When the Chicago Bears signed Andy Dalton in the offseason, it sent their fan base into a slight anger and had them mocking the pickup on social media. When the Bears traded up in the 2021 NFL Draft and selected Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, that anger turned to happiness.

Many expect Dalton will still be the starter to begin the season for the Bears, and that's his expectation as well. Dalton spoke on his situation and his circumstances via the Chicago Sun Times.

“He’s a first-round pick, I understand that,’’ Dalton said. ‘‘But I also understand that I’m the starter. I understand that. I knew I signed a one-year deal. I knew that I was going to come in and I was going to be the starter, regardless of the situation, coming in. That’s my focus. I’m not worried about all the stuff that’s going to be going on with Justin because that doesn’t affect me.”

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Dalton's thoughts seem to be fairly rational on the situation in Chicago but the big issue is that it's almost a foregone conclusion that at the first sign of any struggles, Bears fans and others will be pleading for Fields to be inserted as the starting quarterback.

The role for Dalton reverses what his gig was supposed to be last year with the Cowboys, as the backup for Dak Prescott. But after Prescott suffered a season ending injury, Dalton was named the starter for the long run and he parlayed it into his gig with the Bears. Now, he'll look to build off the momentum he gained a season ago in Dallas.