To sit him or not to sit him? Okay, it’s not exactly Hamlet but that is indeed the question for the Chicago Bears. Justin Fields is arguably the most talented quarterback this organization has ever drafted. Big, strong, and fast. He’s also apparently quite intelligent and loves football. It shouldn’t be a surprise that fans want to see him on the field as soon as possible. Yet Matt Nagy and the coaching staff remain steadfast in their approach.
Andy Dalton is the veteran. He is going to start this season. Not just because of his experience but because they can trust him to make fewer mistakes. Nagy believes Fields would benefit immensely from having the chance to sit back and learn from the sideline. Similar to Patrick Mahomes. Similar to Aaron Rodgers and Carson Palmer. The evidence is there to back up his claims.
Yet in the minds of some, that shouldn’t matter.
Former defensive lineman Chris Canty knows a thing or two about coaching staffs who have been under pressure in the past. He played for a few of them in Dallas and New York. At the end of the day, winning takes precedence over everything else. Does Dalton give the Bears the chance to win in 2021? He doesn’t think so. The Super Bowl champion explained that if Fields is kept on the bench, Nagy and GM Ryan Pace will likely end up paying for it with their jobs. Canty broke down why on ESPN Get Up.
This is a mindset that isn’t new. Several people share it. Why is Nagy even bothering with Dalton? His best hope for keeping his job beyond 2021 is for Fields to play and play well. Given the overall lack of firepower the Bears offense has, it makes sense to have somebody more dynamic under center. Somebody who can make more things happen from an improvisational standpoint. That is Fields.
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Justin Fields approach may signal a different reality
There have been theories among the Bears media and others. The idea that Nagy and Pace aren’t nearly as in danger of being fired as many believe. George McCaskey professed strong confidence in the two despite the frustrating end to last season. Like it or not, the team has made the playoffs twice since 2018 and never posted a losing record. It’s agreed that the only way they get fired after this season is if it’s a total train wreck.
This would explain a lot. Not just why the two felt confident enough to trade up for Justin Fields, but also to willingly sit him. They want to win of course. However, their primary goal remains the same. What is best in the long-term for the Bears. In their mind, that involves not putting the rookie on the field until they’re sure he is ready.
Is it a risk?
Sure. Things can happen in an NFL season. Still, they’re confident that Dalton is good enough to keep the offense serviceable. Together with a veteran, talented defense, they should be able to stay competitive. Especially if Aaron Rodgers is out of the division as some think could happen. Fields’ time is coming. That is obvious. The Bears just don’t want to rush him.
