben can make the team and contribute. So, without further ado, we got our guy. Is he ready? He’s ready. All right. From the NFL Network, our Friday hero, it is Adam Rank as the show just gets a major upgrade here. Braggs is producing your rank. So, I mean, you’re you’re familiar with that, but like anything’s, you know, you’re popping everybody around. Things There it is. We’ll get there at some point. We’ll get there. We got there. Hey, uh, the pressure’s on today, Rank. You’re you’re you’re ranking the top five picks in the NFL draft. We’re not just doing Bears. We’re doing the whole damn draft here. So, yep. How you feeling about this? And good to see. I feel pretty good. No, no, no, no. I feel pretty good. I had some ideas, but I allowed the producer uh to have some leeway. I got to do this, too, on the NFL Network. I got to go in there and talk some fantasy football. Already talking fantasy football. And I love, you know what I love? And then this is a thing, too. Um everybody like I did not have Devon Aan in my top 12 of fantasy rankings. They’re like this this is an outrage. And I’m like I still said he’s an RB1 that not high enough. I’m like, oh, okay. I can’t have it. Oh, if what rank says it must I’m going to do the opposite of what rank says, which is never the case because last year all these people tried to b bully me out of taking Bucky Irving. They tried to bully me out of taking Saquon Barkley and Brock Bowers and then they disappear. Then they I go back because I will because like it’s in it’s easy on Instagram to go back and um to go out there and start looking and be like, “Hey, how did this work out for you when you said Bucky Irving was going to sub?” Look at you coming back four months later like, “Yeah, that’s what I do.” Don’t say it if you’re not aware allowed to to wear it. I know there were some I missed on last year. And I know there’s a big one. Um I can’t even think of it right now. I know that I’ve had one, but it’s like yeah, like I I I if I miss one, like I own it and I go out there and so when I’m sitting here preparing these rankings, um I’m I’m I’m I’m ready to wear it. I’m ready to uh defend it. And uh I’m I’m feeling good. I’m feeling confident. Yeah. Uh, and as always, I come up with a different name. I think this is our fourth name for this segment. And today it’s going to be called Keep on Ranking in the Free World. Yeah, I figured you guys would like that as the music afficionados of CHDO Bears. So, that’s what it is. And, uh, Pearl Jam song. Yeah. Yeah, it is. Of course. Of course. Pearl Jam, right? Uh, but I want to give a shout out over once again to Shady Rays. Uh, the future is bright with Shady Rays. Make sure you hit up shady.com and save 35% off polarized sun sunglasses with the code CHGO. Okay, so I tasked you with uh your top five rankings of NFL draft picks here in this year’s draft. Not just Bears the entire Not just Bears. Not enough. There might be a bear on here. Uh but not just the Bears. And I think at number five, I’ll I’ll just jump into it because it was pretty easy to me. I love the move that the Jaguars made to get up there and get uh Travis Hunter. I thought that was such a smart move. And that is one of the things that when I was doing my mock draft with a twist as I was trying to fantasy book Mason Graham falling all the way down to number 10. for that to happen, I needed Jacksonville to invest in an offensive player, which I absolutely I thought it was going to be Tyler Warren because I thought they would be at number five. Uh, but at the same time, I’m going to take that as a win. Like, I got that right because I knew they were going offense and it was ridiculous for people to insinuate that they weren’t. I mean, similar to what the Bears had to do with with Caleb Williams, Trevor Lawrence needs more help out there, like Brian Thomas Jr. and that’s it. They got rid of Christian Kirk. So, for me, it was pretty obvious that they needed to go out there and get an offensive-minded player. Travis Hunter is going to be fantastic. I I love that they did that. Not afraid to uh to swing for the fences there, which is one of the reasons that we love Tony Khan and uh the the family there for uh Jacksonville. Yeah, absolutely. Go ahead and team me up on these because I don’t want you this is this is a producing thing. You got You guys got to team me up. So, I’m not talking the whole I got I got I got you. and I didn’t know if you were going to run right all the way through them or not. So, I didn’t want to step on your toes. Of course, uh for for the for the record, uh I I’ve gone back and forth on that