CrazyCarl40 Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/veteran-quarterback-ryan-fitzpatrick-has-been-a-steadying-influence-on-jets-and-their-young-quarterbacks-1.11151175 53° Jets 0 Veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has been a steadying influence on Jets and their young quarterbacks November 21, 2015 9:40 PMBy KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN kimberley.martin@newsday.com HOUSTON - First came the invitation to visit his home in Arizona. Then the text message arrived. It didn't take long for Bryce Petty to realize that Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't a typical NFL quarterback. For three days in the offseason, the Jets rookie quarterback stayed with the Fitzpatrick clan, including his wife, Liza Barber, and the couple's five children. The quarterbacks talked about life and about football. They caught frogs with Fitzpatrick's sons and made his girls squeal with fright. And in the process, Petty gained insight into Fitzpatrick the family man. But it was the training-camp text message he received that fully encapsulated Fitzpatrick: Smart. Self-assured. Supportive. In a world in which job security is fleeting, the heightened expectations of NFL executives often stunt the development of young quarterbacks. In some cases, veteran passers are too focused on their own longevity to aid in the maturation of their understudies. But Fitzpatrick isn't one of those people. And that's why he texted video of one of Petty's throws during training camp with some encouraging words. "He sent me the tape of the ball," Petty said during a quiet moment at his locker. "And he said, 'Right here is why you're going to be special. And I want to help you get to that point.' And that's when I knew he was different. "Put it this way," Petty added. "I've learned more about football in the three or four months that I've been here than I have my entire life." A SOLID FORCE Before becoming the Jets' general manager in January, Mike Maccagnan had spent 14 years in the Houston Texans' scouting department. From a distance, he watched Fitzpatrick start 12 games for the Texans in 2014, throwing for 2,483 yards, 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. So when the Jets were in the market for a veteran to compete with incumbent Geno Smith, Maccagnan turned to the familiar. And on March 11, the Texans traded Fitzpatrick to the Jets in exchange for a late-round draft pick. At the time, Fitzpatrick still had another year on his deal -- a fact he reminded reporters of during the lead-up to his much-anticipated return to Houston for Sunday's game against the Texans (4-5). "The fact that they didn't necessarily want me at the end of the year plays into it a little bit for me, just from the personal standpoint," said the 32-year-old. "But it's not a big thing . . . " Maccagnan knew what Fitzpatrick could do on the field but didn't anticipate the effect Fitzpatrick would have on the team. "I think he's been a very good influence on both Geno and Bryce," said Maccagnan, who, like Fitzpatrick, will make his return to NRG Stadium. " . . . As far as I'm concerned, [that is] one of the bonuses of having Fitz in the mix." Without warning, Fitzpatrick went from backup to starter when Smith suffered a broken jaw on Aug. 11. The change at quarterback had no negative effect on the Jets, who got off to an impressive 4-1 start. But despite the mounting losses and injuries, the one constant has been Fitzpatrick -- always focused and even-keeled, even after undergoing surgery on Nov. 13 to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. Said Maccagnan: "Ryan was really a very solid force to bring that group together." A MENTOR'S MINDSET Unlike a lot of NFL quarterbacks, Fitzpatrick has come to terms with who he is as a player. He's smart, he's solid and he has enough veteran savvy to not lose the game for his team. "I think I'm very comfortable in who I am and what I bring to the table," said Fitzpatrick, now with his sixth team in 11 seasons. And it's that self-awareness and inner confidence that allow him to focus on being the leader of the Jets' offense while helping to develop the young quarterbacks. "He's got five kids. The poor guy's got a lot more to worry about than Bryce or Geno," joked center Nick Mangold. "I think he's just got confidence in what he does and the system that he's in and his abilities. And he knows that for a team to be successful, you're only as good as your weakest link. He understands that if something were to happen to him, he would want to see the team do well. So he wants to bring up everybody." The Harvard grad isn't spending time only with his backups. Fitzpatrick constantly watches tape of running plays and blocking assignments and goes over details with members of the offense. "He's constantly looking at everybody," Petty said. "It's things like that that I don't necessarily think that most quarterbacks grasp." And it's his acute attention to detail that led Fitzpatrick to send Petty that text message during the summer. "Just the way that he threw it, how it came out of his hand," Fitzpatrick said. "I don't know. Everything about it. I still remember that play, yeah." And Petty still remembers how it made him feel. "It instilled a lot of confidence in me," he said. " . . . It was big." