Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer threw a jab at Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields during
an interview in early September when discussing his rocky relationship with general manager Ricky Spielman. Spielman supposedly wanted to trade up for Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft.
“The first round, [Spielman] tried to trade up for Justin Fields, who hasn’t done anything,” Zimmer said in an interview with The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Justin Fields was selected at 11th overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft, while the Minnesota Viking stayed at No. 23 at picked offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw.
Zimmer is now the defensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys, who just happen to play Justin Fields and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football tonight.
At the time of Zimmer’s statement, Russell Wilson was the starting quarterback for the Steelers. He has yet to play in a game this year due to a calf injury, however. Fields has led the Steelers to a 3-1 start and has played rather well. He’s completed 70.6% of his passes for 830 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and a quarterback rating of 98.0.
Fields finished with 312 yards passing and one touchdown with a 104.0 quarterback rating in last Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He also rushed for 55 yards yards and two touchdowns.
It’s been a far cry from “hasn’t done anything” for Fields this season.
“I thought in that second half, it was cool to watch as a coach and a play caller, when somebody gets that kind of flow, he damn near took the game over,” Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said. “And when that happens and you feel it with a player, it didn’t matter what I called, you felt him rolling. So that’s what was such a bitter pill to swallow, how the game ended.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he didn’t feel “any blink” in Fields when down two scores in the fourth quarter.
“We were down multiple scores in the fourth quarter, man, but I didn’t feel any blink. In particular, I didn’t feel any blink in Justin,” Tomlin said. “We’ve talked about his steady demeanor in recent weeks.
In terms of the things that I’ve grown to know and understand about him, I think it’s really on display in moments like that. You really get an opportunity to develop a relationship in the midst of adversity and competition. I’m not trying to microwave our relationship, if you will. And so being in circumstances, it’s an opportunity for him to get to know me, me to get to know him and to fight and fight together, but not only for him but a lot of new guys.”
Fields definitely didn’t live up to the 11th overall selection by the Chicago Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, it was a tumultuous situation in Chicago. He had two head coaches and three different offensive coordinators in his three years in the Windy City. Fields is now showing what he’s capable of in a stable environment.
Zimmer’s defense has been below the line this season, ranking 27th in run defense. They’ve significantly declined from last year when Dan Quinn was the DC. It will be interesting to see if Fields makes Zimmer eat his words on Sunday night.
This article first appeared on Steelers Now and was syndicated with permission.
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Gracie Hunt’s sister Ava posts SMU cheerleader uni fit after big win vs. Louisville
It was a great day for the SMU Mustangs and Ava Hunt. The football team defeated the No. 22 Louisville Cardinals on the road, 34-27, and Hunt was on the sidelines as a cheerleader for the Mustangs. Hunt, 19, is youngest Kansas City Chiefs heiress and is exactly six years younger than her social media influencer and fashion designer older sister, Gracie. Gracie, 25, is often seen flaunting her fantastic fits on Instagram for her 572k followers.
Ava is a little more low key on social media with her 57K followers much like her older brother, Knobel, 22. (Clark Hunt and all three of his children attended SMU.) On Friday, Ava was posting kissy face selfies with another cheerleader, and on Saturday she was posting celebration faces and touting SMU’s 5-1 record, which is good for No. 1 in the ACC. Hunt is the one in the middle. Congrats to Hunt and the Mustangs. SMU and Hunt get a week off from the field before traveling to take on the Stanford Cardinal in Palo Alto, California. Hunt can also cheer on the 4-0 Chiefs — a team she’s in line to inherit a part of one day. Amongst her photos of being a normal college student is of course Taylor Swift. Imagine being able to drop that to your friends. Ava Hunt certainly has a lot to cheer about this days. —
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Dartmouth to honor pioneering late coach Buddy Teevens
Legendary Dartmouth Big Green football coach Buddy Teevens died on September 19, 2023, after suffering serious injuries in a tragic bicycle accident. His legacy will be a lasting one not only at Dartmouth but throughout college football. On Friday, Dartmouth will honor Teevens by naming its football stadium after him and dedicating a new research center in his name. From 1975-78, Teevens played quarterback for the Big Green, leading them to the Ivy League championship in 1978. After graduating from Dartmouth in 1979, he coached the Maine Black Bears for two years before returning to his alma mater in Hanover, N.H. to embark on the first of two head coaching stints at Dartmouth. Teevens was at the helm of the Big Green from 1987-91, leading the team to Ivy League championships in 1990 and 1991.
He then took the head coaching job for the Tulane Green Wave from 1992-96. After that, Teevens went out west and coached the Stanford Cardinal for three years, before returning back to Dartmouth in 2005, where he coached the Big Green for the next 18 seasons. In his 23 years coaching Dartmouth, Teevens became the Big Green’s all-time leader in wins, with a 117-101-2 record.
