To the surprise of no one the New York Jets have named Geno Smith their week one starter. As if ex jet Darrelle Revis wasn’t already lickiing his chops at the the thought of playing against the Jets, seeing the rookie QB will really get him going.
The fact that it took this long to name Smith or Sanchez or anyone else the starter was puzzling. It’s obvious thought that Smith became the only clear option â even though the Jets tried their best to hide that fact â as Mark Sanchez’s throwing shoulder has healed slowly. Sanchez was better in preseason action than Smith, who struggled after suffering an ankle injury a few weeks ago, but the shoulder injury and Smith’s return to health made the announcement a no-brainer.
That doesn’t mean it’s going to work. And what happens if Smith struggles out of the gate â do they ever go back to Sanchez? That’s a bad idea, per former Jet LaDainian Tomlinson.
It’s possible Sanchez’s days with the Jets are, in effect, done. He’s really only on the roster now because the team would take a significant financial hit if he was cut that does them no benefit. The other options? Matt Simms, who barely played college football, or the recently signed Brady Quinn. Hooray.
Let’s give the Jets the benefit of the doubt for a moment. Maybe Smith is the next in a growing line of rookie quarterbacks who stun opponents and observers with his poise and performance. Maybe he’s the long-term answer the team has sought at the position since, Namath was traded to the Rams in 1976.
smallthoughtsinasportsworld 