New Jets quarterback Geno Smith spent Saturday at the team’s facility, where he received his playbook and met with his new coaches.
“It’s a dream come true to finally hear my name called and to be a Jet is one of the things I’ll carry with me for a lifetime,” said Smith, who the Jets took in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday.
Smith had to wait through 38 picks before he was selected, and he did it on national TV as viewers watched him in the green room at Radio City Music Hall as pick after pick was called. Smith, 22, said it was “tough to stomach” but after initially saying he was going home after Round 1, he decided to return for Friday night and was there when the Jets chose him.
He now enters a quarterback battle. Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, David Garrard, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms are all on the roster still. The Jets will have to part ways with some of those guys before training camp starts. Smith made it clear he’s here to compete for the job.
“My goal is to be a franchise quarterback,” Smith said. “As of right now, there’s a lot of work to be done.”
The West Virginia star came under scrutiny during the predraft process and was criticized harshly by some. He said he’s not worried about that.
“My character and my play speak for itself,” Smith said. “The people who’ve known me my entire life and who have coached me have all come to my defense. As far as that goes, I’m just looking toward the future and really not worried about the past.”
Smith predicted the Jets would reach the playoffs after he was draft. On Saturday, he acknowledged getting carried away.
“I think it was a bit of a bold prediction,” he said. “I kind of got caught up in the moment. I think going into the season every team has the same goal and that’s to win the Super Bowl. I don’t see it as a bad thing, per se. As of right now, it may be a bit of a bold prediction.”