The New York Jets still haven’t signed Ryan Fitzpatrick after his great season with the team in 2015.
Jets’ owner, Woody Johnson, does have a message for starting quarterback from last season.
“Come back to the Jets,” Johnson told reporters at the league meetings in Boca Raton, Fla. Monday.
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“I kind of hope (he returns),” Johnson said to Seth Walder of the New York Daily News. “He did have such a good year. I like him a lot as a person; he’s very engaging. He’s the Harvard guy, and then he’s the normal guy.
The Jets and Fitzpatrick are still very far apart on what kind of contract the veteran deserves after a career-year.
“The two sides have got to come up with an agreement that obviously both sides are happy with,” the owner added to Walder. “That is what we’re working toward.”
Fitzpatrick has clearly been a priority all offseason for the Jets, as they likely don’t want to head into 2016 with the different starting quarterback under center.
“Well, he’s a priority. You have to fill out about 25 positions, 25 percent change,” Johnson said to Walder. “We’re focused on this and we’re also looking at the draft. There is time to pick up players, not only this period but pre-draft free agents.”
If Fitzpatrick does indeed leave, the Jets must a have a backup plan in place, as they still have Geno Smith on the roster, and have also brought in Robert Griffin III for an interview.
“I think the coach and the coaching staff and Mike (Maccagnan) will look at alternatives, whatever those alternatives are,” Johnson said to Walder. “We have some guys…on the squad. If that is the best, putting Geno or Bryce Petty in there, then that’s what we’re going to go.”
Johnson was asked about if he thought the Jets could win a Super Bowl without an elite quarterback, which is something they haven’t had.
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“How did (Denver) win last year, at the end? Good D, baby,” Johnson told Walder. “Right? How about Von Miller. How would you like a guy like that? There’s only one Von Miller. A game changer.”
“I think our defense is going to be very, very good,” Johnson continued to Walder. “You have to win where you can win. There’s only X number of good quarterbacks — or I mean, really elite, elite quarterbacks in the league. Everybody recognizes that. So we have to do what we have to do.”
One of the problems for the Jets in recent years has been their inability to successfully draft a quarterback, as Mark Sanchez was a bust as a top-10 pick, and Geno Smith has yet to have success after being drafted in the second-round.
“We’ve had shots at them over the years,” Johnson said to Walder. “Like we could’ve drafted Russell Wilson in the second round. We’ve had shots at players, but we didn’t take those. Hopefully, we’re getting better at evaluating talent and picking talent, particularly quarterbacks.”
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“I don’t like droughts,” Johnson said when asked about the lack of postseason play in his franchise’s recent history to Walder. “I want to be in the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. That’s my desire. And that’s what the fans want.”
If the Jets are going to make the playoffs next season, they will likely have the best chance at that with Fitzpatrick under center.