Justin Fields Prefers Indoor Games

Bears quarterback would like a new stadium to be a dome because he's no fan of the cold.

Justin Fields likes saying he worries only about controlling the controllables.

This doesn't stop him from having an opinion on a few topics, including the new Bears stadium project in Arlington Heights. He's not so much in favor of a move to the Arlington International Racecourse property in the northwest suburbs.

"You know, I kind of like the city vibe to be honest with you, but Chicago, there's a lot of buildings around there so I'm not sure there's going to be room unless they use the space for where Soldier Field is right now to build that new stadium," Fields told Sports Illustrated on Radio Row at the Super Bowl.

There is no stadium project plan in the city being considered by the Bears. 

They have said the only plan they are currently working at is the Arlington Heights property even as Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot has tried to float some other types of plans within the city.  A closing on the Arlington Heights property is expected by the team sometime before the start of April.

I'd love a dome over it because it gets way too cold up in Chicago in the wintertime, especially with that wind coming off the lake."

The Bears have a lease for Soldier Field until 2033 so it's not a pressing issue and who even knows if Fields would be in this city playing when they do get a new stadium built?

"But I do like the city vibe but it's kind of all about money to be honest with you, so we'll see how that goes and well see how that goes down," Fields said. "But one thing I do want for the stadium to be is for it to be indoors.

"I'd love a dome over it because it gets way too cold up in Chicago in the wintertime, especially with that wind coming off the lake. But yeah, it doesn't matter to me, though, but I would say city vibe is just different."

Fields had been asked on Thursday by Rich Eisen if he anticipated the Bears would visit with prospects and he did. However, Sports Illustrated asked Fields at radio row on Friday what his reaction would be if they actually went ahead and selected one.

"I think they would let me know before, but what would be going through my mind is 'Who am I playing for next?' "”Fields said. "With all that going on, I just try to control the controllables and focus on me."

So the bridge too far would be drafting a quarterback, as it should be.

Fields had been asked on Thursday by Rich Eisen if he anticipated the Bears would visit with prospects and he did. However, Sports Illustrated asked Fields at radio row on Friday what his reaction would be if they actually went ahead and selected one.

"I think they would let me know before, but what would be going through my mind is 'Who am I playing for next?' " Fields said. "With all that going on, I just try to control the controllables and focus on me."

So the bridge too far would be drafting another quarterback, as it should.

This would make little sense considering the time devoted so far to Fields and the results the Bears had last year.

Fields' completions percentage went up by 1.5%, his touchdown pass percentage more than doubled to 5.3%, his interception percentage dropped and his passer rating went up by 12 points. He also raised his yards per attempt from 6.9 to 7.1.

Yet there are those who like the idea of trading him, like former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum insisting on ESPN's "Get Up" he would deal Fields and then draft Bryce Young.

And then there was former Tampa Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp claiming he "heard" the Bears were "packaging him up" and trading him.

Fields could be on the verge of a huge step up if the team can add parts around him the way the Eagles did with Jalen Hurts. Then there is the improvement that comes with a second year in the offense.

"I feel like we had a lot of young guys this year, so I'm looking forward to a lot of guys working this offseason, getting better with their craft and really getting ready for next year," Fields said. "We had a lot of young guys this year.

"So I'm looking forward to a lot of guys working this offseason, getting better with their craft and really getting ready for next year. We had a first-year OC, first-year coach this year. They had to learn us at the beginning of the season and just kind of saw that they kind of figured out what we did well as a team, as an offense toward Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, after the Thursday night football game (with Washington) and then we started putting up 30 points a game."

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