Matt Nagy finally made the decision everybody wanted. Justin Fields was named the starting quarterback of the
Chicago Bears. Something a lot of people felt should've happened sooner. As early as opening night against the Los Angeles Rams. He'd done everything necessary to challenge Andy Dalton for the starting job. Yet Nagy continued to insist the veteran was his guy. That stubbornness angered a lot of people. Experts felt he was doing the team a disservice by not at least making it a fair competition. Even his former defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano had some
criticism on the subject.
The recently retired coach spent two seasons working with Nagy in Chicago. He got first-hand experience with how the man handles the QBs. He no doubt had an idea of what was coming after seeing what happened with Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles. Pagano thinks the problem Nagy runs into is he gets caught saying too much. All he had to do after the Detroit game was praise Fields and Bill Lazor for the victory. Leave it at that. Going back and forth on the QB issue wasn't doing the team any favors.
An unnecessary distraction.
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Pagano approaches this situation with experience. He too had a decision to make whether to start a talented rookie quarterback or opt for the veteran-first approach. Granted, his decision was easier. Drew Stanton or Andrew Luck? He chose the latter. While there were some growing pains, Luck matured quickly and became an instant success in leading the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs.
He energized an organization that had just gone 2-14. Pagano seems to think Fields can do the same for Chicago. All he requires is the opportunity and the full support of everyone in that locker room. Nagy was reluctant to go that route. Hence the indecisiveness.
Chuck Pagano probably echoed what many others said
Nagy admitted in the 36 hours prior to making the announcement that Fields is the starter, he spoke to several people at Halas Hall. That included his coaching staff, GM Ryan Pace, and other higher-ups. This led to speculation whether the team brass leaned on him a little bit to stop with the Dalton persistence. Yes, he had a plan. It was to follow the Kansas City model. Here's the thing. Plans change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-S4FX7r7J8&ab_channel=ChicagoBears
Alex Smith never got injured with the Chiefs in 2017. If he had? It's probably a safe assumption Patrick Mahomes would've stepped in, played well, and been handed the starting job before Smith could return. This scenario is hardly new. It has happened a number of times in NFL history. Dalton knew the risks. The Bears kept their word by giving him the first shot.
The injury was unfortunate, but that is pro football.
Fields got his opportunity and ran with it. People got a glimpse of his vast potential against Detroit. They know he is only going to get better with experience. Chuck Pagano is correct. Why anger people further with this dalliance? Nagy could've avoided the unnecessary backlash if he'd just committed to Fields right after the Lions win. Then if the kid struggled? He can go back to Dalton. Simple. Unfortunately, this head coach gets himself into trouble handling complicated decisions.
