Tomlinson thinks Jets 'OK with Geno' as starting QB

LaDainian Tomlinson didn't cross paths with Geno Smith in his final years in New York, but he apparently still has a fair amount of confidence in the young signal-caller as a starter.

The five-time Pro Bowl running back, now an analyst for NFL Network, recently voiced his support for the 25-year-old quarterback if negotiations with Ryan Fitzpatrick don't work out and the team doesn't bring in another body (he posed Bucs QB Mike Glennon as an option).

Per Darryl Slater of NJ.com:

"I believe that's the reason why they haven't struck a deal with Ryan Fitzpatrick, because they say: 'We've got Geno still here in the house,'" Tomlinson said. "He still is a young quarterback. We know what he can do. And we still haven't seen him play his best football."

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Bowles: Fitz a go for Sunday's game against Jaguars

Todd Bowles answered his quarterback quandary with one word Wednesday:

"Ryan."

The New York Jets coach plans to start his veteran signal-caller Sunday as the team hosts the Jacksonville Jaguars, though the nod doesn't discount Fitzpatrick's injury.

"They've got him taped up pretty good and they've got him bandaged up pretty good. He didn't have any pain or any effect like that during practice, and Geno (Smith) practiced, as well. So we've got both."

While both quarterbacks participated in team activities, Bowles admitted he was surprised at the amount the two were able to do given the injuries they sustained in Gang Green's loss to the Raiders.

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Bowles confident Geno learned from watching Fitz

Geno Smith is nursing a big bruise on his non-throwing shoulder this week, and New York Jets coach Todd Bowles is unsure if the third-year quarterback will be a go this weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

But if he is healthy enough and called upon to take the reigns for the injured Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bowles is seemingly confident.

"I think he picked up a few things," Bowles said, via NJ.com, when asked about whether Smith learned from watching the 11-year veteran Fitzpatrick run the offense through the first third of the season.

Fitzpatrick tore a ligament in his non-throwing thumb on the first drive last Sunday in a loss to the Oakland Raiders. Smith filled in admirably, but the defense put up an absolute stinker. It can't afford to do the same this weekend, especially, if rookie Bryce Petty has to step in.

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Geno staying positive, won't press charges for punch

Geno Smith is taking the high road regarding the repercussions from his broken jaw, but his rehab remains on its normal path.

The 24-year-old quarterback spoke for the first time Monday since the incident with then-teammate IK Enemkpali, a dispute that landed him on the sideline for an estimated six to 10 weeks.

That timeline still seems solid, and any talk of charges against Enemkpali were dismissed, according to Newsday's Kimberley Martin.

"These things happen in life,'' Smith said. "Unfortunately, it happened to me, but I'm not going to be hanging my head. I'm not that type of guy. I'm not weak-hearted. Just keep pushing on and keep working.''

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Geno tossing the football with a buddy: 'I feel great'

Geno Smith feels great. Just ask the guy tossing a football with a buddy in the parking lot of his apartment complex.

A NY Post reported spotted Smith doing just that this weekend and inquired the recently-punched-in-the-face New York Jets quarterback how he's doing post-surgery.

“I feel great," he said. You see me throwin’, right?”

Smith, who is out six to 10 weeks, had nothing to say about the locker room incident that saw his jaw get broken by linebacker IK Enemkpali. Enemkpali was promptly cut by the Jets and signed by Rex Ryan's Buffalo Bills.

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With future still uncertain, Bills acquire Enemkpali

After 24 hours, IK Enemkpali is once again employed and playing in the AFC East. And no, the Jets didn't change their minds on his release.

The 24-year-old was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills Wednesday, reuniting the linebacker with his former coach, according to ESPN.com.

Enemkpali was given the boot by Gang Green on Tuesday after punching quarterback Geno Smith in the face over an alleged $600 he was owed. The swing broke Smith's jaw and sidelined him for six to 10 weeks.

Enempali issued an apology, but it's unclear whether Smith will press charges against his former teammate.

Also pending is how the league will handle the altercation. According to ESPN, the NFL is reviewing the incident and could issue a punishment under its personal conduct policy.

