Bills' Fitzpatrick hopes for extension within 'weeks'

The mere mention of Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's contract talks was enough to capture the attention of receiver Stevie's Johnson.

"Is it done?" Johnson asked, with eager anticipation.

No, not yet, though that's been the multimillion-dollar question in Buffalo since negotiations between the team and Fitzpatrick turned serious over the past two weeks.

Fitzpatrick would only confirm that talks are taking place, and he'd like to have a deal completed soon.

"It would be something that I'd like to get done, and we'll see how it progresses here in the next few weeks," he said.

Fitzpatrick added he'd prefer not to have negotiations serve as a distraction on a team that's off to a promising 4-2 start and preparing to face the Washington Redskins (3-3) on Sunday in Buffalo's annual game at Toronto.

In his seventh NFL season, the Harvard graduate and former seventh-round pick is entering the final year of his three-year deal.

As much as he'd like to simply focus on football, Fitzpatrick acknowledged renewing his contract is something that's been on his mind.

"I'd be lying if I said that it's something I haven't even thought about all year," Fitzpatrick said. "It's something that exists, that's in the air. I'm human, too, so I can't just block it away."

Bills players are interested, too, because the seventh-year quarterback is highly respected in the locker room. And a new contract would also send a message to the entire team that the Bills are intent on keeping their core players to build on what's been established so far this season.

"He's our guy. We throw basically everything on Fitz. And I believe he should be getting something done," Johnson said. "You want to have a team together so hopefully they get a contract done with Fitz, and then myself and Freddy [Jackson]. Whatever order, it doesn't matter as long as we get to stay together."

The Bills have a policy against commenting on the status of contract talks. General manager Buddy Nix, though, did indicate just after the lockout ended in July that re-signing Fitzpatrick was being considered.

Fitzpatrick's stock has gone up significantly since then. He is expected to warrant a multiyear extension worth in the neighbourhood of $9 million US a season. That's a big bump over the combined $7.405 million in base salary he's made over his current three-year deal.

Offensive leader

Last season, Fitzpatrick provided the Bills offence the semblance of spark in taking over the starting job in Week 3 after Trent Edwards was benched and then cut the following week. Going 4-9 as a starter, he finished with 3,000 yards passing — the first Bills player with that many since J.P. Losman in 2006. And he threw 23 touchdowns, the most since Drew Bledsoe had 24 in 2002.

He's elevated his game this year, while also providing a key leadership role both on and off the field.

With 1,477 yards passing with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions this season, Fitzpatrick ranks in the top 10 in four statistical categories, including being tied for fifth in TDs. More important, he has a fuller command of coach Chan Gailey's offensive approach and has Buffalo ranked 10th in yards gained and third with 188 points. That's a big step up for an offence that's finished 25th or worst in yards gained in each of the past eight seasons.

The Bills have been so productive, that they've scored 20 or more points in all six games — something they did only four times as part of last year's 4-12 finish. And he's doing it with what's regarded as a no-name group of receivers after Buffalo lost two regulars to season-ending injuries and traded its most proven threat, Lee Evans, to Baltimore in August.

He now has a 13-15 record in Buffalo on a team that's only won 14 games since he arrived in 2009.

Fitzpatrick has made Gailey a believer.

"There's no reason to think that Fitz won't be very successful in our system for a while," Gailey said. "He's highly intelligent. He's got very good accuracy, and he's got enough gunslinger in him to try to make some throws that some other guys wouldn't try to make."

Gailey had such confidence in Fitzpatrick's potential that he essentially awarded him the starting job at the end of last year. The Bills backed up that trust by not selecting a quarterback in the draft, while adding journeyman Tyler Thigpen in free agency in July with the sole intention of using him as a backup.