Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show
Bears are talking to NFL about getting compensation for Ian Cunningham
24 Feb 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the Bears' appeal for draft pick compensation about?
This is Rahimi Harrison-Grody on 104.3 The Score. Happy combine. Is that a thing? I think so. Okay. You know, you say it out loud. It doesn't always sound how you want it to. And what's that, Ray Diaz?
We have this fresh Ryan Poles audio ready to go. Just wanted to let you know in your ear there. No expiration date.
You know what? This is what we like to do on Rahimi Harris and Brody. We are going to be getting news all day here on The Combine, real time on 104.3 The Score. We also expect to hear from Ben Johnson in just a little bit. Thanks to our producer Sean Sears and Tyler Buterbaugh for also helping us out with this. In addition to Ray Diaz.
So, without further ado, we're going to pause when we want to react to something, but we will play. Ryan pulls his comments to the media here from the Combine this morning.
Questions.
Yeah, that's a great question. I think... I kind of put that whole thing into two buckets. One, really proud that Ian has the opportunity to be a general manager. Something we've talked about for a long time before we were even employed by the Bears. It was our vision to climb through the ranks, get a seat, the GM seat, and then help the other one get to their position as well.
So really happy for him. How we do that and why we do that has nothing to do with compensation whatsoever. I want to make that very clear. On the other side, there's a set of rules that were put in place that I think can be applied to this situation. So we've communicated through the right channels. So we'll see what happens as we move forward. I'm not sure. We'll just wait for a response.
No one personally called me from the league.
He and Mr. Sears said that he thinks you should, and you think you should. So the Bears think you should, the Falcons think you should.
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Chapter 2: What did Ryan Poles say about Ian Cunningham's promotion?
And I take a lot of pride in that. So to be compensated for that's a little strange. I mean, I saw the Chiefs get a pick because of me, and then I watched that player go and play. It's just a little odd. But at the end of the day, if they think that's what's best to help incentivize, then that's what they wanted to do.
But at the end of the day, like I said, that's not the purpose of why we develop our staff. But if that's the rule they have in place, then I think it's very clear in the situation on what should happen.
Bravo to Ryan Poles for advocating for himself, for advocating for the Bears, and then also speaking to his personal experience. So that is Ryan Poles from the Combine. Our press conference coverage is brought to you by your local Hyundai dealers here on Rahimi Harrison Grody on 104.3 The Score.
And right out of the gate, that's the first part of the discussion, because as we know, this is the first time that Ryan Poles has spoken since Since the news of Ian Cunningham going to the Atlanta Falcons, he's listed as the general manager for people who may not know that.
But Matt Ryan, who is a former college teammate of Ryan Poole's, the former Falcons quarterback, is considered the president of football operations. So because of that, there's a lot of understanding in the NFL that the Bears will not get compensatory picks forever. for promoting, like Ryan Poles mentioned, his career arc coming from Kansas City, getting a promotion and running a front office.
And the rule is being selectively applied. So what do you two think? And Mark, I'll start with you because you're not at the Combine this time around. You're with us. Bears reporter Mark Rohde, when you hear that from Ryan Poles, what do you think?
I love that they're ā I didn't necessarily think that this would be the route for Ryan Poles. It's been so quiet on this front, but the fact that they're having conversations in regards to an appeal regarding the compensatory picks is heartening. I don't think at the end of the day they're going to come out with anything about
um out of this but i do think that this is the time now to clean that up make it more clear make it more concise and then going forward i don't expect them to get compensatory picks though still this seemed like a layup for ryan poles uh he knew he's going to be asked about it he's known for weeks he was going to be asked about this specifically since the hiring of ian cunningham and the news that they weren't going to get the picks i thought it was interesting that he wasn't given necessarily
himself an explanation but he says not necessarily a formal appeal but that they've had conversations which made it sound like the conversation is still going which is a good thing i think you're probably right mark they're probably not going to get the pics but exhaust every avenue to try to find out hey this process seems like it didn't work in the way it was intended by the way you guys set it out me i can speak to this personally because i
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Chapter 3: How does Ryan Poles view the compensation rules in the NFL?
Legal tampering is done. But let's face it, we know that everybody talks about players in the NFL.
Lots of room to do that.
I'm not here to legislate it. I do want to let our listeners know we are going to listen to this, pause it. You'll hear the whole thing with us, but we do want to react when we hear stuff. Just because it's the easiest way, that's how we do it. So you will hear Ryan polls in the entirety throughout this hour here on 104.3 The Score with Rahimi Harrison-Grote. We want to get back to it.
One more thing I wanted to say from that first little part there. When Ian Cunningham first came into the building with the Chicago Bears, it felt like from day one he was being ushered out because they wanted him to get an opportunity. So it was always hilarious to me that that was, okay, let's see every ā Two or three months.
Ian Cunningham has heard from this team or that, or we're trying to give him the opportunity. And so get to know Jeff King because he'll probably be gone soon as well. The new assistant GM for the Bears, if the Bears are to continue to succeed.
Yeah, Jeff King is the director. He was a director. He's now the assistant GM. He was the director of player personnel. And from what everybody says, and this seems to be the overall sentiment, a well-deserved promotion for him, for sure. We continue our Combine press conference with Ryan Poles, brought to you by your local Hyundai dealers here on 104.3 The Score.
we'll see what they think Yeah, I think there's a vision for it. Um, I think in the next few weeks, um, we'll see if we can get some clarity on that just in terms of retaining our own. I want to see how that plays out. Um, as I said, at the end of the season, we have more constraints now than we ever have before for the back of the draft.
Uh, from a cap standpoint, we've got to clear some room there. Um, So we have to be strategic, and also, like I've always said, it takes two to make that happen. So we want to be really smart with the guardrails that we put up, and if it falls under that, then great.
If not, then we have to pivot to the next deal.
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