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Geno Smith

Seahawks To Re-Sign Geno Smith

April 14th, 2022 at 1:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks have, as expected, retained backup quarterback Geno Smith. A new deal being agreed upon between the two sides was first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz and corroborated by USA Today’s Josina Anderson (Twitter link). 

ESPN’s Jeremey Fowler details that the new contract is one year in length, and has a maximum value of $7MM (Twitter link). That represents a sizable raise for the 31-year-old, who had previously earned no more than $1.2MM in a single season during his tenure in Seattle.

Smith stepped in for the injured Russell Wilson midway through the 2021 campaign. In four total appearances (including three starts), he threw for 702 yards and five touchdowns, completing over 68% of his passes. While the team only won one of those games, Smith’s level of play was higher than that during most of his NFL tenure.

It came as little surprise, then, that head coach Pete Carroll publicly stated the team’s intention to re-sign him. While the Seahawks also have former Bronco Drew Lock as a result of the Wilson trade, Smith is expected to compete for the starting role, something reflected by the financial value of this new pact.

This deal, of course, doesn’t guarantee that Seattle is set with those two at the top of the depth chart for 2022. The team has been named (as recently as yesterday) as a potential trade destination for the likes of Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo; they also hosted Desmond Ridder for a draft visit, signalling that they could be willing to select a future franchise signal-caller. Regardless of their future plans, they will clearly have a familiar face available to serve as, at a minimum, an experienced backup.

Latest On Seahawks’ QB Situation, D.K. Metcalf

March 29th, 2022 at 11:00am CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks feel as though they have their next starting quarterback in Drew Lock, but they are one of few remaining teams expected to make another move of some kind at the position. It comes as no surprise, then, that head coach Pete Carroll says the team is “still in the quarterback business” as noted by Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. 

Which veteran the team would prefer to bring in isn’t a mystery, either. Carroll confirmed they are still trying to re-sign Geno Smith, who has been with Seattle for the past two seasons. The former Jet, Giant and Charger started three games in Russell Wilson‘s absence last year, throwing for 702 yards and five touchdowns, along with one interception.

“It just hasn’t happened” Carroll said of Smith. “It’s a negotiation.” It became clear even before the Wilson trade that Seattle wanted to retain the 31-year-old, who was arrested on suspicion of DUI in January. As Condotta notes (on Twitter), Smith is likely trying to leverage a more lucrative deal from Seattle “knowing they plan for him to compete to start and not just be a backup”.

Meanwhile, Carroll also addressed the contract status of receiver D.K. Metcalf. “We intend for him to be with us”, he said (Twitter link). The former second-rounder’s rookie contract expires at the end of the 2022 campaign, making him eligible for an extension – which would keep Metcalf in Seattle, something he expressed a desire for towards the end of the season.

While Carroll stated that “we have not gotten to that topic yet”, he added that “there’s no way I could imagine playing without him”. Included in some trade rumors, especially after the departures of Wilson and Bobby Wagner, Metcalf being signed long-term would provide some significant stability on an offense facing questions at the game’s most important position. In his three seasons, the Ole Miss alum has averaged 72 catches, 1,057 yards and just under 10 touchdowns per year.

Seahawks Want To Re-Sign Geno Smith

March 4th, 2022 at 11:41am CST by Zachary Links

In a matter of days, Geno Smith will be eligible to sign with any team in the NFL. Still, head coach Pete Carroll hopes that the quarterback will stay put (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times).

[RELATED: Mutual Interest Between Seahawks, Penny]

Smith was arrested on suspicion of DUI in January, a potential roadblock to his future prospects. The quarterback has yet to be charged in connection with that incident, however, which may help his standing in Seattle.

“Being arrested brings a taint onto the reputation that is impossible to undo, no matter what really happened,” Smith said in a tweet following the arrest. “I’m asking all of you to hold back on judging me the same as you would do for a friend or family member. I’ll have more to say down the road & ask that you [bear] with me.”

Smith has spent the past two seasons as the backup in Seattle. In 2021, he made four appearances while Russell Wilson was sidelined with a broken finger. Smith was victorious just once in three starts, but he did throw for 702 yards and five touchdowns against just one interception, a major upgrade over his early pro work.

Seahawks’ Geno Smith Arrested On Suspicion Of DUI

January 11th, 2022 at 1:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

While there is plenty of drama and speculation around the Seahawks’ starting quarterback, their backup made headlines after their regular season came to a close. Geno Smith was arrested on suspicion of DUI early Monday morning, according to a report from ESPN’s Brady Henderson. 

