After the New York Jets' owner, Woody Johnson laced into his quarterback, Justin Fields, the franchise that has continued to embarrass itself, somehow outdid itself.
The New York Jets find themselves in an incredibly awkward position.
After head coach Aaron Glenn benched quarterback Justin Fields in favor of journeyman Tyrod Taylor, it was later reported that Taylor has been battling a knee injury and is now considered day-to-day.
But it gets worse.
The news is on the heels of Jets owner Woody Johnson lacing into Fields’ play.
"You know, it's hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that we've got," Johnson said. "He has ability, but something is just not jiving. But if you look at any head coach with a quarterback like that, you're going to see similar results across the league. You have to play consistently at that position, and that's what we're going to try to do… If we could just complete a pass, it would look good. We got to complete some passes."
It’s not exactly a ringing endorsement to hear that your boss, who’s paying you $30 million. guaranteed, thinks you essentially stink.
Now just imagine, after getting benched, and then getting ripped by the owner, you just may have to play and represent him as well.
A big narrative around sports fans is that if an athlete is going through tough times, it’s not so bad because at least they’re making a decent living.
But in the end, they’re still people, and no one wants to hear that the reason your team is doing poorly is solely because of you.
Fields is no stranger to adversity though. He had to play for the Chicago Bears, a franchise that has virtually been wallowing in mediocrity-hell and then was ultimately benched for his one season in Pittsburgh.
But that benching wasn’t even his fault – he actually performed well, only turning the ball over once and leading the Steelers to a 4-2 record before Russell Wilson returned from injury.
Luckily for Fields, being the ultimate professional, he responded to Johnson’s comments by taking the high road.
"It doesn't bother me. It doesn't. Of course, everybody knows I need to play better. We need to play better as a team. And, of course, no matter how the offense does as a unit, I'm gonna get the blame. And I understand that. That's just what comes with the job. But honestly, it's what comes with it. So you can't let anything kind of affect your mind, my mind, and that's what it is."
He can say that, and it may be true, but it doesn’t take away that things have quickly soured.
It’s one thing if the fans complain about your game, but the owner complained to the media?
Regardless, if he does have to suit up and start this week against the Cincinnati Bengals, get your steak knives out, because you’ll need a sharp one to cut the tension that’s building amongst Gang Green.