IK Enemkpali apologizes to Jets, “happy to be a Bill”
In New York, former Bills coach Chan Gailey is the Jets’ offensive coordinator. It was a reasonable assumption, given that the only notable thing Enemkpali has done in his career to date has been breaking Geno Smith’s jaw, knocking out the projected starter for 6-10 weeks.
With Geno out for a while, the Jets will look to veteran quarterback backup, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who Bowles said would be the interim starter for the team. Thank you.”IK Enemkpali: “I apologize…It should have never happened”.
And teammates seem to be willing to welcome him without their dukes up.
Ryan stressed there’s no guarantee Enemkpali will make the team. Ultimately Smith could not make it due to a personal matter, and after saying he would reimburse Enemkpali, never did.
An NFL spokesman said league officials are reviewing the situation. He was a sixth-round draft pick past year. However, if Smith wanted to go the extra mile, he also has a cognizable claim against Enemkpali for battery. But we have to live with the results..
Meanwhile, the Jets were in Detroit for their preseason opener against the Lions. “Something very childish. He got cold-cocked, sucker-punched, whatever you want to call it, in the jaw”.
“This isn’t a UFC match”, Jets guard Willie Colon said.
In the immediate aftermath of the fight, cornerback Darrelle Revis said he holds both players responsible, which was the original suggestion that perhaps Smith wasn’t blameless in the incident.
This wasn’t Enemkpali’s first brush with trouble.
“I apologize to the Jets organization, coaches, teammates and fans”, the statement read, per the Associated Press’ Dennis Waszak Jr. “I should’ve walked away from the situation”, he said. “I apologize for what happened”, Enemkpali said, speaking at a podium placed beneath a goalpost on one of the fields of the Bills’ training camp facility in suburban Rochester. I was never my intention to harm anyone. “Whatever happened up at Jets Camp, I really can’t speak on”.
Not surprisingly, the even-keeled, business-first Todd Bowles didn’t seem the least bit concerned by the Bills’ acquisition of Enemkpali.
A few weeks later, the team signed lineman Richie Incognito who had been suspended by the NFL and out of football for a year and a half due to a bullying incident in Miami.