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Woody Johnson: Geno Smith 'has all the skills (but) it is a question of what his desire is'

Jets QB Geno Smith has been working on his game and "has the ability if he sticks with it," says team owner Woody Johnson. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

NEW YORK –- Jets owner Woody Johnson believes Geno Smith has the tools.

But can Smith still be a franchise quarterback?

“I mean, that’s up to the eye of the beholder,” Johnson said at an appearance at Jets House in the city. “But he has all the skills. It is a question of what his desire is. And from what the coaches told me and from what I have seen myself, I think he has matured a lot. And he is working on his game and he knows he’s a professional and he has the ability if he sticks with it.”

Smith entered camp as the starter but suffered a broken jaw when he was punched by former teammate IK Enemkpali in the locker room early in training camp.

“I kind of agreed with everything that has been said by the coach (Todd Bowles),” Johnson said when asked about the altercation. “It is one of the things that you never want to have, that kind of violence in a locker room. I think we dealt with it. Todd’s instincts were correct. He got rid of the player immediately and addressed that.”

Ryan Fitzpatrick became the starter and led the Jets to a 10-6 season, and the team would like to bring him back on a new deal.

Smith played in one game this season, spelling Fitzpatrick after the starter got injured in Oakland. Smith went 27-for-42 for 265 yards and two touchdowns while throwing one interception in a 34-20 loss to the Raiders.

“Geno, I think, had a pretty good year,” Johnson said. “We will see in the summer how he (does) but I think the coaches are pretty optimistic about what he has learned and maturity. We know he can throw a ball. I think he has taken it to a new level and we will see how it plays out.”

Woody praises Revis: Johnson had plenty of good things to say about cornerback Darrelle Revis.

“It’s always great to have somebody, Hall of Famer type player like Darrelle,” Johnson said. “We are very happy to have him. On the field, off the field, the leadership and the way he plays and just his presence is huge for us.”

“He played pretty well last year,” Johnson added when asked if Revis can still play at an elite level for years to come. “If he is not one, he is one or two in the league. He played well and brings a level of maturity in the locker room that is (worth) more than just one player.”