TODD HELP HIM
Bowles jaws about Geno throwing against doc’s orders
This is a Geno Smith pass that Jets coach Todd Bowles is going to intercept.
Bowles was unhappy with his injured quarterback after The Post photographed Smith on Saturday throwing a football with a friend in front of his apartment just two days after undergoing surgery on his broken jaw.
“He shouldn’t be doing it right now,” Bowles said. “We handled that internally. We had that discussion. He just got surgery. You don’t want him getting it infected.”
Smith was actually at the Jets’ training center on Sunday to meet with the doctors and trainers. He was there while the rest of team was at practice so players and coaches did not see him. Smith is still unable to sit in on meetings with the team. He had surgery on his broken jaw on Thursday, two days after getting slugged by now former teammate IK Enemkpali over a $600 debt.
Bowles said he would not discipline Smith, but he clearly was not happy with him.
“They said he couldn’t do anything physical, so I’m going by the rules of what they said so he doesn’t get an infection,” Bowles said.
Smith had a shirtless throwing session outside his apartment in Whippany on Saturday, telling The Post: “I feel great. You see me throwin’, right?”
His message to Jets fans was: “Get ready for me to come back.”
Smith is expected to be out 610 weeks, leaving Ryan Fitzpatrick to start the season. In the photos of Smith, he is seen wearing black under his eyes. Originally, it was thought to be eyeblack, but the Jets say he was wearing bandages from his surgery that keep the swelling down.
Bowles did not sound like he had spoken to Smith about his throwing session, but said it was handled as an organization. It is possible general manager Mike Maccagnan spoke to him.
Bowles said he was unsure how long it would be before Smith could attend meetings again.
“That’s up to the doctors and the healing process,” he said. “I couldn’t tell you at this time. Hopefully soon. I couldn’t give you a date.”
There is also a question of what kind of shape Smith will return in when he’s ready to come back. With a broken jaw, Smith’s diet could be restricted.
“I don’t know exactly what he’s eating,” Bowles said. “I’m assuming, and I’m not a doctor so don’t quote me on this, but you can drink protein shakes or something from a straw, but I have no idea about his meal plan. Hopefully, he doesn’t lose too much weight. You get stuff in your jaw, I think it’s going to be tough.”
For Smith, tossing the football around with his buddy is the latest example of poor decisionmaking by the thirdyear quarterback. Smith missed a team meeting last year the night before game, cursed out a fan, was thrown off a plane and failed to pay Enemkpali the $600 he owed him.
As the team goes forward, they must wonder whether Smith is the guy to be the longterm quarterback for the Jets.