MOUTH PEACE
Smith tries to move on from jaw-breaking incident
Geno Smith may as well have had his jaw wired shut when he met reporters Monday for the first time since a teammate broke his jaw last month with a punch.
Smith ducked questions at his locker about the Aug. 11 incident when now exteammate IK Enemkpali punched him and sent him to the sidelines for the start of the season.
“I really don’t want to talk much about the incident. I put it behind me,” Smith said. “We’re focusing on the Cleveland Browns as a team. We’ve got a big game ahead of us. That’s all that really matters at this point.”
About the only thing the thirdyear quarterback did say is he has no plans to file charges against Enemkpali, who signed with the Bills’ practice squad on Monday. Other than that, Smith did his best Mark McGwire impression and said he was not there to talk about the past.
Smith took no ownership or blame for the incident that was sparked by Smith owing Enemkpali $600 in travel expenses for a trip to a Texas football camp that Smith ended up not attending. There are varying stories of what occurred in the locker room that day with some people saying Smith was jawing with Enemkpali and pointing his finger in the linebacker’s face before the punch. Others say it was a straight sucker punch that Smith never saw coming.
Smith would not touch the details. He said he was not embarrassed and would not answer when asked if he deserves any blame. He also did not answer why he did not just pay Enemkpali the $600.
“I hate the fact that I’ve got to answer so many questions about myself because it’s more of a team thing,” Smith said. “It’s more about the team than myself.”
Asked if he learned a lesson, Smith said yes but then would not say what that was.
“There’s always a lesson learned in any situation good or bad,” Smith said. “Obviously, I have learned something. I don’t want to keep talking about it. I hate the fact that we have to. I just want to move on and that’s what I’ve done.”
As for the photos The Post took of Smith throwing a football outside his home two days after jaw surgery, Smith said that was not a big issue, even though the Jets were unhappy with him after that.
“I was just outside tossing the football with my dad. It’s not that big of a deal,” he said. “Obviously, you’ve got to follow the doctor’s orders.”
Smith took a step for ward in practice Monday, participating in team drills and wearing a helmet for the first time since the incident. Coach Todd Bowles said despite that step, the time frame remains the same for Smith’s return. The Jets expect him to miss at least the first four games.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is starting in place of Smith this week against the Browns, and Bowles has said he might not switch back to Smith if Fitzpatrick plays well in his absence. Smith said he is not thinking about that.
“I don’t focus on things of that nature,” he said. “I just continue to work hard, continue to stay focused.”
Smith acknowledged that missing the preseason hurt his ability to develop chemistry with the receivers.
“I would have loved to be out there in the preseason,” Smith said. “But sometimes you’ve got to play the cards that you’re dealt. So I’m not going to sit here and say that I regret it, because it happened and you’ve just got to move forward and get better and figure out ways to still be on top of the game.”