We know now that the sucker punch and broken jaw suffered by New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith at the fast, violent hands of former Jets linebacker IK Enemkpali, came as a result of an unpaid debt. It was revealed Tuesday, after word of Smith's injury and the altercation broke, that Smith owed Enemkpali $600 for a plane ticket that he didn't use, but promised to pay for in full. The argument escalated when Enemkpali confronted Smith about it and the rest, as they say, is just another said addition to the Jets' unfortunate franchise history. The one overriding theme throughout the plethora of reports and rumors that emerged after, was that Enemkpali was to blame and Smith had no fault in the matter other than the money owed. A new report from Sophia Rosenbaum of the New York Post suggests that a "smug" Smith may have been more at fault than first reported.
Former NFL safety Ryan Clark spoke with two players who were in the Jets locker room at the time of the fight. According to the players, via Rosenbaum, Smith and Enemkpali were "in each other's face" before Geno eventually goaded Enemkpali by saying "you're not going to do anything about it." Enemkpali then threw one punch, which knocked Smith to the ground and broke his jaw in two places. Smith is not expected to return to action for six to 10 weeks.
"It became about the fact that Geno wasn't necessarily apologetic and being in a way remorseful about the money when saying he was going to pay IK back and he didn't," said Clark, per Rosenbaum.
"He was rather smug about it."
Clark, who has had prior dealings with Enemkpali, said that the now jobless linebacker is "extremely apologetic," but also that he's notorious for being tight with money.
