Eric Decker was in Denver when a fan revolt basically led to Tebowmania after Kyle Orton became Public Enemy No. 1, so he knows what can happen to a quarterback when fans turn on him.
And even though Geno Smith swore at a heckling fan after Sunday’s loss at MetLife Stadium, he wants the struggling quarterback to keep his job.
“Fans pay a lot of money and have certain expectations,” Decker said of the crowd chanting for Michael Vick during the loss to the Lions. “I stand behind Geno 100 percent.”
That was the message repeated by other Jets teammates Monday as they tried to regroup following a 1-3 start.
“Right now, we need to stick as close together as possible,” Willie Colon said. “Geno is getting attacked, the secondary is getting attached. We’re getting attacked as a whole.”
That’s part of the reason why the team held a meeting Monday — one in which Smith made it clear he was still in charge.
“Geno is really the one that stepped up,” Jace Amaro said.
The next step is to do that on the field — especially after Sunday’s performance, both during the game and afterward.
“It’s hard to bite your tongue sometimes,” said Jeremy Kerley, who was among the Jets who attended an event for the Eric and Jessie Decker Foundation at Pier 40. “He got fed up and lashed out.”
Now, the offense is hoping to simplify things and “not get outside of ourselves.”
A decrease in turnovers by Smith would be good, too.
“We’re definitely right behind him,” D’Brickashaw Ferguson said. “Geno is our guy. We’re people too, not just players. We have emotions.”
Ferguson, echoing sentiments of teammate Brian Winters, backed Smith as the quarterback and also wasn’t alone in understanding Smith’s frustration.
“Every day he hears criticism,” Colon said. “He has a lot on his shoulders. … And he hears the whole crowd chanting for Vick and the kid is trying to sling it and win a game for us.”
Former Jet Tony Richardson said Vick should support Smith publicly.
“He’s gone through it,” Richardson said. “He knows what it’s like.”
But no matter what Vick or any other Jets might say, there likely will be controversy if Smith doesn’t improve.
“We have two great quarterbacks,” Amaro said. “I think Geno is the guy right now. I feel like Geno is going to come out of this and prove a lot of people wrong.”