The Charter: A Chicago Bears Podcast

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan are back with their training camp preview of the Bears' defense, looking at if it's fair to expect this group to take a step back without Vic Fangio (2:00) or if it's possible to repeat as the league's No. 1 defense (10:00). Plus, the guys look at which players the Bears need to improve to remain one of the NFL's best defenses (15:15), debate if Leonard Floy...

JJ Stankevitz, Paul Aspan and Cam Ellis kick off their "State of the Bears" training camp preview series with a look at how Ryan Pace's front office has performed (2:00), what improvements the guys want to see from Matt Nagy (12:30) and if there's any hope for the team's kicking woes in Bourbonnais (25:10). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://ar...

Bears insider JJ Stankevitz goes 1-on-1 with Bears all-pro safety Eddie Jackson at a hydration awareness event. The two discuss Jackson's impact on the community in Chicago (:40), why the Bears "plan on taking this whole thing" (1:40), how Chuck Pagano makes the Bears D better (2:00), and how pumped he is for the opener against Green Bay and why they have extra motivation against Aaron Rodgers (2:...

JJ Stankevitz is joined by ESPN Lions reporter Mike Rothstein to dive into how close Detroit is to cleaning house (1:00), expectations for Matthew Stafford (5:50) and T.J. Hockenson (10:00), what new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell’s scheme looks like (13:45), where the Lions are strongest and weakest on defense (16:50) and if this team actually respects Matt Patricia (22:20). Plus, Mike disc...

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan wonder if John Fox had a point about the Bears having the worst offseason in the NFL (1:00), then offer up some prop bets for the Bears in 2019 involving Eloy Jimenez's home runs and Khalil Mack's sacks (5:00), undrafted free agent rookies making the roster (10:00), when/if the Bears will cut a kicker during the season (12:45), running back production (16:30...

JJ Stankevitz, John “Moon” Mullin and Cam Ellis look at Mitch Trubisky’s comments about wanting to play his whole career in Chicago and what the implications of a megacontract for him would be (0:30). Plus, the guys update the kicking competition after Chris Blewitt was released (15:30), how much the offense has grown during the offseason (20:30), if there’s any concern about Trey Burton’s injury...

JJ Stankevitz and Cam Ellis recap what they learned from the Bears' kicking competition during OTAs (2:30), and look at what to expect from it in the coming weeks and months. Plus, they dive into how well Cordarrelle Patterson is fitting in the Bears' offense (12:30) and look at benefits the team is already realizing in moving Bradley Sowell to tight end (17:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art1...

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and John “Moon” Mullin debate what’s important and what’s not during OTAs (2:30), then dive into the Bears top 100 players list that tore the fanbase apart (16:25) and look at which current players could be on the cusp of becoming some of the best in franchise history (26:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.co...

JJ Stankevitz and Cam Ellis dive into a few interesting developments from OTAs at Halas Hall on Wednesday, including Bradley Sowell’s position change (0:30) and Leonard Floyd’s upside (5:30). Plus, hear from Eddie Jackson and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix about how the ‘Bama safety pair came to be re-united in Chicago (12:30). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at ht...

JJ Stankevitz, Paul Aspan and Cam Ellis do a deep dive into the free agent scrap heap and look at players who are still available and could help the Bears (2:30). Plus, JJ chats with Minneapolis Star-Tribune Vikings reporter Andrew Krammer about what’s going on with Kyle Rudolph (18:10), what Gary Kubiak wants to do with Minnesota’s offense (21:30), what the vibe around the Twin Cities is with Kir...

On a special edition of the Under Center Podcast, Bears Pro Bowl QB Mitch Trubisky & Pro Bowl Defensive End Akiem Hicks join the show. Mitch talks to Bears insider JJ Stankevitz about the Jordan Howard trade (2:20), why the Bears offense can be one of the best in the league (3:25) how the playoff loss was like the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones (5:10), and why Anthony Miller can be scary good...

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan dive into the Bears’ kicking competition to wonder if the team is better off now than it was on Jan. 6 (0:40), if the Week 1 kicker is on the roster right now (2:50), if Robbie Gould is on the table and how this thing will play out in the coming months (6:50). Plus, the guys offer up their rookies to watch after last weekend’s minicamp (14:45) and dive into...

