New York Jets: Could They Survive 2016 Without Ryan Fitzpatrick?
The New York Jets and free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick contract talks remain at a stand still with no end in sight. Without Fitzpatrick in 2016, will the Jets survive the season?
The most common theme for the New York Jets over the last decade is who will be playing quarterback this year? In the few cases where a definite answer has been made such as Mark Sanchez or Chad Pennington (and Vinny Testaverde as the previous main stay in the late ’90’s early 2000’s) but the same question remains to this very day: who will be playing quarterback for the New York Jets?
The Jets have not had a franchise quarterback since Joe Namath and in the infamous guarantee in Super Bowl III in 1969 – bringing home the franchises first and only Super Bowl title. Since then, it’s been QB after QB, year by year. Richard Todd was the next big name for the Jets at the quarterback position after Namath who was a solid quarterback out of the University of Alabama, but not hall of fame caliber – not Joe Namath caliber – and no one has been since.
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Ryan Fitzpatrick the teams starter in 2015 is still holding out and playing hardball while keeping his poker hands close to the chest when it’s coming to terms with what he wants as a contract. His asking price is entirely way too much for a 33 year old quarterback – coming off the best year of his career yes, but a season in which some would say was an anomaly. The Jets are going about this the right way and not just handing Fitzpatrick a mega-contract.
If Fitzpatrick, however, does not return to the team for 2016 and beyond, do we look ahead to 2017 if Geno Smith returns as the starter? Smith is one option but there are others as well. Jets head coach, Todd Bowles said publicly at the AFC coaches breakfast: “you want everything to work out fine…but if it doesn’t you want to have plans b, c and d in place as well.” Well that is certainly not breaking news. The Jets need to be able to move on and have those plans, b, and c, and d (not sure how promising plan “d” would be) but as of now, the Jets do not seem to be very worried about the most difficult position to play in professional sports.
Jets owner Woody Johnson publicly addressed the Fitzpatrick situation saying: “come back to the Jets” in what seems to act like an open letter trying to get back with an ex-girlfriend, but nevertheless, I agree with him. Please come back, Fitz.
If Fitzpatrick does not return to the Jets, the options below are early favorites to compete as the starting quarterback:
1) Geno Smith: After a tumultuous run as starting quarterback from 2013-14, Smith found himself on the bench this season behind Fitzpatrick thanks to him being sucker punched by none other than a former teammate current Buffalo Bills linebacker, IK Enemkpali. There are talks of giving Smith another chance if all else fails. Yet personally, I do not see this going any better for Smith than it has the previous two years with him at the helm. For his career, Smith has 5,836 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. Petty has never thrown a pass in the NFL.
2) Bryce Petty: Would a second-year player drafted out of Baylor in 2015 be ready to make the jump from a heavy-spread college offense to starting in the NFL after only one season learning the playbook? Seems doubtful, however if he is needed at some point this season at an emergency role, hopefully he will have prepared himself well. The Jets are high on Petty but is absolutely a work in progress type of player. Petty is not expected to compete for a starting role this season but the Jets have given him the opportunity to compete as the back-up quarterback.
3) Trade for Colin Kaepernick: The unlikeliest of scenarios, but still a scenario. The 49ers are now under new head coach, Chip Kelly’s watch and he has the final say as to what the cards with hold for Kaepernick. The 28-year-old quarterback has recently said he wants to come and play for the Jets, however recently, the Jets do not seem to be an option for Kaepernick.
Another option at quarterback that The Jets have seem to have growing interest in is Browns quarterback Josh McCown. According to Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk, the Browns signing of Robert Griffin will almost certainly lead to McCown’s release and his base salary of $4.3 million only contributes to that further, as it make sense financially and strategically for the Browns.
If you thought about McCown to the Jets a month ago you would be shaking your head in considerable doubt about what the Jets front office is doing. But now, as almost all options have failed to this point, frankly, this would not be the worst signing for the Jets. I’m hoping it does not come to fruition, but if it is a serious inquiry, the Jets should wait until he gets released rather than seek a trade for the 36-year-old QB who is 18-39 as a starter.
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The Jets 2016 off-season quarterback-circus has led us all to really value the services of Ryan Fitzpatrick even more. However, both sides will need to set a middle ground if any progress is going to be made – and to this point, that option does not seem to be on the table.