Alumni Tracker: Fitzpatrick Falters, Lin Recovers

“Fitzmagic” fizzled this week, as Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick ’05 fell short in a 45-3 rout by the San Francisco 49ers. After throwing for 400 yards last week, he failed to find the end zone and was held to 126 passing yards with an interception. The Bills front office maintains that it has confidence in Fitzpatrick and will not look to make any changes in the near future.

While Fitzpatrick struggles, Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk ‘98 can’t seem to get enough of the spotlight. After writing an anti-gay marriage editorial that appeared in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the 2012 NFL Man of the Year is now appearing in a video on behalf of the Minnesota Marriage Protection Amendment.

The editorial and video have drawn criticism across the board, and one notable dissenter is teammate Brendon Ayanbadejo, whose public stance in favor of gay marriage prompted Birk’s editorial in the first place.

Elsewhere on the gridiron, Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Desmond Bryant ‘09 is on pace to match his 2011 career-high 32 tackles. He has seen action in all four games so far this season, and the Raiders have gone 1-3.

In basketball, Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin ‘10 is back in action. Training camp is in full swing, and Lin, who is six months out of a knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, appears to be enjoying getting to know his new teammates.  Countdown to Linsanity: Houston Edition—T-minus 20 days.

Lin is back on the hardwood, but Harvard hockey alumni have yet to be allowed on the ice. The current lockout has pushed opening night back to October 25 and wiped 82 games off the schedule. The likes of Louis LeBlanc, formerly ’13, and Alex Killorn ’12 are unlikely to see the inside of the rink anytime soon.

In a disappointing week for Harvard alumni, at least we can rest assured knowing that Jeremy Lin is making money and having fun doing it.