Jets must set final deadline with Ryan Fitzpatrick

Training camp will arrive soon for the New York Jets as they must set a final deadline with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick so it’s no longer a distraction.

The time has come for the New York Jets to set a definitive deadline on whether or not quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will return to the team. Fitzpatrick was a catalyst for the Jets last season, setting records and nearly leading them to a Wild Card berth in the NFL Playoffs.

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As Jets Nation remembers and would like to forget, the Jets fell short in their season finale against the Buffalo Bills with everything on the line. It wasn’t solely on Fitzpatrick but his three interceptions certainly didn’t help the cause as it left a very sour feeling at the end of the contest to end the season without an entry in the postseason.

Fast forward to now and well, the Jets still have no agreement in place as Fitzpatrick felt their offer was low-balling everything he brings to the table. The Jets offered a three-year deal worth about $24M in total with $12M just for 2016 alone and he felt offended.

It should also be known that not a single team offered him a contract this offseason besides the Jets. To think that he would earn franchise quarterback money is ludicrous as it’s been months that this contract offer was waiting for him to accept and he hasn’t budged from wanting much more.

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At the end of the day, training camp will be here faster than a New York minute and the last thing everyone needs is this huge question mark hanging around the field if he’s coming back or not.

Enough is enough already as the Jets need to put a final deadline in place so they know if he’s ultimately coming back or not.

That way, the Jets can either move forward with Fitzpatrick or work with quarterback Geno Smith.

It’s not fair for Smith to have put in all this work this offseason only to find out when Fitzpatrick decides to come back in August or even a week before the regular season that the starting job is handed back to him instantly. It’s best a deadline is in place so everyone can confidently move forward if it’s indeed Smith under center to start the regular season off.

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Overall, a strict deadline allows everyone to move on, focus on the many other issues involved in training camp and field the best final roster possible. Fitzpatrick has had more than enough time to think about the contract offer the Jets gave him as it’s now time to move on one way or the other so it’s no longer a major distraction heading into the most crucial part of the offseason.