3 days ago
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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith has apologized to his own fans for a moment of weakness after a defeat to the Cleveland Browns when he flipped the bird to Raider Nation.
Smith has endured a disastrous season in Sin City after being traded to the Raiders from the Seattle Seahawks earlier this year. He was sacked a career-high 10 times in this weekend's 24-10 loss to the Browns, where he was outshone by rival quarterback Shedeur Sanders on his first NFL start.
Video started to circulate after the game of Smith seemingly making the gesture as he was running off the field to jeers from an angry Raiders fanbase. But unfortunately for Smith, his moment of madness was also captured by a photographer on the sideline.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Smith offered an apology for his negative reaction: 'I would like to apologize to the fans [and] Raider Nation. I made a poor judgment out of frustration. And that's not an excuse.
'I've got to be better than that and hold myself to a higher standard. In that moment, I didn't. I'm sincerely apologetic and very sorry for doing that.
'I just want to make it known that those things will never happen from me again.'
Geno Smith was pictured flipping the bird after the latest Las Vegas Raiders loss
Video intially surfaced on social media before a picture seemingly confirmed Smith's actions
The Raiders later condemned Smith's actions in a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
'We are disappointed in his actions and have discussed the incident with Geno,' the team said. 'We hold the Raider Nation in the highest regard and take this matter seriously.'
The response to the video was merciless, with Raiders fans hoping it now means Smith is benched after the incident.
'There needs to be repercussions for that,' one fan wrote. 'What player flips off his own fans? Don't wanna get booed, play better.'
Another fan tagged head coach Pete Carroll and GM Jon Spytek in their response, saying: 'Are you kidding me? Raider Nation has the most loyal fans that have stood with this team during some bad years and we don't deserve what is being put on the field, let alone getting the finger from our starting QB.'
A different reply said: 'Clean house Monday morning. Raiders ain't doing nothing rest of the year.'
Smith has now come out and apologized, insisting to Raiders fans that it won't happen again
In fact, the Raiders didn't even wait until Monday. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, hired in February on a $6million contract, was fired hours after the defeat to the Browns.
Speaking after the game, Smith's attitude sounded a lot better than his actions when he was leaving the field.
'As a quarterback, I put it on me,' Smith told reporters. 'I'm super resilient. We've got the hit the big plays down the field.
'I've got to be the example, continue to get out and hold my head high.'
Ironically, when Smith arrived in Vegas he was the figurehead of an exciting offseason of change that was supposed to usher in a season of improvement.
As well as bringing Smith in from the Seahawks, the Raiders hired Carroll as head coach, signed star defensive end Maxx Crosby to a new deal and took the impressive running back Ashton Jeanty in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Legendary quarterback Tom Brady is a minority owner of the struggling NFL team
Carroll, meanwhile, praised the support his team got from the home fans on Sunday, saying after the game: 'I'm really disappointed we couldn't find the plays.
'We had a great crowd and they were loud and helping and all of that and they walk away from here so dissatisfied.
'We're pretty disappointed about this one but if you don't score, you can't win.'
But Sunday's loss leaves the Raiders 2-9 for the campaign, with no hopes of the postseason and another year of disappointment for a passionate but restless Raiders fanbase.
