More than:
Of course, Justin Fields should have slipped, because putting himself in danger the same way he did on Friday night will cause you a lot of damage in the NFL, more hurt than him when Clemson LB James Skalski dropped the none and almost broke his ribs in half in a second-quarter fight with a hit that earned Skalski a controversial goal-scoring.
There will come a time, time and time again, and over the years, when Justin Fields will be reminded that when you are the face of an NFL franchise, when you play for a living, it is critical that you generally refrain from giving if old college tries it, discretion is the best part of value and it’s best to control your competitive juices near bigger, faster bloodthirsty predators with bad intentions.
But that was the national semifinal of the College Football Playoff, and it was a gunslinger duel against the cover against the great Trevor Lawrence.
The NFL will nod and fully understand it, and will remind Justin Fields more to know how he knew the moment and contemplated Lawrence and led Ohio State to a Clemson demolition of Sugar Bowl 49-28 in New Orleans and a appointment to the national championship with Nick Saban Alabama.
All Fields did (22 vs. 28, 385 yards) was laugh at the pain and throw six touchdown passes. Distance pumps. Accuracy and leadership and willingness to win in the fullest.
That’s not to say Justin Fields leaves the Jacksonville Jaguars a break with No. 1 overall pick. No chance, no way.
It means Justin Fields may have given Jets GM Joe Douglas a break with the second pick if he and Adam Gase’s successor decide they need a Sam Darnold successor.
The boy sure looked like someone’s dream field.
This successor would be Fields or Zach Wilson of BYU.
What if Douglas and the next head coach decide to build around Darnold?
Well, the cost of the No. 2 pick overall has just gone up for a desperate quarterback team that will covet Justin Fields.
This was Justin Fields ’test ground after a couple of inferior performances against Indiana (3 INT) and Northwestern (2 INT) who had some doubts about his ability to prosecute effectively.
This was Justin Fields ’big, brilliant setting for fooling around with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney for not respecting the Buckeyes when he voted them No. 11.
Forgive Swinney and defensive coordinator Brent Venables if they had flashbacks against Joe Burrow crushing them (31-for-49 for 463 yards and 5 TDs, 58 running yards and 1 running TD) in LSU’s 42-25 national championship victory last January.
Fields had his right side sprayed with the crown of Skalski’s helmet. He was on his back on the grass of the Superdome and stood there agonizing for a minute.
By no means did Justin Fields stop. O fora.
He walked to the edge. He grimaced. I was missing a play. When he returned, he immediately fired a 9-yard TD pass at WR Chris Olave. He was examined at the medical store. I didn’t go out. He finished the first half 16-16 for 223 yards and 4 TDs. No one was talking about the right thumb he twisted against Northwestern.
There was a disappointing interception in the end zone in the early third quarter.
And not long after, a 55-yard TD diameter at Olave that turned it into Ohio State 42, Clemson 21.
And then: a rainbow by Jameson Williams for a 45-yard TD that turned it into Ohio State 49, Clemson 21.
Six passes TD.
Six incompletions.
Second professional defeat for Trevor Lawrence.
Second overall selection in play for Justin Fields.
Fields of dreams. For someone.