Geno Smith getting clocked, snuck, his jaw broken by now former team mate, Ikemefuna Enemkpal, a reserve linebacker in a locker room altercation Tuesday over an alleged outstanding $600 debt, is no doubt a headline-grabber, an hourly news story for “SportsCenter” and the lead story for daily news programs, but it’s also an excellent script for an additional episode of “Ballers” or “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.”
The special victim here is Smith, the Jets’ quarterback, who’s estimated to be out of work six to 10 weeks. Maybe longer.
This was Smith’s season, possibly his final opportunity to show us what he’s got, what he’s learned, his skill set. Smith would have let us know if he’s the Jets’ starting quarterback or not.
Enemkpal was dropped from the team immediately after settling their Drake–Meek Mills-type beef. “Geno did not throw a counter punch,” said first-year head coach Todd Bowles. “Several players stepped in to break up the altercation.”
It’s estimated that a rookie QB needs three years to establish himself. This is Smith’s third year. Ironically, he was given the starting position in the preseason three years ago, when former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, was injured during the Snoopy Bowl, the annual preseason game between the Jets and the Giants, who share MetLife Stadium.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, 32, now with his sixth NFL team, who the Jets signed in the offseason, will start the season for New York. The first preseason game is tonight (Thursday) in Cleveland against the Browns.
Real talk? There’s a contingency of fans who dislike Smith and don’t believe he’s the future of this Jets team. Bowles and GM Mike Maccagnan, the new regime, have no loyalty to him. If Smith can play and win, then it’s good, but if Fitzpatrick is successful while Smith is convalescing, he’s not getting his starting position back.
“There’s no guarantee that Smith will regain the starting job when his recovery ends,” Bowles further stated during his press conference. “Veteran backup Ryan Fitzpatrick is our starter now.”
Fitzpatrick’s success will leave the question of Smith’s capability unanswered for now. The dichotomy is Jets fans can’t take another losing season.