FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Tom Brady isn’t the only “elite” quarterback in the AFC East, according to Brandon Marshall.
The Jets receiver defended his quarterback to the fullest on Tuesday, saying that Ryan Fitzpatrick is in the same category as New England’s future Hall of Famer.
“He’s elite in my eyes,” Marshall said in an interview with Newsday, just before heading into the facility after practice.
“To me, it’s all about: What have you done for me lately?” continued Marshall, who earlier in the day called Fitzpatrick “elite” during an interview with ESPN. “And when you look at what he did last year, he won 10 games, 31 touchdowns and he got the ball late — second week of camp [after Geno Smith was injured].”
Fitzpatrick had a career year in 2015, setting franchise records for TD passes as the Jets finished 10-6. But they fell one win shy of making the playoffs after losing to Buffalo in Week 17.
Nevertheless, Marshall believes the Jets’ journeyman deserves to be in the “elite” quarterbacks discussion.
“Absolutely,” he said.
Told that his comments will undoubtedly draw criticism, Marshall lauded Fitzpatrick even more: “I understand what it takes to be a successful quarterback and an elite quarterback in this league.
“He did it last year and I think if he does it this year — which he will — people will start respecting him a little more. When you’ve gone through 10 years bouncing around, not really having a lot of success, never made the playoffs, it’s hard for people to understand your worth and your value. But I know what this guy is capable of.“
Fitzpatrick, who turns 34 in November, is on his sixth team in 12 seasons. He has a career record of 43-61-1 and has never made the postseason. But his teammates fully bought into “FitzMagic” during his career resurgence last season.
“And a lot of times, we put so much emphasis — too much emphasis — on physical,” Marshall said. “He can’t throw 80 yards. He’s not going to throw a 50-yard out-in cut on a rope. It’s just not going to happen.
“But what he does in other areas makes up for what he doesn’t have, maybe, in arm strength.”
The timing of Marshall’s “elite” comments could have been better, though.
The Jets offense as a whole had a sloppy afternoon. So bad, in fact, Marshall punted a football over the stands in frustration after teammate Dominique Williams dropped a ball.
Said Fitzpatrick after practice: “We did not perform the way we should have today.”
..... - Newsday