Fields Shrugs Off Jets Owner’s Criticism of His Play

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – So, the Jets are having a bit of a rough patch, right? We’re talking a 0-7 start, quarterback controversies swirling, and now… the team owner chiming in with his two cents. It’s been a wild ride, and the latest twist involves Jets quarterback Justin Fields and team owner Woody Johnson.

Now, typically, you’d expect a team owner to rally behind their players, especially during a tough season. But Johnson took a different route, offering some, shall we say, candid feedback on Fields’ performance. The gist? He wasn’t exactly thrilled.

But here’s the thing about Fields: he’s not letting it get to him. In fact, he’s pretty much shrugging it off.

"I don’t think me talking to him is going to do anything," Fields said coolly after practice on Wednesday. "It’s not going to make me play better. It’s not going to give me more confidence on the field, so I don’t think there’s necessarily a point in talking about that, and I doubt he’ll come and talk to me."

Boom. Mic drop? Maybe not quite, but it’s a clear statement that Fields is focused on his game, not on smoothing things over with the owner.

The Backstory: Owner’s Honest (Brutal?) Assessment

So, what exactly did Johnson say that prompted this reaction? Well, speaking to reporters at the NFL’s fall meeting in New York, he didn’t mince words. He essentially blamed Fields for the Jets’ less-than-stellar record. Ouch.

Johnson said, "It’s hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that he’s got. I mean, he has ability, but something just is not jiving." He even added, "If we can just complete a pass, it would look good."

Now, that’s the kind of comment that can send shockwaves through a team. It’s one thing to acknowledge that the team is struggling, but it’s another to single out a player, especially the quarterback, in such a public way.

Fields’ Response: No Biggie

But Fields? He’s taking it in stride. He said he wasn’t even aware of Johnson’s comments until reporters filled him in. And his reaction? Pretty chill, all things considered.

"I’m not sure how he feels about the situation at all, but, I mean, I don’t have any plans going up to press him about what he said," Fields said. "Everybody’s entitled to their opinion. That’s just what it is, but you just have a choice or not whether those opinions affect you or not."

In other words, Johnson can say what he wants, but Fields isn’t going to let it derail him. He knows he needs to play better, and he’s focused on doing just that.

The Bigger Picture: A Quarterback in Crisis?

Of course, there’s more to this story than just a disagreement between a player and an owner. Fields is facing some serious challenges on the field. The Jets’ offense has been sputtering, and there’s a real possibility that he could lose his starting job to veteran Tyrod Taylor.

This isn’t exactly a new situation for Fields. He’s been under pressure to perform since he arrived in New York, and the criticism has only intensified as the team has struggled. But he’s trying to stay positive and focus on what he can control.

"It doesn’t bother me," he said of the owner’s criticism. "Of course, everybody knows I need to play better and we need to play better as a team. And, of course, no matter how the offense does as a unit, I’m going to get the blame. And I understand that — that’s just what comes with the job. You can’t let anything affect your mind."

The Future: Uncertainty Looms

So, what’s next for Fields and the Jets? Well, that’s the million-dollar question. The team needs to find a way to turn things around, and Fields needs to show that he can be the quarterback they believe he can be.

But there are also some bigger questions looming. Fields is under contract through 2026, but his future with the team is far from certain. Would he consider asking for a trade if things don’t improve?

He’s not going there, at least not publicly. "I don’t like answering those questions, those — quote, unquote — what-if questions," he said. "I’m not going to do that. That’s not going to do anything for me. That’s not going to do anything for this team. If anything, that’s going to put on a subject that the team’s going to not focus on, and the biggest focus right now is this game on Sunday. So that’s just going to stir up more stuff that we don’t need."

The Coach’s Take: Playing it Close to the Vest

Jets coach Aaron Glenn is playing it coy when it comes to naming his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He says he wants to create a competitive advantage by keeping the Bengals guessing. But all signs point to Taylor taking over for Fields.

Glenn did say that he and Johnson are "on the same page" when it comes to personnel decisions. But he didn’t elaborate on what that means for Fields’ future with the team.

The Bottom Line: A Team in Turmoil

The Jets are a team in turmoil right now. They’re struggling on the field, there’s uncertainty at the quarterback position, and the owner is publicly criticizing his players. It’s not exactly a recipe for success.

Whether Fields can turn things around and salvage his career with the Jets remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: he’s not going to let the noise outside the locker room distract him from the task at hand. He’s focused on playing better, and he’s not going to let anyone, not even the team owner, shake his confidence.

Now, whether that’s enough to save his job, or the Jets’ season, is a whole other story. But for now, Fields is doing his best to stay above the fray and focus on the game. And in the crazy world of the NFL, sometimes that’s all you can do.