Ryan Fitzpatrick is a good quarterback. Not a great one, but a good one. And in this day and age, that’s worth a lot. But because Fitzpatrick has refused to budge in contract negotiations with the New York Jets, and because the Jets, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns have all recently added quarterbacks to their respective stables, there aren’t many options left for the 33-year-old.
Late last month ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Fitzpatrick “rather not play football” than sign the deal the Jets had offered him, which was believed to be in the $7-8 million range. That sounds absurd, especially because there’s a decent chance that deal wouldn’t put him in much peril holding a clipboard, but consider that Fitzpatrick is a Harvard graduate who might have other plans outside of the NFL world.
Of course, he might have been bluffing. But if that was the case, the developments that took place during the NFL draft cost him most of his negotiating power. Barring an injury to a presumed starter, Fitzpatrick will now likely have to decide between a salary in that aforementioned range or retirement.
Again, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if he were to go the latter route. There have been reports that he does want to return, but the man has already accomplished more than anyone expected as a seventh-round pick. And he has made $39 million during his 11-year career, so that type of money just might not be worth the physical and mental challenges for a guy who could probably do a lot of good in other fields.
I do think Fitzpatrick will be back somewhere — probably New York if Geno Smith doesn’t emerge as at least a decent stopgap option for a team hoping it just drafted its future franchise pivot — but I also wouldn’t be shocked if he decided, at least for now, to walk away.
