The Charter: A Chicago Bears Podcast

With a week to think about it, how are you feeling about Ryan Poles' first draft? Ken Davis, Alex Shapiro, and returning to the podcast after a little break, Eric Strobel discuss and recap their thoughts about the Bears draft including breaking down what was said at Halas Hall, the comments made by scout Chris Prescott about safety Jaquan Brisker, and the lack of overall talent in the wide receive...

The Under Center Podcast crew of Ken Davis and former Chicago Bears star Alex Brown recaps the final day and rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Bears started the day with just three picks, but new general manager Ryan Poles aggressively traded down and amassed EIGHT picks. He used a lot of them on the offensive line. The Under Center crew reacts to the picks. The guys listen to Bears scouts as they...

It's offical, Bears GM Ryan Poles has made his first 3 draft choices and seemingly went best player available as the strategy. Poles selects cornerback Kyler Gordon at number 39, safety Jaquan Brisker at number 48, and wide receiver Velus Jones at number 71. Ken Davis and former Bear Alex Brown react and discuss the second day of the NFL Draft and break down Ryan Poles' performance. They discuss d...

The Bears didn't have a draft pick in the first round but Ryan Poles said a to by not moving up. Ken Davis is joined by Alex Shapiro and Alex Brown to discuss the first round of the NFL Draft, including the biggest surprises, a look at the NFC North division to see who got better, and who will the Bears take with their first pick at 39? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi...

We know this pod is late, but we had to make sure we heard from the guy himself before we dropped so here it is! Hot off the presses is a fresh Under Center pod with Ken Davis and Alex Shapiro as they discuss Ryan Poles speaking to the media about his thoughts on the draft. Ken and Alex break down what was said ahead of the first-year GM's first NFL draft, what they are expecting to see, and they...

Voluntary workouts have begun and the Matt Eberflus has the team in good spirits. Eberflus, Justin Fields, and Roquan Smith speak on the state of the new era Bears the new regime. Ken Davis and Alex Shapiro break down the sights and sounds from minicamp, including how the O-line looks, what is the plan for Justin Fields, and what will be Matt Eberflus' impact on the defense. See Privacy Policy at...

The draft is only a week away now and the talk about what's going on around Justin Fields is heating up. Ken Davis and Alex Shapiro discuss an article by Connor Orr of Sports Illustrated suggesting that Justin Fields should demand a trade for how the Bears have treated him, and they discuss what head coach Mat Eberflus said to NFL analyst Chris Collinsworth how the plan for Fields. The guys also r...

Even though Ryan Poles and the Bears are having a conservative offseason transaction wise, they are trying to build something solid and consistent for the future but there are things we absolutely need to know by the time the season ends. Ken Davis and Alex Shapiro select their top 5 things that we must know about the Bears at the end of the upcoming season for it to be a success. What is on your...

Ryan Poles addresses another need in signing cornerback Tavon Young to a one-year deal. With another player signed for only one year, what is Ryan Poles thinking and what is his strategy this offseason? Ken Davis and Alex Shapiro break down the signing and if Ryan Poles playing the long game and being patient for the draft or next offseason. The guys also discuss the tragic passing of quarterback...

Fan Controlled Football is a new league that is going to take the game in a direction never seen before. Directly to the fans! Ken Davis is joined by the commissioner of the FCF, former Bear Ray Austin as they discuss what is fans controlled football and how fans can be in charge of their own in-game experience and coverage of the sport they love. They also discuss growing a new football league an...

As Ryan Poles rebuilds the Bears, the WR position hasn't been fully addressed and with the NFL Draft coming up on April 28th, he can certainly find players in such a deep class of pass-catchers but who will be available in the second round and how should they rank on a draft board? Ken Davis and Alex Shapiro discuss which players you should be looking out for as the Bears make their first selectio...

Changes are being made around the NFL at the annual NFL owners meetings. Along with other rules, the biggest change is the new overtime rule. Ken Davis and Alex Shapiro discuss the impact of the overtime rule and if they agree with the change. Also, the Bear's decision-makers speak to the media and discuss the offseason so far and their plans for the rest of the offseason. See Privacy Policy at ht...

