Geno’s Jaw may not be all That Needs Healing

[JetNation]

Questions regarding Smith’s standing in the locker room continue to swirl.

 

By Glenn Naughton

 

It’s starting to look like the punch that was delivered squarely on the jaw of Jets quarterback Geno Smith could wind paling in comparison to the hit his reputation is taking in the media as player comments and media reports begin painting Smith in a negative light, calling in to question his credibility within his own locker room.

Smith’s former teammate, IK Enemkpali, was let go by the Jets after learning he and Smith were involved in a locker room scuffle over what turned out to be a $600 debt that, according to Enemkpali, Smith refused to pay.

It didn’t take long however, before multiple versions of how things played out in the locker room began to emerge, as some Jets players, and head coach Todd Bowles weren’t placing all of the blame on Enemkpali.

Head Coach Todd Bowles said that his quarterback was not blameless in the scenario.

In every day life, this kind of situation is a non-issue.  People argue, people fight, and those close to either party may take one side or the other, and perhaps sometimes both, but this is not every day life.

This is the NFL, where the quarterback is untouchable.  The quarterback is supposed to be the unquestioned leader of that locker room and everybody knows it.  There can be no doubt.  If that is in fact the case, then why is that Smith’s own head coach publicly voiced displeasure with the quarterback’s actions along with Enemkpali?

“I didn’t say [smith] was innocent. It was tit for tat, he said/she said, high school stuff that they could have handled better than they handled it.”

It wasn’t only Bowles who questioned the signal caller.  Not only the team’s best player, but arguably the best one this team has ever drafted, Darrelle Revis, when asked about who was at fault responded, ““I hold both of them responsible”.

Then there’s veteran linebacker Calvin Pace, who rarely speaks to the media praising Enemkpali’s work ethic, and saying “this isn’t anything I would expect him to do.”

Willie Colon stressed moving forward, but had kind words for Enemkpali.

Guard Willie Colon had this to offer, “Since I’ve known IK (Enemkpali), all he’s done is come to work and try to become a guy for this organization. He’s always played his tail off. So details at this point are here and there”

While none of the comments are scathing or overly critical, the fact that the head coach and locker room leaders are placing any level of blame on the quarterback, who is still in the room with them, while offering kind words regarding the since-released former teammate comes as a surprise.  This is a league in which player egos are protected, at least publicly, on a regular basis.  Where praise is offered for even the most under-performing players to avoid any perceived criticism.

This time around however, players were critical of their quarterback and his conduct almost equal to that of the man who busted his jaw.

The players’ comments raised questions as to what exactly happened at Florham Park, but that came in to focus after Enemkpali re-joined Rex Ryan up in Buffalo, signing with the Bills.  It’s being reported that a Jets player was in fact contacted by a member of the Bills staff before signing the linebacker and the answer they got was that Smith was the antagonist.

“Smith was mouthing off about the debt in the locker room, and Enemkpali told Smith to come over and say it to his face. Smith did, and put his finger in Enemkpali’s face, at which point Enemkpali slugged him.”

While most agree Enemkpali’s actions were out of line,  this is a bad look for Smith, who has shown a lack of maturity on multiple occasions but was supposed to be a different player this season, a more mature player, but you can now add Smith’s confrontation with Enemkpali to an ever-growing list of off-field incidents that call in to question his maturity and leadership ability.

• Smith denied claims that he’d fired his agents soon after then NFL draft because he wasn’t chosen in the first-round as he’d expected which they refuted.
• Smith was fined $12,000 after being caught shouting a profanity at a Jets fan following a home loss to the Detroit Lions.
• A woman with whom Smith was romantically involved exposed the quarterback after he refused to pick up the tab on her cab ride home and learning he was already in a relationship.
• One day before the Jets were trounced in San Diego by the Chargers, Smith missed a pre-game team meeting and claimed to have set his watch incorrectly after changing time zones.  When asked what movie he went to see, Smith chose not to say, only raising more questions about his whereabouts.

Now this latest incident.  One that could have been handled months ago.  One in which it appears Smith chose to allow an issue that should have been handled outside the locker room, to escalate inside the locker room while provoking a teammate.

If we’re going to agree that a quarterback should be afforded special treatment within that locker room, the expectation for conduct reflective of a leader should go hand in hand.

