The Jets have a multi-year offer on the table to Ryan Fitzpatrick, but they’re worried that he could instead accept less money to play with another team, sources tell Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. That fear is apparently shared by both team personnel and some players. 
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Recently, we learned that the Jets have offered Fitzpatrick a three-year, $24MM deal could potentially be worth as much as $36MM with incentives. The deal would pay the veteran $12MM in year one and give him more than $15MM guaranteed. That’s certainly not chump change, but it’s also not the type of money you’d expect for one of the league’s top quarterbacks in 2015. Mehta writes that the performance bonuses are “fugazi,” though it’s not clear if that comes from direct knowledge of the offer. In any event, the 33-year-old (34 in November) is probably seeking more in the way of guarantees on his deal.
Last year, Fitzpatrick surprised the football world by helping the Jets to a 10-6 record while throwing for almost 4,000 yards and 31 touchdowns. Fitzpatrick has indicated that he’d like to re-sign with Gang Green, but he is clearly frustrated with the team at this juncture. It remains to be seen whether Fitzpatrick would actually accept a lesser offer elsewhere out of spite.
In related news, wide receivers Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall are back at practice after reportedly abstaining due to the Fitzpatrick saga (Twitter link via Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday). It doesn’t sound like their return is a sign of progress in the contract talks, however.
PFR recently ranked Fitzpatrick as the No. 1 available free agent left on the board, placing him ahead of Anquan Boldin, Arian Foster, and others.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
The Jets could certainly make a better offer, but who exactly is Fitz going to sign with elsewhere? If he wants to start and not be on a terrible team then his options are the Jets and no one else. Unless he was willing to wait it out and see if a starting QB gets hurt or take a really low money offer to duke it out for Denver’s starting job.