The New York Jets are set to begin training camp a week from Wednesday, and there has been some speculation that they will move on from free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick if a deal is not reached by then. Unfortunately, it sounds like the contract standoff could drag on longer than that.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the stalemate could extend all the way into preseason play.
“There has been really no movement from either side, everybody is dug in,” Rapoport said Monday. “So it certainly could be within the realm of possibility that we have to see not just a little bit of Geno Smith, like maybe a couple reps in OTAs or mini camp, but a lot of Geno Smith, maybe even into preseason games, for there to be some sort of movement here between the Jets and Fitzpatrick, so expect to be having this conversation a few more times.”
While several Jets veterans have made it clear they want the team to bring back Fitzpatrick, there has been very little public support for Smith. When you see the way New York has fared in some of Smith’s previous starts, it’s easy to understand why.
For guys like wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, the offense was excellent last season with Fitzpatrick under center. Why would they want to start from scratch with a new quarterback?
The surprising thing here is the belief that the Jets could go through training camp without committing to Smith. Decker already expressed concern that the Fitzpatrick situation could become a distraction after training camp begins. And if what Marshall said this week about his communications with Fitzpatrick is any indication, no progress has been made.
