Ryan Fitzpatrick Is His Own Class of Quarterback: Unchecked

The Miami Dolphins going to Tua Tagovailoa is another chapter in Ryan Fitzpatrick's unique NFL career.

In a way, Ryan Fitzpatrick is his own class of quarterback. If your QB is better than Fitzpatrick, you’re in good shape. If your QB is worse than Fitzpatrick, you’re not. If your QB is Fitzpatrick, he’s eventually going to be replaced.

Ryan Fitzpatrick said it “broke his heart” to hear he was being demoted. He said he was “shocked” when Brian Flores called him to the office to tell him Tua Tagovailoa was the new starter.

Fitzpatrick being very transparent that the decision really hit him hard.

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 21, 2020

As over his long career, Fitz has been more stopgap than backup quarterback. That’s why I suppose some might feel bad for him after he revealed he was so heartbroken to be replaced by Tua Tagovailoa with the Dolphins. 

Man. Tough to watch. Here's Ryan Fitzpatrick explaining why he's heartbroken over the Dolphins QB decision. pic.twitter.com/4KjVnVZIgN

— Clay Ferraro (@ClayWPLG) October 21, 2020

Because for a guy who has played for eight teams, none have felt like they were his. I guess maybe Buffalo for a minute? Which makes for quite a journey for a journeyman. I’ve seen players bounce around before, but I can’t recall anyone having quite the path he’s had. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick: "I basically got fired yesterday and my day today consisted of zoom meetings with the guy who fired me and sitting in a room with the guy who replaced me for four hours."

— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) October 21, 2020

And though it was inevitable it would eventually be Tua time in Miami, perhaps the timing, after more than 15 years and 145 starts, and with the Dolphins off to a good one, made Fitzpatrick reckon with that fact. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick appreciation post. Through six games:

🐬 1,535 pass yards
🐬 12 Total TDs
🐬 Dolphins 2nd place in AFC East pic.twitter.com/PopK6nK8Ns

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 20, 2020

Maybe he should take solace in being unique (did you know he went to Harvard and he has a beard?) as I don’t think NFL fans will forget Ryan Fitzpatrick as quickly as his respective teams have. To his credit, it does say something that so many franchises were willing to give him the keys, even if it was just for a rental. 

If this is the end of the road…

Ryan Fitzpatrick
• 16 seasons
• 58-86-1 record
• 34,400 Pass Yds
• 60.7% Completion Rate
• 220 Pass TDs
• 21 Rush TDs
• 168 INTs
• $71.5M earnedhttps://t.co/egQlHokMfx pic.twitter.com/fe55WA7Be4

— Spotrac (@spotrac) October 20, 2020

It’s said football is a game of inches. Well, it’s been proven once again that there is a thin line between FitzMagic and FitzTragic.