Jets expect Geno Smith to bounce back on Sunday
Geno Smith of the Jets scrambles with the ball against the San Diego Chargers during their NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium on Oct. 5, 2014 in San Diego. Credit: Getty Images / Donald Miralle
The Jets will find out exactly who Geno Smith is on Sunday.
The second-year starting quarterback will have a chance to redeem himself when the Jets face the high-powered Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium. But while his teammates and coaches are confident Smith can rebound from a tumultuous two weeks, he still needs to prove it on the field.
"We'll find out if he has the ability to persevere," backup quarterback Michael Vick said Wednesday.
"I think this is his first time ever going through something like that. I can't really relate on that level, because I've never been put in that situation, but if I were in his shoes, I'd be willing to come back stronger than ever before.
"That's got to be his mindset. That has to be his preparation for the entire week -- just on a totally different plane."
Smith apologized to the team for missing Saturday night's mandatory team meeting the night before their 31-0 loss in San Diego.
"[I told them] that, although it was a mistake, it can't happen," said Smith, who also was fined $12,000 for cursing at a fan following their Week 4 loss to Detroit. "I just wanted to let them know it wouldn't happen again."
Apology accepted.
"From my understanding, the guys were receptive and everyone told me, 'Hey, move on. We've got a game to play. Keep your focus there.' And from then on, I just had to move on," said Smith, who missed the meeting because he got confused by the three-hour time-zone change and was at the movies with teammate Walter Powell, according to The New York Post.
During a WFAN radio interview this week, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said Smith's absence was an honest mistake, adding that it's "not like Geno to be late for anything."
On Wednesday, Jeremy Kerley echoed similar sentiments.
"Things happen," the slot receiver said. "He just missed a meeting. I don't think it affected the way we played, or the way he played."
Though Vick understands it was an honest mistake by Smith, he pointed out the importance of quarterbacks being on time for team meetings.
"I'd be telling a fictitious story if I said anything different," said the veteran, who has been supportive of Smith since he arrived in March. "I think any young guy in the NFL has a lot of maturing to do. At the tender age of 23, 24, being in your second or third year, you have a tendency to make some mistakes. But the most important thing you have to do is learn from it. I think any young guy is going to go through the growing pains and has to go through the whole maturation process."
Rex Ryan refused to say whether the team disciplined Smith for the incidents, saying: "We're going to put that behind us and everything that we've done, we'll handle internally."
Meanwhile, Smith maintains that he hasn't lost confidence following a four-game losing streak. However, he was less than impressive in his last outing at MetLife Stadium, a 24-17 loss to the Lions. And despite the Jets' 1-4 record, Ryan reiterated that Smith will start Sunday.
Asked how he expects the fans to react to him, Smith said: "I don't know. I know that they're going to support the team. I know that that's what they always do . . . I just want to go out there and try to get a win for the fans and go out there and compete and give them something to be excited about."
Does he expect fans to turn on him if he makes a huge mistake on Sunday?
"I can't really focus on that," Smith said. "If that does happen, then I've just got to motor through it and keep working."
