..has FitzMagic run OUT ? ?.. and the 2017 QB market ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

It's too early to make proclamations about what the NFL quarterback market will look like in 2017. It's not too early to start wondering, though, about the makeup of that market and which players have to produce over the remaining 11 weeks of the season to avoid ending up there.By my count, there are close to a dozen teams that could enter the market, either by moving on from their current starter and/or dangling a player with significant trade value. Others have passers on the hot seat who are unlikely to be moved, either for contractual or logistical reasons.

While we're only five weeks into the season, plenty has already happened. Eight teams have already had to change quarterbacks because of injury or poor play, and that doesn't include the Eagles, who traded away Sam Bradford a week before the season started. Five different players have thrown passes for the Browns, and the best option might be their top wide receiver, Terrelle Pryor. There are teams with no hope at quarterback and others that somehow have too many passers to play with one football. Let's run through the players who might be on the market in the coming year, weigh the performance and financial factors and project their chances of being on a new roster (or with a new job) come 2017 :

Colin Kaepernick, 49ers

Let's begin with the league's most recent quarterback to be moved into a starting role. Blaine Gabbert had been effective as a runner in Chip Kelly's system after beating Kaepernick out for the starting job in training camp, but he was woefully inconsistent as a passer, regularly missing open receivers for easy completions. It wouldn't be the first time Kelly chose the wrong passer in camp; remember that he picked Michael Vick as his starter over Nick Foles in 2013, only for Foles to post a 27-2 touchdown-interception ratio after making his way into the starting lineup after Vick was injured.The other part of the equation, of course, is that Kaepernick needed to restructure his deal in order to squelch fears about his future. Kaepernick's contract held base salaries, which were guaranteed in case of injury, and given the stack of injuries Kaepernick went through in 2015, the 49ers were hesitant to insert him into the starting lineup without waiving those guarantees. Kaepernick is agreeing to waive those guarantees in exchange for a shortened deal, which would include a player option for 2017 if he hits certain playing-time parameters.

Kaepernick's future is totally up in the air: He was a superstar as recently as 2013 and would seem to be a good fit in Kelly's scheme given his ability as a runner, but he was mediocre in 2014 and a mess last season before undergoing season-ending surgery. Kelly hasn't shown long-term loyalty to a quarterback at the college or professional levels, trusting more in his scheme than any individual passer. It's not impossible to imagine Kelly trying to acquire Marcus Mariota from the Titans if Mariota continues to struggle in Tennessee, but for now, he has to try to make do with the quarterbacks he has.

Likelihood of Kaepernick leaving: 75 percent

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Tony Romo, Cowboys

I wrote about Romo's future with the Cowboys at length earlier this week. It's not out of the question that the Cowboys hold on to Romo this offseason. It's also hardly difficult to imagine the Cowboys settling on rookie Dak Prescott and trading Romo, even if it means eating $19 million in dead money on their 2017 cap, by virtue of what it will clear up in the subsequent seasons. In Romo's case, his future in Dallas may depend more upon how Prescott performs than on how Romo plays if the veteran gets an opportunity later this year.

The market for Romo at his 2017 salary of $14 million might be slim. Rebuilding teams like the 49ers, Bears and Browns wouldn't have much use for a 37-year-old quarterback with a gruesome recent history of injuries. A more plausible landing spot for Romo is the AFC East, where the Dolphins and Jets could each be looking for new quarterbacks in 2017. Miami, with a better cap situation, would likely have the inside track on Romo between those two.

Likelihood of Romo leaving: 50 percent

Ryan Tannehill ranks second-to-last in opponent-adjusted QBR this season. Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins

Now let's get to the current quarterback in Miami. Despite preseason speculation suggesting Tannehill had finally found his quarterback whisperer in new head coach Adam Gase, he has been a mess this season. Tannehill has played one half of excellent football this season, and it came while trailing by several touchdowns to the Patriots in Week 2. During that second half, Tannehill went 22-of-27 for 273 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. Over the rest of the season, the Texas A&M product has been far worse: 78-of-129 for 999 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also fumbled four times and is taking sacks on 9.8 percent of his dropbacks. Miami's offense is certainly flawed, as evidenced by the Dolphins' rotating through four running backs at times and cutting three offensive linemen on Tuesday, but Tannehill isn't helping.

