The Geno Smith saga has gripped the nation so much that Motown is now chiming in.
The DJ at Ford Field played “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd when the New York Jets quarterback was announced as inactive before Thursday night’s preseason game against the Detroit Lions, according to John Katzenstein of The Detroit News.
Ford Field playing “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd just as the Jets announce Geno Smith being inactive. Can’t make this up.
— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) August 13, 2015
Smith is expected to be out 6-10 weeks after linebacker IK Enemkpali broke his jaw with a punch to the face. Enemkpali was Smith’s teammate at the time. He was released after the incident and picked up by the Bills.
No one knows for sure if the music choice at Ford Field was intentional. After all, the song is No. 2 on the AT40 charts.
It’s not the only top 40 song that can be used to poke fun at an opposing team, or as a commentary on the preseason in general. If DJs at other NFL stadiums wanted to yank some chains and add a little fun to the experience of watching games that don’t count, here are a few ideas.
Of course, hearing some of these songs might be the only thing less enjoyable than preseason football. The punchlines are in the titles.
“Should’ve Been Us” by Tori Kelly
That should have been you, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks, raising a championship banner at your stadium and not the Patriots. If you had just given the ball to Marshawn Lynch with 20 seconds left in Super Bowl XLIX and not thrown the ball to Ricardo Lockette, who has just 18 career receptions, you’d have celebrated a second straight championship. Instead, you’ll forever be featured on “most boneheaded play call” lists.
“Where Are U Now” Skrillex and Diplo featuring Justin Bieber
Maybe Justin Bieber can serenade the opposing quarterbacks at Lambeau Field and MetLife Stadium when the Eagles visit the Packers and Jets in weeks 3 and 4 of the preseason. The Eagles released their QB depth chart Friday, according to Pro Football Talk, and it reads like a list of Where-Are-They-Now types. Sam Bradford, who must prove that he can stay healthy, is listed as the starter. Mark Sanchez, who a lifetime ago led the Jets to back-to-back AFC championship games, is Bradford’s backup. Fourth on the depth chart is Tim Tebow. Raise your hand if you even remembered that Tebow is currently an Eagle. You don’t see too many people Tebowing these days.
“This Summer’s Gonna Hurt…” by Maroon 5
There’s nothing funny about players getting hurt in a game. This is an indictment on the preseason. The Washington Redskins lost starting tight end Niles Paul to an ankle injury in Thursday night’s game against the Browns, according to NFL.com, and the Pittsburgh Steelers lost kicker Shaun Suisham to a torn ACL in the Hall of Fame Game, according to Pro Football Talk. This song has a really bad word in it. Mike Tomlin and Jay Gruden, who both have lost key players with the preseason not even half over, can’t be blamed if they want to swear like Adam Levine does in this song.
“Ghost Town” by Adam Lambert
This one can be played at any stadium hosting a game during the final week of the preseason. The starters hardly play, so the fans are watching a bunch of future gym teachers. By the end of these games, the stadiums will look like ghost towns and the real games won’t come soon enough.