Connect with us

Sports

Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Mike Tomlin unite in goal #1

Published

on

PITTSBURGH — Ever since I’ve been coming to Pittsburgh, I’ve at all times been intrigued by the configuration of the rivers across the ballpark. The Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers converge near Acrisure Stadium to form the Ohio River and provide a gorgeous backdrop for a fall afternoon football game.

On Sunday, the convergence of three rivers matched the convergence of fascinating aspirations because the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Baltimore Ravens in the primary roadshow game of the season for each teams. The aspirations belonged to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, quarterback Russell Wilson and backup quarterback Justin Fields.

Everyone desires to win a championship – Tomlin and Wilson have already done it, and Fields desires to be shown the best way. They made a conscious alternative to fulfill in Pittsburgh to attain their goals. It was fascinating to look at this process: a series of mentorship connecting three generations of black men: the 52-year-old coach, his 35-year-old quarterback and his 25-year-old backup.

Advertisement

In a typical Ravens-Steelers match on Sunday, Pittsburgh won 18-16, however the is simply a footnote to greater aspirations.

Tomlin has won a Super Bowl championship, but not for a while. Wilson also won a championship, but not for a while. Fields, a former first-round draft pick who was traded by the team that drafted him, is just attempting to regain his confidence and find his footing.

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin (right) talks with side judge Dave Hawkshaw throughout the first half of a game against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 17 in Pittsburgh.

Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo

Advertisement

In his 18th season as Steelers coach, Tomlin can have a best-case scenario for an impressive season. Not only do the Steelers have their typically stellar defense, but additionally they have a starting quarterback for the primary time in years. They have two talented, highly motivated quarterbacks in Wilson and Fields.

Wilson’s presence in Pittsburgh is just not only about finding a superb landing spot, but in addition about restoring dignity. He was well on his method to a Hall of Fame profession in Seattle, where he led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title and got here inside a goal-line interception of second place. He was traded from Seattle to Denver. During his second season with the team, he encountered coach Sean Payton, who didn’t want him and made his presence known. Wilson was unceremoniously kicked out of Denver. Many can have a long-lasting image of Wilson because the quarterback standing on the sidelines and being chewed out by Payton.

In Fields, the Steelers have a young, talented quarterback with an incredible ceiling. Fields was chosen in the primary round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He set a regular-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback and even became the third NFL quarterback to record 1,000 rushing yards in a season. But Fields became a stepchild in Chicago. He was not appointed by the brand new regime, was consistently criticized and reported to quite a few offensive coordinators. After three seasons with the Bears, Fields was traded to the Steelers in 2024.

Wilson is in search of rejuvenation, Fields is in search of redemption. Perhaps they will still find each in Pittsburgh.

Advertisement

Tomlin and the Steelers have great quarterback insurance. If any of the remaining NFL teams lose their starting quarterback, their chances are high essentially over.

If the 35-year-old Wilson goes down with an injury, the Steelers will still have Fields, who began the regular season with Wilson suffering a calf injury. Fields led Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record and received generally positive reviews.

Then he learned a very important lesson. After Fields led the Steelers to an encouraging start, Tomlin announced that Wilson could be the starter in Week 7 against the New York Jets. It’s not that Fields played poorly. Tomlin said Fields has been “really good” in his six starts. But, Tomlin added, “that shouldn’t be confused with great.”

Fields disagreed.

“I mean, I don’t think I played well enough, to be honest with you,” he told reporters before returning to the bench.

Advertisement

“If I’m honest with myself, I believe if I played well enough, I do not think there could be any query about who should play and who shouldn’t. In the tip we got some wins, I’m completely satisfied with that, but there are areas where I can improve, so I’ll just keep working on them and keep improving.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields throws an interception after running for yardage in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens in the second half of the sport, Nov. 17 in Pittsburgh.

Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo

Fields is learning. It’s growing and it’s definitely in the Steelers’ plans. With the sport hanging in the balance on Sunday against Baltimore, Fields was a part of a package designed to reap the benefits of his versatility.

On Pittsburgh’s first drive of the third quarter, with Pittsburgh holding a 9-7 lead, Fields entered the play and ran for eight yards. Two plays later, the Steelers kicked a field goal to increase the result in 12-7. In the Ravens’ final fourth quarter, Fields got here in for second down and easily ran across the left side of the sector for a nine-yard rating. Fields could have scored the ten points he needed, but he slipped too early.

Advertisement

Regardless, the Steelers gave their opponents another excuse to fret. It may not have been the role Fields envisioned, but he potentially plays the role of champion.

“We weren’t shy about our intentions,” Tomlin said after Sunday’s game. “He’s a talented guy and we’re going to use him. He’s really talented. I’m excited about both point guards we have on the roster. Both will be the reason we succeed and do.”

