Yeah that's the bizarre thing here. Why do we give a shit about a QB controversy with a 35 year old Russell Wilson on a 1 year, vet minimum deal?
Tomlin should simply play the guy who is playing better, and considering Wilson is hurt, there is almost zero chance that Wilson is better than Fields right now. And even when Wilson gets healthy, Fields should keep the job if his play warrants it.
Well there's the bit where the controversy matters. What if when Wilson is healthy, Fields is playing well enough that taking the job away is awkward, but not so well that you don't want to find out what Wilson - notionally the better QB when fit - has because that might elevate the team's ceiling that crucial extra degree?
I mean, yeah, Wilson is a 35 year old on a 1 year vet minimum deal... but he's also the multiple award winning guy with a super bowl ring that the team brought in because, if you believe them, they want to win now. If they believe in him like that, then Fields being alright shouldn't matter to that decision, but it will.
Which is why I think a controversy matters. I'm not necessarily saying it's a bad thing, but it matters. Any time the narrative means the team's engine room are going to struggle to bring people along with what they believe in, it matters. Does Tomlin want to find himself in a position where after 5 games, he's having to win people over to keeping on with Wilson over Fields because he believes Wilson has the higher ceiling when integrated, but it's a bit slow and some guys think he's wrong? I doubt it. It's not ideal. It's the sort of little thing that snowballs.
So... I do think we should give a shit about QB drama.
The word I bristle at is 'unnecessary'. The more you believe there's potentially something great still left in Wilson, the more important it is to be cautious about his health. Even if you think you've got to just ignore that and stick Wilson in, you've got to be aware that a hindered QB has a damn good chance of generating drama all by himself.
There's nothing Tomlin can do about it except react to the situation. Dulac's been both stupid and a tosser for suggesting otherwise, which is really weird considering how often he's the Steelers tame reporter.