So much to discuss and so much to catch up on over the weekend. Ken Davis and Alex Shapiro break down the Matt Eberflus interview in which he discussed what he wants from the run game and the different personnel he would like to see. Eberflus also discusses reaching out to former Bears to get their ideas and expertise to improve the team. Ken and Alex also discuss the loss of Foo Fighters drummer...

The wild NFL off-season continues as another blockbuster trade goes down as Tyreek Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs is traded to the Miami Dolphins. This has to be the craziest NFL off-season of all time. Ken Davis, Eric Strobel, Alex Shapiro, and Tony Gill discuss the trade and if the Bears were looking into a deal for the wide receiver and break down the strategy Bears GM Ryan Poles is implementin...

The Bears introduced officially the first wave of new Bears this offseason and the first set of free agents in the tenure of new GM Ryan Poles. Center Lucas Patrick, defensive tackle Justin Jones, defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad, linebacker Nicholas Morrow and receivers Byron Pringle and Equanimeous St. Brown are ready to make an impact this year. Ken Davis and Alex Shapiro breakdown Ryan Poles'...

After a failed physical, the Chicago Bears will not sign Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi. On an emergency episode of the Under Center Podcast, host Ken Davis and Eric Strobel react to the news and where the Bears go from here so late into free agency. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Free agency continues and Ryan Poles seems to have the strategy of building his team inside first then out with his signings so far. Should fans be worried or be patient? Ken Davis, Eric Strobel, and Alex Shapiro discuss the recent Bear signings and the strategy Poles is using to rebuild the roster. (7:00) - Will the Bears be competitive this season? (15:00) - WR options for the Bears (27:00) - Ho...

I mean, are we surprised? Tom Brady announces that he's returning to the NFL after only a few months in retirement and the NFC has shifted once again this offseason. Ken Davis and Alex Shapiro discuss Brady's return and the impact it will have on the NFC. Later in the pod, the guys discuss the fleeting WR free-agent market as the top talent seems to be slipping away and they discuss the Tarik Cohe...

The Chicago Bears have traded Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers. It's the first big move under new general manager Ryan Poles. The Bears landed two NFL Draft picks in exchange for Mack and the Chargers will take on all of Mack's salary. On an emergency Under Center podcast, host Ken Davis, former player Alex Brown and writer Alex Shapiro react to the Bears trading away their defensive face o...

Big moves are happening in the NFL and some impact the Bears. Ken Davis, Eric Strobel, and Alex Shapiro discuss all the latest news around the NFL including, Aaron Rodgers returning to the Green Bay Packers and the NFC North to be the highest-paid player in NFL history, Russell Wilson being traded to the Denver Broncos, and how gambling is impacting the NFL with Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvi...

Mitch Trubisky enters the news cycle again as he enters free agency with multiple teams reported to be interested. Can Mitch change his career narrative? Ken Davis and Alex Shapiro discuss Trubisky and where they think he might land and where they think his career will end up. Later in the pod, the guys discuss the NFL Combine and if the Bears should think about moving up in the draft to take Just...

In a surprising but not so surprising move, the Dallas Cowboys released wide receiver, Amari Cooper, making him available via free agency. With the uncertainty about Allen Robinson and the Bears' obvious need for playmakers along side Justin Fields, should he be a must-have for the Bears this offseason? Ken Davis and Alex Shapiro discuss Cooper and if he can be the next number 1 target for Justin...

The NFL Combine is in full effect as teams get prepared for this year's NFL Draft including new Bears GM and head coach Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus. They speak to the media about what they are looking for and how they are looking to build. Ken Davis, Adam Hoge, and Alex Shapiro react to the comments made by the GM and coach on how they are attacking the combine, what they like about the current r...

In part two of this series, Ken Davis continues the interview with former Bears quarterback Erik Kramer as they discuss the lowest point of his life, his attempted suicide in a hotel room that should have cost his life. Later in the pod, Kramer also discusses how his ex-wife defrauded him and had him arrested. The Erik Kramer story is certainly an interesting tale, but in the end, he still continu...

The story of Erik Kramer is one of triumph but also of pain. The former Bears quarterback and holder of one of the greatest individual seasons in Bears history joins Ken Davis in a two-part series to discuss his career in the NFL, the death of his parents, the tragic death of his son, his battle with depression, and how he's fighting every day to improve. (2:30) - Kramer discusses his Bears career...