Bears News: Justin Fields: "They know the work I put in" |
CHICAGO - It is natural for there to be some questions about your starting quarterback when the team is not performing well. Fields is nearing the end of his third season, and Chicago has yet to win 10 games that he has started.
Despite the lack of team success on the field, players on the team, such as elite receiver DJ Moore, have expressed their feeling that Fields needs to be the quarterback of the future for the Bears. “They know the work I put in. I try to put my best foot forward every day,” Fields said. “I try to lead the team the best way possible. So, just glad I’m making a positive impact, and my teammates feel that way about me.” A lot of the questions about Fields have stemmed from his lack of decision-making ability, particularly when he is in the pocket. He is a quarterback that does better when he is moving around. But head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy have had a tendency throughout the season to try to force Fields to stay in the pocket. With how talented of a runner Fields is, leading quarterbacks in rushing yards last season with 1,143 yards and leading the NFL in yards per attempt, this play calling does not make sense, and it has reflected on Fields when maybe it should not be. Still, the Bears are not winning, and the quarterback always takes the blame as the leader of the team. For Fields, even if Chicago cannot make the playoffs this season and even if this is his last game with the Bears, he is playing for his teammates regardless of his future. “Everybody plays for each other. If I come in the building, I know my o-linemen are putting in work. Running backs, putting in work. I’m playing for them,” Fields said. “I don’t play for myself. I’m playing for the man beside me, my brother beside me. It’s more than a game to be honest with you. It’s more. So, when you get to go out on the battlefield and be able to compete with them, be able to play with them. There’s one thing I don’t do - I don’t take the game for granted.” Going into battle against the Arizona Cardinals this coming Sunday (3:25 p.m./FOX), the Bears will need their defense to continue their dominant performance. From Fields and the offense, they will need some consistency. While Fields has developed strong chemistry with Moore, Mooney and Fields have not been able to get on the same page. That is probably more due to Mooney, however, who seems to be lacking effort recently. His lack of effort was highlighted by the dropped hail mary. “We always try to be better in everything we do. There’s going to be, always, room to grow in every situation,” Fields said. “I don’t think you’re ever going to be satisfied with a game whether you throw for 300 yards, or have three TDs. There’s always going to be something you can get better at.”
