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The Athletic put out a story this morning detailing how it unfolded. It puts to bed some misinformation and it provides what Poles felt should have been the framework of the deal. The piece is authored by Mike DeFabo (Steelers) and Adam Jahns (Bears). I’ll include some excerpts.
“Bears general manager Ryan Poles left the combine “a little bit surprised” by the lack of trade interest in Fields.
The Carolina Panthers’ trade for former New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnoldin 2021 — for a sixth-round pick that year and second- and fourth-rounders in 2022 — was considered a potential starting point for interested teams. But Poles quickly learned that wouldn’t be the case.
This year was simply different.
“As you do research and we have conversations, you have to kind of adjust to the market,” Poles said. “There are probably teams that are looking at the draft for guys to fill in. On the back end, playoff teams probably have someone in place. So really it was a smaller pool of teams.”
Hey @nc0gnet0 an NFL GM agreed with me that the Darnold trade should have been the starting framework for the Fields trade. Thank you for including my quote in your signature. It validates that I was in sync with an NFL front office. Now fuck off!
Back to the article…
“There were other teams interested in Fields, including some offering similar draft capital this year, but the difference in compensation wasn’t significant enough for the Bears. They accepted a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025 (which would become a fourth-round pick if Fields plays 51 percent of the offensive snaps in 2024) from the Steelers.
“There were other teams,” Poles said. “The Steelers were just an opportunity where … they have a starter with Russ, but there was more of an open competition it felt like from my perspective.
“There were other opportunities where there were some quarterbacks that were either veteran guys or young guys that had already been paid, so it would have been a tougher situation for (Fields) to get on the field.”
When the Steelers’ trade for Fields was finalized, Eberflus and Poles gathered at Eberflus’ house. Together, they called their soon-to-be former starter.
“What was important for Flus and I (was) really to express to (Fields) this is really a tough decision (but) how much he means to the city of Chicago, our fan base and us,” Poles said. “I thought he was a class act on how he handled the ups and downs of the start of his career.”
They wanted Fields to hear that and more.
“I just wished him the best and told him that I loved him,” Eberflus said. “We’ll continue our friendship.”
Eberflus then called Fields’ former Bears teammates. The team leaders needed to be contacted. The Bears wanted to break the news to them first. Tight end Cole Kmet, receiver DJ Moore and a handful of others received calls.
“(It’s) just being upfront and honest with those guys and they appreciated that,” Eberflus said. “Every guy that I talked to said, ‘Hey, Coach, I appreciate you reaching out and letting me know ahead of time.’ … They were always appreciative of the communication.”
The players were told that both sides felt the Steelers provided the best opportunity for Fields to be successful.
“They understand there is a business part to it,” Poles said. “Just because you trade someone, it doesn’t mean you don’t like them or appreciate them. We thought it was the best move for where we’re at.”
The article contains information from the Steelers’ perspective and more color on the Bears.
The rest is at the link below.
How the Justin Fields trade unfolded and what comes next for the Steelers and Bears
“Bears general manager Ryan Poles left the combine “a little bit surprised” by the lack of trade interest in Fields.
The Carolina Panthers’ trade for former New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnoldin 2021 — for a sixth-round pick that year and second- and fourth-rounders in 2022 — was considered a potential starting point for interested teams. But Poles quickly learned that wouldn’t be the case.
This year was simply different.
“As you do research and we have conversations, you have to kind of adjust to the market,” Poles said. “There are probably teams that are looking at the draft for guys to fill in. On the back end, playoff teams probably have someone in place. So really it was a smaller pool of teams.”
Hey @nc0gnet0 an NFL GM agreed with me that the Darnold trade should have been the starting framework for the Fields trade. Thank you for including my quote in your signature. It validates that I was in sync with an NFL front office. Now fuck off!
Back to the article…
“There were other teams interested in Fields, including some offering similar draft capital this year, but the difference in compensation wasn’t significant enough for the Bears. They accepted a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025 (which would become a fourth-round pick if Fields plays 51 percent of the offensive snaps in 2024) from the Steelers.
“There were other teams,” Poles said. “The Steelers were just an opportunity where … they have a starter with Russ, but there was more of an open competition it felt like from my perspective.
“There were other opportunities where there were some quarterbacks that were either veteran guys or young guys that had already been paid, so it would have been a tougher situation for (Fields) to get on the field.”
When the Steelers’ trade for Fields was finalized, Eberflus and Poles gathered at Eberflus’ house. Together, they called their soon-to-be former starter.
“What was important for Flus and I (was) really to express to (Fields) this is really a tough decision (but) how much he means to the city of Chicago, our fan base and us,” Poles said. “I thought he was a class act on how he handled the ups and downs of the start of his career.”
They wanted Fields to hear that and more.
“I just wished him the best and told him that I loved him,” Eberflus said. “We’ll continue our friendship.”
Eberflus then called Fields’ former Bears teammates. The team leaders needed to be contacted. The Bears wanted to break the news to them first. Tight end Cole Kmet, receiver DJ Moore and a handful of others received calls.
“(It’s) just being upfront and honest with those guys and they appreciated that,” Eberflus said. “Every guy that I talked to said, ‘Hey, Coach, I appreciate you reaching out and letting me know ahead of time.’ … They were always appreciative of the communication.”
The players were told that both sides felt the Steelers provided the best opportunity for Fields to be successful.
“They understand there is a business part to it,” Poles said. “Just because you trade someone, it doesn’t mean you don’t like them or appreciate them. We thought it was the best move for where we’re at.”
The article contains information from the Steelers’ perspective and more color on the Bears.
The rest is at the link below.
How the Justin Fields trade unfolded and what comes next for the Steelers and Bears
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