New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith reportedly is losing support in the locker room. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported some teammates have "less-than-favorable feedback" of the second-year signal caller after his missed meeting and subsequent poor performance Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.
Smith was criticized for missing a team meeting on the eve of New York's 31-0 loss at San Diego, where his poor performance in the first half got him benched. Now, according to the Daily News, at least some players in the Jets' locker room are getting fed up with him.
"Although Smith said Wednesday that he received support from his teammates after apologizing for his gaffe, the Daily News received less-than-favorable feedback from team members, who are not thrilled with how the quarterback has acted recently," Mehta wrote Wednesday. "One starter, who actually attended every meeting, believed Smith's flop in the first half that got him benched was predictable given his sloppy preparation the night before."
Jets coach Rex Ryan raved about Smith in the offseason and believed he would have a breakout sophomore year. That hasn't happened five games into the season with the Jets sitting at 1-4. Although at times he's looked improved, he's thrown only four touchdowns to go along with six interceptions and two fumbles.
Ryan will start Smith again on Sunday at home against the Denver Broncos. The last time Smith played at home - Sept. 14 against the Green Bay Packers - fans booed him. Smith acknowledged he could get booed again, but insisted he wouldn't pay it any mind.
"Will (the fans) turn on me? I don't know," he said. "I can't really focus on that. I don't know what's going to happen when mistakes happen, because they do happen. If that does happen, I've just got to motor through it and keep working."
