Ryan Fitzpatrick wants to start Week 1 at QB for Dolphins, and NFL odds say he will

Has any NFL quarterback ever said he wants to sit the bench if healthy? Probably not. Thus, it wasn't exactly breaking news this week when Miami Dolphins veteran journeyman QB Ryan Fitzpatrick said that while he's happy to teach rookie No. 5 overall pick Tua Tagovailoa all he knows, he wants to start. What else would Fitzpatrick say?

"I'm his biggest cheerleader right now," Fitzpatrick said on the "What's Next?" podcast with Eric Wood. "But I also want to be out there playing, I also want to be on the field, and that's kind of why I'm still doing it is because I still enjoy playing the game. Hopefully, some of the lessons I'm able to teach him are him watching me play, but if it's the other way around I'm going to do my best to help him succeed in the best way that he can."

Fitzpatrick played in 15 games last year for Miami and started 13, going 5-8. Actually, even winning five games was a minor miracle because the Dolphins allegedly were trying to "Tank for Tua." The 37-year-old Fitzpatrick is 55-83-1 in his career as a starter with the Rams, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans, Jets, Bucs and Dolphins.

The Harvard grad is the first player in NFL history with a touchdown pass for eight different teams. Hey, maybe he should finish his career with the Patriots to complete the AFC East sweep. Fitzpatrick led the biggest upset in the NFL last year as his Dolphins were 17-point underdogs in Week 17 at New England and won 27-24 in Tom Brady's final regular-season game as a Patriot.

Fitzpatrick threw the winning 5-yard TD pass to Mike Gesicki with 24 seconds left. That defeat cost Brady & Co. a first-round playoff bye, and they would be upset on Wild-Card Weekend at home by the Tennessee Titans.

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Needless to say, Tua is going to start sooner or later, but the Dolphins have said they will be cautious considering how injury-prone Tagovailoa was at Alabama – he had major hip surgery last year. There's also the fact Tua can't participate in any offseason activities with the team other than virtually due to the coronavirus. Thus, Fitzpatrick has a huge advantage in knowing the offense and his teammates. Miami's new offensive coordinator this year is Chan Gailey, who was Fitzpatrick's head coach in Buffalo and his OC with the Jets. 

Miami opens the season Sept. 13 at the Patriots, who had the NFL's best defense last year and are 6.5-point favorites at William Hill sportsbook on the NFL odds. Probably not the ideal situation to start Tua. Expect Miami to give him his first start against a weaker opponent and most likely at home (even if no fans).

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Who will start at quarterback Week 1 for Miami?

• Ryan Fitzpatrick: -450
• Tua Tagovailoa: +350