The structure of the deal Mike Tannenbaum gave to Tannehill basically requires the Dolphins to make a decision on their starting quarterback in March. If they keep Tannehill on the roster, he's guaranteed an additional $14.8 million on top of the $3.5 million the Dolphins already owe him for 2017. The Fins would owe Tannehill a total of $20.3 million of their cap room if he's on the roster after the fifth league day of 2017 and would shave $9.9 million off that figure by trading or releasing him.

At the moment, given how poorly he's playing and the range of options likely to be available, I suspect the Dolphins would part ways with Tannehill, which would make him a buy-low target for the aforementioned Browns and 49ers, both of whom have head coaches who would possess an interest in a mobile passer. If Tannehill improves and performs like a league-average quarterback the rest of the season, it's more plausible that Miami would keep him for one final season and turn 2017 into a must-win campaign.

Likelihood of Tannehill leaving: 40 percent

---

Jay Cutler, Bears

The writing is already on the wall for Cutler, who has gotten precious little public support from management since suffering a thumb injury two weeks ago. Brian Hoyer has thrown for 699 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in Cutler's absence, and while I am skeptical that Hoyer is the long-term solution in Chicago, the Bears' front office seems ready to use the slightest pretense to cut bait on a player (and contract) they inherited from previous regimes.

The Bears are in excellent salary-cap shape, so while they would be able to afford onerous amounts of dead money by moving on from Cutler, they won't need to do so. The Bears will be on the hook for just $2 million if they trade or release Cutler, moves which would create $14 million in cap space versus Cutler's 2017 cap hold of $16 million. Although there's no guaranteed money remaining in Cutler's deal, it's unlikely that any team would want to trade for Cutler on what amounts to a four-year, $72.7 million deal. Cutler is likely to be an unrestricted free agent come March without requiring any draft-pick compensation.

There would be a market for Cutler as an unrestricted free agent, given that he has been a productive quarterback as recently as 2015. Cutler enjoyed his season with Adam Gase, and if the Dolphins do part ways with Tannehill, he would loom as an obvious fit for Miami.

Likelihood of Cutler leaving: 90 percent

It's entirely possible Jay Cutler has played his last snap as a member of the Bears. Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire

Brock Osweiler, Texans

This year's most expensive free-agent quarterback is suggesting that the shiny glow of a new passer isn't as glamorous as it's cracked up to be. Osweiler was an abject mess against the dominant Minnesota defense on Sunday, needing garbage time to make it to 184 passing yards and a touchdown on 42 attempts. The Vikings intercepted him once and left at least one other interception on the field thanks to a brief moment of generosity from Harrison Smith.

Osweiler has had stretches of competence -- he looked good for a half against the Bears in the opener and started off hot against the Titans in Week 4 -- but there are also quarters or halves where he gets out of rhythm and looks like a replacement-level quarterback. Despite the presence of DeAndre Hopkins and a breakout debut by exciting rookie first-rounder Will Fuller, Osweiler's numbers are brutal. He's completing 58 percent of his passes and averaging 6 yards per attempt and has thrown more interceptions (seven) than touchdowns (six). Sunday was the first day I began to see chatter suggesting that the Texans needed to bench their new starter.

It's too early to judge Osweiler, but even if the Texans regret their free-agent acquisition, he's not going anywhere. Houston guaranteed Osweiler's $19 million salary for 2017 upon signing, meaning that the only way they can get out of paying Osweiler would be if somebody wanted to absorb his contract in a trade. If Osweiler plays poorly enough that the Texans want to trade him after this season, nobody will want that deal. Houston won't have a ton of cap space in 2017, which will make it difficult to acquire an impactful backup to compete with Osweiler. In all likelihood, the Texans' 2017 starter will be Osweiler or 2014 fourth-rounder Tom Savage.

Likelihood of Osweiler leaving: 1 percent

Brock Osweiler hasn't had many highlights in his first five games with the Texans. AP Photo/Elise Amendola

Carson Palmer, Cardinals

A borderline MVP candidate last year, Palmer is off to a frustrating start in 2016. He looks much more like the player the Cardinals acquired basically as a salary dump before the 2013 season. His completion percentage is down from 63.7 percent to 58.8 percent, his interception rate has spiked from 2.0 percent to 3.3 percent, and he's averaging 7.5 yards per attempt after hitting for 8.7 last year. Palmer's offensive line has been troublesome, and he suffered a concussion in Week 4 that caused him to miss the Cardinals' win over San Francisco.

