Jets need to finally part ways with Geno Smith

For the New York Jets in the minds of many, Ryan Fitzpatrick has cemented himself as the starting quarterback. However, there exists a very vocal subsection of fans that believe Geno Smith still deserves that role.

Quarterback Geno Smith is the most polarizing player on the roster of the New York Jets. Some love him to pieces, some shred him to pieces. However, it would be downright foolish not to go with the hot hand, Ryan Fitzpatrick, heading into the 2016 NFL regular season.

must read: Bryce Petty will beat out Geno Smith

In 2013, Smith prematurely took the reigns and led Gang Green to an 8-8 record, finishing the season with 3,412 total yards, 18 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. Thanks to a 2014 sophomore slump, Smith’s 4-12 outing wasn’t much of an improvement.

When quarterback JaMarcus Russell can boast a better two-year touchdown-to-interception ratio than your current starter, it’s time to go back to the drawing board. Maybe a time-tested veteran would fare better.

Reaching out to the Houston Texans, the Jets acquired Ryan Fitzpatrick via trade in 2015. The 32-year-old was more than ready to take a bite out of the “Big Apple,” accounting for 4,175 total yards and 33 touchdowns, all while leading the Jets to a 10-6 record.

More from The Jet Press

• NY Jets should target TE Hunter Henry in free agency
• NY Jets: Why the team should target cornerback Shaquill Griffin
• NY Jets reportedly non-tendering linebacker Harvey Langi
• NY Jets: Why the team should not cut Jamison Crowder
• NY Jets should try to sign Kenny Golladay in free agency

The journeyman, plain and simple, outplayed the youngster.

Sure, Smith has more than enough potential to overcome his early inadequacies if just one coach is willing to roll the dice, but this isn’t the time for the Jets to gamble.

Especially when Fitzpatrick is coming off the best statistical season of his career.

If anything, a fresh start might be best.

Perhaps, especially after a terrible outing in the Week 2 preseason loss to the Washington Redskins, Smith could step up and request a trade. After all, quite a few starters, theoretically, could be out of the job come this time next season, such as the Houston Texans’ Brock Osweiler, Denver Broncos’ Mark Sanchez, San Francisco 49ers’ Blaine Gabbert, Tennessee Titans’ Marcus Mariota or even Cleveland Browns’ Robert Griffin III.

must read: Special teams finally looking efficient

Overall, the Jets need to finally part ways with Smith, once and for all. He’s inconsistent and quite honestly the other quarterbacks on the roster, in Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, have much more upside. It would be such a waste of a roster spot to keep Smith in the grand scheme of things. It’s simply not working out in the city that never sleeps.