Ryan Fitzpatrick and the New York Jets' negotiations may very well go on forever.
The quarterback and Gang Green have been unable to see eye-to-eye on the details of a new contract. Even with Fitzpatrick publicly revealing he would agree to parameters of a pact that would seem to make sense for both sides, the Jets are set to balk again.
Multiple reports revealed that the Jets offered Fitzpatrick a three-year deal worth $24 million, which would pay him $12 million in the first season and $6 million in each subsequent campaign.
Though the contract seemed reasonable, futher inspection proved that the $12 million in front was misleading. The $8 million average annual salary he'd make per year would make him the lowest paid starter in the league.
Sources close to Fitzpatrick said the signal caller would accept a one-year contract worth $12 million, but the Jets aren't interested in making such an offer, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, likely because New York wants to lock up its starting quarterback beyond 2016.
Jets are not interested in giving Ryan Fitzpatrick a 1-year, $12 million deal, per sources. Will not be happening.
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) June 2, 2016
It seems the back and forth is never going to end and now that the parties are negotiating through the media, things may very well turn uglier.
Fitzpatrick, 33, led the Jets to a 10-6 finish last season, but imploded with three interceptions in the regular season finale against the Bills as New York missed the playoffs.
The quarterback completed 59.5 percent of his passes last season after taking over for the injured Geno Smith (broken jaw), while throwing for 3,905 yards and setting a Jets franchise record with 31 touchdown passes.
Fitzpatrick is out of options to start elsewhere and the Jets don't have any truly great contingency plans, so it seems like the perfect fit. Bryce Petty is unproven. Smith has been awful. Christian Hackenberg, who the Jets shockingly took with the 51st overall pick of the draft, doesn't have any NFL experience under his belt.
Fitzpatrick has a great rapport with receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, who publicly expressed they want him back. The receivers curiously missed the beginning of OTAs, which some believe was in protest to the absence of their leader.
Though Fitzpatrick won't be a franchise quarterback given his age, he clearly is the smartest choice for the Jets going forward -- not just because he has a Harvard degree.
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