Ryan Fitzpatrick and the New York Jets can't get on the same page. On Friday, we got a little more clarity on the contract offer that has left the two sides in a stalemate since March.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday that in March the Jets offered Fitzpatrick a three-year deal that includes $12 million in the first season, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post first reported the specific contract figure.
The $12 million would keep Fitzpatrick near the bottom of the totem pole for veteran starting quarterbacks, but represents a sensible offer when compared to earlier reports that pegged the Jets' offer in the neighborhood of $8 million per season.
Earlier this week, Fitzpatrick broke his public silence and expressed an upbeat attitude about the possibility of a deal getting done.
Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker and Nick Mangold -- veterans who have called for Fitzpatrick's return -- were absent from organized team activities, but it's unclear if Fitzpatrick's situation had anything to do with their decisions to stay away from the voluntary workouts.
The bottom line: Barring an unforeseen outside development, Fitzpatrick is highly unlikely to find an offer that will beat the Jets' deal. Fitzpatrick clearly wants more, but he's missing the most important weapon in negotiations -- leverage.
