For Better or Worse, Geno Smith Era 2.0 a Must for Flailing New York Jets

At one time, quarterback Geno Smith was the chosen one. He was supposed to destroy the AFC East, not ride the bench. He was meant to bring balance to the New York Jets, not more losses. 

Instead, the second-round pick hasn’t started a game since 2014, because he wasn’t accountable off the field and didn’t perform to expectations on it. 

Yet here the Jets stand, ready to embrace the dark side.

The team is 1-5, and veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick’s season has been an unmitigated disaster. Turning to Smith is the only logical option for New York’s present and future.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, head coach Todd Bowles will name Smith his starting quarterback this week despite giving Fitzpatrick a vote of confidence after Monday’s 28-3 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. 

A second chance has been a long time coming for Smith. Just two days ago, the 39th pick in the 2013 NFL draft told ESPN’s Lisa Salters (via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio) he was “getting antsy.” 

A chance at redemption doesn’t come around often, and Smith must embrace the opportunity. During his two seasons as a starter, Smith completed 57.5 percent of his passes for 5,571 yards, 25 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. New York finished 12-20 during those campaigns.

More importantly, Smith never embraced his role as a team leader. IK Enemkpali infamously broke Smith’s jaw with a punch during training camp in 2015, and the quarterback lost his starting job to Fitzpatrick.

Smith didn’t react well when the Jets re-signed Fitzpatrick to a one-year, $12 million deal in July, either. The West Virginia product admitted to Bleacher Report’s Tyler Dunne he was “pissed off” when the organization did so. 

Physically, Smith has all the tools necessary to succeed. He stands 6’3″ and weighs 221 pounds. He can make all of the throws and combines that arm talent with 4.59-second 40-yard dash speed. 

“That’s up to the eye of the beholder, but he has all the skills,” team owner Woody Johnson said in January, per ESPN.com’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “… It is a question of what his desire is. And from what the coaches told me and from what I have seen myself, I think he has matured a lot. And he is working on his game and he knows he’s a professional and he has the ability if he sticks with it.”

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The Jets thrust Smith into a starting role well …

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