Tag: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Commanders’ Rivera: ‘We’re going to stick with Sam’

Sam Howell will be the first QB to start every game under Rivera.

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera announced Wednesday that Sam Howell will be the starter Sunday against the Cowboys at FedEx Field.

The first question directed at Rivera was regarding who would start Sunday, and Rivera’s succinct reply was, “Yes, we are going to stick with Sam.”

When asked if it was due to his play last Sunday or Jacoby Brissett’s hamstring injury, Rivera responded, “Well, I think it’s a little bit of both. But I thought what Sam did, he did the things that we were hoping he would be able to do. He did some really good things. I thought he managed a couple of the drives very well, very nicely. I want to see him get an opportunity to finish it out.”

Rivera expressed that he thought early on Howell had been able to connect with Terry (McLaurin) and that was something he wanted to see, and that this Sunday gives them a chance again to do some more of that.

Rivera pointed out that Howell took his benching well during last week’s game preparation. “He handled it no differently than I thought he would. He’s a very solid young man, a very mentally tough guy, and I thought he handled it nicely”, expressed Rivera.

With this decision, it means it could most likely become the first season of Rivera’s four seasons where he was able to start the same quarterback all season that he desired to start in preseason.

Last season (2022), Carson Wentz was the starter for whom Rivera had traded in the offseason. Wentz started seven games last year, struggled at times and also suffered a broken finger on his passing hand against the Bears. Taylor Heinicke started nine games, with Howell starting the season finale against Dallas.

In 2021, Rivera made the decision to sign free-agent Ryan Fitzpatrick to be Washington’s starter. However, in the opening half of the opening game, Fitzpatrick badly injured a hip and was lost for the season. Heinicke then started the other 15 games.

In Rivera’s first season in Washington, he started Dwayne Haskins in the first six games, Kyle Allen received four starts, and Alex Smith made the other six starts. Heinicke then was the starter for the playoff game.

When they last met: Commanders and Dolphins

A lot has changed in the last four years. The last time these teams met, they were battling to see who picked higher in the 2020 NFL draft.

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Washington 17, Miami 16 – Week 6, October 13, 2019

The last time these two teams met, Washington was still the “Redskins,” Jay Gruden had just been fired following an 0-5 start, Bill Callahan was the interim coach, Brian Flores coached Miami and Case Keenum and Josh Rosen were the two starting quarterbacks.

Both teams entered the Week 6 contest winless. Yes, winless. So it was only fitting that the normally tying touchdown was scored with only six seconds remaining when Ryan Fitzpatrick (of Miami) connected with DeVante Parker from 11 yards. Miami went for the win and a two-point conversion attempt. However, Fitzpatrick’s bubble screen left to Kenyan Drake was dropped, allowing the Redskins to escape with a 17-16 win.

Both teams were on the bottom floor of the NFL in 2019. Washington would end up 3-13, selecting second in the next draft, Ron Rivera’s first. Miami finished 5-11 and drafted fifth in 2020.

Washington took Chase Young, who was advertised as “a generational talent.” Yet by 2023, all Washington could get for Young was a late 3rd round 2024 draft choice. Miami, on the other hand, drafted Tua Tagovailoa and is enjoying their fourth consecutive season with a winning record. Washington has not had a season with a winning record since Kirk Cousins was quarterback in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Back to the 2019 game, Washington had led 7-3 at the half and 17-3 after three quarters but had to survive the Dolphins scoring two final-quarter touchdowns.

Washington’s Adrian Peterson rushed for 118 yards on 23 carries, Terry McLaurin collected 100 receiving yards on four receptions (including two touchdowns), and Keenum completed 13 passes for 166 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Rosen had started for the Dolphins, but his two first-half interceptions and his being sacked five times led to Fitzpatrick playing the second half. “Fitzmagic” completed 12 of his 18 attempts for 132 yards, including the last-minute touchdown.

Quinton Dunbar and Shaun Dion Hamilton each had one interception, while Jonathan Allen had two quarterback sacks. Landon Collins, Matt Ioannidis and Treyvon Hester registered one quarterback sack each.

 

Former Bills Ryan Fitzpatrick, Stevie Johnson visit local school (video)

Former #Bills Ryan Fitzpatrick, Stevie Johnson visit local school:

Three Buffalo Bills legends met up in Western New York to read children’s books and feed hungry youth prior to Week 8’s Thursday Night Football between the Bills and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Of course, we are talking about Stevie Johnson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Billy Buffalo.

Fitzpatrick was part of the broadcast for Amazon ahead of the Bills’ eventually 24-18 win where he went shirtless after the contest. Before it, He teamed up with Johnson (& Billy) as part of TNF Gives Back and the Bills Foundation and visited students in Niagara Falls, reading books and providing a $25,000 donation.

Check out Fitzpatrick & Johnson’s visit in the YouTube video below:

[lawrence-related id=125708,125682,120388]

Young Bills fan cries while meeting Ryan Fitzpatrick at Highmark Stadium

FitzMagic is still strong in Buffalo:

Ryan Fitzpatrick remains a legend around Orchard Park, even for fans who were potentially too young to see him play.

Fitzpatrick was part of the Amazon Prime broadcast team for Thursday’s Bills-Bucs matchup. Before the game, Fitzpatrick was walking around the lower below of Highmark Stadium and signing autographs.

One young Bills fan was so excited to meet Fitzpatrick, he was brought to tears.

FitzMagic is still strong in western New York.

