Chicago Bears fans are not pleased with Andy Dalton.
The veteran quarterback started Saturday’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills with three three-and-outs and a possession that ended with a fumble. By the time his day was done after two quarters at Solider Field, the Bills led, 34-6.
Meanwhile, first-round rookie Justin Fields remained on the bench carrying the hope/burden of becoming the franchise’s first star quarterback since, well — ever? So Bears fans who paid real money to watch not-so-real football got impatient.
They booed Dalton. They called out “we want Fields.” And they gave the rookie a rousing ovation when he took the reins of the offense in the second half.
Fields: ‘That’s not helping’
While Fields surely appreciated the outpouring of support, he’s not a fan of how the Chicago faithful vocalized their feelings for Dalton. He has message for them.
Chill.
“I really think it’s kind of disrespectful to Andy, them cheering my name out like that,” Fields told reporters, per NBC Sports. “Just cheer him on, you know? That’s not helping Andy play better, to cheer my name. That’s not doing none of that. My advice to them would be just cheer whoever’s on the field.”
‘Andy is a human being’
Fields made sure to acknowledge the fans for their enthusiasm over him. He just prefers that they treat Dalton like a person with actual feelings.
“The fans are awesome, but they also have to realize Andy is a human being too,” Fields said.
This all sounds reasonable. But the word “fan” isn’t short for reasonable human being. It’s short for “fanatic.” So fans will do as fans do. And it’s also quite reasonable that Bears fans don’t want to see any more of Dalton playing quarterback.
It doesn’t sound like they’ll get their wish to start the regular season. Head coach Matt Nagy is insistent that Dalton will get his shot when the games actually mean something.
“We need to see him in the regular season,” Nagy said of Dalton after Saturday’s game.
Here’s guessing that’s not a plan for fans to fulfill Fields’ wish.
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