Fitzpatrick knows he will fight to start with Tagovailoa

MIAMI (AP) – Ryan Fitzaptrick’s house was quiet Thursday noon, probably because his children were busy with schoolwork online.

The Miami Dolphins quarterback has seven children and, despite confinement due to the pandemic, there are usually other little ones visiting. They would be enough for the Fitzpatrick family to form a football team.

“My brother is my neighbor and he has five children. That adds up to 12 running every day, “Fitzpatrick said from his Arizona home.” He’s been a little crazy. “

This is Fitzpatrick’s 15th intersessional recess in the NFL, but it’s been like never before. Normally at this time he would be in spring training at the team’s premises, but due to the coronavirus, the sessions have been conducted by the Zoom app.

The player achieved one of his best seasons in 2019 and led a good rebound, after starting 0-7 to finish 5-11 with a very modest roster. At 37, he was voted the Dolphins’ most valuable player.

However, the team used one of their first picks in a quarterback, and if things turn out the way the Dolphins want Tua Tagovailoa will replace Fitzpatrick as a starter this year. Miami is in the midst of a rebuilding project, and Fitzpatrick the only player in his 30s.

But he is more than used to instability at work. Even last year he was demoted to number two, behind Josh Rosen, for three games at the start of the season.

He has embraced the idea of ​​being Tagovailoa’s mentor, no matter who the owner is.

“I’ve been in this situation a little bit before,” Fitzpatrick said. “I am excited to have him here. I loved watching him play in college. He’s going to be an amazing addition to the team for a long time. I will do my best to help him. ”

But make no mistake. Fitzpatrick hopes Tagovailoa will spend his rookie season on the bench.

“I am very competitive,” Fitzpatrick said. “I want to be a starter, I know there are many things that come with that. If it happens or not, we’ll see. “

However, the pandemic stopped the dynamics that preceded the preseason. The Dolphins signed 11 free agents and picked 12 rookies in the draft, but veterans like Fitzpatrick still need to meet the new ones.

“It’s hard not to be there,” he said. “There will be many new faces, many young people. You want to go out into the field, train and learn the system and learn from others. ”