Geno Smith Injured After Being Punched By Teammate

You would have to wonder if Geno Smith will ever command a huddle again.

Oh, he’ll probably play. For someone, if not the New York Jets. But will he command a huddle? Will he lead his teammates and set an example? Can he succeed as a quarterback in the NFL if he fails on those counts?

Smith was sucker-punched on Tuesday in the Jets’ locker room by IK Enemkpali, a reserve linebacker who was almost immediately released by the team. They apparently had an issue over $600 for an airplane ticket and Smith had not yet paid Enemkpali. And suddenly the dispute spiraled wildly and everything changed.

Smith will be out six to 10 weeks with a broken jaw. Ryan Fitzpatrick now has every chance to seize the starter’s role and keep it (not that he has done so too often in his career). New head coach Todd Bowles could barely defend Smith as he discussed the incident.

“It takes two to tango — one to throw a punch, but two to tango,” Bowles said.

Wow, blaming your starting quarterback for getting his jaw broken. Classic. Bowles went on to call the matter “very childish, something sixth graders could have talked about.” Wow.

Quarterbacks always wear red jerseys at practice. They are not supposed to be hit by their teammates. They are that valuable. But Smith was at risk in his own locker room, and there was no one there to defend him. Imagine a marginal player taking a swing at Peyton Manning – there’d be nothing left of him.

J-E-T-S Jets? Or J-E-S-T. Jest, jest, jest.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .