Ryan Fitzpatrick thinks Jets' Joe Flacco should start over Mike White

New York Jets backup quarterback Joe Flacco got the nod for this past Sunday's regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens in place of the injured Zach Wilson, and that decision did not go well for those associated with the home team. 

Flacco attempted a remarkable 59 passes, which was heavily criticized after the fact by former NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. The 37-year-old completed 37 of those throws for 307 yards with one touchdown and an interception in the 24-9 loss, and ESPN stats show that he was also the victim of three sacks and 11 quarterback hits. 

Some, such as former NFL signal-caller and current WFAN radio host Boomer Esiason, believe it's already time for Jets head coach Robert Saleh to give one-time cult hero Mike White the start for this coming Sunday's game at the 1-0 Cleveland Browns. Per Ryan Chichester of Audacy, retired quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick explained during an appearance on Tuesday's "Boomer and Gio" WFAN program why he'd stick with Flacco. 

"That’s probably skewed a little bit because I was a veteran guy for so long," the 39-year-old who spent time with the Jets during his lengthy career admitted. "They came out and it was an uninspired performance, and it was kind of tough to watch at times.

"He really is the guy that’s gonna be able to stabilize a lot of things and he’s gonna be able to get some of these young guys going. I think he deserves another shot. He’s the guy that’s been doing all the work late in the preseason with the [starters]." 

Fitzpatrick added that wide receivers such as Elijah Moore and Corey Davis "are all gonna be better" playing with Flacco than with White. 

Last Halloween, White famously completed 37-of-45 passes for 405 yards with three touchdowns in guiding the Jets to a shocking 34-31 win over a Cincinnati Bengals team that ultimately played in Super Bowl LVI. On Monday, WFAN personality and legend Joe Benigno suggested White isn't playing "because (the Jets are) afraid he’s better than Wilson."