I’m not entirely sure what Mike Tomlin was supposed to say yesterday. The question was going to come up and he knew it just like the rest of us. “Are you ready to make Justin Fields your starting quarterback?” The only response other than what Tomlin said that would have been better would have been a Samuel L. Jackson “Hell no Mother…!” I think you get the picture.
There was and is, no need for Tomlin to declare anything regarding his QB situation. Honestly, what would change? It wouldn’t suddenly make Russell Wilson’s calf heal any faster. It wouldn’t do anything for team morale because they’re clearly behind Justin Fields right now. And it wouldn’t do anything for Fields simply because he knows “where he stands.” He’s preparing to start his fourth straight game either way.
There used to be a time in sports where an injured player would slide right back into their starting spot once healthy. Those days ended decades ago to be honest and the only time that rule really applies is when we are talking about a true “great” or “difference maker” in their sport. Back in the early 1990’s Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson made that abundantly clear when he said that he “treated all players the same – differently.” There are in fact different rules for some players and Mike Tomlin is in no hurry to go down that road simply because he doesn’t have to.
As long as Justin Fields continues to do things that help the Steelers win games and isn’t making the type of mistakes that cost you games, then there’s little reason to remove him from the job. Wilson isn’t naive either. He sees what’s happening and he recognizes that with every positive snap and every win he gets further from the field. But Wilson also knows this is football. You’re always one snap away from being on the field full time again.
Mike Tomlin knows that and it’s part of the reason why naming a “number one quarterback” right now is not high on his priority list. After all, it’s only been three games.
