The 2014 season has been one Geno Smith would largely like to forget. After throwing three interceptions against the Bills in week 8, Smith was benched and replaced by Michael Vick. Vick went on to start the next three games, although Smith came in to replace him during the third quarter of last week’s 38-3 blowout loss to the Bills.
Ahead of Monday night’s matchup versus the Dolphins, Rex Ryan announced Geno Smith would once again be the Jets’ starting quarterback. It would be his first time under center at MetLife Stadium since the 43-23 loss in week 8.
Given Smith’s struggles this season, there was a realistic chance he wouldn’t receive the warmest of welcomes from the home crowd. So, the Jets made an interesting decision relating to player introductions. Geno Smith wasn’t included with the rest of the offensive starters.
Jets introduced offensive starters…. except Geno Smith. Interesting… and odd. #nyj
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) December 2, 2014
Jets apparently concerned that Geno Smith would have been booed by the home crowd in introductions. Again, sad. #nyj
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) December 2, 2014
You can try to protect Smith prior to the game, but if he doesn’t play well there isn’t much you can do at that point. Perhaps Smith would have been booed, or maybe not. Either way, the decision to not have him introduced with the rest of the starters draws more attention than having Smith run out to whatever the reaction was going to be.
