Jets quarterback Geno Smith was kicked off a Virgin America flight at LAX yesterday after he allegedly refused to stop using his cell phone and got into a shouting match with an airline attendant. Or as one airport official told the Post, he "pulled an Alec Baldwin." Geno no no no no no no!

There are actually a few mostly non-conflicting reports about what Smith did to get himself escorted off the plane, which was headed from LAX to Fort Lauderdale, where Smith lives in the offseason:

  • Deadspin first reported that Smith was witnessed in a "verbal altercation." That witness told them Smith was upset because he was on standby for the flight, saying to airline ticket agents, "Fuck that, this is bullshit" and "Why the fuck do I have to wait until 2:40."
  • A source told the News that Smith did get aboard the plane and, "The flight crew asked him to get off his cellphone three times, but he didn’t comply." Another source told the Post, "[Smith] was on the plane. The crew didn’t push off [take-off] because he was on the phone. So, the captain ordered him off the plane. Virgin America wouldn’t rebook him."
  • TMZ claims that Smith was listening to music on his headphones when the crew announced it was time to shut off electronics. Smith claimed he didn't hear the announcement, and the flight attendant came over and physically unplugged his headphones. They led to a screaming match, and Smith allegedly stood up and refused to sit down.
  • On top of all this, Smith denied he did anything wrong. "[Smith] said he didn’t know why he was kicked off the flight," a source told the News. "He said it was because he was black. Virgin Airlines refused to re-book him because he was being disruptive." Smith told TMZ as he was leaving the airport, "don't believe that man."

Deadspin reckons that all of these incidents could have happened: "it seems entirely possible—and indeed likely—that Geno Smith got in trouble with the cops twice in one day." The Jets acknowledged the incident in a statement: "We are aware of the report and researching the fact. We will have no comment at this time." On the plus side, at least no open containers of vaseline were involved with Smith's arrest.