FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields, shrugging off criticism from group proprietor Woody Johnson, stated he’s not looking for a dialog to clear the air. And he doesn’t count on Johnson to method him.
“I don’t assume me speaking to him goes to do something,” Fields stated Wednesday after apply. “It’s not going to make me play higher. It’s not going to offer me extra confidence on the sphere, so I don’t assume there’s essentially some extent in speaking about that, and I doubt he’ll come and discuss to me.”
Fields is struggling mightily for the Jets and could possibly be on the verge of shedding his job to Tyrod Taylor. The muddled quarterback state of affairs took an sudden flip Tuesday, when Johnson, chatting with reporters on the NFL’s fall assembly in New York, blamed Fields for the 0-7 begin.
“I’m undecided how he feels in regards to the state of affairs in any respect, however, I imply, I don’t have any plans going as much as press him about what he stated,” Fields stated. “Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. That’s simply what it’s, however you simply have a alternative or not whether or not these opinions have an effect on you or not.”
Fields stated he wasn’t conscious of Johnson’s feedback till knowledgeable by reporters, though the matter was addressed by Aaron Glenn earlier within the morning group assembly, the coach stated.
The quarterback isn’t notably shut with Johnson. Fields stated they met for the primary time earlier than a latest recreation, including that their relationship consists of fast chats earlier than video games.
“It doesn’t hassle me,” he stated of the proprietor’s criticism. “After all, everyone is aware of I have to play higher and we have to play higher as a group. And, in fact, irrespective of how the offense does as a unit, I’m going to get the blame. And I perceive that — that’s simply what comes with the job. You possibly can’t let something have an effect on your thoughts.
“Irrespective of if it’s him, irrespective of if it’s relations, even teammates, generally there’s going to be instances the place it’s a must to be the one one who believes in your self.”
Fields, 26, who’s beneath contract by way of 2026, declined to deal with the potential of a commerce request. It might be troublesome to commerce his contract, which incorporates $10 million in assured wage in 2026.
“I don’t like answering these questions, these — quote, unquote — what-if questions,” he stated. “I’m not going to do this. That’s not going to do something for me. That’s not going to do something for this group. If something, that’s going to placed on a topic that the group’s going to not deal with, and the most important focus proper now’s this recreation on Sunday. In order that’s simply going to fire up extra stuff that we don’t want.”
Johnson created the firestorm when, unsolicited, he alluded to Fields’ poor play, saying, “It’s laborious when you might have a quarterback with a score that he’s obtained. I imply, he has means, however one thing simply shouldn’t be jiving.”
Johnson additionally stated, “If we are able to simply full a cross, it could look good.”
Glenn stated he and Johnson are “on the identical web page” with regard to personnel. On Wednesday, Glenn declined to call his starter for Sunday towards the Cincinnati Bengals, saying he desires to create a aggressive benefit by retaining the Bengals at midnight. All indications level to Taylor changing Fields.