yes, I'm with you on Coles, don't hold it against him to go for more $ with (... who Were, Are, and Always Will Be ...) the Redskins.
Reminds me of Shaun Ellis, one of my favorite Jets evah. I mean, who in their right mind would expect a 3-4 DE, whose job it is to contain and let the LBers get it done, amass over 70 sacks in his career? That's how good he was, and I especially took great delight in the fact that he seemed to always up his game when playing the Patriots, and sacked Brady enough times to get under 12's skin about it. Which is probably why Belicheck signed him off the Jets to the tune of around 7 million (the Jets were offering a pitiful mil or two for what was to be Ellis' twilight season). Belicheck figured it was worth overpaying for Ellis rather than seeing him sack TB and cost them a win or two. I hope he's doin' well, would love to meet him, personally thank him for all his years of great play (and for the boulder-sized snow cone he launched at a Patriots fan at the end of a game LOL).
Al Toon - not only one of the greatest Jets evah, but had he stayed healthy, would have been in the running for a top 5 all time. He was neck and neck running with another pretty good receiver, Jerry Rice, was I think drafted higher than Rice, and had he stayed healthy he would have been up there, kinda like a Larry Fitzgerald. And yes, had Toon had at least 80% of the elite QB play that Rice had through his career, I think it's not even close - Toon by a length at the wire.
Chrebet has got to be every Jets fan's favorite - Wayne was US. Millions of Jets fans like you, me, all the guys here on this blog - we're all kids at heart, loving this game since that fire was first born in us when we actually were kids, wearing the jerseys of our favorite players as we scrummed out on the street or yards, fields of our homes. I would see Chrebet play and it was like my personal wish of being able to play in the NFL came true, embodied in Wayne Chrebet. He left a big piece of his heart on the field, forever there, forever enshrined in our Ring of Honor, and he paid price in his health for it, too. Very happy and prayers answered that he's doing much better now.
Wesley Walker - no one could stop him - and he was legally blind! Man, I'll tell ya - yes our Jets have notable face-plants, like the Butt Fumble - but we also have a player who couldn't see out of one eye, and his 19.0 ypc, alongside Maynard's own 18.7, makes ya wonder what an all time great combo of Namath having these two immortals to zip his passes to would look like.
Maynard. Two sentences; as everyone here knows, God made me a Jets fan before birth; and the player I wanted to be was Don Maynard. Before long, I had the best hands on the block, and the best hands on the teams I played on in my youth.
'nuff said.
And David, the thing I love about our guys above, especially Toon, Walker, Chrebet, Cotchery, Maynard - was the HEART they had, and their HUMILITY. In a word, Inspiring. And though we've only one season to go on, I really like that Garrett Wilson has exhibited that same pair of priceless characteristics.
OK, signing out for now - when i started writing this, there were no other postings before me - let's see if I get lucky again... hahaha
Cotchery, living proof that Rex Ryan knew squat about offense. Rex automatically relegated him to second string once the Jets signed Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason. Cotchery demanded a trade and the know it all Jet GM Mike Tannenbaum dealt him to Pittsburgh. He played 3 years there then 2 in Carolina. Mason a locker room lawyer got cut mid season. Burress just faded away.
Probably the greatest heart play in Jet history, Cotchery on third and long, while running his route, pulled his hamstring, caught the pass and hobbled about 4-5 yds for a first down in Cleveland.
Sauer, being a Texan, he probably started playing organized ball when he was 5. As David mentioned, he grew tired of it all. He was probably one of the easiest signings in Jet history, his father George Sr was Jet head of pro personnel. He would have been a great all time Jet receiver but his heart wasn’t in it. Nobody ran a 5 yard square out like him. Automatic first down.
Keyshawn’s biggest problem his mouth. Parcells knew he was going to be a big problem contract time. Dumped him to Tampa for 2-1s. He just totally maligned Chrebet every chance he had.
