Ryan Fitzpatrick and the New York Jets are at a standstill, as their 2015 starting quarterback would rather not play than take the Jets’ current offer.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 2015 starting quarterback for the New York Jets Ryan Fitzpatrick “would rather not play football” if he had to take what the Jets are currently offering him.
The Jets are set on paying Fitzpatrick in the $7 to $8 million range, but the NFL journeyman quarterback would like to be compensated at least twice that.
While Fitzpatrick isn’t what many would consider a franchise quarterback, he did lead a 2015 Jets team to a 10-6 record and only a game shy of making the AFC Playoffs during head coach Todd Bowles’ first year leading New York.
Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan said last week that Fitzpatrick is still very much a priority for New York’s offseason plans, stating that, “it may take some time before it’s resolved.” New York still has two other quarterbacks on their roster in Geno Smith and Bryce Petty. The Jets could conceivably still use a Day 2 draft pick to better solidify their quarterback position.
Is Fitzpatrick worth what he is commanding? Probably not, as he has never led a team of his to the NFL Playoffs. However, he seems to have great confidence in running offensive coordinator Chan Gailey’s passing game. If New York still has a great defense and plays with poise on offense in 2016, the Jets could very well make the AFC Playoffs, probably as a Wild Card team.
Fitzpatrick is 33 years old and is in the prime money-making part of his NFL career. The former seventh-round pick out of Harvard has cemented his reputation in the league as a serviceable top 20-25 starting quarterback in the league. The Jets could do a lot worse that Fitzpatrick under center. If New York wants to make the AFC Playoffs in 2016, they need to get a deal done to bring Fitzpatrick back to quarterback their strong NFL roster.
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