trade. Who won it? Who lost it? I I in the moment I was like Cleveland just got a steal, but now I’m kind of respecting the Jaguars move at a transcendent player. It’s that the trade is a whole separate part of it. I just I I get the fact that you’re into the Travis Hunter thing. He is as impressive as they come. All right, let’s go to number four. Who makes number four on the list, Adam? Uh, one of my favorite teams as far as drafting goes because I don’t know where they pick, but they always end up with a stud and it’s the Baltimore Ravens ending up with Malachi Starks. And I I joke about this, you know, and I was sitting there on the mockdraft live show being like, it doesn’t matter because somebody who has no business falling down to what was it, 30th pick will be there for them. And it always happens and it happened a couple years ago. I remember I was at the NFL rookie premiere a couple of seasons ago when Kyle Hamilton was walking around and I’m like how did this guy why is he in a Ravens uniform like how did teams just let him tumble down the draft board and of course Baltimore’s going to be there and pick him up and honestly this is something and what I really liked about the Bears draft this year is because Baltimore follows this as well. Baltimore drafts good players. They don’t draft need. I don’t know if if if safety is a need. It doesn’t matter. It’s the Ravens. um whatever the need is for the Ravens, it doesn’t matter. They draft great players and then they go out there and they contribute almost immediately. So outside of the wide receiver position, which has never seem to really hit for the Ravens going back to God or or even the quarter, I don’t know cuz Joe Flacco’s good. He won a Super Bowl, but like outside of wide receiver, they do a great job of drafting. So Malachi Starks falling all the way down there to the Baltimore Ravens was such a great stroke for them. And again, it’s not surprising that it’s the Baltimore Ravens. There’s a reason why they’re in the playoffs every single year. It’s because they make great draft picks like this. Never ends. Never ends. I wanted him somehow to be on the Bears. We We You start dreaming because you’re like, “Well, you know what? Like, if this if he falls a couple more picks, you’re like, “This could be this could happen.” And you’re like, “Who’s who’s still picking?” Oh, the Ravens. Like, here it comes. Here it comes. Boom. He was drafted by the Ravens. Yep. Moving on to number three. Two. excellent people to start five and four. How can he top it with number three? Well, you know what? Finally, something Chicago related. I will be able to do that. Finally, we have something for some of people in Chicago be like, “Finally, you got to somebody I root for.” Uh, it’s Will Johnson playing for the Chicago. Oh, no. It’s the Arizona Cardinals now. Uh, Will Johnson didn’t run his 40 and it really harmed him because the NFL uh is really ridiculous when it comes to these combine 40 times or anything like that. you saw him play at Michigan. He won a natty. He’s probably he’s okay. Like I I I think he’s going to be fine. And so I sincerely when I first started putting together my mock draft, I had him going to the Raiders at number I think that I I really truly believe that he’s a top 10 talent and I’m like this is a guy that should go to the top 10. And then once he didn’t run, you’re like, okay, he’s falling out of the top 10. For him to get all the way down to the Cardinals, I thought that was a good move for them. The Cardinals not necessarily one of the things that um not one of the ones that you expect to be uh on a list of making great draft picks, but I got to give kudos to the former Southsiders. They did a nice job there. I think we might have had a producing faux paw that might tip off what’s coming here. I’m not exactly sure unless I get confused. No, no, no, no. You get you’re confused. I’m okay. Yeah. No, I I I I am confused. I always am confused. There’s there’s no doubt about that. All right, we got two left. Let’s go to number two. At number two, it’s not going to be number one. It’s going to be number two. Uh Luther Burden III. I I love that pick. Now, I don’t know which I’m pretty sure if it wasn’t this show, I was on with Marquee and I actually said that I truly believe that the Bears are going to take I thought Luther Burden was in play for the Bears in the second round, assuming I thought we were going either Kelvin Banks Jr. of Mason Graham fell or one of the offensive linemen. I still believe that we needed another skilled player at least on the offensive side of the ball and I Luther