New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has come across as more defiant over the past two weeks than at any other point during his 12-year career, and time will tell if that is a good thing for the team.
On Wednesday, Fitzpatrick was asked about the reaction some people have had to his recent comments about the Jets’ brass losing faith in him. Simply put, the 33-year-old isn’t concerned about how he came off.
“I don’t care,” Fitzpatrick told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “I don’t care what is being written about me. I don’t care what other people think about me. I really don’t. When I’m done with football, I go home to my family. We’re going to carve pumpkins tonight. I’m just going to be Dad. I’m going to be like a normal person.”
Fitzpatrick was basically stating the obvious when he said his coach, team ownership and front office don’t believe in him anymore. After he threw 11 interceptions in six games, he was benched. While he never said he didn’t deserve to lose his job, Fitzpatrick said his overall point was that he is never going to stop fighting.
“There’s a lot of people along the way that have not believed in me or given up on me,” he said Wednesday. “I’ve been through it. I always come back to self-belief. I believe I can do it. I believe in myself. That is what that whole interview was.
“Maybe seven years ago, I would care about what was said about me. I’ve accomplished more than anybody ever thought I was going to. But I’m not satisfied with the way the season has gone this year. I’m not satisfied with the way that I’ve played this year.”
Had it not been for an unfortunate season-ending injury to Geno Smith, Fitzpatrick would likely still be stewing on the sidelines this weekend. Now, he understands the pressure may be even greater than before.
“When we lose, my shoulders are big enough,” he said. “Blame me for everything. That’s fine. I’ll take that. You don’t need to blame a young rookie receiver that can’t handle it. I am accountable for all my actions, good or bad.”
Fitzpatrick has not lost the support of his teammates, as evidenced by the shirt Brandon Marshall wore while speaking to the media this week. The former Harvard star set a franchise record with 31 touchdown passes last year, and not everyone believes that was a fluke. If Fitzpatrick plays better down the stretch, it’ll be hard to argue that his benching was a bad thing.
