Justin Fields Megathread - A story of Lovers and Haters

[dplank]

Like wherever you've been every time it's pointed out that they were both against bottom 5 defenses?

@dplank can you remind me what that Denver defense just did to the Chiefs, twice, and the Bills please?

Unreal how people clutch to straws to maintain their narrative

I just don’t get it. Some people just hate him, have hard set their minds to it, and find a negative spin/angle to everything.

[RichH55]

Like wherever you've been every time it's pointed out that they were both against bottom 5 defenses?

@dplank can you remind me what that Denver defense just did to the Chiefs, twice, and the Bills please?

Unreal how people clutch to straws to maintain their narrative

What Narrative? The book on Fields isn't closed yet - but people acting like he's been good in his career - thus far - is simply false.

Reality is allowed to be acknowledged. That's different than a "narrative"

[G08]

@dplank can you remind me what that Denver defense just did to the Chiefs, twice, and the Bills please?

Unreal how people clutch to straws to maintain their narrative

What Narrative? The book on Fields isn't closed yet - but people acting like he's been good in his career - thus far - is simply false.

Reality is allowed to be acknowledged. That's different than a "narrative"

I don't recall saying the book on Fields was closed... are you reading the posts?

Nobody knows, at this point in time, what the next 7 games will bring let alone what the front office is thinking or has planned.

I'm pretty sure most fans want him to succeed and the team to succeed (I certainly do). Other fans want him to fail, want the team to fail , want to see the organization clean house, etc.

[Shadow]

I would be fine with rolling with Fields and Bagent plus a mid rounder at QB for 2024. Load up on picks and players to fill out this roster. (It is still weak in areas). I would rather see the FO build for the future and sustained success, rather than trying to go all in on a new QB without the trenches filled and some stalwart players on both sides of the ball. Build from the inside out. For once provide a Bears QB with a rock solid roster on both side of the ball. Just my opinion, but I think Justin can still be the guy with the right talent around him, or even Bagent for that matter.

Coaching staff needs a hard look though, yeah I am looking at you Getsy. Maybe bring in Frazier as DC to relieve Flus from the D play calling.

[G08]

I would be fine with rolling with Fields and Bagent plus a mid rounder at QB for 2024. Load up on picks and players to fill out this roster. (It is still weak in areas). I would rather see the FO build for the future and sustained success, rather than trying to go all in on a new QB without the trenches filled and some stalwart players on both sides of the ball. Build from the inside out. For once provide a Bears QB with a rock solid roster on both side of the ball. Just my opinion, but I think Justin can still be the guy with the right talent around him, or even Bagent for that matter.

Coaching staff needs a hard look though, yeah I am looking at you Getsy. Maybe bring in Frazier as DC to relieve Flus from the D play calling.

If Flus is back next year, I sincerely hope he hires Leslie Frazier as his DC. That should (on paper, anyway) be a beautiful pairing plus he is very familiar with Tremaine Edmunds.

Offensively, I don't know if I could stomach another season of Getsy, but who would come into what could be Flus' lame-duck season?

Such a tangled web we weave here in Chicago...

[RichH55]

What Narrative? The book on Fields isn't closed yet - but people acting like he's been good in his career - thus far - is simply false.

Reality is allowed to be acknowledged. That's different than a "narrative"

I don't recall saying the book on Fields was closed... are you reading the posts?

Nobody knows, at this point in time, what the next 7 games will bring let alone what the front office is thinking or has planned.

I'm pretty sure most fans want him to succeed and the team to succeed (I certainly do). Other fans want him to fail, want the team to fail , want to see the organization clean house, etc.

I have been as critical/worried (sadly justified thus far) on Fields as anyone.

I certainly don't want him to Fail. And I can't think of literally a single poster on this board that wants him to fail - or wants the team to fail.

Not one.

Fields being the guy - would be absolutely optimal. Absolutely.

But acting like he's already a Top 100 guy or Top 15 QB.

That simply is false - and is the worst kind of apologism. (Especially when people take shots at Bagent to justify it on top of it)

[Grizzled]

I don't recall saying the book on Fields was closed... are you reading the posts?

Nobody knows, at this point in time, what the next 7 games will bring let alone what the front office is thinking or has planned.

I'm pretty sure most fans want him to succeed and the team to succeed (I certainly do). Other fans want him to fail, want the team to fail , want to see the organization clean house, etc.

