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End of an era: Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick trims The Beard

Ryan Fitzpatrick really has this "Movember" thing all mixed up.

With men everywhere using "No-Shave November" as an excuse to not shave to bring awareness to prostate cancer, Fitzpatrick has gone the other way. With the New York Jets struggling, the quarterback has trimmed the most glorious beard in football.

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Before:

(AP)
(AP)

After:

It's just not the same. And I'm not buying this "switch up the mojo" excuse. This just happens to come right before Thanksgiving, when Fitzpatrick's family members are probably slated to stop by for turkey and offer derisive comments asking when he's going to shave that darn thing? Too coincidental.

However, it's also true that The Beard wasn't helping in the karma department anymore. After a fast start, the Jets have lost four of five, and this week the media was asking Todd Bowles if he was sticking with Fitzpatrick at quarterback. #FitzBeard apparently is only a funny deal when the team is winning.

It's been a while since we've seen Fitzpatrick look like a (somewhat) clean-cut Harvard man. He had the beard with the Houston Texans last year. He seemed to trim it for minicamp, but it was back at its full Civil War-era self by the time the season rolled around.

Don't fret, though. Considering how quickly the beard seemed to be regrown to its glorious bushy fullness this summer, Fitzpatrick might be looking like a ZZ Top member again before he leads the Jets into Super Bowl 50.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!