There’s a palpable lack of respect around the NFL for Geno Smith, and the quarterback fired back at one of his verbal assailants after the Giants’ 24-17 loss at the Raiders on Sunday.
ESPN analyst Rex Ryan, who coached Smith on the Jets during the player’s first two seasons in the league (2013, ’14), said before Sunday’s games that Smith would not be his first choice at quarterback.
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Rex Ryan: "I love Geno Smith. Great guy. I just don't want him playing quarterback for me."
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) December 3, 2017
Dayum.
Ryan’s comment isn’t sitting well with Smith, who’s been put under the microscope this week after Giants coach Ben McAdoo’s decision to start him over the benched Eli Manning. Smith went so far as to call Ryan a “coward” and claimed to have saved Ryan’s job with the Jets in 2013.
Geno Smith ripped Rex Ryan: “I did see one of my ex-coaches say he didn’t want me to be his quarterback. That really upset me. I saved his job in 2013. We fought our ass for him both years. For him to say that shows how much of a coward he is.”
— Bob Glauber (@BobGlauber) December 4, 2017
Full Geno Smith quote, calling his former coach Rex Ryan a "coward" pic.twitter.com/3rVRwaRQk2
— Alex Espinoza IV (@AlexEspinozaIV) December 4, 2017
Smith started all 16 games for the Jets in 2013, when the team went 8-8 and he threw just 12 touchdowns to 21 interceptions
Sunday in Oakland, Smith went 21 of 34 for 212 yards and a touchdown, but he turned the ball over twice on fumbles. If there’s truth to his assertion that he saved Ryan’s job, McAdoo shouldn’t expect a similar fate, as reports say the coach will be shown the door as soon as this week.
Ben McAdoo needs Geno Smith to save his job. Oh my. Talk about coaching yourself into a corner.
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) December 3, 2017