Washington Football Team: Ryan Fitzpatrick throws shade at Dolphins about 2020 benching

Entering the offseason, the Washington Football Team was widely pegged as a team in the market for a high-end quarterback.

With no real top-tier option available and too high of a draft pick to net one of the top prospects, they settled for Ryan Fitzpatrick, giving them flexibility to either re-sign the grizzled vet or push all their chips to the center of the table in 2022.

In many ways, Fitzpatrick was the perfect addition for Washington’s largely inexperienced roster. The 38-year-old is a proven leader, will be a pillar in the locker room and help groom the young QBs on the roster.

Over his 16 years in the league, we can’t recall an instance when Fitzpatrick called out one of his teammates or voiced his frustration with being a backup.

However, that streak was snapped last week when Fitzpatrick sat down with Robert Mays of The Athletic to discuss his beguiling career.

At some point during the interview, Fitzpatrick threw took shots at the Dolphins, his former team, saying he was “floored” when he was benched in favor of Tua Tagovailoa for Miami’s Week 8 clash against the Rams.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was flabbergasted when the Dolphins benched him.

"“I have a ton of respect for (coach Brian Flores), and we have a very good relationship,” Fitzpatrick said. “But I thought it was a joke at first. We’re putting Tua in? I was floored.”“That was my team. I fought through the (expletive) with those guys. I get the way that the NFL works. I get it. But to have it happen the way it did. …”"

Fitzpatrick’s been around the block more than most journeymen quarterbacks, so he obviously knew he’d be benched at some point. After all, for as solid as Fitz was under center, how could the Dolphins sell to fans Tua not even playing as a rookie?

Having said that, Miami picked a mystifying time to make the move. Not only did Fitz have command of the offense, but he won his previous two starts. Despite all the confusion, however, Fitzpatrick supported the rookie quarterback…even though there were stretches when he looked more deserving of the starting job.

"“It’s also hard on them, the guy stepping into the role,” Fitzpatrick added. “So for me to be supportive and for me to be the guy that’s in their corner 100 percent and not whispering, ‘Yeah, I should be out there,’ behind their back. That kind of stuff fractures a locker room.”"

Can someone frame that quote and hang it in the Football Team’s locker room?

Not only did Fitzpatrick show unwavering support for Tagovailoa through one of the most befuddling stretches of his career, but he urged teammates with similar opinions to pipe down and back the No. 5 overall pick.

Take a bow, Fitz. Seriously, words can’t describe the significance of having a QB who puts the betterment of his teammates ahead of his own personal goals.

Let’s hope these comments help fans of the Football Team realize — if they haven’t already, of course — what kind of a gem Fitzpatrick is. Even when he throws shade at his former franchise, he ends up looking like a saint. What a guy.