New York Jets Geno Smith Gets Punched by Teammate over $600 Dispute

The New York Jets season might have just ended with a sucker punch. Quarterback Geno Smith broke his jaw after getting into a locker room fight with backup linebacker IK Enemkpali.

Smith, who sustained two fractures, will miss six to 10 weeks. According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the dispute started when Enemkpali offered Smith a $600 plane ticket to a football camp in Pflugerville, Texas in July. When Smith did not show up to the linebacker's camp, tensions arose. Source stated that around that time, Smith had lost someone close to him to a motorcycle accident.

"Geno initially intended to attend the event out of goodwill," a source told ESPN's Josina Anderson. "Geno did not borrow $600 from [Enemkpali]. He volunteered to attend the event. Geno offered to pay the kid back from what was spent, to help him out."

The confrontation, which did not go as smoothly as Smith might have hoped, landed Smith on a hospital bed. Without Smith, the Jets will have to fall back on veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. If Fitzpatrick delivers, he will most likely keep the starting position.

First-year head coach Todd Bowles addressed the incident. His statement read:

"It had nothing to do with football. It was something very childish. He got cold-cocked, sucker-punched, whatever you want to call it, in the jaw. He has a broken jaw, fractured jaw. The team knows it's something we don't tolerate, something we can't stand. You don't walk up to a man and punch him in the face...You can call him every name in the book and point in his face and do whatever you want but when you punch a man in the face, that's some serious stuff."

Enemkpali has been released from the team. His statement read:

"I apologize to the Jets organization, coaches, teammates and fans. Geno and I let our frustration get the best of us, but I should have just walked away from the situation. I deeply regret and apologize for my actions. It was never my intention to harm anyone. I appreciate the opportunity I had with the Jets."

Bowles added that it will be up to Smith to decide if he wants to press charges.