Bear Digest

Report: Fields Inquiries Already Started

SI.com NFL insider Albert Breer reports teams sought out the Bears for trade talk regarding Justin Fields back before the Super Bowl.
Report: Fields Inquiries Already Started
Report: Fields Inquiries Already Started

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The Bears began getting a better idea of what Justin Fields might be worth three weeks ago at the Senior Bowl.

According to SI.com NFL insider Albert Breer, they "got inquiries" from other teams at the practices in Mobile, Ala.

So this means the Bears are getting rid of Fields?

Hardly.

Breer's Monday Morning Quarterback column carefully worded the statement to say the Bears were being sought out by other teams. They were not initiating those conversations. In other words, they weren't "shopping" Fields. They listened to gauge information to make a decision later.

While there has been much analysis and questionable reports and rumors saying a decision is already made on whether to keep the first pick for Caleb Williams or keep Fields, there hasn't been a sourced report saying a decision was actually made by the Bears. 

This is because it wouldn't be made so early on, in advance of the combine, before they gathered as much information as possible. Breer reports the team is in the stages of deciding what to do with the quarterback situation now.

ALBERT BREER'S COLUMN WITH JUSTIN FIELDS TRADE DISCUSSION

"The Bears are meeting over the next couple weeks to finalize plans at quarterback, with the expectation that they'll have the plan in place in Indianapolis next week," Breeer wrote.

Last year discussions on the trade with Carolina down from No. 1 to No. 9 was started at Indianapolis and the deal came down before free agency.

Free agency begins March 11 and it's a safe bet they'll try to get something done on Fields before free agency signings on March 13.

Breer sees that as the case, adding, "...and naturally, more teams have a quarterback need now than will be the case a month from now, so it make sense—again, if you’re going to trade Fields—to do it soon."

The trade of Fields seems inevitable to Breer because of Williams' passing talent and the salary cap relief provided by a rookie contract for the next four to five years.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.