Fitzpatrick is staying though. He is a smart guy. Harvard grad. Journeyman QB. Had his best year ever in 2015. He had as much fun as the fans did. I highly doubt he wants to go elsewhere.
It does, but I don't see any team wanting to pay him what we will be willing to pay him. There's no team in true contending position, outside of Houston who traded him here, that would really want him and want him for more than one year. Most teams in dire need of a quarterback are going to draft one or sign someone like Fitzpatrick to a one year deal, while we might offer him up to three years. I really don't see him leaving. The situation here is mutually beneficial for both Fitzy and the Jets. He's going to be a Jet.
If we leave out last years performance for a moment I would say Fitz was an average QB including back ups. He was a back up almost everywhere except Buffalo... He somehow always sees action through the starter getting hurt (Titans, Texans) and didn't really play amazing to earn a staters job elsewhere. Mac traded for him as insurance because he knew Chans offence but the keys were in Genos hand till he got KOd. I just feel based on 1 solid year to reward a journeyman backup QB with a contract over 10 mil per year is risky. I also think a large part of his success was our WRs getting open and Chans offence. Having said that I think Mac has a really tough decision... I truly feel he was a product of our system and excellent WR duo. I'm confident making that statement based on him being a journeyman back up that didn't have much success in his career till now. An ideal situation would be to sign him to a 1 year "show me" deal to see if he can consistently win games and play well. If he puts up the same type of numbers and wins then a big contract has been earned no doubt.
I mean four different franchises have trusted him to be their starting quarterback for at least a year. He's certainly a journeyman, and whether or not he's above average will remain to be seen moving forward, but he's proved he's valuable enough to start.
Well that's not accurate... 5 teams in trusted him to be their back up and he only got to be the starter through injury of the starter. The Rams he replaced Jamie Martin after he got hurt. The Bengals he replaced Carson Palmer after he got hurt. The Bills he replaced Trent Edwards after he got hurt and won the starters job. The Titans he replace Jake Locker after he got hurt. With Houston he was finally named a starter but lost his job to Ryan Mallet after sub par play. He eventually got the job back after RM got hurt. The Jets he replaced Geno after the punch. So my point is he was a journeymen back up QB that flashed brilliance with Buffalo but as soon as he got paid his play declined. I don't want that to happen to the Jets. I want Fitz back but if he wants a long term deal worth 10+ he's dreaming.
Fitzpatrick was named the starter with Houston. To be fair, he's been around the league a lot longer than most of those players. Trent Edwards was benched in both 2009 and 2010 in favor of Fitzpatrick. I'd be confident in open quarterback battles that Fitzpatrick wins vs. All of those players except Palmer. Granted you're right I was exaggerating when stating he was handed the starting job, but teams thought enough of him to ensure he was the backup to often injured or often struggling quarterbacks.
The reason Fitzpatrick is highly likely to return is the fit with the Jets. Everything clicked for that offense in 2015. Marshall and Decker helped out Fitz a lot. Marshall adjusted to several bad passes and turned them into big plays. Fitz also threw some beautiful passes. The point is they all played to a high level because of the help each gave to the other. Another team has to know Fitzpatrick is not going to throw 31 touchdowns for them. He knows it too. @nyjetsknicks247 says money talks, and that is true, but who would pay for Fitz knowing what I just wrote? The only team I could possibly think of is the Broncos. With that defense and some pretty good weapons on offense, Fitz could succeed. Highly doubt Elway wants that though.
I agree, but we have seen teams do some dumb shit. It seems unlikely another team is going to break the bank for him but there has been crazier shit happen.
If we can't sign Fitzy, I'd rather focus on Chase Daniel over Brock. Decent chance he's a little cheaper and I think he would be better for us.
