Lichtenstein: Giving Geno The Job Shows Jets Have No Idea What They're Doing
By Steve Lichtenstein
» More Columns
'Tis the season for flip-flopping, so why should I be surprised that the tactic has transcended politics and moved into the pro football domain?
As a Jets fan, I shouldn't be. It has been their go-to move whenever they have received bad press.
Just seconds into his post-game remarks Monday night following the Jets' 28-3 debacle in Arizona, coach Todd Bowles assured everyone that Ryan Fitzpatrick would be his starting quarterback for Sunday's home game versus Baltimore.
By Tuesday afternoon, Bowles was waffling, insisting he just didn't want to throw Fitzpatrick under the bus after a tough game and that the quarterback depth chart could actually be revised during this week.
Well, the decision came down from above (owner Woody Johnson?) on Wednesday and Fitzpatrick is out.
Geno Smith -- yes, the Geno Smith who has committed 43 turnovers in 32 career games -- has been elevated to the starting job.
MORE: Jets Make Switch To Geno Smith At Quarterback
I give up. This team has no idea what it is doing. The change is wrong-headed on so many levels.
Even though Fitzpatrick has had a horrendous season to date, with 11 interceptions in six games, the Jets are pretty much suggesting that Smith will save this season after their 1-5 start.
As if Smith, who has no sense of pocket pressure and telegraphs passes, would have had success against the Murderer's Row of top defenses the Jets have faced.
This switch has nothing to do with winning this week's game, anyway. If it did, half the team -- and the coach -- would also be yanked, as I pointed out in Tuesday's post. I'm still expecting Buster Skrine to trot out at cornerback, even after he was a flag magnet in Arizona.
This can't be about "seeing what Smith's got," either. By now everyone knows what Smith's (few) strengths and (many) weaknesses are. Bowles has seen him every day in practice, in the preseason, and in the pair of games he has relieved Fitzpatrick.
Bowles was feeling heat -- definitely from the media and possibly from his superiors -- and needed to do something to quiet the chorus.
Fitzpatrick's poor play made him an easy target. A quarterback is most often the face of the franchise, so it comes with the territory. I'm not trying to defend him, but a lot of folks are choosing to ignore the environment he has been operating in.
The schedule eases a bit in the coming weeks, so what's going to happen if Smith beats a few of the weaker teams to close the final year of his contract? That could actually be a worse scenario than if he spits the bit. We could have a replay of 2013, when Smith won the final three meaningless games and convinced the right people that he was the Jets' quarterback of the future.
A miserable Smith and the Jets went 4-12 the following season, which was the impetus for general manager Mike Maccagnan to bring in Fitzpatrick, a now-33-year-old journeyman, to compete with Smith last season.
Fitzpatrick played above his head in leading the Jets to 10 wins and he was (eventually) rewarded after a summer-long holdout with a one-year, $12 million contract.
I don't always agree with WFAN host Mike Francesa, but he hit the nail on the head in his rants the past few days lambasting the organization's lack of conviction. If Maccagnan really thought Smith was better than Fitzpatrick, then the Jets wouldn't have brought Fitzpatrick back.
LISTEN: Francesa Says Don't Expect Woody Johnson To Show Patience With Jets
Maccagnan obviously believed in Fitzpatrick over Smith, and now, after six games, including five against superior teams, he doesn't.
Look, if the move was made to Bryce Petty, who has been rehabilitating an injured shoulder since the final preseason game, or rookie second-round pick Christian Hackenberg, then you could argue that the Jets, albeit a bit prematurely, are taking a peak into their possible future before deciding how to proceed in the offseason.
But it wasn't.
The Jets are turning their keys over to Smith, who will almost assuredly turn the football over numerous times to the Ravens on Sunday.
For a FAN's perspective of the Nets, Jets and the NHL, follow Steve on Twitter @SteveLichtenst1