FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Geno Smith was surrounded by a throng of reporters, a crowded scene usually more appropriate for a No. 1 draft pick than a second-rounder. But Smith, of course, isnt your ordinary No. 39 selection. And, the New York Jets are certainly used to their quarterbacks -- and backup quarterbacks, for that matter -- getting this type of attention. "I just come out," Smith said Friday, "and be my natural self." Who that is, exactly, has been open to some debate in recent weeks as Smith has taken lots of criticism for his abilities on the field -- despite a record-breaking career at West Virginia -- and his attitude off it. Various published reports painted Smith as an immature diva who didnt always take football seriously enough. "Maybe I dont know what the diva behaviour looks like," coach Rex Ryan said. "I never saw that at all." Smiths free fall from potential top-10 pick, and his reported decision -- and later, change of heart -- to leave New York rather than return to the draft site at Radio City Music Hall added to the perception. As did Smith firing his two agents shortly after the draft. Hes done with all that. Still without an agent, Smith is ready to move on to football again. "I think its been a more eventful few weeks for the media," Smith said. "My only job is to focus on what I have here and get better." And theres plenty to do, if you ask Smith, who said all the right things after his first practice of rookie minicamp. "Im going to be tough on myself," Smith said. "Ill let the coaches do the grading, but if I say it, its an F because I want to be an A-plus. "Hey man, thats just the way I do things." Despite the tough self-evaluation, the quarterback looked pretty good during practice. Smith appeared to have a solid working knowledge of the playbook, and zipped many of his passes -- mostly in short yardage -- around the field. "Ive been studying my butt off, learning formations, learning protections," said Smith, wearing No. 7 because his old No. 12 from his college days is Joe Namaths retired number. "I think I did a good job overall today. There were some bumps in the road. Those are things I think I can clean up." He also worked under centre most of the time, something he wasnt used to doing during his time at West Virginia. Smith hesitated a few times on some throws, and was even yelled at by offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinweg for failing to pull off a play-action bootleg pass. Rookie jitters? Smith wont go there. "There are no excuses here," Smith said. "Weve all got to study our playbooks and be prepared for practice. If he felt like I needed to pick things up, then hell get on me, which he did. Im receptive to that, and I did what he asked of me." Yes, the man some outside the Jets organization anonymously labeled as not very coachable said all the right things after practice, appearing humble and clear of his role on the team. While many assume that will be to someday become the Jets starting quarterback, Smith refused to look too far ahead. "I have a job to do as of right now, and thats to come in and compete," he said. "Right now, theres a long ways to go in that process. This is only Step 1, Day 1, but it was fun to get out here on the practice field and enjoy my teammates and coaches." The plan is to have Smith compete for the starting job this summer with Mark Sanchez and David Garrard, as well as Greg McElroy and Matt Simms -- although those two likely have no realistic shot at winning it. Smith said he was told that Sanchez will get "the majority of the reps" in training camp. "I know Mark is a competitor, and I understand Mark wants to win the job," Smith said. "We all do. But at the same time, Im going to learn from him and David and Greg." He already impressed his fellow rookie teammates on offence by getting together with several of them at the players hotel Thursday night and going over the playbook. "I think thats great," Ryan said. "Its unusual the way he commanded the huddle. And the fact hes already telling guys (instructions), thats pretty sharp." Smith has also studied former quarterbacks such as Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb, trying to get an even better handle on Mornhinwegs West Coast offence. So, Smith says, the critics can keep on talking about him. He has better things to worry about. "I dont resent any of it," Smith said. "I dont pay attention to any of it. I just focus on what I can control and thats being a Jets quarterback, being a great teammate and just getting better as a quarterback daily." ------ NOTES: CB Dee Milliner, the teams top draft pick at No. 9 overall, didnt practice as he recovers from off-season shoulder surgery. He expects to be ready in time for training camp in late-July. ... Ryan said he was "disappointed" in Quinton Coples work in the weight room Thursday. "If Quinton doesnt do a better job in the weight room," Ryan said, "hell have to compete like anyone else for a job," Ryan said. It was a clear motivational ploy since Coples, the teams first-rounder last year, is a rising star for the defence and will move from the line to outside linebacker this season after leading the team in sacks with 5 1/2. "Hes been doing a great job, but any chance I have to get him, Im going to," Ryan said. "I expect so much from him and if he lets up a little bit, were going to make sure he knows it." Patrick Peterson Jersey . 