Jets wide receiver Eric Decker is one of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s best friends and biggest supporters on the Jets, but Decker acknowledged Tuesday the players have to “move on” from Fitzpatrick.
The Jets and Fitzpatrick have been in a two-month stare down over a new contract with no end in sight. The players have been working out without him for a month and begin OTAs (organized team activities) next week.
“All I can say is we have to move on without him, right now,” Decker said on SiriusXM Radio Tuesday as part of the NFL’s broadcast boot camp. “Because they are stuck where they are with the business decision, where they want to go with the money, who’s going to break. But again we have a job to do and that’s to be the best football team, field the best football team, of who we have in the locker room right now.”
Decker has repeatedly said he wants Fitzpatrick to return to the Jets, but the wide receiver is being realistic about the team practicing without him right now with no clue when he will be back.
“We’re waiting for that day; it’s like April Fool’s — like, all right, when’s he coming back?” Decker said.
Decker is balancing being a good friend to Fitzpatrick and a good employee of the Jets. The two sides are far apart on a contract with Fitzpatrick coming off a 31-touchdown season.
“I have a lot of respect for Ryan Fitzpatrick,” Decker said. “I know he’s been with a lot of teams over his career, but we found the formula last year that worked for us. And we don’t have a lot of years left offensively. I think Brandon [Marshall] is older, I’m getting older, we’ve got [Matt] Forte now, he’s getting older. We have the pieces right now to win.”
In Decker’s mind, Fitzpatrick is the missing piece.
“I just think we need to plug him in, we need to move forward,” Decker said. “Again, the organization has to make the best decision for them long-term, but as players, we know what’s going to give us success and that’s why we want him back.”