Regardless of whether Ryan Fitzpatrick decides to give in and sign with the Jets, Geno Smith will be under center come Week 1. At least that’s what Jets legend Joe Namath believes.
"I think Geno’s going to be the starting quarterback no matter if Fitzpatrick comes back or not,” Namath said at a luncheon Tuesday, via Newsday. "He was ahead of Fitz last year athletically. … Geno has grown. He’s filling out stronger, and (he’s) more mature."
Jets coach Todd Bowles seems to agree with Namath as far as Smith’s maturity is concerned, saying Tuesday, “he's light years ahead from where he was last year.”
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Even if Smith has shown improvement by leaps and bounds, Jets receivers have made it clear they want Fitzpatrick and his beard back in the locker room. Even Darrelle Revis joined the Fitzpatrick chorus Tuesday.
"Ryan is a big part of our success," Revis told reporters, via NJ.com. "He definitely is. He came here and he's broken a bunch of records in the quarterback category. He was a big part of our offense. This [contract standoff] has been going on all offseason, and we're waiting for him to come back."