FS1 hosts excited to see more dysfunction from Steelers than Jets

NFL schedule-makers must have a crystal ball brimming with future storylines. There’s no other way to describe how the Jets and Steelers wound up in primetime the same week that New York reunited Davante Adams with Aaron Rodgers and, as all signs are indicating, Russell Wilson will make his Pittsburgh debut. While head coach Mike Tomlin hasn’t officially named Wilson the starter, Wilson appeared to confirm it on Thursday.

“It’s the first game of the year for me,” Wilson said, courtesy of beat writer Mike DeFabo. “But I’ve been fortunate to be in a lot of first games. So, the confidence is there obviously.”

Before Wilson took first-team reps and led the quarterbacks through individual drills, as ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor noted Thursday, the best logic for the move to Wilson came from Albert Breer early in the week. And despite what some believe, yes, Tomlin could easily switch back to Fields at any point this season and keep the respect of his locker room, especially if Wilson plays poorly. After all, Tomlin has started his distinguished career with an NFL-record 17 consecutive seasons without a losing record. And, obviously, the Steelers already have plenty of Fields packages to complement Wilson.

And if Tomlin does go back to Fields as the starter, the young quarterback should be better, judging by how he’s handling the situation with poise. His comments drew the praise of three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt on Thursday. Fields took accountability for his play, even though he was on pace for 3,134 passing yards with 14 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. He was also on pace to rush for 14 touchdowns.

But the best reaction to the expected quarterback change for the Steelers may have come Thursday morning from FS1’s Breakfast Ball panel. When the Steelers (4-2) host the Jets (2-4) on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), the hosts said they’re more interested in watching the Steelers on offense than Rodgers and Adams.

“I think it’s crazy what Mike Tomlin is doing,” said Danny Parkins. “I mean, we’ve telegraphed Davante Adams to the Jets since before the season started. And we’ve been talking about Russ, but we didn’t think that Justin Fields was going to win this many games. So, if Russ plays poorly, are Steelers fans going to boo Russ? Are Steelers fans going to chant for Justin fields? Are teammates going to be caught mic’d up saying something if Russ doesn’t look good? This is a level of dysfunction that we’re not normally used to with the Steelers, who are an organization of stability.”

Former Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth agreed.

“There’s a kind of car-accident quality to what Pittsburgh is doing right now,” Schlereth said. “Like, I have got to rubber-neck and look to see exactly what goes down with this quarterback situation. This one is interesting to me because you’re 4-2; don’t create your own quarterback controversy. And they’ve done it. They’ve created a quarterback controversy, and I’m excited to watch that.”

Lifelong Jets fan Craig Carton finished off the discussion with a zinger.

“I am actually excited to see a team that does not have a history of being dysfunctional be more dysfunctional than my team.”