FITZ HAPPENS
JETS Qb BACK Where he BELONGS
As the Jets took the field Thursday for their first training-camp practice, the theme song from “Welcome Back Kotter” blared from the speakers along the sidelines — a perfect choice for the return of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
A day after ending his fivemonth long contract standoff, Fitzpatrick was back in uniform with his Jets teammates. Fitzpatrick expressed relief and joy to be back after signing the one-year, $12 million deal, but also reflected on how tough the negotiations were.
The Jets offered Fitzpatrick a three-year, $24 million deal that would pay him $12 million this year, but just $6 million in 2017 and 2018. Fitzpatrick made it clear he would not take that deal.
“That was basically a deal that said, ‘ We want you here and then can you stay here as the backup,’ ” Fitzpatrick said. “For me, that’s not how I view myself. I’d much rather pass up on some of that guaranteed money and just sign a one-year deal, which I did, and bet on myself and see what happens.”
Fitzpatrick countered months ago with the one-year, $12 million option, but the Jets were unwilling to do it until Wednesday. Fitzpatrick said he was not insulted by the Jets’ three-year offer, but clearly he did not appreciate it.
“I would almost not want them to sign a guy that they offered that contract,” he said. “How could I look myself in the mirror every morning and say, ‘Yeah, I’ll try to play good this year and then next year I’ll just collect some checks and teach the young guys.’ That’s just not who I am. It’s not my nature.”
Fitzpatrick’s contract actually has a second year on it, but it voids right after the Super Bowl. It was put in to spread out the salary cap hit for the Jets, something they needed to make the deal work.
With all of the contract drama behind him, Fitzpatrick returned to the field Thursday. He showed some signs of rust, throwing two interceptions during team drills, but also made some pretty throws, including a deep pass down the sideline to Brandon Marshall.
“That was the best deep ball he’s ever thrown me. It was great. The timing was great,” Marshall said.
Fitzpatrick’s return meant Geno Smith was pushed aside. Jets coach Todd Bowles made it clear he expects Fitzpatrick to be the starter on Sept. 11 against the Bengals.
“I think he’ll be the Week 1 starter unless something drastic happens,” Bowles said.
Fitzpatrick’s return to the team featured some drama on Wednesday night. The Jets gave Fitzpatrick a 7 p.m. deadline to accept their offer. That time also had meaning for Fitzpatrick, who wanted to be at the first team meeting then. Fitzpatrick spent about 25 minutes driving around Florham Park, awaiting word that the deal was done. When he got the go-ahead, he drove to the Jets’ headquarters. The surprised security guards waved him in, but he needed to get Marshall’s door code to get in the building. His no longer worked. He hustled to the team meeting room on the other side of the building, getting there just as it started.
“Sorry I’m late coach,” Fitzpatrick said as he walked into the room of stunned teammates.
“That’s a $12 million fine,” Bowles joked.
Marshall, one of Fitzpatrick’s most vocal supporters, said the 2016 Jets were now ready to go.
“It’s a good feeling to be whole right now,” he said.
Fitzpatrick lives just 10 minutes away from the Jets’ headquarters. He said it was a strange feeling knowing his teammates were practicing without him during the spring, but he never lost faith he would be back with them this fall.
“I always thought it would get done because it made too much sense for me to be here and for them to have me here,” Fitzpatrick said. ”I never really lost faith that it was going to get done, but it was tough. It was definitely a trying process for as long as it lasted.”