New York Jets: Ryan Fitzpatrick too ignorant to see opportunity

When it comes to the New York Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, both sides still have yet to come to an agreement. If he doesn’t return, he will undoubtedly miss a golden opportunity in 2016 with the Jets.

To say the Jets exceeded expectations in 2015 is an understatement. A year before in 2014, they posted a 4-12 season that promptly caused owner Woody Johnson to start handing out pink slips to the leadership responsible for such an embarrassing record. Johnson then started a search to bring in the right leadership team to turn the Jets back into a competitive and respected football team and boy, did it work.

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The Jets went on to set a record-setting year and breaking several offensive records straight to a 10-6 final record. While it’s unfortunate they missed the NFL Playoffs in a “win and get in” scenario against the Buffalo Bills in their season finale, the Jets still bounced back nicely and will continue that momentum into 2016.

At this point in time, Fitzpatrick still feels the Jets have given him a very “low offer” to bring him back for next season and beyond. It’s been rumored to have been an offer of about $7-$8M per year for two years but apparently Fitzpatrick wants more than double that per year in order to return.

Considering that he thrived thanks to the supporting cast around him, it’s ridiculous that he hasn’t come to reason in the grand scheme of things. The Jets won plenty of football games last season thanks to their rushing attack, dynamic wide receiving duo in Brandon Marshall/Eric Decker and their stout defense.

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Of course he was the signal caller that put everything together but again, it was the playbook of offensive coordinator Chan Gailey that put him in such a great position to succeed.

Gailey has a knack of making his offensive system catered to the strengths of his players.

The Jets are built to win now and have upgraded their defense, rushing attack and had a solid 2016 NFL Draft with even more talent coming through the pipeline. They’ll be another team to keep an eye on during the regular season as the potential is definitely there to replicate and even exceed what they did last year.

Fitzpatrick as of late has been rather ignorant to see that this is the best opportunity he has to end his career on a high note. His entire NFL career he’s been dubbed as a journeyman, always moving from city to city based on where his new contract came from. One has to factor all the mental and physical fatigue that comes with all that moving and lack of stability.

From all accounts last season, Fitzpatrick enjoyed his time with the Jets and became a part of a unique family between his teammates and fans. People that rooted for him when he was throwing touchdowns against the New England Patriots and those that stuck by him after he had a few bad games.

It’s shocking that he’s letting money come in the way of joining a team that made a fair offer considering his age, injury history and that the Jets pretty much made him who he was last season. It was easily the best supporting cast Fitzpatrick has ever had in his career that has gotten even better. It’s a great situation to be in to play for a few more years and retire after finally getting stability for a change.

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Overall, if he continues this ignorance, hopefully the Jets move on from this once and for all and focus on their new draftees while preparing for the rest of the offseason. Training camp is around the corner and there is a ton of work that remains ahead as the Jets do their best to field the best possible team in 2016 to continue the aggression. If that’s without Fitzpatrick, all should still be fine in the city that never sleeps. It’ll be his loss, not ours.