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Somehow, someway, criticism of Justin Fields’ work ethic has made it into the mainstream media as a narrative. It has a lot to do with the reporting of Dan Orlovski and sources he says have questioned whether the Ohio State quarterback has a love for the game — even remarking that some have told him he may be a “last-in, first-out” guy.
Orlovsky has been given a sounding board by talk shows like the “Pat McAfee” show, and, while the ESPN analyst is only reporting on what he says he’s heard, he obviously felt the need to walk those comments back with a further video after he did “even more digging.”
OK. But there is a source or several sources that would seem to know the real story — nevermind the fact there’s plenty of evidence in plain view with what Fields has done over the last year.
Still, who better to ask about Justin Fields’ love for the game or his work ethic than the guy that has gone to battle with him in the biggest competitive environments of his life, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day?
Day was asked about the most recent criticism of Fields and took some serious offense to it. And if you ever wondered how deeply he cares about the seemingly unwarranted criticism, Day gave a 2 1/2 minute answer — without pause.
“When I think of Justin Fields, I think of someone who got off the field against Clemson, and for the next year just grinded to getting back to that same situation and winning that game,” Day told reporters. “It started with the offseason. He got in here, and he was one of the hardest workers in the weight room with Mick (Mickey Marotti). Then it went to the quarantine, and during that time Mickey Marotti actually said that he inspired Mick. Justin Fields inspired Mick Moratti.
Day then went into all the things Fields did on and off the field to show how dedicated he was to the game of football and to his team.
“He changed his diet,” Day said. “His work ethic was off the charts. He came in in great shape. Then we get here and the preseason gets canceled, the season gets canceled. He doesn’t opt out and go to the NFL draft. Some guys did. So, when someone says — I don’t know — I’ve heard all kinds of different things. I don’t know what people have said, what they haven’t. I read stuff on my phone, I don’t quite understand any of that stuff. Love for football? I mean there’s a lot of guys that have opted out. Did they say that same stuff about those guys who didn’t want to play?
“And then, now, not only does he not opt-out, he fights to get the season back. He has a petition, he goes on national TV and fights to get the season back. Then, he comes out and plays, and plays really well. And, you know, he had a couple bad plays there in the Indiana game, but then comes and overcomes the adversity. Like, to me, if everything just goes smoothy, that’s a red flag. Because you’ve never gone through adversity before. He has been through adversity. He had to go through the transfer at Georgia, he had to come in and earn his way here, and then that game at Indiana was tough. And then the Northwestern game was kind of clunky, and then he comes back in that game (Clemson), throws six touchdown passes, gets drilled in his back. Most people would have begged out at that point. He didn’t. He comes back in a play later, throws a touchdown pass and goes on and completes the goal of what he set the year before beating Clemson again in that same game.”
Day finished by characterizing what he knows about Fields as the man, the competitor, and the complete player/person package.
“And so, all I know about Justin Fields is that he’s been one of the hardest working guys,” Day continued. “He’s one of the most competitively tough guys, and when he sets his mind to something, he gets it done. So, there’s a lot of talk out there and maybe they think they know him better than I do. But I know this: Whoever is going to draft Justin Fields is going to get a great player and a great person. And when he sets his mind to something, he gets it done. And I think the world of him and I’m just upset that some people would say that about him.
The crazy thing about Justin, it didn’t bother him when I talked to him about it. He said, ‘let the people talk.’ Because he knows eventually someone’s going to draft him, and he’s going to have to go play. And all the talk goes away and then you just go — you know — prove it on the field. So, that’s what I have to say about that.”
Day ended those comments with a bit of a smirk that said possibly more than all of his words. You could see he was satisfied with his comments and extremely proud of who Justin Fields is.
It was a drop the mic moment that has a great chance of being played again if Fields turns out to be a special player at the next level. I guess it’ll all depend on — ahem, how great his work ethic and love for the game is.
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