Ryan Fitzpatrick

Extra Points: Pats, Saints, Jets, Browns

May 31st, 2016 at 8:48pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

There was a report Sunday stating that Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler‘s absence from voluntary OTAs pertained to his desire to land a new contract. That isn’t the case, according to the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe, who tweets that Butler will report to Gillette Stadium for OTAs this week. His arrival will come as welcome news to the Patriots, whose defense Butler became an integral part of last season. On the heels of serving as an unlikely Super Bowl XLIX hero in the Pats’ dramatic win over the Seahawks in February 2015, the 26-year-old Butler broke out in earnest during a 16-start campaign, totaling 67 tackles and two interceptions. Butler is now scheduled to rake in $600K in 2016 before becoming a restricted free agent.

Ryan Fitzpatrick Content To Wait Out Jets

May 31st, 2016 at 4:45pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is content to wait until training camp, if necessary, before signing his next deal, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). The Jets, whom Fitzpatrick spent last season with and are hoping to re-sign him, unsurprisingly want to lock up the signal-caller well before camp.

While the Jets’ goal is to have Fitzpatrick back in their uniform as soon as possible, there remains a wide chasm between the two sides with respect to the 33-year-old’s value. The Jets reportedly offered Fitzpatrick a three-year, $24MM deal that could be worth up to $36MM with incentives. In terms of annual value, $8MM would place Fitzpatrick in company with offseason free agent signings Robert Griffin III ($7.5MM) and Chase Daniel ($7MM) – neither of whom has been nearly as successful as Fitzpatrick in the NFL. While the Jets’ reported offer features upward of $15MM in guarantees, Cole notes that amount isn’t fully guaranteed.

Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, is looking for a mean yearly value in the range of $12MM to $16MM, according to Cole, and would like a contract with the upside of $16MM to $20MM per annum with incentives factored into it. At his current asking price, Fitzpatrick would reside in similar territory to Nick Foles ($12.25MM) and Andy Dalton ($16MM).

After the Jets acquired Fitzpatrick from the Texans last year for a mere late-round pick, he went on to have his best season for a 10-6 club that narrowly missed the playoffs. The career journeyman unexpectedly totaled personal highs in touchdowns (31) and yards (3,905), and is now angling to parlay that showing into a contract reflective of it.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Latest On Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick

May 31st, 2016 at 10:16am CST by Zachary Links

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.

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.

Details On Jets’ Offer To Ryan Fitzpatrick

May 31st, 2016 at 8:42am CST by Dallas Robinson

TUESDAY: 8:42am: Fitzpatrick’s three-year, $24MM deal can balloon up to $36MM with incentives, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The deal, which as previously reported would pay him $12MM in year one, would give him more than $15MM guaranteed.

SUNDAY, 3:01pm: Reports last week indicated that the Jets had a offer on the table for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, and today we’ve received a little more clarification on the details of that contract proposal. New York has offered Fitzpatrick a three-year deal worth $24MM in total, with $12MM available in 2016, but an average of only $6MM per year in 2017 and 2018, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).

Obviously, that report leaves some information to be desired, such as the exact structure of the contact with respect to bonuses, whether they be signing or roster. But at first glance, it would seem that Fitzpatrick would earn $6MM base salaries in each of the next three seasons, with a $6MM bonus payable in 2016. If it’s a roster bonus, it would be prorated over the life of the contract, meaning Fitzpatrick would count for $8MM against the cap from 2016-2018.

That $8MM annual average would rank just 23rd among quarterbacks in the NFL, behind the likes of Andy Dalton and Nick Foles and just ahead of Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. If that’s the case, it’s not surprising that Fitzpatrick finds that offer a bit unfair after a season during which he helped the Jets to a 10-6 record while passing for almost 4,000 yards and 31 touchdowns. Fitzpatrick has indicated that he’d like to re-sign with Gang Green, however, and there aren’t many other clubs around the league that are still looking for a signal-caller.