It's too early to say with any likelihood that the Cardinals should part ways with the 2003 first overall draft pick. It's worth noting that if he continues to struggle, the one-year extension Arizona gave Palmer before the season will really prevent them from making a change. Had they left Palmer's contract as it was, they could have traded or cut Palmer this offseason and reduced his 2017 cap charge from $20.7 million to $8.8 million in dead money. Now, Palmer's 2017 cap hit is guaranteed at $22.9 million, regardless of what the Cardinals decide to do with him. Arizona could only get out of the $8.2 million in base salary due to Palmer if they trade him away.

Barring another serious injury, Palmer should be starting for Arizona in 2017. Plans can change quickly, though. Remember that when the Cardinals signed Drew Stanton in 2013, Bruce Arians claimed to be very comfortable with the longtime backup being "our guy" as the starter. He traded for Palmer a month later.

Likelihood of Palmer leaving: 10 percent

---

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets

Remember how essential it was for the Jets to re-sign Fitzpatrick to have a chance to be competitive in 2016? Well, that has fallen by the wayside. Fitzpatrick has thrown a league-leading 10 interceptions in five games, is completing less than 58 percent of his passes and comes into this week 24th in Total QBR. He might already be benched if it weren't for the fact that Fitz's replacement would be eitherGeno Smith, Bryce Petty or Christian Hackenberg.

The good news is that Fitzpatrick's contract automatically voids after the season. The bad news is that the Jets will pay for the privilege. The only way the Jets were able to fit Fitzpatrick at his desired $12 million price tag under their 2016 cap without restructuring any deals was to give Fitzpatrick a $2 million base salary and a $10 million signing bonus as part of a two-year deal. The second year automatically voids, but Fitzpatrick will still be responsible for $5 million in dead money on next year's cap. What a lovely aftertaste!

General manager Mike Maccagnan will be in the market for a veteran replacement at the top of the roster, and he'll likely end up with one of the players mentioned in this article. He'll need to do some creative accounting, given that the Jets already have $166 million committed to players for next season. The likes of Ryan Clady, Nick Mangold and David Harris could be on the chopping block to free up cap room for a player like Romo or Cutler. If Fitzpatrick wants to continue playing, he will likely be looking at a salary in the $5 million range to serve as a veteran backup.

Likelihood of Fitzpatrick leaving: 95 percent

---

Jimmy Garoppolo, Patriots

I wrote about the Garoppolo contract situation last month. If the Patriots really believe that Tom Brady's going to play into his 40s, the logical move would be to trade Garoppolo this offseason before the final year of his rookie contract. The Patriots would almost surely be able to recoup the first-round pick they lost in the Deflategate scandal.If Garoppolo signs an extension as part of that trade, he could expect to get a deal similar to the contract Osweiler signed in free agency, with a discount owing to the fact that he hasn't played as much and is still a year away from being an unrestricted free agent. A four-year, $64 million deal with $28 million or so in guarantees would hardly be out of the question. Assuming that the Patriots wouldn't want to deal Garoppolo within their own division, the Bears, Browns and 49ers would seem like plausible trade matches.

Likelihood of Garoppolo leaving: 40 percent

Even with just one-and-a-half games under his belt, Jimmy Garoppolo will have a lot of trade value if the Patriots want to move him. Tim Bradbury/Getty Images

Philip Rivers, Chargers

It's hard not to feel sympathetic for Rivers, who is continuing to produce at a high level as all his targets get injured and his teammates blow games. During San Diego's latest crushing loss, Rivers was spotted on the sidelines saying that his team was "the Bad News Bears, man."Advanced metrics say the Chargers are playing like an above-average team -- they're 11th in DVOA and 15th in ESPN's Football Power Index -- but they've been terrible late in games and very unlucky.The 1-4 start has led to suggestions that the Chargers need to rebuild. I'm skeptical given those underlying metrics, but the logical starting point for a rebuild would be trading Rivers, as former Chargers teammateLaDainian Tomlinson suggested recently. Rivers is 34, but his recent play suggests he'd be an upgrade for many teams, especially given the fact that he's throwing to Tyrell Williams and Dontrelle Inman.

