Mike Smith no longer what he never was
February 2, 2012 by Mike CasazzaAnd that would be a WVU coach. He’s now and again the outside linebackers coach for the New York Jets, essentially returning to where he was before joining the Mountaineers staff last month.
Smith had been an intern with the Jets before accepting the OLB job after the regular season. Last month, he was hired by WVU. The Mountaineers confirmed the move back to the Jets with a two-sentence release — and this comment-on-a-departure used to be something WVU never did, so I guess I can no longer say it’s something WVU never dos.
Anyhow, you’re going to get different spins on this, but Smith had a one-year deal with WVU for $250,000. The Jets offered up more years and I’m sure the money is better. If not, it’s at least competitively comparable, and in the NFL, your average assistant salary is right around $350,000.
Also, this is a guy who was busting his backside to get in at the NFL level. He’s in the NFL now and I wouldn’t discount the possibility he did a lot of soul searching in the past two weeks. I say that because he has a clear title with the Jets. I’m not sure it was so clear at WVU and that may have been a factor. Then again, the NFL moves fast and forgets faster and I wonder if a guy stiffs a NFL team, comes back hat in hand and gets not only what he wants, but what he had and deserted.
Right now, I have no idea who is doing what on defense and, who knows, that conversation may soon expand to involve offense, too.
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