Recently signed New York Giants quarterback Geno Smith is eager to learn the intricacies of the game from two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning.
The New York Giants have made a number of high-profile moves during the 2017 offseason. From signing Brandon Marshall and D.J. Fluker to re-signing Jason Pierre-Paul and John Jerry, New York is actively attempting to build upon the success it experienced in 2016.
Though it’s feasible that he won’t play a single down in 2017, one of the more intriguing offseason moves thus far has been the signing of Geno Smith.
Smith, 26, is coming off of a four-year stint as a member of the in-state rival New York Jets. During that time, he fell from grace and went from being a full-time starter to being a backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bryce Petty.
According to Michael Eisen of Giants.com, Smith is eager to redeem himself by learning from a Hall of Fame quarterback in Eli Manning.
"“I want to carry my notepad around and whatever I see Eli doing, whether it’s in the classroom, on the field or off the field, I want to write it down. Because he’s a guy you can model yourself after. If you learn from a guy like that, we can all do a lot better.”"
That alone is reason to be intrigued by what the signing of Smith can do for both the Giants and his individual future.
Smith signed what was essentially a risk-free one-year deal with the Giants. He’s due a mere $775,000 in base salary, with a cap hit of just $1,087,500, and per game bonuses throughout his lone guaranteed season with New York’s stronger franchise.
Though he may not contribute much during the 2017 season on the field, he could make significant improvements by learning from one of the best quarterbacks in franchise history.
The best-case scenario would be that Smith flourishes as Manning’s understudy, lives up to his potential, and becomes the Giants’ next starter once the post-Manning era arrives. The worst-case scenario is that he struggles in 2017 and is allowed to walk via free agency.
Either outcome would come with minimal damage to what the Giants are attempting to accomplish with Manning under center.
Understanding that he likely won’t play in 2017, Smith told Eisen that he’s excited to be a part of a winning culture as he gets healthy and prepares for the next chapter of his career.
"“I think it will work out tremendously for me. And it’s also an opportunity to be on a real good team, a winning team, get healthy – it’s just a perfect scenario for me. I couldn’t have written it up any better myself.”"
It’s an ideal situation for a quarterback who was once regarded as an option for the No. 1 overall draft pick.
If Smith is as committed as he claims to be, then the results could be inspiring. Natural talent has never been the issue, but instead discipline both in the pocket, on the run, and on the practice field.
If Frank Cignetti, Ben McAdoo, and Manning can help Smith fix those flaws, then it stands to reason that the Giants could have an intriguing long-term project on their hands.
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One way or another, it’s encouraging to hear how committed Geno Smith is to learning from one of the greatest players in New York Giants history.