Ryan Fitzpatrick went to Harvard, but it doesn’t take an Ivy League graduate to see that he’s not playing up to his $12 million contract the New York Jets gave him earlier this year.
Fitzpatrick was pulled from the Jets’ 28-3 loss against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night after another horrendous performance in which he completed just 16 of 31 passes with zero touchdown passes and one interception.
Fortunately for Fitzpatrick, his replacement, Geno Smith, didn’t do much better, completing six of eight passes and throwing a pick of his own. Head coach Todd Bowles quelled any quarterback controversy after the game by announcing that Fitzpatrick would remain the starter.
Fitzpatrick’s numbers have been atrocious this season, but it’s even more interesting when you look at his half-by-half splits.
Fitzpatrick has actually performed pretty well in the first half, but something happens at halftime that causes his game to crash and burn into the abyss.
These stats aren’t much different from last season, which was Fitzpatrick’s contract year. He threw seven more interceptions in the second half than in the first half of games in 2015.
Perhaps opponents are making adjustments at halftime and the Jets are failing to counter them. Or maybe it’s just his scraggly beard getting itchy later in games.
Whatever it is, the Jets might want to call Jerry Jones and inquire about Tony Romo soon.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
