It is just to wonder if Justin Fields would be the quarter of the New York Jets at the moment if Mike Tomlin had not put it in the bench last season.
However, in his first media availability since his signature with the jets in March, Fields did not speak of any of his former coaches or teammates in Pittsburgh. There has been a lack of drama in the quarter comments – Florham Park will be different from what has been the last two years in this regard – but he said that last year’s configuration for the Steelers, with fields winning four of his six departures before returning to a rescue role behind a Russell Wilson entirely healthy, making it at least less than comfortable.
Consign that Fields was a five-star recruit coming out of the school, dominated after the transfer of the University of Georgia to the Ohio State, and was a choice of first round of the Chicago Bears in 2021. The Steelers ran an offense designed to minimize the risk, it is not as if Fields really flashes its talent last season, but Pittsburgh was 4-1
Fields, however, took the bench in stride, even if it was a new territory for him.
“I am a great supporter: everything happens for a reason,” said Fields on Wednesday. “I was put in a place (being a backup) where I was not in all my life. I tried to have a different perspective on this subject. Russ has been in the league for a long time. I learned a lot from him and I have to learn a different perspective of things … It was different for me in a space where I was not really comfortable. To change my perspective, improve yourself every day in practice. »»
Fields insisted that Tomlin put him in the bench last season to finally take into account his decision to sign with the jets rather than re-signing with the Steelers. Pittsburgh had the point of bringing him back as a potential starter in 2025, although it was not clear how much they reached the agreement of $ 40 million over two years which he signed with New York. (Pittsburgh has now turned his attention to … Aaron Rodgers, who remains available after the jets cut him with a post-June designation.)
“In this league, I have a state of mind that you cannot take personal things,” said Fields. “I was just excited for what the jets are going here with (Aaron Glenn) and with coaches staff and just like that. It had nothing to do with Pittsburgh but the opportunity I had here to have an impact and get things done. ”
Glenn and the jet coaches staff feel like they can exploit Fields’ potential in a way that neither the Steelers nor Bears could-to really let him play the quarter position beyond the use of his skills as a quarter-rear in progress.
“We are going to let him play the quarter-Arrière,” Glenn said at the League meeting in March. “This is what he always wanted to do. I am not saying that he did not have the chance to do this in other places, it is not my problem, but I know what I want to do with this player. I obviously want to use his legs but also I want to give him a chance to go there and play a quarter.”
In three seasons in Chicago, Fields only completed 60.3% of its passes and launched 40 affected with 30 interceptions, although it rushed for 2,220 yards and 14 affected. During his first year in Pittsburgh, he completed a career summit of 65.8% of his passes, but did not make an average of 6.9 yards per attempt, which classified 26th of the 43 passers -by with at least 150 attempts. It has passed for more than 200 yards in just two of its six departures.
“I did what I was asked to do,” said Fields. “I have never had a problem with that. I have always been a team player. I have always recommended putting myself behind the team. I’m not going to have too deep what was going on in Chicago or what happened last year at Pittsburgh. But I am grateful for all the experiences I had. I think that the more you have more time in the league, the more experience you have in this year.
This will not hurt to have one of his favorite targets of the University for the Tour: the star recipient Garrett Wilson, who played with Fields at Ohio State in 2020. They have been in contact over the years and the fields have declared themselves by ending up with him in recent weeks, it had not been passed.
“It’s great,” said Fields. “We played together at university and when I saw it, it’s really like time. I don’t think our relationship has jumped a beat, so of course, I’m really excited to play with him and ruck (the tight wing Jeremy Ruckert) and (in the center) Josh Myers. I am excited for that and the things we can do to do better.”
(Photo: Chris Unger / Getty Images)
