FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) – Ryan Fitzpatrick looked out at the practice field and couldn’t help but get excited. Clearly, the New York Jets aren’t convinced he’s the long-term answer at quarterback.
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The Jets, who open at home against Cincinnati on Sunday, finished 10th in overall offense last season, when Fitzpatrick set a franchise record with 31 touchdown passes.
“We try to win every game”.
Now all he has to change is the ultimate result, and get the Jets to the playoffs for the first time in six years for it to all be worthwhile. That’s our goal. In fact, to go further than that. “If you win 10 games or double figures, your schedule is going to be tougher”.
TOUGH START: New York will have a good feel for how its season will go by Week 7.
On the team’s five-year playoff drought: “I think the fans – our fans, particularly – know each season is different”.
“I’m not disappointed for the whole season yet”, he said. “Just watching the decision process and the players and how they approach the draft and their team gives me room for hope and optimism”.
“I actually think he’s better this year”, wide receiver Brandon Marshall said. “We’re trying to win every game”.
He’s two years removed from setting an National Football League record for running backs with 102 receptions for Chicago, and he should be a nice complement to wide receivers Marshall and Eric Decker, who combined for 26 TD catches last season.
“The things that I saw from afar, I’m now seeing them and I can’t wait to get into the live action”, Fitzpatrick said of Forte. To get there, (from) what I understand about sports psychology and understanding how the mind works, you’ve got to take it one play at a time, one game at a time, and see what happens.
With several key veterans, including a number of them 30 or older, including Marshall, the Jets certainly appear to be built for making a playoff run.
If you want fire and rah-rah from your owner, sorry, you won’t get it from Johnson. Older isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “It could be a good thing”.
A lot will depend on how Fitzpatrick, who was re-signed to a one-year, million deal just before training camp started, performs this season. “He knows what’s at stake”, said the Jets CEO. He’s a Harvard guy, so he knows how important this year is for him. “We’re happy to have him back”. Basically, it’s a challenge, although owner Woody Johnson refused to use that word. With a defense again expected to be among the NFL’s best, NY needs Fitzpatrick to at least approach last season’s career-type year.
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“I think he’s going to be more comfortable, better”, he said. I feel like I’m a better player now than I was last year than I was the year before.
