One Win Down, One Quarterback Down

There was the infamous Mark Sanchez “butt fumble”, the failed Tim Tebow experiment, the Rich Kotite era, Rex Ryan and his foot fetish, Bill Belichick’s one-day tenure as head coach, Sheldon Richardson’s screw ups,  only 18 winning seasons in their 55-year history, all lowlights for fans of the New York Jets.  However none sum up the combination of bad luck and ineptitude that have plagued the NFL franchise more so than the news that came out of their training facility in Florham Park Tuesday morning.

By now you have heard that starting quarterback Geno Smith will be out 6-10 weeks with a broken jaw suffered when he was cold-cocked by now former teammate IK Enemkpali.  The incident took place in the Jets locker room before their morning practice and apparently was over $600 Smith owed the little-used second year linebacker who was promptly released by the team. 

Smith was to attend a football camp Enemkpali ran in his Texas hometown last month but he bailed following the death of his brother’s best friend.  The money was for airline tickets and limousine service and Smith agreed to reimburse his teammate but apparently had not done so and that led to yesterday’s confrontation.

From all reports Smith was having a good training camp and showing improvement in his third year and now he’ll need surgery and in addition to missing the entire pre-season will be sidelined for the first 2-6 regular season games.  The Jets turn the ball and their hopes over to veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick who is not very good but at least is very smart; he graduated from Harvard.

While details of the Jets latest embarrassment were unfolding 96 miles away in Bristol, Connecticut the Jackson Little League All-Stars were winning their debut game in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament.  Sean Slusak’s three-run homer and Jake Wendell’s three-run double powered Jackson to a 7-4 win over Delmar, Maryland.  The 13 boys and three coaches get today off and will next play Red Land Little League of York Haven, Pennsylvania Thursday at 4 p.m. A win there and it would be on to the championship.