Despite recent reports, the New York Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick aren’t close to a deal.
As the New York Jets/Ryan Fitzpatrick offseason saga continues, there have been talks that Fitzpatrick was willing to take a one-year deal to stay with the Jets.
However, on Thursday, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, the Jets “are not interested” in giving Fitzpatrick that one-year, $12 million deal. “Will not be happening,” Mehta added.
Jason Cole of Bleacher Report reported that an opt-out clause could perhaps be the solution to this stalemate, but Rich Cimini of ESPN reported that the Jets are not interested in signing their 2015 QB on those terms.
Previously there were talks of a three-year offer for $24 million, which can become $36 million due to incentives, with more than $15 million guaranteed to Fitz – but they were not close to those agreements.
After this latest news, you’ve got to wonder if the Jets could ever possibly bring Fitzpatrick back. That’s been the talk for most of the offseason for the Jets and it seems like it’s getting uglier by the minute.
Despite chatter over past week, Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick are not any closer to a deal. Salary stalemate continues. And could for a while.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 1, 2016
Fitzpatrick had a great year for the Jets last season, setting a franchise record with touchdowns and yards thrown in a season. Logic is that it’s a must sign but Fitzpatrick has been a journeyman all his career and never had a a year like he did last season so it could be a risk signing him to a long term deal.
However if Fitz leaves, it would leave the Jets with only Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and 2016 draftee Christian Hackenberg as their only options, which is not eye popping for Jets fans.
Fitzpatrick is definitely the Jets best option at QB, but it’seems sort of understandable that the Jets are not that aggressive in giving him a long-term deal due to his overall pedigree. A short term deal wouldn’t be bad and maybe that one-year deal could’ve been pretty tolerable.
It will be interesting to see if the Jets continue to pursue Fitzpatrick, and if they do, whether a deal will finally be done between the two sides.
