Ex-Coug Chris Ivory Traded to New York Jets, Joins Geno Smith in the Backfield as Unlikely Starting Tandem

November 18, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Chris Ivory (29) carries the ball against the Oakland Raiders during the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The New Orleans Saints defeated the Oakland Raiders 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Of course quarterback Geno Smith was the flavor-of-the-week for the New York Jets, how could you have thought it was going to go any other way? Ok, so no one actually saw this coming, but apparently Geno was just too good to pass up and the Jets’ coaching staff and management just said “Screw it, we’re heading in another direction.” Lost in the shuffle of new direction was a trade for a pretty good running back who played football at Washington State, at least for a while.

Three of Christopher Ivory’s four seasons were spent lamenting injury after injury and finally on the bottom of the depth chart heading into his senior season. He decided to go to Tiffin University, a D-II school and do his best there, but was hurt yet again after 5 games. In all, Ivory never rushed for 1,000 yards combined but the NFL gave him a look anyway and he’s been over-achieving ever since. He’s had spurts of playing a high amount of game snaps with New Orleans.

Now he’s headed to the Big Apple to play for the J-E-T-S and it looks like he’s lined up to get an extension on his contract and take over the starting running back duties. Who his quarterback will be is infamously undetermined right now, but one has to think that if Geno isn’t back there and the Jets struggle, Rex Ryan’s job is over. So look for Smith and Ivory to man the Jets’ backfield for years to come, as two very unlikely starters, especially with each other.

Ivory gives just another reason to me to start cheering for the Jets, as I’m hoping Geno proves the critics wrong. We’ll see, but it’ll be fun to watch yet another Coug tote it around the field!

Go Cougs!