New York Jets: From Ryan to Brian?
It’s never boring when it comes to the New York Jets. And we may finally be getting a resolution when it comes to their quarterback situation.
Apparently the answer would be a resounding yes.
As far as the question? Is there is a market for a journeyman signal-caller who turned over the football five times in his last NFL appearance?
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Dom Cosentino of NJ.com has the latest on quarterback Brian Hoyer and a visit with the New York Jets. Boomer Esiason of WFAN and CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora both stated that the well-traveled passer, recently released by the Houston Texans, would be meeting with the Green and White. Todd Bowles’ squad, which finished 10-6 and missed the playoffs in 2015, is currently without its starting quarterback from a season ago.
Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick remains an unsigned unrestricted free agent after a season in which he led the club to a 10-6 finish. He threw for a career-best 3,905 yards this past season as well as a franchise-record 31 touchdowns in 2015. But he and his latest team have yet to come to terms on a new deal and neither party is budging at the moment. Could his job with the Jets be in jeopardy?
Once the Texans signed free-agent quarterback Brock Osweiler (late of the Denver Broncos) to that four-year, $72 million deal, the writing was on the wall for Hoyer. Bill O’Brien’s club started four different quarterbacks in 2015 and the journeyman passer was 5-4 as a starter. In a total of 11 games, Hoyer completed 60.7 of his passes for 2,606 yards and 19 scores. He was picked off just seven times, lost two of his six fumbles and was sacked 25 times.
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As for the Jets, the seven-year pro (who’s played for the New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and Texans) offers them an upgrade over struggling Geno Smith and inexperienced Bryce Petty. We are all aware of Hoyer’s meltdown in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs. The Texans fell at home to the Kansas City Chiefs in a game in which he was picked off four times and lost a fumble. Houston’s 30-0 setback was the first playoff shutout in the league since 2005.
So is Hoyer a viable option for Bowles and Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan? Could they possibly be using his visit as leverage against Fitzpatrick? Are Smith (42 turnovers in 31 games with the team) and Petty (did not play as a rookie) ideal solutions and real candidates for the starting job?
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The Jets once again look like an improving football team, adding the likes of free-agent running backs Matt Forte (Chicag0 Bears) and Khiry Robinson (New Orleans Saints) and four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady (via trade from the Denver Broncos) on offense this offseason.
On the other side of the ball, there is the lingering issue regarding franchise defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, unsigned at the moment and given the franchise tag by the organization. He led the Jets with 12 sacks this past season.
These days, the team is far more concerned with the well-being of their own quarterback – whoever that may eventually be.