We know the Jets have an offer in place for Ryan Fitzpatrick to return to the team and be their starting quarterback this season. We also know Fitzpatrick has said that offer isn’t good enough, and the two sides are currently at a stalemate. But could the stalemate end not with the Jets signing Fitzpatrick, but with the Jets telling Fitzpatrick the offer is no longer on the table?
That’s a scenario considered by Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, who said today on PFT Live that the Jets may soon decide that they no longer want to engage in contract negotiations, and they’re going to move on with the quarterbacks they already have under contract.
“I think it’s coming a lot sooner than some people might expect, and if you’re in the Jets’ position I think your patience should be wearing thin,” Mehta said. “The Jets are probably a bit closer to moving on than has been talked about at this point.”
If the Jets do move on from Fitzpatrick, they’d likely start Geno Smith and let second-round rookie Christian Hackenberg compete with 2015 fourth-round pick Bryce Petty for the No. 2 job. Would the Jets really be willing to do that? Or do they just want Fitzpatrick to think they’d be willing to do that for leverage in contract negotiations? We may find out soon.
