James Daniels - Chicago Bears

1) James Daniels #68 is an offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.

2) Daniels was a second round draft pick (39th overall) for the Chicago Bears in the 2018 NFL draft. Daniels played college football at Iowa University for 3 years where he played in 37 games for the Hawkeyes.

3) James is another NFL player that was a multi-sport athlete in high school. He participated in track as well as football.

Photo credit / Robin Alam Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

J: We know you were one of the youngest players in the NFL this season. Who was the oldest player you went up against?

James Daniels: We played Tom Brady this season and I think he's 42 or 43 (Note: Tom Brady is currently 41 years old) The Buffalo Bills had this defensive tackle named Kyle Williams. This was his 14th season in the NFL. 

J's Follow Up: Tom Brady in the GOAT. He has won six super bowls and been to nine. Brady has the experience and that's why he's so good. I saw Kyle Williams in the Pro Bowl this year but I don't know too much about him. 

D: What is your favorite fruit or veggie?

James Daniels: I love getting the different types of green apples because those are super sour. I love the green apples. There's a whole bunch of different types. And my favorite vegetable, I like spinach. I like to make smoothies. I like to put spinach in the blender and blend it up. So when you drink the smoothie, it's doesn't even taste like spinach.

D's Follow Up: I don't like the green apples as much as the red/yellow kind called honeycrisp. I love apples too like James. I don't really like spinach by itself but I don't mind it in smoothies like James because I can't taste it.

On Saturday, February 2nd, we made another trip out to Mike's Sports N' More in Lombard to meet Chicago Bears offensive lineman, James Daniels. James started 10 games for the Bears during his first season and was named to ESPN and Pro Football Focus' All-Rookie teams. He's only 21 years old and will be a key player for the Bears moving into the future. James was great with the boys and excited to share his love of apples and smoothies and his experience going up against two of the oldest players in the NFL. We look forward to meeting up with James again in the near future and we hope he has a great offseason break. #BearDown

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Taylor Gabriel - Chicago Bears

1) Taylor Gabriel #18 is a wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.

2) Gabriel was an undrafted free agent in 2014 and signed with the Cleveland Browns (2014, 2015). Taylor played college football at Abilene Christian University where he finished second in school history with 215 catches for 3,027 yards and 27 TDs.

3) Taylor also spent two seasons (2016, 2017) with the Atlanta Falcons where he recorded 68 receptions for 957 yards with 8 total TDs. This offseason, Taylor signed a 4-year contract with the Chicago Bears. 

D: What's your favorite NFL memory of this season?

Taylor Gabriel: Beating Green Bay to clinch a playoff berth!

D's Follow Up: They used to be my old favorite team. The Bears finally turned it around against the Packers. I'm sure Taylor felt really good and they finally got revenge.

Photo credit / Joe Robbins Getty Images

J: Is it true that you are faster than Tarik Cohen?

Taylor Gabriel: Way faster. It's true. It's facts. Turbo.

J's Follow Up: I think Turbo is faster because because he practices sprinting and running longer routes where Tarik Cohen mostly doesn't practice long runs all the time. So I think the practice helps Turbo be faster.

D: Was it weird to get picked up by Kiko Alonso? 

Taylor Gabriel: It was. It was. That was like two years ago.

D's Follow Up: I watched C'Mon Man on ESPN and saw Kiko Alonso pick up Taylor. All the guys then said C'Mon Man. I really love when they do those.

On Tuesday, January 1st, the VincentsGo3on3 boys drove out to Mike's Sports N' More in Lombard to meet Chicago Bears wide receiver #18 Taylor Gabriel. Taylor is coming off of another huge game as he has a big time catch which helped the Bears finish off the Vikings and their playoff hopes on Sunday. Turbo has been a great addition to the Bears this year and we look forward to having him on our team for the next 3 years. 