Coles. Cut off of his college team supposedly for shoplifting with all American Peter Warrick. He was probably the sacrifice to keep Warrick on the team. When the Jets had the four first rounders of Ellis, Abraham, Pennington and Becht, he was the third rounder. Can’t beat that draft. He was probably a better pro than Warrick, a first rounder taken with the fourth pick by Cincinnati
Some writers blast the Jets for taking Toon over Jerry Rice years after the fact. Supposedly the Jets had them rated almost equally. They took Toon over Rice because Toon played in Wisconsin in the cold. They figured he fit better for northern winters.
Chrebet, unfortunately still suffers because of all the concussions he has endured. Keyshawn just made his life miserable with his mouth. In the first game, Keyshawn played against the Jets, with about a minute left in the game, Chrebet caught the game winning touchdown from Curtis Martin to beat Tampa, 21-17. Chrebet a modest 2-32-1 for the game, Mr. Mouth Johnson, 1 reception, 1 yard. Payback is a bitch
Walker, David said it all. His lifetime yards per reception 19.0, that’s amazing. His greatest game, the overtime win over Marino’s Fins 6-194-4
When Walker was a senior at Cal, his quarterback was Joe Roth. Projections were he could be the first quarterback drafted. Late in the season, he was diagnosed with inoperable melanoma. A true study in courage, played out the season, actually played in the Japan Bowl because he had already committed to play there. Passed away that February. His number the only one retired at Cal. Google his name, there is a documentary on his life.
Maynard. The greatest Jet receiver of all time, no doubt about. Funniest story he ever told. He was locked in a contract dispute with Weeb. Weeb never liked to talk about contract numbers. He was afraid the next player would say, you gave..............
Signed Maynard to a new contract, asked him not to divulge the numbers. Maynard told him, “ Don’t worry, I’m just as embarrassed as you by them”
This is my first time posting on DWH's pieces, but I've been reading for a little over a year now and I religiously read these comments sections.
Regarding your point about Jerricho Cotchery: he was undoubtedly my favorite Jet during those years that he was on the team and he got a total raw deal when they added Holmes and Edwards in 2010. He was THE guy in that receiving corps. Of course, he shared top billing in that passing attack with the immortal Dustin Keller. He was such a tough summb***h though!
I'm with you about Rex/Tanny completely ruining the chemistry of that team with ill-conceived veteran additions. Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason? What a waste.
Yes, Rex and Tanny ruined the team that Mangini had built. There was a solid team with excellent veteran leadership. They were disciplined and played smart. Then Rex came in with his undisciplined doofus self, and within 2-3 years, they had dismantled and ruined that team. I had high hopes when Rex was first hired, but after one year, I was ready to see his ass get fired. He never tried to learn anything about offense, and once opponents figured out his 2-3 wrinkles on D, he had nothing except his big bragadocious mouth.
I loved Cotchery, too, and agree that he got the shaft. Tanny and Rex should have been sent packing, and the Jets kept Cotchery.
LOL "... don't worry, i'm just as embarrassed as you by them ..."
that is right up there with my favorite Jets saying, Walt Michaels to Jets Punter Chuck Ramsey after receiving a 30-7 pasting fm the seahawks (Nov 1976), where Ramsey shanked one and had another blocked - "... I can FART farther than you can kick! ..."
Word is, a reporter caught up with Ramsey after the game, and poor Chuck was crying he was so distraught.
"... Chuck Ramsey, the New York Jets’ punter, was crying. it was 1979 and the first time I I had ever seen a National Football League player in tears.
“What’s wrong, Chuck,” I asked after the Jets had lost a Monday Night Football game in Seattle. “Was it that punt they blocked?”