More than for his prowess on the gridiron and sidelines, however, Teevens will be remembered for his concerted advocacy for the health and safety of student-athletes. While winning consistently, he championed safety innovations. For example, in coordination with the university’s engineering department, he led the development of a robotic tackling dummy, “the Mobile Virtual Player (MVP),” that has since been used by NFL teams and other college football programs.
The robot reduces unnecessary contact and injuries during practice. Announcing the posthumous honors the university will bestow upon Teevens on Friday, Dartmouth president Sian Leah Beilock stated: “Buddy had a passion for helping student-athletes discover their best selves and perform at the highest levels possible, on and off the field. We will carry his life-long commitment forward through the new Teevens Center by sparking collaboration, research, and innovation for the benefit of young people nationally.”
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Three MLB legends who should retire this offseason
It is easy to imagine the greats of any sport as timeless. They are captured in their primes, dominating the competition during their Hall of Fame careers. But time awaits no one, not even the greats. Age catches up to everyone as injuries and ineffectiveness cause their numbers to fade. Such is the case every year, when those veterans have to admit to themselves that they do not have anything left and it is time to walk away. It is time for several players to face reality.
Let’s take a look at three legends who should hang up the spikes for good. Clayton Kershaw Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has put together an impressive career. He has posted a 212-94 record with a 2.50 ERA and a 1.010 WHiP over his 2,742.2 innings, striking out 2,968 batters with just 678 walks. A 10-time All-Star, Kershaw has won three Cy Young awards, was named the 2014 NL MVP and won a World Series in 2020. Injuries have hindered Kershaw over his last few years. He made just seven starts in 2024, making his season debut on July 25 due to offseason shoulder surgery.
Kershaw then missed the final month of the season as he returned to the injured list due to a bone spur in his toe. The 36-year-old does hold a player option for 2025 if he wants to return. However, he struggled this season, posting a 4.50 ERA and a 1.500 WHiP in his 30 innings, striking out 24 batters with nine walks. His injuries are saying that it is time to move on.
Max Scherzer Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer has been in high demand, as he has been part of four different franchises since the start of the 2021 season. He has continued to burnish his Hall of Fame credentials, posting a lifetime 216-112 record with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.078 WHiP over his 2,878 innings, striking out 3,407 batters with 756 walks. An eight-time All-Star, Scherzer has won three Cy Young awards — he’s one of seven pitchers to take home the award in both leagues — and a pair of World Series rings.
Like Kershaw, Scherzer has battled injuries this season. He underwent offseason back surgery to repair a herniated disk, the first time that he went under the knife in his career. His rehab was slowed by a nerve issue, with Scherzer making his first appearance of the year on June 23. He posted a 3.95 ERA and a 1.154 WHiP in his 43.1 innings over nine starts, with just one of those outings coming after the trade deadline due to further injuries.
Scherzer said that he intends on pitching in 2025, but at 40-years-old, Father Time is quickly catching up. Justin Verlander Astros pitcher Justin Verlander has been consistently dominant throughout his career. He has posted a 262-147 record with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.125 WHiP over his 3,415.2 innings, striking out 3,416 batters with 952 walks. A nine-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young award winner and 2011 AL MVP, Verlander is the active leader in wins, strikeouts, innings and complete games.
The typically durable Verlander battled injuries throughout the year, beginning the season on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation before missing two-and-a-half months with a neck injury. He struggled to a 5.48 ERA and a 1.384 WHiP over his 90.1 innings, striking out 74 batters with 27 walks. The 41-year-old said that he is “not ready to step away,” but it is fair to wonder how much he has left in the tank.
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NFL
Watch: Vikings pick off Aaron Rodgers late to hold on, stay unbeaten
The Minnesota Vikings offense did not bring its “A” game on Sunday in London. Fortunately for them, their defense did in a 23-17 win over the New York Jets. The Vikings intercepted Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers three times, including a game-changing pick-six from Andrew Van Ginkel in the first half. The third of those interceptions came late in the fourth quarter with the Jets driving for a potential game-winning score when Stephon Gilmore picked off Rodgers on a pass down the sidelines.
The Vikings offense accounted for just 253 yards and scored only one touchdown in the game, easily one of its worst showings of the season. Quarterback Sam Darnold also had a tough day after an outstanding start to the season. No matter how the Vikings got the win, they are still on top of the NFC with a 5-0 record. If nothing else, this should be an encouraging win because it should show they are capable of winning games in a lot of different ways. Darnold and the offense have contributed a lot this season. On Sunday, though, it was the defense that won the day.
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