Geno Smith spent his first full day as the Giants starting quarterback taking a shot at his critics.
Smith, the former Jets quarterback who will replace Eli Manning under center Sunday, got defensive when asked about his detractors and the negative reaction to him taking over for Manning. Initially, he pretended the criticism over the last 24 hours was news to him, before going on the offensive.
“I don’t feel any outside pressure or hear any noise,” he said after practice Wednesday. “I know this is a job, you got to do it, and I look forward to it. It’s all positive in here.
“Think I pay attention to what somebody who means nothing has to say?”
There has been ridicule of Smith since the stunning Tuesday announcement he would replace Manning, the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback and face of the franchise. Many have pointed to Smith’s struggles in his previous stop with the Jets, when he threw 36 interceptions, 28 touchdowns and completed 57 percent of his passes. The Jets were a combined 12-20 in his two years, 2013 and 2014, as the starter.
Most Giants fans would prefer to see rookie Davis Webb immediately, though the third-round pick is expected to get in a few games before this disappointing season ends. For now, Webb is still the third-string quarterback. But the Giants want to give Smith a chance first.
“He’s a talented player with a big arm,” coach Ben McAdoo said. “He can create. I want to see him run the offense, complete the ball, put points on the board and give us a chance to win.”
Wide receiver Sterling Shepard said: “I think he’ll keep drives alive. When the play breaks down, he’s definitely going to be a dual-threat guy. He can extend plays and you know a spiral is coming at you when it’s coming.”
There will likely be rust, he’s played so infrequently the last few years. The 27-year-old Smith appeared briefly in the Giants’ 51-17 loss to the Rams on Nov. 5, and got into two games with the Jets a year ago. His most recent start was Dec. 28, 2014, a 37-24 win over the Bills when he threw for three touchdowns and 358 yards.
But Smith contends the changes for him are minor. The only difference on this Wednesday from the others this year, he said, was more reps.
“I’ve been a starter before. I’m not surprised by this,” Smith said. “I think when you get the opportunity, you got to go out there and make the best of it. I’m excited, but I know there’s a lot of work to be done, so I don’t look at it as anything more than that, a chance to go out there and prove my worth.”
When it was suggested the situation was “unusual,” Smith challenged the reporter as to why. Then he told the media they should do some history on the sport, and how often situations like this have occurred. There is nothing out of the ordinary with this switch, he believes.
“It’s happened to the best of them,” Smith said. He later added: “It’s not awkward, hasn’t been awkward, Eli hasn’t made it awkward. No one in this locker room or on this team has. That is stuff from the outside.”