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Geno vows return after sucker punch yields broken jaw

This is the face of a frustrated quarterback:

Following a non-football related disagreement with linebacker IK Enemkpali that ultimately resulted in a broken jaw, New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is now facing surgery and up to 10 weeks of recovery time before he'll see the field again, per ESPN's Rich Cimini.

The "sucker punch," according to head coach Todd Bowles, was over "something sixth-graders could've talked about," though he wouldn't divulge any details.

As far as the aftermath, the team immediately released Enemkpali, and veteran signal-caller Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to take on the starting role.

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Jets' Geno Smith on QB ranking: 'It's a team game'

A recent ESPN survey of NFL insiders had New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith ranked as the league's worst quarterback--for the second year in a row.

Naturally, Smith was asked about it Wednesday as players reported to training camp.

"It doesn't matter at this point. We've got to work on us as a team," Smith told reporters, via Newsday's Kimberley A. Martin. "That's why I hate to talk about individual stuff because it's a team game.

"No matter what they rate me, wherever we finish at the end of the year is most important."

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Geno still No. 1, but Fitz getting quality looks at No. 2

From starter to practice squad, Ryan Fitzpatrick has been around the block.

The 32-year-old, who's entering his 11th season in the league, has been in pretty much every quarterback situation imaginable along the way. So coming into OTAs as the No. 2 on the Jets' depth chart is not the largest hurdle he's faced.

And though his offensive coordinator has already stated the QB job is Geno Smith's to lose, the veteran still believes the opportunities he's currently receiving are ample enough to earn him a shot at the starting role.

"There's so many reps out here right now where you just see guys getting shuttled in and out," Fitzpatrick said via NewYorkJets.com. "I'm taking 'two' reps right now, but Brandon [Marshall] and Deck [Eric Decker] and different guys are in the huddles, so we're getting a chance to throw and play with all these guys right now."

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Not so fast: Bowles assures Geno still must earn it

Last week, New York Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said Geno Smith was the team's starting quarterback, and "that's the way we expect it to be."

Wednesday, head coach Todd Bowles walked back those comments a bit.

"Chan's very matter-of-fact," Bowles said, via NJ.com. "Come camp time, there will be competition at the spot. ... That doesn't mean it's going to stay like that."

Bowles did say earlier this year that Smith would enter camp as the No. 1, and he didn't back off from that statement. However, he made it clear that Smith will still have to earn it.

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Gailey: Barring injury, 'Geno's the starter' for Jets

Looks like Geno Smith is getting a second, second chance.

New York Jets Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey, who acquired his former quarterback from Buffalo in Ryan Fitzpatrick this offseason, was asked Wednesday whether they'll be a competition this offseason for the starting role -- a legitimate question given Smith's rocky pro start.

The answer? An emphatic "no."

“Right now, Geno’s the starter,” Gailey said via Seth Walder of the NY Daily News. “That’s the way we expect it to be.

“I think you see an awful lot of talent there. And if we can get him where he puts all that together, I don’t know how good he can be. To be honest, I don’t know how good he can be, but he can be pretty good though.” 

The 24-year-old signal-caller has posted a 57.5 percent completion rate and 25/34 touchdown-to-interception ratio his first two seasons, while Fitzpatrick completed 63 percent of his passes and tallied 17 touchdowns to eight interceptions in 12 games last season.

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Geno Smith to be Jets' by-default starter at camp

Geno Smith will start training camp as the New York Jets' starting quarterback. Whether he starts the season with that role is to be determined.

Jets coach Todd Bowles said as much Tuesday, according to the NY Daily News.

“You can’t have equal first-team reps with a quarterback,” he said, via Manish Mehta. “Geno will start out taking them, but that doesn’t mean that Ryan [Fitzpatrick] can’t take his spot.

"... But to give the quarterbacks equal reps, I would be sitting here lying if I said they’re going to get equal reps. Geno is going to take reps with the first team and Ryan’s going to take reps with the second team. We’ll let it play out on the field.”

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It's worth noting that Fitzpatrick is coming off a broken leg and may not be ready until training camp, meaning Smith would get a running start through the spring.