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jets 0 Veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has been a steadying influence on Jets and their young quarterbacks November 21, 2015 9:40 PMBy KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN kimberley.martin@newsday.com HOUSTON - First came the invitation to visit his home in Arizona. Then the text message arrived. It didn't take long for Bryce Petty to realize that Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't a typical NFL quarterback. For three days in the offseason, the Jets rookie quarterback stayed with the Fitzpatrick clan, including his wife, Liza Barber, and the couple's five children. The quarterbacks talked about life and about football. They caught frogs with Fitzpatrick's sons and made his girls squeal with fright. And in the process, Petty gained insight into Fitzpatrick the family man. But it was the training-camp text message he received that fully encapsulated Fitzpatrick: Smart. Self-assured. Supportive. In a world in which job security is fleeting, the heightened expectations of NFL executives often stunt the development of young quarterbacks. In some cases, veteran passers are too focused on their own longevity to aid in the maturation of their understudies. But Fitzpatrick isn't one of those people. And that's why he texted video of one of Petty's throws during training camp with some encouraging words. "He sent me the tape of the ball," Petty said during a quiet moment at his locker. "And he said, 'Right here is why you're going to be special. And I want to help you get to that point.' And that's when I knew he was different. "Put it this way," Petty added. "I've learned more about football in the three or four months that I've been here than I have my entire life." A SOLID FORCE Before becoming the Jets' general manager in January, Mike Maccagnan had spent 14 years in the Houston Texans' scouting department. From a distance, he watched Fitzpatrick start 12 games for the Texans in 2014, throwing for 2,483 yards, 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. So when the Jets were in the market for a veteran to compete with incumbent Geno Smith, Maccagnan turned to the familiar. And on March 11, the Texans traded Fitzpatrick to the Jets in exchange for a late-round draft pick. At the time, Fitzpatrick still had another year on his deal -- a fact he reminded reporters of during the lead-up to his much-anticipated return to Houston for Sunday's game against the Texans (4-5). "The fact that they didn't necessarily want me at the end of the year plays into it a little bit for me, just from the personal standpoint," said the 32-year-old. "But it's not a big thing . . . " Maccagnan knew what Fitzpatrick could do on the field but didn't anticipate the effect Fitzpatrick would have on the team. "I think he's been a very good influence on both Geno and Bryce," said Maccagnan, who, like Fitzpatrick, will make his return to NRG Stadium. " . . . As far as I'm concerned, [that is] one of the bonuses of having Fitz in the mix." Without warning, Fitzpatrick went from backup to starter when Smith suffered a broken jaw on Aug. 11. The change at quarterback had no negative effect on the Jets, who got off to an impressive 4-1 start. But despite the mounting losses and injuries, the one constant has been Fitzpatrick -- always focused and even-keeled, even after undergoing surgery on Nov. 13 to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. Said Maccagnan: "Ryan was really a very solid force to bring that group together." A MENTOR'S MINDSET Unlike a lot of NFL quarterbacks, Fitzpatrick has come to terms with who he is as a player. He's smart, he's solid and he has enough veteran savvy to not lose the game for his team. "I think I'm very comfortable in who I am and what I bring to the table," said Fitzpatrick, now with his sixth team in 11 seasons. And it's that self-awareness and inner confidence that allow him to focus on being the leader of the Jets' offense while helping to develop the young quarterbacks. "He's got five kids. The poor guy's got a lot more to worry about than Bryce or Geno," joked center Nick Mangold. "I think he's just got confidence in what he does and the system that he's in and his abilities. And he knows that for a team to be successful, you're only as good as your weakest link. He understands that if something were to happen to him, he would want to see the team do well. So he wants to bring up everybody." The Harvard grad isn't spending time only with his backups. Fitzpatrick constantly watches tape of running plays and blocking assignments and goes over details with members of the offense. "He's constantly looking at everybody," Petty said. "It's things like that that I don't necessarily think that most quarterbacks grasp." And it's his acute attention to detail that led Fitzpatrick to send Petty that text message during the summer. "Just the way that he threw it, how it came out of his hand," Fitzpatrick said. "I don't know. Everything about it. I still remember that play, yeah." And Petty still remembers how it made him feel. "It instilled a lot of confidence in me," he said. " . . . It was big."
