Bills contact Fitz to Restructure

[Bronc24]

That's right, I'm going to defend Fitz...

 

Now, I'm all onboard with trying to find that QB of the future, a franchise guy (even if it means drafting two QBs this year, whatever it takes)...

 

And I'm fine with those saying Fitz would be a great backup but they don't want him starting (that's reasonable).

 

But to those who are saying that he is absolutely horrible, shouldn't even be a backup (3rd stringer at best), etc.

Well, I just have to assume you are not the "so-called" realists on the board.

 

So, what is reality? Yes, I'm going to bring those damn stats into the discussion...

 

In 2012 Fitz ranked:

18th in yards with 3,400

16th in completions with 306

18th in completion % with 60.6 (QBs with at least 100 Atts, i.e. starting QBs)

13th in TDs with 24

8th in Ints with 16

 

In 2011 Fitz ranked:

11th in yards with 3,832

6th in completions with 353

10th in comp. % at 62 (QBs with at least 100 Atts, i.e. starting QBs)

10th in TDs with 24

1st in Ints with 23

 

What do the stats seem to say? Fitz is an average starting QB in this league. Of course, we all want

better than average, but to say he's not even good enough to be a backup is just ridiculous.

 

The two things that jump out is that his stats regressed in 2012 and that he has thrown too many INTs

over the past two years. But, with the defenses we have had, we were always playing from behind and

Fitz had to force it more, which leads to picks. That doesn't excuse him from throwing that many picks,

but it does factor in.

 

By the way, Fitz's annual salary in 2012 ranked 18th among starting QBs. About where his stats rank him.

 

So, if the FO got him to restructure, I would be more than happy to keep Fitz as backup and even let him compete

for the starting job. What if we whiff on drafting a QB. Then what? And what FA could we bring in that would be a significant

upgrade to Fitz? You could make a case for Alex Smith maybe (although I'm dubious of that) but after him, who? Fitz is a team guy,

not a prima donna, so I don't think there would be any disruption in the locker room if he doesn't start. I would trust him coming into

a game if the new starter went down. And not only is he smart, but he's been in the NFL 8 years and has started 74

games. How would that experience not be a help to a young QB learning the ropes?

 

How any wins has your average QB averaged as a Bill? Just curious because the Fitz backers who were non existent here for the last half of the season are seeming to feel quite comfortable coming out of the woodwork now. #noplayoffsthiscentury'lldothattoyou

[AtlantaStampede]

I think this is good news. Fitz either agrees to a reduced contract and competes for the starting job or they show him the door. I would like to see what he can do in the new system, though I agree he's not the answer long term. Right now, as in today, he's the best option Buffalo has. Draft a QB, sign one from FA, and let them battle it out. If Fitz ends up winning the job, I'll support him....until we find a better option.

[folz]

How any wins has your average QB averaged as a Bill? Just curious because the Fitz backers who were non existent here for the last half of the season are seeming to feel quite comfortable coming out of the woodwork now. #noplayoffsthiscentury'lldothattoyou

 

I'm not saying Fitz should continue starting. I'd love an upgrade just like everyone else.

 

Just pointing out that he's not as bad as some are making him out to be. Average stats as a starter

is a big difference from 3rd stringer. And he makes for a good insurance policy.

 

I have definitely been a Fitz supporter, but I was also supportive of drafting a QB last year. If we had,

we wouldn't be in this place now, we'd already have a young guy ready to take the reins this year.

For that matter, I wanted to draft Kaepernick the year before. But we didn't, so I supported Fitz and

really thought he could get it done. But he didn't. I don't think it's all his fault, there was coaching,

the horrible defense, injuries, etc. But he wasn't able to put the team on his back like a Franchise guy

can and that's what we all want. So, the team needs to be proactive in finding that guy, but Fitz isn't

even the worst starter in the league let alone a third stringer (as one person said).

[San Jose Bills Fan]

Probably the original poster should amend the thread title to include the word "rumor" or even "unsubstantiated rumor."

[TheFunPolice]

Think of it this way, he's shown he can only win about 5 or 6 games as a starter, so how many is he going to come in and win you as a backup?

 

He wins roughly 1/3 games he starts. So if he's your backup and he comes in and starts 6 games you can expect to go 2-4.

 

Just about any journeyman QB can get you wins 33% of the time.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

All I ask is that you give Ryan an outstanding O-Line, then we can judge Ryan on his abilities ! I believe the 49ers and Ravens had outstanding O-Lines ! That's how you judge if your QB is worth keeping .I'm not big on our O-Line !I love Wood and Glenn ! Other than those 2 ,I think we need someone better !Levitre is good not great !Keeping Ryan doesn't bother me at all ,I even payed for my 2013 season tickets yesterday !