Before Sunday’s game against Baltimore, Tomlin was asked if having a talented quarterback with outstanding running skills like Fields helped the defense prepare for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Tomlin laughed.

“No,” he said.

Advertisement

Tomlin admitted Sunday that Fields has indeed been very helpful. “He had an amazing week representing Mr. Jackson for us,” he said. “I’m glad he had the opportunity to contribute, have a hand in it and be a part of why we’ve been successful.”

In the approaching weeks, the Steelers will face quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, and, in fact, Jackson again. Pitches will play a very important role in practice and will likely play a bigger role during games.

“I believe Justin Fields is the franchise quarterback,” Wilson said after Sunday’s game. “He’s a great player, a great teammate, he works hard.”

Tomlin explained that the rationale there hasn’t been friction in the quarterback room between Fields and Wilson is less in regards to the coach and more in regards to the players. “They are really good people, they support each other,” he said.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Russell Wilson (right) and Justin Fields (left) sit together on the bench throughout the second half of a game against the New York Jets in Pittsburgh on October 20.

Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo

Advertisement

There is respect between these three distinguished African Americans. In 2009, when Tomlin became the youngest coach to win the Super Bowl, Wilson was 20 years old. Fields was 10 years old.

When Wilson won the Super Bowl championship with Seattle in 2013, Fields was 14 years old. They grew up in the sport, admiring one another. Now everyone seems to be here and working to attain something special.

“It’s about us being together,” Wilson said Sunday. “We do it and we have fun doing it.”

There continues to be plenty of football to be played. Pittsburgh has six games remaining and will face the Ravens again on December 21 in Baltimore. They also must play Philadelphia and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Advertisement

When a reporter asked Tomlin to place Wilson’s season in perspective, Tomlin, in his wisdom, said it was far too early.

“To be honest with you, I think he’s still writing that story,” Tomlin said.

But he knew why he wanted Wilson to be the Steelers’ starter.

“There were a lot of reasons why I took this attitude,” he said. “His resume is a component of it, his experience, and I assumed his experience could possibly be an asset to our unit and our team, and it has proven to be true. His talents, his appetite for large moments and I believe it paid off a bit.

Advertisement

“There are a myriad of reasons and I think that will continue to be revealed because of the circumstances that he and we will be in. I’m excited about the prospect of tackling these things with him, and I’m excited about him, quite honestly, getting better. Sometimes you see guys who have been around as long as him or have the same resume as him, they’re kind of immune to new things and criticism and things like that – paths that make men better – and he’s not immune to any of that stuff and that makes it cool too.”

I’m undecided how much any fan can take from the Steelers’ victory over the Ravens on Sunday. It was a brutal, emotional game that can be repeated next month in Baltimore.

One thing I do know needless to say: For Tomlin, Wilson and Fields, the convergence of championship aspirations is hotter than ever.

William C. Rhoden is a columnist for Andscape magazine and the writer of Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete. He directs Rhoden Fellows, a training program for aspiring HBCU journalists.

Advertisement

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Ball Up Top: Lakers, Fakers, Quakers … Wolves in 5

Published

on

By

“Ball Up Top” is a weekly NBA video series in which David Dennis Jr. With AndScape he talks about hot topics in the league and popular culture with special guests in addition to personalities and sejds.

In episode 8, David is joined by a senior author Justin Tinsley to debate Los Angeles Lakers, who was rejected from Playoffs and what to do next. In addition, a really exciting opera clip that David cannot stop enthusiastic about.


Episode 8, 2 May 2025
Host: David Dennis Jr.
Guests: Justin Tinsley
Manufacturers: Charles Abankwa, Ryan Cortes, Rodney Davis, Chris Gavin, Charles Peach

Advertisement

Archives

Episode 1 (March 7, 2025): Quentin Richardson on Phoenix Suns, his moment “Welcome to the NBA” and beef with “Nad edge”

Episode 2 (March 14, 2025): Plus/Minus! Nikola Jokic (not) MVP, whose Knicks and Lakers don’t need to see, asks Cooper Flagg

Episode 3 (March 21, 2025): Danny Green evaluates his pretenders to the Western Conference, members of the Abrevocal Team

Advertisement

Episode 4 (March 28, 2025): Talking Heat Culture after the outbreak of warriors, more plus/minus

Episode 5 (April 4, 2025): The most vital games left in the NBA schedule

Episode 6 (April 17, 2025): Kazeem Famuyide talks NBA Playoffs, Wrestlemania 41, Army X

Episode 7 (April 24, 2025): Which NBA Playoffs teams are cooked/not cooked?

