Report: Jets Offer to Fitz at $12 Million in First Year of 3-Year/$24M Deal

[FidelioJet]

4 hours ago, bostonmajet said:

Why would he do that? No other team has offered him anything. With the Jets he has the best possible chance of starting this year, and if Geno, Petty, and Hack don't work out or are not ready (or get hurt), next year as well. 

A bird in the hand; why sit and wait/hope for a QB to get hurt and get a call? That isn't likely. If he was concerned about next year, he could ask for a 1 year deal. Fitz position doesn't make sense to me unless he is just hoping to avoid OTAs and that doesn't sound like him. Is he hoping the Jets will panic/fold and double the offer?

Manish is a hack; if he is going to spread this rumor, maybe he should make it more interesting and, of course, quote 3 different un-named sources.

Yeah, Manish is just trolling Jet fans....nothing else to write about.  Fitz has been around long enough to know that he can't take these things personally.  I can't imagine he would even considering taking less money to be a back-up somewhere else.

[SayNoToDMC]

6 hours ago, ylekram said:

to the bolded. how is this the proper move? incentives aside, by signing, fitz locks himself into a 3 year deal. if the jets decide to start hackenburg next year, how will fitz hold out? he would be a back up qb at that point, even if he had a good year in 2016. what leverage does fitz have at that point? i will tell you. the number is zero. why would any player sign a contract that locks them into a back up role, with zero leverage, a year after it is signed?

Fitz has no real leverage now. He can retire or make 12 million this year. He needs to face the fact nobody else sees him as a starter and he's a bandaid here till we can hopefully, though unlikely, find a real long term fit at QB. The Broncos just won a SB with that roster and Elway thought Sanchez or a space case rookie was the better fit to take it over.

[bostonmajet]

6 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

Yeah, Manish is just trolling Jet fans....nothing else to write about.  Fitz has been around long enough to know that he can't take these things personally.  I can't imagine he would even considering taking less money to be a back-up somewhere else.

Yeah, that was my point; it wouldn't make sense (but who knows). Manish didn't even quote his 'unnamed' sources...

[Rangers9]

The facts are we don't know if Fitz's agent Jimmy Sexton is communicating with other teams. Or the interest in signing him. So this take it or leave it stance by uninformed hardliners ain't necessarily the case.  But he could wait this out deep into training camp. Signing elsewhere is a legit possibility. 

[jetrider]

Jets' three-year offer to Fitzpatrick includes $15 mil guaranteed, incentives

 

The New York Jets' three-year offer to free-agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick includes $15 million guaranteed and incentives that can make the deal worth up to $36 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The Jets have offered Fitzpatrick a three-year deal that would pay him $12 million in the first year, and the offer has reportedly been on the table for the past couple of months.

The 33-year-old Fitzpatrick, who led the Jets to 10 wins in his first season as Jets quarterback, earned $3.25 million last year, according to Spotrac, and is seeking a contract comparable to what the Houston Texans gave Brock Osweiler (four years, $72 million with $37 million guaranteed over the first two years).

However, while Fitzpatrick said he would like to return to New York, he and the Jets are reportedly $7 million apart in negotiations.

Though the Jets currently have three quarterbacks on the roster -- Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and this year's second-round pick Christian Hackenberg -- head coach Todd Bowles has said Fitzpatrick would resume the starting quarterback role should he return to the Jets.

Smith is currently New York's starting quarterback, and GM Mike Maccagnan said the Jets could carry four quarterbacks on the roster if Fitzpatrick re-signs.

Fitzpatrick threw for 3,905 yards, 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last year, as New York missed the playoffs.

Update: Sources are telling Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News that Ryan Fitzpatrick could leave the Jets "on principle" for a place offering less money.

The only brand new information here is that there is $3 million of guaranteed money after the first year, as the rest of it merely confirms previous reports. Since the majority of those reports probably came directly from the agency, this isn't surprising. What is surprising is the fact that the Jets have guaranteed money after the first year. Realistically, this ensures that the Jets are making a two-year commitment to Fitzpatrick if he accepts the deal.

Should the deal be signed, then I suppose it's possible the Jets could trade Fitzpatrick at the end of the season if he becomes surplus to requirements due to the development of one of their youngsters. With two years, $12 million and $3 million on guarantees remaining on his deal at that point, that could make the contract tradeable and perhaps explains why they don't want too much money on the back end. That would get them off the hook for the $3 million.

Bridging the gap between Fitzpatrick's demands at the price the Jets are willing to pay with incentives seems like an obvious solution for both parties. However, there are drawbacks from both sides of the equation. Based on reports over the last week (which I'm guessing again were agent-driven), Fitzpatrick doesn't want to have incentives which exceed last year's achievements, including making the postseason or breaking the team record for touchdown passes. However, most Jets fans would agree that the only way he's worth anywhere close to $12-15 million if he achieves these benchmarks.