Taylor was extremely gracious with his time on New Year's Day as he took a few minutes with each guest in line and carefully signed his name on every Bears item that came his way. The boys and I talk about Turbo a lot in our house and we are curious how close a race between him and Tyreek Hill would be. Tuesday was a special day and we can't wait to see Taylor as he leads the Bears into their first playoff appearance in 8 years. #BearDown

Pat O'Donnell - Chicago Bears

1) Pat O'Donnell #16 is a punter for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.

2) O'Donnell was drafted by the Bears in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Pat played college football for the Cincinatti Bearcats from 2009-2012 and transferred to the University of Miami as a graduate to finish up his final collegiate season with the Hurricanes in 2013.

3) O'Donnell is playing in his fourth season with the Chicago Bears and is having his best statistical season to date averaging 47 yards per punt and a net average of 39.7 yards. 

Photo credit / Jonathan Daniel Getty Images

J: What's the farthest punt you have ever had?

Pat O'Donnell: In a game? 76 yards.

J's Follow Up: That's the biggest punt I'd ever heard of until we looked up the NFL record and it's 98 yards.

D: Have you ever tackled anyone on a punt return?

Pat O'Donnell: In my second season I tackled Richard Sherman.

D's Follow Up: My brother Jordan met Richard Sherman at a Pro Bowl practice. He's a big guy and was probably really hard to tackle. I would get burnt if I was in the NFL trying to tackle Richard Sherman. 

We recently met up with Pat O'Donnell at our first ever Chicago Huddle playoff taping. Pat has been a staple of the show and we've had the opportunity to ask him many questions throughout the years. Jordan and Danny even got tips on how to punt the ball with proper technique back in 2016.

Pat was great on the show once again and so was first time huddle host Jason Goff. Jason stepped right in for Patrick Mannelly and acted like he has been the host for years. I have been a big fan of Jason's on-air career and the boys definitely recognized his voice. Overall, Pat and Jason gave us an inside look at this week's matchup against the Eagles and we can't wait until Sunday to see our Bears hit Soldier Field for the biggest game in 8 years! #BearDown

Bears Blitz - Roy-Robertson Harris, Eddie Jackson, Akiem Hicks, Prince Amukamara, Cody Whitehair, Sam Acho, Roquan Smith, Bilal Nichols

Roy Robertson-Harris - Defensive End

D: What's your favorite NFL memory so far?

Roy Robertson-Harris: Beating the Packers!

D's Follow Up: That was my old favorite football team. I was happy the Bears beat them because the Bears usually lose to them. 

 #39 Eddie Jackson - Safety

D: What are your favorite fruits and veggies?

Eddie Jackson: Pineapples and carrots.

D's Follow Up: I used to like pineapples, then I stopped liking them, now I like them again. I always pick carrots when they are a choice for lunch for me at school.

J: What’s the best part of being in the NFL?

Eddie Jackson: The games. I love playing against the the top players in the league.

J's Follow Up: I think that's a challenge for him to go up against the top players and it makes Eddie get better.

#96 Akiem Hicks - Interior Lineman

D: What's your favorite NFL memory so far?

Akiem Hicks: Sacking Aaron Rodgers.

D's Follow Up: Aaron Rodgers is good and it's good to get a sack on him.

#20 Prince Amukamara - Cornerback

D: Who’s the toughest wideout you’ve ever gone up against?

Prince Amukamara: Davante Adams 

D's Follow Up: Davante Adams is a hard receiver to go against. He's as good as Antonio Brown.

J: What’s the pregame meal of choice?

Prince Amukamara: Salmon or chicken.

J's Follow Up: I like chicken but I don't like fish. My dad says fish is good for me but I see why he eats it.

#65 Cody Whitehair - Center

J: Who was your favorite football player growing up?

Cody Whitehair: That's a good question. I watched a lot of the Cowboys. I'm from Kansas.

J's Follow Up: I'm sure he liked the Cowboys because they were good. They have 5 Super Bowls.

D: What's your favorite healthy food?

Cody Whitehair: My favorite healthy food? I like salmon. What do you like?

