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Ryan Fitzpatrick's resurgence give Jets time to develop Bryce Petty
Ryan Fitzpatrick’s career revival has spread yuletide cheer and positioned the Jets to make a serious run to the postseason. He has stabilized a historically unstable position and given the new regime time to answer the most maddening question of all: How do we find a franchise quarterback?
Patience is a four-letter word in a business where job security is a myth. Turnover is rampant. Golden parachutes don’t exist.
Fitzpatrick, on pace to set a franchise record for touchdown passes this season, has been the elixir.
Todd Bowles’ admission to the Daily News last week that he “definitely” wants to re-sign Fitzpatrick for 2016 was the latest evidence of his impact. The Jets should give the 33-year-old a multi-year contract extension for three very important reasons:
1) He’s injected a winning mindset by playing better than at any time in his 11-year career.
2) There are plenty of quarterback-needy teams currently slotted ahead of the Jets in the 2016 draft.
3) He can buy more time for Bryce Petty to develop.
“Guys find homes at different places at different times in their careers,” Bowles said of Fitzpatrick on Tuesday. “And it’s his time.”
BRANDON MARSHALL'S PLAYFUL XMAS GIFT FOR RYAN FITZPATRICK
The Fitzpatrick lovefest in the tristate area has reached Kumbaya levels for good reason. He has been the unquestioned leader in his first season with the Jets.
“He can make you feel like you want to play hard for him,” Bowles said. “He just has that persona and personality around the team that everybody gravitates toward.”
Bowles has yet to discuss his desire to bring back Fitzpatrick for next season with general manager Mike Maccagnan, but there’s little doubt the head coach will get what he wants. It makes perfect sense to re-sign Fitzpatrick.
The free-agent quarterback market stinks to high heaven. (Sam Bradford? Please.)
Maccagnan and Co. aren’t exactly positioned to make a run at a blue-chip signal caller in the upcoming draft, either. Is there a slam-dunk quarterback out there, anyway?
The Jets would have the No. 21 pick in the first round if the season ended today. The Browns, 49ers, Cowboys, Rams, Saints, Eagles and Texans — who could all use a quarterback — have worse records.
Michigan State’s Connor Cook and juniors Paxton Lynch (Memphis), Jared Goff (Cal) and Christian Hackenberg (Penn State) are four intriguing prospects in the upcoming draft, but there’s no guarantee that any of them would be able to make a meaningful contribution right away.
At the very least, the Jets will take a developmental quarterback at some point in the draft. Fitzpatrick’s quality play has given them more time to evaluate Petty, who’s transitioning from a college spread system.
“This is an opportunity for me to get everything I can out of what’s going on at my pace,” Petty told The News. “Not being thrown into the fire is a blessing.”
Petty has the requisite skill set to make it if he’s not rushed. His arm is obviously good. Fitzpatrick has served a personal mentor/tutor to help the rookie better understand the NFL game.
“For young guys, there’s so much pressure right away,” Fitzpatrick told The News. “It’s not an easy position. You have all these guys who are losing their opportunities to play because they didn’t succeed right away when they were young. They had no chance. Even though they were playing, they had no chance to grow and no chance to be successful because of everyone around them.”
Fitzpatrick’s success has had a two-pronged effect. He’s helping the team in the present and giving it more time to cultivate player(s) who could be their future. Fitzpatrick still has enough left in him to be considered more than a one-year placeholder. Petty is willing to learn and wait.
“When you go there and you’re not successful, your confidence is shot,” Petty said. “This game is, ‘What are you doing for me now?’ If you’re not successful, they’re going to look for someone else who can be. Part of the blessing is getting ample opportunity to learn all I can, and then say, ‘Okay, I’ve learned as much as I can and now it’s time to put it all to work.’”
The Jets are cautiously optimistic about Petty, fully aware that he could crash and burn if they accelerate his development too much. They want to take their time. They want to do it right. In their perfect world, Petty would get the Brock Osweiler treatment of learning behind a productive veteran for a few years.
“There’s going to come a day when the training wheels have to come off and he’s going to have to go out there and do it,” Fitzpatrick said.