“How would you feel,” the kicker asked, “if the coach said to the entire team, ‘I can fart farther than you can punt?’ ” "
___
Like I said in an earlier post; Buttfumble, a blind WR dominating the game even with above average QB'ing, the Vinny Testaverde Head touchdown vs Seattle in '98, the "resign as HC of the NYJ" from he-who-shall-not-be-named; Quinnen steamrolling Tyreek Hill with one arm for dissing the team - we've got it all, Bobber, yessiree.
And the best part, a fan base who loves our Jets - no matter what!
A 1973 graduate of Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, Roth led Grossmont College of El Cajon to an undefeated season and state title in 1974, and transferred to the University of California, Berkeley in 1975.[6] Originally a back-up, he started the fourth game of the 1975 season, and led the Golden Bears to the Pac-8 title as co-champions.[7] Cal led the nation in total offense, gaining the same yardage both passing and rushing with 2,522 yards each.[8]
In 1976, Roth was a pre-season favorite for the Heisman Trophy. The season was more tumultuous, and towards the end of the year Roth's performance started to drop, but he was named an All-American and finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting.[9]
After the season ended, he revealed that halfway through it he had been diagnosed with terminal melanoma – apparently the metastasis of a mole removed from his face several years earlier. Despite his deteriorating physical condition, he honored his commitments to play in both the Hula Bowl and the Japan Bowl. According to a friend's reminiscence, during the Japan Bowl festivities Roth had agreed to sit for a thirty-minute autograph session; but finding, at the end of the scheduled time, hundreds of children still waiting, he continued to sign until every child had an autograph, after which he left the building and vomited.[10]
"Dying is not so tough. For the last three years I've lived with the realization that the next day might be my last. I'm lucky to be here as long as I was, so don't feel any pity." [11]
By mid-February he was in the hospital, where (in the words of the San Francisco Chronicle)
a doctor wanted to amputate both legs, but Roth did not want to die in pieces. What he wanted was to die among his friends and family at his Berkeley apartment. The ambulance delivered him, and his teammates carried him up three flights of stairs. Two days later, they carried his body back down.[12]
just started reading the Walker article. Wow. I knew about his medical travails, what a story.
Here's something for you David - I've had this notion in the back a my head, for the longest time. What if the NFLPA took 1 percent of all the players collective earnings (not the sponsorships, of course) and the league would match that number, dollar for dollar, and set this aside as a fund dedicated solely to provide medical support for all NFL players suffering such grievous injuries as Wesley, or spinal/back injuries, etc? What if the players and the league did this every year?
The NFL made 18 billion dollars last year (of which around 55% is paid in salary...). One percent of that for just one year is 180 million. In 5 years, that's 900 million. At that point, you've got a serious nest egg, akin to Ivy League school endouwments (Harvard has 12 billion, for example) that would continue to grow via interest and conservative investment. After it reaches a certain point, the percentages could be cut back to say, .5 percent for the league and players to chip in.
The numbers above are certainly arbitrary on my part, but dammit, this is such a common sense move - I mean, who, especially the super rich, would complain about giving a penny out of every dollar they earn, to such a great and noble cause?
Now, here's the dig, David. Me, I'm just a wiener in a pile of beans. I have no voice, no audience. My great idea is a tree falling in the forest, and no-one around to hear it. But you - and other bloggers, journalists - you do have an audience. Your voice is heard... what if you and others got together and started nudging the powers that be for something like this?
I think something very real could be done along these lines, and only wish I did have a voice, an audience for this idea.
CGVet58, my wife and I went to the NFL HOF several years ago. There was a lot of building going on and the person leading our tour told us the league was building it up to be a much bigger with many more features and attractions. It’s probably up and running now but the NFL was literally building a mini city there that was to include housing and medical facilities for former NFL players struggling with medical and financial problems. You comment is fantastic and I’m gonna look into this to get more information to how much of this has actually happened and is in place today.
