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Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave believe Bears will regret trading Justin Fields originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
LAS VEGAS — Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Chris Olave have a clear bias when it comes to the franchise-altering quarterback decision that awaits the Bears this offseason.
Both Smith-Njigba and Olave played with Bears quarterback Justin Fields at Ohio State. They carved up defenses together and won almost every time they stepped on the field, including a run to the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship, where they lost to Alabama.
In two seasons with Fields, Olave caught 99 passes for 1,578 yards and 19 touchdowns. Smith-Njigba only caught 10 passes for 49 yards and one score in his lone season playing with Fields in Columbus, Ohio.
Olave and Smith-Njigba have seen Fields’ talent up close and believe if the Bears trade him this offseason and draft Caleb Williams, they will do so at their own peril.
“That’s on them,” Smith-Njigba told NBC Sports at Super Bowl 58 Radio Row about the Bears potentially moving on from Fields. “I mean, shhhhh, that’s on them. If they do that, I say good for Justin, honestly. He’s a QB1. An NFL quarterback. So if that’s what they want to do then I guess that’s fine.”
Olave and Smith-Njigba have watched Fields navigate a terrible situation for a young quarterback and come out the other side.
When they watch the Bears, they see a team that feeds off the energy and play of its starting quarterback. A team whose success comes from Fields, not in spite of him.
“I think what we have seen if just his competitive nature, just him going out there making unorthodox plays when the pocket collapses,” Smith-Njigba said. “We see him, you know, tunnel vision, make plays, and just the competitiveness. He’s a winner. To me, when I watch the Chicago Bears, that’s what I see – him trying to win. That’s what you expect from Justin. That’s what Justin brings to the table, a winning attitude, and I know he can…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jaxon-smith-njigba-chris-olave-130000763.html
Author : NBC Sports Chicago
Publish date : 2024-02-07 13:00:00
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