NFL Draft: Aaron Rodgers tells QB Geno Smith to ‘hang in there’
Highly-touted West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith was expected by many to be the first quarterback selected in the 2013 NFL Draft -- and most certainly taken in the first-round. But when the final pick was made Thursday night Smith was still waiting for his call in the green room.
Feeling something akin to what one can only imagine is a combination of getting picked last in a school-yard game and being stood up on a date on national television, Smith at first was reportedly headed home after the first round.
Enter Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Hang in there Geno, “good things come to those who wait” -Paul Tagliabue — Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) April 26, 2013
Though it’s not clear whether Rodgers, who wasn’t called in 2005 draft until the No. 24 pick, got through to the young signal caller, Smith will be at Radio City Music Hall for the second and third rounds which take place Friday night, according to NFL.com.
Smith completed 369 passes for 4,205 yards and 42 touchdowns with just six interceptions in his senior season for the Mountaineers, which included an Orange Bowl MVP record-setting performance of 407 passing yards in West Virginia’s 70-33 blowout of the Clemson Tigers.
Florida State’s E.J. Manuel, the first and only quarterback selected in the first round, was chosen by the Buffalo Bills with the No. 16 pick after the team traded its eighth overall pick to the St. Louis Rams.
The Rams took one of Smith’s West Virginia teammates, wide receiver Tavon Austin.
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