Tx, JetsBrother - I think now, instead of just thinking about it, i'm going to use the internet to find the contact info of as many decision makers as there are with the NFL, and float the idea to them. Heck, I'll probably make a facebook (i don't have social media) just so I can post it publicly, see if I can get a few followers to like & support. The big wigs may see me as a nonfactor, as not a voice (and I don't care, don't take it personal no ways...) but once they see thousands, hopefully more, pinging for them to do something about the health of the players for the game we love - maybe something can happen, eh?
Matthew 17:20 - 21
CGVet58
I will keep youze here posted on progress - and if any a youze are Christians, join with me on this in prayer - Matthew 18:20
I like your wide receiver list, except for me, one egregious omission. Art Powell belongs on this list despite only being with the Titans for three years. He was probably the first prototypical wide receiver in football. At 6'3' and 210+ pounds, he had the talent, speed and power to be a star in the NFL today. After playing in the CFL and a short tenure in the NFL with the Eagles, he signed with the Titans in 1960. That year, he and Don Maynard were the first wide receiver pair ever to each gain over 1,000 yards in a single season, and they repeated that feat in 1962. I watched Powell play at the Polo Grounds several times when I was growing up. After the 1962 season, he was sold to the Raiders because the team was in such bad financial straits. He was also a stand-up guy that refused to play in several games because the black players couldn't stay in the same hotel as the rest of the team. That was the primary reason the Eagles cut him. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame just as much as any other WR in the Hall at present. He was a touchdown machine and led the AFL in touchdowns several times. Even today he is # 4 on the Raiders for most TD's by a receiver. If things had worked out better, he would have been catching passes from Joe Namath along with Don Maynard. He compares very favorably with great AFL receivers like Lance Alworth, Lionel Taylor and Charlie Hennigan as well as Maynard. He deserves to be #3 on your list, all due respect to Wayne Chrebet, who has always been my favorite Jet receiver.
Great way to start the week - I couldnt rank them any differently or think or anyone else (Eddie Bell ?). The one thing Kotite did right was sign Crebet. Walker with the one blind eye still a favortite of mine. Crothery with that one handed catch in the AFC Championship game agianst the Steelers on 3rd down to keep our hopes alive.
All four of these UNDFA WR’s are probably destined for the Practice Squad, but Brownlee & Kapp have a remote chance of making the 53 at some time during the season. Interesting to see how Hackett values speed in his WR’s . EJ Jenkins TE is a fascinating PS player, Bent does a great write up on this prospect. EJ is a TE converting from WR, is 6’6 245 and runs a 4.6, very close to Kuntz’s testing results. When you look at the Jets they have a lot of big WR’s and TE’s. Right now would carry only 5 WR’s on the 53, and 4 TE’s with Kuntz being your fourth TE and doubling as a WR
I don't know about only keeping 5 WRs on the 53 and keeping Kuntz. Kuntz would have to show some serious potential and improvement in TC for me to even think about keeping him over another player. That's even more true with Jenkins having similar speed and testing results.
Speed is only one attribute of a WR, but the speed of Wesley Walker was a game changer, dictated defensive coverage, and elevated the entire Offense. The Jets brought in 4 UNDFA WR’s, two 4.4 guys TJ Luther & Xavier Gibson ( Slot WR/Punt returner) and two bigger WR’s who run a 4.6 in Jason Brownlee and Jerome Kapp. The Jets seem to love speed, but the only WR with great speed on the roster is Hartman, although Wilson a very complete WR is arguably there. The question is do the Jets need more speed in the WR room. What is the value of a 4.4 WR versus a 4.6 WR
Hardman is not the only WR with great speed. Mims also has great speed (4.39). It's too bad he hasn't shown a whole lot else, because with his size and speed he could have been a weapon. IMO there's no replacing speed. Speed kills. It puts a ton of pressure on opposing DBs. Whereas I like tall WRs much more than short ones, I like fast WRs best of all. As long as we have 2-3 big WRs who are good blockers, I think the unit should be balanced with fast, shifty WRs regardless of size.
