With questions surrounding Tennessee’s young QB Jake Locker, the team felt as if some insurance policy was necessary. Enter Ryan Fitzpatrick. The former Buffalo Bills QB was newly signed to a Titans team in dire need of a turn-around. With the team having released backup Matt Hasselbeck, Fitzpatrick will not settle in in what is assumed to be a backup role.
Fitzpatrick, 30, will push to be the starter for the Titans entering the 2013 season. His biggest problem is that like Locker, his consistency suffers. Fitzpatrick, who is a Harvard graduate, has been one of the most enigmatic play callers in the game today. One week he can throw for over 300 yards with multiple touchdowns, and another he can throw four interceptions and barely scrape together 100 yards.
These up-and-down performances are the reason that he was released in the midst of a huge contract, which was for six years/$59 million. In 55 games in Buffalo, Fitzpatrick threw 80 touchdowns and 64 interceptions, including a career-worst 23 in 2011. Not exactly what you would call a guy that should be paid “starter money.” However, the Titans eighth overall pick in 2011 has not wowed Titans fans either.
While the team has yet to name a starter, this will be one of the more interesting QB battles heading into training camp, sorry Jets fans. Ultimately, I think head coach Mike Munchak will begin the season with Jake Locker, barring injury. However, do not be surprised if Fitzpatrick sees the field for a bulk of the time either should Locker put together a bad performance or two in a row. Tennessee finished 6-10 and third in AFC South last year, so change may be warranted for a struggling Titans organization.