Check out the exchange in the clip below:

[lawrence-related id=125336,125330,125315]

Fired-up Ryan Fitzpatrick going shirtless for Bills fans is, literally, quite a flex

This is the second time Ryan Fitzpatrick has gone shirtless in Buffalo for Bills fans.

Ryan Fitzpatrick going shirtless in freezing Buffalo has happened before. So we know the former NFL QB isn’t afraid to bare all.

Sure enough, after the Bills’ 24-18 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, the member of the Thursday Night Football crew ripped off his top in front of screaming Buffalo die-hards — and cameras, of course — and gave Josh Allen a hug.

It turns out the shirtless thing was a bet of sorts — Fitzpatrick told the QB Room Podcast that if he saw some fire in Allen on Thursday, he’d take off his shirt. He saw what he needed to see, and off came the shirt:

A look back at what he did in 2022:

Man of his word: Ryan Fitzpatrick goes shirtless after Bills win

Fitz Magic went shirtless for #BillsMafia again:

Ryan Fitzpatrick did it.

The former Bills quarterback and currently legend made a promise prior to Thursday Night Football. Fitzpatrick, an analyst on the Amazon broadcast, said he would go shirtless at Highmark Stadium if he saw fire and emotion from Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Whether we saw huge fire or not, Bills Mafia, in a great mood after their team’s 24-18 win over the Buccaneers, wouldn’t let Fitzpatrick leave without going topless.

Fitzpatrick was giving a little nod to his past in the promise–He went shirtless during a Bills playoff game once upon a time.

And in the end, he delivered.

Fitzpatrick went off the stage on the sideline at Highmark Stadium and ripped it off next to mascot Billy Buffalo. He then proceeded to cap it off by hugging Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Check it all out in the clip below:

[lawrence-related id=125332,125401,125346]

Ryan Fitzpatrick will go shirtless on TNF if Bills’ Josh Allen does this vs. Bucs

Do it, Fitz:

(Update: 10/27/23 11:59 a.m.): Fitz did it:

Man of his word: Ryan Fitzpatrick goes shirtless after Bills win

Previous coverage: 

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been known for going shirtless at Highmark Stadium.

He’s also going to be in the stadium in Orchard Park on Thursday.

Fitz Magic shirtless 2.0?

Actually, maybe.

The former Bills QB will be on the Amazon broad of the upcoming Bills-Bucs Thursday Night Football matchup. While appearing on the QB Room podcast with Josh Allen’s offseason coach Jordan Palmer and current teammate Kyle Allen, Fitzpatrick said if Allen does one thing during the game, he’ll go shirtless.

And it’s not even anything as crazy as you’d think.

Allen noted this week he’s trying to be a “low positive” type of player now. Keep himself in check.

Fitzpatrick wants none of that. He wants Allen to be pumped up and showing it…. and he’ll do it.

“He’s just become a little too calm for me and calm is like not Josh. That’s not where he needs to be. Just get the guy fired up a little bit,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick’s full promise via the QB Room Podcast can be found in the clip below:

[lawrence-related id=125280,125222,125252]

Trevor Lawrence calls out ‘#Analysts’ on social media

Trevor Lawrence told analysts to “keep their opinions” in a message that seems like a response to Richard Sherman’s criticisms.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a message for the haters Saturday afternoon.

Lawrence, 24, doesn’t tweet often, but it’s not the first time he’s called out the haters on social media. Back in May, he tweeted “the game ain’t played on paper” in response to an NFL Network segment that ranked him as one of the worst quarterbacks in the AFC.

While Lawrence didn’t say specifically who the “#Analysts” are that can keep their opinions, it seems like a response to former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman.

During the Amazon Prime broadcast of the Jaguars’ 31-24 win against the New Orleans Saints, Sherman said that Lawrence hasn’t shown himself to be the prospect that he was hyped up to be in 2021.

Sherman’s criticisms of Lawrence continued on social media as the game was being played Thursday night:

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick agreed with Sherman’s assessment during the broadcast.

Lawrence finished the game with 204 passing yards, a touchdown, and 59 rushing yards. Through seven games in 2023, he has eight touchdowns with three interceptions.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Fanboy Ryan Fitzpatrick brought an absurd amount of merch for Magic Johnson to sign

Ryan Fitzpatrick is apparently a huge Magic Johnson fan.

When Magic Johnson wasn’t tweeting (posting) scathing criticism of the Washington Commanders on Twitter (X), he was visiting the set of Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football, hanging out with the crew that included Ryan Fitzpatrick.

It turns out that Fitzpatrick is a huge Magic fan, because he wore the legendary point guard’s jersey and asked Johnson to sign it. That was fun, but then the ex-QB took out a bag of stuff from a hat to a football to a basketball for Johnson to sign.

It was a hilarious segment and Johnson took it all in stride as everyone else laughed or rolled their eyes:

Jared Goff got back at Ryan Fitzpatrick for calling Lions QB ‘a poor man’s Matt Ryan’

He heard the criticism!

First off, I should say that being called a “poor man’s Matt Ryan” isn’t the worst thing. Ryan had a pretty good career!

That said, calling anyone a “poor man’s” anything is usually damning with faint praise, so I get why Jared Goff might have been zinging Ryan Fitzpatrick after the Detroit Lions’ dominant 34-20 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.

Apparently, Fitzpatrick called Goff “a poor man’s Matt Ryan” before the game on Prime Video’s pregame show … and Goff heard it.

So when Goff appeared after the contest, he went right back at Fitzpatrick: “I didn’t know I was a poor man’s anything.” He was laughing, so it was all in good fun: