Farewell, Geno.
A letter from a 12,
Like many 12’s, I woke up this March 8th morning, only 12 hrs removed from the Geno Smith trade to the Las Vegas Raiders, confused angry, sad, and lost all at once. I made my debut on the Bench’d podcast fighting for Geno, Comparing him to some of the top paid quarterbacks of the league. My only hope then was to open some eyes that Geno is underappreciated amongst fans and belongs in the top tiers of quarterbacks when compared to his peers. Something I wouldn’t have said just three years ago.
Unfortunately, this eerie feeling is all too familiar. It was this very day 3 years ago when the seahawks sent waves through the NFL and traded Russell Wilson to the jets. Within a blink, the best quarterback in the history of the franchise and the man of town for the last 10 years was gone. I was left with Drew Lock and Geno Smith. Two former second round picks whosecareers, to that point, had been a disappointment. One of whom who’s best moment on the field came rapping a Young Jeezy song word for word, and the other more known being a backup the last 6 years. I felt fleeted and not very optimistic all the way up to the first Monday night of the 2022 season. Against the very QB I cheered for the last 10 years, a new favorite was born. 2 TD’s and a dub later, Eugene Cyril Smith let the world know they wrote him off but he ain’twriting back.
Over the next three years, Geno proved his skill and toughness to us 12’s. The absolute arm talent was mind blowing and he made the throws that we haven’t seen him make since his college days at West Virginia. He was athletic enough to scramble and move around in the pocket. But where Geno truly shined was letting the city of Seattle know that Russell may have left, but that moon ball was here to stay. Very often we saw Geno diming up and making egotistical ball placement throws in a crowd of defenders. Throws only the elite in the world can make. The seahawks no longer had the national spotlight, so watching Geno ball week in and week out felt like our secret weapon.
The last three years included 3 winning seasons, a playoff berth, a 3 yr/75 million dollar contract. Many ups and unfortunately some downs. You see, Geno’s NFL career has always been behind the 8 ball. He had to start off on the dreadful jets, became known as the guy who the Giants benched Eli for and broke his starting streak. That 8 ball in the Emerald City, was the beleaguered offensive line. The same O-line that ranked 32nd, 30th, and 30th by PFF. Under constant pressure from opposing defensive fronts Geno managed to have a combined 12,000 yards 71 TD’s and 35 interceptions. Yes the interceptions, especially in the red zone, were a problem. This is not a letter to say he was the best quarterback in the league by any means. This is just to shed light that he wasn’t the problem. Most of the average fans (casuals) will point to the interceptions, the middle of the road record, and blame the quarterback. But when you zoom out and take into account the atrocious o-line performance combined with the 25th ranked defense in 2022 and 2023, it is actually a stroke of brilliance how Geno could bring this team to 3 consecutive winning records. Seriously, if the name isn’t Mahomes, Burrow, Allen, or Lamar how could you expect any other quarterback to carry this team to… 4 maybe 5 wins each year??
Geno wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for this team and this city. He never put the blame on his teammates, often citing that he had to play better at the end of losing games and continuously looking to the next play, never letting the past dampen his future. He led the league in go-ahead drives in 4th quarter/ OT over the last three years. Sometimes his play would put us in that position, but if there is a lasting saying to remember from our former leader and new Raider coach, Pete Carroll “CAN YOU WIN THE GAME IN THE 4TH QUARTER?!” That chance to win the game was all we could ask for. Not a single teammate in the pacific northwest is happy with this move and I don’t blame them. In a time of desperation and emptiness, Geno gave the 12’s someone to cheer for, someone to ride with, and an underdog to believe in.
Good luck Geno, you will have a forever fan in me. I am writing this out of an appreciation for your time in Seattle, so don’t worry about writing back.
Derrick Vu
