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Losing to a 3-8 Browns squad? That’s enough to make the Steel Curtain feel like a shower rod. And to top it off, Russell Wilson had some pointed post-game thoughts about Mike Tomlin’s QB shuffle between him and Justin Fields. Let’s just say Russ wasn’t exactly handing out high-fives. But amidst the tension, Wilson took a time-out for a hearty message for the Maine-Endwell Spartans, one of New York’s most dominant high school football programs.

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In a video posted to the Spartans’ official X account, Wilson said, “Hey, Maine-Endwell Spartans, wanna wish you guys good luck on your journey of winning another championship… Keep winning, keep doing the hard work, and I’ll see you guys later.” So, here’s the thing: the Spartans are on a mission for their eighth state title. But that’s not it… They’ve already bagged 13 sectional championships, with four in a row—think of them as the high school version of the UConn Huskies in March Madness.

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Their chemistry? Off the charts. Head coach Gallagher put it best: “The chemistry is great, and I think this group loves to play football. When those two things come together, special things can happen.” So, when Russ asked them to “keep doing ‘it’ for each other,” now, you know what he meant.

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And as for M-E’s dominance? Well, they don’t just play football—they live it. I mean, if their 11-0 record is not telling you enough about it, then let us spill the tea for you. From their Section 4 title win over Owego Free Academy to their STAC All-Conference and All-Division honors, the Spartans are in championship mode 24/7. Oh, and don’t sleep on their extracurriculars. They’ve even got NYSSMA Sr. High School Area All-State members performing at Ithaca College this January. Who says you can’t hit the right notes on and off the field?

Up next, the Spartans take on the Indian River (10-1) in the state quarterfinals. They’re ranked first in New York Class B, with Indian River at 10th. So, that’s why Russ wanted to leave a message. But while he’s giving out kudos to school teams, he’s not in the mood to even talk about what unfolded against the Browns.

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Russell Wilson is happy for Justin Fields—but not at his own expense!

Do you blame the seasoned pro, though? I mean, Russell Wilson is not someone to want to come on media presser and quip. Until pressed… But he may be right here. Who had Steelers losing 24-19 to the battered Browns” on their week 11 bingo card? Yeah, neither did we. Now, everyone’s over Mike Tomlin’s bold dual-QB approach—Fields and Wilson in crunch time… Huh, and how did that go? Not at all well.

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Wilson isn’t exactly thrilled about the time-share. “Listen, I always want to be in there,” he said after the game, reminding us all why he’s been “Mr. Unlimited” for so long. Sure, he’s got love for Fields and the coaching staff, but you can hear it in his tone—he’d rather be the guy under center, all game, every game. And honestly, who wouldn’t? He’s led the Steelers back into games before, and he clearly wanted the pigskin in his hands to close this one out.

But Tomlin had a different plan. Fields stepped in for that critical drive, and the offense stalled like a car in a snowstorm. The Browns capitalized, scoring the game-winning touchdown, and Wilson barely had time to try a comeback. Tomlin defended the move, saying, “We had intentions on using him, and we did. I don’t think the weather was a factor.” Sure, coach—but the results weren’t exactly sparkling, were they?

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What makes it worse is that when Steel City was screaming: “Stick with Fields!” Mike did not listen. Shifting to Wilson’s prowess in week 7. Now, after 4 games under center, just when Russ was starting to find his groove, the HC decided to introduce something alien to the team. I mean, it’s a case of: why fix something when it’s not broken. But Wilson’s message is clear: he’s not here to split snaps. And we can hear that, considering he is entering the dawn of his career. So, what do you think? Should Tomlin stick with this new look or bust?

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Syed Talib Haider

1,219 Articles

Syed Talib Haider is the NFL Editor at EssentiallySports with over five years of experience as a sports beat reporter. He began his journey at the outlet covering the NFL, steadily building a strong readership for his in-depth reporting on major events, most notably as a senior writer during Super Bowl LIX, where his coverage helped capture the immediacy and drama of the game. His work during that season led to his promotion to the editorial desk, where he now oversees NFL coverage and guides the outlet’s strategy.

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Garima Yadav

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