Geno Smith’s broken jaw was avoidable, but it turns out the injury was really avoidable.
Former teammate IK Enemkpali punched Smith during an altercation in the locker room over $600. While Enemkpali was undeniably wrong to harm Smith, the New York Jets quarterback he shouldn’t have had an issue repaying the debt.
According to Brian Costello of the New York Post, former Jets linebacker Bart Scott said Smith could’ve used the ATM in the players’ lounge.
“I can understand how that situation can escalate, especially because there’s an ATM in the players’ lounge. Come on, bro, you’re walking by an ATM every day. It’s just bam, bam, get the money.”
Enemkpali’s actions should not be condoned, but Scott’s comments suggest Smith didn’t have much of an excuse to stiff the second-year player.
Though it seems unlikely in this modern technological era, perhaps Smith doesn’t have an ATM card. Regardless, the past cannot be changed. Enemkpali is now a member of the Buffalo Bills, and Smith is working to return sometime during the 2015 campaign.
For now, though, Ryan Fitzpatrick will lead the Jets. The team’s season-opener will arrive on Sep. 13 when New York takes on the Cleveland Browns, and, in the words of Scott, “Can’t wait.”