Then this brings up an interesting scenario. If Petty is ready to play sooner rather than later, if the Jets sign Fitz to let's say a 2 yr deal worth 8-10 MM per/year, does Fitz then become a "progress blocker"? If the Jets sign Fitz to that kind of contract, he's going to start. Which means the kid will get no reps under fire for 2 more years. At some point, if the Jets brass thinks Petty is the answer, they're going to have to play him and let him learn in game conditions.
Yeah. Lets say the Jets sign Fitz to a 2 year 15 million dollar contract. They come into camp next season and Petty seems to have made tremendous strides. The CS feels very secure in having Petty as #2. Fitz still starts the season. The difference is between that, and what Petty did this year is that he isn't the "scout team" QB any more. Emulating the Dolphins QB, week 1, and the Bills QB week 2. Having PS players as his team. Players often playing out of position. Maybe a DE, making believe he is a WR while running the Fish O.
In practice he'll be running the Jets O, with #2's and sometimes #1's on his practice team. Fitz would still start the season, and as long as he's winning, and staying healthy, Petty will sit on the bench............Learning still. If an injury happens to Fitz, as it happened this year with his thumb, Petty gets a chance to Wally Pip him.
That's what was so interesting this year when Fitz got hurt. It was the perfect opportunity for the CS to see what smith had. The surgery situation screamed for Fitz to sit for a week or two. The fact that they rushed Fitz back a few days after surgery spoke volumes how they felt about putting the season in smith's hands.
The same situation happened with Brady/Bledsoe in camp the Pats strongly suspected Brady had a higher upside then Bledsoe but he continued to start until Mo put Brady on the field. It was coming anyhow, the injury just moved the arrival date up.
This of course is all hypothetical. It's assuming that Petty will not only have improved to be the back up, but good enough to supplant Fitz. If Petty is the real deal, he'll get his shot. He is in the perfect situation. If Fitz is injured, I am sure he will continue to be a mentor and friend to Petty. Nothing at all wrong with having 2 good QB's on a team. Particularly if one is an older, very intelligent, unselfish guy, and the other is a younger, much more talented guy who is willing to learn, and they are good friends.
Couldn't have a better situation.