Ryan Fitzpatrick interview on 'Dan LeBatard Show' turns tense after questions of rumored waterslide injury

Joe Rivera

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Ryan Fitzpatrick interview on 'Dan LeBatard Show' turns tense after questions of rumored waterslide injury image

Ryan Fitzpatrick loved football, but not questions about water parks.

Anyone who's seen a Fitzpatrick interview knows the recently retired veteran quarterback is a pretty easygoing guy. He had a blast when he was photobombed by Nick Mangold once, wore DeSean Jackson's clothes to a press conference, and was even shirtless at a Bills playoff game.

But in a recent interview on "The Dan LeBatard Show," Fitz didn't seem to have much fun at all. 

In 2021, Fitzpatrick suffered a season-ending hip injury in Week 1, but a rumor started by a sports radio caller said the passer actually injured himself on a waterslide prior to the start of the season.

When asked about it by LeBatard and his crew, the jovial interview quickly turned icy: 

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Fitzpatrick's reply to the rumored injury: 

No, I got hurt in a game, I think everybody saw that. I just — I mean, I don't know. I'm now part of the media but I think we all — and you probably already knew the answer to that question — I know it's funny and light, but now, you give a rumor some more breath. It's silly, and it doesn't make sense, and no, that never happened.

When prodded a bit more by LeBatard, Fitzpatrick shut down the line of questioning entirely.

"We can move on to something else," he said.

Fitzpatrick seemed adamant that the rumor was just that, a rumor, and LeBatard apologized for "hitting a sensitive spot." The interview ended soon after.

MORE: Fitzmagic to Fitztragic: Power ranking Ryan Fitzpatrick's NFL teams

The journeyman quarterback stepped away from the NFL this offseason after a lengthy career, so he should have plenty of time to spend in water parks with his kids now. Well, if that's his thing.

Joe Rivera

Joe Rivera Photo

Joe Rivera is in his seventh year with The Sporting News, handling NFL, MLB and some things pro wrestling. A proud-ish Rutgers University graduate, Rivera combines a new-school flair with an old-school soul. He loves dingers, wrestling, comic books, movies, music and really bad puns. He is also a card-carrying BBWAA member and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater.

You can find him and tweet him @JoeRiveraSN, if you're into that sort of thing.