Our long national nightmare is over. Ryan Fitzpatrick, after sitting out and rejecting nearly identical offers all offseason, has finally capitulated right before the New York Jets open training camp. Wednesday Fitzpatrick signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the Jets to be their starting quarterback for the 2016-17 season.
The prospect of a Geno Smith-led Jets team is now off the table and everyone in New York can breathe a sigh of relief. Fitzpatrick’s deal comes with some incentives that could boost it to $15 million if he can match his 2015 performance, which was the best of his career by a pretty wide margin.
"You're supposed to do a dance. A touchdown dance!"
"I don't really have one." 😂 #FitzMagic #SoundFX https://t.co/G38XQvkwBn
— NFL (@NFL) July 27, 2016
The Jets were offering Fitzpatrick a one-year, $8 million deal after he rejected a three-year, $24 million deal earlier in the free agent period. That one would have paid Fitzpatrick $12 million the first year, but $6 million for the final two years as the team presumably looked at developing his long-term replacement. For some reason Fitzpatrick balked at that idea, only changing his mind Wednesday after the Jets offered him the $12 for a single season with a “take-it-or-leave-it” 7 p.m. EST deadline. Fitzpatrick took it.
Fitzpatrick’s deal will cost at least one Jets player his job. The team has to fit the whole $12 million under their present salary cap and, as of right now, only have $9.1 million available, and that’s not counting the new contract first-round pick Darron Lee signed Wednesday to get him in camp.
Finally: Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jets reach agreement on 1-year, $12 million, fully-guaranteed contract, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 27, 2016
This could make Geno Smith, who would have likely been the starter if Fitz hadn’t agreed to the 11th Hour deal, expendable. The Jets can save $1.089 million in cap if they cut the fourth-year quarterback. There are some hard decisions ahead over the next few days with the Jets. The easiest way to get the money would be to cut former Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold. He has no dead money on his contract and it would add $8.6 million to their cap. The problem with that is it’s Nick Mangold, and the Jets should really keep that guy around.
Guys like Tommy Bohannan ($674,000 in cap), Bruce Carter ($600,000 in cap) and Khiry Robinson ($920,000 in cap) should already be packing their bags.
As much as it hurts at this point in the offseason, bringing Fitzpatrick back was the right call. Last year he completed 59.6 percent of his passes for 3,905 yards, 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His 31 TD passes were a Jets franchise record.
Ryan Fitzpatrick has 2nd-most starts by a QB without a playoff appearance who debuted since merger (@EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/poEBGdX6ih
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 27, 2016
Rookies and veterans report today to begin training camp with the Jets at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, N.J.
Other deals made as camp begins
Kurt Coleman won’t get the chance to test the free agent market next season. The Carolina Panthers saw to that, signing Coleman to a three-year, $17 million extension with $7 million in guaranteed money. Coleman cashed in after his best year as a pro with 88 tackles, nine passes defended, one sack and an NFL-leading seven interceptions.
The Saints will add former New York Giants wideout Hakeem Nicks to their stable on a one-year deal. Last year Nicks played in six games for the Giants, notching career lows in catches (14), yards (54) and touchdowns (0).
Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin will be joining the Detroit Lions on a one-year deal. Last year Boldin caught 69 passes for 789 yards and four touchdowns with the 49ers. He should be an outstanding receiver for the Lions in the slot with Marvin Jones and Golden Tate on the outside and Eric Ebron eating up the safety down the seam.
The Baltimore Ravens added former St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Jake Long to their roster. Long, a former first round pick of the Miami Dolphins, hasn’t started a game since 2014 and spent his time with the Atlanta Falcons last season as a back up.
This week the New England Patriots added a couple of undrafted free agents with SEC ties. Former Alabama safety Vinnie Sunseri and former Tennessee offensive lineman Kyler Kerbyson were added to the roster. Susneri appeared in nine games with the Saints last season. Kerbyson was an undreafted free agent this season.
