Former All-Pro Uses Mike Tyson To Trash Bears' Justin Fields Plan

Matt Nagy probably had a pretty good idea of what to expect when he unveiled his initial plans after the Chicago Bears drafted Justin Fields in April. The 11th overall pick would sit on the bench while veteran Andy Dalton would be the starter. The idea is it enable Fields to gain a better understanding of the NFL speed without having to take the hits. Then when it was felt he was ready to go, the team would start him. It was never going to be a popular decision. Several members of the media have spoken out against it. Even quoting other famous athletes like Mike Tyson to get their point across. This took place during a recent segment of Get Up ESPN. Mike Green discussed the Fields situation with his attending panel of experts. Former GM Mike Tannenbaum believes the rookie is way too talented to keep on the bench despite his inexperience. Show guest Emmanuel Acho disagreed, saying the Bears were smart not to throw him out there. So what does former All-Pro center Jeff Saturday think of this plan?

Exactly what Tyson thought of plans in general.

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Will-the-Bears-wait-to-start-Justin-Fields-over-Andy-Dalton-Get-Up2021_07_17_21_25_56.mp4"][/video] Tyson was never known for being the most eloquent guy in the world, but that quote is spot on. How much use will Nagy's plan be when the Bears get punched in the mouth for the first time? When Dalton inevitably has a rough game or the team is going through a downswing where they lost two or three in a row? It is almost always during those sequences that a coach starts to feel the pressure. A need for something positive to happen, knowing his job could be on the line. That is when many coaches will turn to the rookie. No doubt hoping the kid flashes some potential and gives the team a spark of optimism.

Will the Bears succumb to the Mike Tyson test?

They may not wait long to find out. Their first game of 2021 will be in Los Angeles against the Rams. A team that has owned them in their previous two meetings, especially on the defensive side where Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and company have humiliated the Bears. It isn't hard to imagine Dalton and the offense having a rough evening while Matthew Stafford has a strong debut for his new team. As with any Mike Tyson fight, the hardest punch will come early. The question becomes how will Nagy respond if that happens? Pressure will build almost immediately from that moment. If the Bears continue their slow start through Week 2 against a Cincinnati Bengals team known for their poor defense? That is when the Fields calls will really start to get loud.

As sturdy as Nagy can be when things get tough, he may have to succumb.

The first true sweet spot to potentially start Fields will be weeks four and five when the Bears play Detroit and Las Vegas. Both are known for subpar defenses as late as last season. If the first three weeks end up being the worst-case scenario for Dalton and the offense, that would be the time to start watching for the rookie.