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Ryan Fitzpatrick As an NFL prospect two years ago, Ryan Fitzpatrick finished the Wonderlic test in nine minutes. Few players finish the cognitive-aptitude test in the allotted 12. Fitzpatrick politely declined to discuss the test yesterday, probably out of humility. He scored a 38, about twice as high as the average player but perhaps expected of a Harvard graduate. The Bengals are counting on Fitzpatrick to apply his quick brain to their playbook. By cutting Doug Johnson on Saturday and acquiring Fitzpatrick in a trade with St. Louis, they took a calculated risk. Johnson proved flawed as a quarterback but was a veteran who knew the offense. Now, the backups to Carson Palmer are Fitzpatrick and rookie Jeff Rowe, a fifth-round pick.
The calendar complicates Fitzpatrick's task. With the regular season here, the chance for him to practice is limited. "Obviously, the team is getting ready for Baltimore now, and Carson is going to get all his reps," Fitzpatrick said. "I think the biggest thing is being able to learn without doing much on the field. I've done it before. This is my third offense in three years, so I think it'll be OK." If Fitzpatrick is thrust into a game, the Bengals can only hope the results are similar to the quarterback's previous debuts. In his first start as a Harvard freshman, Fitzpatrick rallied the Crimson for a 35-21 victory over Dartmouth after trailing 21-0 at the half. His NFL debut in 2005 was even more impressive. Injuries to Marc Bulger and Jamie Martin forced the Rams to turn to Fitzpatrick, who rallied St. Louis from a 24-3 halftime deficit to a 33-27 overtime victory over the Houston Texans. Fitzpatrick completed 19 of 30 passes for 310 yards to win NFC offensive player of the week honors. Fitzpatrick started three games for the Rams, but Martin reclaimed the job after the rookie threw five interceptions against the Minnesota Vikings. Fitzpatrick didn't play last season as a third-stringer behind Bulger and former Bengal Gus Frerotte. The Rams decided to follow the trend of having only two quarterbacks on their active roster. With Bulger and Frerotte signed to long-term contracts, Fitzpatrick was happy to go somewhere where he can be a No. 2. He said he heard rumors he would be traded, but Cincinnati was not one of the expected destinations. "I was caught off guard a little bit, but it was a good surprise," Fitzpatrick said. He acknowledged the challenge of learning a new playbook in warp time, but he's confident he won't be overwhelmed for long. "I've been in the league for two years now," he said. "I have played in four games, started three. With every year comes a lot more experience. I got to learn from some of the best in St. Louis, with Bulger and Frerotte, who's been here and everywhere and is just kind of the old man who knows a little bit of everything. Hopefully, that'll help me." Columbus Disptach http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2007/09/04/bengals_fitzpatrick0904.ART_ART_09-04-07_C3_U07Q50R.html?sid=101 |