Most Offensive Coordinators would agree with you 100%. Partially because of the speed factor, Hackett will give Mims a fair shot. If I was Denzel , I would be camping out in Rodgers backyard for the next month.
As always, David, thanks for the links to other articles, the tidbits of information we may not see elsewhere, and for the interesting articles.
Regarding the Jets' all-time WRs, I loved all those guys except for Keyshawn. There is no way that he was the most gifted WR in Jets history! IMO Maynard, Walker, Toon, and Sauer, Jr. were all more gifted than Keyshawn. I despised him coming out of college and I didn't want the Jets to draft him. I would have been happy with almost anyone, but the Jets took him. He had zero class and acted like a baby. I was so happy when the Jets finally traded his sorry ass, then beat his ass that season. He was slow as molasses. He was just tall, had long arms and could jump. He probably had the fewest YAC in NFL history. I truly despised him. IMO both Cotchery and George Sauer, Jr. were superior technically WRs to Keyshawn. Keyshawn just had the fortune to be in the right place at the right time and have Parcells as the Jets HC. If Sauer had kept playing he would be much higher up the list. He was amazing. I don't recall ever seeing him drop a pass. He caught everything, and he didn't use stickum like Fred Biletnikoff.
Another great, heads up play that Cotchery made was in a game where he was tackled after the catch, but fell on the tackler, never touching the ground, and he got up and either scored a TD or got a chunk of more yards. I don't recall which.
I only saw Maynard play a few years, and I was young. The NC papers carried almost nothing about the Jets except the box scores of games. Wesley Walker was my favorite Jets WR of all time. He was amazing. If he had had Dan Marino throwing him the ball and the Jets had a good OL, there's no telling what Walker's stats would have looked like.
I mostly only got to see Al Toon play his last few years. Following the AFL-NFL merger, the Jets weren't on that often in NC and were never on in Texas during the years I lived there.
I loved Chrebet and liked Coles a lot. Rather than being pissed at Coles for leaving in FA, I was pissed at the Jets for not keeping him.
David, great article. I have participated in this discussion many times. I pretty much agree with your rankings to a tee. It seems like all of these guys could have been even better minus some bad luck. With the right coaching staff maybe George Sauer players 3 or 4 more years. The Toone concussions were and are troubling. The most disturbing for me was the hit he took from Pittsburgh LB Greg Lloyd who knocked him into the Twilight Zone and then stood over him limp body like a boxing referee counting him out. 😡 I was terribly disappointed no Jet player did a thing about that. He should have been clobbered for that. In todays game that would have drawn a serious suspension. I think the Jerome Barkum Rich Caster combo could have rounded out your list in the list in the 9/10spots. They were big fast versatile targets who we could interchange as WR and TE’s. Two Jackson St. kids as I recall.
hey David!
yes, I'm with you on Coles, don't hold it against him to go for more $ with (... who Were, Are, and Always Will Be ...) the Redskins.
Reminds me of Shaun Ellis, one of my favorite Jets evah. I mean, who in their right mind would expect a 3-4 DE, whose job it is to contain and let the LBers get it done, amass over 70 sacks in his career? That's how good he was, and I especially took great delight in the fact that he seemed to always up his game when playing the Patriots, and sacked Brady enough times to get under 12's skin about it. Which is probably why Belicheck signed him off the Jets to the tune of around 7 million (the Jets were offering a pitiful mil or two for what was to be Ellis' twilight season). Belicheck figured it was worth overpaying for Ellis rather than seeing him sack TB and cost them a win or two. I hope he's doin' well, would love to meet him, personally thank him for all his years of great play (and for the boulder-sized snow cone he launched at a Patriots fan at the end of a game LOL).
Al Toon - not only one of the greatest Jets evah, but had he stayed healthy, would have been in the running for a top 5 all time. He was neck and neck running with another pretty good receiver, Jerry Rice, was I think drafted higher than Rice, and had he stayed healthy he would have been up there, kinda like a Larry Fitzgerald. And yes, had Toon had at least 80% of the elite QB play that Rice had through his career, I think it's not even close - Toon by a length at the wire.