 

What are you drinking? We have a great line with only the RT needing an upgrade. Fitz has 8 yrs to figure it out and he never will for the simple fact he doesn't have the arm strength or accuracy to play the position.

[Bufcomments]

the Bills have what 19-20 mill in cap room? They had to ask Fitz to redo his contract. It was smart of them to do so.

 

He plays like a backup so pay him like one. I think Fitz is smart enough to at least consider it. He has to know they are looking to replace him. Being a backup in the NFL is not a bad job.

 

I don't like the fact the Bills put themselfs in this situation but it is what it is.

[The Dog]

I am happy with this...I'll go to my grave thinking Fitz can be a very effective QB with a quality support staff on all sides of the ball

 

My feeling also, when the rest of the team worked so did Fitz.

[jcbillsfan]

Fitz had been the starter for three years. It's very clear where his ceiling lies. With a half dozen solid spot starter back ups on the market why not bring in somebody else. They sAy the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Let's see how Moore ,Campbell,tjax or smith can do. We have already witnessed the very best if fitz.

[Buftex]

Ur hatred is foolish. Have you bothered to look at backup QB's around the league? I think fitz has a lot to offer

 

I like Fitz a lot, but I think there is some truth to what Joe says. If you are going to start over, start over. I think everyone likes Fitz, personally, but if you watched the games this year, you can't help but have serious concerns about how good he is. And, I make this point all the time, he would be a terrifice backup QB option, but maybe not for the Bills. We are all basing our postive feelings for the guy after observing him as a "nobody" who came off the bench and usurped our starting QB (Edwards), when we didn't have any other options. He performed decently at times, but lets' face it, the longer he played, the less effective he was. And, if we take him at his word, he still feels like he is an NFL caliber starting QB. We really don't know how good of a backup QB he would be, in Buffalo, after being asked to take a pay-cut, and losing his job.

 

My feeling also, when the rest of the team worked so did Fitz.

 

You are overlooking a lot of poor performances by Fitzpatrick. He is sub-par in accuaracy, which, IMO, affects the whole offense.

[bobobonators]

How any wins has your average QB averaged as a Bill? Just curious because the Fitz backers who were non existent here for the last half of the season are seeming to feel quite comfortable coming out of the woodwork now. #noplayoffsthiscentury'lldothattoyou

 

Last time I checked, you like the Bills too. Fitz is on the Bills, therefore by association he's YOUR average QB too. Accept it or have a mental breakdown. The choice is yours.

 

That's right, I'm going to defend Fitz...

 

Now, I'm all onboard with trying to find that QB of the future, a franchise guy (even if it means drafting two QBs this year, whatever it takes)...

 

And I'm fine with those saying Fitz would be a great backup but they don't want him starting (that's reasonable).

 

But to those who are saying that he is absolutely horrible, shouldn't even be a backup (3rd stringer at best), etc.

Well, I just have to assume you are not the "so-called" realists on the board.

 

So, what is reality? Yes, I'm going to bring those damn stats into the discussion...

 

In 2012 Fitz ranked:

18th in yards with 3,400

16th in completions with 306

18th in completion % with 60.6 (QBs with at least 100 Atts, i.e. starting QBs)

13th in TDs with 24

8th in Ints with 16

 

In 2011 Fitz ranked:

11th in yards with 3,832

6th in completions with 353

10th in comp. % at 62 (QBs with at least 100 Atts, i.e. starting QBs)

10th in TDs with 24

1st in Ints with 23

 

What do the stats seem to say? Fitz is an average starting QB in this league. Of course, we all want

better than average, but to say he's not even good enough to be a backup is just ridiculous.

 

The two things that jump out is that his stats regressed in 2012 and that he has thrown too many INTs

over the past two years. But, with the defenses we have had, we were always playing from behind and

Fitz had to force it more, which leads to picks. That doesn't excuse him from throwing that many picks,

but it does factor in.

 

By the way, Fitz's annual salary in 2012 ranked 18th among starting QBs. About where his stats rank him.

 

So, if the FO got him to restructure, I would be more than happy to keep Fitz as backup and even let him compete

for the starting job. What if we whiff on drafting a QB. Then what? And what FA could we bring in that would be a significant

upgrade to Fitz? You could make a case for Alex Smith maybe (although I'm dubious of that) but after him, who? Fitz is a team guy,

not a prima donna, so I don't think there would be any disruption in the locker room if he doesn't start. I would trust him coming into

a game if the new starter went down. And not only is he smart, but he's been in the NFL 8 years and has started 74

games. How would that experience not be a help to a young QB learning the ropes?

 

Well said.

[BuffBill]

http://queencityspor...trick-contract/

 

I don't know how reliable this source is, but it looks like we will have Fritzy for a couple more years.

 

 

EDIT: somebody reputable is chiming in.

