Geno Smith getting cold-cocked by teammate IK Enemkpali is just the latest incident that has people uttering the phrase ‘Same Old Jets.’
By Robby Sabo
Laughable, depressing and downright elementary. These are the descriptions that come to mind for many when thinking about the New York Jets organization.
It’s not enough that Rex Ryan’s six-year reign of terror brought a level of hilarity that forced Jets haters to actually back off due to sympathy, fans of the team are now forced to deal with their starting quarterback going down due to his own teammate’s fist.
In case you’ve been asleep the last 24-hours, Geno Smith is now sidelined for 6-10 weeks due to a sucker punch he received from teammate IK Enemkpali. The incident happened in the locker room on Tuesday morning and was reportedly over a $600 balance Enemkpali perceived Geno owed him.
The sad truth here is not the fact the Jets are the only team in the NFL to employ a player who’s dumb enough to ruin his career over $600, it’s that this is just the latest example of Jets folly.
Dan Marino’s fake spike in ’94; Doug Brien; the muddy field in Miami; the Butt-Fumble; A.J. Duhe; Rex Ryan’s Mark Sanchez tattoo; Bill Belichick resigning after one day on the job – the list goes on and on.
Oh the pain, as WFAN radio host and famous Jets fan Joe Benigno utters on air and in his sleep when visualizing his beloved Gang Green.
Only the true Jets fan understands.
Only the Jets fan understands the plight they’ve been through. The long journey that’s taken them to a perception of overall laughingstock, mixed in with a dash of good vibes.
John Idzik was the cherry on top.
This man came in to replace Mike Tannenbaum in the most curious of ways prior to the 2013 season. He came from the Seattle Seahawks, thus upping everybody’s enthusiasm.
Fast forward past two mediocre seasons – with a combined record of 12-22 – hope was once again the word flying around Florham Park, NJ. The all-out approach of new general manager Mike Maccagnan and professionalism of fresh head coach Todd Bowles had optimism running rampant once again.
Lets also not forget how every word out of Jets camp had Geno playing truly outstanding during camp this summer. He finally had weapons (with the arrival of Brandon Marshall) and a new regime – all Jets fans wanted to witness was a third-year Geno Smith under a “winnable” scenario.
The kid took his team to an 8-8 record as a rookie, and had zero chance of winning in 2014 with the dread that surrounded him.
Any fan that proclaims this was the “best thing that could happen to the Jets,” that “Ryan Fitzpatrick” is the better QB anyway,” doesn’t know what they’re talking about. If you like the Harvard graduate better, allow him to win the job under its own momentum. A player in the locker room taking a shot to his starting quarterback’s face is never a good thing for performance or chemistry.
A team in the NFL who doesn’t possess a franchise QB needs more than one QB. All three quarterback spots become important. Unlike the New Orleans Saints’ QB depth chart for example, for which we know Drew Brees will most likely play 16 games.
At the heart of the issue remains “same old Jets.”
The incident led to an equally embarrassing moment when Smith released an Arnold Schwarzenegger-like photo of himself on Instagram:
Yet again, the Jets enter a season with a dark cloud hanging over them. With Tom Brady and the New England Patriots dealing with that mess (no need to mention the exact “gate” we’re referring to), it seemed as though this franchise was on the right track.
Maccagnan actually did the right thing during the draft. He selected the most talented player in Leonard Williams. This, despite positional need. In the past this organization would’ve royally screwed it up.
Bowles came in and seemed to have the right demeanor following such an outlandish coach who now makes his home in Buffalo.
Then alas, Sheldon Richardson reveals his true character (four-games suspension for marijuana use and a high-speed chase arrest near St. Louis); Dee Milliner and Antonio Allen get banged up; and Geno gets his face smashed in by a teammate.
By the way, Idzik, although gone, is still touching this entire team. Check out some of the guys he’s drafted:
- Geno Smith (2nd Round, 2013)
- Sheldon Richardson (1st Round, 2013)
- Dee Milliner (1st Round, 2013)
- IK Enemkpali (6th Round, 2014)
That sure is an interesting list of questionable characters to say the least, courtesy of Mr. Idzik.
Deflate-Gate for Jets fans was simply too good to be true. The Jets decided – as they usually do – to swoop in and claim most of the negative headlines heading into the season.
While it does take a new regime at least one season to clean house and completely install their principles, at this point nobody cares.
This entire incident brings up the one phrase that every football fan can relate to (not just Jets fans). And until they deliver consistent positive results, we’ll keep uttering “same old Jets.”
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