It's not about to happen anytime soon. For one, the Chargers can't feasibly afford to deal Rivers this year; San Diego is up against the cap to begin with, and Rivers' cap hit would spike from $16.5 million to $34.5 million with a trade. Next year, the Chargers would only save $2 million by trading Rivers, as his $20 million figure would turn into $18 million in dead money. It would basically be giving up on 2017, and if the Chargers are still bad in 2017, Mike McCoy and Tom Telesco are going to be searching for new jobs. Executives don't make moves that are all but guaranteed to get them fired.The other problem is that Rivers might not want to be traded. There were rumors that Rivers might not want to accompany the Chargers to Los Angeles if the team were to move, sparked in part by Tomlinson, whosuggested that Rivers wouldn't be the team's starting quarterback in 2015.When Rivers subsequently signed his new extension in August 2015, he extracted a no-trade clause from the team. It's rare for veterans of Rivers' stature to be traded and even rarer for them to insist on no-trade clauses. Does that seem like the sort of guy who wants to start over somewhere else?

There also isn't a logical landing point for the longtime Chargers starter. Reports in 2015 popularly linked Rivers to a return to the Southeast, given that Rivers is from Alabama, but the Titans drafted their franchise quarterback in Mariota and are unlikely to give up on him after two seasons. Rivers played his college ball in North Carolina, but the Panthers already have an MVP under center. At some point, we're just guessing and projecting what we want for Rivers onto him. Until Rivers publicly says that he wants to leave the Chargers, it seems aggressive to suggest that he's on the market.

Likelihood of Rivers leaving: 5 percent

 

Philip Rivers and the Chargers are unlucky to be sitting at 1-4. Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Robert Griffin III, Browns

After fracturing his shoulder during an ugly debut start for the Browns, Griffin's already-limited value as a player moved closer to nil. Griffin does have a second year on his deal with Cleveland that would cost the Browns an additional $6 million in salary, but the figure isn't guaranteed, and the Browns would only need to eat $1.8 million in dead money if they decided to move on, which seems likely. Griffin's future as an NFL quarterback seems more tenuous than ever before.

Likelihood of Griffin leaving: 95 percent

---

Kirk Cousins, Washington

I'm not sure we're any clearer on Cousins' future than we were before this season started. He has been up and down in 2016, with five interceptions in five starts despite throwing just 22.4 percent of his passes 10 or more yards downfield, the lowest percentage of any regular starter in football. In one game alone, a cursory tape analysis saw Cousins leave three long touchdown passes on the field with bad throws. And yet Cousins has also had stretches in which he has played at a relatively high level. His QBR of 59.6 is a step below last year's 74.5 mark, but it's still good enough for 18th in the league.Last year, the move that made sense for all parties was for Washington to franchise Cousins, which it did. This offseason, GM Scot McCloughan will have to make a tougher call. Franchising Cousins would cost Washington $24 million on a one-year deal, which would give him the third-highest cap hit in football behind Romo and Joe Flacco. It's not off the table entirely, but that would be an inefficient use of resources. More likely, McCloughan will want to go ahead with Cousins as his quarterback on a multiyear deal or find a new passer.

To be honest, I'm not sure what the right call will be or how things will go. This time last year, Cousins still looked like a turnover machine. He threw eight interceptions in his first six starts, and then, going against everything he had exhibited throughout his career, Cousins threw just three over the following 10 games. Stay tuned.

Likelihood of Cousins leaving: 35 percent

---

Blake Bortles, Jaguars

Bortles showed some signs of improvement in 2015, prompting some to suggest this offseason that he was on the cusp of superstardom. Others (including myself) were skeptical, and so far, the skeptics have it. Bortles has looked out of sorts during an ugly start to the season, throwing six picks in four games while posting an opponent-adjusted QBR of 51.5, which is 25th among 30 qualifying passers.What's more troubling than the numbers, though, is how uncomfortable Bortles has looked. His mechanics are erratic -- he'll look entirely erratic one drive before his footwork returns to form later on, like a switch was flipped. Bortles has unquestionable raw talent, but whether it's a porous offensive line reinforcing bad habits and/or subpar coaching, he isn't developing.

The Jaguars aren't giving up on Bortles yet. The fourth year of his rookie deal in 2017 is guaranteed, and they're likely to pick up a low-risk fifth-year option on Bortles this offseason. But we're getting to the point where Bortles simply has to be more consistent and effective. If not, the Jaguars might seriously start thinking about going after a veteran quarterback like Romo or Cutler to compete with Bortles. They obviously have the receivers, and for the first time since Gus Bradley came to town, the defense actually looks good, as Jalen Ramsey & Co. are 10th in DVOA. It's still not clear whether the Jaguars are holding Bortles back, or if it's actually the other way around.

