Ryan Fitzpatrick is like the candidate to a political office, shaking hands, kissing babies with a world-class American smile to acquire those votes. At least interest from potential employers, now that he's an unemployed out-of-work 30-year old quarterback. And being from Arizona, he can make a personal case for each team, face-to-face, as the league gathers in Arizona for league meetings.
He did that this weekend. On Sunday the former Bengals backup quarterback met with head coach Marvin Lewis and Mike Brown and his family in what should be viewed as mutual interest. Other teams are interested.
The #Titans met with former #Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick while at the owners meetings in Arizona. He has not been to Nashville for visit
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) March 18, 2013
Tennessee currently has starting quarterback Jake Locker and backup Matt Hasselbeck, who is scheduled to earn $5.5 million in 2013.
Acquired on September 1, 2007 for a seventh round pick during the 2008 NFL draft from the St. Louis Rams, Fitzpatrick played backup to Carson Palmer, playing one game that year before Palmer's season ended with an elbow injury early the following season. Starting 12 games in a disaster-filled 2008 season, Fitzpatrick completed 59.4 of his passes for 1,905 yards, eight touchdowns, nine picks while being sacked 38 times.
After signing with the Buffalo Bills the following year, Fitzpatrick replaced Trent Edwards as the starting quarterback, throwing 24 or more touchdowns in three consecutive seasons. He was awarded a $59 million extension through 2017 during the middle of the 2011 season, but was released at the end of 2012.