Who is Fitzpatrick's agent? Look at the agencies other clients and see if it seems possible that they're going along with a smokescreen for the Jets. I think a lot of the time conflicts of interest would prevent that from staying airtight as long as this has if the Jets really have a deal in place already. It would be nice if that were the case though. We're definitely better off with another year of Fitzpatrick than we would be with Geno or Petty under center next year.
Whether we have fits or not shouldn't decide if we take a QB. fits is 34, taking one now gives us a chance to groom one. especially with petty on the roster and taking a guy like lynch who needs a couple of years. in 2-3 years one of them could emerge as the franchise QB
Yeah but is that what the Jets really want to do? Fitz proved he could play in Gailey's offense last year. Sure if Denver overpays big time for him you let him walk. But the OP is suggesting the Jets could have a deal in place with Fitz. If that's the case, why risk letting someone else jump in and steal him from you?
While I'd agree with this, in order to be a perennial contender, you NEED a franchise quarterback. I commend Fitz for last season, playing hurt and being the leader the offense needed. That said, if we had top 10 QB play last season, I honestly believe we would have been in the playoffs and even gotten to the championship game the way our team was clicking at the end of the year. Fitz is extremely likeable and easy to root for, but he's not the long term answer at QB. Out of all of the QB's on the roster, Petty is the only one that has a chance to be that guy, but he's not polished enough to take over the reigns based on what has been reported. As per Geno, even if he has the talent and athletic ability, I think he'd need a fresh start somewhere else to find success in the league but its not as if GM's around the league are knocking down the door with trade requests for him. I respect the current FO and trust Mikey Mac's scouting acumen enough to determine whether or not drafting a QB high in the draft is worthwhile but doing so would require a commitment to a long term plan, which conflicts with the veteran roster that we currently have assembled. With little else on the market, we're kind of in the middle of no-man's-land. I'd take a chance on a guy like Glennon if he was available but I think it will be awhile before we'll be able to say we have a franchise QB on the roster. The bottom line is, Fitz is solid but he's not going to put this team or any other team over the top. If he had that ability, he would have been signed already. If we do sign him I'm ok with it, but if we don't I'm ok with it as well.
It would be great if the Jets had a great QB. Maybe I'm forgetting someone but when Chad Pennington was the best QB for decades, you know that we aren't familiar with the feeling of having a world-class QB. Having said that, I'm tired of the Jets chasing QBs. Fitzpatrick is a B-/C+ QB but he was part of a 10-win team that is in win-now mode. I know that he will be overpaid but I don't care. Someone will overpay him and for the difference of "only" $2 to $4 million, the Jets remain a strong playoff contender rather than a big question mark because of new QB (whether it's Hoyer, Smith or a rookie). Stop chasing QBs--sign Fitzpatrick, accept what he is, improve the team elsewhere, and make damn playoffs!
I think the smokescreen is that a deal structure is in place that awaits the Jets clearing some cap room. According to OTC.com the Jets have ~$3.4M in cap available and there are only 2 real options for clearing enough cap for Fitz: 1) Cut Mangold and save $8M; or 2) Trade Wilkerson and save $15.7M. There is no damn way in hell that #1 is gonna happen so that leaves us with a Mo trade (he won't be "Normaned" according to Macc). For that to happen there has to be a deal structure already in place as well as a new contract for Mo already negotiated with his new team. We will see if it happens either tonight or tomorrow night.
What makes more sense is drafting a qb so they can save the money that would be spent on fitz and use that to sign mo to a long term deal..i will be shocked if that isn't the reason he is unsigned. of course we probably won't get the qb we want, lynch, and at that point we will be forced to sign fitz and then watch mo walk away next year and get nothing in return.
the jets are absolutely not win now mode... and would be foolish to make any win now moves. this team is mid rebuild. the core of our team is old and on its way out. we need to start thinking about rebuilding for sustained long term success. if we make the playoffs, which is in reach, great.... but making some idiotic win now move and overpaying fitz so we can win MAYBE win the wildcard and get bounced after a round or 2 doesnt make much sense and is the kind of move that gets GM's fired. it sounds all well and good now until we are sitting here at 5-8 and paying fitz 15 million with another year left at the same cost.
if thats the case, there is no need for a smoke screen and the reports would be "jets close with fitz, team looking to clear space" and not "fitz and jets miles apart"
i dont think it even needs to be lynch. cook or hackenberg later in the draft. start geno/petty or bring in a stopgap like hoyer on the cheap
I agree. My thought is that there is a player we covet in the top 7 picks (OT perhaps?) and it's not a QB, but we have created this "we're drafting a QB" illusion by not signing Fitz and feigning interest in Lynch and now Hacklenberg. Mo will be traded if the player we covet is still there, which frees up the cap space to sign Fitz. With Brady suspended 4 games, we have an opportunity to win the division, and we're not doing that with a rookie QB. Fitz/Geno/Petty is our best chance to win now.
Costello on WFAN "the Jets are content with Geno being their starter this year". "They have their price for Fitz and they want him back at their price." I about PUKED.
were playing hardball. fitz has 3 options. take our offer, retire, or hope a good team has a major injury at QB during the summer
If that's the way it works out that's the way it works out. Fitzpatrick is a very smart guy. He'll make the right decision for himself moving forward and whatever it is more power to him. This is a lot like the Mo situation. Mo has every right to value himself as highly as he wants. If and when he moves on he should get our thanks for the hard work he's put in and then whatever else we'd normally wish for him depending on where he winds up.
i hate geno more then anyone on this forum. but id 100000000% rather play him at 1M then give fitz stupid money
