Geno Smith threw as many touchdowns as interceptions last season as the Jets compiled a four-win season, what turned out to be the last under head coach Rex Ryan.
Accordingly, an ESPN poll of league executives and coaches nudged his name right at the bottom of their quarterback index.
A poll, incidently, that also came to the same conclusion last season.
"I laugh at that. I laugh at it. It's hilarious," Smith said, via the New York Post.
"It was hilarious last year, too," he added. "It doesn't matter at this point. We've got to work on us as a team. That's why I hate to talk about individual stuff because it's a team game. No matter what they rate me, wherever we finish at the end of the year is most important."
Where the Jets finished at the end of last year found the addition of Ryan Fitzpatrick as Smith's relief man under center. Though coaches have reiterated that Smith is their man to start in Week 1, that they made the move might indicate their willingness to listen to, and not laugh at, polls like these.
Opinions are indeed like noses -- everyone has one. But opinions aren't unfounded. They must be made from something that actually happened that forms them. And Smith did complete only 57.5 percent of his pass attempts in 2014, appearing in four games without throwing a touchdown and tossing 11 interceptions in a 10-game losing streak.
New York posted the worst overall passing offense in football in 2014, the only club not to surpass 3,000 total yards through the air, and completed all of 184 yards every Sunday, also last in the league rankings.
Maybe that poll had a point.
@MrJamesParks
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- There's one team in the AFC East that feels it has no questions about who will start at quarterback when the regular season arrives.
Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said on Wednesday there will be no competition for the position, according to New York Post. Why not, you ask?
"Because Geno's the starter," he said.
Which reminds us how Jets G.M. Mike Maccagnan said the opposite in March after the club traded for former Bills starter Ryan Fitzpatrick, who played for Gailey when both were with Buffalo. But with Fitzpatrick out of camp for the time being as he nurses a broken leg, there really isn't much else to do right now.
A former West Virginia standout, Smith has tallied 25 touchdowns against 34 interceptions in his two professional campaigns, passing for 5,571 yards, though did secure the Jets' all-time mark for rookie passing yardage (3,046). He's lost 7 of his 16 total fumbles, but apparently the Jets still like what he can provide. Which, up to now, hasn't been much.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - The inevitable became actual on Monday as the New York Jets fire head coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik after a four-win season.
Ryan finished 46-50 with the Jets, being hired in 2009 and taking the franchise to two AFC Championship Games in his first two seasons, in which he went 9-7 and 11-5 respectively.
But New York is yet to finish a winning season since then, ending 2011 and 2013 with 8-8 records and have missed the postseason for four straight years.
Idzik served on the Jets' board of directors for two years, replacing Mike Tannenbaum in January 2013, after six seasons as vice president of football operations for the Seattle Seahawks.
"After extensive thought and reflection about the current state of our football team, this morning I informed Rex Ryan and John Idzik that they will not be returning for the 2015 season," Jets chairman and chief executive Woody Johnson said in a statement. "Both Rex and John made significant contributions to the team, and they have my appreciation and gratitude for their efforts and commitment. Over the years, Rex brought the Jets a bold confidence and a couple of great postseason runs, which all of us will remember."
New York began the 2014 season with a victory over Oakland, but lost their next eight contests before a Nov. 9 win over Pittsburgh. They won two of their last three games.
Second year quarterback Geno Smith took much of the blame for the team's recent performance, finishing with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Rex Ryan replaced Smith in Week 9 for Michael Vick, though he returned three weeks later.
Ryan, always given to bursts of confidence, avowed on his hiring that he would not "kiss Bill Belichick's rings" in reference to the Jets' division rivalry with New England. Ryan's Jets finished 4-9 against the Patriots during his tenure, including a victory in a playoff contest in 2012.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Jets quarterback Geno Smith, who may be safely identified as one of the team's many problems over their three-win campaign, says he wants to be part of the solution.
"I see myself as being the quarterback here for a long time," Smith said through the New York Post. "I see myself helping this team turn things around. Obviously, I'm a part of the reason why we are in this position, so I'd love to be a part of the solution."
Smith has recorded 10 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in thirteen starts for the Jets this year, and against division rival Miami, who they visit to close their season, he has no touchdowns and two interceptions.
That said, the second year man from West Virginia believes the Jets can soon be a contender.
