Ever since free agent quarterback Justin Fields signed on the dotted line with the Jets, head coach Aaron Glenn has trumpeted his guy's ability to remain unfazed, repel any outside noise and stay focused.
That continued to be the case during Tuesday's joint practice with the Giants at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, the first of two days facing the Green & White's co-tenant at MetLife Stadium ahead of Saturday's annual preseason meeting between the teams. The Giants' defense, particularly the talented and hard-charging line, was a challenge for the Jets' offense, but Fields & Co. came on strong late, improvising and completing a pass with a sidearm throw in the red zone for a TD.
"I keep telling you guys [reporters] the same thing every day about who he is," Glenn said. "He's a mature man and the outside noise does not bother him. And I don't know how many times I've got to say this, but that's not going to change with him. He's going to continue to get better and better and better, and not allow anything on the outside to bother him, and just do his job and keep improving. Man, those are really, some of the traits that I liked about him, that he's just unfazed, and he's always here."
As he said those last words, Glenn raised his hand to indicate a guy on an even keel.
"So did it surprise me that he did it?" Glenn said. "That's just who he is. So I expect it from him all the time."
After improvising and running for a TD on the Jets' opening drive last Saturday at Green Bay in the preseason opener, Fields calmly and clearly talked about a profound change in his approach. One that he attributed to a religious awakening about six months ago.
"A lot has gone into that," Fields said about how he's remained stoic through his time in Chicago, Pittsburgh and now with the Jets. "I would say experiences, for sure. But also, I think about my relationship with God. I don't play for anybody's approval. You guys [reporters] are all going to have your opinions, and I'm never going to take any of it personal. It doesn't matter."
He added: "It doesn't really affect life. It doesn't affect the way we live. So if you look at it from that perspective, the bigger perspective, it has zero meaning to me, to anybody. And, you know, God controls everything that happens in this world. So I just let people be and let them speak. And as I said, that's not going to affect me whatsoever."
One of Fields' protectors on the offensive line, RG Alijah Vera-Tucker, said he thought the offense got off to a slow start on Tuesday but that his QB was the one who brought the energy. "So he's a real special man, a special talent," AVT said. "Really excited to be playing with a quarterback like that."
In the oddest of coincidences, Fields and veteran QB Russell Wilson were the signal callers in Pittsburgh last season. Now they are with new teams, the two NFL franchises in the New York metropolitan area. To add to the story, the Jets open the season against the visiting Steelers and their likely starting QB, Aaron Rodgers.
"I learned a lot from him," Fields, who had a 4-2 record as a starter in Pittsburgh, said of Wilson. "He's been in the league for a long time [13 years], and he's kind of a mentor to me and a friend. We were texting before we got out here today. I mean, since I've known him since college, he's been awesome, an awesome mentor, an awesome person. It was great learning from him last year, and great being in the same room last year.
"We're just happy for each other. Kind of crazy how it worked out. We're both in the same city, but we didn't talk about too much, and didn't get really any specific, we're just both happy that we were able to find a new home."
Fields is preparing for his fifth season in the NFL after being selected by Chicago with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft when the Bears traded up in a deal with ... the Giants. After three challenging seasons he moved on to Pittsburgh and now a home with the welcoming Jets.
He's ingesting another new playbook, though he's adamant that the book that's made the biggest difference in his life is one of the oldest and best-selling -- the Bible.
"I'm reading the Bible every day, and so I'm being real," he said. "There's some great lines, some great wisdom that I didn't even know of. I'm low-key addicted, getting my Bible each and every day, because I learn something new every day, and I'm able to apply it in my everyday life. I was sleeping on reading the Bible earlier in my life, and I wish I would have started it earlier. Go read a little bit starting with Proverbs, and move on from there."
