Advertisement

Geno Smith starting for Jets has GM 'kind of excited'

By The Sports Xchange
The New York Jets are hopeful with quarterback Geno Smith likely to lead the team in 2016. File photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
The New York Jets are hopeful with quarterback Geno Smith likely to lead the team in 2016. File photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

Geno Smith could be the starting quarterback for the New York Jets entering training camp for the second consecutive year.

General manager Mike Maccagnan said the Jets are looking forward to seeing Smith get extended repetitions after losing his job to Ryan Fitzpatrick because of injury last year. Smith, who started 29 games in 2013 and 2014, missed eight weeks in 2015 with a broken jaw after teammate IK Enemkpali socked Smith in the locker room over an unpaid debt of $600.

Advertisement

"Going forward, you always have contingency plans," Maccagnan told The Michael Kay Show. "In the NFL, it's kind of like playing chess. At some point in time, you get down to where you run out of moves. We're not at that stage yet. Right now, Geno has been a starter for us, and actually played quite well prior to getting hurt last year, and was doing a good job in the offseason. So we're kind of excited to see what Geno can do, coming back. And we feel good about that."

Smith's record was 11-18 as a starter and interceptions were the issue for Smith, who had 34 picks and 25 touchdowns entering last season.

Advertisement

Just 25, Smith could have competition from rookie Christian Hackenberg, the Penn State quarterback drafted in the second round last week.

"The big thing you have to do in the draft is you look at the player, the potential you think they could develop into, and go from there. We thought the upside and potential for him was pretty high, that's where we fell at that point in time," Maccagnan said. "Sometimes you look toward the future and take chances on guys."

The Jets drafted Bryce Petty in the fourth round in 2015 and there is the lingering question of Fitzpatrick's future. He hasn't budged from his position on a contract offer the Jets he considered "backup money" and reportedly would retire before playing under that deal.

Latest Headlines