JJ Stankevitz is joined by Casey Bednarski, who was one of the eight kickers participating in the Bears' kicking competition during rookie minicamp last weekend, for an inside look at how things went down at Halas Hall. Bednarski gets into what he proved (0:50), if he was disappointed to not be offered a contract (3:25), his kick-off against Redford Jones (4:50), his impression of the Bears' proce...

In an Under Center Podcast special, JJ Stankevitz chats with Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Manning to get inside what kind of person the Bear are getting in David Montgomery (1:20), how Montgomery's game translates to the NFL (6:15) and if comparisons to Kareem Hunt, who Manning also coached in college, are fair (11:15). Plus, JJ and Paul Aspan sit down with former Heisman Trophy winner and...

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan start by wondering which Bears player could do what Arya Stark did on Game of Thrones (0:20), then dive into what expectations should be for David Montgomery (2:00) and how to view the rest of the draft picks (7:00). Plus, JJ chats with Rivals.com Mizzou reporter Gabe DeArmond to get the skinny on undrafted free agent receiver Emanuel Hall, who many expected...

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and John "Moon" Mullin return to the Halas Hall coat closet to break down what the Bears drafting Riley Ridley says about the team's philosophy (2:20) and how David Montgomery fits Matt Nagy's offense (7:35). Plus, what did Ryan Pace accomplish with his three late-round picks (14:30)? And Moon makes a point about the fallacy of "best player available" (17:15). See Privacy...

JJ Stankevitz, Paul Aspan and Cam Ellis dive into Robbie Gould's trade request (0:20) and look at how realistic it is for the Bears to trade for him at some point. Plus, the guys reveal their mock drafts for who they think the Bears will take with their picks this year (12:15), with a few surprises in there. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://a...

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan dive into the Bears' 2019 schedule, first looking at if the NFL likes all the leaks that happened Wednesday afternoon (3:00), then onto the biggest games (4:45) and toughest stretches (7:30) facing Matt Nagy's group. Plus: What game will set the narrative for the Bears' season (12:15), what teams on the schedule will improve the most (16:05) and which teams...

JJ Stankevitz is joined by Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Packers beat reporter Jim Owczarski to discuss the explosive Bleacher Report article on Aaron Rodgers/Mike McCarthy (1:00), how first-year coach Matt LaFleur will handle Rodgers (3:00), what went wrong for Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in Green Bay last year (5:00), how the Packers’ free agent additions will improve the team (9:20), where Green Bay goes wi...

JJ Stankevitz is joined by Yahoo Sports Draft Analyst Eric Edholm to break down how deep a class of running backs there is in 2019 (1:10), what the Bears might see in FAU’s Devin Singletary (5:10), who would be a better fit between Penn State’s Miles Sanders and Iowa State’s David Montgomery (7:30), if there’s an under-the-radar running back who could thrive with the Bears (10:00), what other posi...

JJ Stankevitz, Paul Aspan and Cam Ellis dive into that explosive Bleacher Report article about the Packers (1:00), debate an interesting point Rotoworld's Josh Norris made about the Anthony Miller trade (8:00), congratulate Robbie Gould on his smashing victory in Chicago Football Madness (14:50) and look at a few teams that could be dark horses to contend in the NFC this year (19:00). See Privacy...

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan are joined by former Bears kicker Robbie Gould to discuss his Cinderella run in Chicago Football Madness (1:45), why he should defeat George Halas in the final (4:25), his memories of being a young kicker on a Super Bowl team in 2006 (7:30), how he experienced Cody Parkey's double-doink (11:00), what advice he'd have for Chris Blewitt and Redford Jones (13:5...

JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan dive into the Jordan Howard trade and if it makes sense for the Bears (0:35), get into what Aaron Lynch can bring in his return (9:30), update Robbie Gould's Cinderella run in Chicago Football Madness (14:30) and debate which team is the Bears' biggest threat in the NFC North (19:30). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Not...

On the latest episode of the Under Center Podcast, Paul and Cam dial up JJ from Arizona, where he spent the week covering the annual Owners Meetings. With over an hour’s worth of Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace interviews to sort through, the guys break down all the notable bites, including the kicking competition, Cordarrelle Patterson’s role in the offense, opening the season at Soldier, and more. 1:00...

It's been a almost a week since the Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix signing and it's still looking like a total win for the Bears. JJ Stankevitz, Cam Ellis and Paul Aspan on why the Bears appear to have gotten a bargain (1:00) , how Dix could be the perfect fit for this defense at this time, and the chemistry he'll have with former 'Bama teammate Eddie Jackson. Plus probably too much punter talk after the Bears...