And with the New York Jets’ training camp set to begin tomorrow, Fitzpatrick will be at the helm of the Jets once again.
Advertisement
-First Quarterback to start a game against one opponent (Washington Redskins) with five different teams (St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, New York Jets).
Fitzpatrick had a career-year in 2015 for the Jets, but at 33-years-old, the organization seemed very hesitant to commit to him long-term.
A person familiar with the negotiations says the Jets have re-signed Fitzpatrick to a one-year deal worth $12 million, ending months of speculation and uncertainty surrounding the team’s quarterback spot.
“I thought that it would always get done”, Fitzpatrick said about the contract. “I’m kind of pissed off, but it’s not a detrimental thing”.
Perhaps he should come up with better word choice rather than fueling a fire which did not yet exist. “After coming to the realization that it wasn’t going to get done right away and that it was going to take some time, I tried my best to put it out of my mind and tried to live life normally”. It’s more as a competitor, as a quarterback, knowing what I’m capable of, and really believing in myself, knowing the work that I put in over the offseason.
Simply, Smith is motivated and humbled. Fitzpatrick will be the starter against Cincinnati in Week 1 “unless something drastic happens”. “Then all the numbers came out”. Smith, meanwhile, was left as a spectator with an uncertain future.
The team’s biggest distraction defensively was the contract situation of Muhammad Wilkerson, which was shockingly resolved on the day that players and teams could still negotiate under the franchise player designation.
The Jets coach was scheduled to speak to the media for the first time Thursday after the first training camp practice. That means he could be a free agent next offseason if the Jets choose to not re-sign him.
The team has been locked in a staredown with Fitzpatrick and his representatives all winter, spring and, now, summer. Through the National Football League offseason, fans saw how hard the backup quarterback worked to prove his mettle and get back in the starting lineup.
The Jets were left with two mediocre quarterbacks, Geno Smith and Christian Hackenburg.
Advertisement
Should Ryan Fitzpatrick be getting paid more next season? “I have no control over it, so I don’t particularly worry about it”. Namely Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall were vocal about their support through the entire standoff. He wanted the money he felt he deserved after he dished out a 10-6 record last season as a starter for the Jets. He also said he was confident all along that an agreement would be reached, but the “he said-she said” part of the process was not something he enjoyed. Just move on and look forward to the season. If New York wants to have a good campaign this upcoming season, inking a deal with Fitzpatrick was a good first step. “But like I said, that remains to be seen”.
