Geno Smith is leaving the New York market.
The veteran quarterback signed Sunday with the Chargers to back up Philip Rivers, according to multiple reports. Smith spent his first four seasons with the Jets and one with the Giants.
Smith probably needed a fresh start far away as much as any recent New York athlete.
After surprisingly slipping out of the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, he started all 16 games (8-8 record) as a rookie second-round pick in place of the injured Mark Sanchez. He went 3-10 in 13 starts the next season and never got a fair shake in 2015.