Ryan Fitzpatrick

[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.

 

[SethMode]

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.

Okay you aren't playing the crowd or the popular opinion or whatever, but the fact remains you've really never said ANYTHING that differentiates Fitzpatrick from the QB that W2B has been talking about. If anything, you've strengthened his point, as abstract as that may be.

 

[SethMode]

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.

Yes you do. Why discuss this stuff if you didn't? Don't get pissy now just because some people don't agree with you.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

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.

Jeff Garcia, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Doug Flutie.

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.

Like dave, you are completely lost and missing the point.

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

Agreed. However, it has nothing to do with what I am saying, and again, I never said he shouldn't be starting.

 

[dave]

Okay you aren't playing the crowd or the popular opinion or whatever, but the fact remains you've really never said ANYTHING that differentiates Fitzpatrick from the QB that W2B has been talking about. If anything, you've strengthened his point, as abstract as that may be.

The Bills are 2-0 with a QB with one decent receiver and a bunch of journeymen ... a QB who has kicked ass. Again, I'm not sure 14 is a franchise QB yet, but that team has no supporting offensive talent for what they've done so far.

 

[SethMode]

The Bills are 2-0 with a QB with one decent receiver and a bunch of journeymen ... a QB who has kicked ass. Again, I'm not sure 14 is a franchise QB yet, but that team has no supporting offensive talent for what they've done so far.

Can you stop calling him by his number? It's weird.

And I get what you're saying, my point is, you're fighting the wrong battle.

 

[dave]

Can you stop calling him by his number? It's weird.

And I get what you're saying, my point is, you're fighting the wrong battle.

14 is quicker to type than Fitzpatrick.

 

[RainboUnicorn]

Jeff Garcia, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Doug Flutie.



Like dave, you are completely lost and missing the point.



Agreed. However, it has nothing to do with what I am saying, and again, I never said he shouldn't be starting.

Flutie and Garcia became somewhat successful starters did they not? Are you saying they should have instead stayed as a backup somewhere?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Can you stop calling him by his number? It's weird.

And I get what you're saying, my point is, you're fighting the wrong battle.

Thank you.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Flutie and Garcia became somewhat successful starters did they not? Are you saying they should have instead stayed as a backup somewhere?

I'm saying their ideal roles were as upper tier backup/spark plug types, as opposed to being "somewhat successful" as starters.

 

[dave]

Thank you.

You're both wrong. Fitzpatrick may already be the Bills' long-term QB. Admittedly, not the right measureables ... but the long-term QB.