With the news that quarterback Jameis Winston will be suspended the first three games of the regular season for violating the personal conduct policy Womens Jared McCann Jersey , the Buccaneers’ decision to bring back Ryan Fitzpatrick looks like a wise one.
The 35-year-old Fitzpatrick signed a one-year, $3.3 million deal in March to give them some veteran stability, and now he’ll start the first three games of the regular season.
As noted by Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times, Fitzpatrick played efficiently last year when Winston was out with a shoulder injury, going 2-1 in the three games he started.
He’s not the flashiest quarterback in the league, but he was careful with the ball last year Drew Stafford Jersey , throwing just one interception in the 115 passes he attempted.
Of course, he led them to wins over the Dolphins and Jets, and the schedule is much tougher this year, with the Bucs’ first three games against the Saints, Eagles, and Steelers.
He won’t even be close to the oldest Bucs opening day starting quarterback Victor Hedman Jersey , either. Brad Johnson was a day short of his 36th birthday in 2004, Jeff Garcia was 38 in 2008, and Steve DeBerg was 39 in 1993.
The suspension also moves Ryan Griffin up a chair, and he’ll back up Fitzpatrick. The 28-year-old has never thrown an NFL pass.
NFL owners continue to discuss how to handle player protests during the national anthem. Do they allow each team to make its own decision? Do they keep all players in the locker room during the national anthem? Do they require all players to stand? Do they do nothing?
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, owners also are discussing whether to leave it up to the home team whether teams come out for the anthem but with a caveat: Teams could be assessed 15-yard penalties for players kneeling.
The reaction to the idea on social media was both brisk and negative.
Owners have talked about the issue since the end of the season. They will continue to discuss it, with a resolution not expected Tuesday Mike Green Jersey , according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post.
Some owners, including Jerry Jones, have remained firm in their belief that all players should stand for the national anthem. The Cowboys are one of only a handful of teams that have not had a player kneel during the anthem.
“Everyone knows my position on that,” Jones said two weeks ago. “And so we鈥檒l give the kind of sensitivity and thought and discussion that it deserves, and we鈥檒l come up with a league-wide, going forward Mathew Barzal Jersey , position. But I reiterate that everybody knows where I stand on it.”