Fansided

Report: Top 10 Draft Team Passed on Geno Smith Because He’s a “Spoiled Brat”

By Josh Hill

Apr 26, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Geno Smith (West Virginia) is introduced as the number thirty-ninth overall pick to the New York Jets during the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Geno Smith (West Virginia) is introduced as the number thirty-ninth overall pick to the New York Jets during the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 26, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Geno Smith (West Virginia) is introduced as the number thirty-ninth overall pick to the New York Jets during the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Geno Smith (West Virginia) is introduced as the number thirty-ninth overall pick to the New York Jets during the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports /

One of the biggest stories coming out of the NFL Draft was the free fall that West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith took, dropping all the way to the second round. Smith fired his agent as a result, but NFL scouts from both conferences are sharing the sentiment that it wasn’t Smith’s agent, rather it was Smith’s diva attitude that caused the draft day tumble.

According to an ESPN New York report, at least one top-10 team passed on Smith because they thought he was a diva and an NFC scout went as far as calling Smith a spoiled brat that will have a tough time with the New York crowds.

“He’s going to have a tough time in New York,” an NFC scout said, via ESPN New York. “Right now, he’s coming off as a spoiled, pampered brat.”

Smith was blasted in a Yahoo! Sports article that claimed the quarterback was texting and on his phone during most of his team meetings leading up to the draft, and when asked about his character Smith said that who he is and how he plays speaks for itself.

“My character and my play speaks for itself,” Smith said. “The people who’ve known me my entire life, and who have coached me, have all come to my defense. As far as that goes, I’m just looking towards the future and really not worrying about the past.”

Obviously, there is one tried and true way for Smith to make all this animosity go away — he can play lights out football. But we really don’t know if he can do that in the NFL, and if he can’t, the history that’s already being written about him is less than flattering and may end up being a cautionary tale down the road for future self-involved rookies like Smith appears to be.