Geno Smith has made a revealing statement recently. The veteran quarterback had a great year in 2022 for the Seattle Seahawks. He was seen as the obvious replacement in the quarterback role after the exit of Russell Wilson. But after some problems in Seattle on the field, the team seemed hesitant at first to commit to a long term future for Smith. Once Pete Carroll was fired from the Seahawks, Geno Smith knew that the offensive situation in Seattle would change as well. And he has now pointed out that he believes his destiny was to end up in Las Vegas with the Raiders.
What has led Geno Smith to Nevada and the Las Vegas Raiders?
Geno Smith was at the first day of the 2013 draft fully expecting to be selected. To his dismay, all the teams passed on him which led to a fiasco surrounding his attitude and reaction to not being selected. He declined to be interviewed by ESPN after the first day of the 2013 draft came to an end. After some wheeling and dealing, he was eventually selected as the 39th overall pick by the New York Jets.
His time in New York was not to be a successful period for Smith. After some injuries and lackluster performances he was traded to the Giants and spent most of his time as the backup quarterback. However, once he made the move to Seattle, he began to show signs of his true potential. Proving to be an effective replacement for Russell Wilson. And for a while, it was good.
But after the teams less than ideal performance in the 2023 season, Pete Carroll was shown the door by the Seahawks. This proved troublesome for Geno Smith. He mentioned being concerned at having to adjust to yet another offensive playing style in a short time frame. But ever the professional, was committed to doing his best. What he was looking for was a commitment from the Seahawks. Which apparently came too late.
Will Geno Smith be part of the “Brady” revolution in Vegas?
Smith credits the contract problems with Seattle as one of the main factors in his decision to leave. Another was the fact that the coach he had just gotten used to playing for, Pete Carroll, was now coaching the Raiders. He maintained a relationship with Carroll during last season and mentioned reaching out to Carroll for advice. Imagine a rival coach giving a player advise on how to improve his game?
The stars indeed were aligning to Geno Smith playing for the Las Vegas Raiders. His affection for Carroll and his offensive coaching staff was a defining factor in his decision. One more thing he mentioned was the idea of being part of a team that has Tom Brady as part owner of the organization. Tom Brady is a living legend and the opportunity to interact with him must be a serious attraction for any player.
After the Seahawks made an initial offer to Smith, they stated that they got no response from his representation. For any team in the NFL, they know exactly what that means. The Raiders have reportedly offered Smith a similar amount to what he would have received in Seattle. Which points to the evidence that the move had nothing to do with money. We must consider most teams are looking to the draft at the moment.
The Raiders have the opportunity to make a comeback to the top of the NFL.
The NFL is changing rapidly. Players and teams are making more money than ever. The NFL is still one of the most watched programmes in America. With those kind of broadcast numbers, the league and indeed the teams have been forced to reinvent themselves. The Raiders have a long and proud history of being the rebellious team in the NFL. With Geno Smith they now have a veteran quarterback that has 11 seasons in the NFL. They appear to be making some serious plans for their future. Can they return to their 90’s success?
