Ryan Fitzpatrick

Infobox NFLactive
name=Ryan Fitzpatrick


currentteam=Cincinnati Bengals
currentnumber=11
currentposition=Quarterback
birthdate=birth date and age|1982|11|24
birthplace=Gilbert, Arizona
heightft=6
heightin=2
weight=225
debutyear=2005
debutteam=St. Louis Rams
college=Harvard
draftyear=2005
draftround=7
draftpick=250
pastteams=
* St. Louis Rams (2005-2006)
* Cincinnati Bengals (2007-present)
status=Active
statweek=4
statseason=2008
statlabel1=TD-INT
statvalue1=5-11
statlabel2=Passing yards
statvalue2=933
statlabel3=QB Rating
statvalue3=55.3
nfl=FIT792915

Ryan Joseph Fitzpatrick (born November 24, 1982 in Gilbert, Arizona) is an American Football quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted originally by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Harvard.

Professional career

Wonderlic controversy

As is the case for most incoming NFL rookies, Fitzpatrick took the Wonderlic Test. Highly divergent reports about his performance have appeared in the media. A draft commentary on the NFL's official website reported that he made a perfect score, while setting a speed record by completing the exam in nine minutes. [http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/8235750] According to a "The Wall Street Journal" report that appeared in the September 30, 2005 edition, Fitzpatrick scored a 38 on the exam, not a 50; this would still be considered an exceptionally high score, and the claim that he completed the test in nine minutes is accurate. While his actual score is unknown, he certainly did not record a perfect score, as he has been quoted admitting he left at least one question blank. [ [http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=506143 The Harvard Crimson :: Sports :: Embracing Brains and Brawn ] ] As the Wonderlic score is the number of correct answers to 50 questions, the best he could have scored would be a 49.

Coincidentally, the only player to earn a verified perfect score on the Wonderlic test was also a Harvard graduate: wide receiver/punter Pat McInally, who played his entire career with the Cincinnati Bengals. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/saraceno/2006-02-28-saraceno-young_x.htm USATODAY.com - Who knows if this Longhorn is short on IQ ] ]

t. Louis Rams

Fitzpatrick played his first NFL game on November 27, 2005. Coming into the game in the second quarter against the Houston Texans to replace an injured Jamie Martin, Fitzpatrick lead the Rams from a 24-3 halftime deficit to a 33-27 overtime win, throwing for 310 yards and three touchdowns. This made Fitzpatrick one of only five players who passed for 300 yards in their NFL debut. The others were Otto Graham, 346 yards (1950); Ed Rubbert, 334 (a replacement player for the Washington Redskins during the 1987 strike); Mark Rypien, 303 (1988), and Peyton Manning, 302 (1998).

Cincinnati Bengals

On September 1, 2007, Fitzpatrick was traded to the Bengals for a seventh-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/6599AD163E5FCD9686257349005A04FB?OpenDocument]

A restricted free agent in the 2008 offseason, Fitzpatrick signed his one-year tender offer from the Bengals on April 17. Due to an injury to starting quarterback Carson Palmer, Fitzpatrick made his first Bengals start on September 28, 2008 against the Cleveland Browns. Fitzpatrick was not only the leading passer, but also the leading rusher in the Bengals' 20-12 loss. With Carson Palmer sitting out the game on October 12, 2008, Fitzpatrick should get the start against the New York Jets.

Personal

Fitzpatrick is married to Liza Barber, former captain of the Harvard Women's Soccer team [ [http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/0802gr-fitz0802Z12.html Fitzpatrick readies for 2nd season with Rams ] ] , and the couple has one son, Brady Joseph, born March 1, 2007. [ [http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=6241 News - Brains and brawn - Cincinnati Bengals ] ]

Fitzpatrick's younger brother Shaun is the starting tight end for Northern Arizona University [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=178137 ESPN - Shaun Fitzpatrick Stats, News, Photos - Northern Arizona Lumberjacks - NCAA College Football ] ] and was recently voted Honorable Mention All American Tight End and All Big Sky Conference

References

External links

* [http://www.bengals.com/team/player.asp?player_id=168 Cincinnati Bengals bio]