On Sunday, the Chicago Bears suffered yet another heartbreaking defeat. They had a large fourth-quarter lead once again. They let it slip through their fingers once more. This time, they led the Cleveland Browns 17-7 before Joe Flacco threw for 212 yards in under 15 minutes to spark a comeback. The defense of Matt Eberflus buckled under the onslaught, while Justin Fields and the offense were unable to mount a response against the Browns’ swarming defense. This resulted in a lot of finger pointing. Fields was blamed by fans for not making enough plays, and the coaches were blamed for once again refusing to be aggressive.
Debates rage on whether this loss was the final nail in the coffin for everyone involved. Obtaining the opinions of players in the locker room provides a unique perspective in these situations. As the questions were asked, it became clear that they do not believe Fields is the source of the problem.
Darnel Mooney:
“JUSTIN IS THE FUTURE QUARTERBACK.” HE’S THE QUARTERBACK OF THE FRANCHISE. HAS HE BEEN BALLING? I’M NOT SURE WHY THERE ARE ANY MORE QUESTIONS. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE THE [PROJECTED NO. 1 PICK] RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF CAROLINA, BUT JUSTIN IS A DOG. IF HE’S NOT HERE, HE’LL BE BALLING SOMEWHERE ELSE. I’M NOT THE ONE MAKING THE DECISIONS, BUT JUSTIN IS DOG. WHEREVER HE IS, IF IT IS NOT HERE, HE WILL STILL GO TO BALL.”
D.J. Moore: ON @MULLYHAUGH, DJ MOORE REIMBURSED HIS BELIEF IN JUSTIN FIELDS, saying, “I’VE SEEN HIM GROW. I CAN SEE WHERE HE WANT TO BE AND WHERE HE’S GOING. SO I’M LIKE, YEAH, I DON’T REALLY SEE HOW THEY COULD SAY HE’S NOT THE CHICAGO BEARS’ QUARTERBACK RIGHT NOW.”
Johnson, Jaylon:
Keep in mind that this isn’t just men supporting Fields. Some words were spoken that indicate dissatisfaction with the coaching staff. Mooney expressed his displeasure with how the Bears became sloppy and conservative in the third quarter, content to sit on their lead. In the fourth quarter, Johnson expressed his displeasure with Eberflus’ play calling, believing that some of his decisions exposed the defense unnecessarily. Recently, men have become more vocal in their criticism. That is almost always an indication of dissatisfaction with the coaching staff.
Justin Fields could end up in the same situation as Jay Cutler.
Everyone recalls how the former Bears quarterback struggled with coaching issues during his time in Chicago. It started with Lovie Smith, then Marc Trestman, and finally John Fox. The organization kept looking for the right person to help the quarterback reach his full potential. It never occurred. If the Bears decide to stick with Fields, they risk repeating the same scenario. There is no guarantee that the next coaching staff will be any better. However, it is impossible to deny how much his teammates adore him. Even Cutler couldn’t brag about that.
GM Ryan Poles faces a difficult decision. He can take one of three paths. For another year, he keeps Justin Fields and the coaches. Fields is retained, and the coaching staff is replaced. Or he trades Fields, fires the coaches, and begins again. Nobody knows what the Bears will face in three weeks. Much will depend on how the team finishes. They still have a chance to win two of their final three games and finish 7-10. Fields needed to put together a string of consistent performances following his underwhelming performance in Cleveland.
Despite his teammates’ support, the ultimate decision rests with the GM who did not draft him.
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