Ryan Fitzpatrick: 'I'm playing football next year'

Ryan Fitzpatrick plans to play in 2016--hopefully with the New York Jets.

The 33-year-old free agent quarterback told reporters Monday he "would like to be back" with Gang Green this year, and that "I'm playing ... I'm playing football next year."

Per ESPN New York:

Fitzpatrick, whose contract talks with the organization have been at an impasse for three months, said he didn't want to comment on what he called "negotiations." He made it clear, however, he has no plans to walk away, refuting a recent report that said he'd consider retirement if the Jets don't make him what he considers a fair offer.

The Jets reportedly initially offered Fitzpatrick an $8 million deal. They have since drafted Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg in the second round.

READ MORE >>

Gang Green show support for Blueshirts at MSG

There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the New York Jets at the moment, but one thing is very certain — they, like us, love some playoff hockey.

Per the New York Post, some members of the Gang Green offense attended Game 3 of the New York Rangers – Pittsburgh Penguins series at Madison Square Garden Tuesday, heckling the Pens’ bench to the point they were warned by the security team to tone it down.

The hometown support was all for not, unfortunately, as the Blueshirts lost the game, 3-1, and are now down 2-1 in the series.

READ MORE >>

Brian Hoyer visiting with Jets coaches and front office

As the New York Jets' stalemate with Ryan Fitzpatrick continues, the team continues to explore whatever other options are left at the position.

According to Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday, free agent signal-caller Brian Hoyer is in town.

The sources said offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, quarterbacks coach Kevin Patella, head coach Todd Bowles, general manager Mike Maccagnan and other front office staff members are expected to meet with the former Texans quarterback.

Hoyer reportedly dined with Bowles and Maccagnan Tuesday night and is visiting the team's facilities Wednesday.

Ryan Fitzpatrick: If not the Jets, then where?

The New York Jets have yet to re-sign quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is inching toward free agency.

If he doesn't come to an agreement with Gang Green before Wednesday afternoon, he'll be available on the open market.

So who else could be interested? The Los Angeles Rams, perhaps?

Per Brian Costello of the New York Post:

Case Keenum getting anyone excited? Fitzpatrick began his career with the Rams, and now could return to the franchise, which will be playing in Los Angeles this fall.

Costello has four other prospective takers, including the Denver Broncos, where Fitz "could thrive with Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders."

READ MORE >>

Decker hopeful Fitzpatrick will be back with Jets

New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker thinks Gang Green can make another nice run next season, but with better results. That is, of course, if he can re-connect with his quarterback.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was expected to re-sign with the Jets for at least another year, but he still remains a pending free agent in early March.

The Jets would be wise to bring back the veteran signal-caller, who threw for a team-record 31 touchdown passes and helped New York to a 10-6 record--even though the season came to a bitter end with a Week 17 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Decker thinks (or hopes) Fitz will be back in green this year.

Via Kimberley Martin of Newsday:

“I assume that we’re going to get Fitzpatrick back,” Decker said of his soon-to-be free agent. “I don’t know, to be honest. I’ve been texting him, but I don’t think he even knows. 

“Maybe he does,” he added with a laugh. “He’s just not telling any of us.”

READ MORE >> 

Jets plan to negotiate with Fitz 'in the very near future'

The New York Jets want quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick back.

Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan told WFAN's "Boomer and Carton Show" that Gang Green are "going to talk to Ryan's people here in the very near future," via NJ.com.

"We have time, obviously, before free agency, and we really would like to get Ryan back in the fold. [Head coach] Todd [Bowles] has said that. Obviously, myself and the rest of the organization feel very strongly about this."

The Jets like Fitzpatrick as a more-than-formidable stopgap as they plan for their quarterback situation of the future--whatever that entails.

READ MORE >>

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Fitz hoping to get another shot with Gang Green

Things presently aren't looking too great for New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The soon-to-be free agent threw more interceptions in the last 10 minutes of Sunday's loss to the Bills (three) than he had in his previous five games, one of which came inside the red zone when the Jets were only down by a field goal.

But despite the crux of fan frustration being directed at the 33-year-old and his role in the team falling short of a playoff spot for the fifth consecutive year, the veteran signal-caller remains optimistic about his future in New York.

"I don't want to live with hypotheticals, but I had a lot of fun this year," Fitz said Monday via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. "It's the most fun I've ever had in a season, with the guys in this locker room and the run we had in December. Hopefully, I can be back and can continue to build on that.

"This is obviously a place I want to be, a place I'm comfortable with, but we'll see how everything goes."

READ MORE >>

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Fitz AFC player of week for second time in three weeks

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been named the AFC Offensive Player in the Week for the second time in three weeks.

It's the third time in four weeks a New York Jets players has earned the honor (Brandon Marshall).

The veteran journeyman led Gang Green to a 26-20 overtime victory over the New England Patriots last Sunday--the Jets' fifth win in a row. The Jets need one more win this Sunday against the Bills to make the playoffs.

