The ongoing standoff between Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets doesn't look like it's going to end anytime soon.
According to ESPN.com, Fitzpatrick would "rather not play football" than accept the offer that the Jets have given him.
It's easy to see why Fitzpatrick's upset. Depsite the fact that he led the Jets to a 10-6 record last season, the team is only offering him about $8 million a season on a new deal. Based on where the quarterback market went during free agency this year, that offer is kind of an insult.
The Jets are asking Fitzpatrick to play for under $10 million a year when unproven guys like Brock Osweiler and Sam Bradford both received contracts worth $18 million annually.
Fitzpatrick is reportedly seeking a deal that would pay him at least $16 million a year, an amount of money that the Jets don't want to commit to the 33-year-old journeyman.
Everyone in the Jets' front office -- from head coach Todd Bowles to general manager Mike Maccagnan to owner Woody Johnson -- has publicly stated that they'd like Fitzpatrick to return in 2016, so it seems almost ridiculous that the two sides can't find a compromise.
Fitzpatrick also has the support of several key players in New York, like Nick Mangold, Brandon Marshall and Matt Forte.
Although the ESPN report said that Fitzpatrick would "rather not play football" than play for the Jets' current offer, it didn't say if Fitzpatrick would accept that offer from another team.
For instance, if it became clear that the Jets weren't going to up their offer, and then the Broncos came along with a similar $8 million a year offer, would Fitzpatrick consider signing that?
It's a question that doesn't have an answer right now. Whatever happens with Fitzpatrick, it'll likely happen soon. After the NFL Draft, every team will know where their quarterback situation stands and at that point, Fitzpatrick will either have other options or he'll be stuck playing for whatever the Jets offer.
If Fitzpatrick doesn't sign in New York, then the Jets will move forward with Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and anyone they might pick up in the draft.
