Jets' Woody Johnson: Re-signing Fitzpatrick not imperative

The New York Jets have stated numerous times that they hope to have Ryan Fitzpatrick back, but it also sounds like they're prepared to move on if a deal can't be reached.

At the retirement press conference for left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson on Thursday, Jets owner Woody Johnson was asked if it's imperative the team re-signs Fitzpatrick.

"No," Johnson said, according to Darryl Slater of NJ.com. "I think this is a big team. We've made our statements regarding Ryan Fitzpatrick well-known, and I'll stick with those that we've made."

Johnson declined to go into specifics about recent contract talks with the quarterback, only stating that nothing has changed from the Jets' standpoint.

"I can't comment on exactly what we're talking about, or even if we're talking," he said. "But no, no real change."

While the Jets would ideally like to have the Fitzpatrick situation resolved before the draft, Johnson understands that things may not work out that way.

"You want to have everything as much resolved as you can, as quickly as possible," Johnson said. "But not everything works out on the time schedule of what you'd like. Some things just take a little bit longer, and that's part of the deal. So here we are. I don't think it's disconcerting or concerting. It's just part of the negotiating process."