Ryan Fitzpatrick signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets on Wednesday, and the 33-year-old veteran is beyond relieved to be able to get back to work.
In an interview with Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, Fitzpatrick opened up about the contract stalemate that lasted six months and at times seemed like it would never end.
“Oh my gosh … it’s been a long six months for sure,” he said. “The biggest feeling was relief. Just relief to have it over and done with. And then when I was driving in (Wednesday night to the team facility) and walking up to the team meeting, it was like the first day of school. I was just all excited to see everybody and to be back in the building.”
Fitzpatrick said it was painful to be so close to his teammates and unable to practice with them. He also said he was confident all along that an agreement would be reached, but the “he said-she said” part of the process was not something he enjoyed.
“I’ll tell you what. This whole process has been so long and hard and something I wouldn’t wish upon anybody, but if there’s a silver lining in it, at least for me, it’s the respect and support that those guys showed for me throughout the process,” Fitzpatrick said of his teammates. “It was huge. That’s why you play the game. You play the game for your teammates, who really want to play with and for you. That was big for me. I felt like I had to get back for those guys.”
It was reported nearly two months ago that Fitzpatrick was willing to sign a one-year deal, but the Jets did not seem pleased about having to give him $12 million guaranteed. Fitzpatrick was actually seeking more than that, so $12 million ended up being the middle ground.
You could argue that it’s a bit dramatic to say you wouldn’t wish something on anyone when it ends in a $12 million pay day, but we understand where Fitzpatrick is coming from. He had to work out on his own while watching his teammates post entertaining videos like this, and that can’t be easy. At the end of the day, both sides realized the standoff had to end.
