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It was a little surprising the Jets named Justin Fields the starting QB at the owners meeting in Palm Beach a few weeks ago.
Now, most people assumed that he would be the starter after the organization gave him a two-year deal for $40 million with $30 million guaranteed, but considering his 14-30 as an NFL starter, some thought maybe they’d have an open competition between Fields and Tyrod Taylor, who has a NFL starting record of 28-28-1.
But here is the thing – Aaron Glenn isn’t like so many other coaches, and even GMs, over the years here, we have cross paths with around here.
He’s not a confirmation bias guy.
He’s going to run a meritocracy.
If Fields is clearly not the answer, and he is struggling, and the team is floundering. Glenn will make a change.
I’m not saying Fields will struggle or the team will flounder. It’s not a prediction, but if it does happen, Glenn’s not just going to sit there and keep rolling with the QB, or even a defensive end who can’t set the edge for that matter, because he’s afraid to insult somebody by pulling them.
He learned a lot from Bill Parcells, who used to say, “Put away the anointing oil.”
I just think Glenn named Fields the starter at this time for a couple of reasons:
First off, nothing the media loves better than QB competition or a quarterback controversy, whatever you want to call it. The tabloids eat that up.
So let’s say this spring and summer, there was an open competition between Fields and Taylor, you would be hearing all about those absurd QB stats from practice every day, and who was doing better.
QB practice stats are Kabuki Theatre because you can’t touch the QB, so the plays go on longer than usual, and sometimes the QB is experimenting with ball placement with receivers, like on fade routes, so they are not focused on stats, but getting on the same page for the season. Also, young receivers will sometimes run the wrong route as they learn the system, leading to interceptions, and the “stat crew” will still blame the QB sometimes, not knowing it was the receiver’s fault.
Now the “stat crew” will still do stats even without a competition, unless Glenn perhaps tells them to “knock it off,” but it won’t be viewed through the prism of a QB competition, where they compare who is doing “better,” if you will, since Fields has already been named the starter.
Also, by making Fields the starter noiw, he will be all the starting reps, and he needs as many reps as he can get, to continue his matural process as an NFL QB. Taylor has proven he doesn’t need a lot of reps to go into a game an function. He’s the quintessential relief pitcher.
In Indianapolis, they are going to have an open quarterback competition between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson, and somebody recently asked a great question to Colts coach Shane Steichen about the danger of Richardson losing reps.
Everybody said when Richardson arrived in Indy that he needed a lot of reps, in practice and games, because he only started 13 games in college (Florida).
So the question was about how the QB competition, with Jones and Richardson, splitting starting reps, will take away much-needed reps from Richardson.
Fair point.
So by naming Fields the starter now, he will get all the starting reps in the spring and summer, reps he desperately needs, and Taylor does not.
But don’t think for a second if Fields is struggling and not getting the job done early in the season, Glenn will stay with him come hell or high water.
That isn’t how Glenn operates.
April 15, 2025
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