The New York Jets will start the season without quarterback Geno Smith. Smith is out 6 to 10 weeks with a broken jaw. The injury didn’t transpire on the football field but rather in the locker room. Smith was punched by reserve linebacker IK Enemkpali over $600.
According to ESPN, Smith had agreed to appear at IK Enemkpali’s football camp which was in Pflugerville, Texas, on July 11. IK Enemkpali paid $600 for a plane ticket to fly Smith out. Smith didn’t show up because someone close to him was killed in a motorcycle accident. He agreed to reimburse IK Enemkpali.
Yesterday, IK Enemkpali asked when he could get paid back which is a logical question. There was a disagreement that ended with IK Enemkpali hitting Smith in the jaw, breaking it. IK Enemkpali was sorry for what he had done saying, “I apologize to the Jets organization, coaches, teammates and fans. Geno and I let our frustration get the best of us, but I should have just walked away from the situation. I deeply regret and apologize for my actions. It was never my intention to harm anyone. I appreciate the opportunity I had with the Jets.”
According to ESPN, Head Coach of the New York Jets Todd Bowles said,
“It had nothing to do with football. It was something very childish. He got cold-cocked, sucker-punched, whatever you want to call it, in the jaw. He has a broken jaw, fractured jaw.”
There was no reason for IK Enemkpali to pummel him. It demonstrates the Jets are a dysfunctional team that doesn’t have a leader. Veteran players should have done something when this was going on to knock it off. Now they don’t have their starting quarterback. IK Enemkpali is out of a job as the Jets cut him. The Jets organization told Smith if he wants, he could press charges against IK Enemkpali. Geno Smith should press charges because this was assault, unwanted and shouldn’t have occurred.
The New York Jets are lucky to have a veteran backup quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is playing in his 10th year in the league. The Jets are his 5th team. Fitzpatrick has thrown for 19,273 yards and 123 touchdowns but has 101 interceptions in his career. Last season he appeared in 12 games for the Texans throwing for 2,483 yards, 17 touchdowns, but 8 picks. Ryan Fitzpatrick might be a better quarterback than Geno Smith since he has more NFL experience.
This wasn’t the way Ryan Fitzpatrick thought he would earn the starting job. Fitzpatrick could have shown in preseason that he was a better quarterback than Geno Smith. He can try to earn important wins for the Jets and possibly show he ought to start the rest of the season. Geno Smith might be the quarterback of the future.
How will the Jets do with Ryan Fitzpatrick as their starting quarterback?
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