Ryan Fitzpatrick: Jets coaches, GM, owner lost faith in me

Ryan Fitzpatrick didn't take his benching lightly.

The New York Jets once again called on the veteran quarterback Sunday when Geno Smith, who had been promoted to the starting role, suffered a right knee injury in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens. Fitzpatrick completed nine of 14 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in helping lead the Jets to a 24-16 win.

But he didn't take on a gracious demeanor when asked about his demotion, calling out team owner Woody Johnson, general manager Mike Maccagnan and the Jets coaching staff in the process.

"The biggest thing to have in this game in order to last is to have belief in yourself," Fitzpatrick said in a postgame news conference. "Because when the owner stops believing in you and the GM stops believing in you and the coaches stop believing in you, sometimes all you have is yourself. That's something I've had to deal with before, something I'm dealing with now.

"I do my best to prepare and be the best quarterback I can be."

Ryan Fitzpatrick replaces injured Geno Smith, guides Jets past Ravens

Fitzpatrick had an NFL-high 11 interceptions with just five touchdown passes in his first six weeks of the season as the Jets plunged to 1-5. Jets coach Todd Bowles originally said Fitzpatrick would remain the starter after a 28-3 loss last Monday to the Arizona Cardinals, but he reversed course two days later.

Smith will undergo an MRI on his knee to determine the extent of the injury, Bowles said after the game. But Fitzpatrick is maintaining his stance that he should lead the team.

"I don't know what decision they’re going to make or what Geno’s health is," Fitzpatrick said, "but, yeah, I think I should start every week."

Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.

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