Q)Who is the starting quarterback against the Colts?
Todd Bowles: Ryan (Fitzpatrick).
Q)Why are you staying with Fitzpatrick as the starter?
Bowles: He’s our starter, no different than anybody else on both sides of the ball right now.
Q)Why did you wait until today to name the starting quarterback?
Bowles: I just didn’t want to answer any questions (about) going forward last night, only questions about the game, so I waited until today.
Q)How do you weigh trying to win games this season versus getting a look at the younger players for the future?
Bowles: We get looks at them every day. As a coach, you weigh trying to win ball games first and there’s a time and place that those guys will get a chance to play. It just won’t be next week.
Q)Are you factoring next year into your coaching decisions?
Bowles: Not at this point, no. We’re just trying to win ball games and get everybody better.
Q)Is there a curiosity to see what Bryce Petty can do in a game situation?
Bowles: There’s a curiosity to all of the young guys that are backing up right now, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to start them all right now. There’s a time and place for that and, if and when we get to that point, I’ll make that decision. There are a lot of guys backing up right now that we probably want to see in games that aren’t ready to play yet, so I’ll go from there.
Q)What is the reason to continue to chase wins with the playoffs seemingly out of reach instead of getting a look at Petty?
Bowles: We’re all fighters. We’re all trying to win every game, whether we’re trying to get to 8-8 or whether we’re trying to be 16-0. We’re trying to win ball games and we’re trying to win. It’s not about Bryce and it’s not about Fitz, it’s about our team trying to win ball games. Right now, Fitz is our starter. He gives us a good chance to win. Bryce is getting better. He got a lot of experience against the Rams. He’ll get some more experience as times goes on, just not right now.
Q)Was starting Fitzpatrick a decision in your mind or did you know after the Patriots game?
Bowles: There was no decision. I knew all along.
Q)Did you meet with the coaching staff or Mike Maccagnan?
Bowles: Yes, I’ve talked to all of them.
Q)In talking to the staff was there a debate on whether to start Petty or Fitzpatrick?
Bowles: There was no debate.
Q)Is Maccagnan on board with starting Fitzpatrick?
Bowles: Yes.
Q)Could you switch to Petty if the team continues to lose and Fitzpatrick plays well?
Bowles: I have a timetable in my head for certain guys that I want to see at different positions, so when that time comes, I’ll make those decisions.
