The Pittsburgh Steelers traded a conditional draft pick to the Chicago Bears for quarterback Justin Fields shortly after signing Russell Wilson. They intended to hold a quarterback competition for their vacant job. However, a calf injury sidelined Wilson, paving the way for Fields to become the starter. Across six games, the Steelers went 4-2, with the young quarterback accounting for 10 total touchdowns and only one interception. However, head coach Mike Tomlin opted to replace him with Wilson in week seven and kept it that way the rest of the year.
After going 4-1 in his first five starts, the former Pro Bowler finished 2-5 down the stretch, capped by an ugly performance in the playoffs against Baltimore. Rumors persisted that many in the locker room weren’t happy that Fields was benched and wanted him re-inserted. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Pittsburgh intended to rectify this mistake by bringing Fields back. However, that decision came back to bite them in the end as the quarterback opted to take a deal with the New York Jets.
Justin Fields taught the Steelers an important lesson.
Don’t expect to toy with a player’s emotions and not face consequences. Justin Fields had every right to feel slighted after playing well through those first six games. Benching him was one thing, but keeping Wilson in after he started struggling in December was confirmation that Pittsburgh never really gave him a fair chance. Wilson had always been the guy they intended to start. Fields was merely insurance. Now the Steelers are left in the lurch. They have no clear starting quarterback, and their best hope is pursuing a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who, by all accounts, isn’t overly enthusiastic about playing for them. They’re in no position to draft anybody. For all the talk about the Steelers being a destination, it sure looks like they’ve lost some of their aura.
@rcheezzy Fields is happy to have a coach and a coordinator who understands football. Aaron Glenn. and Tanner Engstrand are both from the same Lions team that brought us Ben Johnson. The focus on developing talent (and playing talent) is obvious. They drafted Gibbs, LaPorta, the entire offensive line, Jameson Williams, St. Brown, and MADE Jared Goff effective. They can think, rather than take a “scheme,” and force players into that scheme. Fields has needed that since he left OSU. I don’t know how good Engstrand is, but he seemed to value the same things Johnson did. It may take… Read more »
Dr. Steven Sallie “Principled?” Tradition calls itself “principled.” Old calls itself “principled.” Some people call “rule of law,” a principle until they are breaking it left and right and then it’s a hindrance. “Principle,” only works when you identify values, and stick to them – or change them because you were wrong. If you argue both for a “meritocracy” AND “seniority,” AND “the standard is the standard,” you’re creeping pretty close to “full of shit.” Tomlin is scared of “new guys.” He’s scared of rookies, draft picks, young players and new acquisitions. He sat Fields, didn’t suit up Roman Wilson… Read more »
I think Fields is happy just to be in a city where he’s wanted and appreciated. One where he’s got the actual chance to be the teams starting QB for the season. Obviously the Jets see the potential in him. I hope Fields plays well this season and really makes Pittsburgh feel his loss.
People write about feeling, but they are secondary to other values. Fields never had good coaches. Obviously everyone agrees that Luke Getsy was not a stellar offensive coordinator. If people with to argue, they can visit the Raiders press before and after he was fired faster than Shane Waldron. Arthur Smith has not proven himself to be genius, just stable, and after high school drama of the Bears, Fields accepted that, but the Jets offered him coaching. And then a chance to start. And then money. And then his OSU comrades. And then a chance to let Mike Tomlin know… Read more »
I think the only reason Fields played the first six games is Pittsburgh wanted to get the Bears’ hopes up for the 4th round pick then pulled the plug