Ryan Fitzpatrick is reportedly ready to accept a one-year deal with the New York Jets.
Could this back and forth finally be ready to end? According to Gary Myers of the New York Daily News, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is ready to accept a one-year, $12 million contract with the New York Jets.
The Jets have offered Fitzpatrick a front-loaded three-year deal worth a total $24 million. The first year of that deal would pay Fitzpatrick $12 million in 2016, but the 33-year-old Fitzpatrick would rather bet on himself and only commit to the Jets for one season.
Fitzpatrick had never really been anything more than a below average quarterback in the past, but he really made his mark with the Jets last season. In his 11th NFL season (first in New York), Fitzpatrick took his game to the next level in 2015, tossing for 3,905 yards and 31 touchdowns.
After his career year, Fitzpatrick entered free agency this off season expecting to get paid like a legitimate NFL quarterback. Instead, the Jets continued to low-ball him, skeptical that he will continue to have that much success going forward.
I understand both sides not wanting to give in. Clearly a late bloomer who could fall off at any time, Fitzpatrick is an incredibly difficult player to judge value on. With that in mind, it is not much of a surprise that the two sides have struggled to come together on a deal.
That being said, if this recent report is correct, then this long battle should soon be over. I imagine that if Fitzpatrick is really ready to accept a one-year, $12 million contract then the Jets would be happy to make that happen.
If not, they are risking entering 2016 with Geno Smith as their starting quarterback. That is not good for anyone. Well, except for the teams playing the Jets in 2016.
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