Geno Smith’s return to Seattle could result in a major fine for the first-year Las Vegas Raiders quarterback after he was seen flipping off Seahawks fans as he ran onto the field on Thursday evening.
Smith clearly noticed one fan’s sign was directed at him before gesturing towards the heckler with both hands as teammate Maxx Crosby did the same. That fan’s sign read: ‘Bigger Bust – Geno Or JaMarcus Russell?’
Russell, a former first-overall pick by the then-Oakland Raiders, famously flamed out of the NFL in 2007 after going 7-18 as a starter over two seasons.
But Smith wasn’t a first-overall pick, as Russell once was.
Although he was a major college star at West Virginia, Smith wasn’t drafted until the second round, when the New York Jets picked him with the No. 39 selection. And while he did struggle initially, as Russell famously did in Oakland, Smith would reignite his career in Seattle, ultimately winning NFL Comeback Player of the Year and earning a pair of Pro Bowl nods.
As for their likely penalties, Smith and Crosby can expect a fine. Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was fined $10,128 for making a similar gesture to Green Bay Packers fans last November, according to Pro Football Talk.
Several videos of the actions by Smith and Crosby made the rounds on social media Friday.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith responds to a Seattle Seahawks fan
Smith gives the finger to fans as he takes the field during Thursday’s preseason opener
Geno Smith was the starting quarterback in Seattle before making his way to Las Vegas
One video showed the team gathered as it was ready to enter the field. Crosby is seen bouncing on his feet and appears to be talking to fans and tries to grab a sign.
Then Smith joins Crosby in jumping up and down and looks in the direction of those fans. As the team begins to run onto the field, Smith makes an obscene gesture to the fans with Crosby immediately following with his own.
At least one fan appeared to be taunting the players before the gestures were made.
Smith was the Seahawks’ starter the past three seasons before failing to come to terms on a new deal. He followed his former coach, Pete Carroll, when the Raiders traded for him.
Thursday’s game ended 23-23 when Jalan Gaines blocked Daniel Carlson´s 55-yard field-goal try for Las Vegas as time expired.
Smith is seen gesturing at fans while Maxx Crosby smiles on his way onto the field
Russell, a first-overall pick by the then-Oakland Raiders, flamed out of the NFL in 2007
The 73-year-old Carroll, coaching his first preseason game with the Raiders, was narrowly denied the victory in his return to Seattle, where he led the Seahawks to some of their highest moments.
The Raiders did lead a late comeback to secure the tie, with Carlson kicking a 51-yard field goal with about a minute left. It was the third field goal of the game for Carlson, who had a long of 56 yards. He also missed a 55-yarder to end the first half.
‘We started really poorly,’ Carroll said. ‘We didn´t run the ball well in the first half, we didn´t really do anything very well. But we stayed close, and it was the opportunity for us to face that and then come back and see what you can do in the second half, and it was a marvelous second half.’
Carroll coached the Seahawks for 14 years, going 137-89-1 and putting together double-digit victories eight times over a nine-year stretch. He led Seattle to its only Super Bowl victory in 2013.
