New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is trying new techniques to build relationships with his teammates this summer. In an act copying former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, Smith is gathering Brandon Marshall and many of the team’s skill-position players to the Chicago area to practice.
Let’s just call it “Smith’s Midwest.” When Sanchez was with the Jets, he would do the same thing by having his teammates join him in California for pre-training camp workouts.
“Yes, we will all be getting together,’’ Smith said, via the NY Post. “It’s about a month from us reporting for camp, so it’s very important for us to continue to build on what we ended with back in minicamp.’’
Smith and the team are heading slightly west to Chicago because Marshall’s wife, Michi, gave birth to twins recently. “We wanted to keep him close to them,” Smith reported.
According to Smith, he will be the only quarterback in attendance at the Chicago workouts. However, he noted if the Jets’ other quarterbacks wanted to attend, they are invited. Earlier this offseason, first-year head coach Todd Bowles stated that the starting job is Smith’s to lose.
As for Smith and Marshall, the two seem to be developing a deep bond, even rooming together during the team’s offseason activities.
Smith had this to say about his shiny new pass catcher:
“He’s a quarterback’s best friend. He’s a guy, for one, he’s a veteran guy; he understands the game on and off the field; he’s a beast of a player. You can’t say enough good things about him.”
If Smith could use anything moving forward, a seasoned veteran should do him wonders. It will be interesting to see if Smith can take advantage of having a high-caliber receiver like Marshall at his disposal for the first time in his NFL career.
Photo: USA Today Sports