Bowles admits botching communication with Fitzpatrick over benching

Due to the magnitude of the New York Jets' ineptness against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night, head coach Todd Bowles messed up telling his starting quarterback he had lost his job.

Following the 41-10 thrashing, Bowles was so busy telling the media about how bad the Colts "kicked our ass" he accidentally told reporters that Bryce Petty would be replacing Ryan Fitzpatrick for the final four games, prior to telling the quarterback himself.

"I'd been meaning to tell him and I got tied up with a few things," Bowles said Tuesday, via ESPN's Rich Cimini.

Fitzpatrick was told he was benched by an assistant coach moments before his media session, where he did his best not to let on that Bowles hadn't told him.

"I probably could've (told Fitzpatrick he was benched) and he tried to cover for me," Bowles said. "Like I said, I had a lot on my mind and got some things off my chest, and it kind of went over the wrong way. I'll talk to him (Wednesday morning)."

Petty replaced Fitzpatrick during the second half of Monday's throttling, completing 11-of-25 passes for 135 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.