At least the Jets were able to come to terms with one of their quarterbacks.
Gang Green announced that it signed 2016 draft pick Christian Hackenberg to a four-year, $4.66 million rookie deal. That's all well and good, but it's time the team ends its contract impasse with Ryan Fitzpatrick.
There has been plenty of drama between the quarterback and the Jets this offseason as they have reportedly been very far away when it comes to agreeing to a new contract. Coming off a career year, Fitzpatrick wants a respectable salary. Given his age and lack of options, the Jets are trying to pay him backup quarterback money.
Middle ground is hard to come by in the cruel business world that is the NFL.
With the Texans signing Brock Osweiler to a four-year, $72 million, it's understandable why Fitzpatrick may feel slighted by the Jets, a franchise that hasn't had a franchise quarterback in decades.
After all, Houston was desperate for a signal caller and opened their wallets to fill the need. Even if their quarterback of choice only had seven career starts under his belt.
Fitzpatrick, a Harvard graduate, helped lead the Jets to a surprising 10-6 finish last season, but imploded with three interceptions in the regular season finale as New York missed the playoffs. The quarterback completed 59.5 percent of his passes last season while throwing for 3,905 yards and setting a Jets franchise record with 31 touchdown passes.
Despite the success and his rapport with top receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker -- who have publicly expressed they want him back -- the Jets haven't budged in their negotiations with the signal caller.
New York may be playing hard ball, but it might want to re-think it given the rest of their options. Bryce Petty is unproven. Geno Smith is a nightmare. Hackenberg, who they shockingly took with the 51st overall pick at last month's draft, doesn't have any NFL experience under his belt.
Even Jets players were surprised that they took a quarterback that early in the draft.
"I was a little surprised, to be honest," Decker said Tuesday, according to the New York Daily News."To get a quarterback in the second round, that's a big decision. You're saying a lot about him."
Decker, whose 12 touchdowns were one shy of matching a career high, also once again expressed his desire to get Fitzpatrick back under center.
"Just because of the camaraderie we've built and the relationship we had this past year and what we can build upon, I think he definitely is the right man for the type of team we have now," Decker said. "It's a team that I think is ready to win now. And we need someone, a veteran presence, at the quarterback position."
Fitzpatrick, 33, is a stopgap, not the long-term answer at quarterback for the Jets, but given the team chemistry and the season he had, it's time for the charade to end.
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