Sports
Is Bears Coach Matt Nagy Confused Or A QB Controversy Genius?
JEFF ARNOLD COMMENTARY: Nagy won't commit to starting Justin Fields if Andy Dalton is healthy, clouding the Bears' quarterback conundrum.
LAKE FOREST, IL — Criticisms about Bears coach Matt Nagy’s play-calling may have company.
On Monday, Nagy flubbed his answers to questions about the Bears' lingering quarterback controversy — and flubbed them so badly that the front office had to cover for him with a post-news conference clarification.
[COMMENTARY]
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Bears starting quarterback Andy Dalton left during the Bears’ 20-17 victory over the Bengals with a knee injury, got replaced by the rookie first-round pick Justin Fields and didn't return because of the unspecified knee injury. Nagy confirmed that Dalton didn't tear the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
But when asked if Fields would take over the starting role against Cleveland on Sunday, even if Dalton is healthy enough to play, Nagy refused to say.
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“That’s something I’m not going to get into with scheme,” Nagy told Bears beat reporters.
Reporters kept nagging the Bears head coach for an answer — reminding Nagy that Dalton's injury and rank on the depth chart next week isn't a "scheme"-related question — but they didn't get one.
Later, a Bears spokesman told reporters that Nagy didn't understand the reporters' questions.
What Nagy meant to say, the Bears staffer reported, is that Dalton would absolutely remain the starter ... if he is healthy.
Wait. We're supposed to believe that Nagy, the coach with the complicated offensive playbook, didn't comprehend simple questions related to the lingering quarterback controversy that dominates local sports-talk radio? C'mon, man.
Nagy sounded as confused as Bears fans trying to read his mind.
“(It’s) understanding, OK, is (Dalton) able to go? Is he not able to go? We’ll work through all of that stuff,” Nagy said. “Because, for us, you have a guy who has been in the league playing quarterback for a long time and you’ve got a guy who has never had an NFL start. So we’ll have to work through that.”
I have no idea what that means. Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski probably doesn't either. So, is Nagy confused — or is he a genius?
You make the call.
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