Joe Namath criticizes Geno Smith’s knee injury
By John Buhler
Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback with the New York Jets Joe Namath is critical of current Jets quarterback Geno Smith for not playing through pain.
The New York Jets have struggled at the quarterback position for a long time now. Pretty much since ‘Broadway’ Joe Namath was the team’s elite signal caller in the 1960s. Week 7’s starting quarterback for the Jets Geno Smith suffered a knee injury and had to leave the game in the second quarter.
This was Smith’s first start of 2016. He was seen standing upright while watching Ryan Fitzpatrick earn back his starting job against the Baltimore Ravens. Namath couldn’t help himself and through some serious shade at the Jets’ former second-round pick in Smith.
If you've got a right knee injury keeping you out of the game why are you standing on the sideline the entire 2nd half? How bad can it be?
— Joe Namath (@RealJoeNamath) October 23, 2016
Smith completed four of eight passes for 95 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with a right knee injury. Fitzpatrick has come back in and helped give the Jets a chance at their second win on the season against Baltimore.
Maybe Smith is being held out for precautionary reasons by Jets head coach Todd Bowles? If Smith was full healthy, wouldn’t he be back in there for the Jets? He wasn’t playing badly for New York, but there is no reason to pull Fitzpatrick out of the ball game now.
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Until the Jets figure out their quarterback situation, they will never top the New England Patriots in the AFC East. Through the first six weeks, the Jets were one of the worst teams in football. Maybe Namath has a point about being tough? New York may win on Sunday, but this team seems to lack obvious mental toughness. Baltimore is spiraling out of control.