Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is known for his memorable quotes. Reporters flock to the loquacious 18-year coach and are able to walk away with something to print. It was no different Monday, at the NFL Owners Meetings in Orlando, Fla. The topic this time was on the potential of recently acquired quarterback Justin Fields.
"Oh my god, man, he oozes talent and potential," Tomlin said. "He’s worn the responsibility of being the franchise quarterback, but still gets to come into a community situation to learn from a guy that’s been doing it for over a decade.
"There’s a lot of meat left on that bone and I’m excited about working on extracting it."
One might not have thought to question Tomlin's meat-extracting qualifications until now. What we know is the last five quarterbacks the Steelers have had -- Landry Jones, Duck Hodges, Mason Rudolph, Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett -- all failed to earn positions better than back-up with the Steelers.
The acquisition of Fields, and the signing of Russell Wilson (to whom Tomlin referred to as being in "pole position" for the starting job), represents a seismic shift in direction for the franchise that's had one of the least productive offenses in the NFL since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger.
The Bears apparently didn't extract enough meat off Fields, and are expected to select Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in April's draft, thus making Fields expendable.
