Justin Fields didn’t look happy when the Chicago Bears drafted him 11th overall last weekend. Rest assured that had nothing to do with the team itself. He was happy to be drafted. That was more the look of somebody who felt he should’ve been gone already. That he had no business falling out of the top 5, let alone the top 10. To a competitor like Fields, that was an insult to his talent and the work he puts in.
Before the draft, the Ohio State standout stated that he felt he was the best quarterback in the draft. That included Trevor Lawrence who went #1 overall. This shouldn’t be a surprise. Any quarterback worth his salt is going to say that. Yet the way he said showed plenty of conviction. He truly believed his words.
Do you want to know what moxie sounds like?@OhioStateFB and future #NFL QB @justnfields shows us. pic.twitter.com/UTgLDd7sDV
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) March 30, 2021
The smile to that Mac Jones comment says it all.
It wasn’t out of disrespect to Jones. It was more him biting his tongue from agreeing with what they said. Fields’ success is built on self-confidence. The steadfast belief that whenever his team needs something to happen, he’s the guy who is going to make the play. He wants that pressure. He thrives on that pressure. After that first pro day, Fields sat down for an interview with former Bears quarterback Mark Sanchez on 4th & Forever. Sanchez asked him about that comment and what drives such a mentality.
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For him, he listed two prominent sports icons that taught him the necessity of carrying yourself like you’re the best.
Michael Jordan is certainly somebody who knows a thing or two about greatness. His athleticism and talent were always immense. Yet what truly separated him from everybody else was his mindset. Every time he stepped on the court, he believed nobody could touch him. As long as he never lost that belief, the rest would take care of itself.
Justin Fields wishes to find that same confidence
He certainly has the talent. The quarterback is 6’3 with a gun for an arm and legitimate 4.41 speed. There is nothing on the field he can’t do from a physical perspective. It comes down to whether he can find the same razor-sharp mental fortitude that transformed Jordan into the G.O.A.T. It is always what is between the ears that separate the great from everybody else. It’s why Tom Brady is still playing at 43-years old.
It would appear Justin Fields doesn’t lack in that area either. Sanchez revealed on the Pat McAfee Show that the Ohio State star scored the highest score ever on a mental aptitude test held by a renowned sports psychologist out of 6500 professional athletes. That is rather amazing given some of the sharp minds that have come and gone over the years. This kid has everything required to be great.
Now it falls to the Bears to help him.
Thus far their efforts are pointed in the right direction. Their two draft picks directly following Fields were offensive linemen. They also added a running back and a wide receiver in the 6th round. This was a clear message that the team is aiming to build their future around him. That means protection and weapons. Something this franchise wasn’t always great about in years past.