Burton was a guy that I identified. Now in my mock draft with a twist I had him go to Buffalo because Buffalo is going to ru the day that they didn’t draft him. So I really do hope that he ends up being the player that we all think he’s going to be. And obviously with some character concerns we passed on Jaylen Carter a couple of years ago. Now, Luther Burden, I don’t think it’s as severe. And I truly believe that with Antoine Randle L, this kind of evens the playing field. And whenever you have a coach that is willing to stick his neck out there for you, Luther Burton knows what’s up and he understands why he went in the second round and he’s going to be very committed to making sure that Antoine Randall L is repaid. I’ve seen we see this time and time again in sports and there’s guys that hey, there’s a there’s a red flag, but we have the guy in now. two years ago with Shane Waldron, I don’t know if this would have been a a proper pick, but I think now with Antoine Randle and Ben Johnson and the staff that we’re putting together, I really truly believe that he’s going to come out here and he’s going to be great and it’s going to be great for the Bears and I’m I’m excited for it and could not be happier that Luther Burton the third fell to us and I love it. And I I I also want to give a little shout out to Kyle Manungai as another one of this that and know I love a lot of the Bears draft picks. You can go back. I’ve talked about it at great length. But let’s talk about number one. Uh who is probably going to a player who’s probably going to end up being one of my favorite non-bears in the NFL. I thought that this I actually thought this guy was going to the Ravens because it’s a similar type situation, but it’s another team that makes great picks all the time. And it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers taking Derek Harmon uh with the number one pick or not the number one pick with their first round pick. They passed on Shidor Sanders obviously went with Derek Harmon again. Another player that wisfully like if he can fall to the Bears I would love even if he even if we have Mason Graham let’s take both of them. When I watched him play at Oregon I truly thought like that is a guy who is going to be a an AFC North type player. Like he’s that good. He’s gritty. He’s strong. and then everything that he was going through. Um, thank God, you know, the small miracles of his mom hanging on long enough for him uh for him to become a Pittsburgh Steeler. Like that that kind of stuff just plays. And in a couple of years, this guy is going to be competing for defensive player of the year awards. I really truly believe if the Bears had moved off of number 10 and went down a couple of spots and taken Derrick Harman, I would have been all on board with that. So, outside of Mason Graham, that was my number two lineman in the draft. And I thought the Steelers got a great one. And I think again, we’re going to look back in a couple of years and be like, how do the Steelers end up with him, but this is what makes those good franchises perennially good? I would say the two most like when you talk about teams, of course, they drafted. Malachi Starks definitely is probably number two. Number one is probably Jack Sawyer with the Steelers as well. Like that’s another that’s the most Steelers pick to ever stealer in the history of Steelers. Like Jack Sawyer sounds like a Steeler that played in the 70s. So it’s it’s um apppropo I would say for those guys. Bryce, can you show show the list one more time as we wrap this up because I I just want to underline everything here. There it is. So five Travis Hunter, four Malachi Starks, three Will Johnson to the Cardinals, Luther Burton to the Bears is two and Derek Harmon to the Steelers. Hey, I’ll just give you a hypothetical ring. Let’s just say the Bears could have traded the Pittsburgh all of a sudden got hot and bothered. They wanted that quarterback that was rumored and we could have dropped back to 21. Could have gotten Harmon and and and and added a pick or maybe even two, whatever, three, whatever it would have been. Probably a couple. Yeah. Yeah. Uh and not gotten Lovelin. Would you, knowing that the Bears draft ended up with Lovelin, would you do that deal? You know, I don’t know if um I I wouldn’t even rule out Lovelin falling that far. I’m trying to remember where the Chargers were picking. I think the Chargers were after the Steelers. Chargers might have moved up. You might have actually been able to uh fleece finesse the Chargers out of that, too, and gotten even multiple picks. Derek Harmon with picks would