Jaquan Brisker calls for the NFL to address ''reckless '' late hits on Justin Fields.
Jaquan Brisker hasn't held back on this issue before, and he's not about to start now.
The second-year safety for the Bears has consistently criticized NFL officials for allowing opposing defenses to deliver late hits on quarterback Justin Fields without consequences. Despite the Bears submitting numerous instances to the league office, Fields continues to be hit after the whistle.
This situation repeated itself on the opening play of Sunday's 28-13 victory over the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Fields embarked on a quarterback run, slid, and was hit late by Lions linebacker Jack Campbell. Surprisingly, no flag was thrown, despite protests from Fields and head coach Matt Eberflus.
Brisker has reached his breaking point. He stated on Monday at Halas Hall, "If it was us, they would be throwing it. It wouldn't even be a reaction. They would just throw it. I think they should just treat him fair. He's a quarterback. I know he's 230, and he's running a 4.3. But it doesn't really matter. He's still a quarterback, and we have to protect him. It's disappointing. Obviously, the other team is being told to do dirty stuff after the play -- hit him like this, a certain way. It's obviously being told just by the way they have been treating him these last couple weeks. A lot of shots to the head. It's very disappointing seeing a guy like that take hits like that. One of those hits, god forbid, could be something very bad. I think the league needs to get on that and notice that it's bad.»
Brisker highlighted that they've observed opposing teams attempting to disrupt Fields in subtle ways on film, and he believes the league needs to take action.
«You can just tell, just from the other team," Brisker said. "Coach Flus, he doesn't tell us to do anything like that. You can just tell just the way they hit him after the play. They just try -- you can just tell how they are trying to tug and how they are trying to do whatever they can to get him out the game. It's obvious. It's obvious. All them head shots. All of them late hits. Trying to mess with his hands and things like that. It's obvious. The league just has to protect the quarterback and we're going to protect ours at all times.»
Coach Eberflus expressed his frustration, revealing that he confronted the official on Sunday after Campbell's late hit on Fields went uncalled. The Bears are submitting specific plays to the league in the hope of securing the same protection for Fields that other star quarterbacks receive.
Fields has been proactive in seeking officials' calls. Three weeks earlier, in Detroit, he was repeatedly subjected to late hits or headshots, but no flags were thrown. Fields approached the officials to alert them to the late hits and other misconduct by the Lions' defenders, but his pleas were ignored.
Fields has received only five roughing the passer or unnecessary roughness penalties in the past two seasons, with all of them occurring last year, including two in the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
For comparison, Josh Allen leads the NFL this season with four roughing-the-passer calls. Lions quarterback Jared Goff received six such calls last season.
In Fields' last 24 starts, he has received just one roughing the passer call and four unnecessary roughness penalties, all of which came last year.
The Bears will continue to make their case to the league, hoping that Fields will receive the same level of protection as other quarterbacks in the league.
| POLL | ||
12 DECEMBRE | 31 ANSWERS Jaquan Brisker calls for the NFL to address ''reckless '' late hits on Justin Fields. Is Jaquan Brisker right about this? | ||
| Yes | 22 | 71 % |
| No | 9 | 29 % |
| List of polls | ||