Thanks to Fitzmagic, that time isn’t now.
Ryan Fitzpatrick’s career revival has spread yuletide cheer and positioned the Jets to make a serious run to the postseason. He has stabilized a historically unstable position and given the new regime time to answer the most maddening question of all: How do we find a franchise quarterback?
Patience is a four-letter word in a business where job security is a myth. Turnover is rampant. Golden parachutes don’t exist.
Fitzpatrick, on pace to set a franchise record for touchdown passes this season, has been the elixir.
Todd Bowles’ admission to the Daily News last week that he “definitely” wants to re-sign Fitzpatrick for 2016 was the latest evidence of his impact. The Jets should give the 33-year-old a multi-year contract extension for three very important reasons:
1) He’s injected a winning mindset by playing better than at any time in his 11-year career.
2) There are plenty of quarterback-needy teams currently slotted ahead of the Jets in the 2016 draft.
3) He can buy more time for Bryce Petty to develop.
“Guys find homes at different places at different times in their careers,” Bowles said of Fitzpatrick on Tuesday. “And it’s his time.”
BRANDON MARSHALL'S PLAYFUL XMAS GIFT FOR RYAN FITZPATRICK
The Fitzpatrick lovefest in the tristate area has reached Kumbaya levels for good reason. He has been the unquestioned leader in his first season with the Jets.
“He can make you feel like you want to play hard for him,” Bowles said. “He just has that persona and personality around the team that everybody gravitates toward.”
Bowles has yet to discuss his desire to bring back Fitzpatrick for next season with general manager Mike Maccagnan, but there’s little doubt the head coach will get what he wants. It makes perfect sense to re-sign Fitzpatrick.
The free-agent quarterback market stinks to high heaven. (Sam Bradford? Please.)
Maccagnan and Co. aren’t exactly positioned to make a run at a blue-chip signal caller in the upcoming draft, either. Is there a slam-dunk quarterback out there, anyway?
The Jets would have the No. 21 pick in the first round if the season ended today. The Browns, 49ers, Cowboys, Rams, Saints, Eagles and Texans — who could all use a quarterback — have worse records.
Michigan State’s Connor Cook and juniors Paxton Lynch (Memphis), Jared Goff (Cal) and Christian Hackenberg (Penn State) are four intriguing prospects in the upcoming draft, but there’s no guarantee that any of them would be able to make a meaningful contribution right away.
At the very least, the Jets will take a developmental quarterback at some point in the draft. Fitzpatrick’s quality play has given them more time to evaluate Petty, who’s transitioning from a college spread system.
“This is an opportunity for me to get everything I can out of what’s going on at my pace,” Petty told The News. “Not being thrown into the fire is a blessing.”
Petty has the requisite skill set to make it if he’s not rushed. His arm is obviously good. Fitzpatrick has served a personal mentor/tutor to help the rookie better understand the NFL game.
“For young guys, there’s so much pressure right away,” Fitzpatrick told The News. “It’s not an easy position. You have all these guys who are losing their opportunities to play because they didn’t succeed right away when they were young. They had no chance. Even though they were playing, they had no chance to grow and no chance to be successful because of everyone around them.”
Fitzpatrick’s success has had a two-pronged effect. He’s helping the team in the present and giving it more time to cultivate player(s) who could be their future. Fitzpatrick still has enough left in him to be considered more than a one-year placeholder. Petty is willing to learn and wait.
“When you go there and you’re not successful, your confidence is shot,” Petty said. “This game is, ‘What are you doing for me now?’ If you’re not successful, they’re going to look for someone else who can be. Part of the blessing is getting ample opportunity to learn all I can, and then say, ‘Okay, I’ve learned as much as I can and now it’s time to put it all to work.’”
The Jets are cautiously optimistic about Petty, fully aware that he could crash and burn if they accelerate his development too much. They want to take their time. They want to do it right. In their perfect world, Petty would get the Brock Osweiler treatment of learning behind a productive veteran for a few years.
“There’s going to come a day when the training wheels have to come off and he’s going to have to go out there and do it,” Fitzpatrick said.
Thanks to Fitzmagic, that time isn’t now.
