Is the Jets’ potential new starting quarterback already playing the role of diva?
NFL executives are wondering about that after Geno Smith followed his embarrassing draft-day fall by firing his agents this week, though the second-round pick from West Virginia insists the two events are not related.
“I don’t want to shed too much light on it, but it’s not because of the whole draft experience,” Smith told SiriusXM Radio yesterday when asked why he had dismissed Select Sports Group.
“It’s not because of one particular incident. There’s a number of things.And that story, you know, that battle will be fought on a different day.As of right now, I don’t feel too comfortable talking about all the details of it.”
Executives outside of the Jets aren’t completely sold there is no connection.
An NFC GM told The Post yesterday the sudden agent change — combined with an alleged pouting incident at the draft last Thursday — are “red flags” signaling that some of the harsh, pre-draft reports about Smith’s maturity and work ethic are accurate.
Smith reportedly made the agent change because he was upset at falling into the second round after being mentioned at various times as a possible top-10 selection. The Jets took him 39th overall after questions about his character contributed to what turned into a humiliating wait in the Radio City Music Hall green room Thursday night.
Firing his agents over their inability to get him drafted higher wouldn’t be the first sign of diva-like behavior from Smith.
Smith was so upset at being passed over the first round last week that he told ESPN at Radio City that he planned to leave New York before Friday’s second round. After apparent prodding from his advisors, Smith was convinced to stay for another day and attended the proceedings.
But Smith, who ended up sliding behind Florida State’s E.J. Manuel (taken 16th overall in the first round by the Bills), said there were no hard feelings toward his former agents over his draft positioning.
“I’m not bitter about where I was drafted, because I’m on a great team,” Smith told SiriusXM.
Per union rules, Smith must wait five days before being allowed to sign with a new agent. League sources speculated he could be headed to agent Joel Segal, though rap star Jay-Z’s new sports agency — which already counts Robinson Cano and Victor Cruz among its clients — is a possibility, too.