Fitz paying it forward in mentoring young QBs

[AFJF]

This was a big part of why I wanted Fitz back.  I knew that if he failed, he wouldn't leave the kids to figure it out on their own.

These kids need a mentor who has effectively run the exact offense they're learning.

post-benching tantrum aside, this is what a real leader does.

Go get 'em Bryce!

 

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/65441/jets-ryan-fitzpatrick-pays-it-forward-to-bryce-petty-who-gets-dream-shot

7:00 AM ET

• 
  Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Bryce Pettythought he knew Ryan Fitzpatrick after spending last season at his side, watching, listening and learning. They also hung out for a couple of days in the offseason at Fitzpatrick's Arizona home, playing golf, shooting hoops and studying X's and O's.

Then, at the start of training camp, Petty happened to be present when Fitzpatrick met Christian Hackenbergfor the first time. The veteran quarterback greeted the rookie QB with a hug, making an impression on Petty.

"He didn't even know him," Petty said months later, incredulously. "It's things like that, you can tell relationships are important to him. That's how he was brought up in the league. It's kind of like a pay-it-forward deal."

Fitzpatrick has mentored Petty for 20 months, the way veterans such as Marc Bulger and Carson Palmer helped Fitzpatrick along years ago as a young quarterback. The dynamics of the Fitzpatrick-Petty relationship changed this week, as they reversed roles. Fitzpatrick wasn't happy about the demotion, but he's thrilled for Petty, who will start for the New York Jets on the road Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

"There can't be any ego involved," Fitzpatrick said Wednesday. "I want to see him do well. He's put in a tremendous amount of work and I'm excited for him and his opportunity."

They have what Petty described as a little brother-big brother relationship. Petty is 25, Fitzpatrick 34. The season hasn't gone well for Fitzpatrick, who has been benched twice, but he has remained a willing teacher for Petty and Hackenberg -- 12 hours a day, every day.

For instance: While watching tape of the opposing defense, Fitzpatrick will hit pause and ask Petty to predict what will happen on the play.

"I'll say it and he'll say it, and he'll be right," Petty said, smiling.

"I want to see him do well," veteran Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick said of new starter Bryce Petty, right. "He's put in a tremendous amount of work and I'm excited for him and his opportunity." Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports

Fitzpatrick is a smart dude, not only because he graduated from Harvard. When you play 12 years for six different teams, you're going to pick up a few tricks along the way. Petty marvels at the way Fitzpatrick can look at a defender on tape, detect a "tell" and determine whether he'll rush or drop into coverage.

In practice, Fitzpatrick spices up seemingly mundane drills by making up a defensive coverage and calling it out. For example, when the quarterbacks are throwing individual routes to receivers, Fitzpatrick will say something like, "Cover 1, outside leverage." That, Petty said, gives purpose to the throw and the route. It makes him think.

"He's just a good guy," Petty said. "That might be rare, especially in our position because only one guy can be out there. Sometimes that competitiveness can get the best of us, but he's been awesome since the beginning."

Fitzpatrick is a perfectionist. If quarterbacks coach Kevin Patullo makes a grammatical error in his scouting report, which gets distributed to the players, he can be sure Fitzpatrick will point it out in the meeting room.

"It helps that he's so dang smart, but his attention to detail is over and above," Petty said. "That's something I can really pull from."

Petty has been waiting for this shot since the day he was drafted in 2015. There have been bumps along the way -- he was blindsided when the Jets drafted Hackenberg in this year's second round -- but Petty keeps pushing. He's known as one of the hardest workers on the team. Typically, he arrives at the facility at 5 a.m. He heads directly to the weight room.

"The first person I see every day is Bryce Petty, because he's the first one in every day," receiver Brandon Marshall said. "Last year, he was fat and overweight. Fitz picked on him all year. His body has changed. He's ripped up; he has abs."

A year ago, Marshall said he and Antonio Cromartie were always the first two players in the facility. Now it's Petty, who recognizes that this opportunity might not happen again. It's a four-game audition, a chance to show team brass he's worthy of being considered for the starting job next season. It won't be easy.

Petty is raw, especially reading coverages, something he didn't have to do in college. He also tends to rush through his progressions. In case you haven't noticed, it's not as though he'll be joining The Greatest Show on Turf. There will be growing pains.

"Bryce is a great kid," Fitzpatrick said. "He comes in every day with the right attitude. That's half the battle. His willingness to come in early, to ask the right questions, to not ask questions when he shouldn't ... he's great with that stuff."

When Fitzpatrick invited Petty to visit during the offseason, ostensibly to talk football, it turned into more than that. It was a bonding period. They shot baskets, with Fitzpatrick reporting, "He's a horrible basketball player. He doesn't have a very good jump shot."

They also played two rounds of golf. Fitzpatrick won those, too. Petty said he didn't practice enough while he was home in Texas.

"I'm going to venture to say I'll be better than him this offseason," Petty said, smiling. "I just need at-bats."

Finally, he's getting them on the football field. The organization, and its fan base, will have their desperate eyes fixed on him for the next four weeks.The 

[JetPotato]

"Ok, kids, remember, choose the receiver that you're going to throw to and THEN snap the ball"

No thanks.