However, the veteran Fitz knows Chan Gailey's offense as well as anyone and looked much better than Smith last season. And with the moves Gang Green made this offseason, they're not necessarily positioned to coddle Smith if Fitzpatrick proves capable of taking the reins.

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Stacked defensive front had Decker 'salivating'

BY EDITOR

The New York Jets ran all over the Miami Dolphins early Monday night, to the tune of more than 200 yards in the first half alone.

However, the Dolphins caught on after the mid-game break, loading up the defensive front all second half and daring the Jets to finally let quarterback Geno Smith air it out.

But the Jets never took the dare. And then they lost, again. This time 16-13.

Jets will go back to Geno Smith against Dolphins

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The first thought is: Who cares?

The second thought is: Well, someone has to play quarterback for the New York Jets Monday night against the Miami Dolphins.

That someone will be second-year signal-caller Geno Smith, the team announced. Coach Rex Ryan met with the quarterbacks Wednesday morning and informed them of the decision, which will give Smith his first start since being benched a month ago.

Orton full of TDs, Jets full of turnovers in Bills' win

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Buffalo Bills quarterback Kyle Orton found the end zone a lot Sunday, while the New York Jets' turnover-prone QB tandem found the Bills a lot.

Orton threw four touchdown passes as the Bills beat down the reeling Jets, who were treated to six turnovers--three from Geno Smith and three more from Michael Vick--from their top two signal-callers.

The Bills won, 43-23, improving to 5-3 and handing the Jets (1-7) their seventh consecutive loss.

Rex on Geno: 'I don't believe it rests on one man'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The New York Jets are reeling, coming off their third straight loss at the hands of the Detroit Lions Sunday.

Amidst the agony is second-year quarterback Geno Smith, who again failed to rise to the occasion, throwing an interception and losing a fumble on consecutive drives in the fourth quarter during a comeback bid.

Smith finished the game connecting on 17 of 33 passes for for 209 yards and a touchdown in the 24-17 loss. Despite boos and "We want Vick" chants pouring in from fans at Metlife Stadium, Jets coach Rex Ryan declared Smith will remain the starter moving forward.

Geno 'pissed off' for two days but ready to move on

BY NICK ST. DENIS

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith saw some good and bad Sunday in a 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Up until Wednesday, he was pretty much only focused on the bad. The worst? The whole "loss" part, especially considering Gang Green had the game well in hand in the first half.

“It took me [until] today’s practice," Smith said Wednesday, via NJ.com. "I was pissed off for about two days. Today’s practice allowed me to flush that out of my system, and just get back to playing football.

Rex announces what Vick 'knew the entire time'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Michael Vick was brought in this offseason as an insurance policy for New York Jets second-year quarterback Geno Smith.

The team's higher-ups held out on naming Geno Smith the No. 1 signal-caller until Jets coach Rex Ryan made the announcement after Gang Green's preseason bout with the New York Giants Friday night, but the final call was no shock to us, and certainly not to Vick.

“I knew the entire time Geno was going to be the starter,” Vick said, via the NY Post.

Nelson: Geno's the guy and we're moving forward

BY NICK ST. DENIS

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is the Week 1 starter, barring injury or any catastrophic situation.

Head coach Rex Ryan isn't willing to admit it yet, but his players have moved on from that charade. At least wide receiver David Nelson has.

"When the coaches say, 'First-group offense,' we know who's walking in the huddle," Nelson said Tuesday, via ESPN New York. "It's not something that needs to be said.

Geno Smith feeling more comfortable using his legs

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Geno Smith showed flashes last year of his ability to move the chains with his legs, and Saturday night, his progress in that department continued.

While connecting on 7-of-10 passes for 98 yards in the Jets' 25-17 preseason victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Smith found the end zone once on the ground and converted on a third down in the red zone.

“I do feel a lot more comfortable deciding when to pull it down and run," Smith said after the game, via the NY Daily News. "(I) feel a lot faster and stronger. I feel like that’s something that’s going to help our team out, especially on third down when it’s all covered down the field and I have an opportunity.”