Fitzpatrick: Contract standoff 'something I wouldn't wish upon anybody'

Ryan Fitzpatrick is finally back in a New York Jets uniform after a contract dispute that lasted the entire offseason.

The veteran quarterback, who rejoined the club on a one-year, $12-million deal Thursday, says he's relieved to have put the saga in the past.

"Oh my gosh ... it's been a long six months for sure," Fitzpatrick told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. "The biggest feeling was relief. Just relief to have it over and done with. And then when I was driving in (Wednesday night to the team facility) and walking up to the team meeting, it was like the first day of school.

"I was just all excited to see everybody and to be back in the building. Because through the entire offseason program, I wasn't allowed to be there. It was such a weird feeling. I was 10 minutes away just sitting at home getting calls and texts every day. After every practice, talking with the guys and not being allowed in the building to participate and compete with them. That made it an awfully long offseason for me. Now I'm ready to get to work."

Fitzpatrick and the Jets appeared to be dealing with a significant gap in negotiations from the time he was first allowed to hit the free-agent market in March. Though reports continued to suggest the two sides weren't close to a deal leading right up to the start of camp, he remained confident an agreement would be reached.

And the support he received from teammates, often through the media, didn't go unnoticed.

"I'll tell you what. This whole process has been so long and hard and something I wouldn't wish upon anybody, but if there's a silver lining in it, at least for me, it's the respect and support that those guys showed for me throughout the process," Fitzpatrick added. "It was huge. That's why you play the game. You play the game for your teammates, who really want to play with and for you. That was big for me.... I felt like I had to get back for those guys. I'm glad that we're going to be able to get to work today."

Fitzpatrick is the projected starter for a Jets team looking to build upon a strong 10-6 season in 2015. Geno Smith, who had stepped in with the first-team offense during spring practices, may find himself competing for a roster spot alongside a pair of signal-callers added in the past two drafts.