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 via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Sunday Roundup: Lynch, Fitzpatrick, Leary

May 29th, 2016 at 12:54pm CST by Rory Parks

Whether Marshawn Lynch opts to continue his football career in 2016 and whether he will play for the Seahawks if he does suit up this season are two very different questions, as Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com writes. Lynch, 30, may well be having second thoughts about his decision to retire, but while Kapadia would not be surprised if Lynch chooses to return to the league, the ESPN scribe would be stunned if the Seahawks are the team to welcome him back.

Although Seattle controls Lynch’s rights through 2017, he is due $9MM in 2016, is coming off an injury-plagued season, and is at the point in his career when most running backs begin to wear down anyway. Plus, the club’s running game looked perfectly capable without Beast Mode in 2015. Theoretically, the team could trade him or negotiate a pay cut, but it is more likely that the Seahawks would simply release Lynch if he ultimately decides he is not done playing.

Now let’s take a look at some more notes from around the league:

Rich Cimini of ESPN.com and Brian Costello of The New York Post echo the common sense point that Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk made several days ago: we now know that the Jets have offered Ryan Fitzpatrick a three-year deal that includes $12MM in the first year, but until we know what the second and third years of the offer look like, we cannot say which side is being overly obstinate. Cimini “gets the sense” that it is a three-year, $24MM contract, which would mean that if Fitzpatrick plays well this season and retains his starting job, he would be significantly underpaid in 2017. Similarly, Costello believes that it is not a three-year, $36MM deal unless Fitzpatrick hits incentives, some of which are surely unrealistic.
Cowboys left guard Ronald Leary has made it abundantly clear that he wants to be traded, but as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, Leary lost almost all of his leverage when he chose to sign his restricted free agent tender last month. Now that he has signed the $2.55MM tender, Leary can be fined if he misses mandatory minicamp or training camp, so Dallas will be perfectly content to either wait for a good return from another club seeking an interior lineman, or for Leary to give in and report to the team.
Former Baylor wideout Jay Lee, overshadowed by teammate Corey Coleman–the Browns’ first-round selection in this year’s draft–in the Baylor offense, had a productive collegiate career in his own right, and he turned down offers from five other clubs to join the Lions as a UDFA, as Justin Rogers of MLive.com writes. Lee said, “[Detroit] is a better fit for me. I had a relationship with the coaches. I got to do a private workout with them, got to come up here and visit and I just felt at home.”
Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com looks at five of the Lions‘ biggest roster competitions this summer. The competition at defensive tackle, the club’s deepest unit, could be particularly fierce.
Instead of hitting the open market this offseason, Steelers guard Ramon Foster and cornerback William Gay turned down the chance at a bigger payday elsewhere to remain in Pittsburgh, as Ray Fittipaldo of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes. Gay, who signed a two-year, $3.2MM contract with the Cardinals in 2012 after spending the first five years of his career with the Steelers, never saw the second year of that deal after Arizona’s coaching staff told him he no longer fit in their plans, and he had no interest in seeing the dark side of free agency again. Foster, meanwhile, said, “[Pittsburgh] is where it’s at. We’re chasing that ring. The chance for the Super Bowl ring is more important than those extra [millions].”
Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta has looked good in the team’s offseason workouts, Don Markus of The Baltimore Sun writes. Pitta, looking to make his way back from a second major hip fracture, is not showing any lingering effects of his injuries, although training camp will present an entirely different test. Pitta could face an uphill battle to make the roster, as the team recently signed veteran free agent Ben Watson and also has intriguing young talents in Crockett Gillmore and Maxx Williams on the tight end depth chart.
In an Insider-only piece, Field Yates of ESPN.com lists the biggest roster decisions that each of the league’s 32 clubs will have to make over the coming months.

Ryan Fitzpatrick Has Three-Year Offer From Jets

May 27th, 2016 at 8:54pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

8:54pm: The issue in negotiations is with the second and third years of the Jets’ offer, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. If the Jets’ offer is worth, say, $24MM in total, then the reported $12MM for 2016 suddenly doesn’t look nearly as appealing, notes Florio.

8:24pm: Rich Cimini of ESPN.com corroborates Cannizzaro’s report, writing that the Jets’ offer to Fitzpatrick does include $12MM for the first year (up from $8MM) and has been on the table for at least two months.

