Mention the name Ryan Fitzpatrick around Miami Dolphins fans at your own risk. Fitzpatrick, throughout the course of a successful 2020 campaign in South Florida, became quite the polarizing player despite his unflappable approach to the game and his willingness to mention Miami’s hopeful quarterback of the future, Tua Tagovailoa.
But for some, Fitzpatrick represents what they perceive was a missed opportunity for the Dolphins in 2020 to potentially make the playoffs had they not changed quarterbacks. Other Dolphins fans appear to have grown a distaste for Fitzpatrick on account of how Miami chose to handle juggling quarterbacks and potentially undermining Tagovailoa as a rookie.
But no matter what side of the fence Dolphins fans sit on with Fitzpatrick, one thing that should not be questioned is whether or not Fitzpatrick was a class act down the stretch during his time with the Dolphins. He stayed ready for the few occasions he was needed in the back half of the season, he readily mentored Tagovailoa on game day and throughout the week. And, now, we know that he was conceding all of his practice reps to his young counterparts towards the end of the 2020 season. Fitzpatrick shared the unique “extra help” he gave Tagovailoa and fellow rookie QB Reid Sinnett with ESPN’s Pablo Torre.
“I was fully in to helping Tua. And at the same time, I wanted this young guy, who otherwise would get zero reps throughout the year {as a third-string quarterback], to have an opportunity because I was in his shoes once. I sat there as a third- and fourth-string guy and just watched and watched and watched and never had any opportunity to get better,” said Fitzpatrick.
“I saw it as a way to help Reid (Sinnett). I saw it as a way for me to give extra help to Tua. And I also saw it as a way to prove to myself that I could come out of the stands five years from now and still play this game.”
Fitzpatrick’s willingness to concede reps certainly helped keep his arm fresh for the instances in which the Dolphins needed him down the stretch — a point Fitzpatrick joked with Torre about when discussing the dynamics of the situation. Not cold — rested. And Fitzpatrick rested arm brought the final highlight of the Dolphins’ 2020 season after a miraculous heave against the Las Vegas Raiders; a play that Fitzpatrick dives into throughout the course of his conversation with Torre as well.
Hopefully, with time, the reactions to Fitzpatrick’s name among Dolphins faithful can transition from emotional or irritable and instead be rooted in gratitude; as there is no question Fitzpatrick’s contributions to the first two seasons of this rebuilding effort were valuable in shaping the team’s culture. And, undoubtedly, mentoring the man everyone now hopes will carry the offense to new heights in 2021 and beyond.