New York Giants quarterback Geno Smith still hasn’t grown up
By Nolan Rich
Why Geno Smith of the New York Giants still hasn’t figured out the NFL game.
It was all there in front of him. An opportunity to prove he could be a starting NFL quarterback laid before Geno Smith this past weekend. In his own unique way not only did Geno Smith waste this opportunity, he somehow made his NFL prospects even worse off the field.
In yet another loss for the New York Giants, Geno Smith played like he did for his previous New York team. Some glimpses of promise but ultimately undone by mind-numbing mistakes. The good news was Geno was 21-of-34 for 212 yards passing and a touchdown.
The bad? Two terrible fumbles. However, Geno lived up to his NFL legacy which is that no matter what he seems to do on the field, he just can’t avoid problems off the field.
This time it was responding to a Rex Ryan comment that his former head coach made on ESPN.
"“Geno Smith. I love Geno Smith; great guy, I just don’t want him playing quarterback for me.” – Rex Ryan"
Now let’s remember that Ryan drafted Smith and that all Rex Ryan comments should be taken with a grain of salt. Let’s face it, Ryan is known more for his comments than his accolades as an NFL head coach.
Still, Geno Smith could have been the bigger man, but once again Smith just had to make a comment after a below average performance on the field.
"“I did see one of my ex-coaches say he didn’t want me to be his quarterback, and that really upset me, you know? A guy that we saved his job in 2013, and we fought our ass for him both years, and for him to come out and say that just shows you how much of a coward he is.”– Geno Smith"
I can understand Smith’s frustration, but Geno has to realize this was only his second start in three years. He hasn’t earned the right to criticize a coach. Smith also conveniently left out that his last coach was Todd Bowles and Smith was going to start for the Jets until he got into a dispute with Ik Enemkpali and had his jaw broken by his former teammate.
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It’s been this lack of maturity that has been Smith’s biggest downfall. Let’s face it, the Enemkpali incident where Smith didn’t show up to Ik’s camp and refused to pay for his absence has been Geno’s biggest setback.
If Smith wanted to comment on Ryan’s disposition, which he shouldn’t do anyway, a better time would have been after the season if he played well. Then after a solid campaign in 2017 Smith could have said at the end of the season that he had proved his doubters, like Ryan, wrong.
Next: Geno Smith is exactly what we thought he was
Smith is what he is. He’s a physically talented quarterback who has the tools to be successful in the NFL. However, Smith can never put it consistently together on the field and off of it, he continues to show the immaturity that a five-year veteran shouldn’t be displaying.