Rex Ryan defends Geno Smith's puncher, who might start for the Bills
Ryan calls infamous punch 'an unfortunate thing that happened' to IK Enemkpali -- not Geno Smith
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2 min read
Eleven or so months ago, Geno Smith entered training camp as the starter of the Jets. After two lackluster seasons, Smith needed a resurgent year to give his career some much needed oxygen. He ended up exiting training camp on the injury list.
Smith was never given the chance to keep the starting job. In August, Smith lost the gig to Ryan Fitzpatrick when IK Enemkpali punched him in the jaw. Smith needed surgery, missed the opening weeks of the season, and never regained his job from Fitzpatrick.
Enemkpali, now a member of the Bills, seems to be having a tough time shaking free of the incident, which reportedly stemmed over a $600 unpaid plane ticket. Just ask his head coach, Rex Ryan.
"Everybody sees him as the guy who punched Geno or something like that," Ryan said, according to ESPN. "This guy's just a football player and that's what he wants to be known as, and that was just an unfortunate thing that happened to him."
Wait, so Smith getting clocked by Enemkpali was just "an unfortunate thing that happened" to Enemkpali? Ryan's whole schtick is to make outlandish comments -- I get that -- but did he really make Enemkpali out as the victim?
It's Smith who suffered, both physically (broken jaw) and career wise (he lost his starting job). I guess, though, this shouldn't really come as that big of a surprise given Ryan made Enemkpali a captain before a game against the Jets last year.
Ryan's comment above is one way to characterize what transpired a year ago. Jets head coach Todd Bowles' comment below, given after the incident, is another way to characterize the punch heard around the league.
Todd Bowles: "You don't walk up to another man and punch him in the face."
— Ben Shpigel (@benshpigel) August 11, 2015
That's not to say Enemkpali shouldn't be given another chance to play in the league. He's getting that chance and, with first-round pick Shaq Lawson recovering from offseason surgery, Enemkpali might even start for the Bills this year.
"Absolutely he could (be a starter) with Shaq being on the shelf," Ryan said, per New York Upstate. "Yeah, no doubt. ... IK's done really well. I think we had him with the ones primarily today. We're bumping guys around and stuff but, yeah, he'll have a chance. IK is a physical player. He's doing a much better job in his pass-coverage responsibility. So I could definitely see him pushing for playing time, without question."
Thursday, September 15 -- that's when the Bills and Jets will meet on the field, though the storyline will only matter if Fitzpatrick remains unsigned.
