They signed Dalton and named him QB1 before they drafted Fields. No one knew Fields would be there. They were thinking the QB room would look like Dalton/Foles/3rd-round-rookie. But Fields was there and they drafted him. At that point, everything changed. Dalton knew it, Pace knew it, the NFL knew it, everyone knew it. It played out exactly like we fans wanted.
(1) Let Mitch go. (2) Sign a vet QB so the 3rd round rookie doesn't have to start for a year or more. (Thats why Dalton only got one real year on his contract.)
BUT THEN
New Plan: (1) Let Mitch go. (2) Sign vet QB and let him and the First Round QB who dropped in their laps and should have been taken 10 picks higher fight it out in camp. (3) Best QB starts.
There is not one vet anywhere in the league who is going to think to himself: "Self? As a vet DE looking for a contract do I really want to go to Chicago because they named Dalton QB1 and then when Fields outplayed him in camp, they named Fields QB1. Do I really want to go there?"
Dalton knows what changed when Fields got drafted. Its the nature of the business. Only thing Pace needs to be embarrassed about is if Fields outplays Dalton and they still start Dalton because they named him QB1 back in March.
They signed Dalton and named him QB1 before they drafted Fields. No one knew Fields would be there. They were thinking the QB room would look like Dalton/Foles/3rd-round-rookie. But Fields was there and they drafted him. At that point, everything changed. Dalton knew it, Pace knew it, the NFL knew it, everyone knew it. It played out exactly like we fans wanted.
(1) Let Mitch go. (2) Sign a vet QB so the 3rd round rookie doesn't have to start for a year or more. (Thats why Dalton only got one real year on his contract.)
BUT THEN
New Plan: (1) Let Mitch go. (2) Sign vet QB and let him and the First Round QB who dropped in their laps and should have been taken 10 picks higher fight it out in camp. (3) Best QB starts.
There is not one vet anywhere in the league who is going to think to himself: "Self? As a vet DE looking for a contract do I really want to go to Chicago because they named Dalton QB1 and then when Fields outplayed him in camp, they named Fields QB1. Do I really want to go there?"
Dalton knows what changed when Fields got drafted. Its the nature of the business. Only thing Pace needs to be embarrassed about is if Fields outplays Dalton and they still start Dalton because they named him QB1 back in March.
+1
In the end it's a professional sport and the best pro gets to start. If Fields is the best QB and he's ready (knows the playbook and offense) then you start him. Period.
As you correctly point out. Dalton understands this. Everything changed when Fields dropped to where the Bears could trade up and steal him. Nobody foresaw this happening. I still am stunned that the draft played out this well for us. But yeah, when Fields is ready he starts. LOL, does anyone believe you keep Fields on the bench because you might hurt Dalton's feelings here? Or for that matter, think that the Jaguars will keep Trevor Lawrence on the bench so they don't hurt poor Gardner Minshew's feelings? These are multi-billion dollar franchises with jobs on the line here. Hurt feelings are not going to be factored in :-)
Let's get serious. They paid this guy $10 million and named him QB1. If they just cut him now, they look like Idiots.
They don't want to look like Idiots!!
Pace has shown himself to be completely unsentimental and unconcerned with sunk costs with regard to players. If he feels Fields is ready to go and Dalton can be traded or released, such that it benefits the team, that's what he's going to do.
Let's get serious. They paid this guy $10 million and named him QB1. If they just cut him now, they look like Idiots.
They don't want to look like Idiots!!
Pace has shown himself to be completely unsentimental and unconcerned with sunk costs with regard to players. If he feels Fields is ready to go and Dalton can be traded or released, such that it benefits the team, that's what he's going to do.
Agree as it wouldn’t be the first time Pace blew some cash and looked like an idiot. 😂🤣😂🤣
Let's get serious. They paid this guy $10 million and named him QB1. If they just cut him now, they look like Idiots.
They don't want to look like Idiots!!
Let's clarify, the theory doesn't say, "Cut him now." The idea would be to cut him before the compensatory pick deadline, which I believe would be around week 4 of the season (someone can fact check me on that).
Let's get serious. They paid this guy $10 million and named him QB1. If they just cut him now, they look like Idiots.
They don't want to look like Idiots!!
Let's clarify, the theory doesn't say, "Cut him now." The idea would be to cut him before the compensatory pick deadline, which I believe would be around week 4 of the season (someone can fact check me on that).
Foles is more likely to get cut. I am reading that Dalton is actually looking sharp at the OTA. Now if only our defensive starters would show. Smith was the only one there yesterday.
Post by germansbombedph on Jun 6, 2021 7:12:32 GMT -6
When they signed Andy, they couldn't know about their QB pick for sure. The draft changed that and even Dalton himself has to be smart enough to realize it.
The time we signed him is not the same as is today with Fields looking like Day 1 ready.
I think we are going to find out that Field's is NFL ready from day 1.
Yep
I think it is going to be tough to keep him off the field for too long. Doesn't mean he will have all the vet savvy that Dalton does but he's clearly the higher-ceiling, higher-talent player.
Hoge and Jahns had an interesting podcast from last month I listened to during a plane ride recently talking about this very issue. There are very very few 1st round QBs, especially those with his level of college experience, who "sit for a year" anymore. And it almost never happens unless there's already an elite franchise starter in place who is still lighting it up. That's what happened in Mahomes' rookie year (Alex Smith BALLED that season). Unless the Bears are winning games and showing a good O with Dalton under center, the pressure to start Fields will quickly build to an irresistible level.
I'm still hoping for a way the Bears can trade either Dalton or Foles and get some small level of compensation but that will likely require another team to have a major injury at QB1 or QB2.
I think we are going to find out that Field's is NFL ready from day 1.
Yep
I think it is going to be tough to keep him off the field for too long. Doesn't mean he will have all the vet savvy that Dalton does but he's clearly the higher-ceiling, higher-talent player.
Hoge and Jahns had an interesting podcast from last month I listened to during a plane ride recently talking about this very issue. There are very very few 1st round QBs, especially those with his level of college experience, who "sit for a year" anymore. And it almost never happens unless there's already an elite franchise starter in place who is still lighting it up. That's what happened in Mahomes' rookie year (Alex Smith BALLED that season). Unless the Bears are winning games and showing a good O with Dalton under center, the pressure to start Fields will quickly build to an irresistible level.
I'm still hoping for a way the Bears can trade either Dalton or Foles and get some small level of compensation but that will likely require another team to have a major injury at QB1 or QB2.
Saw an article saying that it’s possible to see Foles go to the Jets as they don’t have a quality backup qb.
Let's get serious. They paid this guy $10 million and named him QB1. If they just cut him now, they look like Idiots.
They don't want to look like Idiots!!
Let's clarify, the theory doesn't say, "Cut him now." The idea would be to cut him before the compensatory pick deadline, which I believe would be around week 4 of the season (someone can fact check me on that).
Pretty sure it is cut before week 9.
Just going off the Mike Davis cut the Bears did in Nov 9th 2019. The reporters said he need to be gone before the Nov 11th game.
Bears can hold Dalton for half the season as the coal mine canary to make sure the offensive line can function, cut him to get the comp pick back, and since Dalton is guaranteed 2.5 million for the season, probably save some money.
A deal like that almost makes me want to get a #14 jersey. Almost.