Eric Decker says he didn’t skip Jets OTAs to support Ryan Fitzpatrick
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Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall were absent from Jets OTAs last week, but the players have refuted the reports that they sat out in support of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is in the midst of a contract dispute with the team.
“That’s not the reason I wasn’t here,” Decker told reporters on Wednesday, according to ESPN. “I told coach where I was and what I was doing. I was with my family.”
Marshall was less direct in his denial of the reports, refusing to confirm or deny whether his absence was related to the Fitzpatrick dispute.
“You guys know how I feel about Ryan,” Marshall said. “I’ve said it over and over again, all off-season. There’s a thin line between supporting your teammate and being detrimental to the team. ...At this point, it’s time for all of us to move forward and try to figure out how we can win some games.”
• FARRAR: Why Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets won’t find a better fit by parting ways
Fitzpatrick, 33, became a free agent this off-season after turning in a career-best season for the Jets last year. He posted a 10–6 record and threw for 3,905 yards while setting a Jets franchise record with 31 touchdown passes.
The team has reportedly offered Fitzpatrick a three-year, $24 million contract, which Fitzpatrick recently countered with a proposal of one year for $12 million.