I have been as critical/worried (sadly justified thus far) on Fields as anyone.

I certainly don't want him to Fail. And I can't think of literally a single poster on this board that wants him to fail - or wants the team to fail.

Not one.

Fields being the guy - would be absolutely optimal. Absolutely.

But acting like he's already a Top 100 guy or Top 15 QB.

That simply is false - and is the worst kind of apologism. (Especially when people take shots at Bagent to justify it on top of it)

You have posted some very valid critcisms regarding Fields and the issues he is having. But never did I get the idea that you wanted him to fail. Why be a fan of a team and be happy when they do badly, there's plenty of things to do in life besides support a pro team.

[dplank]

Fields was literally voted a Top 100 guy this offseason. #86. Yep, worst kind of apologism for sure.

[pus]

I don't think the Bears would be that unattractive to a new OC (under Flus) because Poles is making progress on the rebuild and he has a very good supply of draft capital. Contracts can be adjusted as has been pointed out. I don't think it has anything to do with Bagent until the Justin and Luke Show gets cancelled - at that time Tyson will be factored in as part of the decision going forward.

If JF1 is judged to be worthy of starting in '24, then we are stuck with Lukewarm Luke Getsy - assuming Flus is retained.

[wab]

I can't wait until we can all have these same arguments about Drake Maye and like...Davis Mills...sometime in November of 2026.

[artbest01]

The challenge is, if Flus is fired after the 2024 season, chances are better than good that the OC will be gone as well. The top OC's will likely want to go to teams where the head coach is new and/or not on the hotseat.

I don't think the Bears would be that unattractive to a new OC (under Flus) because Poles is making progress on the rebuild and he has a very good supply of draft capital. Contracts can be adjusted as has been pointed out. I don't think it has anything to do with Bagent until the Justin and Luke Show gets cancelled - at that time Tyson will be factored in as part of the decision going forward.

If JF1 is judged to be worthy of starting in '24, then we are stuck with Lukewarm Luke Getsy - assuming Flus is retained.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Leading questions can be kind of annoying. But what question would have addressed that subject, while not being leading and more to your liking?

This is obviously a TTT question. But by being purposefully vague, this is the answer you get:

A: Yeah. I mean, just looking at all quarterbacks I feel like, Tyson of course, quarterbacks around the league, quarterbacks in college, we all play the game differently so things that Tyson did well I'm definitely going to emulate that of course in my game. But at the end of the day we're different quarterbacks, we don't do the same things, but of course there are bits and pieces that we do do differently that he did well on the field and of course I'm going to try add that to my game for sure.

Did you learn anything from that answer?

To be fair it was followed up with the rather more specific:

Q: Is there something in particular that really complements the way you play. Like you said, you're different quarterbacks but sometimes that can merge the two and it helps. Is there anything that he did that you feel can complement your skills?

A: Yeah, a lot of stuff for sure.

Justin's just too savvy to reveal anything specific. Why would he? Not only might it be seen as giving the Lions an insight before Sunday, but also it would give the media ammunition to come after him if he cited a specific part of his game and then struggled with that aspect in any way or even on any occasion during the game.

Whatever else he may, Fields isn't stupid.

[G08]

I don't recall saying the book on Fields was closed... are you reading the posts?

Nobody knows, at this point in time, what the next 7 games will bring let alone what the front office is thinking or has planned.

I'm pretty sure most fans want him to succeed and the team to succeed (I certainly do). Other fans want him to fail, want the team to fail , want to see the organization clean house, etc.

I have been as critical/worried (sadly justified thus far) on Fields as anyone.

I certainly don't want him to Fail. And I can't think of literally a single poster on this board that wants him to fail - or wants the team to fail.

Not one.

Fields being the guy - would be absolutely optimal. Absolutely.

But acting like he's already a Top 100 guy or Top 15 QB.

That simply is false - and is the worst kind of apologism. (Especially when people take shots at Bagent to justify it on top of it)

Oh man the look on your face when you realize his peers voted him the 86th best player in the NFL last season will be priceless

[G08]

I can't wait until we can all have these same arguments about Drake Maye and like...Davis Mills...sometime in November of 2026.

It will happen.

[southdakbearfan]

I have been as critical/worried (sadly justified thus far) on Fields as anyone.

I certainly don't want him to Fail. And I can't think of literally a single poster on this board that wants him to fail - or wants the team to fail.

