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Jets GM: 'No regrets' over re-signing Fitzpatrick

Jasen Vinlove / USA TODAY Sports

While Ryan Fitzpatrick has been well off the 2015 pace the New York Jets hoped he'd reproduce this season, the front office isn't backing down from its decision to bring him back last summer.

In general manager Mike Maccagnan's first meeting with the media since training camp, he defended his decision to give in to Fitzpatrick's offseason contract demands.

"No, I have no regrets about bringing Ryan back," Maccagnan said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.

Fitzpatrick was benched after his 1-5 start, only to be forced back onto the field when Geno Smith went down with an ACL tear. The 12-year veteran sat out Sunday with his own knee injury as the Jets lost to the Los Angeles Rams with Bryce Petty at the helm.

Maccagnan admitted he's not pleased with how the season has played out, but still feels the re-signing was merited.

"I think going into it, we felt very good about the season Ryan had previously," the GM said. "I have no regrets from that standpoint.

"Of course, I think everybody, and Ryan included, would probably say he holds himself to a fairly high standard. I'm sure there are aspects that he would like to ... we all would like to have better success on the field as a team. But from the standpoint of bringing Ryan back, no, I don't have regrets on that."

Head coach Todd Bowles has yet to decide who will start for the Jets in their Week 12 contest against the New England Patriots after this week's bye. Maccagnan also declined to weigh in on the decision, stating the choice may be harder than most believe.

"From my standpoint, you like to see young players play, but you also want to make sure they're ready for that," said Maccagnan. "To me, it's a more complicated decision than some people realize."

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