Penny-Pinching Broncos May Send Ryan Fitzpatrick Back To Jets

Although the Denver Broncos have already had discussions with free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s representatives, they refuse to pay the salary Fitzpatrick is seeking, according to an ESPN report. The report also stated that the Broncos could potentially revisit Fitzpatrick further down the line. 

Penny-Pinching Broncos May Send Ryan Fitzpatrick Back To Jets

The New York Jets, Fitzpatrick’s former team, and the QB are engaged in a standoff in their negotiations. Fitzpatrick is looking for a contract that will pay him a salary similar to what other starting quarterbacks are getting — in the $16 million- to $18 million-per-year range. However, The Jets do not want to pay that for a veteran who has already played for several teams in the league, each one for very little time. According to sources, their offer is around $7 million per year.

Sources have also stated that the Jets are not overly concerned with their quarterback situation, regardless of what Fitzpatrick decides to do. The Jets remain confident that they can attain a winning season next year thanks to a solid defense and a strong running game, which they bolstered last week by signing Matt Forte.

These two aspects of the Jets’ team worked for several years under coach Rex Ryan, particularly in 2009 and 2010, when the team twice made the AFC Championship game, but this tactic quickly fell apart. The New York team has not been in the playoffs since 2010, and previous quarterbacks Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith and Michael Vick have all failed in recent years.

Last year, however, things seemed to change for the Jets. After replacing Geno Smith as starter, following Smith’s broken jaw, Fitzpatrick played a fantastic season with the Jets in 2015. He threw for a team-record 31 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards. The Jets’ offense gained the most yards of any offense in team history. 

However, Fitzpatrick’s game weakened in the last game of the season, during which he threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills, thus keeping the Jets out of the playoffs.

It seems as if Fitzpatrick will have nowhere else to turn besides his old team should the Broncos no longer be interested in him.The Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are also in need of a starting quarterback, but none of these teams has expressed any interest in Fitzpatrick, who is considered to be the top free-agent quarterback left.

Former Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III is also left. Although the Jets met with Griffin on Friday and Saturday, he left without a deal. The only quarterbacks currently on the Jets’ roster are Smith, who started in 2013 and 2014, and Bryce Petty, the team’s fourth-round pick from last year.

Caption:EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 27: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the New York Jets throws a pass against the New England Patriots during their game at MetLife Stadium on December 27, 2015 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)