Ryan Fitzpatrick

[Aso]

If Fitz was Peyton's backup they'd actually be going somewhere this season.

[dave]

Yes, and i'm saying that guys like Fitz, Flutie, Garcia, are better suited as being high caliber backups on good teams, where they can step in for a few games and keep things moving, rather than being the 16th best starter in the league or whatever and go nowhere. Because make no mistake, you are going nowhere if Ryan Fitzpatrick is your starter. Sorry. Nice player, I like him a lot, he deserves to start, but ideally he'd be backing up Peyton Manning or Phillip Rivers or whoever, where his skills would be better suited than winning 9 games for some middling team.

It's actually a compliment, in a odd sort of way. There is a place for guys like this.

You gonna feel the same way if Fitzpatrick leads that team to the playoffs? Yeah, I'm a Bills' mark, but I think he's gonna do it.
If 14 leads that team to the playoffs, you have to re-evaluate your opinion.

[Warner2BruceTD]

You gonna feel the same way if Fitzpatrick leads that team to the playoffs? Yeah, I'm a Bills' mark, but I think he's gonna do it.
If 14 leads that team to the playoffs, you have to re-evaluate your opinion.

No I won't.

[dave]

No I won't.

Damn. You're the same way in political threads. Numbers go against you, and you still won't change your mind.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Let me try this another way...

I think he's an ideal backup. Big arm, lots of guts, can run around & improvise and make plays with his feet, smart, team guy, won't complain, etc etc. He has everything you want in a backup.

He is not an ideal starter. Not good enough to take you deep into the playoffs, because he's bound to put up a stinker. Gets by on moxie and intangibles more than skills and ability (see above).

These type of QB's can start for you, and do a competent job, but you always have one eye open for something better.

On the other hand, they can be your backup for a decade, win a bunch of games off the bench, and be the most popular player on the team among the fan base.

Good starter, better suited as a spark plug for a really good team.

[dave]

Let me try this another way...

I think he's an ideal backup. Big arm, lots of guts, can run around & improvise and make plays with his feet, smart, team guy, won't complain, etc etc. He has everything you want in a backup.

He is not an ideal starter. Not good enough to take you deep into the playoffs, because he's bound to put up a stinker. Gets by on moxie and intangibles more than skills and ability (see above).

These type of QB's can start for you, and do a competent job, but you always have one eye open for something better.

On the other hand, they can be your backup for a decade, win a bunch of games off the bench, and be the most popular player on the team among the fan base.

Good starter, better suited as a spark plug for a really good team.

You just described 20 starting NFL quarterbacks, so those 20 NFL teams have to deal with the cards they were dealt with.

[SethMode]

You just described 20 starting NFL quarterbacks, so those 20 NFL teams have to deal with the cards they were dealt with.

I hesitate to ever really contribute to the NFL forum anymore but, this is just asking for it: what is your point? Sometimes I swear that you intentionally either don't read posts or are just unnecessarily contrary.

[Warner2BruceTD]

You just described 20 starting NFL quarterbacks, so those 20 NFL teams have to deal with the cards they were dealt with.

dave, you can't be a real person.

I did not describe 20 NFL starters. I do not think guys like Jason Campbell or Tavaris Jackson or Luke McCown or Kyle Orton fit this description at all, and do not think they are ideal backups. Guys like Bradford, Stafford, McCoy, Newton, etc are obviously not "ideal backups" because they are young and developing, need to play, and we don't know what they are yet.

I described Ryan Fitzpatrick, and maybe what somebody like Alex Smith should have been at worst, but he continues to suck.

I'M NOT SAYING FITZPATRICK SHOULDN'T BE STARTING, and of course teams are dealing with the cards they are dealt. What is your point?

[dave]

I hesitate to ever really contribute to the NFL forum anymore but, this is just asking for it: what is your point? Sometimes I swear that you intentionally either don't read posts or are just unnecessarily contrary.

My point is - describing Fitzpatrick as a good backup for an elite team is ridiculous. He's better than at least 15 current starters right now, so why should he be relegated to a status of being an elite backup?
It's insane.

I agree he doesn't have the "quote, unquote" intangibles ... but to discard him the backup heap is unfair.

Really, how many truly #1, undisputed, QBs are in the NFL right now?

[Warner2BruceTD]

My point is - describing Fitzpatrick as a good backup for an elite team is ridiculous. He's better than at least 15 current starters right now, so why should he be relegated to a status of being an elite backup?
It's insane.

I agree he doesn't have the "quote, unquote" intangibles ... but to discard him the backup heap is unfair.

Really, how many truly #1, undisputed, QBs are in the NFL right now?

HOLY. SHIT.

I can't do this anymore.

[RainboUnicorn]

Let me try this another way...

I think he's an ideal backup. Big arm, lots of guts, can run around & improvise and make plays with his feet, smart, team guy, won't complain, etc etc. He has everything you want in a backup.

He is not an ideal starter. Not good enough to take you deep into the playoffs, because he's bound to put up a stinker. Gets by on moxie and intangibles more than skills and ability (see above).

These type of QB's can start for you, and do a competent job, but you always have one eye open for something better.

On the other hand, they can be your backup for a decade, win a bunch of games off the bench, and be the most popular player on the team among the fan base.

Good starter, better suited as a spark plug for a really good team.

Don't really understand your logic to be honest. Out of the top tier quarterbacks there aren't any backups that come to mind that are coming in and winning games for their team. Who are these 'spark plugs' that are coming in off the bench and winning games for their team? The only one in recent memory is Vick who became the starter.

Saying there are backup quarterbacks that are 'spark plugs' or most popular among the fan base is laughable. If you need your backup quarterback to come in and kickstart your offense then there is something wrong with your starter.

He may not be top 10 but there are not 32 QB's better than him right now.

[dave]

HOLY. SHIT.

I can't do this anymore.

Whatever. I'm not trying to play to the crowd here. You essentially called Fitzpatrick a backup, I disagree. Again, I am not playing to the crowd here. I am not trying to play to popular opinion.

[krulmichael]

My point is - describing Fitzpatrick as a good backup for an elite team is ridiculous. He's better than at least 15 current starters right now, so why should he be relegated to a status of being an elite backup?
It's insane.

I agree he doesn't have the "quote, unquote" intangibles ... but to discard him the backup heap is unfair.

Really, how many truly #1, undisputed, QBs are in the NFL right now?

One. Ryan Fitzpatrick.

[SethMode]

My point is - describing Fitzpatrick as a good backup for an elite team is ridiculous. He's better than at least 15 current starters right now, so why should he be relegated to a status of being an elite backup?
It's insane.

I agree he doesn't have the "quote, unquote" intangibles ... but to discard him the backup heap is unfair.

Really, how many truly #1, undisputed, QBs are in the NFL right now?

I don't understand and am somehow more exhausted now.

[dave]

I don't understand and am somehow more exhausted now.

Great. I don't care. Most of you guys kill me, the second you see there's a populist opinion or potential for one, you pile on. Good for you.