Geno Smith was one of the players in attendance for the first day of the NFL Draft, but he reportedly will not be back at Radio City Music Hall for day two.
Smith was considered a strong possibility to go in the first round. He was dressed up, had his family with him, and he was introduced with the other top prospects before the draft began. But after the Buffalo Bills selected EJ Manuel at No. 16 overall, the chances of Smith going in the first round decreased. By the end of the day, 32 picks had gone without Smith being selected. No surprise, he wasn’t in the best of moods afterwards.
ESPN’s Suzy Kolber said after the draft that Smith declined to do an on-camera interview. He told her he wasn’t shocked or surprised that he didn’t go in the first round. He was feeling so down he apparently told her he wouldn’t be back for Friday when the second and third rounds of the draft take place.
One thing Smith did tell Kolber is that he would be playing with an even bigger chip on his shoulder than before the draft. That’s exactly what we figured. Smith also received some words of encouragement from Aaron Rodgers as he fell in the draft.
Photo via BSO