There's also a downside to this from the Jets' perspective. They can't set lower benchmarks because if an incentive is based on something the player already achieved in the previous season, then it counts against the current year cap. That's even the case if the player doesn't achieve it, in which case they would receive a credit to adjust the following year's cap hit downward. While the Jets have cap flexibility over the next few years, current year cap space is at a premium. In addition, if Fitzpatrick has incentives based on total touchdown passes, he might be tempted to try and pass for a score when a run -- or settling for a field goal -- would be the better option. Anyone who watched the Bills game that cost the Jets a postseason berth last year would be forgiven for being dubious about the inclusion of a clause that could increase the likelihood of a repeat of that.

[slats]

The truth hurts, and Fitz is learning that the hard way. The Jets' insulting, lowball, embarrassing, back-up money offer also happens to be the best (only?) deal Fitzpatrick has in front of him. Now, somehow, the Jets are supposed to increase that offer because Mannish Mehta says Fitz might possibly take a shorter, cheaper deal to be a backup elsewhere just to screw them? How the hell does that work? 

[jetrider]

9 minutes ago, slats said:

The truth hurts, and Fitz is learning that the hard way. The Jets' insulting, lowball, embarrassing, back-up money offer also happens to be the best (only?) deal Fitzpatrick has in front of him. Now, somehow, the Jets are supposed to increase that offer because Mannish Mehta says Fitz might possibly take a shorter, cheaper deal to be a backup elsewhere just to screw them? How the hell does that work? 

That's either Mehta applying his own psychology or he's on Fitz's payroll (spreading rumors, pushing buttons).

[ylekram]

7 minutes ago, slats said:

The truth hurts, and Fitz is learning that the hard way. The Jets' insulting, lowball, embarrassing, back-up money offer also happens to be the best (only?) deal Fitzpatrick has in front of him. Now, somehow, the Jets are supposed to increase that offer because Mannish Mehta says Fitz might possibly take a shorter, cheaper deal to be a backup elsewhere just to screw them? How the hell does that work? 

how many teams day 1 starting qb's are set in stone? or easier yet. which teams day 1 starting qb's are not?

[ylekram]

29 minutes ago, SayNoToDMC said:

Fitz has no real leverage now. He can retire or make 12 million this year. He needs to face the fact nobody else sees him as a starter and he's a bandaid here till we can hopefully, though unlikely, find a real long term fit at QB. The Broncos just won a SB with that roster and Elway thought Sanchez or a space case rookie was the better fit to take it over.

space cadet wasn't drafted to play this year. major project. sanchez was traded and then the broncos contacted Fitzpatrick. you know his price was too high

[flgreen]

3 hours ago, Sperm Edwards said:

Fitz was brought in because 3-4 other QBs they wanted chose to sign elsewhere.

FA opened on March 10th, Jets traded for Fitz on March 11th.    Who did they offer a contract to before they signed Fitz?

[ylekram]

3 minutes ago, flgreen said:

FA opened on March 10th, Jets traded for Fitz on March 11th.    Who did they offer a contract to before they signed Fitz?

3 or 4 other guys, apparently

[Mike135]

This conversation has been going on so long, it deserves some recognition.

Whoever starts should be included on the JetNation banner.

If it's Fitz, myself and other Geno supporters or those who just feel Fitz isn't worth over $Xmil will have to be reminded of wasting cap space.

If Geno, the haters will have to see him every time they come to the board.

Even if it's just for the first month of the season.

[jetrider]

If Fitz plays 6 more years he'll break J.T. O'Sullivan's record of 11 different teams in NFL.

[cant wait]

14 minutes ago, flgreen said:

FA opened on March 10th, Jets traded for Fitz on March 11th.    Who did they offer a contract to before they signed Fitz?

You do know teams can negotiate contracts before free agency opens. And it's widely known the jets had interest in mccown and hoyer before they were left with fitzpatrick

[Mike135]

Just now, cant wait said:

You do know teams can negotiate contracts before free agency opens. And it's widely known the jets had interest in mccown and hoyer before they were left with fitzpatrick

Why they didn't just sign Hoyer for 2mil this offseason is beyond me. Smh.

[flgreen]

1 minute ago, cant wait said:

You do know teams can negotiate contracts before free agency opens. And it's widely known the jets had interest in mccown and hoyer before they were left with fitzpatrick

Did they offer them a contract?  I guess it could be said they had interest in RGIII this year.

[Rangers9]

8 minutes ago, cant wait said:

You do know teams can negotiate contracts before free agency opens. And it's widely known the jets had interest in mccown and hoyer before they were left with fitzpatrick

Well then you can have either of them if you believe they're better. They're not. That was one time when we got the better player. It was a slam dunk getting him. Mac's best move since he's been GM. But if Mac wants a cheap backup to Hack next year both of these guys are probably available. And he can get them for under 6 mil. So if low wages is what he wants he can get it easy. So why does he have to include a second and third year on Fitz's deal  Let him go after one. And I'll answer that question: because he wants to cover his ass in case the other guys are flops. 

[cant wait]

15 minutes ago, flgreen said:

Did they offer them a contract?  I guess it could be said they had interest in RGIII this year.

I don't know but fitz wasn't even an option until hoyer got signed by houston

[flgreen]

Just now, cant wait said:

I don't know but fitz wasn't even an option until hoyer got signed by houston

Of course he wasn't an option, he was under contract.  You can't even mention a players name who is under contract.   About 15 minutes after Hoyer was signed, Fitz was traded to the Jets.  If the Jets wanted Hoyer, they would have offered him a contract, instead of giving up a draft pick

[fltflo]

Say what you want, but Jets fans are passionate about this team. Imagine if we were a more winning franchise what this board would be like with a ton of bandwagon fans like the Pats have.

You folks should be proud of yourselves because which ever side of any argument your on, this fan base put so many others to shame.

[Rangers9]

1 hour ago, Mike135 said:

Why they didn't just sign Hoyer for 2mil this offseason is beyond me. Smh.

Hoyer got an incredibly low deal with the Bears but he's clearly the backup to Cutler. He might have incentives in case he starts games. If he had signed with the Jets he probably wanted more money because he would have been a strong possibility to start. Throughout this process Mac has not made a serious play for another starting Qb to replace Fitz. He's said all along that he wants Fitz back. As for Hack. Like Geno he wasn't a supremely highly rated prospect. He was a 2nd rounder. It's not a slam dunk that he'll be our future starter. Hopefully he's not another Geno Smith. 

[fltflo]

I just like to point out once again, that there have been cases of teams giving up on young QB's. This even after they were given a shot to start and failing initially.

One could look at the case of a Brett Farve who was though to have no chance to succeed and was traded to Green Bay.

No, I am not comparing Geno to Farve, just the situation of the young QB rising to the challenge.

[Mike135]

1 hour ago, Rangers9 said:

Hoyer got an incredibly low deal with the Bears but he's clearly the backup to Cutler. He might have incentives in case he starts games. If he had signed with the Jets he probably wanted more money because he would have been a strong possibility to start. Throughout this process Mac has not made a serious play for another starting Qb to replace Fitz. He's said all along that he wants Fitz back. As for Hack. Like Geno he wasn't a supremely highly rated prospect. He was a 2nd rounder. It's not a slam dunk that he'll be our future starter. Hopefully he's not another Geno Smith. 

Not likely.  He'd have weaponzzz and Gailey.

[cant wait]

2 hours ago, flgreen said:

Of course he wasn't an option, he was under contract.  You can't even mention a players name who is under contract.   About 15 minutes after Hoyer was signed, Fitz was traded to the Jets.  If the Jets wanted Hoyer, they would have offered him a contract, instead of giving up a draft pick

That was the plan but he signed with Houston. Fitz was plan B 

[flgreen]

20 minutes ago, cant wait said:

That was the plan but he signed with Houston. Fitz was plan B 

yet they never offered him a contract.  Kind of sounds like the plan was to wait till Fitz came available, and trade for him

[cant wait]

2 hours ago, flgreen said:

yet they never offered him a contract.  Kind of sounds like the plan was to wait till Fitz came available, and trade for him

unlikely that was the jets plan, but believe whatever makes you feel better

[BklynJetsFan85]

Honestly they should just sign him for 1 Yr 12m, and hope that either Petty or Hackenberg are ready by next season,... or he has another equally good year and u found a QB for another 2-3 yrs, and you give him a decent contract. 

[Jet Nut]

1 hour ago, BklynJetsFan85 said:

Honestly they should just sign him for 1 Yr 12m, and hope that either Petty or Hackenberg are ready by next season,... or he has another equally good year and u found a QB for another 2-3 yrs, and you give him a decent contract. 

Fitz doesn't want a 1 year deal.  He wants a 3 year deal

[FidelioJet]

If you believe Fitz can take the Jets to the playoffs this year..then the deal on the table is a good one for the Jets.  $12mm for this year as the starter, then you lock in a solid back-up for $6mm per the next two years.  It's actually a pretty favorable deal for the Jets.

If you do NOT believe Fitz is capable of taking them to the playoffs, then it's an awful deal for the Jets.  At back-up money he's a solid player - but for a player that hasn't proven he's capable of getting to the playoffs it's too much money.   let him come in a compete for a starting role - with high back up money ($6mm to $8mm) with the other 3 QB's on the roster - if he wins the job, so be it....but at $12mm your handing the job to him.