Likelihood of Bortles leaving: 0 percent

 

The Jaguars are still waiting for Blake Bortles to show more consistency. Logan Bowles/USA TODAY Sports

Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings

Let's finish with one of the more fascinating quarterback situations in football. After years of failing to deliver on the promise he held coming into the NFL as a former first overall pick, Sam Bradford has played like a superstar for the Vikings. Minnesota doesn't ask him to do a ton, and its defense has been incredible, but Bradford has avoided turnovers altogether and formed an immediate bond with Kyle Rudolph,Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. The Vikings are 32nd in rushing DVOA and fifth in passing DVOA.

It may be a fluke -- middling quarterbacks like Foles and Josh McCownhave put together incredible half-seasons in recent years -- but going forward, if Bradford is even 85 percent of the player he has been so far this year, the Vikings will find it tough to part ways with him this offseason. Bradford is under contract in 2017 for $17 million, $4 million of which becomes guaranteed five days into free agency. That's good value on a one-year deal for an average quarterback. The Vikings also have Teddy Bridgewater under contract for the final year of his rookie deal at $2.2 million. They could choose to pick up Bridgewater's fifth-year option with a hefty raise, but those contracts are guaranteed for injury, and that's a risk the Vikings may not want to take in light of the serious knee injury Bridgewater suffered in training camp.

There are too many moving parts to handicap this one right now. We still have to see how Bridgewater recovers from his injury, because if he's not going to be ready for training camp next summer, the Vikings will definitely want to stick with Bradford. If the former Oklahoma star continues to play like a Pro Bowler, it may not matter; the Vikings may just decide to turn things over to Bradford and trade Bridgewater. And if Bradford regresses back toward his career averages and Bridgewater is healthy, the Vikings will undoubtedly shop Bradford and go back to their starter in 2014 and '15. More than any other situation in the league, we won't know much about the Vikings and their 2017 quarterback status until we get closer to next year.

Likelihood of Bradford or Bridgewater leaving: 25 percent (Bradford), 35 percent (Bridgewater)

>       http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17778684/projecting-2017-nfl-quarterback-market

[Beerfish]

CUTLER!  All in on the Cutler train.  Everybody do the locomotion!

[Rangers9]

Fitz will have a job if he wants one next season in the NFL but unless things change as of now he'll have to go to the back of the bus again and sign as a backup. It really will depend on how the season plays out but his value as of now has diminished. So if the Jets have an unsuccessful season people are not going to forget that 6 pack he delivered a few weeks ago. He is now associated with it almost like Sanchez is with the butt fumble. I could see him getting in the 6 mil range kind of what the Jets originally wanted to give him but not sure the Jets would want him back. Sometimes you just have to go forward and give the new guy a clean plate without the former starter being on the sideline. But if he turns it around and the team and him start playing better I could see him getting another 12 mil for one season somewhere next year. If I had to guess on who will be our starter next season I'd say either Petty or a FA Qb they sign. 

[Barkus]

I don't want fitz on the team next year in any role. 

[joewilly12]

15 minutes ago, Rangers9 said:

Fitz will have a job if he wants one next season in the NFL 

[Jack Straw]

We don't know how to use 2nd round picks, so we might as well send one to the Vikings for the quarterback we should have drafted three years ago, Teddy Bridgewater. 

[joewilly12]

4 minutes ago, Jack Straw said:

We don't know how to use 2nd round picks, so we might as well send one to the Vikings for the quarterback we should have drafted three years ago, Teddy Bridgewater. 

No way in hell he's never playing football again........

If not Bryce Petty or Hack.....then this guy Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins

[peebag]

4 minutes ago, joewilly12 said:

No way in hell he's never playing football again........

If not Bryce Petty or Hack.....then this guy Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins

Little early for black tar heroin, isn't it?

[Beerfish]

surprised we didn't pick up any of the 12 olinemen the phins cut last week.

[joewilly12]

3 minutes ago, peebag said:

Little early for black tar heroin, isn't it?

Teddy Bridgewater's knee was severely damaged. 

