
In March, quarterback Geno Smith transitioned from the Seattle Seahawks to the Las Vegas Raiders, marking a reunion with coach Pete Carroll, who previously coached Smith for five seasons. Their first matchup as Raiders occurred during a preseason game against the Seahawks, where Smith was primarily supported by fans, barring one notable incident.
As the Raiders emerged from the tunnel, a fan displayed a rather unflattering sign directed at Smith, labeled “BIGGER BUST — GENO OR JAMARCUS RUSSELL?” This prompted Smith to respond with a gesture that garnered attention.
On the following Sunday, Carroll was asked about Smith’s reaction to the fan’s sign, to which he supported his quarterback with a terse yet poignant reply: “Did you see what the sign said? Next question.”
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Smith also received backing from teammate Maxx Crosby, while Carroll attempted to remove the offensive sign from the fan. Moreover, after an impressive resurgence in his career with the Seahawks, Smith faced contractual issues that led to his trade to the Raiders.
In the actual game, Smith had limited participation, completing 1 of 3 passes for a meager 15 yards, as Aidan O’Connell and Cam Miller took on most of the quarterbacking duties.