have been very exciting for me. I I think that that would that would have been a tough one to overlook. And I love Coloulston Love and I thought that was a good pick. I’m not backing off Coloulson Lovelin. If you go on NFL.com, the day the week of the draft, we did our instant debate thing. I said, “Don’t rule out Coulson Loveland to the Bears at number 10.” That was assuming that the Jags were taking Tyler Ward at number five. But at the same time, I as much as I love Coloulston Love, I think Derek Carman in picks, I wouldn’t have hated that at all. I would have been very I would have been on board with that. Yeah. Um Gary Rapaport. Well, you know what? Yeah, he’s right. He’s right. Ran Ian did record that. Yeah, he probably would have been gone. You’re absolutely right. Well, and not only just well, and not only trading up, but trading up to the Bears at at 10 potentially, but um Bears obviously sticking and picking. So, uh and then I did see Tim Richel’s who’s a diehard Lions fan. He said in the chat that uh Luther Burton’s the next Jerry Rice. So, I’m glad that he feels that way. That’s exciting. And when Jim’s saying it, he’s saying Denver Broncos Jerry Rice. He’s saying Jerry Rice at war number 19. So, uh, yeah, I I had a final thing for you guys. I didn’t know if you wanted to transition, Mark, or if you had anything else. Well, I I wanted to get, uh, Adam’s just overall grade for the Bears picks. If you were to put a slap of grade on Ryan Poles, I I maybe it’s an A. Maybe, but maybe not. I don’t know. Where are you at? I know it’s going to be I’m going to say A because I always say A. Um, when we came on when when when we talked about the draft, the postdraft, I I honestly I love the first four picks. I The first four picks were really good. I I love Coloulston Lovelin. Um, and I love obviously Luther Burton. Vinnie’s great and Shamar, we’re going to be okay and I like it. And then obviously with no third round pick, it was Hippoly who at first you’re like, honestly, I don’t know. I I don’t know enough about Ruben Hippoly to really make a a a a value pick on this. Although I do again I’m like why is he playing at Maryland? Like he seemed like he was a highly soughtafter guy. Then he’s playing at Maryland. I think he might have been I forgive me I missed part of the interview. I think he is from Maryland. So maybe he was sticking at home which is great. I know that he was talking about his relationship with his mother. So maybe it is a situation originally from Florida. He played at one of the best high schools in the country down in Florida. He went to he went to Maryland, Adam, uh because he wanted to be big fish, small ponte school where not everybody was going and lifting him up, which I give him actually a ton of credit for. You know, every I love that. But he didn’t. But it wasn’t like he did it. You know what I’m saying? Like it’s like ah you could have gone to, I don’t know, Georgia or something, whatever. Uh but you know what’s funny is you know that was one the biggest question mark for me and then everything I saw his his postdraft thing and then listening him to listening to him in the interviews and you know this as well as anybody that I once I get to know a person that I’m like I’m in like I still love Bailis like B I still like I will still I’ll still send messages to Bis and wish him well and hope he’s doing okay and and rooting for him and whatever he’s doing just outside of football and outside of life. And then when you listen to Ruben, you’re like, “Okay, now I’m I’m sucked in again.” Like I love this guy. I am now I’m I’m uh not objective when it comes to Ruben Hippolite. I’m just going to tell you right now, I’m not going to be objective about it because I I really like him and I really want him to succeed. And the other two guys that came um was it Sutton from the I love the the guard from Michigan State. Like that’s a good ball player. Luke Luke uh Luke Newman, right? Yeah. Newman. Newman. Sorry. Newman. Stutton something. Yeah. Stutton. Jesus. Um and the quarterback out of UTA SA is like, “Okay, I don’t know you. I’m sorry. I don’t know. I don’t know enough about you, baby.” But the the the guy who I listen, I’m not even gonna be shy about this is uh Unongai. Unai, excuse me. Uh Kungai I’m absolutely on board with I even I joked about this on Sunday after I was uh out coaching my my my kids sides. Great great Sunday by the way. My boy my boys scored a go. So they had my boys and my girls games at the same time. I’m like you couldn’t stagger these start times. We were doing a favor by showing up to the Hebrew Academy to