Bill Simmon's take on the league's QBs

From the article :

"THE JIM PLUNKETT DIVISION (ENIGMAS)

14. Ryan Fitzpatrick
His last 11 starts: 6-5 record, 17/11 TD/INT ratio, one game throwing for more than 265 passing yards, six games with under 225 passing yards, one game with a QB rating over 100. So when you hear reports that he signed a $59 million extension (breaking today), it makes you furrow your brow … and then you start sifting through the next 20 names on this list, and it unfurrows a little."

Not a bad take on the contract in my opinion.

7 months ago kfisk214 2 comments 0 recs |

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That is a reasonable reaction for an “outsider” and even for Bills fans. $10m seems a lot because we’ve seen salaries escalate since each of us, as fans, became aware of typical NFL salaries. If you compare him to other QBs the deal is quite reasonable. I think it’s the contract itself (and length) that scares people, as if it signals they’ll stick with Fitz for 6 years. That’s really not an issue because they WILL draft someone in the next two years and groom him. If he doesn’t catch on, they’ll draft and groom someone else, etc. This only hampers singing a FA QB to REPLACE Fitz in the next few years, which was never going to happen.

by paxon on Oct 30, 2011 4:05 PM EDT reply actions

“… and then you start sifting through the next 20 names on this list, and it unfurrows a little.”

This seems to be the most striking line in the paragraph, and the one that reveals why he’s worth $10mil per season (for at least a few years). The QB play around the NFL is downright bad on many teams. Simmons has Fitz 14th, right in the middle of the pack yet slightly above-average (which seems right). The market drives the price, and many of those 18 QBs who are worse than Fitz have more money. It seems OBD would rather (slightly) overpay for a quality QB than be stuck with the alternatives. And OBD should be very aware of what the alternatives offer, give our QBs in the decade or so.

by l3uddyh011y on Oct 31, 2011 3:38 PM EDT reply actions