Former New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo thought that Geno Smith should have been Big Blue’s franchise quarterback.
While the New York Giants may or may not draft Eli Manning‘s replacement in next month’s draft, it was clear that Geno Smith wasn’t the team’s future under center last season. That is except for former head coach Ben McAdoo.
“When Coach Mac was let go and left the building, I talked to him before he left, and he had told me he felt like I deserved to play the rest of the season,” Smith told Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. “He believed in me. A lot of people did. Guys wanted me to do well. But there are some things that are out of your control.”
He added, “I’m not gonna cry over spilled milk over things I can’t control. That’s only gonna hinder my success or progress. It just added fuel to fire, made my offseason workouts interesting because I’m working harder. That opportunity was taken away from me for whatever reason, so every time I step on the field or in the weight room, that’s my motivation.”
Smith made one start last season when Manning was inexplicably benched by McAdoo. He completed 21-of-34 passes for 212 yards, with one touchdown pass, no interceptions and lost two fumbles. Geno is currently a free agent and he wants to be a franchise quarterback.
“My goal is to be a franchise quarterback,” he told Leonard. “It takes a lot of responsibility, which I understand. Do I think I’m a starting QB in the league? You can call (former Giants and current Green Bay Packers QB coach) Frank Cignetti, Ben McAdoo, Jerry Reese, Todd Bowles, Tom House, and they’ll tell you about my ability.”
Is there a team in the NFL that buys what Smith is selling? It’s doubtful, but we’ve seen stranger things happen.