Advertisement

David Dennis Jr. He is an older author in Andcape and the creator of the award -winning book “The Ruch Made Us: A Father, son and the Legacy of a Freedom Ride”. David is a graduate of Davidson College.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
Continue Reading

Sports

Lebron James is not sure what will happen after leaving Playoff Los Angeles Lakers: “I have no answer to it”

Published

on

By

On Wednesday evening, Lebron James, Luka Dončič and Los Angeles Lakers lost to Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, the full of life Julius Randle and Minnesota Timberwolves, 103-96, within the match of the primary round of Playoff of the Western Conference, losing 4-1. This loss ended the Lakers season-the second exit from the primary round in a row-their records of 50-32 and 3-nance within the West.

This season, limited by the legendary (historical, crazy, etc.) in the course of the season, talent talent NBA All-Nba Dončič Lakersom in exchange for NBA All-Star (and a member of Lakers within the NBA championships) Anthony Davis, was perceived by many as a likelihood for lakers for an additional title. These hopes were broken through the series, when Edwards continued to delight analysts and fans together with his determination and will to win.

Advertisement

Of course, because it happens yearly, when James’s teams lose in Playoffs (James has 4 NBA championship rings – two with Miami Heat and one in every of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers), He was asked through the pressure after the match for his thoughts about his future (And retirement) When he closed his twenty second season within the NBA.

“I don’t know. I have no answer to it. Something to sit with my family, wife and support group and I will just talk about it and see what will happen. And just talk to each other as I want to continue playing.”

Of course, James was asked how the list may very well be improved to (hopefully) to provide higher probabilities for Playoffs next 12 months, if he returns; James is until June 29 to choose a contract with the lakeers for the 2025-2026 campaign, which might pay him $ 52.6 million. Otherwise he would change into a free agent.

Advertisement

“It’s business,” probably said the largest player of the NBA of all time. “So you don’t know what the list will look like next year, except for guys who (they are) closed in contracts. S …, I have a lot to think about myself. So I don’t know what the list will look like. I don’t know where I stand now.”

Lebron James: From basketball to a cultural icon

In particular, James-who’s son Lebron “Brony” James, Jr., has a contract with Lakers until the season 2027-2028-was instrumental in his son, putting the Lakers uniform and the addition of a coach, JJ Redick. Redick and James had a podcast together wherein they talked about basketball, before Redick was announced with the brand new Lakers coach.

James, asked to make clear his comments concerning the contract, made sure that he did not consider (now) other teams wherein you’ll be able to play, but his desire to play.

“I just continue playing, I don’t know where I am. That’s how it is. I’m not coming back to play here. Just play, dot.”

He continued: “To be honest, I don’t know the answer, so we’ll see.”

Advertisement

It seems that the summer of 2025 will be thoughtful at James’s house.

(Tagstranslate) Lebron James (T) Los Angeles Lakers (T) NBA Playoffs

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Black basketball players were called to the NBA 75 years ago

Published

on

By

Monty Williams, Detroit Pistons, fired


NBA recently celebrated and confirmed the seventy fifth anniversary of the first three black players who took the court in the league.

According to the 1950-51 basketball season, three black men broke the racial barrier once they made debut (*75*) the National Basketball Association: Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, Chuck Cooper and Earl Lloyd. To recognize their feat, NBA talks about the celebration of three pioneers annually, from the next season during the Black History month.

“I am excited about the fact that we intend to honor the heritage, courage and determination of these pioneers, as well as many players who came after them,” said NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) and the Pelicans Guard of the New Orlean CJ McCollum. “But it begins with them and how they transformed the NBA and the way they inspired players like me. They fought many extremely difficult challenges from racism to discrimination. But they showed great determination to overcome these obstacles and continue to come up with a way to perform at a high level.”

Advertisement

Clifton had the honor to be “Jackie Robinson” NBA because he became the first black player who had a NBA contract after New York Knicks bought his contract from Harlem Globetrotters in May 1950. Cooper had a distinction between being the first black player made by the NBA team, when Boston Celtics selected him in the second round of NBA Fraft. In the same project, in the ninth round, with 101, Washington Capitals selected Lloyd to change into a part of their team.

Due to the problem of planning, Lloyd became the first black player who played in the official game in the regular season, when he took over the court on October 31, 1950. Another achievement for Lloyd was one in every of the first black coaches, when he did it for Detroit Pistons. He and Jim Tucker were the first black players who won the NBA title when Syracuse Nationals won the championship in 1955.

NBPA plans to release three movies on its social and digital platforms that may have a good time Clifton, Cooper and Lloyd. In the next season, NBA will honor three pioneers who’ve transformed the league and enables the ones who play today.

Advertisement

(Tagstotransate) nba legends

This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending