Getty Images

Advantage Fitz.

With the Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick willing to continue their relationship but unable to work out a new contract, a trio of Fitzpatrick’s biggest supporters coincidentally have skipped the last two days of Organized Team Activities.

Per multiple reports, receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker and center Nick Mangold haven’t shown up either of the last two days.

Via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, coach Todd Bowles downplayed the absences, pointing out that the workouts are voluntary.

Bowles said he doesn’t think the players are making a statement by staying away. Common sense suggests otherwise. With the team unwilling to pay Fitzpatrick an amount similar to what other starters make, it’s likely no accident that these three key members of the offense are choosing not to do something that most NFL players choose to do.

The development makes it even more important that the two sides get together as soon as possible, get in a room, lock the door, and work out a contract. Every days, parties engaged in acrimonious, hostile civil litigation submit to mediation sessions that result in a settlement of their claims. If two sides that hate each other can get in a room and resolve their differences, two sides that like each other surely can do the same.

If they don’t do it soon, these two sides that like each other could quickly end up not liking each other.

UPDATE 5:25 p.m. ET: Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that Mangold’s wife gave birth on Tuesday. This doesn’t explain the absences of Marshall and Decker, obviously.