Say what you want about Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and the fact that the team gave him an extension, but he did bring this city Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. And, at this very moment, things are pointed in the right direction behind those two.
One former Bears player, and someone fans love and remember well, spent some time with FanSided to talk these current Bears. Matt Forte, appearing on behalf of Chase for Business, sat down and graciously offered a few minutes to talk Johnson, Williams, former teammates and, yes, Poles.
When asked directly about Poles' recent extension, which many fans have found reasons to hate on, Forte offered a different approach.
"Good for him. The Bears chose to extend him. I don't think he's done a terrible job. I think he's done a decent job and he has room to grow as well, as a GM," he said.
Ryan Poles needs to heed advice from wise people around him in the coming years
Forte also went on to note that, while he's done a decent job, Poles does need to lean on the smart people around him.
"As long as Ryan has good counsel around him, a good team around him, then they're going to be good going forward."
Forte on what's going to help Poles, specifically, when it comes to the people around him:
"Having some humility in the room, where you're able to listen to other perspectives of people ... I'm looking to see improvement when it comes to, okay, who are we drafting and why, and are we filling positions of need, and are they going to contribute immediately?"
That's the big one, right there. There's the key takeaway. Fans want to see Poles do a much better job when it comes to scouting talent. Having Johnson in the building seems to have helped a little, in the early goings, but Poles does need to figure out how to find players who can. make immediate impacts.
Fans are tired of seeing players who have "potential" but never pan out. They're tired of watching Poles make draft whiffs like that of Velus Jones Jr. and Zacch Pickens.
Read more: Bears legend bluntly pointed out what separates Caleb Williams from greatness
For Poles to become a true success, he needs to lean on the counsel around him. He has to lean on and hire more people who can recognize real talent; and talent that will be able to create ripple effects right away. Forte wants to see it. The fans want to see it. Now, it's on Poles to make it happen.