The Charter: A Chicago Bears Podcast

Latest Episodes:

What will NFL training camps look like in 2020 Jun 25, 2020

Show notes

2020 has offered new challenges in trying to start the NFL season. Bears writers for NBCS Chicago JJ Stankevitz and Cam Ellis along with NBCS Chicago Bears content producer Eric Strobel discuss how NFL training camps will look like under new health and safety guidelines, and will changes impact players negatively when they eventually get on the field.

(2:40) - What will the NFL do to try and start the season?

(9:05) - How will players get the necessary contact they need to play football?

(17:48) - Will a team become so competitive that they hide a positive COVID-19 test?

(21:00) - Playing an NFL game with no fans and sound piped in

(25:05) - How will Nagy conduct an actual QB competition with less prep time?

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NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis on the fight for equality Jun 22, 2020

Show notes

Laurence Holmes is joined by Super Bowl Champion and Hall of Famer Terrell Davis, as they discuss the state of America and the fight for social justice. Terrell explains what it was like for him growing up, his admiration and respect for US soldiers, how we all can contribute to making things better and discusses his new revolutionary CBD energy drink DEFY.

(4:50) - Terrell on the Last Dance documentary and compares his leadership style to Jordan's

(7:58) - Is Drew Brees being sincere with his apology?

(13:35) - Terrell explains life as a black man growing up

(25:55) - Terrell's connection with military vets

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Can new coaches fix Mitch Trubisky and the run game Jun 18, 2020

Show notes

The new coaches for the Bears, John DeFilippo, Clancy Barone, and Bill Lazor spoke to the media and discussed how will they address the issues of the Bears to make them a contender. JJ Stankevitz, Laurence Holmes, and Cam Ellis react to the coaches speaking and discuss will they have the formula to improve Mitch Trubisky.

(6:15) - Will John DeFilippo be able to change Mitch Trubisky?

(13:40) - Will the coaching staff listen to Mitch on what he wants

(23:01) - How will Tight Ends coach Clancy Barone help the run game

(32:05) - Kyle Long seems like he wants to play football

(35:10) - Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor on coaching during a pandemic

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Mitch Trubisky speaks... but how much did he really say? Jun 15, 2020

Show notes

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis, and Laurence Holmes react to Bears QB Mitch Trubisky's first media availability since the end of last season, meaning he reacted to the Nick Foles acquisition for the first time. You'll hear from Mitch himself on a couple key topics, and the guys have a big-picture discussion on his comments and how he presents himself to the media.

(1:15) - Initial reactions to Mitch's comments about being "pissed off" heading into 2020

(10:15) - Can a connection be drawn between his normally-reserved podium demeanor and his on-field play?

(18:15) - JJ recounts a 1-on-1 interview he had with Mitch that revealed a different side of his personality

(25:10) - the challenge Matt Nagy has during training camp and preseason in the COVID-19 era, and how different this season might look

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Bears wrap their virtual offseason & Rodney Harrison checks in Jun 11, 2020

Show notes

JJ Stankevitz and Cam Ellis discuss the Bears ending their virtual offseason program a week and a half early as well as some reported preseason changes and Jordan Lucas’ comments on planning to kneel for the anthem in the fall. Then, JJ catches up with NBC Sports’ Rodney Harrison to talk about Eddie Jackson, Mitch Trubisky, and much more.

(1:02) - Why the Bears decided to cut their virtual offseason short

(9:45) - How preseason changes will affect Bears’ personnel evaluations

(16:35) - Discussion of Jordan Lucas saying he’ll kneel “110%” this fall

(24:00) - Interview with Rodney Harrison of NBC Sports

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Shuffling Back to Super Bowl XX Jun 08, 2020

Show notes

After NBC re-aired Super Bowl XX between the Bears and Patriots from January 1986 this past Sunday, a panel of JJ Stankevitz, Laurence Holmes, Cam Ellis, and Adam Hoge got together to discuss the game from a variety of standpoints. Whether it was watching the game for the first time all the way through or just watching it again with a new perspective on things, there was plenty to discuss about the greatest moment in Bears franchise history.

(3:00) -Thoughts on the NBC broadcast and how things have changed in the presentation of the game

(17:00) - Dissecting the Bears' expert game plan on both offense and defense

(30:50) - Who had the best nickname on the ‘85 Bears?

(33:30) - Discussion about Walter Payton not scoring a touchdown, how it happened in the flow of the game, and how it would be covered today

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Drew Brees, Akiem Hicks, and Allen Robinson speak on Colin Kaepernick Jun 04, 2020

Show notes

In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, the Under Center podcast of Laurence Holmes, JJ Stankevitz, and Cam Ellis, have a deep and meaningful discussion on social justice and racial inequality in America, with added comments from Drew Brees, and current Bears Akiem Hicks and Allen Robinson.

(29:57) - Akiem Hicks on being fearful of losing his career if he took a knee

(36:57) - Drew Brees on Colin Kaepernick's silent protest

(51:45) - Allen Robinson on making sure this passion for equality continues

(1:02:30) - Akiem Hicks on having to make other people feel comfortable around him

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Tom Waddle on who wins the Bears QB competition Jun 01, 2020

Show notes

Host Laurence Holmes is joined by former Bears wide receiver and host of the Waddle & Silvy show on ESPN AM 1000, Tom Waddle as they do a deep dive on the issues with Mitch Trubisky, who wins the starting QB job for the Bears, and Tom makes a career comparison to Steve Kerr in the Last Dance.

(5:30) - How can Trubisky be a better quarterback?

(10:00) - How can the QB competition be fair for the Bears

(14:00) - Nick Foles has an advantage over Mitch Trubisky

(16:10) - Will Robert Quinn have an instant impact as a Bear

(21:00) - Tom Waddle compares his role with the Bears with Steve Kerr's role with the Bulls

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Did Kevin White get a fair chance in Chicago? May 28, 2020

Show notes

In a roundtable discussion, host Laurence Holmes is with the NBCS Chicago Bears coverage team of JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis, and Adam Hoge as they react and discuss the interview Kevin White did with the Under Center podcast. Was Kevin honest about his tenure with the Bears? Did the Bears give him an honest chance to play? They discuss these questions and more on the Under Center podcast.

(2:50) - Most important thing of the Kevin White Interview

(10:52) - How did the Bears use Kevin White?

(18:30) - Did Kevin White do his job the best he could have as a Bear?

(26:36) - Kevin White says the Bears played the guys they paid over him

(32:00) - Kevin White should re-invent himself to stay in the NFL

(39:15) - What does Kevin White do if he doesn't play football anymore

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Kevin White opens up about his career with the Bears May 26, 2020

Show notes

In 2015, in his very first draft as the new Bears GM, Ryan selected wide receiver Kevin White 7th overall, but White was soon let go after his rookie deal leaving fans confused and wondering why White's Chicago Bears tenure was so short lived. NBCS Bears insider JJ Stankevitz got a chance to talk with White about his career with the Bears, where it went wrong, and how he's still fighting to get rid of the label "bust" by his name.

(4:41) - What did it mean for White to be selected 7th overall

(11:21) - Is it difficult having the word "bust" attached to his (White) name

(17:40) - Things the average fans doesn't know about constantly rehabbing injuries

(26:07) - White describes what went wrong in 2018 for him

(34:07) - White feels he could have gotten a better shot to play

(42:10) - White wants to prove to Chicago fans that he was worth the pick

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