drdetroit Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Fitz was by far the best Qb available last offseason. Nice job Mac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crusher Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Fitz is really impossible not to like on every level. Let's hope Petty becomes the man for the next ten years under Fitz guidance. If that is the case I say Fits go's into the Jets ring of honor for that alone. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I've actually been wondering for a few weeks why we hadn't seen an article like this. It's been a while since the Jets have had a vet QB on the field who could explain concepts to a younger QB who could then watch him execute them on game day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Fitz is really impossible not to like on every level. Let's hope Petty becomes the man for the next ten years under Fitz guidance. If that is the case I say Fits go's into the Jets ring of honor for that alone. LOL Yeah, hard not to root for the guy. Its just a shame he's not...well...better. haha Agreed. Hopefully Petty's learning curve can be reduced a little with Fitz around. He certainly looks the part. Big, athletic, live arm. Could we be so luck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Fitz can't throw! Geno deserves a chance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbatesman Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Whatever his limitations, Fitz seems like a genuinely good dude, which is a nice change from our last few starting QBs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgoman Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 This is why he was brought in. Starting isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bergenjets Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Any chance of transplanting his brain in to Geno's head? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Any chance of transplanting his brain in to Geno's head? Don't even have to remove genos there is a lot of space in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crusher Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Yeah, hard not to root for the guy. Its just a shame he's not...well...better. haha Agreed. Hopefully Petty's learning curve can be reduced a little with Fitz around. He certainly looks the part. Big, athletic, live arm. Could we be so luck? Fitz is what we have at the moment and his best attributes are teachable I think. All the things you mentioned about Petty are pretty much NOT true about Fitz. If Petty can learn how to approach the game like Fitz does then we just may have something. No we are not lucky but safe to say we are due? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaSteve Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Fitz is a smart guy....no doubt. Great teammate. If he had Brett Favre's cannon arm, he would have been a steal in the 7th round. Actually, he would not have lasted that long had he of had a better arm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljr Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Great read, thx! this was the most impressive line to me: "Put it this way," Petty added. "I've learned more about football in the three or four months that I've been here than I have my entire life." at least it was after I decided I wasn't going to be a dirtbag & ask how old Fitz's daughter was that Petty made squeal when he stayed over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Self awareness is a wonderful thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetlife33 Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 This was great to read, thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsHex Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 So when Marshall was staying in Geno's apartment, that was all any reporter could talk about. Not one person mentioned Fitz taking in Petty with his family. Amazing. Fantastic Article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJ Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 If this wasn't my Jets I'd now be holding out some big hope on Petty. Because it is I will still hold on to a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe W. Namath Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Fitz has been the mvp for the team this season. Hes been great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyLV Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Despite my dislike of him as the starting QB of the Jets, having him as a mentor to Geno and Bryce, but especially Bryce is huge. People may forget that Bryce flashed a little in his games and got noticeably better in each start. The QB coach has said that Bryce has grown significantly as well. Maybe with a full offseason and coaching from Gailiey and Fitz as well he will be ready. Unlike Fitz, Petty will be able to really stretch the field and make quick scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Very enjoyable read! Thank you ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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