Enemkpali was undoubtedly out of line to do what he did and has acknowledged as much on multiple occasions already.  Smith has had his surgery and it would appear he may be able to return sooner than what was first reported, but when he does, will he be able to regain any respect that he may have lost in the as a result of this weeks events, and how much respect did he have to begin with?

Over time we’ll know which of Smith’s hits healed first, the one to his jaw, or the one to his reputation.

Want to join the discussions about Geno?  Log on to our forums and share your opinions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Charlie Brown]

This is a great article. Well balanced and well written and directly at odds with the position I have taken regarding Geno

It shows despite my protestations to the contrary on other threads that Smith has a real problem not just a perceived problem. The truth is this is what Geno was before the Jets drafted him. This is no surprise. In fact the surprise would have been if Geno acted like a mature NFL player.

It also highlights once again Idzik's total incompetence. It was one thing to draft Geno. The Jets had to draft someone because of Sanchez erratic play. It is simple as that.

It is quite another to rush an immature player in Geno Smith into the field before he has a had a chance to breathe when you the GM, Idzik, had assembled one of the worst rosters in the NFL AROUND HIM!!!

And you actually thought that was a good idea. That was Idzik's "plan". And no you can't make it up!!

All in the day's work for a Jets fan!!

[#27TheDominator]

Nice job, Glenn.  You left out the airplane incident.  Was that too he said-she said?  Getting to the point where a captain says he doesn't want you on a flight would seem to indicate a lack of maturity no matter who ultimately started the dispute.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jet-grounded-geno-smith-escorted-lax-flight-verbal-altercation-report-article-1.1583486

[Scoop24]

Eh beating a dead horse .

[Sperm Edwards]

Willie Colon doesn't seem to be Geno Smith's greatest fan.

[Jetdawgg]

Willie wants to kick Geno's a$$ too

[peebag]

Genope is toast.

[AFJF]

Nice job, Glenn.  You left out the airplane incident.  Was that too he said-she said?  Getting to the point where a captain says he doesn't want you on a flight would seem to indicate a lack of maturity no matter who ultimately started the dispute.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jet-grounded-geno-smith-escorted-lax-flight-verbal-altercation-report-article-1.1583486

 

So sad isn't it...I knew there was another incident but there were too many to remember obviously...bad oversight on my part.

 

Good catch.

[jeremy2020]

Willie wants to kick Geno's a$$ too

 

Well, seems like Smith has a career after football. Plenty of people seem more than happy to cough up $600 in order to punch him in the face.

[NJ]

Nice article, bro

[#27TheDominator]

So sad isn't it...I knew there was another incident but there were too many to remember obviously...bad oversight on my part.

 

Good catch.

 

 

Ha.  You have more than enough.  There are page limits.  You can't write everything that kid did wrong.  The way that story panned out it seemed to fit your theme.  At first everybody thought he was being a bad guy, then later I think the airline apologized and said they shouldn't have kicked him off the plane, but showing any maturity at all he wouldn't have been kicked off the flight in the first place.

[AFJF]

Ha.  You have more than enough.  There are page limits.  You can't write everything that kid did wrong.  The way that story panned out it seemed to fit your theme.  At first everybody thought he was being a bad guy, then later I think the airline apologized and said they shouldn't have kicked him off the plane, but showing any maturity at all he wouldn't have been kicked off the flight in the first place.

 

Exactly....even though some of this stuff is minor, how many times does it have to be something with the same guy before acknowledging that he just might be the problem?

[Scoop24]

Exactly....even though some of this stuff is minor, how many times does it have to be something with the same guy before acknowledging that he just might be the problem?

More like because he sucks as a player . Let's make everything he does regardless how big or small into something huge . If dude was a top 10 QB in this league you guys would not care about none of this crap..,

Omg some scorn girl tried to expose him on the Internet . This happens all the time to celebrities and athletes all the time and it's funny for Adele days and people move on and get over it .. But for Geno is some long term black eye like he personally exposed his on junk on the net .,

Mark Sanchez got exposed dancing butt naked with 2 girls and nobody cares .

[AFJF]

More like because he sucks as a player . Let's make everything he does regardless how big or small into something huge . If dude was a top 10 QB in this league you guys would not care about none of this crap..,

 

Agreed.  Fans will overlook a lot of transgressions if you're producing on the field, but it's asking an awful lot to get them to ignore your poor play on the field, and your poor conduct off of it.  JMO.

