Addressing the New York Jets/Geno Smith Conspiracy Theories

Jul 28, 2013; Cortland, NY, USA; New York Jets quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (left) and Geno Smith (right) prepare to take snaps from under center during training camp at SUNY Cortland. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Frankly, I am surprised that we have to talk about this, ladies and gentlemen. However, this became such a big topic yesterday, I need to address this.

First of all, I love each and every one of you.  We all love our New York Jets, and our mission is to see our team win a Super Bowl.  Therefore, I love and respect each and every one of you in Jets Nation.  That being said, some of you were making me very worried yesterday.  Why?

I actually had many members of our fan base talking about a conspiracy to KEEP GENO FROM STARTING.  People were talking about the last game, and comments made by the coaching staff that they are deliberately holding Geno back, so they can justify starting Mark Sanchez for another year.

Well, I need to tell you all something, and it’s very important.  Listen closely.  THAT’S CRAZY!!  THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT IS TRUE.

Let’s talk about this for a few minutes:

MARTY MORNHINWIG NOT EVALUATING GENO SMITH

First, a lot of people were bent out of shape by comments made by Marty, saying that he needed to see some different situations before he could give an accurate evaluation of Geno Smith.  This was part of this mass conspiracy to keep Geno from the field.  Please!  Let’s look at a full Marty quote about how Geno performed:

Well, the last ball game, a couple of those were me. I was trying to do a couple of things. For instance, Tommy (Bohanon played) quite a little bit. I wanted to see just exactly where he’s at. I wanted to get Kellen (Winslow) at least one ball early. I wanted to get Stephen (Hill a) certain thing. I wanted to get, on and on and on, wanted to see each guard pull one way, so these type of things. In doing that, and that was my responsibility, there was one series where I didn’t just let Geno play. We were trying to get a couple things accomplished that way. It was not much of an evaluation on Geno. You were able to see him drop back to throw the ball a couple times, certainly, but we had seen that in practice. Then he got nicked with the ankle and then (we went) quite conservative I think. I know it was the right thing to do and then we go with Greg (McElroy), so there wasn’t much evaluation there. Now, he handled the huddle well, all those things. Probably looking back on it, it was probably a pretty good first experience. He got in, he completed a few balls and now he’s got to push through this thing.

So basically, Marty Mornhinweg admitted that some of the problems were HIS FAULT.  That would mean that under the conspiracy theory, Marty deliberately screws the playcalling for Geno, and then admits it to the press?  Does that even make sense.

Earth calling, this was Geno Smith’s first professional football game.  Any coordinator worth his weight is not going to call the same plays for a five year veteran as he is for a rookie playing his first game.  You are going to be more conservative, to let the new QB get his feet under him.

It would be more of a conspiracy if Marty threw Geno to the wolves, calling wild plays.  You want to set your players up for success.  The fact that Mark opened it up a bit more than Geno did, means NOTHING.  Can we all calm down….please?

Aug 9, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) limps off the field after injuring his ankle in the third quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

THE NUMBER OF REPS WERE UNFAIR

I have heard this through the Jets’ fan grapevine, about the reps being unequal.  Well, let me give you some numbers here: 20-14.  What are those numbers?  The 20 is the number of snaps Sanchez took, including penalties.  The 14 is the number that GENO SMITH took!

Six whole snaps.  What a huge difference!  Clearly, the Jets are keeping the new guy down.  He was behind by six snaps.  Oh wait a minute. ….I forgot, GENO SMITH SPRAINED HIS ANKLE AND LEFT THE FOOTBALL GAME!  Did everyone else forget about this too?

Let’s think about this.  Might Geno, had he not gotten hurt, you think, TAKEN SIX MORE SNAPS?  Come on, now of course he would have.  If he hadn’t sprained his ankle, this wouldn’t have even been a debate.  But, I guess the conspiracy theorists feel that Rex Ryan, I don’t know, talked to God, and arranged for Geno to sprain his ankle at that moment.  Or maybe he was OK, but on orders not to let him back in the game?

See why I am getting worried about some of you?

Don’t forget, as I talked about in the evaluation piece, there were plays that were slated for Geno to make a throw, but he didn’t get rid of the ball in time.  A couple of more throws, then all of a sudden, the discrepancy in passes thrown is not as great.

COACH RYAN DIDN’T NAME A STARTER FOR SATURDAY

This one is particularly nutty, ladies and gentlemen.  But, I saw this as part of a major debate, so here we go.

People went crazy about the fact that Rex didn’t name a starter for the game against Jacksonville on Saturday night.  Nuts!  Apparently, this was part of the problem.

Say what?  Folks, despite the fact that we think we have a stake in the team, we don’t.  THE JETS DO NOT OWE US THE STARTER BEING NAMED ON TUESDAY, FOR A SATURDAY NIGHT GAME IN THE PRESEASON!  We think that they do, but they don’t.  Rex has EVERY RIGHT to take as long as he chooses to name a starter.  He’s the coach.  We watch the games.  Get it straight.

People were also upset about why Rex said they hadn’t named a starter yet.  He said that they wanted to let the week play out.  The theory was, it’s a conspiracy because Rex didn’t SAY that they want to make sure Geno is healthy.

Come on.  Because he didn’t SAY it?  First of all, he doesn’t have to.  He is not required to give you the answer you want to hear.  Since when has any coach ever given all of the info to the public?  Let me help you, NEVER.  It will happen when pigs fly, and I am not talking about the GEICO commercial.

Secondly, you all have brains.  It’s obvious that they want to make sure that Geno is healthy before naming him the starter.  Use your own judgement, how about that?  Stop getting bogged down about what words are used.  You are worrying over NOTHING.

What is the bottom line?  Stop with the conspiracy theories.  The Jets will give us enough reasons to be annoyed.  We don’t have to make up stories.  Isn’t that this guy’s job?