Coffee with the Jets: It's time to say goodbye to Ryan Fitzpatrick

Per the terms of his agreement with the New York Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s contract automatically voids five days after the Super Bowl … and that means Friday. Fitzpatrick’s two-year run with the team is over and, as the quarterback acknowledged late in the season, there’s virtually no chance of him re-signing.

Coach Todd Bowles likes to play man-to-man coverage in the secondary, but his cornerback situation is bleak. He wants to employ a balanced offense that can rely on the running game but can’t count on that because the offensive line is in shambles.

“The long-term goal has always been to build through the draft. We do have some ability the way the contracts were structured to make determinations on how to proceed going forward if we decide to either create cap space or keep the player,” said Maccagnan at his season-ending news conference. “We’re no different than we were originally. Again, our long-term goal is to build through the draft.”

Of course, pursuing any of these three players in free agency is hardly a guarantee that any of them will sign with the Jets. If the price is right, sure. However, New York isn’t exactly the most desirable of situations currently. Therefore, it’s best to consider this situation fluid despite these reports.

While anything is possible, it seems extremely unlikely the Jets and Fitzpatrick will continue their relationship after the 2016 season.  That makes today the likely end of the short lived Fitzpatrick Era.

Last season, Cutler did not play well for the Bears when he was healthy. He only appeared in five games, however, he threw more interceptions than touchdowns in those games. Acquiring Cutler certainly wouldn’t help the Jets long-term, but he would still likely be better than Petty or Hackenberg in 2017.