|
 [September 22, 2023]
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles presented a poised
and unified picture of the franchise on Thursday less than 24 hours
after a bizarre news cycle blended with rumors hinted at a complete
unraveling of the 0-2 team.
"To hit it straight on, we have adversity right now," Poles said of
the state of the Bears, who visit the Super Bowl champion Kansas
City Chiefs on Sunday.
"To make it really, really clear, I know the outside noise -- but no
one in our building is panicking, no one is flinching at any
situations. Not our owner, not our president, not our head coach,
not myself. None of our players. Everyone's focused on solving the
issues that we have so that we can be a be a better team."
Poles clarified those issues don't involve any FBI search or
operative stings, as was reported Wednesday before defensive
coordinator Alan Williams resigned citing "health and family"
concerns.
"I don't have many details to add there. Halas Hall being raided is
completely false. Don't know where that came from. We've worked with
Kevin (Warren, team president) and George (McCaskey) and all our
leadership to make sure we were handling it the right way, and
everything concluded yesterday."
Head coach Matt Eberflus, formerly defensive coordinator of the
Indianapolis Colts, will call defensive plays.
"Got a ton of faith in Flus. He's a leader. He's done a great job.
And then as a defensive play-caller as well, got a ton of faith
there," Poles said.
[to top of second column] |
There are obvious and undeniable concerns from
Warren, Poles and Eberflus around the staggered start from
quarterback Justin Fields and Chicago's offense. The Bears have four
turnovers and four touchdowns in two games, losses to the Green Bay
Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which they were outscored 65-37.
Fields, asked Wednesday to explain his statement that he was
thinking too much and needed to play free, said "it could be
coaching." He apologized to coaches when some media reports claimed
he said only "coaching," without what Fields felt was proper
context. Fields then held a brief post-practice session with media
at Halas Hall to further explain he wants the blame for
"everything."
Poles said at present, Fields is learning how to rely on the new
level of talent around him -- No. 1 wide receiver DJ Moore, for
example -- and letting go of his habit of making every play himself.
"Now he gets talent around him and has to figure and balance when to
do those cool things athletically, when to lean on others," Poles
said. "And that is sometimes a gray place to live in, and that takes
time."
--Field Level Media
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
