Fitzpatrick ready to lead young team into opener at Patriots
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
But Fitzpatrick, the 16-year veteran and Dolphins starter, does take solace in his return to the practice field ahead of Miami’s season opener on the road against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Fitzpatrick has been able to lean on Dolphins coach Brian Flores, his Dolphins teammates, and many more people that have accumulated in his football family over the years to overcome the recent passing of his mother, Lori, as the 2020 NFL season begins this week.
“I definitely feel the love. I think with a personal tragedy with my mom passing away, you feel it extra,” Fitzpatrick said Tuesday in his first media availability since his mother died on Aug. 29.
“All the people. It was a lot of teammates and people in the [Dolphins] building. It was also a lot of people I’ve been in contact with, almost in a past life, on different teams in different cities, and there were a lot of people that have reached out.
“I’m feeling a lot of love lately in that regard. People are letting me know that they care about me and are thinking about me and my family. And that’s been good.”
And his return to football has been a helpful distraction.
Flores named Fitzpatrick as the Dolphins’ starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Patriots, allowing the team’s most experienced veteran and undisputed leader a season ago the opportunity to lead a youthful group once again.
Fitzpatrick has called himself the “placeholder” until Dolphins rookie Tua Tagovailoa is ready to assume the reins, but still is immensely grateful for the opportunity Miami has given him to be one of the 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL at this stage of his career.
“It means a ton. It’s not something I take for granted,” Fitzpatrick, 37, said. “I’ve gone back and forth and been the guy and not been the guy. And so, I know how difficult it is to earn something like this. I know how difficult it is to accept this responsibility to go out there and shoulder everything I have to shoulder as the starting quarterback to these guys ready to go play.
“But it’s the reason I still play. It’s why I love the game so much. I’m honored and I’m really excited to be able to lead this team out there on Sunday.”
While the Dolphins have experienced an influx of new talent this season, Fitzpatrick remains a steady, reliable option for the team at quarterback after an offseason of so much uncertainty.
With no offseason training activities and an altered training camp due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dolphins have had to mesh as best as they can on the practice field before the season opener.
The acclimation period for offensive players like running backs Jordan Howard and Matt Breida, offensive linemen Ereck Flowers and Ted Karras, and rookies like Tagovailoa, offensive linemen Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt has been aided by the presence of players like Fitzpatrick and right tackle Jesse Davis.
Fitzpatrick’s familiarity with his top passing targets like receiver DeVante Parker, Preston Williams and tight end Mike Gesicki from a season ago also helps the process.
“We’ve done a great job preparing with the short time that we have. We know everything is so critical with practices and the time that we have out there on the field. Because it has been so limited with the pandemic,” Fitzpatrick said.
“It’s finally nice to stop practicing against our defense and get into some New England stuff. And really start paring down what we’re trying to do.”
The Dolphins face a daunting task of trying to win their season opener in New England — a difficult place for the franchise to win despite ending last season with a victory on the Patriots’ home turf. Miami’s 27-24 win in the 2019 season finale marked just the second time the Dolphins won a road game against the Patriots since 2008.
The Dolphins hope Fitzpatrick will be able to lead their offense to another upset over the team’s most hated rival on Sunday.
“This is the stuff that I really enjoy as a quarterback. The week-to-week game-planning,” he said. “I’m glad that we’re at this phase and we’ve made it this far.”
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