NEWSLETTER
My initial reaction to then-Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields leading the charge to play through a pandemic-altered college football season left me thinking to myself “Dang, now that is a Football Guy.”
But on the other end of that debate was Kevin Warren (the new Bears president), who was then in charge as the Big Ten Commissioner. Warren was leading the opposition, representing Big Ten coaches and ADs wary of the risks of playing a season despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, the student-athletes took the field. The show goes on, after all. And Fields made the most of it. It would be an understatement to say Fields was a baller that season. He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award (given to the Big Ten’s most outstanding player), as well as the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year and Quarterback of the Year awards. And for good measure, Fields also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. Good thing Fields pushed hard and got what he was hoping for, as he certainly made the most of that season.
The past was the past. At least, it was until Warren became president/CEO of the Chicago Bears. Because shortly after that, folks began re-visiting Fields and Warren being on opposite sides of that conversation. Oh, I don’t miss discussing whether or not to play in 2020. And, frankly, my initial thought was to hope there was no bad blood between the two sides.
Thankfully, there isn’t. Warren cleared it up by speaking on it during his Tuesday introductory press conference:
The money quote:
“My whole goal was trying to keep players safe. I appreciated him to be able to take that leadership role. So I was ecstatic, I called him on draft day. I was ecstatic when he was drafted by the Bears because that’s what you need from a leadership standpoint. But I have a strong personal relationship with him. He’s talented, he’s a leader. I loved his passion. I would’ve been the same way.”
Whew. That’s a relief. The last thing anyone was wanting from today was the perception of any beef between Fields and Warren. That everything is on the up-and-up is great. GM Ryan Poles’ comments and Warren’s words are essentially all I had to hear. The Bears are rocking with Fields as its franchise quarterback. Not that we needed the confirmation, but it is always nice to get it.
Soon enough, Warren, Poles, and everyone else at Halas Hall will try to build a winner around Fields. Here’s to the next step.