[Scoop24]

Agreed. Fans will overlook a lot of transgressions if you're producing on the field, but it's asking an awful lot to get them to ignore your poor play on the field, and your poor conduct off of it. JMO.

For me idc unless ur committing crimes and hurting the team I don't care about these players personal lives . That's not my business

The only real problem that I had with Geno that drew any kind of anger out of me . Was him missing that team meeting.

As far as his flights and women ect.. I Personally Do not care . My issues with Geno are strictly on the field issues.

[AFJF]

For me idc unless ur committing crimes and hurting the team I don't care about these players personal lives . That's not my business

The only real problem that I had with Geno that drew any kind of anger out of me . Was him missing that team meeting.

As far as is flights and women ect.. I Personally Do not care . My issues with Geno are strictly in the field issues

 

I don't completely disagree with what you're saying, but when one of the number one concerns regarding Geno is his ability to act like a leader, grow up and command a huddle, all this stuff adds up and gives you the impression he's not mature enough to do that.

 

Especially now, when he was supposed to be a year older and he was going to "get it" since he had two tough seasons under his belt.  Not only is he not "there" yet, but with this incident, I don't think it's completely unfair to say he may not have grown one bit since last season when he was cursing at fans.

 

The Dick pic thing is his own personal business, but at the same time it shows terrible self-awareness and decision making.  How can an NFL QB be foolish enough to do that and not think it's going to go public? 

[Scoop24]

I don't completely disagree with what you're saying, but when one of the number one concerns regarding Geno is his ability to act like a leader, grow up and command a huddle, all this stuff adds up and gives you the impression he's not mature enough to do that.

Especially now, when he was supposed to be a year older and he was going to "get it" since he had two tough seasons under his belt. Not only is he not "there" yet, but with this incident, I don't think it's completely unfair to say he may not have grown one bit since last season when he was cursing at fans.

The Dick pic thing is his own personal business, but at the same time it shows terrible self-awareness and decision making. How can an NFL QB be foolish enough to do that and not think it's going to go public?

U mean like Brett Farve , Mark Sanchez I could name of slew of other athletes like Paul George , Greg Oden , ect.. Hell Big Ben was raping chicks in bar bathrooms .,

Yet no one cares ... If anyone on this team personal life should have given him a black eye it's Sheldon . But he is a good player so everyone got over it

[AFJF]

U mean like Brett Farve , Mark Sanchez I could name of slew of other athletes like Paul Geirge , Greg Oden , ect..

 

Favre and Sanchez had done enough up to that point that fans weren't worried about whether or not they would be taken seriously in the locker room.  As a few players have already stated, Geno should have never been in that situation to begin with.

 

As a leader, you don't get in to shouting matches with your subordinates, which is essentially what IK was in this scenario.

 

I'm not going to try to change your mind on this, if you think Geno's behavior has been fine then you're entitled to your opinion.  I would respectfully disagree, and I was very happy to see Bowles and Revis hold him accountable by calling him out as well as IK.  To each his own.

[Scoop24]

Favre and Sanchez had done enough up to that point that fans weren't worried about whether or not they would be taken seriously in the locker room. As a few players have already stated, Geno should have never been in that situation to begin with.

As a leader, you don't get in to shouting matches with your subordinates, which is essentially what IK was in this scenario.

I'm not going to try to change your mind on this, if you think Geno's behavior has been fine then you're entitled to your opinion. I would respectfully disagree, and I was very happy to see Bowles and Revis hold him accountable by calling him out as well as IK. To each his own.

Hearing Revis pretty blame Sanchez for the reason the team didn't win a ring , Sanchez got into huge argument with Holmes in the middle of the game . And your gonna say Sanchez was respected or being taken serious by anyone ?

[AFJF]

Hearing Revis pretty blame Sanchez for the reason the team didn't win a ring , Sanchez got into huge argument with Holmes in the middle of the game . And your gonna say Sanchez was respected or being taken serious by anyone ?

 

Sanchez is gone.  I don't care about him anymore. Nor am I concerned with what Brett Favre did during his year off with the Jets.

 

As a Jets fan, I'm interested in what Geno Smith is doing on the field.  Up until the G&W practice I thought he looked good and was encouraged.  I second-guessed myself when he said after the practice the he plays his best when he's being booed.  If that were the case, he'd be a pro-bowler.  That was the first time I though maybe he hadn't grown up.

