New York Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith, painted as a diva by various post-draft media reports, responded Monday to criticism, denying claims that he texted friends during pre-draft visits and insisted he never told ESPN he was planning to skip the second day of the draft. Smith was drafted No. 39 overall and fell to the second round after being projected by many to be the top quarterback prospect in the 2013 NFL Draft.
"I don't worry about what people say - my skin is pretty thick," Smith told USA TODAY Sports. "I've never been in trouble."
Smith denied a Yahoo! Sports report that said one team was turned off when he seemed more pre-occupied with checking Twitter and texting than speaking with coaches during a pre-draft visit.
"That's not true," said Smith flatly. "I got strong remarks from all the teams I visited with. ... I couldn't care less what's coming out in the media because I know what's true."
Smith regrets taking his agents' advice to skip the Senior Bowl in January. E.J. Manuel, who was the only quarterback selected in the first round, improved his draft stock after an impressive performance that won him Senior Bowl MVP honors.
"It was a decision I ultimately made," Smith said. "My first instinct is always to go out and compete. I'm a competitor. It's one of those things where I trusted those guys. They advised me that it may have been best for me not to go."
Smith told USA Today he grabbed a Jets playbook the night he was drafted and has been focused every day since on learning the terminology as he preps for the team's rookie minicamp, which begins Friday. He has been in constant communication with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and quarterbacks coach David Lee.
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