play. I’m like can we start? I thought you were going to start this one at 10:30 and this at 9:30. Nope. Both at 9:30. You’re like, “All right, well, uh, my boy’s assistant was running that.” And he runs over. He’s like, “Ah, your son scored a couple goals.” I’m like, “Of course he did.” Because that’s the way he is. When I got home, though, I’m like, “I’m going to start watching some Ruters football.” And uh, all of us, because I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t watch a lot of Ruters football during the during the NFL season. I did not watch a single down of Ruters football, not even accidentally. Uh, but Kungai, I’m all aboard. This is uh and last year I was all a boy. Bucky Irving was one of my guys. Oh, you know what? It was Kamani Vadal. There’s one. There’s a swing and a miss. You want to come back and be like rank, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Fair enough. I fell in love with a guy from Troy K and it was a Harbaugh guy. Like it makes sense. Similarly, uh I’m hoping that Kyle’s going to be more Bucky Irving than Kamani. But I still love what I’m watching. And the thing that I love about him the most is the no block, no rock. Like that that’s that dude’s life. That dude loves blocking. Loves it. Loves it. He’s gonna come in here to make an immediate impact. Even fantasy wise, I’ll tell you, he’ll be my last pick of the draft. I’ll have a kicker and I’ll have a defense and then my last pick will be Kyle Manungai and people will laugh and they’ll be like ranks a homer and then he breaks off an 80 yard run in the opener against the uh commanders and then all of you will become back. Oh, no. You know, actually, they’ll they’ll open against the Eagles. Well, I’ll say this much. Uh, you know, that obviously everyone’s always going to call you the homer meatball. You know, you always pick the Bears to win 16 games and uh you give Right. You give him 12. Okay. And give him an A grade. But Mark, you you know how tough of a grader Professor Briggs is. And last night on CHO Bears Afterdark with Briggs and Isuma, Lance Briggs, who’s like the toughest critic of the Bears, he gave the Bears an A in their draft. It was pretty wild. He gave him an A for defense and a B+ for special or for for offense and then I think an A minus for special teams. So, he rounded it out into an A somehow someway. Lance Briggs, that was pretty crazy. He’s a tough grader. He’s a uh he is tough and it you know and it honestly there’s a lot to like and I and again um the cornerback looks pretty decent going back and watching a little bit more. I haven’t I haven’t spent a lot of time and you’re like all right that looks like a ball hawk. He’s 24 years old, which a lot of times you’re looking at like, okay, this isn’t but he’s also a fourthrounder. And if he’s somebody who can come in and contribute for his first contract that we get some use out of and then moves on at some point, that’s fair. Uh, but I think he could come in and we’ve we’ve done a really nice job of finding some some defensive backs who’ve been pretty good. Smith was great for us. Uh, I think Tyreek Stevenson’s going to turn it around. They’ve done a really nice job evaluating the quarterback positions, which is also why I was I was curious to see if we were going to end up with Will Johnson ourselves, but I think that we’re pretty stacked there. Hippoly is one of these guy and I’m not not like the the draft falls on him or anything like that but when you think about this and you start thinking about like Madden creative player and you think of the attributes that you would like players to have you’re like Hippoly has something to where like okay like this could connect and it’s it wouldn’t be a rare story in the NFL with a guy who’s like well he’s playing at Maryland and no disrespect to Maryland but like the Terrapens don’t necessarily have that’s not like a program that’s turning out a ton of talent. What’s the coaching staff like? What’s the coaching situation? As much as you talk about, and I made a reference to this about like he didn’t necessarily elevate the program and it’s like how much did the program actually help him and if he gets into a sit and he he gets into a spot where he gets an opportunity to grow and he doesn’t need to do it immediately. Um, we could do it. And you know, think about like Jack Sanborn came in as an undrafted free agent and immediately hit. Why not? Ruben Hippoly should still be on the team, but that’s fine. We’ll we’ll we’ll go from Sanborn to Hippoly. Could that could be a title of another podcast. Sanborn to Hippoly. Uh rank. I’m going to rank