[Integrity28]

If our defense was worth a damn, I'd do everything possible to land Rivers. He single-handedly gives that awful SD roster a chance every week. Imagine pairing him with real WRs, not the 4th and 5th string guys that end up starting for him every year because of injuries, and a defense that dominates. 

 

[Big Blocker]

31 minutes ago, Jack Straw said:

We don't know how to use 2nd round picks, so we might as well send one to the Vikings for the quarterback we should have drafted three years ago, Teddy Bridgewater. 

I agree the Jets in hindsight should have dumped Smith and picked Bridgewater in the draft.  But the situation has changed.  Aside from the questions whether the Vikes would want  to move him,  his medical condition would be a problematic fit for the Jets.  It's a question of timing.  Will the Jet FO be willing to go get him during FA instead of pursuing some other option in FA or a trade, given questions about his condition?  I say that assuming there will be no good info on him before then.  And the consideration that really compounds this is that his injury was so bad as to make one wonder whether it is likely that he will be ready to play by Opening Day 17. 

Bridgewater to the Jets is a matter of too many variables, too little info.  I can't see it happening.

Of course the upside to Bridgewater compared to most of the other guys on the list is that he's so young that he could be the answer for a long time.  Still it looks very unlikely and a bad fit for the Jets.

Of those mentioned Cutler sounds like the cleanest deal and one that could happen relatively easily.  I know he has many critics here, but we're not talking about him as a long term savior.  People have to acknowledge that the Jets will need a competent vet Qb next season what with only Petty and Hackenberg currently under contract.  Drafting a qb with a high pick is not the answer to that question. (Of course they may well draft a Qb with a high pick, but will still need a vet Qb.)

The one thing that sounds worst there (not counting Griffin who I don't like saying but there it is - he's done) is Tannehill.  Imo he will be out of the league by 18. He's hit his ceiling and it is too low.  Okay maybe he might end up as backup by or before 18.  But he is a proven sucky Qb.

[JustInFudge]

Fitz will be back.  Book it.

[joewilly12]

4 minutes ago, JiF said:

Fitz will be back.  Book it.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Beerfish]

4 minutes ago, JiF said:

Fitz will be back.  Book it.

If he has a rally to a decent 2nd half I could for sure see it.

[JustInFudge]

2 minutes ago, Beerfish said:

If he has a rally to a decent 2nd half I could for sure see it.

Oh he will and it will be the same exact offseason as this last.  

He's a veteran, he has chemistry, he give us the best chance to win, Petty sucks, Hack sucks, we need Fitz because the team loves him, he knows the system better than anyone....blah blah blah blah blah.

Get yer popcorn ready! 

[peebag]

2 minutes ago, JiF said:

Oh he will and it will be the same exact offseason as this last.  

He's a veteran, he has chemistry, he give us the best chance to win, Petty sucks, Hack sucks, we need Fitz because the team loves him, he knows the system better than anyone....blah blah blah blah blah.

Get yer popcorn ready! 

If they're 1-6 going into the Browns game and are still trotting Fitz out there, time for new regime.

[Beerfish]

5 minutes ago, JiF said:

Oh he will and it will be the same exact offseason as this last.  

He's a veteran, he has chemistry, he give us the best chance to win, Petty sucks, Hack sucks, we need Fitz because the team loves him, he knows the system better than anyone....blah blah blah blah blah.

Get yer popcorn ready! 

I don't think I can take another off season like last years.

2 minutes ago, peebag said:

If they're 1-6 going into the Browns game and are still trotting Fitz out there, time for new regime.

hey we can run the table to 10-6 and still get in!

 

[peebag]

Just now, Beerfish said:

hey we can run the table to 10-6 and still get in!

 

Never change you crazy star-crossed kid you!

[drdetroit]

3 hours ago, Barkus said:

I don't want fitz on the team next year in any role. 

You'll get your wish

[drdetroit]

2 hours ago, Integrity28 said:

If our defense was worth a damn, I'd do everything possible to land Rivers. He single-handedly gives that awful SD roster a chance every week. Imagine pairing him with real WRs, not the 4th and 5th string guys that end up starting for him every year because of injuries, and a defense that dominates. 

 

Rivers is not available

[drdetroit]

3 hours ago, joewilly12 said:

No way in hell he's never playing football again........

If not Bryce Petty or Hack.....then this guy Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins

You want to actually get worse at qb?

