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What a strange situation. Where do I start on this one? There are a lot of things going on in Florham Park that need to be looked in to . . .
The Jets are mess right now.
They are in a really bad place.
So they decided to change things up by switching quarterbacks, going from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Geno Smith.
The same Geno Smith who told ESPN’s Lisa Salters before the Jets-Cardinals it was “getting antsy.”
Smith then showed up Fitzpatrick on the sideline by his reaction to an interception.
So the Jets rewarded this behavior by naming him the starter.
I would have considered cutting him.
By you saying you’re getting “antsy,” you are basically stabbing the starter in the back.
Look, I’m not defending Fitzpatrick’s play. It wasn’t very good, and maybe a change is in order, but to go to a guy with this kind of attitude, is a really bad optic.
Look, in Geno’s mind he thinks he’s better than Fitz. That is fine. Don’t tell Bleacher Report during the season, “your too good to be a backup.”
And don’t tell Salters “you’re antsy.”
Maybe I was around Parcells and Belichick too much, but I don’t like this kind of behavior. It’s bad for the football culture. It’s not being a good teammate.
And even more disturbing is Todd doesn’t seem to give a darn about this behavior.
Q)What are your thoughts on Smith’s comments [to Salters]?
Bowles: My thoughts are that it’s just gossip and I don’t pay it any mind.
Q)The comments aren’t gossip because he said it?
Bowles: He said it to you all and you all write what you want to write. For me, it’s gossip. It had no bearing on him playing or not playing or anything else he has to say on the field. It has no bearing. It’s really a waste of my time.
Q)Do you take stock in a backup quarterback demonstrating visible frustration after the starting quarterback throws an interception?
Bowles: I’ve seen starters throw frustration. I’ve seen backups at every position have frustration. His story is no bigger than what it is.
Q)Does it worry you that Smith verbalized his frustration to a national broadcaster?
Bowles: It’s like dirt off the back of my shoulder. I have no issues with that. Ok? Me and Geno talked. We have our discussions. I talk with everyone on this team. He knows where I stand. We have a good understanding.
What?
Gossip? He said it.
For Bowles to consider it “dirt off the back of my back of my shoulder” is troubling.
To have this kind of flippant attitude about your backup QB acting like a jerk, and then you promote him to being a starter a few days later, is a sign of a program in a lot of trouble.
Look I’m not looking for a coach to discipline his players in the press, but the above answers are unacceptable.
And keep him mind, players love Fitzpatrick in that locker room. He might be an average QB, but he’s a great person and teammate.
So there is no doubt Geno’s comments and sideline antics bothered some Jets players.
Let me tell you something, Todd’s two mentors – Parcells and Bruce Arians wouldn’t have that kind of attitude about Geno’s behavior.
Weird stuff.
October 19, 2016
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