"I know that it takes hard work and not everyone is going to see the same things, but within this locker room, within this group of guys, we all see the potential we have as a team," Smith said.
He would be replaced after suffering a rout at the hands of Buffalo in Week 8, a contest in which he threw interceptions on three straight possessions and in which the team suffered 6 turnovers to end what became their seventh straight defeat against one victory.
And after which he was seen cursing at booing fans in the stadium, casting him in a still dimmer light, and attracting a fine from the league office downtown.
Still, he insists the view many have of him is not what he sees.
"The perception of me is definitely not accurate," Smith said to the Post. "I don't know what the reason is, but a lot of things get misunderstood and then once it's out there, it's out there and you can't get it back. I'm not going to fight those battles."
Misunderstanding, as Smith sees it, came this week after he was reported as saying "change could be good for all of us," with the implication being a change at the head coaching position. Though the quarterback said that comment was taken out of context.
"I love the guy, I love playing for the guy. He's my coach," Smith said of Rex Ryan, adding his comment was related to a coaching change he experienced at college.
Michael Vick replaced Smith in the first Buffalo game, and promptly threw an interception. Though he would, two weeks later, help the Jets to an upset victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers before being replaced himself by Smith in the tail-end of a 38-3 defeat in a rematch with the Bills.
December 2, 2014
Tuesday's football and hockey news off the wire:
East Rutherford, N.J. - Monday night found the Miami Dolphins win only their first contest out of 49 previous attempts when leading in the fourth quarter.
Miami (7-5) defeated the Jets 16-13 despite being outgained 277-74 on the ground by a New York side that dominated the line of scrimmage through three quarters.
Trailing 13-6 in the fourth quarter, however, Ryan Tannehill led a drive 39 yards after a Jets punt was pushed back on penalties.
Lamar Miller rushed for a 4 yard touchdown, the only time the Dolphins struck paydirt.
Caleb Sturgis booted the go-ahead field goal from 26 yards with 1:57 left, knocking the Jets to a 2-10 record and a very fragile future for Rex Ryan.
"I feel sick," Ryan said afterwards, adding after a long pause, "What a joke."
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Cleveland, Ohio - Browns head coach Mike Pettine is expected to make a decision by Wednesday as to who will start under center when Cleveland hosts the Colts Sunday.
"The door is definitely open for a change at the quarterback position," Pettine told ESPN. "We'll evaluate both quarterbacks and have a decision soon."
Starter Brian Hoyer, a Cleveland native, was benched in the fourth quarter of the Browns' 26-10 defeat at Buffalo last Sunday. In relief, Johnny Manziel led the team on a scoring drive including his 10 yard rushing touchdown, the rookie's first-career score in the professional ranks.
Hoyer threw 5 interceptions in his last two outings against no touchdown passes for Cleveland (7-5), including two picks against the Bills.
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Denver, Colo. - Max Pacioretty notched the game-winning goal for the Canadiens as they down the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 Monday night.
The game was tied 3-3 into the third period, but Pacioretty would not be stopped on a breakaway down the left side, firing from the circle past rookie Calvin Pickard.
Pacioretty leads the Canadiens with 20 points (12 goals, 8 assists).
Andrei Markov lit the lamp on a power-play for Montreal (17-7-2) in the middle frame on a cross-ice pass that left Pickard open to his right side. He also assisted P.K. Subban for the defenseman's 6th goal this season.
East Rutherford, N.J. - Ryan Tannehill led Miami on what became the game-winning drive as the Dolphins came back to defeat the New York Jets 16-13 Monday night.
A win in December that kept Miami in the AFC Wild Card chase.
A win that came despite losing three contests this season after holding fourth quarter leads in all of them.
A win that came despite being outrushed 277-74 and being handled at the line of scrimmage.
For three quarters, that is.
"I think we made some plays down the stretch," Tannehill said afterwards. "We struggled a lot all night, but in the fourth quarter, we were able to move the ball and make some plays."
He finished 25-for-35 on 235 yards passing and an interception, and became the first quarterback to complete 70 percent of his passes in 5 straight NFL contests.
Trailing 13-6 to begin the fourth quarter, however, Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins had yet to cross the goal line in New Jersey.
But he would lead Miami (7-5) on their sole touchdown drive of the game, which, against the lowly Jets, would be enough.