this performance top-notch, baby. This is a top notch top-notch Friday performance. You too. I love it. I love it. I love that we have the draft and that all people are sitting here talking about in the chat is LeBron. Why is like I know it’s an older thing. It is a it is an older thing and it’s like one of those like you’ll never get kids convinced about like um you know hey this player um LeBron is like they’re they’re convinced LeBron is better than Jordan and there’s nothing you can do about that. And I remember being a kid and all the olds that would live around here would always try to be like hey Jerry West was better than Magic Johnson and I just wouldn’t listen to him. I’m like there I’m never I’m never coming around to your way of thinking like Magic Johnson is the greatest player in N at that time in NBA history and once Magic retired or was forced to retire then Jordan became the best but still during the time that Magic and Jordan played together Magic was way better. Everybody everybody in Chicago would have to agree with that. Um but you would have Yeah, you would have to agree with that. I would definitely not agree with that. I would I would I would I would vehemently disagree with that. Vehement. In the 80s, Magic was better. Magic won five titles. Jordan didn’t win anything. You You can’t just put it on on winning. You guys do it all the time. Why Why is Jordan better than LeBron? Cuz LeBron loses in the playoffs. That’s your argument. And it’s fine. And it’s a good one. It’s a good one. And I’m with you. I agree with you. Okay. No, but that’s I think that’s a simplistic argument. The reason why Jordan’s better than LeBron is because if you need a bucket, you’re going to give the ball to Michael. If you need if you’re talking about locking someone down, MJ’s going to do that, too. If you’re talking about just the pure insanity of competition, you’re talking about that, too. I would have said Jordan was the greatest player rank to ever play the game if he had blown out his knee in 1990 and never won anything. He was he in in 8687 when Magic won the MVP. Jordan averaged 37 a night, 200 steals, 100 blocks. He was the best player in the game by a mile. On an on an empty calorie, of course. Yeah. Like listen, I could go to Wreck League and I see people do that some W. Remember the time that Michael Jordan started at center as a rookie in game six of the Oh, wait. He never did that. There Magic Johnson was a was a matchup nightmare. If Magic Johnson wanted to go out and score 50 points a night, he would have. But he was more committed to making the Lakers an all-around better team. Listen, when he needed to do it, he did. He was a rookie and he goes out and starts at center, scores 42 points. When Magic Johnson needed to turn it on, he turned it on. If if Magic was here right now, he would tell you because he’s magnanimous. Okay, he is that guy. I mean, Bird and the Celtics Bird and the Celtics swept the Bulls. Bird called him the greatest player ever. Magic had the bug in 92 when he shut him down in Barcelona. Magic was done. Magic was done playing. Listen, Bobby Knight called him the greatest player to ever play the game before he stepped foot in the NBA. And by the way, that summer they had the Olympic Allstars going around uh playing against NBA teams. They went 8 and 0. He You know who? Yeah. You know why? Because of Leon Wood. Leon Wood is underrated on that team. And if you sit here and if you ask me who Leon, if you don’t know where Leon Wood went to college, Leon Wood is where did he go to college? Well, he turned into a ref. He played for the New Jersey Nets. Where do you go to college? I don’t have that answer. But I know Go ahead. Don’t come at me. Don’t come at me. We will fight this one out on a on a different Magic would say all this stuff. Magic is a businessman. Magic. Magic owns the most successful major league franchise right now going. He’s The Commanders are good. Magic buys the Commanders and they go to the playoffs in his first year. Magic’s amazing. How How are the teams that Jordan owns? Oh, come on. We know. We We both We We both know. We all know that Washington got lucky last year. You you you know, you really illuminated that as best you could last year. And we know this. They got lucky. Arctic Arctic has a $5 super soup chat kind of surrounding this saying, uh, Karm, get Loveland on the show and lay into him about LeBron versus Mike. Arctic, it’s all I want to do in life is get close to Loveland on here and talk real nice to him for about 12 minutes and then just we’ll have it out. One and done in the playoffs with