Ryan Fitzpatrick http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bills/2013/03/12/buffalo-bills-release-quarterback-ryan-fitzpatrick/1982913/%2314 of the Buffalo Bills walks off the field after the game against the Miami Dolphins on December 23, 2012 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Bills released Fitzpatrick Tuesday. (Photo: Joel Auerbach, Getty Images) Story Highlights - In one of the first moves of free agency, the Bills pulled a stunner and released their starting quarterback
- Ryan Fitzpatrick was set to make a base salary of $4.25 million, in addition to a $3 million roster bonus, in 2013
- But after a disappointing season, the Bills decided to dump Fitzpatrick and likely draft a QB next month
The free-agent quarterback market just got more interesting.
Just minutes into the new league year, the Buffalo Bills and new coach Doug Marrone announced they had released starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick after two inconsistent seasons as starter. The team announced the move Tuesday, shortly after the NFL's free agency period opened, and a day before Fitzpatrick was due a $3 million bonus. General manager Buddy Nix said the team kept "every possible option open," before reaching the decision. Fitzpatrick went 20-33 as a starter over four seasons in Buffalo. He was in the midst of a six-year, $59 million contract extension signed in October 2011.
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Fitzpatrick was the second-highest player on the Bills' roster, set to make a base salary of $4.25 million, in addition to a $3 million roster bonus, in 2013. Fitzpatrick averaged only 212.5 passing yards per game last year – his lowest total as a starter – and never led the Bills to the playoffs.
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Buffalo re-signed backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, a former starter in Seattle, last month, and it now appears more likely the Bills will draft a quarterback in April.
Earlier Tuesday, a private phone conversation between Bills general manager Buddy Nix and Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominic – recorded by two pranksters and released to Deadspin.com – revealed Nix's frustrations with Fitzpatrick and the quarterback's contract. NFL security is looking into the recording of the phone call.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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