‘I am Not Doing That’: Labriola Steelers Cautions In opposition to Overpaying To Preserve Justin Fields From Free Company

Till Justin Fields or Russell Wilson indicators with the Steelers, all people goes to place their each day opinion on the market. That features Bob Labriola, who supplied his take this week on SNR Drive. Some have instructed that the Steelers should have Fields underneath contract earlier than he hits free company. Even when which means paying extra for him now than you prefer to, it’s value avoiding the choice’s dangers. Bryant McFadden even instructed the franchise tag as a desperation tactic, although fortunately they didn’t try this.

Labriola, nonetheless, appeared fairly towards the thought. If it obtained to the purpose the place the Steelers needed to overpay for Fields, “Then you definitely’re into Plan C”, he stated. Presumably he was additionally together with the potential of shedding Russell Wilson in there.

“You don’t need your provide to be [well above market value]. Let’s say in an effort to persuade their aspect to get the deal accomplished with out trying out authorized tampering, what, you’ve obtained to be $10 million a 12 months increased than what they assume they may get there”? he continued. “I’m not doing that”.

However what would overpaying for Justin Fields even seem like for the Steelers proper now? Some have instructed that his eventual deal will resemble the one Sam Darnold obtained final 12 months. Darnold performed underneath a one-year, $10 million contract, and positively earned himself much more transferring ahead. Fields’ play with the Steelers didn’t fairly rise to the identical degree, in fact.

There have been reviews that different groups across the league compete with the Steelers to signal Fields if they permit him to hit free company. When it comes all the way down to it, although, how a lot are they actually prepared to pay? And what sort of guarantees would they provide to a quarterback clearly searching for a beginning alternative? Is there one other staff that might be extra prone to begin Fields in 2025 than the Steelers?

The SNR Drive staff insisted that Fields’ staff shouldn’t budge till the beginning of free company barring a clearly important provide from the Steelers. Labriola relayed a little bit of knowledge he obtained from Dan Rooney, nonetheless. You possibly can by no means “overpay” for nice gamers–“The place you get in bother is overpaying for the opposite guys”.

And I don’t assume any affordable analyst would recommend that Justin Fields is a good participant, definitely not primarily based on what he did in six begins with the Steelers. One may argue that he has nice expertise, positive. Plenty of nice abilities aren’t hooked up to nice gamers, although—like George Pickens. Pickens shouldn’t be an incredible participant, at the very least not but, however clearly has nice expertise.

“What’s worse for you as a staff? Overpaying and perhaps crippling your cap for this 12 months”? Labriola requested. “Or going to Plan C, doing what you are able to do, after which seeing the place you’re in 2026”? Many have supplied there’s a believable situation during which the Steelers don’t find yourself with Justin Fields or Russell Wilson. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN stated as a lot yesterday, even when it isn’t the almost definitely end result. But when Plans A and B show too costly, then perhaps Plan C isn’t the worst of fates.