Not one.

Fields being the guy - would be absolutely optimal. Absolutely.

But acting like he's already a Top 100 guy or Top 15 QB.

That simply is false - and is the worst kind of apologism. (Especially when people take shots at Bagent to justify it on top of it)

Oh man the look on your face when you realize his peers voted him the 86th best player in the NFL last season will be priceless

As with all lists, they are very subjective. I believe he was the 12th or 13th qb listed in said list. Fields is nowhere near the 12th or 13th best qb in the league, currently.

Statistically, he’s one of the worst for his 2 plus years in total.

[G08]

Oh man the look on your face when you realize his peers voted him the 86th best player in the NFL last season will be priceless

As with all lists, they are very subjective. I believe he was the 12th or 13th qb listed in said list. Fields is nowhere near the 12th or 13th best qb in the league, currently.

Statistically, he’s one of the worst for his 2 plus years in total.

Sure, but then we can delve into the sheer lack of talent around him in 2022, his rushing prowess that you're ignoring, etc.

My response was directly to Rich's comment that acting like he's a top 100 player is false and the worst kind of apoligism, and driven home by the fact his peers deemed him to be the 86th best player in the NFL last season.

[Grizzled]

The challenge is, if Flus is fired after the 2024 season, chances are better than good that the OC will be gone as well. The top OC's will likely want to go to teams where the head coach is new and/or not on the hotseat.

I don't think the Bears would be that unattractive to a new OC (under Flus) because Poles is making progress on the rebuild and he has a very good supply of draft capital. Contracts can be adjusted as has been pointed out. I don't think it has anything to do with Bagent until the Justin and Luke Show gets cancelled - at that time Tyson will be factored in as part of the decision going forward.

If JF1 is judged to be worthy of starting in '24, then we are stuck with Lukewarm Luke Getsy - assuming Flus is retained.

Been wondering about that, could be a detriment. But it's not going to be an established OC taking the job, it will be a QB coach or a passing game coordinator type and they might still jump at the move upwards. If thehy're successful with the Bears (!), take about getting a strong reputation around the league.

[dplank]

Oh man the look on your face when you realize his peers voted him the 86th best player in the NFL last season will be priceless

As with all lists, they are very subjective. I believe he was the 12th or 13th qb listed in said list. Fields is nowhere near the 12th or 13th best qb in the league, currently.

Statistically, he’s one of the worst for his 2 plus years in total.

Soooooo....aren't all opinions subjective, including yours and mine? That's not a comeback. The players have a much stronger basis for their opinions than any of us do. I put more stock in their opinions by a mile. Are their lists perfect? Certainly not. But they do roughly align with the reality of the best players in the league year after year, with some minor quibbling around the edges. The fact that his own peers voted him safely into the Top100, compared against someone who says that anyone who believes he is a Top100 player is "the worst kind of apologist" - is high end buffoonery that always reminds me of this clip from an all time favorite movie.

[southdakbearfan]

As with all lists, they are very subjective. I believe he was the 12th or 13th qb listed in said list. Fields is nowhere near the 12th or 13th best qb in the league, currently.

Statistically, he’s one of the worst for his 2 plus years in total.

Soooooo....aren't all opinions subjective, including yours and mine? That's not a comeback. The players have a much stronger basis for their opinions than any of us do. I put more stock in their opinions by a mile. Are their lists perfect? Certainly not. But they do roughly align with the reality of the best players in the league year after year, with some minor quibbling around the edges. The fact that his own peers voted him safely into the Top100, compared against someone who says that anyone who believes he is a Top100 player is "the worst kind of apologist" - is high end buffoonery that always reminds me of this clip from an all time favorite movie.

I am not the one propping up the list like his inclusion in it means anything. At a minimum there are 16-18 starting QBs better than him that virtually everyone not blinded by fandom would acknowledge. At least as he currently plays and has played to date.

The list didn’t include a third of those, so how can a player be top 100 but not as good as players left out of the top 100?

The answer, they really can’t and it’s why these “lists” are worthless garbage, just popularity contests that suffer from recency bias.

[dplank]

No, but you are the one tearing down a list made by people more knowledgeable than yourself as if it's meaningless because you believe you know better than the people who actually play the game. Which one has more hubris?

Can I safely assume you have Trevor Lawrence above Fields right now? And assuming so, can you explain how it's possible that Fields has a higher QB rating and more TD passes than Lawrence despite playing 4 fewer games?

This stuff is all subjective and everyone has bias, yourself included.

Who are the 17 QB's that you have ahead of Fields? What metrics are you using, or do you watch all the games? I call bullshit.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Fields hasn't had a good season. He hasn't taken the leap forward we all hoped. Outside of of 1.75 games where he played very well he's been poor. Those games restored some reason for optimism but he followed them up with another poor performance during which he got injured. He now has 7 games left to change the narrative, prove he is on the upswing and demonstrate that he should remain the Bears starting QB next year. Everyone of us should be rooting for him to do just that. I don't believe any of us are rooting against him.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Bears coordinator Luke Getsy: QB Justin Fields is ‘locked in’

Bears quarterback Justin Fields is ready to go, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said Thursday.

“He’s been locked in mentally this whole time, especially the last two weeks because there was a chance [he’d play],” he said. “So, that part of it has been good. I think that part of it has been pretty smooth. Getting back on the grass is the important part.”

After missing four starts because of a dislocated right thumb, Fields will start Sunday against the Lions. The challenge for Getsy is figuring out exactly what Fields is capable of doing — and what, if anything, his thumb injury will limit.

“We’ve had a couple chances to do that and we’re still going through that to see how far he can take everything,” Getsy said. “The [practice] reps are important and just making sure he feels comfortable and ready to rock and roll is really the most important thing.

“I think as far as what’s going on in our offense, he’s got that stuff down pretty good. So that part of it, we feel pretty good about it.”

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2023 ... ight-thumb

[southdakbearfan]

No, but you are the one tearing down a list made by people more knowledgeable than yourself as if it's meaningless because you believe you know better than the people who actually play the game. Which one has more hubris?

Can I safely assume you have Trevor Lawrence above Fields right now? And assuming so, can you explain how it's possible that Fields has a higher QB rating and more TD passes than Lawrence despite playing 4 fewer games?

This stuff is all subjective and everyone has bias, yourself included.

Who are the 17 QB's that you have ahead of Fields? What metrics are you using, or do you watch all the games? I call bullshit.

My point was the lists are complete BS even when they come from the athletes, and maybe even more so when they come from them. Do you think other teams players are doing anything but watching highlights for 95% of other teams players except if they had to play t,hem next week? So then it’s down to what makes highlights determ8ning who is the best.

You are the one whom delved this into some type of anti/non-anti fields thing and went all jerk on it so call Bs on yourself.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Fields hasn't had a good season. He hasn't taken the leap forward we all hoped. Outside of of 1.75 games where he played very well he's been poor. Those games restored some reason for optimism but he followed them up with another poor performance during which he got injured. He now has 7 games left to change the narrative, prove he is on the upswing and demonstrate that he should remain the Bears starting QB next year. Everyone of us should be rooting for him to do just that. I don't believe any of us are rooting against him.

He’s only had a third of a season so it’s a bit mean to judge him yet, 6 games of which 2 (you say 1.75, splitting hairs somewhat) have by all accounts been great. 8 TDs.

So 4 “very poor” games.
2 very good games.

He has 7 left.

[The Marshall Plan]

Fields hasn't had a good season. He hasn't taken the leap forward we all hoped. Outside of of 1.75 games where he played very well he's been poor. Those games restored some reason for optimism but he followed them up with another poor performance during which he got injured. He now has 7 games left to change the narrative, prove he is on the upswing and demonstrate that he should remain the Bears starting QB next year. Everyone of us should be rooting for him to do just that. I don't believe any of us are rooting against him.

Ultimately what I'm looking for with JF1 is a conclusive decision.

I do not want him to be Good Enough these last few games. If he putzs around for 250 yards per game with 2 TDs and the occasional INT then it's going to be World War 3 around here about do we keep him or not.

I want one of two extremes. Either he balls out or just collapses. Yes obviously I hope he balls out.

[Moriarty]

Like wherever you've been every time it's pointed out that they were both against bottom 5 defenses?

@dplank can you remind me what that Denver defense just did to the Chiefs, twice, and the Bills please?

You're going all in on the Denver defense???


The one that gave up 31 the week after the Bears and 70 the week before?

The one that is ranked 32nd in yards/play?
The one that is ranked 32nd in points/game?
The one that is ranked 32nd in completion percentage?
The one that is ranked 32nd in passer rating against?