[drdetroit]

We're signing Cutler.  Writing is on the wall.  Mac loves former Bears plus a change of scenery would actually benefit him

[joewilly12]

34 minutes ago, drdetroit said:

We're signing Cutler.  Writing is on the wall.  Mac loves former Bears plus a change of scenery would actually benefit him

Dude thats doomsday if we do. 

[Barkus]

50 minutes ago, drdetroit said:

We're signing Cutler.  Writing is on the wall.  Mac loves former Bears plus a change of scenery would actually benefit him

No way, would have to cut Brandon Marshall and the media would have a field  day with cutler and his poor attitude.

[Joejet]

I still want Mike Glennon.  Free agent so he won't cost us any draft picks.  Let him battle it out with Petty and Hack.  If he wins he's still young enough to be a long term fix.

[Ohio State NY Jets fan]

22 minutes ago, Joejet said:

I still want Mike Glennon.  Free agent so he won't cost us any draft picks.  Let him battle it out with Petty and Hack.  If he wins he's still young enough to be a long term fix.

I am hoping for a top ten pick but this is an option that has hope (Cutler or Romo would get everyone fired and doom this team for 3-5 years)

[varjet]

Except for maybe Mike Glennon on the potential value, the Jets should not be spending serious FA money on a QB.   They need to rebuild and rebalance the roster.  They already have 2 high picks at QB, and could sign a relatively low priced veteran.

 

[varjet]

4 hours ago, peebag said:

If they're 1-6 going into the Browns game and are still trotting Fitz out there, time for new regime.

This is definitely happening.  In business terms, the first 7 games are a sunk costs.  Now people play for their jobs, and Fitz gives them the best chance to win.  

Then they go 6-10 but won most of their last games.  Fitz comes back.....

BLAME WOODY.  ITS ALL HIS FAULT.

[SAR I]

8 hours ago, JiF said:

Fitz will be back.  Book it.

Agree completely.

We are going to go 7-9 this year, Petty won't see the field, Geno will be gone, Hackenberg won't be ready, and Fitzpatrick knows the system.  Next year we start Petty or someone we've drafted, Fitzpatrick will be the backup and mentor to the young QB crew.

SAR I

[SAR I]

9 hours ago, Integrity28 said:

If our defense was worth a damn, I'd do everything possible to land Rivers. He single-handedly gives that awful SD roster a chance every week. Imagine pairing him with real WRs, not the 4th and 5th string guys that end up starting for him every year because of injuries, and a defense that dominates. 

 

Brett Favre 2.0 doesn't end well.

SAR I

[The Walrus]

Petty,Hack,Glennon would do me.

I would rather we began to play the kids and see what we can find rather than waiting longer.

[kelly]

 -- Ryan Fitzpatrick once had a serious case of arm envy when it came to Carson Palmer.

"I showed up in Cincinnati (in 2007) and I felt so bad about myself, the way I threw the ball," Fitzpatrick said with a laugh, recalling their days as Bengals teammates. "I mean, this guy was put on the earth to play quarterback."

Their worlds will collide on Monday, when the close friends will try to right their disappointing seasons in a prime-time game between the New York Jets (1-4) and Arizona Cardinals (2-3) in Glendale, Arizona. Both quarterbacks, coming off signature seasons, have regressed in 2016, especially Fitzpatrick.Oddly, their careers, which began in dramatically different fashion, have mirrored each other in recent years. Both suffered season-ending injuries in 2014. Both followed up with big years, but both imploded in their final game. (It was the NFC Championship Game for Palmer.) Now both are slumping.

"I don't want to parallel my season to his," Fitzpatrick said. "All I know are the facts of our season, and I need to play better. As I play better, the offense will perform better."Fitzpatrick was ultra-confident at the start of the season, predicting he'd be a better quarterback than 2015. That hasn't happened. He leads the NFL with 10 interceptions and he's the league's lowest-rated passer (64.7).

He knows what he said in early September, and he doesn't regret it. He also doesn't hide from his poor play. Ever the gunslinger, Fitzpatrick still believes he can turn it around and fulfill his preseason claim that he's better than the guy who fired a club-record 31 touchdowns and led the Jets to 10 wins last season."I understand I need to prove that, I need to show it," he said. "It's through winning games, it's not through stats. But, yeah, I understand we haven't won as many games as we thought we'd win at this point, but we have a lot of games left. I can say that, but I need to prove that's the case."

