Fitztragic: Why the Steelers Should Avoid Fitzmagic

For Fitzpatrick it’s the month of September that serves as the 8th birthday party for him to show off his tricks. Once that 8th birthday party ends however, that magician changes back into his civilian clothes and drives home. After the month of September, Ftizmagic goes back to plain Fitzpatrick.

I will admit that he has never earned the name of Fitztragic, but maybe just Fitzaverage? With the current state of the Steelers, I can understand their desire to bring in a veteran QB, but I don’t think Ryan Fitzpatrick is the answer. Almost every team that has signed him has been the epitome of average. Washington, Miami, Houston, New York, Buffalo…should I go on?

In my eyes, signing Ryan Fitzpatrick is a stop gap, and not a good one. It is a sign that you have no true plan at QB. He is just the one QB you sign before you have consecutive 4-win seasons.

Let me be clear, I do like Ryan Fitzpatrick as a bridge guy or a low-end starter, but not for Pittsburgh. Despite Fitzpatrick’s struggles, he has never had an elite team surrounding him, which he desperately needs. For him to be effective after the month of September, where the season really counts, he needs a perfect offense. Pittsburgh’s offense is far from perfect. 

On top of which, what does that say to Mitch Trubisky? The assumption across the league is that Mitch is the presumed starter in Pittsburgh. Singing Fitzpatrick, a seasoned veteran who has shown he can play great in stretches, would cast a shadow of doubt. If you have more than one QB, you don’t have a QB at all.

In other words, if your quarterback competition lasts beyond training camp into the preseason, then you don't have a true starter. By the first preseason game, you should know who the starter is. Hell by the second week of practice you should know who it is.

Bad talent evaluators, or teams with a host of bad quarterbacks have season long QB competitions. I don’t want to see that in Pittsburgh. Whatever equity Fitzpatrick has built in the mind of fans, he should use elsewhere. 

My final concern with bringing Fitzpatrick on board is that he would be a magician with one hand tied behind his back. Fitzpatrick got injured on the first play from scrimmage last year. What is worse is that it was his hip, which are injuries notorious for healing terribly. At his age, his potential price, his recent injury, and a year off from football, I am not buying into the magic.