Team news: Seattle Seahawks | Page 37

Jets OC Chan Gailey on the team's quarterback situation: “Right now, Geno’s the starter…That’s the way it sits and that’s the way we expect it to be.”

Ryan Fitzpatrick is a safe fallback option if Geno Smith doesn't pan out. Neither player is a particularly good fantasy option at this point in the offseason, but the team has a couple of good receivers in Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, and an up-and-coming tight end in Jace Amaro. It's not inconceivable that the Jets' starter is stream-worthy at some point this fall.

Texans are trading QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets for a late-round conditional draft pick, per a league source.

Fitzpatrick is capable of holding down the fort for a year if the team decides to move on from Geno Smith.

Bears have agreed to trade WR Brandon Marshall to the Jets pending a physical, per league source.

Injuries made it a frustrating year for Marshall owners. His biggest game (5-48-3) came on Sunday night in Week 2 when it looked like he wasn't going to play against the 49ers. Then, when everyone had him back in the lineup for Week 3, he posted one catch for six yards against the Jets. He finished as the #34 PPR receiver, but had the #21 PPG. If fully healthy, he'll be a solid starter, though it's a quarterback downgrade from Jay Cutler to Geno Smith (or whomever ends up starting for the Jets). New OC Chan Gailey did throw the ball 56.6% of the time in his three seasons running the Bills, so the Jets figure to pass it much more than they have in the last few seasons. Marshall's arrival could have a negative impact on Eric Decker's targets, but given the team's relative lack of playmakers and Gailey's positive impact on the pass offense, Decker's value should hold steady.

The writing has been on the wall for a long time, and now it's reality: the Jets have fired Rex Ryan. Second-year general manager John Idzik was also let go.

The pair was informed of their fate early Monday morning, the team announced.

The popular head coach brought the Jets out of relative obscurity in the world's biggest market back in 2009. He led New York to the AFC title game twice in his first two seasons and even scored a book deal and contract extension. But he never reached the playoffs again.

The defensive-minded coach's time was marred by inconsistent quarterback play, a knock on his resume that he was never able to overcome despite going through several different coordinators. The team drafted two quarterbacks in the first or second round -- Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith -- neither of whom could buoy an offense strong enough to complement Ryan's dominant defenses. Ryan leaves the Jets with a 46-50 record.

Jets owner Woody Johnson issued a statement following the news.

"Both Rex and John made significant contributions to the team, and they have my appreciation and gratitude for their efforts and commitment. Over the years, Rex brought the Jets a bold confidence and a couple of great post-season runs, which all of us will remember. I am beginning our search for new football leadership, effective immediately, with guidance and support from respected football experts, including Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf, two Super Bowl winners with decades of valuable experience."

As NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport noted on Sunday, Johnson is searching for a candidate with more of a personnel background. As Rapoport also noted, Ryan will search for another head coaching opportunity. Potential openings in Chicago, Oakland and Atlanta would certainly be appealing. If not, Ryan will go into television -- he retained a media agent in the event that he would move in front of the camera.

What's Percy Harvin's status for Sunday's game in Tennessee? Well, it depends on whom you ask.

Jets coach Rex Ryan said it would be "a stretch" for the multifaceted receiver to play this weekend after Harvin suffered an ankle sprain against the Vikings. Though Ryan said the swelling in Harvin's ankle has gone down "quite a bit," he didn't practice Wednesday.

Harvin, however, said, "I feel pretty good. I definitely think I'll be playing this week."

This is a situation to monitor. Harvin would have a nice matchup against the Titans and is coming off a productive game. If he doesn't play. Eric Decker would be a Sneaky Start as the team's primary pass catcher. In the seven games in which Geno Smith attempted at least 15 passes, Decker has averaged 4.3-58.8-.43, or 8.5 fantasy points. That’s about what Sammy Watkins has averaged this season.

Dolphins beat writer James Walker on the team's sudden struggles against the run:

It is by far the biggest issue plaguing the Dolphins down the stretch. What is strange is their run defense wasn't a problem until the past two weeks. Miami was ranked eighth in run defense after Week 11. But giving up 478 yards in the past two games now has the defense ranked 21st against the run. That is a huge decline. There haven't been any major injuries among the front seven. The Dolphins suddenly forgot the fundamentals of tackling and holding the point of attack. They were forced to put eight (and sometimes nine) in the box the entire second half Monday to stop the Jets. Miami was lucky Geno Smith was the quarterback, because there were plays to be made in the passing game. The Ravens should be a tough matchup for Miami because they also can run the football and have a much better passing game.

The Dolphins gave up 105 yards on 17 carries to Chris Johnson in Week 13, and the Jets didn't have any semblance of a passing attack in that game. Miami also yielded 167 yards on 27 carries to C.J. Anderson in Week 12, while Joique Bell averaged 4.4 YPC (44 yards on 10 carries) in Week 10. The Ravens have a good rushing attack, so Justin Forsett should be able to post another big fantasy line in Week 14.