There’s been a lot said about Ryan Fitzpatrick since the final seconds ticked off the clock in the Jets regular season finale against the Buffalo Bills.

He wants this amount of money, that amount of money. He wants to return to New York; he doesn’t want to return to New York.

With Fitzpatrick on a media hiatus while his agent and the Jets negotiate a new contract, the line between fact and fiction has never been more blurry.

Well, that was until Monday, when Fitzpatrick set the record straight on at least one rumor during an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio:

“I wanna play,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s something I really enjoy doing, and something I want to continue to do.”

Just a few weeks ago, a report surfaced that Fitzpatrick was contemplating walking away from the NFL. While his preference was to play for the Jets. . . if the team didn’t offer him his desired contract, he had no problem hanging up the cleats.

The report was later refuted, but still, with nothing but the illustrious “anonymous source” backing up both claims, it was nothing more than a he-said, she-said battle.

Fitzpatrick told SiriusXM, though, that was never an option. In fact, he’s already well underway in his preparation for the upcoming season.

“I’m just getting ready and preparing for the season a little different because I’m not in a facility,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m just continuing to be patient, and letting things work themselves out, and we’ll see how everything happens.”

It’s been pretty well documented to this point why Fitzpatrick hasn’t returned to New York. Labeled by the Jets brain trust as Gang Green’s “unquestioned starter,” Fitzpatrick would like to be paid a salary representing an “unquestioned starter.”

The Jets, knowing Fitzpatrick doesn’t have much of a market outside of Florham Park, are offering a deal well below that. With neither side willing to budge, the two are locked in an ugly contract standoff, the majority of which has been kept away from the media.

“It’s been a process,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think the good thing about it is a lot of the discussions are behind closed doors. I think we’ll keep it that way and just try to get something worked out.

“I think both sides have done a good job of not leaking grievances to the public.”

In the months since the 2015 season ended, it hasn’t just been the Jets and Fitzpatrick that have made it known they feel a reunion is ideal. Countless analysts, and even some of Fitzpatrick’s teammates from a year ago, have openly campaigned to have the quarterback return.

One of the loudest voices has been that of Eric Decker.

“I think he’s definitely the right man for the type of team we have right now,” Decker said earlier this month. “Look at the camaraderie we built, the relationship we had last year, what we can build on. This is a team that I think is ready to win now, and we need a veteran presence at quarterback.”

Fitzpatrick, who said he keeps in constant communication with Decker and others on New York’s roster, isn’t oblivious to what has been said. Eventually, the words make their way back to him, and knowing his teammates have his back makes “Fitz” feel awfully good inside.

“I’ve really enjoyed playing with [Decker],” Fitzpatrick said. “Just the support I’ve gotten from everybody throughout this process makes you feel good and gives you a little confidence.”

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This Tuesday, many of the Jets will voluntarily report to the Atlantic Health Training Facility for the first of nine organized team activities, or, in other words, the first on-field workouts of the year.

Unless a deal is struck in the next 24 hours, Fitzpatrick will not be there with his teammates. In his absence, Geno Smith will take all first-team reps.

And that begins to beg the question: Despite the fact all want Fitzpatrick back, will he ever actually return?

“I’m not gonna fall into that one,” Fitzpatrick said, laughing. “Not gonna put a percentage on it.”

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Connor Hughes covers the Jets and is the managing editor of Jets Wire. He can be reached on Twitter (@Connor_J_Hughes), or via email (chughes@usatoday.com)