 

 

 

Thanks John

Aren't us long time Bills fans suffering enough? There can't be any worse news imaginable then keeping FItz around. I am not sure about other Bills fans, but I am in dire need of a winning team and it isn't going to happen with Noodle Arm around. People can throw out stats, and stats don't mean crap. Just watch him play. If the game is on the line, you can bet your paycheck he will choke. Edited February 8, 2013 by BuffBill

[bobobonators]

I like Fitz a lot, but I think there is some truth to what Joe says. If you are going to start over, start over. I think everyone likes Fitz, personally, but if you watched the games this year, you can't help but have serious concerns about how good he is. And, I make this point all the time, he would be a terrifice backup QB option, but maybe not for the Bills. We are all basing our postive feelings for the guy after observing him as a "nobody" who came off the bench and usurped our starting QB (Edwards), when we didn't have any other options. He performed decently at times, but lets' face it, the longer he played, the less effective he was. And, if we take him at his word, he still feels like he is an NFL caliber starting QB. We really don't know how good of a backup QB he would be, in Buffalo, after being asked to take a pay-cut, and losing his job.

 

 

 

You are overlooking a lot of poor performances by Fitzpatrick. He is sub-par in accuaracy, which, IMO, affects the whole offense.

 

His career completion % is higher than Alex Smith's. What really affected the offense in about 75% of the games (IMO) this season and last, is a defense that is ranked about last in every critical category.

[C.Biscuit97]

His career completion % is higher than Alex Smith's. What really affected the offense in about 75% of the games (IMO) this season and last, is a defense that is ranked about last in every critical category.

 

Fitz would have looked a lot like Smith if he played on SF with their dominant defense. Smith is a slightly better version of Fitz. But I want a young guy we draft to start. Levi Brown praised Fitz for the way he helped him learn the playbook. Fitz could be Frank Reich 2.0 to Geno or Barkley and would we love the guy.

[RuntheDamnBall]

Fitz would have looked a lot like Smith if he played on SF with their dominant defense.

For real? Does defense make a QB more accurate? SF's defense was ranked top-5 in 2009, when Smith put in a very "Fitz" year.

 

These past two years he was more accurate likely in part due to Harbaugh's coaching and his offensive system.

 

If you want to argue against Smith, argue that Fitz would excel with Harbaugh (though I don't see it) and that without Harbaugh, Smith is nothing (I think a guy doesn't necessarily lose what he's learned from a good situation).

[bobobonators]

For real? Does defense make a QB more accurate? SF's defense was ranked top-5 in 2009, when Smith put in a very "Fitz" year.

 

These past two years he was more accurate likely in part due to Harbaugh's coaching and his offensive system.

 

If you want to argue against Smith, argue that Fitz would excel with Harbaugh (though I don't see it) and that without Harbaugh, Smith is nothing (I think a guy doesn't necessarily lose what he's learned from a good situation).

 

Though Alex had an INSANE 70% comp percentage this year before his injury, when they went to the NFC championship game in 2011, Alex had a completion % of 61.3%. Fitz had a completion% of 62% in 2011. In 2011, Alex was nothing more than a game manager leading the niners into the playoffs.

 

I don't think it's a matter of Alex Smith learning anything with Harbaugh. It's a matter of Harbaugh making the offense work for Alex Smith. Of course, if Alex Smith goes to another team and continues his progress, than i'm wrong!..lol

Edited February 8, 2013 by bobobonators

[stinky finger]

No need to drop him unless we get *two* clearly better QBs than him.

 

Here's our opportunity, Dork.

 

I know I'm better than him......you must be, too.

 

LETS DO THIS!

[BuffBill]

Fitz would have looked a lot like Smith if he played on SF with their dominant defense. Smith is a slightly better version of Fitz. But I want a young guy we draft to start. Levi Brown praised Fitz for the way he helped him learn the playbook. Fitz could be Frank Reich 2.0 to Geno or Barkley and would we love the guy.

I have never seen a defense that can make a quarterback's arm stronger, more accurate or have more touch? We need a defense like that! WOW?

[RuntheDamnBall]

Though Alex had an INSANE 70% comp percentage this year before his injury, when they went to the NFC championship game in 2011, Alex had a completion % of 61.3%. Fitz had a completion% of 62% in 2011. In 2011, Alex was nothing more than a game manager leading the niners into the playoffs.

Well, with the caveat that he ARRIVED in that playoff game against the Saints. So couldn't one argue he is getting better and better and is on the rise, and is hence a hotter commodity than Fitz? We have really seen that Alex Smith at least can reach a ceiling that is higher than anything Fitz has accomplished. And despite only a year or so of evidence, I just don't see how they are remotely equal right now.

[jcbillsfan]

Lets recap. Poor accuracy , weak arm , zero down field ability, and doesn't win games.