Jets' Justin Fields responds to controversial Woody Johnson comments

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson raised eyebrows earlier in the week when he basically blamed quarterback Justin Fields for the team's 0-7 record. 

On Wednesday, first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn declined to say if Fields or backup Tyrod Taylor will start the club's game at the Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) on Sunday. Later in the day, Fields responded to Johnson's controversial comments. 

Justin Fields insists he's not bothered by Woody Johnson comments

"It doesn't bother me," Fields said about Johnson's criticism, per Rich Cimini of ESPN. "Of course, everybody knows I need to play better, and we need to play better as a team. And, of course, no matter how the offense does as a unit, I'm going to get the blame. And I understand that -- that's just what comes with the job. You can't let anything affect your mind. No matter if it's him, no matter if it's family members, even teammates, sometimes there's going to be times where you have to be the only one who believes in yourself."

Statistically speaking, Fields has been one of the league's worst starting quarterbacks while featuring for a club that failed to score an offensive touchdown over its past two games. Glenn benched Fields in favor of Taylor during the Jets' 13-6 home loss to the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday, and Taylor is expected to get the nod for the Cincinnati matchup as long as his sore knee isn't too much of a concern.

"I'm not sure how he feels about the situation at all, but, I mean, I don't have any plans going up to press him about what he said," Fields said about whether he would reach out to Johnson. "Everybody's entitled to their opinion. That's just what it is, but you just have a choice or not whether those opinions affect you or not."

Will Justin Fields look to leave Jets before Nov. 4 trade deadline?

Understandably, Johnson's comments left outsiders wondering if Fields could look to land with a different team before the Nov. 4 trade deadline arrives. The Jets can escape Fields' contract next offseason. 

"I don't like answering those questions, those -- quote, unquote -- what-if questions," Fields responded when asked if he could submit a trade request. "I'm not going to do that. That's not going to do anything for me. That's not going to do anything for this team. If anything, that's going to put on a subject that the team's going to not focus on, and the biggest focus right now is this game on Sunday. So that's just going to stir up more stuff that we don't need."

As of Thursday morning, ESPN BET had the Jets as 6.5-point underdogs for the Week 8 clash at Cincinnati's Paycor Stadium. Gang Green enters its bye following Sunday's encounter.