GENO JETS INTO ACTION
Fired up for his Giant opportunity
THE Giants’ locker room was more like a funeral home on Tuesday, silent with few players shuffling in and out after learning Eli Manning would not be starting for the franchise for the first time since 2004.
Yet, in the back right corner, just one locker over from Manning’s, there was a little bit of excitement growing from Geno Smith.
The 27-year-old quarterback was named the starter for Sunday in Oakland when the Giants play the Raiders, and while he sympathizes with Manning’s pain, he is fully ready to embrace the opportunity. Smith will become the first black starting quarterback in Giants history. The move to start Smith means all 32 teams in the NFL will have started a black quarterback for at least one game. “I’m always excited for an opportunity to play, but there’s no major reaction — didn’t throw a party or anything,” Smith said. “Great opportunity to go out there. I’ve had a year to get healthy, learn the system, learn the guys, so it’s a good opportunity and I’m looking forward to it.”
Smith found out from Ben McAdoo on Tuesday but said it did not come as a surprise. “I understand things happen in this business and you just got to be ready for whatever happens and I’ve been working hard,” Smith said. “I’ve been working behind the scenes, doing all the little things, so I expect them to pay off.”
It is a second chance for Smith, who signed a one-year deal with the Giants as a free agent after spending his first four seasons with the Jets, where he lasted just two seasons as a starter.
The former second-round pick also tore his ACL last October and has had to work his way back to beat out Josh Johnson for the Giants’ backup role. Now he heads to Oakland, the site of his last full game, back in 2015. “You know the last game I played was in Oakland. Take a look, it was a good one,” he said.
Smith completed 27 of 42 passes and threw for 265 yards, two TDs and an interception in a 34-20 loss after he was called to fill in for an injured Ryan Fitzpatrick. He has started just one game since then — Oct. 23, 2016 — when he tore his ACL. But this is a new environment for Smith, who is working in a different offense and with different teammates who he said were supportive of him upon learning he would be their quarterback this weekend.
“Guys were kind of fired up,” Smith said. “Guys are giving me hugs, handshakes and I think guys have witnessed my story from afar just seeing how things have kind of played out. So, I think they’re looking forward to that part of it . ... They’ve seen me get better throughout the year and I think they’re really eager to get to work during the week and try and go out there and get a victory.”
McAdoo said Manning would be the No. 2 quarterback this week, but Smith, a free agent at the end of the season, remains focused on the present. “I’m not looking too far ahead or too far behind. I look forward to this week,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a great matchup with Oakland. They’re a pretty good team. They’re down a couple guys, but they’re still playing tough defense. So, we just got to go out there and execute.”