Against New England, Fitzpatrick completed 26 of 41 passes for 296 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He went 3-for-3 for 74 yards in overtime, capping off the drive with a 6-yard scoring strike to Eric Decker.

The AFC East has dominated the Player of the Week honors this year, with 13 players named in 16 weeks. Here's the division's tally so far:

Fitz, Marshall prep for biggest game of pro careers

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall have close to a combined 21 seasons under their belts--and no playoff appearances to show for it.

But the pair are knocking on the postseason door as the New York Jets' prolific offensive duo.

Gang Green needs to win the next two games and get a little help from elsewhere in the AFC. For now, they have their sights set on a bout with the rival New England Patriots. Then it's on to the Buffalo Bills.

“The next couple will be the biggest of my career," Marshall said this week, via Newsday.

“This is a huge one for me, and I’m excited,” added Fitzpatrick. “I mean, this is why everybody in here plays the game, to play football games like this in December, having a shot to play longer. So we’re pretty excited about it.”

Marshall has hauled in 93 catches for 1,261 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. The pair hopes to keep the momentum going into this week... as the season depends on it.

READ MORE >>

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Fitzpatrick has a big day in keeping Jets' hopes alive

Ryan Fitzpatrick went to work Sunday in a much needed victory for the New York Jets.

The recently maligned quarterback tossed four touchdown passes against the Miami Dolphins in keeping Gang Green's playoff hopes alive.

Fitz hit Brandon Marshall for two scores and helped Devin Smith to his first NFL touchdown. He also found Eric Decker in the end zone.

The veteran signal-caller finished the day 22-for-37 for 277 yards and the four TDs. Another key number? Zero interceptions. He also tallied 21 yards on five rushes.

New York sits at 6-5 after the much-needed win that followed four losses in five games.

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Fitz: Matchup with Bills 'carries some extra weight'

As a member of the Houston Texans last year, Ryan Fitzpatrick's victory over the Buffalo Bills was an "emotional" one.

Fitz will again be up against his former employer this week when the New York Jets quarterback takes the field Thursday night.

“I think anytime you play against a team that told you you’re not good enough that carries some extra weight, so this one will definitely carry extra weight for me," he said this week, via BuffaloBills.com. "But that being said, the more you’re removed from that, the more the faces have changed… I don’t know as many guys on the team anymore. There are a lot of things that have changed in a year.”

Fitzpatrick said three years ago, he expected to be a Bill the rest of his career. Either way, he feels like he's become a better quarterback since then.

READ MORE >>

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Bowles: Fitz a go for Sunday's game against Jaguars

Todd Bowles answered his quarterback quandary with one word Wednesday:

"Ryan."

The New York Jets coach plans to start his veteran signal-caller Sunday as the team hosts the Jacksonville Jaguars, though the nod doesn't discount Fitzpatrick's injury.

"They've got him taped up pretty good and they've got him bandaged up pretty good. He didn't have any pain or any effect like that during practice, and Geno (Smith) practiced, as well. So we've got both."

While both quarterbacks participated in team activities, Bowles admitted he was surprised at the amount the two were able to do given the injuries they sustained in Gang Green's loss to the Raiders.

WATCH MORE

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Bowles confident Geno learned from watching Fitz

Geno Smith is nursing a big bruise on his non-throwing shoulder this week, and New York Jets coach Todd Bowles is unsure if the third-year quarterback will be a go this weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

But if he is healthy enough and called upon to take the reigns for the injured Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bowles is seemingly confident.

"I think he picked up a few things," Bowles said, via NJ.com, when asked about whether Smith learned from watching the 11-year veteran Fitzpatrick run the offense through the first third of the season.

Fitzpatrick tore a ligament in his non-throwing thumb on the first drive last Sunday in a loss to the Oakland Raiders. Smith filled in admirably, but the defense put up an absolute stinker. It can't afford to do the same this weekend, especially, if rookie Bryce Petty has to step in.

READ MORE>>

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Week 1 preseason follow-up: Jets at Lions

Well, nothing like the first preseason game to work the kinks out.

The New York Jets, playing mainly their second- and third-string players, struggled to get much of anything going in their first preseason game, falling to the Detroit Lions, 23-3.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, the team's de facto starter after Geno Smith's highly publicized injury this week, played one series and went 2-for-3 for 16 yards. He was outshined by Detroit's starting crew, who, behind signal-caller Matthew Stafford, got into the end zone on their first drive via a 35-yard connection to wide receiver Golden Tate.

Check out these post-game roundups for some in-depth analysis on the team's first preseason game:

Kimberley Martin, via Newsday

Manish Mehta, via NY Post

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Geno vows return after sucker punch yields broken jaw

This is the face of a frustrated quarterback:

Following a non-football related disagreement with linebacker IK Enemkpali that ultimately resulted in a broken jaw, New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is now facing surgery and up to 10 weeks of recovery time before he'll see the field again, per ESPN's Rich Cimini.

