Tarik Cohen - Chicago Bears

1) Tarik Cohen is a rookie running back for the Chicago Bears.

2) Tarik was drafted by the Bears in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft out of North Carolina A&T. He was the tenth running back taken in the 2017 draft.

3) Cohen's nickname is "The Human Joystick" which is also the nickname of Dante Hall, who was another elusive and small runner who played for the Kansas City Chiefs. Tarik also had a highlight video on YouTube that was titled The Human Joystick.

D: What's your favorite healthy food?

TC: Shrimp. I also like broccoli

D's Follow Up: I think shrimp is bad even though I haven't had it. My dad likes shrimp though. I think broccoli is really good and it's good for your body. I love all veggies except lettuce and spinach. Tarik sounds like he's a healthy eater and that's probably why he's so fast.


J: Who's the best player you've ever juked?

TC: Deion Jones (LB) from the Atlanta Falcons is probably the best player I've juked. 

J's Follow Up: I have heard of Deion Jones but I don't know him very well. I just watched his highlight video and he is one of the best players on the Falcons defense. Juking Deion Jones does not look easy because he's so fast.

Sticking with our Tuesday night tradition, Jordan and I headed over to Chili's for another taping of the Chicago Huddle. This week's guest on the show was "The Human Joystick", rookie sensation Tarik Cohen. We felt this was a can't miss show because Tarik has quickly become one of the most dynamic players in the NFL and a household favorite. Danny started up basketball this week and was sad to miss out on the show because he's a big fan of Cohen even though he likes the green and yellow team. 

This week Danny wanted to know which healthy food is Tarik's favorite. Tarik didn't hesitate when he mentioned shrimp and broccoli at the top of his list. In our house, I'm the only one who loves shrimp and eats it regularly. Mom is allergic, Jordan recently decided he's vegetarian and Danny still is not adventurous with his food choices and hasn't even tried shrimp yet. Shrimp is a great source for protein and also contains both Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids which are important for brain health and immune system health. Just four ounces of steamed shrimp also provides 75% of Vitamin B12. I love shrimp and I need to try and get more of it into my diet even though the rest of the family will continue to steer clear of it. 

Broccoli on the other hand is a top vegetable choice for all four of us and makes it's way into our family dinners at least once a week. There are numerous nutrients in broccoli including Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Vitamin B1, dietary fiber, calcium, zinc and more. This is another great healthy food option shared by Tarik and one we can all get behind in this house.

Next up was Jordan's question where he wanted to know the best player that Tarik has juked in the NFL. In his first seven games, Tarik has been a highlight machine with electric runs and receptions and nobody is safe from getting their ankles broken when he has the ball in his hands. Tarik went with 2nd year pro Deion Jones from the Atlanta Falcons, who was a key factor for the team that nearly won the Super Bowl a year ago. While I couldn't find any specific plays that jumped out at me, the week 1 matchup versus Atlanta was Tarik's coming out party and he juked out nearly every player from the defense at one point or another. Tarik seems to provide a few highlight reel worthy plays each week and we can't wait to see what he does this Sunday against New Orleans!

Thanks to Tarik Cohen for answering the boys' questions this week and making his first appearance at the Chicago Huddle!

Roy Robertson-Harris - Chicago Bears

1) Roy Robertson-Harris (#95) is a defensive end for the Chicago Bears.

2) Roy was a standout player at UTEP (University of Texas at El-Paso) but went undrafted in 2016. He later signed with the Bears in May 2016.

3) Named team captain his senior season at UTEP, Robertson-Harris started all 12 games and led the team in quarterback hurries and finished his season ranked third on the team in tackles with 51 and had 2.5 sacks with 4 pass breakups. 

D: What's your favorite fruit or vegetable?

RRH: I'm a big fan of mangoes. I don't know if you've ever had a mango? (Danny: I love mangoes!) What about pineapples? Do you like pineapples? (Danny: I used to.) What about coconuts? (Danny: No) Bananas? (Danny: Sort of) Bananas are good for you. Make sure you eat bananas every day! Make sure you eat strawberries. Make sure to eat your fruits and vegetables every day and you'll be big and strong like me. I'm not a big fan of green beans but I like broccoli. Broccoli is good with pasta and rice. You try that. Sound good?

D's Follow Up: I had some strawberries today. I also had cantaloupe, honeydew, apple, mandarin oranges and green beans. I want my muscles to be as big as Roy's someday. 

J: How does it feel going from a small college (UTEP) to the NFL?


RRH: Oh! I didn't know I was doing interviews today. It feels good. The bigger schools have more opportunities to go to the NFL. I like to be a representation of guys who come from small schools. It gives them hope that they have a chance to make it to the NFL. You don't always have to go to schools like Ohio State or Wisconsin to go to the NFL. It's all about how hard you work. Listen to your parents. Stay in school. You are able to do whatever you want to do if you put your mind to it. Sound good?

