Geno Smith apologized for giving fans the middle finger as he left the field after the Raiders lost to the Browns on Sunday.
The Raiders quarterback called it “poor judgment” and said he had to “be better” after video circulated on social media of Smith jogging off the field and flipping the bird to fans.
“I would like to apologize to the fans [and] Raider Nation,” Smith told reporters on Wednesday. “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.”
The Raiders fell to the Browns 24-10 for their fifth straight loss and Smith was sacked 10 times, leading to growing anger among the Raiders fan base, who had also booed him prior to the game.
Smith finished the game with 285 yards through the air and had a touchdown pass.
The Raiders issued their own statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal condemning Smith’s actions.
“We are disappointed in his actions and have discussed the incident with Geno,” the organization said. “We hold the Raider Nation in the highest regard and take this matter seriously.”
Smith has not been able to recreate the success that he had previously had during his stint in Seattle.
This season, he has thrown for 2,367 yards and 13 touchdowns, as well as a league-leading 13 interceptions.
Smith hasn’t been the seam quarterback he was in Seattle. He threw 4,320 yards last season and was a Pro Bowler in 2022 and 2023 while with the Seahawks.
Smith’s wasn’t the first Raiders player to have an issue with a fan this season.
Maxx Crosby had been seen earlier in the season making an obscene gesture to a fan during the preseason while the Raiders were in Seattle.
The Raiders will face the Chargers this Sunday as they look to turn around their season.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
