The Gould Standard: Bears Back Themselves into a Quarterback Corner. Again.
An old sports-editor boss once told me, ``You can never write too much about the quarterback.’’ Actually several old bosses told me that. Because it’s true.
So. . . Justin Fields to the Steelers? Who already had made a deal with 35-year-old Russell Wilson to be their starter? For a 2025 conditional sixth-round pick that could become a fourth-round pick? If Wilson evaporates and Fields takes more than half the snaps?
My take: Why not just keep Fields? Find a training guru to spend the off-season working with Fields on his arm mechanics.
If you really want to think creatively, how about a position change? Nah. These guys don’t think like that. Even if they have the physical gifts to play DB or running back or receiver. . . never mind.
At least keep Fields until you can make a deal worth making. At some point—during the draft, training camp or when the inevitable in-season injury occurs—Fields ought to be worth at least a third-round pick.
This business about ``doing right’’ by the player? The young man was signed for nearly $19 million for four years. That seems like ``doing right’’ to me.
So what if the Bears kept Fields and he was lurking over the shoulder of Caleb Williams?
Sports is competition. Fields’ presence makes Williams nervous? Fields pouts at being relegated to backup? Fields outplays Williams, who has to deal with waiting his turn?
This is where talented coaches come in and handle players. At least that’s how it worked in the old days.
And if that didn’t go well. . . then you trade somebody for a sixth-round pick.
The other thing I don’t understand is. . . the reaction of Bears fans.
From what I read and hear, there were pro- and anti-camps when it came to Justin Fields. Who got a little too over-the-top emotionally. . . Defending him. Angry with him.
Sports are emotional, especially football. But this is a guy who’s giving it everything. And when it’s not working out, due to his shortcomings, or the shortcomings of the players and coaches around him—getting angry about it isn’t really. . . appropriate. Disappointed? OK.
But that’s a whole different topic.
So what now?
Fields bides his time in Pittsburgh. He either gets a shot there. Or more likely, he moves on to a third team. Wherever he goes, he succeeds or fails based on how much he matures, how much he improves his throwing deficiencies and how good the players around him are.
The Bears? They throw another can’t-miss quarterback into the fire, and see if he can survive. If not, they throw him under the bus.
Given the Bears’ history. . . good luck with all of this.