ESPN’s Louis Riddick praises Bears QB Justin Fields during training camp
ESPN’s Louis Riddick provided an update on Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields on Get Up on Thursday, referencing his sources within the organization.
Fields was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft after speculation he could go as high as No. 2 leading up to the draft. Riddick criticizes analysts who questioned Fields on everything from his throwing mechanics to his level of commitment.
Fields was a two-year starter at Ohio State after transferring from Georgia. The former five-star recruit led the Buckeyes to the national championship game in his junior season before declaring for the draft.
What Riddick had to say on ESPN’s Get Up:
“First and foremost, we all know there was a lot of B.S. circling around Justin Fields heading into the draft. As far as whatever his level of football intelligence was, whatever his level of commitment was to the game, whether he was going to be the guy to go the extra mile to be great, or not. There was a lot of that going on. A lot of it.
“I’m gonna just tell you this, I’m pretty well connected in Chicago, from day one that he got there, they could not be happier and more ecstatic about his level of commitment, his attention to detail, his football IQ, his willingness and desire and how intentional he has been to eliminate all distractions. His leadership, his poise, his swagger, his respect toward Andy Dalton as far as saying ‘hey look I know why I’m here but at the same time I know you’ve been a good pro.’ So, he has been a guy who has kind of fallen in line, performed when he’s needed to perform, but also showed Andy the level of respect that he believes that Andy deserves.
“When he gets out on the football field, his continuous progression as far as being able to get these long, lengthy play calls communicated in the huddle. His ability to know what not only he’s doing but what everyone else is doing. And that improvement he’s making every single day has them, I can just tell you this, it has them fricken’ ecstatic.
“It’s just a matter of know, when, as I said before. When do they kind of pull that show cover off him and say, ‘hey look, it’s time for you to go?’ Because Matt wants to play it safe with him. Because he wants him to be great, and I get that. I’m just saying I think they’re just going to have to, at some point in time, just go ‘man just put hm in there, enough of this waiting. Put him in there.’ Because he is blowing their minds as far as how happy they have been with everything that he’s doing.”
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