The acquisition of Geno Smith by the Las Vegas Raiders was a polarizing move at the time, and it has aged poorly. Even so, the beset signal-caller isn’t doing himself any favors with the fans—something that’s worth noting.
Raider Nation has been through the wringer as a collective fan base because of the organization’s unwillingness to properly address the most important position on a football team. Whether it’s because of ineptitude or bad luck is another debate. Still, once Pete Carroll was entrenched as the new head coach, it made sense that they’d go after a face he was familiar with.
Geno Smith has been a “bust” for the Raiders…
That’s where Smith comes in—at first, it seemed like a natural pairing. However, underneath, there were issues that raised red flags. Some obvious ones were Brennan Carroll taking over O-line coaching duties.
Another was the unwillingness by general manager John Spytek to dedicate resources to overhauling that same unit. When you do that, things tend to happen—i.e., the Chicago Bears in 2025. With that being said, Smith was destined for failure, and looking at his numbers and struggles on the field, the writing is on the wall.
You’d think the former two-time Pro Bowler would get a clue. In all likelihood, we’re seeing his final days as the Raiders’ starting quarterback. Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal even pointed out that Smith’s contract wasn’t a long-term commitment. What irks Raider Nation most is Smith’s pressers and how he addresses everything. His most recent comments about “having a bright future” set off social media.
This is the same guy who gave Raider Nation the middle finger, literally. Let’s be honest, Smith can’t anticipate anything these days; his protection is subpar, but he doesn’t help himself either. A bright future, he says, well, considering the guaranteed money he’s getting from the Raiders to throw interceptions and take sacks, maybe he’s got some financial strategy for life after football.
We’ve likely seen his last run as a starter in the NFL.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images