Fitzpatrick entered the league through the back door, the 250th pick in 2005. He was the smart kid out of Harvard, and not many gave him a chance to stick around for a year, much less a decade. In his second NFL stop, Cincinnati, he made an impression on Palmer, who arrived to the league on a red carpet -- the No. 1 overall pick in 2003. He was the golden boy out of USC."He always believes he has a shot, no matter if he’s down seven or down 47," said Palmer, who has won only one of four starts this season. "He just has that glass-is-half-full attitude, and it’s infectious."

Palmer came out publicly in support of Fitzpatrick during his protracted contract stalemate with the Jets,essentially telling team management to pay the man what he wants. The Jets paid him $12 million for one year, expecting a playoff run. With the team 1-4, no one is talking playoffs.

"I know Ryan as well as anybody does, and we do not want to let him get going," said Palmer, who will return after missing one game with a concussion. "He can rip off a bunch of touchdown passes and take off and run for first downs and get completions and throw the ball from a bunch of different angles accurately. He can fire the ball in on back-shoulder throws.

"He’s been such a great player and, unfortunately, he’s had a couple bumps in the road early in the year like I have. But he and I have the same kind of mindset. You know you’re going to bounce back, it just depends on if it’s this week or next week. We don’t want him to bounce back against us because, if he does, our secondary is in for a long day."

>        http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/63926/struggling-jets-qb-ryan-fitzpatrick-has-friend-supporter-in-carson-palmer

[Maxman]

Work out a trade with the Browns. The Browns trade for Garoppollo and then trade him to the Jets.

If he works out maybe we can end this Namath \ Belichick deal with the deal hell we have been in forever.

Yeah salary cap, I know.

[kelly]

Now that the Jets are 1-4, heading into Monday night's game at Arizona, it seems logical to take a peek toward next season, since this year is almost lost. 

One of the big questions the Jets will face next offseason: What will they do with the quarterback position ? 

We examined some potential starting quarterback options here. But what about the possibility of Ryan Fitzpatrick returning to the Jets in 2017 ? 

At this point, it seems unlikely, for several reasons, including the fact that the Jets would have to actively re-sign Fitzpatrick next offseason.So far this year, Fitzpatrick has five touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He ranks first in the NFL in interception percentage (5.2) and last in quarterback rating (64.7). Things could get worse for him Monday. The Cardinals are ranked sixth in the league in Football Outsiders' defensive DVOA. 

But things might get easier from here on out for Fitzpatrick in 2016. Of the Jets' final eight opponents, they face defenses currently ranked 17th (49ers), 21st (Dolphins), 24th (Patriots), 27th (Browns), and 31st (Colts) in DVOA. 

Still, the fact remains: Fitzpatrick, who is playing on (essentially) a one-year contract, turns 34 years old in late November. And he hasn't looked great so far.Five days after the Super Bowl, Fitzpatrick's contract will automatically void. But because of how the Jets structured his $12 million deal, they will have to carry a $5 million salary cap hit for him in 2017 (compared to $7 million this year). That $5 million cap hit isn't going anywhere, even if Fitzpatrick is gone.And it sure seems likely he'll be gone, as the Jets seek a new veteran starting quarterback, while they continue to try to develop Bryce Petty and (more importantly) Christian Hackenberg, a project whom they drafted in Round 2 this year. Hackenberg looks nowhere close to being ready to start in 2017. 

ESPN's Bill Barnwell this week analyzed the quarterbacks around the league who could find themselves on new teams in 2017. He put a 95 percent likelihood on Fitzpatrick not being with the Jets next season, which currently feels about right.

Here's how Barnwell broke down Fitzpatrick's situation : 

General manager Mike Maccagnan will be in the market for a veteran replacement at the top of the roster, and he'll likely end up with one of the players mentioned in this article. He'll need to do some creative accounting, given that the Jets already have $166 million committed to players for next season. The likes of Ryan Clady, Nick Mangold and David Harris could be on the chopping block to free up cap room for a player like [Tony] Romo or [Jay] Cutler. If Fitzpatrick wants to continue playing, he will likely be looking at a salary in the $5 million range to serve as a veteran backup.

How would you feel about the Jets acquiring Romo or Cutler as Fitzpatrick's replacement in 2017 ? Sound off in the comments. 

>        http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/10/is_there_any_way_ryan_fitzpatrick_returns_to_jets.html#incart_river_index