“I don’t think I played good enough, if I’m being real with you,” Is what Justin Fields told ESPN’s Brook Pryor.
“If I’m being real with myself, I think if I did play well enough, I don’t think there would be any sort of who should be playing, who should not.” Fields went on to say.
This statement has sat with me since I read it this morning, and I am not sure what to make of it.
On one hand, I think this is very humble of Fields, something I would never expect to hear from Kenny Pickett. I believe it is the right mentality for someone who knows they have room to grow. I think Fields knows where he stands with the Steelers and I think he understands that the starting position is his for the taking in the future, if he can prove it.
On the other hand, it bothers me a little bit because I was all in on fields, I still am.
Coming off the Kenny Pickett saga and disastrous way the Steelers back office went about that whole situation, I am glad in a way. I don’t want to see Fields throwing a hissy fit like KP did when Russell Wilson was traded for. I also don’t want to see animosity between Fields and Wilson, or coaching staff for that matter.
I think Fields handled himself in a professional manner, but I also wanted to see some fire. The statements from Fields feels a bit more like rolling over. When asked if he was satisfied with how the first six games of the season went, Fields went on to say “Not really. I mean, I want to be 6-0 right now, but it was a great opportunity for me,” He continued “Of course, I’m grateful for the opportunity. I did get those first six weeks, and we’ll just see what happens.”
Again, a humbling response, but not what I wanted. For the first time in a long time I have been watching the Steelers play without feeling defeated after the first quarter. Even when the Steelers were down 17-3 at the half against the Indianapolis Colts this season, I wasn’t ready to turn the T.V. off. Good thing too because even though it was a loss, I was screaming with excitement until the last drive.
Fields has brought this feeling of confidence back to the Burgh and I for one am not willing to just let it go without a fight. I want Fields to stick up for himself. If he won’t say it I will, this offensive line stinks out loud, and he is doing a damn good job given what he has to work with.
I for one do not see Russell Wilson faring as well coming off a calf injury. Not after he was the 4th most sacked QB last season with 45 sacks, not to mention the rust of not playing in a regular season game since December of last year. I hope I’m wrong, but why chance it?
Honestly, I think the penalties in the Colts game, and the fact that they were playing well into the next day on the Sunday night matchup against the Cowboys, the Steelers could be 6-0 right now. Unfortunately, the Steelers are 4-2 (feels weird saying unfortunately at a 4-2 start) and this is enough for the Steelers to throw Wilson into the mix.
Fields is being a bigger man than I am though, saying that “I’m just doing the same thing I was doing,” Fields said. “I just do my job at the end of the day and whether that’s playing, it’s helping the guys out on the sideline, tell him what I see, helping the rest out if he’s out there. So just small stuff like that.”
To that, I say good on you Justin. Keep up this mentality, learn from Russ, and when you are inevitably called upon, show them what you’ve learned and what you can do. Until then, I for one will be hyper critical of Wilson’s play, I hope it’s good, but I’ll be the first one screaming to put Fields in if we are behind in a game.