J's Follow Up: That definitely makes him a role model for other athletes from small schools. My mom and dad's college was NIU and some of my favorite players from NIU are in the NFL like Tommy Lee Lewis (Saints), Kenny Golladay (Lions), Rashaan Melvin (Colts) and other guys like Michael Turner (Falcons, Chargers), Doug Free (Cowboys) and Larry English (Chargers) were some of the best players for their teams. I think it's cool he's from UTEP because he made it without being in the BIG 10 or the other big schools. 

Last Monday, the boys and I took a short trip over to Northbrook to meet Roy Robertson-Harris for a signing at Goodwill. Roy was in the store early filming a segment for Inside the Bears and we walked in and watched some of the taping. Soon after, the boys and I had our opportunity to meet with Roy along with other fans. Robinson took more time interacting with Jordan and Danny than any player we've ever met. 

Roy could not have been any nicer to J and D and more receptive to their questions. Jordan started first with his question about attending a small school like UTEP and trying to make it in the NFL. Roy gave Jordan a tremendous answer and said he was proud to represent athletes of smaller schools who have their own dreams of making it to the NFL. I'm sure that's the mindset Tarik Cohen (North Carolina A&T) and Adam Shaheen (Ashland University) also have after being drafted out of small schools in the 2017 NFL draft. I've always rooted for players from smaller schools too because Jen and I attended NIU (Northern Illinois University), who play in the Mid-American Conference. Our Huskies like to say they do things the hard way and they all have a chip on their shoulder because they believe they belong in the top conferences with the other athletes. NIU continues to persevere and cement themselves as one of the top mid-major programs in the country year after year. They added another boneyard victory (victory over a Power 5 conference) to their name this season as they went into Nebraska and walked out with a W.

Next up was Danny. Danny wanted to know Roy's favorite fruit or veggie and he was surprised to get such a variety of fruits. Roy loves mangoes like Danny but also listed off many more of his favorites like pineapple, strawberries and coconut. Robertson-Harris was curious to learn about Danny's favorites and was quick to remind him how important it is to eat healthy, especially eating fruits and veggies daily. I think Danny gets his 3-5 servings every day and really loves most fruits and vegetables. Thanks to Roy for encouraging healthy habits for Jordan and Danny. It has a big impact when they hear it from a pro athlete who is at the top of their game.

It was a great experience to interact with Roy Robertson-Harris last week and we look forward to seeing him on the field with the Chicago Bears. He has the size, potential and desire to make a big impact for the defense of the Chicago Bears for many years to come. He has three new fans who will be cheering him on here in the windy city!

Cameron Meredith - Chicago Bears

1) Cameron Meredith is a wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.

2) Cameron signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2015 after playing college football for the Illinois State Redbirds. He was also a standout quarterback for St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois.

3) Catch a Camburger! Visit any local Meatheads restaurant through December 31st and purchase a "Camburger" topped with fried egg, bbq sauce, bacon, pineapple and jalapeños. 20% of the proceeds will benefit SocialWorks Youth Empowerment Charity! I'll take mine minus the pineapple and jalapeños but this definitely sounds amazing! See his story here.

J: What's the best food at Halas Hall? (As seen on Chicago Huddle on NBCSports Chicago.)

CM: Halas Hall is like a cafeteria and it has certain things every day. It's got burgers every day, it's got chicken every day, it's got smoothies every day. But my favorite thing is on Tuesday like today, we had tacos. I love tacos. So Taco Tuesday is my favorite thing at Halas Hall. 

(Video via TV show Chicago Huddle on NBCSports Chicago)

J's Follow Up: I've been with my dad to the cafeteria at Halas Hall once. I don't remember too much about the food but my dad says we had pizza, salad, Gatorade, cookies, and more. I like tacos but I go with just the meat and cheese on soft shell. I wish I could visit again and see how good their tacos are at Halas Hall.

D: We know you played quarterback in high school and college. Who was your favorite QB to watch while you were growing up?

CM: My favorite QB to watch growing up was Michael Vick. Yeah, probably Michael Vick. Who's your favorite QB? (Of course, Danny the Packers boy replied with none other than... Aaron Rodgers.)

D's Follow Up: I watched a video of Michael Vick highlights today and he was so fast. Nobody could catch him. I saw him when he was with the Falcons and I see why Cam liked him. My favorite QB is still Aaron Rodgers. He can throw far and accurate and he's sort of fast too.

(Photo via TV show Chicago Huddle on NBCSports Chicago)

This was our second time meeting Cameron at Chili's in Vernon Hills after a Chicago Huddle taping. The first time was October 12th last year as Cam was starting to ascend up the depth chart on his way to becoming the Bears top receiving threat last season. 

We were excited to see Cam take his game to the next level this season before he suffered a season ending ACL tear in the preseason. His spirits are high and he's working hard on his rehab to get back to the game he loves. We look forward to seeing Cam back in his #1 receiver position for the 2018 season. Thoughts of Trubisky to Meredith have these Bears fans excited about the future!

Jordan and I had the opportunity to visit Halas Hall about 4 years ago and we had dinner in the cafeteria as part of a MasterCard Priceless event. We sampled the pizza, pasta, chicken but they were not making smoothies that night. Smoothies are one of our favorites and we imagine they make healthy and delicious smoothies for the Bears players and staff. Visiting the Halas Hall cafeteria was a special experience and the food was amazing! I can imagine the tacos are great too and we think it's pretty neat that even Halas Hall celebrates Taco Tuesday. Hopefully we'll get an opportunity to eat in the cafeteria again someday. Maybe on a Tuesday?