Smith was arrested just after 2:00 am on Monday and released on his own recognizance around 9:30 the same morning. According to an update from the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta, a report from the Washington State Patrol indicates that Smith was driving 96 mph in a 60 mph zone, and that he “grew increasingly agitated” while realizing he would be arrested. In addition, Smith refused a blood alcohol breath test, meaning blood had to be drawn on the authority of a warrant, and with Smith “having to be placed under restraints”.

Smith, 31, said in a Tweet, “Being arrested brings a taint onto the reputation that is impossible to undo, no matter what really happened. I’m asking all of you to hold back on judging me the same as you would do for a friend or family member. I’ll have more to say down the road & ask that you bare [sic] with me.”

His attorney added that “Geno is fully cooperative with the investigation” and that “I hope that an open mind can be kept by all as the facts are ascertained”. After Smith was present for the team’s end-of-season player meeting later in the day Monday, Head Coach Pete Carroll said, “I checked in with him. We have to let his people handle all that”.

Smith has spent the past two seasons as the backup in Seattle, a stretch that includes four appearances in relief of Russell Wilson after the latter’s broken finger this season. He won one of his three starts, completing 68.4% of his passes for 702 yards, five touchdowns and one interception overall. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent in March.

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson Exits Thursday’s Game

October 7th, 2021 at 9:50pm CST by Ben Levine

Russell Wilson is one of the NFL’s few iron men, but the Seahawks quarterback was forced to exit tonight’s game against the Rams. Wilson was pulled in the second half of tonight’s contest after suffering a hand injury, per Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (via Twitter). The QB was officially listed as questionable to return.

Before exiting the game, Wilson had completed 11 of his 16 pass attempts for 152 yards and one touchdown (vs. one interception). While attempting a pass to Tyler Lockett during the third quarter, the QB’s hand slammed against the helmet of a Rams defender. Replays showed Wilson walking toward the sideline with a mangled hand, and after getting some quick treatment, he finished the drive with a hand off. He came back on the field for the next drive but only attempted one pass.

Wilson was finally replaced by backup Geno Smith, who completed each of his five pass attempts en route to a touchdown on his first drive of the game.

If Wilson is forced to miss any time thanks to the injury, it will be the first regular season game he’ll sit out since entering the league in 2012. Smith is the only other QB on the depth chart, but he hasn’t started a game since 2017. The Seahawks are also rostering quarterback Jake Luton on the practice squad.

 

Seahawks Re-Sign Geno Smith

April 22nd, 2021 at 3:24pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Russell Wilson isn’t the only Seahawks quarterback staying put for 2021. Seattle has re-signed backup signal-caller Geno Smith, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

Smith has been Wilson’s clipboard holder for the past two seasons now. It’s been a pretty relaxing job as Smith has only appeared in one game over the past two years, attempting five passes last season. The 39th overall pick of the 2013 draft, Smith spent his first two pro seasons as the Jets’ starter.

Since then he’s started only two games, one more for the Jets in 2016 and one for the Giants in 2017. He then backed up Philip Rivers with the Chargers in 2018. Smith isn’t exactly young anymore, as he’ll turn 31 in October.

As such, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Seahawks drafted a quarterback in the middle rounds next week, especially with Wilson’s future with the team still somewhat up in the air.

This Date In Transactions History: Giants Bench Eli Manning

November 28th, 2020 at 10:24am CST by Ben Levine

Three years ago today, it was looking like Eli Manning‘s career with the Giants was coming to an end. On November 28, 2017, the organization announced that they’d be benching the future Hall of Famer for Geno Smith (we know, we know…this isn’t actually a transaction, but it’s not everyday an organization releases a press release regarding a BENCHING).

“Geno will start this week,” said then-head coach Ben McAdoo. “Over the last five games, we will take a look at Geno, and we will also give Davis [Webb] an opportunity.”

While the move certainly came as a surprise, there was some merit to the decision. It was already a lost season for the Giants, as the team was out of the playoff picture with a 2-9 record. The organization apparently thought it was useful to evaluate their younger options as they looked ahead to the 2018 campaign.

On the flip side, there were also plenty of reasons to stick with the Manning. His illustrious resume included a 210-game starting streak, the then-second-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history (behind Brett Favre (and since passed by Philip Rivers)). The Giants gave Manning the option to still start the upcoming games, but the veteran said it was “pointless” and disingenuous to start a game that he wouldn’t finish. Further, it wasn’t like the quarterback had even bad that bad during the 2017 campaign. Despite the team’s record, Manning had still completed 62.5-percent of his passes for 2,411 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions through the first 11 games…and that was with major injuries to wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall.

