The quarterback had just agreed to a one-year, $12 million deal Wednesday night, ending a contract stalemate that dragged on for months. That’s why Maccagnan was unwilling to offer serious cash in years two and three of his initial proposal, and why he was willing to go with the one-year deal as a way to hedge his own bet on Fitzpatrick. Last season, he threw 31 touchdown passes, setting a new single-season franchise record, besides compiling a career-best 3,905 yards through the air.
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Fitzpatrick was acquired from the Houston Texans in March 2015 to essentially serve as a backup to Geno Smith, the Jets’ former second-round draft pick.
While waiting for Fitzpatrick, the Jets also explored other options, including bringing in Robert Griffin III, who later signed with Cleveland, and Brian Hoyer, who signed with Chicago.
With the training camp getting underway on Thursday, the Jets were under pressure to make the 11th hour agreement after giving Fitzpatrick an ultimatum, reported ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
In his career, he has started eight games against the Colts (going just 2-6) and has made six starts against the team in the past four years (including at least one in each season). “They were in my corner all offseason so for me, I’ve got to go out and preform for those guys in the locker room”.
Ryan Fitzpatrick has an implied mandate to lead the Jets into the playoffs to justify the almost 400% raise to the $12 million the Jets gave him for the 2016 season. “They told me to tell you all that”, Forte said.
“As I walked in, I told Coach Bowles, ‘Sorry I’m late, ‘” Fitzpatrick said, adding many of his teammates were literally shocked to see him.
Taking the field to theme song from the hit 1970s sitcom “Welcome Back Kotter”, Fitzpatrick heard loud cheers when he connected with Marshall on a deep pass down the sideline.
Several players, including wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, also expressed their desire to be reunited with Fitzpatrick. If you take those numbers and look at a per game basis, Fitzpatrick scored 22 points per game (he had 15 interceptions and 4 total fumbles that were factored in).
The New York Jets opened training camp Wednesday without their starting quarterback.
The New York Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick are still far from reaching a new deal.
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As for his top targets of Decker and Marshall, they stand to benefit from Fitzpatrick’s contract standoff being resolved.