Cam brought up Michael Vick as his favorite QB to watch while growing up. He was also one of my favorites to watch because Vick had the rare combination of top end speed to run away from any defender and possessed one of the strongest arms the NFL has ever seen. Here's a look at his Top 5 career highlights showcasing these these traits and more. Cam was a QB in high school and played the position for a year when he arrived at Illinois State University, so I imagined he tried to model his game after Vick.

Thanks to Cam for answering Jordan and Danny's questions on Tuesday night at the Chicago Huddle taping. This post was extra special because this is the first time one of our guys asked a question and was featured on TV. We wish Cam a speedy recovery and look forward to watching him on Sundays next season. 

Zach Lavine - Chicago Bulls - 2x NBA Dunk Champ

1) Zach Lavine (#8) is a point guard/shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association.

2) Playing his first three seasons for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Zach's NBA highlights include winning two straight NBA Slam Dunk Contests in 2015 and 2016 and being named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2015 and the NBA Rising Stars Challenge MVP in 2016.

3) Growing up and attending high school in Washington, Lavine's interest in basketball was initially sparked by watching Michael Jordan in the movie Space Jam. 

 

D: What's your favorite part about living in Chicago and who's your favorite NFL team?

ZL: My favorite part about living in Chicago right now is the food. The food is incredible. I live right next to Randolph Street, so I get to get all of the food. My favorite football team? I've been a Raiders fan growing up. Are you a Raider fan? (responding to Jordan's emphatic YES) Ooohhh! That's my man right there!

D's Follow Up: He's not the first guy we've met who loves the food in Chicago. Akiem Hicks said the same when I asked him. My favorite food is the grilled cheese at Fudrucker's. I also think the Raiders are a pretty good team. I think they will get better this year. My brother, Jordan, also likes the Raiders too. The players I like on the Raiders are Marshawn Lynch, Derek Carr, Michael Crabtree and Khalil Mack.

J: How long did you practice to get ready for the NBA dunk contest?

ZL: For the dunk contest I practiced my dunks for about two weeks beforehand. I did a lot of them in high school though so I just got used to doing them.

J's Follow Up: That makes sense because he had to practice for a long time to be able to dunk like he does. My two all time favorite dunks of his are the windmill dunk from the free throw line and through the legs from the free throw line. He is one of my all time favorites. I couldn't believe how tall he is in person!

Zach Lavine recently made a visit to Sports N' More collectibles store located in Yorktown Center shopping mall in Lombard to meet with Bulls fans. This is our third time visiting the mall after previously meeting Jimmy Butler and Mike Ditka. We've entered our sixth month of vincentsgo3on3 and this is the first basketball player we've interviewed. Basketball is our favorite sport to play and it's a surprise it's taken this long to add our first NBA player.

We were excited to meet Zach and see one of the NBA's rising stars in person. We know Zach well from watching him perform in the NBA dunk contest but we also knew him from the up and coming team he was a part of with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The boys and I now look forward to seeing him play for our Chicago Bulls (although, Danny still loves his Warriors).

Zach mentioned the food as his favorite part about living in Chicago and this has become a common answer for many athletes we've met. He lives off of Randolph Street and he has access to more than a few of Chicago's top restaurants. We must admit, we've never been to one of these restaurants but they certainly look amazing. Danny lives more of a simple life and is in search of the city's best grilled cheese sandwich.

The Oakland Raiders are the NFL team Zach has rooted for since childhood. The silver and black are known for their distinctive team culture and their hard hitting style. Although they've struggled since the early 2000s, the Raiders boast three Super Bowl titles and made the playoffs in 2016. They are considered a Super Bowl contending team in 2017. With rising stars Derek Carr and Khalil Mack guiding the Raiders, they look to be in good hands for years to come. We are big fans of the NFL and Jordan is a fan of the Raiders too. Zach was thrilled to know he was in the company of another fan of the Men in Black.

Our family has a tradition of watching NBA All-Star Saturday Night every February and we always wait in anticipation for the slam dunk contest. Zach Lavine is one of the greatest dunkers of all time and holds the rare title of 2-time champion. Here's a look at Zach's Top 10 dunks from his two years in the competition. It's too hard for me to pick a personal favorite but it's clear he spent a ton of time in his high school days perfecting his dunks. Lavine was unable to defend his title in last year's competition due to sustaining an ACL tear in his knee in early February. Zach told the crowd he's working hard every day to get back on the court and we look forward to seeing him flying high above the rim for the Chicago Bulls soon.

Zach took the time to shake our hands and answer the boys' questions and we couldn't have had a better experience. Danny spent time in the morning to draw a picture of Zach and he wanted to hand deliver it. Zach was appreciative and thought Danny did a terrific job. Jordan and I agree. Thank you Zach for an awesome Saturday afternoon! We hope to see you at the United Center someday soon.