The move was instantly criticized around the NFL. Former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said he was “very upset” by the decision, and many pundits suspected the move came from higher-ups like Jerry Reese and John Mara. Naturally, there were also a number of articles pertaining to trade theories, with the Jaguars, Broncos, and Cardinals listed as potential suitors.

How did the move work out? Not great. The Giants lost by seven to the Raiders with Smith under center. The former second-rounder did manage to complete 61.7-percent of his passes for 212 yards and one score, and he added 13 yards on the ground. However, he also had a fair of key fumbles that could have changed the Giants’ fortunes.

Days following the loss, McAdoo was fired, and interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo reinserted Manning back into the lineup. Manning proceeded to start the rest of the Giants games that season, and he started all 16 of their games in 2018. Manning’s career would ultimately come to an end following the 2019 campaign…but still, that was two years later than what many thought on this date in 2017.

NFC West Notes: 49ers, Kittle, Seahawks

May 25th, 2020 at 9:44am CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers already know that they want to keep George Kittle for the long haul, but they also know that it won’t come cheap. Kittle is on course to become the league’s highest-paid tight end of all-time. As Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com explains, Kittle’s value goes beyond the gaudy yardage and touchdown totals.

In Kittle’s 14 games last year, the Niners averaged 4.83 yards per carry and tallied 23 TDs on the ground. Without him? They averaged just 2.63 yards per carry with zero rushing scores.

“What’s amazing about him is what he does in the running game,” former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum said. “He’s a dominant blocker and he’s been dynamic in the passing game. He’s a rare weapon that I think is more valuable than just a regular tight end because he can block so effectively.”

Then, of course, there are the obvious drivers behind Kittle’s value. Since 2017, Kittle has amassed 2,945 receiving yards, the most of any TE inside of their first three pro campaigns. in NFL history. And, in the past two seasons, he’s totaled 1,464 yards after the catch, good for No. 2 in the league.

It’s pretty much a given that Kittle will top Hunter Henry‘s $10.6MM average annual value, as well as Austin Hooper‘s four-year, $42MM watermark for the largest total contract among TEs. How much further will it go? Wagoner expects Kittle and the Niners to settle for a four-year deal in the range of $68MM-$72MM with roughly $40MM in guarantees.

Here’s more from the NFC West:

Seahawks To Bring Back Geno Smith

May 14th, 2020 at 3:52pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks have agreed to re-sign Geno Smith on a one-year deal, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Smith first joined Seattle almost exactly one year ago today and spent the year in Seattle, though he did not see time on the field. 

Smith couldn’t have expected much playing time as he sat behind Russell Wilson, who has never missed a game in his eight-year career. He also probably didn’t expect to be released in late August and re-signed on September 1, but that’s exactly what happened.

The Jets installed Smith as their No. 1 QB after selecting him the second round of the 2013 draft, but Smith never looked the part of a starter. The Jets managed an 8-8 record in Smith’s first year under center, but Gang Green went just 3-10 in his second season. He was looking for redemption in 2015, but that campaign was erased by the fist of teammate IK Enemkpali in a locker room fight. If not for the ButtFumble, that incident would probably stand as the most infamous in modern Jets history. Smith, who is now years removed from his original team, may never shake that from his legacy.

In 2018, Smith hooked on with the Chargers, but threw only four passes as Philip Rivers‘ backup. Before that, he spent a year with the Giants, mostly behind Eli Manning but famously started one game ahead of him (much to the fans’ chagrin). This time around, Smith will look to find his place on the roster as he competes against undrafted rookie free agent QB Anthony Gordon.

Seahawks Geno Smith: I Had Better Offers

September 6th, 2019 at 3:37pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks dropped quarterback Geno Smith prior to the 53-man roster deadline, only to re-sign him two days later. For the Seahawks, it was a clever way to shuffle the roster – for one reason or another, they did not fear losing Smith to another team in free agency.

But, according to the one-time Jets starter, he drew more lucrative offers than what the Seahawks were willing to give him after his brief break from the team.

“I had some teams call me, actually offering me more money,” Smith said, via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. “But, I decided to stay. . . . It’s always tempting when you get offered more money, right? But I didn’t want to move.”

Smith’s 2019 salary is believed to be $805K, the same as his original contract with the Seahawks. We have yet to hear of specific clubs that were interested in signing Smith during his 48-hour stint on the market.

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