SATURDAY, 2:20pm: RG3 is meeting with Jets officials again today, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets. The Jets’ focus remains on working out a deal with Fitzpatrick, however, per Breer (on Twitter).
FRIDAY, 1:16pm: Although the Jets have not given up on re-signing Ryan Fitzpatrick, they are exploring the quarterback market. Gang Green will do so first by hosting Robert Griffin III on a visit today, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
The Jets will be Griffin’s first visit since Washington cut him on Monday. RG3’s meeting with the Jets still resides at the exploratory stage, with a source telling ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson that Fitzpatrick remains the focus (Twitter link).
Fitzpatrick and the Jets remain far apart in negotiations to bring back the UFA quarterback. The team is believed to be offering something only a little better than what Chase Daniel got from the Eagles. Daniel and the Eagles agreed to a three-year deal with a base value of $21MM (max value of $36MM) this week.
Griffin won’t cost that much after the swoon his career has taken. Washington picked up the 26-year-old passer’s fifth-year option last year but cut Griffin rather than pay him a $16.155MM salary that would have become guaranteed on Wednesday.
Rumored to be on the Broncos’ radar once they lost Brock Osweiler, Griffin will visit the Jets as the first step toward potentially reviving his career.
The 2012 offensive rookie of the year hasn’t been the same since tearing his ACL in the playoffs that season. Although the former Pro Bowl quarterback completed a career-best 68.1% of his passes in 2014, RG3 threw just four touchdown passes compared to six interceptions and fell out of favor with Jay Gruden and did not take a snap in 2015 as Kirk Cousins captured Washington’s starting job and subsequently received the franchise tag.
Griffin accounted for 4,015 yards as a rookie, rushing for 815, and 27 touchdowns — throwing for 20 and just five interceptions. In 2013, however, Griffin’s completion percentage dropped five points and Washington went 3-10 in games that the former Heisman Trophy winner started.
Injuries knocked Griffin out of the starting lineup in 2014 and ’15, the latter coming in the preseason, when Washington opted to shelve Griffin and begin its exit strategy from its one-time franchise quarterback.
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