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This is such a foolish argument.
Whenever I criticize giving Justin Fields a two-year deal for $40 million with $30 million guaranteed, people on social media keeping reponding – “That isn’t a lot of money for a quarterback these days.”
Yes, it’s not a lot of money compared to some of the quarterbacks making north of $50 million, but to me, that is irrelevent.
It’s apples to oranges.
Just because Fields contract is nowhere near top dollar compared to the $50-$60 million club, it’s still a bad deal.
As Bill Parcells often said, “You are what your record says it is.”
Fields record was 14-30 as an NFL starter when he signed his deal with the Jets. Why would you give a QB with that record $30 million guaranteed after watching his film over the first four years in the NFL?
Look, it’s awesome for Fields, who is a good man, to get that kind of money, but it makes little sense from a cap/value standpoint.
And long-time Steelers insider Gerry Dulac said as much after Fields inked his deal with the Jets.
“I’m sure they [Pittsburgh] didn’t expect him [Fields] to get that kind of offer. The guy won 10 games in three years in Chicago and played six games last year,” Dulac said on NFL Network. “That is not a quality body of work to get a $40 million dollar two-year deal, but that is what we see in free agency. That is what we see from teams like the Jets and Browns who make decisions like that.”
So can we stop with the argument that is was a bargain deal for a starting QB. That is an argument filled with holes.
To me, a good contract would have been what Jameis Winston got from the Giants, a two year deal for $8 million with $5.3 million guranteed.
I’m not being a wise guy. I’m being dead serious.
The Fields deal was profligate.
To me, he’s the kind of guy yout take a flyer with a reasonable deal and let him compete for the starting job in the spring in summer.
Not $30 million guaranteed and anointing him the starter in March.
Both were dubious decisions . . .
I’m not a scout, and I don’t play one on TV, but I love Alabama QB Ty Simpson, and is he should absolutely be on the Jets’ radar.
A little snip-it about him from Crimson Tide beatwriter Chase Goodbread from the Tuscaloosa News:
“He led touchdown drives of 91 and 99 yards to help deliver Alabama’s fourth consecutive win over a nationally-ranked opponent (Tennessee). That streak began with a road win at Georgia, followed by wins over Vandy and Missouri, who both entered play against Alabama at 5-0.”
Remember when the Jets were considering BYU’s Zach Wilson in the draft, there was some concern about the weak schedule the Cougars played, beating the likes of North Alabama, Troy and Western Kentucky. Well there is no such concern here. Simpson is beating big-time opponents.
While might not have ideal size (6-2, 208), this son of a football coach sees the field well and has terrific pocket instincts.
I’m just throwing in my two cents with the Jets likely to pick a QB in the first round next year.
I love this guy . . .
One of the more surprising aspect to the Jets 0-7 seasons is how their offensive line is playing.
No doubt there has been some good run blocking along the way, but the pass protection hasn’t been good most of the season.
Now, clearly, one issue is Justin Fields tends to hold the ball too long, but that isn’t the whole story.
The Jets offensive line could do a better job on switchoff blocks against stunts and blitzes. This has been a problem all year with opponents throwing a lot of stunts and blitzes at the Jets front, and them often not handling those strategies well.
A few weeks ago, Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans was asked about his team’s issue dealing with blitzes, and said about opponents, “They are going to keep doing it until we show we can stop it.”
And that is certainly been the case with Jets opponents.
It’s a little surprising how many protection issues the Jets are having upfront, considering the amount of talent they have on their offensive line. Granted Alijah Vera-Tucker is injured, but you have two first round offensive tackles, Joe Tippmann who moved from center to guard was a second-round pick, and the other two guys, center Josh Myers, and guard John Simpson, are long-time NFL starters.
Much has been made about how the Jets hired an offensive play-caller who never called plays on the NFL level.
Something else to consider. They hired an offensive line coach, Steve Heiden, a former NFL tight end, who was a tight end’s coach his previous six years in the NFL, and who’s only experience coaching offensive linemen was as the Arizona Cardinals assistant offensive line coach in 2018.
So just like their offensive coordinator, their offensive line coach doesn’t have a ton of experience doing his current job.
Look, I think Heiden is a excellent tight end’s coach, but the jury is still out on him as an offensive line coach. That shouldn’t be considered a shot at Heiden, who is a good man, but just based on the protection issues we have seen from the Jets O-Line.
Once again, a chunk of this is related to Fields holding the ball too long, but it’s not all of it.
October 20, 2025.
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