Unreal how people clutch to straws to maintain their narrative

Unreal the lack of self-awareness here

Get a mirror, man

[dplank]

TMP - 250 yards and 2 TDs per game, with an occasional INT, would place a QB as a top 10 QB. Over 17 games that’s 4250 yards, 34 TDs against oh I dunno 10 picks? That’s outstanding in an offense like ours that runs so much. Add his own runs on top of that number too.

I mention this because I think people are going to set an unrealistic expectation. That isn’t middling QB play, that’s excellent QB play and there should be no question about keeping him if he does it. I mean, he threw 8 TDs in 2 games and people were like, meh - meanwhile like 5 QBs ever had done that (something like that I don’t remember the specifics but it was a rare achievement).

If he plays good consistent football we should keep him. If he plays more like he did against Tampa Bay, launch him into orbit and draft a QB.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Fields hasn't had a good season. He hasn't taken the leap forward we all hoped. Outside of of 1.75 games where he played very well he's been poor. Those games restored some reason for optimism but he followed them up with another poor performance during which he got injured. He now has 7 games left to change the narrative, prove he is on the upswing and demonstrate that he should remain the Bears starting QB next year. Everyone of us should be rooting for him to do just that. I don't believe any of us are rooting against him.

He’s only had a third of a season so it’s a bit mean to judge him yet, 6 games of which 2 (you say 1.75, splitting hairs somewhat) have by all accounts been great. 8 TDs.

So 4 “very poor” games.
2 very good games.

He has 7 left.

I'm not judging him, just laying out the situation as it stands heading into these remaining 7 games.

This wouldn't be a discussion if Fields had played very well in 4 games and poorly in two so far. He didn't though. These 7 games are critical for him to shift the balance.

As for the 1.75 games, the fact is the Bears headed into the 4th quarter against Denver with a 14 point lead thanks to Fields excellent play, but they started with a 3 and out, then Fields had a fumble that was returned for a TD on the next drive which tied the game. He then led a drive to get them into field goal range (which featured just one pass that was incomplete and was otherwise all runs, including a 20-yarder from Fields) before Eberflus went for it on 4th and 1 which failed. Fields got the ball back with 1:46 to go, but threw an INT to end the game.

When the game was on the line he wasn't able to tie or win the game. His stats for that final quarter were 4/10 (40%) for 40 yards and the INT for a 12.5 rating plus the fumble. The Bears could still have won the game if the defense hadn't given up 10 points, they'd converted that 4th down or possibly kicked the field goal instead, but there's no getting around the fact that Fields had a really bad final quarter and wasn't able to come through when the game was on the line, something that we've rarely if ever seen him do in his career to date. (The same assessment applies to Bagent's game against the Saints. He played very well for 3 quarters and then had a dreadful 4th quarter.)

So I credit Fields for his play in the first 3 quarters, but not the whole game which ultimately ended in a loss.

The encouraging aspect was that he followed that game with an excellent performance the following week against Washington. The discouraging aspect is he then regressed again the Vikings and got hurt. He needs to stack good performances and show some consistency the rest of the way. The odd average or even poor game against a good team won't be the end of the world if he performs well in most.

Any judgement has to wait until the end of the season.

[G08]

@dplank can you remind me what that Denver defense just did to the Chiefs, twice, and the Bills please?

You're going all in on the Denver defense???


The one that gave up 31 the week after the Bears and 70 the week before?

The one that is ranked 32nd in yards/play?
The one that is ranked 32nd in points/game?
The one that is ranked 32nd in completion percentage?
The one that is ranked 32nd in passer rating against?

Unreal how people clutch to straws to maintain their narrative

Unreal the lack of self-awareness here

Get a mirror, man

All in? Not at all; can you show me where I said that?

I simply pointed out the preposterousness of your post. After Justin Fields dropped 28 points on the Broncos, they held:

Patrick Mahomes to 19 points
Patrick Mahomes to 9 points
Josh Allen to 22 points

1999-2002: Mouth Off Sports Forum (RIP)
2002-2014: KFFL (RIP)
2014-2016: USAToday Fantasy Sports Forum (RIP)

Hello, my name is Moriarty. I have come to kill your website, prepare to die.

I can see how your presence leads to the death of websites, man.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Fields hasn't had a good season. He hasn't taken the leap forward we all hoped.

I'm not judging him

I don’t know if those 2 statements stack up