According to the New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta, the brash head coach briefly considered bringing Smith with him to Buffalo this past offseason.
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In making his first public comments two days after punching and breaking Smiths jaw during an altercation in the Jets locker room, Enemkpali referred only to something that happened, spoke for just 45 seconds and declined to take any questions. “This is something that happened in the locker room and we’re dealing with it internally and that’s where we are right now”.
It has gone from discussing Enemkpali’s obvious anger-management issues to a scenario in which the Jets quarterback is at fault and, we are told, had it coming to him. He just got surgery.
Smith was actually at the Jets’ training center on Sunday to meet with the doctors and trainers.
Bowles was asked when the QB would be able to return to the team on a full-time basis, if not to play then at least to attend team meetings. Smith had plates and screws inserted into the jaw, which was broken by a punch from then-teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali on Tuesday. Yet many pundits and fans have been guilty of piling on Smith, literally adding insult to injury. Yes, wearing eye black outside of his apartment. “No one deserves a broken jaw, but his involvement in a “very childish” altercation (Todd Bowles’ description) reflects poorly on the quarterback”.
Bowles did not sound like he had spoken to Smith about his throwing session, but said it was handled as an organization. Bowles didn’t speak directly to Smith, who was examined by the medical staff, but it’s believed that general manager Mike Maccagnan expressed the organization’s position in a sit-down with Smith.
“Testosterone”, Bowles said, explaining the dust-ups.
“That’s up to the doctors and the healing process”, he said. “Smart, he knows the game, seems like he knows where you’re gonna be before you get there, it’s pretty good”.
The action itself is not a big deal, but the implications such an action could’ve had on Geno Smith is enormous. “I just walked to the line”. It’s not disappointing; it’s something you don’t want to do. “I’m assuming, I’m not a doctor so don’t quote me on this, that you can drink protein shakes or something from a straw, but I have no idea about his meal plan as far as hopefully he doesn’t lose too much weight”. “You get stuff in your jaw, I think it’s going to be tough”.
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Walker spent part of last season on the Patriots’ 53-man roster and practice squad. Smith’s base salary exceeds $1 million, which leads me to believe that he had the funds available to pay his debt to IK.
