Despite Getting 'In Trouble,' Geno Smith Doesn't Regret Playoff Guarantee
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- "We're going to the playoffs next year."
-- Geno Smith, April 26, 2013.
Playoff guarantees don't fly any longer in Florham Park.
After he was selected by New York in the second round of the draft, just minutes into his NFL career, quarterback Geno Smith said the Jets would make the playoffs in his rookie year.
It seems the Jets -- a franchise famous for boasts from Joe Namath (good) and Rex Ryan (not so good) -- didn't like that very much.
"I've already gotten in trouble for saying some things about, you know, playoffs and all that stuff, which I don't regret," Smith told SiriusXM Radio on Sunday. "I don't think I'll go as far as being as bold as Joe was."
The West Virginia quarterback has been criticized in more than one publication for his work ethic and demeanor leading up to the draft. He's responded to the naysayers in a cool, all-pro way.
"I don't think I'm a bad guy," Smith said. "I don't think I'm some of the things they try to make me out to be. It's a part of the media. The one thing that I understand is you can't take it personally. Those guys have jobs and the key to their jobs is to sell papers and to keep the fans looking. So they're going to spin things and try to make an interesting story out of something that may not be so interesting."
Smith called the reports "inaccurate" and "eye-opening."
"It allows you to see exactly what business you're in," he said. "I understand it's part of my job to handle that. I'm going to take it in stride and do all the things that are necessary to make me and my team look good."
Smith is competing for the Jets' starting quarterback job with Mark Sanchez, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms. The Jets signed veteran QB David Garrard in the offseason, but he stepped away from the game last week due to lingering knee issues.
"When I was drafted, he reached out to me," Smith said of Garrard. "I told him I looked forward to learning from him. I am still looking forward to doing that. I'm going to call or text him if I have any questions. He's been a great pro."
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