Justin Fields Masterfully Shut Down Contract Questions With One Sentence

Justin Fields is entering what many consider a pivotal season. Most people who know football understand that players should start reaching their peak performance by their third year in the league. That is where the Chicago Bears quarterback is headed. The 2023 season will be his third with the organization. It also figures to be his best, at least on paper. GM Ryan Poles drastically retooled the offense around his quarterback, adding D.J. Moore, Nate Davis, Darnell Wright, and others. It's also Fields' second year in the same offense. This should be his time to shine.

There is added incentive in play. The third year is also when teams start thinking about whether they plan to pay a player big money. Jalen Hurts just signed a blockbuster deal with the Philadelphia Eagles after his MVP-caliber run in 2022, his third season with the team. One would think Fields is well aware of this fact. That would be a big part of his motivation, right? Wrong. Bears media tried to press him on the subject after Tuesday's OTA practice. The quarterback needed only ten seconds to shut that down.

Justin Fields once again makes his priorities clear.

This falls right in line with the same comment he's made since joining the Bears two years ago. Individual accomplishments are not what drives him. Stats are fine but mean little if the team doesn't win football games. Fields doesn't put his body through so much physical punishment every week for a good stat line. His goal is team success. It's to win championships. The money will always be there. He knows this. His parents instilled in him that his individual accomplishments mean little in a team sport.

If he wants true recognition, Justin Fields must start winning. That is the ultimate badge of respect in the NFL. Kirk Cousins is the ultimate stat machine. He's made millions upon millions of dollars in his career. One would think he's viewed as one of the best in the league. Except that isn't the case. All he's known for is great numbers and constantly choking in the playoffs. Fields doesn't want to be remembered as another of those guys. Bears fans should be grateful for that.