The "sucker punch," according to head coach Todd Bowles, was over "something sixth-graders could've talked about," though he wouldn't divulge any details.

As far as the aftermath, the team immediately released Enemkpali, and veteran signal-caller Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to take on the starting role.

READ MORE

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Fitz, Moore land on Clayton's top 10 backup list

The Jets and the Dolphins both made moves this offseason to shore up their quarterback situation, moves that NFL analyst John Clayton praised Monday.

Clayton released his take on the top 10 backup quarterbacks in the league via ESPN.com, and both teams' respective No. 2 made the cut.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, who joined Gang Green on a two-year contract back in March, is reunited with his former coach after putting together some decent performances last season in Houston. Matt Moore, on the other hand, has seen little playing time behind Ryan Tannehill but earned himself another solid one-year deal in April.

Here's Clayton's comments on both signal-callers, as well as their respective position on his list:

Ryan Fitzpatrick (No. 1):

Bill O'Brien got the most out of Fitzpatrick last season in Houston. He went 6-6 in his 12 starts, while the offense averaged 24 points per game. His Total QBR ranked 16th in 2013 (when he was in Tennessee) and 20th last season. He'll be waiting in the wings if Smith stumbles out of the gates.

Matt Moore (No. 9):

He's thrown just 29 passes in the three seasons since Ryan Tannehill arrived, but he went 6-6 as a starter in 2011, which is part of the reason the Dolphins re-signed him to a one-year deal this offseason.

READ MORE

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Geno still No. 1, but Fitz getting quality looks at No. 2

From starter to practice squad, Ryan Fitzpatrick has been around the block.

The 32-year-old, who's entering his 11th season in the league, has been in pretty much every quarterback situation imaginable along the way. So coming into OTAs as the No. 2 on the Jets' depth chart is not the largest hurdle he's faced.

And though his offensive coordinator has already stated the QB job is Geno Smith's to lose, the veteran still believes the opportunities he's currently receiving are ample enough to earn him a shot at the starting role.

"There's so many reps out here right now where you just see guys getting shuttled in and out," Fitzpatrick said via NewYorkJets.com. "I'm taking 'two' reps right now, but Brandon [Marshall] and Deck [Eric Decker] and different guys are in the huddles, so we're getting a chance to throw and play with all these guys right now."

READ MORE

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Gailey: Barring injury, 'Geno's the starter' for Jets

Looks like Geno Smith is getting a second, second chance.

New York Jets Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey, who acquired his former quarterback from Buffalo in Ryan Fitzpatrick this offseason, was asked Wednesday whether they'll be a competition this offseason for the starting role -- a legitimate question given Smith's rocky pro start.

The answer? An emphatic "no."

“Right now, Geno’s the starter,” Gailey said via Seth Walder of the NY Daily News. “That’s the way we expect it to be.

“I think you see an awful lot of talent there. And if we can get him where he puts all that together, I don’t know how good he can be. To be honest, I don’t know how good he can be, but he can be pretty good though.” 

The 24-year-old signal-caller has posted a 57.5 percent completion rate and 25/34 touchdown-to-interception ratio his first two seasons, while Fitzpatrick completed 63 percent of his passes and tallied 17 touchdowns to eight interceptions in 12 games last season.

READ MORE

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Jets bring in Gailey-friendly quarterback Fitzpatrick

Ideally, he can be a better-than-average backup veteran. Desperately, he can be a formidable stop-gate starter.

The New York Jets announced Wednesday they traded for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, formerly of the Buffalo Bills and most recently the Houston Texans. Gang Green reportedly gave the Texans a conditional late round pick in the transaction.

Fitz's $3.25 million contract is probably bargain given that the Jets avoided having to offer a more financially-competitive deal had he hit the open market.

The 32-year-old veteran journeyman is at the least a very good resource on offense given his experience in Chan Gailey's system, which he ran for three seasons when Gailey coached the Bills. He threw for 10,232 yards and 71 touchdowns in that span.

Fitzpatrick completed 63 percent of his passes last year in Houston, totaling 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He joins Geno Smith, who will likely be his main camp competition, and Matt Simms on the roster. With signal-caller the team's most volatile position, there could be another young player and/or a veteran added this spring/summer.

All will be competing to toss passes to recently acquired wideout Brandon Marshall, who thrives catching balls from questionable throwers.

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Fitz: Facing former teammates provides 'extra fuel'

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn't taken a snap for the Buffalo Bills since 2012, but he still has plenty of friends on the roster. Friends he can't wait to line up against come Sunday.

Two years removed from his release, the 31-year-old signal-caller is now with his fifth team since he was drafted back in 2005, and Sunday marks his first game against the old crew from Western New York.

The veteran holds no grudges about what went down with his former team, telling reporters Wednesday that the matchup Sunday will be "a special game," and that the chance to make some plays against a slew of former teammates will only add to the experience.