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Ryan Poles on Trading Justin Fields: 'One of the Hardest Things I've Ever Had to Do'
Bears GM Ryan Poles at the NFL owners meetings tells reporters trading Justin Fields was difficult and he went over to coach Matt Eberflus' house to call Fields and tell him of the deal with Pittsburgh.
If Ryan Poles had to trade Justin Fields, at least he has a replacement who checks all the boxes.
Poles talked to reporters at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando early Monday and told them trading Fields was "...probably one of the hardest things I've had to do."
The Sun-Times reported the Bears GM said he went to Matt Eberflus' home so they could call Fields and let him know about the trade together.
The conversation might not have been the toughest for Poles.
"Having that conversation with my own son was hard," Poles said. "His (Fields') jersey is up in his room."
Fields' presumed replacement, Caleb Williams, will be at Halas Hall during the week after Easter. Before he comes, Poles will go to LSU Wednesday where quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. will be the top attractions. He won't personally go to Drake Maye's pro day Thursday at North Carolina, although he insisted the Bears will have a strong presence there.
The trips to see any other QB can best be described as doing due diligence or going to see one of the QB's teammates because they appear to be set on Williams.
Off-season attempts by detractors to tear down Williams' personality, ability to lead or ability to play have bounced off the Bears GM.
"When you talk to his teammates, they don't like him, they love him," Williams said at the owners meetings. "His leadership, how he brings people together. He's intentional with his leadership."
As for Williams' ability, Poles said he has done a deep study of every game Williams played.
"I'm having a hard time finding a person that doesn't like him or even love him and thinks that he can't reach the highest limits," Poles told reporters.
It would appear the Bears had Williams in mind when they made a trade for wide receiver Keenan Allen, who made himself available for 150 targets with the Chargers last season.
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"I don't think there’s a better receiver in the league that can be better for a young quarterback in terms of understanding the NFL, timing, space, reading defenses," Poles said about Allen.
Allen got an early start on his new job by going to the Williams workout at USC.
Poles hopes Allen's stay in Chicago goes beyond this season. The 13th-year veteran is in the final year of a contract.
"I try to be intentional with the order that we do extensions, so we'll review that and kind of see what our order looks like," Poles told reporters. "But for what he stands for, I would love to have him long term."
The owners meetings run through Wednesday.
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