Ben Johnson, Ryan Poles frustrated by latest Kyler Gordon injury | Take The North
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Bears fans, this is Take the North. What's the reason, Doc? It's here. With your hosts. All these guys. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grody.
We're going to take the North and never give it back. Hello again, everybody, and welcome in to the Take the North podcast, along with Dan Weider of The Athletic. I am Mark Grody of 104.3 The Score. If you are watching on video, we're back. We are back at Halas Hall. That is where today's episode of TTN is taking place. Day one, man. It does have, Weterer, that first day of school feel. Everybody's fresh. Everybody's equipment is shiny. It's just that it is the new year for the NFL and for the Chicago Bears.
I'm busy over here still taking notes on everything that we learned today and the things that we're going to discuss on this podcast. It's a little different, though, and I'm sure you probably feel this way to some extent. This is the first time since I've been on the beat, and this is season 14, that we haven't heard from players on the report date of training camp, which is a little bit different. I'm not going to say it's better, worse, or otherwise. It's just different.
What did Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles announce at Bears training camp openers?
And so it's up to the head coach and the general manager to set the tone and raise the curtain on the camp. And football's here. We'll get out here very early on Wednesday morning for the first practice. As you saw earlier this week, we got the schedule. We're going to be setting the alarm for earlier hours than we have been in a few months. And we'll be out here with interviews starting well before 8 o'clock, and then the practice is starting around 8.30. So I'm sure you're ready, right, to – Get your caffeine and get this thing rolling?
Yeah, because as I was discussing on the score, I don't have evening discipline. I like to go to bed after 10 o'clock. So, yeah, tomorrow might be or Wednesday might require a nap at some point in time in my day. But I guess the good news is for everybody, being that it's so early, the day ends early. It should. Naps can be in order. There's lots of work to be done. I'm sure I'll have many on-air assignments to perform, but at least we can kind of do them in a leisurely pace once the day finally ends. But you are correct. This first day out at Hallis Hall, again, which is where Dan Weterer and I are in Lake Forest, that is the Bears headquarters. This is where we are often and will be throughout the season.
But it was Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson who were doing the talking today and all the dignitaries today. It was Stan
room you had multiple McCaskey's in the room you Pat McCaskey and Brian McCaskey I did not spot George McCaskey was George in there or no I did not see him and there was a joke that maybe he was still umpiring with the bananas and maybe got back on their team bus with the savannah bananas and went to to go do another bananas firefighters game elsewhere in in the country but did not see him in there today with uh as you mentioned his brothers uh Pat and Brian in there as well
That's hilarious for people who did not quite get the reference. Dan just made the Savannah Bananas, the hilarious traveling baseball team, the Globetrotters of baseball. George McCaskey, who literally is a high school baseball umpire in the area, was invited by the Savannah Bananas to be an outfield umpire at Wrigley Field this past weekend. And he played the part. They miked him up. They did a hilarious interview with him. But that's... That is the George McCaskey lifestyle. Kevin Warren was in the house. Where's Kevin Warren? Well, Kevin Warren is at Hallis Hall. So he took in the festivities. He did not speak to the media, but it was a jam-packed house. Ben Johnson talking about, and I can't wait for Ben Johnson 2.0, if you will, talking about to forge an ID.
He talked about the unique continuity of the coaching staff, and he expects another layer of sophistication as well so dan i know that you and i love i know you especially dan leader loves juice and that is what ben johnson gives you how forward are you looking to this version of training camp because we know what it was last year when he was trying to drown caleb williams
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–1:11
2
What did Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles announce at Bears training camp openers?
1:11–36:20
3
Why is Kyler Gordon starting camp on the PUP list and what did Ryan Poles say?
36:20–37:44
4
How frustrated are coaches and management about Kyler Gordon’s injury history and availability?
37:44–38:38
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from Rahimi & Grote Show
Full Show — September 17, 2026
Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman light up Braves in Cubs' 8-4 win (Hour 1)
All eyes will be on the Ben Johnson-Brian Flores chess match Sunday (Hour 2)
5 On It & Adam Thielen previews Bears-Vikings (Hour 3)
Danny Parkins gushes over Ben Johnson (Hour 4)
Transition with Spiegel & Holmes