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These things can get downright nasty. We have seen that happen more often than not. But this one should get some kind of award from the United Nations. It’s been so peaceful . . .
This Ryan Fitzpatrick contract dispute has to be one of the most benevolent I’ve ever covered.
Tonight he was spotted with teammates at the Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Rangers game at Madison Square Garden.
Perhaps from a semantics standpoint, it’s not accurate to call guys like Nick Mangold and Eric Decker Fitzpatrick’s “teammates.”
After all, Fitzpatrick isn’t a member of the Jets right now, so he has no teammates.
But to Mangold and Decker, Fitzpatrick is a teammate, the consummate teammate. They love the guy.
When you see the affection guys like Mangold and Brandon Marshall have for Fitzpatrick, even during his contract dispute, it helps the quarterback’s bargaining position.
These key Jets players clearly like Fitzpatrick a great deal and appreciate what he did for the team last year.
And would like to pick up in 2017 where they left off.
Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles know how much Fitzpatrick is liked and respected in that locker room.
That doesn’t mean you overpay him.
But it also means you don’t jump to sign Brian Hoyer to replace him.
Hoyer, who played for the Houston Texans last year, visited the Jets today.
He’s a backup option for the Jets if they don’t sign Fitzpatrick.
Hoyer could be one more concussion away from being through.
If I’m Hoyer, I’m signing with Dallas to be Tony Romo’s backup. That is the best spot for him.
They need a veteran backup who can come in and win games if Romo gets hurt again.
Hoyer would be perfect.
After what he went through in Cleveland two years ago, and the Houston last year, two QB circus scenarios, does he need to come to the Jets and replace a popular starter? Go to Dallas, dude.
Hoyer’s visit to the Jets is clearly a scare tactic by Gang Green’s brass to get Fitzpatrick to take their offer, which is believed to be somewhere in the $8-10 million-a-year range.
Just like the rumors of the Jets trading up for a quarterback in the draft to replace Fitzpatrick. I view this as a scare tactic as well.
Like I said the other day, if the Jets trade up to get a guy like Jared Goff, that doesn’t fill their QB position for this year. The Jets potentially have a very tough schedule, and they have missed the playoffs five years in a row. And they are raising ticket prices. This isn’t the year to develop a rookie quarterback on the job. It’s just not.
I think Fitzpatrick will be the Jets quarterback this year.
Who knows when this is going to get done.
It could take a lot more time.
But this protracted contract dispute is one of the most civil I’ve ever covered.
There has been no mudslinging from either camp.
And Fitz continues to hang out with teammates (friends) publicly. And this is very smart move by him. The imagery helps his case. He’s one of the boys. Why mess this up?
April 19, 2016
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