Ryan Fitzpatrick has played quarterback in the NFL for 16 seasons. He has mostly been average. His eight teams have mostly been rotten.
Fitzpatrick has nonetheless made $71 million.
Fitzpatrick just lost the starting job in Miami to heralded rookie Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa was picked fifth overall in this year’s draft.
Fitzpatrick has a case of the feels: “It broke my heart. It’s a tough thing for me to hear and now have to deal with.” Fitzpatrick, 37, wonders if he’s started his last NFL game.
Let’s hope so. Get out of the way, old-timer. Ben Roethlisberger, Fitzpatrick ain’t.
Disclaimer: Tagovailoa is brittle. It would be no surprise to see him hurt again, and right quick. Fitzpatrick would jump over Tagovailoa's prone body to get back on the field.
The timing of the switch is odd, because the Dolphins are 3-3 after winning their last two.
But it’s also their bye week, which allows more time to prepare Tagovailoa for his first start.
Miami was never going to win anything with Fitzpatrick. The minute Miami drafted Tagovailoa, Fitzpatrick became a place-holder. He knew that. Fitzpatrick went to Harvard. He's not stupid. Beating the lowly New York Jets last week didn’t change anything. Tagovailoa’s timetable operates independent of Fitzpatrick’s, and is also unrelated to the team’s current record.
This “broken heart” routine is a bit precious. “Fitzmagic” has made $71 million for being average. His career record is 58-86-1. He’s never played in a playoff game.
But now his heart is broken. FFS.
Fitzpatrick’s whining is a reminder than in the NFL, entitlement and narcissism aren’t only for the young.
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