Fed up with Geno Smith's inconsistent play, the New York Jets are finally giving Michael Vick a shot and putting the second-year quarterback on the bench. The Jets are currently losing 21-0 to the San Diego Chargers at halftime. Smith was removed after going 4-for-12 passing for 27 yards and an interception in the first half.
Jets bench Geno Smith for Michael Vick
The New York Jets benched Geno Smith in the midst of beatdown by the San Diego Chargers.
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Through 4.5 games, Smith showcased the same frustratingly inconsistent play that plagued him last year. He has alternately been a poised passer -- 82.1 completion percentage in an opening win over the Raiders -- and a turnover-prone liability -- two back-breaking interceptions against the Chicago Bears on a Monday night and Sunday's disastrous start.
At a glance, Smith’s season completion percentage of 60.3 looks decent, until you consider that the majority of those passes were short dumpoffs. Smith has failed to stretch the field, completing just 15.4 percent of his passes thrown at least 20 yards downfield.
Since signing Vick to a one-year, $4 million free agent deal in March, the Jets have given Smith every opportunity to lock down the starting job. What many anticipated would be one of the headline position battles of training camp never even got started, as Rex Ryan declared early on that Smith would be the man come Week 1. Vick graciously accepted his backup role as a late-stage evolution of his career, and all was rosy in the Meadowlands.
Vick, who was off to a solid start in Philadelphia last season before injuries allowed Nick Foles to swoop in and take the starting job, has stayed mostly on the sidelines up to this point, providing a sporadic change of pace. He attempted just one pass on the season before Sunday.
The Jets brought Vick in knowing that Smith could struggle, but they were hoping they wouldn’t have to turn to plan B just five games into the season.
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