 

 

[Snell41]

6 hours ago, BklynJetsFan85 said:

Honestly they should just sign him for 1 Yr 12m, and hope that either Petty or Hackenberg are ready by next season,... or he has another equally good year and u found a QB for another 2-3 yrs, and you give him a decent contract. 

Good god no!!!!  Just because the deal they offered gives him 12m in pocket 1st year doesn't mean it hits the cap for 12m in year one.  Probably more like half of it.  The Signing Bonus goes in his pocket in full at signing, but the Jets can spread it over 3 years against the cap.  So a 9m SB would likely be 3m a year against the cap on a 3 year deal. 

Yahoo just posted a great article on the situation.  According to them the deal is 3/24 total, with incentives up to 36m.  If that's true the fact Fitz hasn't signed it is deplorable.  This is worse than the Revis hold out.  When Revis held out of camp he knew, KNEW, he could get the money he wanted on the open market.  He was worth what he was holding out for.  Fitzpatrick is "holding out" on signing for a deal that is nowhere near his value.  Nowhere near it.  In fact the Jets have already offered much higher than his market value bears.  Not only should the Jets not offer a penny more than the 3/24, they should be reducing it by the hour.  They're bidding against themselves.  Right now Fitz is trying to get gold prices for a hunk of tin. 

[Rangers9]

1 minute ago, Snell41 said:

Good god no!!!!  Just because the deal they offered gives him 12m in pocket 1st year doesn't mean it hits the cap for 12m in year one.  Probably more like half of it.  The Signing Bonus goes in his pocket in full at signing, but the Jets can spread it over 3 years against the cap.  So a 9m SB would likely be 3m a year against the cap on a 3 year deal. 

Yahoo just posted a great article on the situation.  According to them the deal is 3/24 total, with incentives up to 36m.  If that's true the fact Fitz hasn't signed it is deplorable.  This is worse than the Revis hold out.  When Revis held out of camp he knew, KNEW, he could get the money he wanted on the open market.  He was worth what he was holding out for.  Fitzpatrick is "holding out" on signing for a deal that is nowhere near his value.  Nowhere near it.  In fact the Jets have already offered much higher than his market value bears.  Not only should the Jets not offer a penny more than the 3/24, they should be reducing it by the hour.  They're bidding against themselves.  Right now Fitz is trying to get gold prices for a hunk of tin. 

A one year deal is imminently fair. Why should he sign something that ties him up for backup money for two years when he thinks he can be a starter for all 3. I mean Mac is basically trying to cover his ass in case his draft pick isn't ready or doesn't have it. If the Jets are unwilling to commit themselves to him ok. Give him the one year deal and for starter money. He was the starter last year and got paid as a lower backup. 

[Snell41]

Just now, Rangers9 said:

A one year deal is imminently fair. Why should he sign something that ties him up for backup money for two years when he thinks he can be a starter for all 3. I mean Mac is basically trying to cover his ass in case his draft pick isn't ready or doesn't have it. If the Jets are unwilling to commit themselves to him ok. Give him the one year deal and for starter money. He was the starter last year and got paid as a lower backup. 

I agree a one year deal is fair.  6-7m for one year.  Not fair?  Find me another team offering that. 

[JetsFanatic]

3 minutes ago, Rangers9 said:

A one year deal is imminently fair. Why should he sign something that ties him up for backup money for two years when he thinks he can be a starter for all 3. I mean Mac is basically trying to cover his ass in case his draft pick isn't ready or doesn't have it. If the Jets are unwilling to commit themselves to him ok. Give him the one year deal and for starter money. He was the starter last year and got paid as a lower backup. 

How do you know Fitz accepts a one year deal? Also the Jets may not want a 1 year deal either.  All I feel is that this offer is more than fair for a guy that has no takers as a starter on the open market.

[Rangers9]

8 minutes ago, Snell41 said:

I agree a one year deal is fair.  6-7m for one year.  Not fair?  Find me another team offering that. 

Again that is not starter money. Jet fans have to look at what other Qbs are making in the NFL. There is a salary range for starters and for backups. The high range for backups is 7 mil. The lower-medium range for starters is 16 mil. 12 mil is in between and fair. Actually no starter other than guys on rookie contracts and RG3 who didn't play a snap last year are making less and Griffin is making 7.5 a season. As for Geno he is still on his rookie deal. That's why he is making so much less that Fitz is asking for. Plus he doesn't deserve it. .

[T0mShane]

Schefter reporting that Fitzpatrick's camp insists the contract terms are "far apart." I think what a good negotiating tactic would be is to have Bowles make another proclamation today that he can't wait to hand Fitzpatrick the starting job when he gets back. That would be smart.