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Ivan Lendl, Murrays coach, is a meticulous crosser of ts and dotter of is. The team that Murray has assembled leaves no stone unturned in its effort to keep Murray running, mentally as well as physically, like an exquisitely tuned race car.So why do Murrays wheels keep falling off at unexpected times?Its a fascinating quirk in a player who undeniably has greatness stitched into his muscle fibers. Murray is an elite, but hes still capable of shocking us with a spectacular, unexpected collapse. Its a seismic event, like the demolition of a giant old stadium by dynamite -- only nobody told the neighbors it was going to happen. The latest failure occurred in New York and just days ago in Glasgow, Scotland.Murray was on fire and on point all summer. He had gone 42-4 up to his quarterfinal meeting with Kei Nishikori at the US Open on Sept. 7, with four titles (including a major at Wimbledon and the Olympic gold medal).At the same time, US Open defending champion Novak Djokovic was struggling with his game as well as unspecified personal issues. The tea leaves all pointed to Murray making a sensational breakthrough, perhaps even shattering Djokovics long stranglehold on the mens game.But Nishikori took Murray out in Flushing Meadows in five sets. Then, not quite two weeks later in Murrays native Scotland, Juan Martin del Potro added insult to injury. He avenged his gold-medal-round loss to Murray in Rio de Janeiro with a five-hour, five-set Davis Cup win that paved the way for Argentinas advance to the final.Of course, Murray is still ranked No. 2 and his position among the elites is secure. It has been since long before Roger Federers left knee buckled or Rafael Nadals warrior spirit turned pacifist. Murrays haul of a dozen Masters 1000 titles and his basic Grand Slam consistency justify his inclusion. He occupies a weight class above that of US Open champ Stan Wawrinka, but note that the Swiss now has the same number of Grand Slam titles (three). Wawrinka is the first to advise others not to read too muchh into the Grand Slam title count.ddddddddddddYes, I have three Grand Slams, Wawrinka said after winning the US Open. How many Masters 1000 have Murray? [The Big Four] have been there since 10 years. They have not only been winning, but being in semifinal, final every time. Thats why Im not there.All true. But had Murray found a way past Nishikori, Wawrinka might not be having to plead his unworthiness. Also, pundits might be talking about a true horse race for the No. 1 spot in 2017, between Murray and Djokovic.Instead, Wawrinka has inserted himself into the conversation as the best big-match player. At the same time, a lot of the air went out of the Murray balloon. Did he win Wimbledon and Olympic singles gold because he was able to navigate around Djokovic? Some will say so. The one reality is that when it seemed a showdown was imminent in New York, it was Murray who failed to show up.The intriguing thing isnt that Murray lost to Nishikori, the 2014 finalist, but how he went down. Murray was up a set and a break, and seemed to be in control after he put down a Nishikori insurrection and won the third set. But Murray became upset when chair umpire Maria Cicak halted play midpoint at 1-1, 30-40 in the fourth set after a gong-like sound was heard inside the stadium. It all slid away from there.Afterward, Murray downplayed the role of the distraction and his subsequent tiff with officials in his news conference. Instead, he turned philosopher: I could have won the match for sure. But, you know, I have also won some over the last few months that I should have lost.Murray wasnt about to flagellate himself after his critical loss to del Potro less than two weeks later.I did great today, Murray said. Im very proud of how I played. I thought I did fantastic. I fought for every point, tried as best as I could. Thats all you can do.Well, almost. Murray still needs to look for a way to tighten the lug nuts on his wheels for one or two more critical occasions during a career run. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '