AT FITZ END
Fitzpatrick, who never received a suitable offer during free agency. But what did that really mean? Look at what transpired in the interim. Fitzpatrick missed valuable off-season time to build off his successful 2015 campaign, time that should have been used to grow with his receivers.
“If he comes back, it’s going to take some time,” Eric Decker told the Daily News after minicamp. “Personally, I think when you play with Peyton Manning, you still got to refine the craft in the offseason.”
The protracted negotiations prevented Fitzpatrick from doing just that. Although he seamlessly transitioned from injured backup to starter last summer after Geno Smith broke his jaw, it’s unreasonable to think that this stay-at-home dad/scratch golfer for the past six months will be able to pick up right where he left off during his magical first season with the Jets. If ever there was a circumstance that called for a player being eased back into football shape, this is it. accagnan & Co. held a strong front until reporting day for camp. The brain trust, which had traded proposals and made multiple offers in recent months, finally bumped up their one-year proposal to Fitzpatrick’s liking. They also finally gave him a hard deadline: 7 p.m.
Fitzpatrick isn’t Brady or Rodgers or Roethlisberger, but he always held more value to the Jets, who have the requisite talent to make a playoff run in Todd Bowles’ second season.
In the end, what matters most is that Maccagnan sealed the deal, but perhaps he’ll learn that sometimes the shrewd business decision isn’t always the smartest football one.
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