Ryan Fitzpatrick Would Rather Not Play Football Than Play For Jets’ Offer?

Update:

A source has told Brian Costello that the report of Ryan Fitzpatrick willing to sit out is not accurate, and he prefers to play in 2016.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter mentioned Thursday afternoon that Jets free agent QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has told people he would “rather not play football” than play for the kinda of money New York is offering him.

The Jets reportedly want Fitzpatrick back, but that hasn’t led to them offering him a market value salary. In fact, a recent report mentioned that the Jets are willing to pay him around $8 million per year, which this is far off of what a starting quarterback makes in the NFL.

Other options like the Broncos haven’t shown enough interest for Fitzpatrick to gain much leverage in contract talks with the Jets.

Brian Hoyer visited with the team a few weeks and plans to wait until after the draft to see what his options are. Of course, the Jets could come away with a quarterback prospect, but some doubt that they’ll be willing to take a on a “project” quarterback like Paxton Lynch.

Fitzpatrick, 32, played out the final year of his two-year, $7.5 million contract that included $4 million guaranteed and is currently the best quarterback still available in this year’s market.

In 2015, Fitzpatrick threw for 3,905 yards while completing 59.6 percent of his passes to go along with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Pro Football Focus has Fitzpatrick rated as the No. 27 quarterback out of 37 qualifying players.

We have him featured in our Best Available Free Agents list.