Miami secured possession at the Jets 39 after a New York drive stalled and their punt was pushed back 10 yards following a holding call against them.
Tannehill struck immediately when Jarvis Landry came open to the right side, snagging a 25 yard catch-and-run to the Jets 14. The quarterback rushed himself on a zone-read play when the middle came open to the Jets 9.
Lamar Miller carried on 3rd-and-2 for 5 more and Tannehill's would-be scoring toss to Brandon Gibson was high.
But Miller would feature the one rushing highlight of the evening for the Dolphins, powering for the 4 yard touchdown over the right side. The hole came open for the back when Mike Wallace went in motion to the left and the Jets followed him.
After New York's ensuing possession stalled on Koa Misi's sack of Geno Smith, Miami drove again, over 57 yards before Caleb Sturgis would finally take and hold the lead at the 1:57 mark, kicking from 26 yards.
Until then, the Jets' defense had been stellar.
New York (2-10) held the Dolphins to 6 first half points and exactly 25 yards rushing.
"We had a couple of opportunities," a dejected Jets coach Rex Ryan said afterwards, "thought the game plan was good. Did what we thought we wanted to do to win the game, run the ball."
Run the ball, they did. After one quarter, the Jets outrushed Miami 134-10, and would enter the halftime intermission leading them 210-15.
They ran so good, one wondered if the playbook had anything prepared for their quarterback.
Smith would attempt 6 passes in the first half, completing 3. Two 3rd-and-5 tosses of his were both high to Percy Harvin, the first of which would have given the Jets a goal-to-go series.
His last pass was intercepted with 34 seconds left in the contest after his throw for Jeff Cumberland in center field was bobbled and intercepted by Reshad Jones to end it.
That was Smith's 13th pass attempt, 7 of which were completed for 65 yards.
Early on, however, it looked as though the Jets were game for the upset.
Greg Salas raced around left end for a 20 yard touchdown rush on a give from Geno Smith on a misdirection play that had the formation going right. Salas went left and broke through an empty secondary before trotting into the end zone for the quick 7-0 lead.
Smith converted a 3rd-and-7 on the drive to Bilal Powell and New York was set up by Chris Johnson, who broke on a 46 yard rush, charging over the right, cutting left in traffic, and juking left again before streaking down the sideline into the red zone.
Chris Johnson finished with 105 yards rushing on 17 attempts and Chris Ivory gained 62 on one less carry.
But that dominance was lost when it was needed most.
"We had opportunities, a couple picks we dropped," Ryan added. "Not scoring after the Walls interception, missed a couple of field goals."
Darrin Walls picked Ryan Tannehill near the end of the third quarter after a tipped Jets punt gave the Dolphins possession on the New York 41. His pass for Lamar Miller was low and tipped upwards by the back, into the hands of Walls, who ran the other way for 30 yards to the Dolphins 30.
But Geno Smith was sacked on the 3rd-and-9 play of the succeeding possession when Cameron Wake finally overpowered the Jets' previously invincible front line for an 8 yard loss.
Nick Folk kicked only 2-of-4 field goals on the night and a third that barely crossed the threshold, bouncing off the center post and just inside.
Ryan Tannehill took over late after a failed Jets drive with the game tied 13-13 and slung to passes to Dion Sims for 18 yards and a 3rd-and-7 play that likely decided the outcome, a 17 yard completion to Sims to the Jets 14. Gibson caught to the 8 at the two-minute warning.
Caleb Sturgis kicked what would be the game-winner three seconds later, giving a boost to the Dolphins' Wild Card postseason chase and sending Rex Ryan and the Jets into oblivion.
"I feel sick," Rex Ryan said after a long pause, his famous bluster gone. "We can't buy a win. I can't believe we're 2-10."
He paused again and looked down under the brim of his hat.
"What a joke."
East Rutherford, N.J. - New York leads Miami 10-3 at the halftime break Monday night, and they did it the old-fashioned way.
By outright possession of the line of scrimmage through thirty minutes.
Bringing the league's third-best rushing offense into the night, New York outrushed Miami 210-15, after outgaining them 134-10 in the first quarter.
Chris Johnson rushed 11 times for 85 yards in the half, including a long of 47 gained on three cuts in traffic in the first quarter that led to the Jets' touchdown.