5:40pm: The Jets have made a three-year offer to free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, sources tell Mark Cannizzaro of The New York Post. The proposed deal has been on the table for four months, reports Cannizzaro, who adds that it includes $12MM in the first year (Twitter links).

Fitzpatrick made it clear Monday that he hopes to return to the Jets, also indicating that the two sides were engaging in talks behind the scenes. However, The Post’s Brian Costello reported Wednesday that the Jets and Fitzpatrick hadn’t held contract discussions in several weeks. With Fitzpatrick unsigned and obviously unable to partake in the Jets’ voluntary workouts, standout receiver Eric Decker – one of Fitzpatrick’s favorite targets – made his dissatisfaction with the team known by skipping OTAs.

After helping the Jets to a 10-6 finish and amassing career highs in yards (3,905) and touchdowns (31) last season, the 33-year-old Fitzpatrick has been pushing for a contract in line with that performance. It’s hard to imagine he’d beat the reported offer on the table anywhere else, though, given that all teams’ quarterback situations appear settled. The Eagles’ Sam Bradford, for instance, briefly held out in Philadelphia after the club irked him with the selection of first-round signal-caller Carson Wentz. Bradford quickly returned to the Eagles upon realizing that there simply wasn’t a trade market for him. Similarly, at his asking price, there’s no obvious market for Fitzpatrick outside of New York.

In the event the Jets and Fitzpatrick don’t eventually reach a pact, Gang Green is likely to go forth with either Geno Smith, Bryce Petty or second-round rookie Christian Hackenberg under center. Even though he was successful last season, a career journeyman like Fitzpatrick is hardly an ideal option, but it’s fair to say he’s more appealing at this stage than any of Smith, Petty or Hackenberg.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Fitzpatrick, Smith, Misi

May 26th, 2016 at 4:43pm CST by Ben Levine

About a year ago, ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss focused on Tom Brady‘s praise for unheralded Patriots running back Dion Lewis. The career journeyman’s pass-catching skills were clear, but the running back was also commended for his ability to take “a teaching point that was covered in morning meetings…and [execute it] on the field.”

We all know how that experiment ended up working. Lewis compiled 622 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in seven games.

Today, Reiss decided to highlight some “under-the-radar” OTA participants who could play a significant role on this year’s squad. Among the candidates were cornerback V’Angelo Bentley (who adds versatility via the return game), receiver DeAndre Carter (played on last season’s practice squad), running back D.J. Foster (undrafted free agent received personal phone called from Bill Belichick to join team), and cornerback Jonathan Jones (most guaranteed money among undrafted players).

While the Patriots determine whether they’ve landed on any hidden gems, let’s see what else is happening around the AFC East…

We have conflicting reports as to whether Brandon Marshall‘s absence from Jets OTAs is related to the team’s contract talks (or lack thereof) with Ryan Fitzpatrick. One source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) that there is “no story” with regards to Marshall not being in practice with his teammates. Eric Decker, however, is reportedly staying home to make a statement about his feelings on the Fitzpatrick situation.
Jets quarterback Geno Smith says that he is OK with his teammates voicing their support for Fitzpatrick, as Brian Costello of the New York Post writes. “When I’m out there on the field no matter who I’m with my job is to score points,” he said. “I have the utmost confidence in my abilities and myself. When the time comes when I’m out there, I’ll go out there and perform. As of right now, it’s about what we’re doing here and taking care of business.”
Dolphins linebacker Koa Misi was detained (but not arrested) by police following a fight outside a Fort Lauderdale nightclub on Sunday morning, according to a police report obtained by the Miami Sun-Sentinel. The report also indicated that the 29-year-old attempted to “flee a police officer” following the altercation. Misi could be in line for a team suspension, and it’s notable that the organization disciplined former defensive end Derrick Shelby following a fight outside the same club.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Latest On Talks Between Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick

May 25th, 2016 at 8:57pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

8:57pm: Decker’s absence from OTAs does stem from his dissatisfaction with the lack of progress toward a new deal for Fitzpatrick, reports Costello (Twitter link).

5:36pm: It’s nearly June, which means NFL training camp is creeping closer, but the Jets and free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick continue to make no progress toward a new contract. The two sides haven’t engaged in discussions in several weeks, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter).

For his part, Fitzpatrick indicated on Monday that he’d like to return to the Jets, saying, “I had a great time with the guys last year and I want to continue doing this. I’m still preparing for the season.”

Fitzpatrick added that “the discussions have been behind closed doors,” but if Costello’s report is accurate, those closed-door talks haven’t happened in a while.

The 33-year-old Fitzpatrick, whom the Jets acquired from the Texans for a late-round pick in March 2015, has been pushing for a contract commensurate to his performance last season. The well-traveled Fitzpatrick had a career campaign as part of a 10-6 club, amassing personal bests in yards (3,905) and touchdown passes (31) against 15 interceptions.

The Jets aren’t as bullish on Fitzpatrick as he is on himself, however, as they’ve reportedly tried to lock him up to a deal in the $7MM-per-year range. That’s similar annual value to the contracts Robert Griffin III and Chase Daniel signed earlier this offseason with the Browns and Eagles, respectively, but Fitzpatrick has been significantly more productive than those two in recent years.

With Fitzpatrick currently out of the Jets’ equation, the club has three less-than-ideal signal-calling options in Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg. Smith has struggled mightily during his three-year NFL career, while Petty and Hackenberg have a combined zero pro snaps between them. New York did invest respectable resources in the tandem, though, with Petty going in the fourth round of the 2015 draft and Hackenberg in the second round this year. Further, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey stated Wednesday that Gang Green would be content with any member of its current troika under center this year. Receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, both of whom were absent from voluntary OTAs on Wednesday, might disagree. Marshall’s absence is unrelated to Fitzpatrick’s situation, however, per Costello (via Twitter).

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Jets Notes: Marshall, Decker, QBs, Richardson

May 25th, 2016 at 4:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest on the Jets:

Wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker were both absent from OTAs today and offensive coordinator Chan Gailey told reporters (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post) that both players were also absent yesterday. There is speculation that the two are staying home to put pressure on the Jets to re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick. When asked if Decker and Marshall are making a stand, Gailey said that he doesn’t think that’s the case, “but you’ll have to ask them that question.” Center Nick Mangold has also been away, but his wife gave birth Tuesday, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link).
Gailey claims that the team will be comfortable with whoever wins the quarterback job (Twitter link via Costello). Currently, the Jets have Geno Smith, Bryce Petty, and second-round pick Christian Hackenberg in camp. Of course, the shadow of Fitzpatrick looms large and there is pressure on the team to get a deal done.
Defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson says he has spoken to the NFL with regards to its investigation, Costello tweets. Richardson, who served a four-game suspension at the start of the 2015 season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, was his usual effective self upon returning, picking up five sacks and forcing a couple fumbles. Pro Football Focus, which classified him as an edge defender, ranked him 30th out of 110 qualified players in the group.

Ryan Fitzpatrick Still Wants To Return To Jets

May 23rd, 2016 at 2:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching and the Jets remain at a standstill with free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick. Even as he remains in limbo, the quarterback confirmed today that he still wants to return to Gang Green.

“I had a great time with the guys last year and I want to continue doing this. I’m still preparing for the season,” Fitzpatrick told SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link). “It’s been a process and the good thing about it is the discussions have been behind closed doors.”

After enjoying a career year at the age of 33, Fitzpatrick has been pushing for a contract that would put him in line with some of the league’s better quarterbacks. The Jets, meanwhile, have reportedly offered him a deal that would pay him roughly $7MM per year. Fitzpatrick surely wants to get paid like Brock Osweiler and Sam Bradford did this spring, but it sounds like he has softened his stance at this stage.

“You would drive yourself crazy looking at other contracts around the league,” said Fitzpatrick, who threw 31 for touchdowns and led the Jets to a 10-6 record in 2015.

Last month, the veteran reportedly told people close to him that he would “rather not play football” than accept what the Jets were offering. However, Fitzpatrick shot that notion down today when he explained that he is “playing football next year” (link via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com).

Photo from Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

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