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Forte: Jets players told not to talk about Fitzpatrick saga

Leon Halip / Getty Images Sport / Getty

All indications are that the New York Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick have been unable to make progress toward a new deal, despite the arrival of the unofficial start to a new season.

So, as the two sides continue to play the leverage game heading into training camp, perhaps the Jets are hoping the perception that they've moved on can give them an advantage.

Asked about the free-agent quarterback in his training camp media availability Wednesday, veteran running back Matt Forte let it slip that the players have been told not to comment on the issue.

"All questions about Ryan is for Coach (Todd) Bowles," Forte said, according to Seth Walder of the New York Daily News. "They told me to tell you all that."

Forte didn't say exactly who had told players to avoid the subject, but he pointed toward the team building when asked to clarify his comments.

"They. Everybody knows who they are," he added.

Bowles has already stated that he's done talking about the Fitzpatrick standoff, so the idea appears to be eliminating the talking point from training camp overall.

And while such a strategy may well be in the interest of avoiding distractions, a number of comments from players to this point in the offseason have only spoken to Fitzpatrick's value.

That's not exactly what the Jets want to have put out there as they attempt to bridge a reportedly significant gap in contract negotiations.

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