Russell Wilson’s relationship with Justin Fields predates their time shared with the Steelers, and, he says, will postdate it, too. Each quarterbacks are on new groups this season—even when they are going to play in the identical stadium—however Wilson made it clear lately that he nonetheless has Fields’ again.
“Justin [Fields] is my man. I’ve been capable of join with Justin since he was at Ohio State”, Wilson stated on 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony. “At all times rooting for him. And his household I’ve gotten near, too, slightly bit. Clearly, sharing the identical room, simply to be a mentor for him and to have the ability to join. … I’m at all times rooting for him. He’s gonna be an incredible participant for certain. He’s a younger stud”.
Whereas with the Steelers, Russell Wilson talked about his prior historical past with Justin Fields. Earlier than Pittsburgh even traded for Fields, Wilson stated the 2 talked about enjoying collectively there. Fields was in a no-win scenario, with the Bears set to draft a quarterback first general. He had little say in his vacation spot, however he informed Chicago he most popular Pittsburgh over different choices.
The plan was for Justin Fields to spend a yr regrouping, studying behind Russell Wilson. A coaching camp damage, nonetheless, sidelined Wilson for the primary six video games of the common season. Fields began these video games, serving to the workforce to a 4-2 report, and enjoying a number of the greatest soccer of his profession. It wasn’t sufficient, nonetheless, for HC Mike Tomlin to declare him the starter.
After six video games, he put in Russell Wilson into the offense, sending Justin Fields to the bench. At no level did he or the Steelers ever designate Fields a starter—in actual fact, they went out of their method to not. And even late within the season, when Wilson was struggling, they resisted enjoying Fields.
But after the season ended, the Steelers needed to re-sign Justin Fields, not Russell Wilson. Certainly, Wilson actively campaigned to stay in Pittsburgh, whereas Fields was sometimes silent. Throughout this podcast with Anthony, he additionally bore no sick will to the previous workforce that turned a chilly shoulder to him.
“Pittsburgh was an excellent place for me”, he stated, describing it as a spot that helped him “rejuvenate”. On the identical day, Fields, in distinction, had little emotion left over his time in Pittsburgh. Requested about enjoying the Steelers in Week 1, he provided no response past, “That’s who we play”.
With Fields on the Jets and Wilson on the Giants, the 2 groups sharing amenities, they need to have loads of alternative to see each other, not less than in idea, in the event that they so selected. Fields signed a two-year, $0 million contract, a deal that included $30 million assured. The Steelers had been by no means going to come back near that, particularly with $10 million assured in Yr 2.
As an alternative, in fact, they’re sitting right here with Mason Rudolph, ready for Aaron Rodgers. Whereas they let the Jets outbid them for Justin Fields, they’d each alternative to re-sign Russell Wilson. Presumably after watching how the offense fell aside on the finish of the season, they determined it was greatest for each events to go their separate methods. He and Fields, too, went their separate methods after sharing a locker room for one season. However Wilson insists the bond they cast isn’t going anyplace.
