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A common narrative in the echo chamber right now is that Geno Smith will bring the Jets a stabilizing, mature influence to their QB room, and be a good bridge QB until whatever young QB they add is ready to start. The echo chamber also feels that you will be a good mentor to the young signal-caller, let’s just say for argument’s sake, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, a possible second-round pick for the Jets (SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Pat Kirwan, who is close with Glenn, has mentioned this player as a possibility for Gang Green).
Smith played for the Las Vegas Raiders last year and went 2-13 as a starter. While obviously, the Raiders’ woes were not all his fault, it was not a good season for the QB and a lot of people for anybody in that organization.
An analyst on the ground in Vegas is former NFL QB Shaun King, who earlier this week threw some cold water on the echo chamber narrative about what Smith is bringing to the Jets.
“You know what’s so funny – I watched multiple (sports shows), and it showed me how little football they really actually consume,” King said on Coach Jason Brown’s podcast. “Because all they talked about was how great this was for the Jets because now there will be an adult in the quarterback room, and a professional guy is going back (to the Jets). Geno acted like the most petulant f-ing child the whole child all year, last year. His body language was shi$%. He was flipping off the fans. And they are up there like he’s this consummate pro. It just reminded me how little f-in football most of those people consume.”
Look, don’t kill the messenger. I’m just telling you what King said. I wasn’t around the Raiders last year.
But sometimes it’s good to leave the echo chamber and get different opinions.
Smith could be a good bridge QB for the Jets, but some would argue about whether he’s going to be Tyrod Taylor-esque in the QB room, as a mentor and sage player leader of the room.
We shall see. King obviously doesn’t feel that way.
There was an article quoting Pete Carroll, who coached the Raiders last year, raving about Smith. Some would argue that it falls into the “What do you expect him to say?” category.
Like when Peyton Manning raved to the Jets about Adam Gase.
Street-smart people know that Carroll’s quote means very little. For naive people, they mean a lot. But since we live in a society short on common sense, perhaps a lot of people will hang their hats on what Carroll told ESPN about Smith. What the hell did you expect him to do, trash Smith to an ESPN reporter?
Carroll picked Smith to be his QB, and Carroll lasted one year as the Raiders coach. Not blaming Smtih for Carroll getting fired, but it’s a QB-driven league, so that decision certainly perhaps didn’t help the coach’s cause.
Look, I have no issue with Smith. There is nothing personal here. I got a long with him fine during his first stint with the Jets.
Just passing along what King said, which was a little different than what you are hearing in the echo chamber.
March 12, 2026
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