Post by Just A Fan on Jul 26, 2012 4:27:49 GMT -6
Forget what you heard about the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. This season, above anything else, comes down to their quarterbacks: Ryan Fitzpatrick and Mark Sanchez.
The Bills and Jets have playoff aspirations. But both teams will crash and burn if Fitzpatrick and Sanchez cannot produce.
You heard all the excuses. Fitzpatrick had a rib injury last season. Sanchez had a fractured locker room. Fitzpatrick had injured teammates. Sanchez had poor pass protection.
But this is a no-excuses year for both Sanchez and Fitzpatrick. If they don't prove to be franchise quarterbacks in 2012, it's time for the Jets and Bills move on. Both players had ample time to prove their worth with their respective teams.
The Bills made a risky investment last season by giving Fitzpatrick a $59 million contract extension. At the time, Fitzpatrick was rolling. But he is one of the streakiest quarterbacks in the NFL. Fitzpatrick lost eight of his final nine starts and had six multi-interception games in that span. Much of the blame was put on his rib injury he suffered around midseason.
There are reasons to question Fitzpatrick in this pivotal 2012 season. He's too inconsistent, and I’m not sure that changes in his eighth season. Fitzpatrick is a gunslinger in the mold of Brett Favre, but without the same arm strength and talent. Fitzpatrick is fearless and likes to take chances, but often it results in interceptions. Fitzpatrick led the NFL with 23 interceptions last season. He had one game with four interceptions and two games with three interceptions. Fitzpatrick has been working on his fundamentals and mechanics a lot to reduce turnovers.
The Bills also acquired veteran quarterback Vince Young to push Fitzpatrick. Young has 30 career wins -- 13 more than Fitzpatrick -- and is capable of taking over. Young first has to beat out incumbent Tyler Thigpen for the backup quarterback role in training camp.
Everything is in place for Fitzpatrick to be successful this year. If Fitzpatrick cannot make this work, the blame falls on him. I project a decent, but not great, year from Fitzpatrick. He should make fewer mistakes in 2012, which is enough to put Buffalo in playoff contention.
espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/44860/no-excuses-for-fitzpatrick-mark-sanchez
The Bills and Jets have playoff aspirations. But both teams will crash and burn if Fitzpatrick and Sanchez cannot produce.
You heard all the excuses. Fitzpatrick had a rib injury last season. Sanchez had a fractured locker room. Fitzpatrick had injured teammates. Sanchez had poor pass protection.
But this is a no-excuses year for both Sanchez and Fitzpatrick. If they don't prove to be franchise quarterbacks in 2012, it's time for the Jets and Bills move on. Both players had ample time to prove their worth with their respective teams.
The Bills made a risky investment last season by giving Fitzpatrick a $59 million contract extension. At the time, Fitzpatrick was rolling. But he is one of the streakiest quarterbacks in the NFL. Fitzpatrick lost eight of his final nine starts and had six multi-interception games in that span. Much of the blame was put on his rib injury he suffered around midseason.
There are reasons to question Fitzpatrick in this pivotal 2012 season. He's too inconsistent, and I’m not sure that changes in his eighth season. Fitzpatrick is a gunslinger in the mold of Brett Favre, but without the same arm strength and talent. Fitzpatrick is fearless and likes to take chances, but often it results in interceptions. Fitzpatrick led the NFL with 23 interceptions last season. He had one game with four interceptions and two games with three interceptions. Fitzpatrick has been working on his fundamentals and mechanics a lot to reduce turnovers.
The Bills also acquired veteran quarterback Vince Young to push Fitzpatrick. Young has 30 career wins -- 13 more than Fitzpatrick -- and is capable of taking over. Young first has to beat out incumbent Tyler Thigpen for the backup quarterback role in training camp.
Everything is in place for Fitzpatrick to be successful this year. If Fitzpatrick cannot make this work, the blame falls on him. I project a decent, but not great, year from Fitzpatrick. He should make fewer mistakes in 2012, which is enough to put Buffalo in playoff contention.
espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/44860/no-excuses-for-fitzpatrick-mark-sanchez