Chris Ivory gained 45 yards on 10 attempts. Jeremy Kerley added 38 and Percy Harvin 18 more on the ground.
New York (2-9) began from their own 6 yard line on their second drive in the second quarter. Chris Ivory carried for 8 over the middle for the team's 13th-straight rush and Percy Harvin snagged a pass through traffic to convert a 3rd-and-2.
Ivory rushed right after spinning from a would-be tackle at the line and galloped to the 29 and on 3rd-and-1 Harvin took an option-pitch from Geno Smith over the left for the conversion.
Jeremy Kerley took an end-around over the right for another first-down to the Miami 47 and at the five-minute mark, Ivory rushed for 11 more. Smith's toss to Percy Harvin on 3rd-and-5 was high down the sideline and Nick Folk missed the 48 yard field goal to the left.
Folk connected from 40 yards earlier, on a 44 yard drive, extending the Jets' lead 10-0 to open the second quarter as he is 19-of-22 on field goal attempts this season.
Miami's Ryan Tannehill connected on 3rd-and-4 to Dion Sims for a 20 yard gain to the Jets 25 with a minute left in the half. But David Harris sacked Tannehill on the next play after racing through the middle untouched for a 10 yard loss.
Mike Wallace got 8 yards back as he caught along the sideline and out of bounds but on 3rd-and-13 Landry's reception came well short.
Caleb Sturgis kicked from 43 yards as time expired on the half, having missed a 43 yarder in the first quarter.
Ryan Tannehill is 15-of-19 for 128 yards passing for Miami (6-5).
New York opened scoring on a 20 yard touchdown rush from Greg Salas, whose end-around give from Smith sailed through the Dolphins' secondary and into the end zone untouched for the 7-0 lead.
East Rutherford, N.J. - Geno Smith will start for the New York Jets when they host the Miami Dolphins on Monday night.
Head coach Rex Ryan announced the decision to give Smith a second shot at the job Wednesday morning.
"Everybody's on board with the decision," Ryan said. "I have said it all along that I feel we have two good quarterbacks, I definitely feel that."
Smith started the first eight games of the season for the Jets (2-9) before being benched in favor of Michael Vick for three games, though would himself replace Vick during the team's 38-3 defeat to the Buffalo Bills last Monday.
He has thrown only 7 touchdowns against 10 interceptions this season and has not started since facing a 43-23 defeat to Buffalo in Week 8, a game that found him throw interceptions on three-straight possessions.
Smith goes under center for the worst passing game in football (173.7 ypg) and will face the Dolphins' 4th-best pass defense (211.7 ypg) Monday night.
"Now is the opportunity for him to step back in and let's see how it goes," Ryan said of Smith. "I, for one, am excited to watch him. He has my support on this, and that's what I'll say about that."
The quarterback position across the field is slightly more stable.
Ryan Tannehill ranks 3rd in football with a 71 percent completion rate and threw 3 touchdowns last Sunday in Denver. Though his late interception would seal the 39-36 defeat in the fourth quarter.
They held an 11-point lead over the Broncos in that final session.
"As a competitor, you don't like to see it," Tannehill said of the loss. "We didn't score enough points in the second half."
His 20 touchdown passes are the 12th-best in the game, and his 8 interceptions are the 23rd least.
Mike Wallace leads the Dolphins' 14th-best receiving corps with 7 touchdowns on 592 yards. Jarvis Landry follows with 450 yards and 5 scores.
Miami (6-5) has struggled to an 0-3 record in contests decided by four or fewer points this season.
In addition to their loss at Denver, the Dolphins fell by 3 points to the Packers at home in Week 6 and at Detroit four weeks later by 4, both contests where late leads were lost.
They lost to Detroit on a touchdown pass with 29 seconds left in the game.
"We have to find a way to win some of those games," Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin said this week. "We're going to be in some more of those games. That's just the way the NFL is."
Though the Dolphins do boast the 10th-best rush defense, holding opponents to 104 yards per game. That strength will be tested against the Jets' 3rd-best rushing attack (136.5 ypg).
New York's Chris Ivory has rushed for 579 yards and 4 touchdowns and Chris Johnson for another score on 400 yards this season.
"They have an outstanding defensive line," Rex Ryan said of Miami's front. "If we can't block them it doesn't matter who you have at quarterback."
The two teams will meet again to conclude their regular seasons in Miami.