the best player. You know what’s funny, too? It’s like when you talk about LeBron, like is LeBron he’s not even on the Mount Rushmore of Lakers. Like, nope. Like he’s got to go go ship him back to Cleveland or Miami. Yep. Like he’s not like that’s the thing. Like I don’t who’s your Laker Mount Rushmore? I’m not arguing with you. Magic. Kareem Wilton. Are you putting Wilton there? Are you putting West? West has got to be Gary West has to be on there. West Magic Kobe’s on there. That’s a tough I mean that’s a It’s just tough. It’s Kareem. Magic West and uh Kareem Magic West and Kobe. It’s Jordan. He’s not on that list by the way. The top five. He abs LeBron is absolutely not. cuz he wouldn’t go he wouldn’t go ahead of Will Chamberlain. Are you saying top five or Mount Rushmore? He can do top five top either for the Lakers. No, just for the Lakers. I see he doesn’t make the Mount Rushmore for the Lakers. He doesn’t make the top five for the Lakers because I Mount Rushmore for the Lakers. Oh, Shaq. Yeah, I’ve heard Shaq ahead of him, too. Right. Exactly. The Mount Rushmore for the Lakers is just as hard, if not harder than coming up with your Mount Rushmore for the NBA itself. So yeah, uh we did have a second super chat from Chubs. Unfortunately, he was asking about um you know, uh it was a recorded interview, Chub, so I apologize. $5 super chat here. Uh but we’ll make sure. I’m curious about that’s a great I know Chub’s uh he’s a great he’s a great fan. I know he comes on to our chats, too. Yeah, Chub’s a good dude. That’s a that’s a great question. Like I’m really curious. I thought about that. But when you think of the speed, some of the stuff that Dennis Allen likes to do, I’m really curious. And again, we got to we can’t underestimate what Dennis Allen is going to mean to this defense and what it could mean for somebody like Ruben Hippolite. So, I’m very excited about this. We have one last order of business and I know we got to get out of here, but I just thought we’d have some fun with this for two seconds and that is where’s the beef? Matt Lafleur, we’re talking about LeBron, but Matt Laflur, here’s some here’s some of the quotes from his interview with Busting with the Boys, getting asked about Ben Johnson. He says, “I don’t know Ben Johnson. I respect him as a football coach.” Then he, you know, he went on to say, “He did a nice job. I thought the press conference was interesting, but I don’t have beef with him. I don’t get it. I don’t get all into that stuff.” So rank, what are your thoughts on what it sounds like Matt Laflur is kind of punking out of the rivalry. Um, he’s hurt. He’s hurt. He doesn’t want to engage. He doesn’t want to be a part of it. He’s trying to be above the fray. I think he’s scared. I think he’s just trying to It’s just one of those things like he’s just trying to take the high road or whatever. I don’t know what it is. He doesn’t want to play ball. That’s fine. Um, I I I guess I respect Matt Laflur. He’s done a nice job with that organization. Green Bay’s done a nice job over the years. Am I am I concerned about Green Bay? No. Do I ever go into a playoffs like uh like that’s the one thing that I always when people like hey Matt Laflur coach I’m like what do you mean a Matt Laflur coach do like what do you like of all the guys who have come from that coaching tree Matt Lafleur is probably last to me. Shawn McVey is number one. Kyle Shanahan would be number two and then I guess Lafleur is in there maybe with KC. Like I don’t know who’s better of those two and and like honestly like Kyle Shanahan’s gotten to two Super Bowls. He’s he’s won the NFC crown twice. Shawn McVey has won a Super Bowl and been to two Super Bowls. Those guys are light years ahead of Matt Laflur. And so if he wants to sit there and punk out of the rivalry, fine. Ben Johnson’s not afraid of it and we’re here to support him. Yeah. But Ben gets up there at the Bears, you know, talking to the Bears media. It’s like I used to I I Hey, I loved beating him twice a year. He’s just throwing out red meat to the Macy’s. You know what? I hon the only push back I have with that Karm is that I think that a lot of people know like Matt Naggie did this and I’m I’m assuming Eberl do the tooth. They will come out and do like well I like deep dish pizza, Gino Zist is my favorite. Girardano Lumal, whatever. Um I I would never put ketchup on a hot dog. Uh, I don’t I like both baseball teams. They’re still trying to appease it with Ben Johnson has come out there and been like Cubs bleep the White Socks and f Well, I’m sorry. Can I not say f you can say, but uh, forget forget Matt Laflur called him out personally, which showed me like he’s taking it seriously. It’s not something Matt Matt Naggie who I I I like Matt Naggie. Matt I like Matt and I are cool. He was very nice to me at the Super Bowl. very polite, went along with my song of dance, but you’re like, “Hey, what what piece of advice?” He’s like, “Beat the Packers.” Like, “Okay, fine.” Ben Johnson made it very personal and it showed it that it’s personal to him and that he’s not going to rest. He doesn’t want to beat the Packers. He wants to beat Matt Laflur and now he’s in here with the rest of us. He’s not just saying things to say things. He’s a part of it. It’s kind of like when I was cutting that promo with Seth Rollins and I made reference to his Ro days and called him Tyler Black. That let him know like, oh, Regg knows what he’s talking about. Similarly, Ben Johnson let the fan base know that this is a personal thing to him and he’s not going to allow any mediocrity against the Packers. Well, he’s he’s definitely not letting sleeping dogs lie. I mean, Matt Lafleur wants to go play the Bears and Ben Johnson tomorrow, if not today. So, uh that’s fine. Let’s have a good Let’s get a good hateful rivalry to the next level. Um, cheesy Gordita Crunch. $5.65. That’s Braggs’ order, I assume. How much a cheesy Gordita Crunch cost? It’s too expensive. Let’s get these prices down. Carmen, in five years, when you’re 95 on your deathbed, you will admit that Leuki is the king. Love the show. Cheesy. I will not. And you will never You It’s wrong though. It’s literally wrong. It’s exactly it it is not accurate and you cheesy were not there in 84 or 85 or whatever because you would not have that and let me can I say this as a Lakers man like I get scared I’m like don’t pass the ball to LeBron like don’t like when you’re watching your team play and you’re like Austin Reeves or Luca better take this shot not LeBron LeBron I’m shocked he actually hit a three when we were down six um corner could not have been more surprised. I’m like, “Oh, he actually hit that one.” It’s kind of like when your your child listens to you like, “Oh, I wasn’t expecting that. I don’t know how to respond now.” Yeah. Completely laughable. Yep. All right. It was just fun to get some hoops in here today. Gregory, we got anything else on the way out? Nope. That’s it. That’s it. Wrap up the week. Quick shout out to uh couple LeBron James is like Carl Malone with a better publicist uh to my guys Sid Foreman, David Rosen. Big fans of the show. Love you guys. Appreciate you. Uh Joe and Jenna over at and Josh out at Chief’s Pub in Lake Forest. Had a great time out there last night. So shout out uh to to the hospitality. Jenna, he’s a huge fan of Seth Marks and hopefully he’s gonna become a huge fan of the CHO Bear Show as well. Um, Seth of course does the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, one of my good buddies who’s also a fan of this show. Um, so there’s a couple shout outs on our way out here. Yep. I got one quick shout out too to Alex H, uh, somebody that I’ve kind of had some conversations with back and forth over the last couple years on Instagram. Uh, and he’s a huge fan of the show and you know, unfortunately he’s now battling stage three cancer. He just started chemo, but he’s got he’s in good spirits, high spirits, and he’s ready to fight this thing. So, wanted to make sure to give him Alex a shout out, and uh we’re rooting for you, and we look forward to seeing you at a tailgate here soon. You got this, Alex. You’re the man. Yep. So are you, Adam Rank. Appreciate you, brother. Thank you. Thanks for having me. That was a fun good battle today. Good fun. Uh Gregory, great job again. I think I’ve complimented you 17 times today. It’s getting I’m getting a little uncomfortable, but you get one more on the way out here. Hey, we’re back on Monday. Have a great weekend, everybody. We’ll try to get more draft picks on next week. That’s the fingers crossed. And hey, we got rookie mini camp next next weekend. So, full coverage uh coming from that as well. So, the the hits just keep coming. Bears never stops. Well, what do you say, Braggs? Always keep your head up and always bear down. We all silly like the mayor.

The Chicago Bears drafted LB, Ruben Hyppolite, out of Maryland in the 4th round of the NFL Draft and he joins the show today to talk about his journey. Adam Rank of NFL Network is back once again to rank his TOP 5 picks in the NFL Draft! And is there a coaching rivalry brewing in the NFC North? All that and more on the CHGO Bears Podcast!

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