Geno Smith seemingly isn't a bad person, but the former Seattle Seahawks quarterback does have a bit of a temper. It got him in trouble with his first team, the New York Jets, when a teammate punched him in the face. With Seattle, Smith could cause teammates to tune out during games because of his volatility.
This isn't anything that couldn't be viewed on a broadcast. Smith might be seen brooding on the sidelines after a negative play or demonstrably discussing something that just happened with a teammate. As the quarterback, he was going to automatically be a leader, but was he a good one?
The Geno Smith 12s saw in interviews or post-game reactions was not likely the same one behind the scenes. Few players are. There is a public face and a private one. The private one matters more. Still, the public one is how many football fans will judge the quarterback.
Geno Smith proves he is far too emotionally against the Seattle Seahawks
And the new Las Vegas Raiders quarterback should be judged harshly for his callous act as he and his new teammates entered Lumen Field near the beginning of the Seahawks and Raiders preseason game. A fan held up a sign near where Vegas entered that read, "Bigger Bust - Geno Or JaMarcus Russell?"
A silly sign? Sure. If the person was a Seahawks fan, what do they care about Russell, a first-round bust for the Raiders in 2007? So long ago, in fact, that there should be no emotional value connected to the fan's sign. Plus, it could have been worse and more personal.
But instead of ignoring the sign, and every professional athlete should because reacting to such things only looks like a sign of weakness, Smith turned around and raised both middle fingers toward the fan. Teammate Maxx Crosby, following Smith's lead, turned and did the same. Geno Smith went low when he should have moved on, and he got a teammate to do the same.
Two things here. The NFL could easily fine Smith and Crosby for what they did, and likely will. Maybe Smith should pay Crosby's fine.
Secondly, Smith's actions coming onto the field in his first game back against the Seattle Seahawks, a team he requested to be traded from this offseason, will be remembered. The action isn't exactly the same as Earl Thomas being carted off the field in 2018 and raising his middle finger toward Pete Carroll, but it's not far off either.
A big reason that general manager John Schneider overhauled the offense so much this offseason was not just on-field issues. Geno Smith and DK Metcalf were far too emotionally affected by what others did, and Schneider thinks Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp will add calming presences for an overall young roster.
If nothing else, Smith proved Schneider's thinking to be correct. The quarterback foolishly let a dumb sign affect his attitude in a preseason game. Then the new Raiders quarterback played one series against the Seahawks, where he was one of three passing, and his team punted while playing backups for Seattle. Good luck, Las Vegas!