A-camping we will go
Fun starts with QB stories in Florham Park & Foxborough
The Jets seem to be the masters of training-camp drama: from Darrelle Revis’ holdout to Tim Tebow’s arrival to Geno Smith’s jaw.
The good news for the Jets this training camp is that their presumed starting quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, can’t get suckerpunched by a teammate if he’s nowhere near Florham Park where camp starts next week.
“I think that’s the most unique situation of the offseason, it feels like a soap opera,” said Nate Burleson, one of the hosts of NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” which debuts Aug. 1 and will originate from New York.
“They are not close to figuring out an agreement. I would hope Fitz is in a Jets jersey sooner than later, but — and I hate to say it because I am a Fitz fan — it could be a slight derailment of their season until he does get into a jersey. And if he waits too late then you are asking a guy to come in, then building that chemistry on the spot, and that’s tough in this sport. It’s absolutely pivotal for quarterbacks and wide receivers to work together. I’d hope it gets resolved, but that’s why I love doing my job because it’s an interesting thing to talk about.”
It’s also an interesting opportunity for Smith. The former second-round pick was the laughingstock of last season’s training camp after getting punched out by linebacker IK Enemkpali over a $600 debt. This training camp, he has a chance to regain his teammates’ trust and prove to coach Todd Bowles he can run the firstteam offense, while Fitzpatrick and the Jets try to reach an agreement.
“He has all the tools and can make all the throws, but do the guys on the team trust him? That’s the one question I would have,” said former Jets quarterback Ray Lucas, who is an analyst for SNY’s “Jets Nation,” which debuts Sunday night.
“This kid is going to be his fourth year. But if you look at the playmakers he had and the ones the Jets have now it’s not even on the same planet. The Jets have one of the best tandems of receivers in football. I would love to see him with the pieces Fitzpatrick had. Will the Jets be in dire straits if Fitzpatrick doesn’t come back? I don’t know.”
For once, though, the Jets’ impediment to AFC East success also faces quarterback doubts. The Patriots will spend these five weeks trying to prepare Jimmy Garoppolo for starting the first four weeks of the season with Tom Brady having accepted his Deflategate suspension.
“I haven’t seen enough to give a true assessment of Jimmy G, but what I can say is that the Patriots are the best at figuring out what a player’s skill set is and implementing a game plan that supports that,” Burleson said. “So, I don’t know if he’s going to come out and be absolutely amazing and phenomenal or terrible. It could fall in between, but you know who does know that: Bill Belichick.”