 

A few days later, he got in to an altercation that his head coach said he was not absolved of responsibility and it was childish.  Revis and Colon also said he had to shoulder some blame.  The Bills signed him after being told by a Jets player that he was the antagonist.  Mehta, like him or not, quoted a player as saying he deserved it.

 

But please, let's talk about that time Mark Sanchez ate a hot dog on the bench.

[Scoop24]

Sanchez is gone. I don't care about him anymore. Nor am I concerned with what Brett Favre did during his year off with the Jets.

As a Jets fan, I'm interested in what Geno Smith is doing on the field. Up until the G&W practice I thought he looked good and was encouraged. I second-guessed myself when he said after the practice the he plays his best when he's being booed. If that were the case, he'd be a pro-bowler. That was the first time I though maybe he hadn't grown up.

A few days later, he got in to an altercation that his head coach said he was not absolved of responsibility and it was childish. Revis and Colon also said he had to shoulder some blame. The Bills signed him after being told by a Jets player that he was the antagonist. Mehta, like him or not, quoted a player as saying he deserved it.

But please, let's talk about that time Mark Sanchez ate a hot dog on the bench.

Your the one acting like he is the first QB in the NFL to have off the field incidents .. I'm just pointing out facts that he isn't and that the only reason yall make these stupid incidents into something big is because he is not a Good player .. If he was you would never waste your time writing this article..

There's way more stuff I can get on smith about on the field . Than some random dick pic being posted on the net.. You have players including one on his own team doing real Crimes.. Where's the article about Sheldon and multiple failed drug test and recent arrest, telling fans to go suck it when yall got on his case for missing OTAs..

Bottom line none of these incidents except that team meeting stuff will make or break Geno's Future more than his Bad On the field play will . If the kid comes back and balled out . You wouldn't even care about his dick pic.

[AFJF]

Your the one acting like he is the first QB in the NFL to have off the field incidents .. I'm just pointing out facts that he isn't and that the only reason yall make these stupid incidents into something big is because he is not a Good player .. If he was you would never waste your time writing this article..

There's way more stuff I can get on smith about on the field . Than some random dick pic being posted on the net.. You have players including one on his own team doing real Crimes.. Where's the article about Sheldon and multiple failed drug test and recent arrest, telling fans to go suck it when yall got on his case for missing OTAs..

Bottom line none of these incidents except that team meeting stuff will make or break Geno's Future more than his Bad On the field play will . If the kid comes back and balled out . You wouldn't even care about his dick pic

 

Again...I'm a Jets fan.  I don't care what other QB's or past QB's have done.  I'm concerned with the team's current QB, he's the one that matters.

 

Oh, and here's the article about Sheldon...enjoy...http://www.jetnation.com/2015/07/31/sheldon-richardson-arrest-raises-questions-about-future/

[Scoop24]

Again...I'm a Jets fan. I don't care what other QB's or past QB's have done. I'm concerned with the team's current QB, he's the one that matters.

Oh, and here's the article about Sheldon...enjoy...http://www.jetnation.com/2015/07/31/sheldon-richardson-arrest-raises-questions-about-future/

Fair enough .. FYI that sheldon doesn't mention the Multiple drug test failed to get him in the program then got him the 4 games . It doesn't question Sheldon leadership even though he blatantly didn't tell the FO about the arrest.

It doesn't question his maturity even though he is in car racing and smoking weed with a 12 year old child in his car . All this after he came out here and told jets nation they will never have to worry about him again .

But hey good job none the less I like good reads and while I may not agree with everything written . Your articles are good reads

[AFJF]

Fair enough .. FYI that sheldon doesn't mention the Multiple drug test failed to get him in the program then got him the 4 games . It doesn't question Sheldon leadership even though he blatantly didn't tell the FO about the arrest.

It doesn't question his maturity even though he is in car racing and smoking weed with a 12 year old child in his car . All this after he come out tell here nation they will never have to worry about him again .

But hey good job none the less I like good reads and while I may not agree with everything written . Your articles are good reads

 

You're right...Richardson article wasn't as in-depth but that has more to do with the position he plays than how good he is.  My goal there was to express the fact that his career could end prematurely if he doesn't get it head on straight.  I see where you're coming from though.

 

Glad you enjoy some of the stuff we put out.

 

Go Jets!