Almost exactly a year ago, the Las Vegas Raiders had the natural optimism that came with having a new head coach. The credibility Pete Carroll came with was a refreshing change, and the move to acquire quarterback Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks was seen as more than fine.
Of course, we know how it went in practice. It wasn't all his fault, but Smith threw 17 interceptions (tied for most in the league) and was sacked a league-high 55 times despite missing two games. Carroll was one-and-done after a 3-14 season, and Smith is now a New York Jet.
Smith's career journey has been unique, from failed high draft pick with the Jets to being a backup for a couple of teams to starting three seasons for the Seahawks to now back in New York. As much as the Raiders have failed to find a good quarterback, the Jets have actually been worse on that front.
The current expectation in New York is for Smith to be the bridge to the next young quarterback they find a way to ruin (too harsh?). And while the Raiders signed him to a contract extension after acquiring him, the general idea was the same when he was in Silver and Black.
For his part in helping secure the No. 1 overall pick later this month, that mission was actually accomplished.
Aaron Glenn is already setting Jets fans up to be disappointed by Geno Smith
Jets fans don't have to be all that old to remember Smith's initial failed tenure in New York. But he's a different man and quarterback than he was then, so it's ok to have some general optimism about what he might do in his second act with the team.
Not that a head coach will do anything other than fuel that optimism publicly, just as Carroll did with Smith over and over. But at the league meetings on Tuesday, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn took things up a notch from the flowers Carroll persistently gave Smith.
"There’s something about a quarterback with a chip on his shoulder," Glenn said. "Listen, he's proven a lot in this league of what he's done. Especially when you take those times when he was in Seattle. Listen, he fits exactly what we're trying to do. Obviously, we’ve created an identity. The foundation of our offense is pretty good now.”
The Glenn dropped the headline-making quote.
"I just feel like he's the guy that's going to lead us to the promised land."
Glenn didn't stop there though.
"Listen, I know he had his struggles. I think a lot of quarterbacks, they have their struggles. If you look at, over the last five years, the guys that have thrown the most interceptions, the top guys are up there.”
After a rough first season as the Jets' head coach, Glenn's job is undeniably on the line next season. So he has to talk himself into the starting quarterback he has, whoever it is, since they have a large portion of his tenuous job security in their hands.
But Glenn also channeled Carroll's praise of Smith at a level Jets fans should be alarmed by, and Raiders fans can now just laugh about.