Geno Smith Just Can't Get It Right for the New York Jets

How many chances can you give a person before you are forced to give up on them?

Whether it be a personal or professional situation, there comes a time where you have to face facts and admit that you may have made a mistake in relying on someone. 

It is time for the New York Jets to do just that with Geno Smith. 

Smith has been given every opportunity by the New York Jets organization. He started throughout his rookie season despite immense struggles, and he remained under center for the majority of his sophomore campaign, even after he committed back-breaking turnover after back-breaking turnover. 

To this point, the West Virginia product's lack of success in the NFL has been blamed on a talent-deprived supporting cast and a defensive-minded and indecisive coaching staff.

Now, it is clear that he simply isn't cut out to be a franchise quarterback in America's greatest league. He just doesn't have what it takes. 

Smith's problem isn't a talent-based one. He boasts prototypical size, tremendous mobility and a powerful arm. He looks like an NFL quarterback. But appearances can be deceiving.

Smith is a shell of the player he appears to be. His character has long been questioned, and Tuesday's altercation only confirmed what many around the NFL had already concluded. 

There is a reason why Smith was one of the last players waiting in the green room during the 2013 draft. Teams were scared off more by his character than his on-field talent, as every sensible mind knows you need both to succeed at the NFL-level. 

The fight between Smith and reserve linebacker IK Enemkpali isn't just one poor moment from the third-year quarterback but the latest incident in a series of troubling events. 

Just last year, Smith missed team meetings the day before an embarrassing loss to the San Diego Chargers and yelled a profanity at a fan after a disheartening defeat at the hands of the Detroit Lions. 

Being an NFL quarterback is a difficult and pressure-filled job, especially in the Big Apple. But franchise signal-callers don't miss meetings. They don't lose their cool and yell at fans. And they certainly don't get into physical altercations with their own teammates. 

Enemkpali is receiving the majority of the ire after Tuesday's fight, and rightly so. Sucker-punching anybody is an unforgivable offense, regardless of the situation at hand. But the fact that this event reportedly occurred over just $600 is plain embarrassing.

Frankly, it is incomprehensible. 

Mike Groll/Associated Press

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Rich Cimini, these two players ruined their careers over a half-dozen Benjamins. The defining moment in Enemkpali's career will be the punch, and it may be Geno's as well. 

The fact that the Jets locker room showed very little sympathy for Smith after the altercation says it all. Many believe the 24-year-old put himself in harm's way by being in the situation in the first place, and there are even rumors from the New York Daily News' Manish Mehta that witnesses to the punch believe he "deserved it." 

Regardless of what truly went down, it has become increasingly apparent that the Jets are ready to move on. 

New head coach Todd Bowles certainly wasn't happy with Smith when he spoke to reporters, and he made no guarantees that the former starter would reclaim his job when he comes back from injury. 

So now the Jets are relying upon veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick to lead them in Week 1 and beyond. Fitzpatrick doesn't boast anywhere near the talent of Geno, but his character and smarts are unquestioned. 

But a once-promising offseason in which the Jets managed to bring back two of the game's top cornerbacks, a No. 1 receiver and the draft's most talented player has dipped into chaos. 

And it's all because Geno Smith just can't get it right.