Tuesday Whispers from Phoenix . . .

Phoenix – On Tuesday morning at the NFL Owners’ Meeting in Phoenix, the annual AFC coaches’ media breakfast.

A similar event was held on Monday for the NFC.

Aaron Glenn made news at the event when he said about QB Geno Smith: “He’s the guy that’s going to lead us to the promised land.”

This quote has gone viral. “Trending,” as they like to call it these days.

Some might argue that the quote is a little too strong at this particular time.

In the NFL, leading a team to the “promised land” is often perceived as reaching the Super Bowl.

Smith is coming off a 2-13 season as the Las Vegas Raiders starter. Obviously, not all his fault, but he has something to work on to bounce back from that. He and Frank Reich need to be attached at the hip this off-season and into the summer. The QB needs to learn a new system, and fix some of the things that were his fault last year, things related to some fundamentals and mechanics.

So Smith has a lot of his plate coming up here once the off-season program starts.

“Process thinking” in the way to go here. The Nick Saban approach that many other program’s have adopted.

Process thinking – Just focus on the next rep, the next weight you’re lifting, the next snap, the next meeting. You get the idea. Don’t chase windmills, just focus on the next assignment on your horizon and do it to the best of your ability, and if you do that the results will come down the road.

But don’t focus on goals too far down the road.

Maybe Glenn didn’t mean going to the Super Bowl when he said “promised land.” Maybe, after the team going 3-14 last year, and not making the playoffs for 15 years, “promised land” is going 10-7 and grabbing a wildcard spot.

While all teams goal every year to win the Super Bowl, you would have to think the Jets going 10-7 and getting a wildcard, regardless of what happens in the playoffs, would be a goal fans would be somewhat okay with.

So some might argue that at this stage of the game, saying Geno Smith is “doing to lead us to the promised land” was perhaps not the way to go.

One long-time TV sports director said to me before, “I’m not even sure if Andy Reid would say right not that Patrick Mahomes is going to lead us to the promised land.”

In the worldview of some coaches, it’s just something you saw in the spring (or maybe at time of the year)

Not only does it fly in the face of the process-thinking philosophy, but it also puts extra pressure on Smith.

While some would argue that the coach is just trying to boost his confidence with this statement, and show his faith in the player, some would argue that this quote makes a pretty challenging job for the player, even more challenging.

When a coach in the spring says he expects a QB to take his team to the “promised land,” that is heady stuff.

Is it promised land or bust?

Dealing with the media is not easy, and so many public officials, Governors, Mayors, CEOs, coaches, and others often get media training from seasoned pros.

Another is Ari Fleischer of Ari Fleischer Sports Communications, who offers premier media management, strategy, advice, and training for commissioners, front office executives, collegiate organizations, coaches, and athletes.

When it comes to speaking to the media, especially in a high profile power positions, it’s not easy, and you always need to be careful about your messaging and how your phrase things, especially these days with the internet and social media – everything being scrutinized to the nth degree.

Glenn needs to be careful what he says.

And saying Smith “is going to lead us to the promised land” might not have been an ideal choice of words.

Perhaps something like, “We have a lot of faith that he will do a solid job for as at the QB spot” is a better way to go.

March 31, 2026

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