The Facts: 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 Network's Ian Rapoport reported Friday that the Jets offered Fitzpatrick a three-year deal that includes $12 million in the first season back in March, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Diehards Line:
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. 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.