NFL Rumors: New York Jets Leaked Ryan Fitzpatrick’s Contract to Retaliate for Eric Decker’s Protest?

May 30, 2016 12:05 PM EDT

Everyone in the NFL community is well aware that neither the New York Jets nor Ryan Fitzpatrick are willing to budge in the negotiations for a new deal. This is why it came as a surprise when details of the quarterback's alleged contract with the team were leaked.

Fitzpatrick is currently a free agent but has previously stated that he would love to play again for the Jets next season. However, despite his desire to return to the team, it seems he's not yet happy with what the team is offering him.

But, recently, a source for the New York Post noted that the team offered Fitzpatrick a three-year contract worth $24 million. Included in this deal is a guaranteed $12 million for the first year. For the following years, however, the athlete will only reportedly get $6 million each.

Although the source claims that this leak came from the New York franchise, it's still hard to believe that it's a real offer. For one, the total value of the contract goes against what the Jets is willing to pay for to get Fitzpatrick back on its roster.

But, as noted by ESPN's Rich Cimini, this figure may have really been provided by the Jets as part of its strategy to keep some of its players in line. According to the journalist, the leak may have been the Jets' revenge on Erick Decker who was absent from the team's open practice session on Wednesday last week.

According to reports, Decker, being a huge Fitzpatrick supporter, purposefully missed out on the session to protest how the team is dealing with and treating the quarterback. And, since both Decker and Fitzpatrick are handled by the same agency, the Jets may have retaliated by spreading a rumor that the latter will get a big contradict.

Another theory is that the New York franchise may have used the leak as a negotiating tactic against Fitzpatrick. Before, during the height of the negotiations, the Jets was portrayed as a team that doesn't know how to appreciate its athletes. But now, through the rumored deal, New York is looking like a generous franchise.