One More Shot For Geno Smith?

Last year, word out of New York was that New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith was going to break out. He showed major improvement to close the 2014 season and he had a good spring. It was Year 3 for him, time to prove that he’s not a bust, and he realized the opportunity he had.

Then boom, teammate IK Enemkpali breaks his jaw over $600. Smith lost his starting job and Ryan Fitzpatrick went in and set franchise passing records. Smith let his opportunity slip away on some off-the-field stuff just when he as starting to take control on the field.

Such opportunities don’t come around often but Smith may have another one this year. Fitzpatrick is a free agent and remains unsigned as NFL training camps are set to open in just days. Word on the street is that he’s golfing these days while Smith has shown more improvement.

Head coach Todd Bowles said of Smith on NFL Network, “Being in the system for a year, he’s light years ahead of where he was last year as far as being confident operating the system, understanding the checks and running the offense, it’s night and day from where he was.”

Smith played in just one game last year, going in for Fitzpatrick, who injured his thumb, against the Oakland Raiders. He played most of the game and wasn’t bad, completing 27-of-42 passes for 265 yards with two TDs and an INT.

The Jets and Fitzpatrick seem miles apart as Fitzpatrick wants to be rewarded for the year he had in 2015 and the Jets are pulling back because that was only one good year in 11. If this standoff continues between the two sides, Smith is going to end up being the winner.