Ed Note: The following appears courtesy our friends at Bloguin’s The Sports Daily.
New York Jets QB Geno Smith’s rollercoaster rookie season was filled with ups and downs. Smith stepped up and made plays on occasion, but also committed many of the same mistakes that signal callers make early in their careers. The team had hopes that he would learn from those errors and continue to improve in his 2014 campaign.
But Smith hasn’t improved. In fact, it appears as if he’s actually taken a few steps back and regressed. His decision making has been poor, he stares down receivers and often displays a lacks of pocket presence. And he’s turned the ball over 10 times (7 INTs, 3 fumbles) in just six starts this season, while tossing only six touchdown passes.
And instead of stepping up and holding himself accountable for his miscues, he’s now blaming the media.
1/3: Geno Smith, speaking to NE media, asked about his up and down season. He blames media: "For me, it hasn’t been. I think … "cont #nyj
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) October 13, 2014
2/3: Geno: "obviously with everything that goes on with the media, a lot of things are, I would say, miscommunicated …" cont. #nyj
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) October 13, 2014
3/3: Geno: "and then it just gets misprinted and then misunderstood." Hard to misunderstand an F bomb and a missed meeting. #nyj
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) October 13, 2014
Smith has not only failed to hold himself accountable for mistakes that are clearly on him, but he’s also now attempting to shift the blame away from him, to the media.
One reporter fired back after hearing Smith’s comments. Jets beat writer Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News took to Twitter to share his thoughts about Smith’s performance this season.
I hope this doesn't get "miscommunicated" or "misprinted": Geno Smith said "F– you" to a fan twice & missed a team meeting on eve of a game
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaSports) October 13, 2014
Hope this doesn't get "miscommunicated" or "misprinted" either: Geno has worst QB rating among starters & next-to-last in completion% in NFL
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaSports) October 13, 2014
Hope this doesn't get "miscommunicated" or "misprinted": Geno Smith is 9-13 as a starter & thrown an INT in 18 of 22 career games. #nyj
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaSports) October 13, 2014
Smith is playing a dangerous game here. Going against the NY media is probably the worst thing he can do, especially during what has been a nightmare season for both him and the team.
And it certainly doesn’t look good from an accountability standpoint. If Smith can’t recognize and own up to mistakes made on the field, how will he learn from them and improve as a quarterback in the future?
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