A frustrated Ryan Fitzpatrick wore his heart on his sleeve after leading the New York Jets from behind to a 24-16 victory Sunday over the Baltimore Ravens.
After replacing injured starter Geno Smith in the second quarter, Fitzpatrick made it clear he does not intend to remain as backup going forward, citing a newfound chip on his shoulder. He went on to vent candidly about the benching in favor of Smith a week earlier, and then called out the Jets front office and coaching staff who made the decision.
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"When the owner stops believing in you and the GM stops believing in you and coaches stop believing in you, sometimes all you have is yourself," Fitzpatrick told reporters at MetLife Stadium. "You try to get over it. It took me a couple days. I told a couple of guys I'm going need a couple days for this one, to let it sink in.
"Going back to me being human and not being a robot, yeah, there's strong emotion there for me. Especially not knowing if that was the last time I was going to be out there as a starter or not. ... Like I said, people giving up on you and then having to see them every day, that's not necessarily the easiest in the world. But it's something that I try to deal with as mature as you can and move on."
Fitzpatrick, fresh off an offseason contract standoff with Jets brass, was handed the starting reins for the first six weeks of the season hoping to replicate career-high numbers from 2015. But the journeyman reverted to old form, leading the NFL with 11 interceptions, including nine in a two-game stretch. Hoping to correct a dreadful 1-5 start, the Jets made the switch to Smith following a 28-3 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday.
Smith, drafted 39th overall in 2013, completed 4 of 8 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown before exiting with a knee injury Sunday, the Jets trailing 13-7.
With Smith out, Fitzpatrick came back with a vengeance, going 4-for-4 on his first drive, including a 13-yard touchdown strike to Matt Forte. He finished 9 of 14 for 120 yards — without committing a turnover — and the Jets defense held the Ravens scoreless in the second half.
Fitzpatrick admitted, "I probably play better as an underdog pissed off. So, going forward, yeah, I’ll be pissed off.” But it remains to be seen whether he'll be given another chance.
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When Smith recovers, it appears the Jets' quarterback controversy is alive and well.
"I don't know what decision they’re going to make or what Geno’s health is," Fitzpatrick said, "but, yeah, I think I should start every week."
