No, I don't view any free passes...
Jets quarterback Geno Smith, involved in two unflattering, off-the-field incidents this offseason, was addressed recently by general manager John Idzik and coach Rex Ryan on the importance of managing his celebrity.
"No, I don’t view any free passes," Idzik said NOT VIEWING HOW DUMB THAT SOUNDS. "We hold our players to a high standard — on the field and off the field. That’s part of acting like a Jet. It’s not only playing like a Jet, it’s acting like a Jet. NO, OF COURSE NOT LIKE WINSLOW. OR GOODSON. NO, NOT NAMATH EITHER, GOD. Everyone understands that."
Smith was recently involved in an altercation with a flight attendant at Los Angeles International Airport. CHECKOUT MY COMMA SKILLS Previously, an Atlanta woman, claiming she had an affair with Smith, posted a lewd photo on Instagram that she alleged to be of the quarterback.
"When you’re a quarterback in the NFL and you’re a quarterback for a franchise in a big market such as New York IF THIS WERE RODGERS IN GREEN BAY, NO BIG DEAL, all eyes are on you 24/7," Idzik said. "I think Geno is experiencing this first-hand. Obviously, I’ve kept in close contact with him WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY KEEPING HIM OUT OF TROUBLE. This is part of learning how to deal with these things.
"We’ve addressed them, he’s addressed them, so [I have] no real concerns that way JUST IN MANY OTHER WAYS. ALL OTHER WAYS, REALLY. I TOLD JOHNNY It’s just how to deal with your celebrity and the visibility that goes along with that position WAIT ARE WE STILL TALKING ABOUT GENO SHIT I WAS THINKING OF SOMEONE ELSE."
Smith, addressing reporters at the same team event, refused to answer questions about the airplane fracas. He issued a joint statement with Virgin America, basically (SO…60%) accepting its apology.
Smith acknowledged that he spoke to Ryan about the potential pitfalls of life in the limelight.
"Rex basically explained that he and I, because of the position we’re in — head coach and quarterback — we’re looked at differently AND THAT HE WILL KEEP HIS JOB NO MATTER HOW POORLY HIS QUARTERBACK PERFORMS."
"It’s not a big deal," he said. "I just have to continue to do things that got me here, which is be myself AND BE AVAILABLE IN A WEAK DRAFT CLASS."
[FROM ESPN.COM]