While wounded Ian Wheeler and his mother Beaura shared a tearful embrace at the close of the fourth episode of Chicago Bears on HBO’s Hard Knocks, the main focus of emotion in the last episode was GM Ryan Poles.
The major revelation also did this.
When Poles visited with safety Adrian Colbert on cutdown day at Halas Hall, he had to take a moment to process that his goal of playing for the Bears had come to an end.
It was summed up nicely in one line from Poles at the opening of the show.
“Yes, you want to keep everybody but we’re not in that space anymore,” Poles remarked. “It’s time to win.”
It didn’t stop him from crying occasionally, though.
Cutting Colbert was challenging, to put it mildly. Colbert is a safety who was added to the team’s practice squad in November 2022 and has been a member of it for the past two seasons. Previously in the series, his backstory was revealed to be that he survived, at the age of nine, after being struck by a fast-moving car while riding his bike.
HBO Hard Knocks showcased the @ChicagoBears with class and perfection. Ryan Poles is a star GM in the making. Flus is a football dude. This last 37 seconds was phenomenal. Jacked for Titans in Week 1. pic.twitter.com/YM17NdGjRo
— Hitman_CLT (@Hitman_CLT) September 4, 2024
When Colbert and Poles first met on cutdown day, they hugged, but after he got too emotional, Poles had to leave the workplace for a while. Colbert gave an explanation of why he valued his time in Chicago and remained the constant throughout.
“You know you don’t really find many places like that,” Colbert added. “Everyone wants you to be identical to the next person; they all want you to be the same.” I can now be who I really am here. I believe that’s the only thing that’s helped me succeed both on and off the field.
Easily the best Hard Knocks episode. Way to go out, HBO (and the legendary 4-0 preseason Bears)
— Rick Gregg (@rickgregg) September 4, 2024
“I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate it.”
He went on to say, “This organization has become my favorite of all the places I’ve been, helping me rediscover my love for the game.”
Colbert was cut by all of the teams he played for: San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Kansas City, the New York Giants and Jets, New England, Tennessee, and the Bears.
VIDEO – @BattleBornJW ain't sold on the 2024 Bears after HBO's Hard Knocks because of HC Matt Eberflus.
"He was a country club guy," says Justin Watkins during @cofieldandco.@AdamHillLVRJ responds, "That's vicious!"
WATCH – pic.twitter.com/NSu0JthLt6
— COFIELD (@stevecofield) August 29, 2024
HBO provided some context for why Poles is having difficulty cutting players, tracing his own cut as an offensive lineman with the Bears.
The dilemma with their backup quarterback and Velus Jones earning a spot on the roster were both major themes of the last episode.
After Brett Rypien was willing to join the Vikings on the 53-man roster, he ended up in Minnesota. Rypien was eager to stay unless another team was going to add him to the regular roster, and the Bears wanted him for the practice squad after electing to keep two quarterbacks on the roster. The Vikings also did.
At one point, Austin Reed made a joke about perhaps returning to Jacksonville to work at Chili’s. However, it turned out that after meeting with assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, he assumed he was done and was brought back to fill Rypien’s practice squad position.
Agree 100% on the Velus Jones, Jr. evaluation.#HardKnocks
— Barroom Network | Aldo Gandia (@BarroomNetwork) September 4, 2024
HBO followed Rypien after he left Halas Hall and made a significant statement against the Bears, following his agent’s announcement that he had a job with the Vikings.
“They’re going to be great, so I’m excited for them,” Rypien added.
Jones, now known as the Ferret King, seemed to want to make the team, and his shift to running back offered a happy ending. The explanation for why they retained him came from a meeting with the coach to talk about cuts.
In some situations, this person may flip the game for me, according to coach Matt Eberflus.
Coach of running backs Chad Morton praised Jones for quickly acquiring the skill set required to run with strength and speed akin to a running back.
Shane Waldron, the offensive coordinator, concurred during the conversation, saying, “The strides Velus made week to week, outside of just the big runs it was the inside runs.” “That’s a tough skill set to bypass.”
The main takeaway from episode five was that Jones, a third-round pick in 2022, was actually being pursued by another team. It seems like they undervalued Poles in the proposal.
The moment the Bears released QB's Austin Reed and Brett Rypien. #HardKnocks #NFL pic.twitter.com/6hThxbcmbq
— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhifer) September 4, 2024
“In the trade discussion, I would never go below a four,” Poles stated. “The value doesn’t make sense on paper.”
Jones will occasionally be used as a running back, a kick returner, and a gunner, according to special teams coordinator Richard Hightower.
Up until the Vikings signed him, Rypien seemed to be the Bears’ favored third-string player.
In this season’s “Hard Knocks” finale, the Minnesota Vikings seemed to have ruined the Chicago Bears’ hopes of reuniting with quarterback Brett Rypien. The 28-year-old Rypien signed a one-year deal with Chicago in March, but he was released when the organization opted to use Tyson Bagent as starter Caleb Williams’ backup.
Following his release, Rypien joined the NFC North rival Vikings, who also released Jaren Hall. Many in Minnesota thought the team’s decision to sign Rypien in place of Hall was unexpected. It seems from the last episode of “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears” that Matt Eberflus, the head coach, and general manager Rylan Poles wanted Rypien back with the team until Minnesota intervened.
The quarterback coach for Chicago emphasized the six-year veteran’s importance to the squad during a meeting at the start of the episode. “I think Rypien has veteran leadership, he’s been good for the room,” Joseph remarked. “He was excellent during the preseason. He was excellent for Caleb Williams as well.
When Poles and Eberflus came down with Rypien later in the episode to inform him of his future, Poles said he would be on the club if it kept three quarterbacks on its 53-man roster. Additionally, the general manager stated that Rypien should be added to the practice squad. In the end, rookie Austin Reed was added to the Bears’ practice squad, while Rypien joined the Vikings, completing their 53-man roster. After starter Sam Darnold and tight end Nick Mullens, he will be the team’s third-string quarterback.
Joseph and Shane Waldron, the offensive coordinator for the Bears, are both impressed with Reed’s future prospects. For him, the development and fundamentals took only a few years. Regarding Reed, Joseph remarked, “He’s very smart, like he prepares, he knows everything from the mental reps he gets.”
Chicago’s home opener versus the Tennessee Titans kicks off the season. The Vikings, meanwhile, will take on the New York Giants on the road to start the season. Sunday’s games start at 12:00.