D's Follow Up: I've never tried salmon but my dad has made me fish before. I don't think I will like salmon but I don't know. 

#93 Sam Acho - Outside Linebacker

J: What's your favorite football memory?

Sam Acho: In seventh grade, I scored a touchdown on defense. I intercepted a pass and ran it back 52 yards for the touchdown.

J's Follow Up: Nice job Sam! It was probably fun to score when he was playing defense.

#58 Roquan Smith - Linebacker

D: Who was your favorite NFL player growing up?

Roquan Smith: Patrick Willis.

D's Follow Up: Patrick Willis was awesome. I have two action figures of him. 

#98 Bilal Nichols - Defensive End

J: Who were the best players that came out of Delaware, where you went to college?

Bilal Nichols: Joe Flacco. Coach Nagy. Nick Boyle is a good tight end who has been in the league a while too.

J's Follow Up: Joe Flacco was the best so far but hopefully Bilal becomes the best one ever from Delaware. 

It's been an incredible 2018 for our playoff bound Chicago Bears and we've been on so many fun adventures to see our football heroes in person. The #vincentsgo3on3 boys have been asking their questions to learn more about each player along the way and are we are excited to share this Bears Blitz with Bears fans. 

On Monday nights, you could find us at WhirlyBall in Vernon Hills for live tapings of the Chicago Huddle. It's a family tradition going on 6 years plus and this season we met Roy Robertson- Harris, Akiem Hicks, Cody Whitehair, Sam Acho, and Bilal Nichols, who were each guest hosts of the show. I flew solo to the Deerfield Jewel to meet shutdown corner Prince Amukamara on December 17th and we met Roquan Smith at Bergie's Sportscard Dugout in Highland Park on December 11th. 

This season has been an exciting ride for us as fans and we look forward to watching the Bears in the playoffs for the first time since 2010...or J and D's first time being old enough to understand. We are thankful for all of the memories this season has brought us and we hope that the Monsters roll all the way into February for a showdown in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. #BearDown

Javier Baez - Chicago Cubs

1) #9 Javier Baez is an infielder for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.

2) Nicknamed "El Mago" (The Magician in Spanish), Javier Baez was selected ninth overall in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs and made his major league debut on August 5th, 2014.

3) In 2018, Javy had his breakout season and earned the starting nod in the All-Star game at second base and finished the season as the National League leader in RBIs with 111 and seventh in home runs with 34. 

Danny: What is your favorite baseball memory?

Javier Baez: Oooh. The home runs. The home runs in the playoffs.

Dad: Javi has had some big playoff home runs including NLDS Game 1 Win vs. the Giants , 2 HR in NLCS vs. the Dodgers , and this solo home run in Game 7 of the World Series . Which one was your favorite?

D's Follow Up: My favorite home run was the World Series home run against the Indians. This one is my favorite because the Cubs won the World Series.



Danny: What is your favorite fruit or vegetable?

Javier Baez: Strawberries.

D's Follow Up: Strawberries are one of my favorites and they taste so good. They are my third favorite fruit behind honeydew and mangoes.

Photo credit / Getty Images

On Wednesday, October 10th, Danny and I drove out to Bergie's Sports Card Dugout in Highland Park to meet Chicago Cubs superstar infielder #9 Javier Baez. Bergie's Dugout was sold out with Cubs fans excited to meet the Cubs young superstar and potential 2018 National League MVP. The event was jam packed and we were lucky to have a ticket to meet Javi.

The line was long but we eventually made our way in to meet Javi. Danny quickly started right in with his questions after they shook hands because the line was moving fast. Fortunately, Javi greeted Danny and was thoughtful to take his time to think about his favorite baseball memory and answer Danny's most often asked fruit and veggie question. 

Javi was as smooth in person as he is on the baseball field and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to meet another one of our Cubs favorites. We hope Javi can help bring another World Series to the North side in the near future and can build on his incredible 2018 season.