Chrebet has got to be every Jets fan's favorite - Wayne was US. Millions of Jets fans like you, me, all the guys here on this blog - we're all kids at heart, loving this game since that fire was first born in us when we actually were kids, wearing the jerseys of our favorite players as we scrummed out on the street or yards, fields of our homes. I would see Chrebet play and it was like my personal wish of being able to play in the NFL came true, embodied in Wayne Chrebet. He left a big piece of his heart on the field, forever there, forever enshrined in our Ring of Honor, and he paid price in his health for it, too. Very happy and prayers answered that he's doing much better now.
Wesley Walker - no one could stop him - and he was legally blind! Man, I'll tell ya - yes our Jets have notable face-plants, like the Butt Fumble - but we also have a player who couldn't see out of one eye, and his 19.0 ypc, alongside Maynard's own 18.7, makes ya wonder what an all time great combo of Namath having these two immortals to zip his passes to would look like.
Maynard. Two sentences; as everyone here knows, God made me a Jets fan before birth; and the player I wanted to be was Don Maynard. Before long, I had the best hands on the block, and the best hands on the teams I played on in my youth.
'nuff said.
And David, the thing I love about our guys above, especially Toon, Walker, Chrebet, Cotchery, Maynard - was the HEART they had, and their HUMILITY. In a word, Inspiring. And though we've only one season to go on, I really like that Garrett Wilson has exhibited that same pair of priceless characteristics.
OK, signing out for now - when i started writing this, there were no other postings before me - let's see if I get lucky again... hahaha
CGVet58
Great article.
Cotchery, living proof that Rex Ryan knew squat about offense. Rex automatically relegated him to second string once the Jets signed Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason. Cotchery demanded a trade and the know it all Jet GM Mike Tannenbaum dealt him to Pittsburgh. He played 3 years there then 2 in Carolina. Mason a locker room lawyer got cut mid season. Burress just faded away.
Probably the greatest heart play in Jet history, Cotchery on third and long, while running his route, pulled his hamstring, caught the pass and hobbled about 4-5 yds for a first down in Cleveland.
Sauer, being a Texan, he probably started playing organized ball when he was 5. As David mentioned, he grew tired of it all. He was probably one of the easiest signings in Jet history, his father George Sr was Jet head of pro personnel. He would have been a great all time Jet receiver but his heart wasn’t in it. Nobody ran a 5 yard square out like him. Automatic first down.
Keyshawn’s biggest problem his mouth. Parcells knew he was going to be a big problem contract time. Dumped him to Tampa for 2-1s. He just totally maligned Chrebet every chance he had.
Coles. Cut off of his college team supposedly for shoplifting with all American Peter Warrick. He was probably the sacrifice to keep Warrick on the team. When the Jets had the four first rounders of Ellis, Abraham, Pennington and Becht, he was the third rounder. Can’t beat that draft. He was probably a better pro than Warrick, a first rounder taken with the fourth pick by Cincinnati
Some writers blast the Jets for taking Toon over Jerry Rice years after the fact. Supposedly the Jets had them rated almost equally. They took Toon over Rice because Toon played in Wisconsin in the cold. They figured he fit better for northern winters.
Chrebet, unfortunately still suffers because of all the concussions he has endured. Keyshawn just made his life miserable with his mouth. In the first game, Keyshawn played against the Jets, with about a minute left in the game, Chrebet caught the game winning touchdown from Curtis Martin to beat Tampa, 21-17. Chrebet a modest 2-32-1 for the game, Mr. Mouth Johnson, 1 reception, 1 yard. Payback is a bitch
Note about Curtis Martin that game
1 pass 18 yards td, 18 Carrie’s 90 yds, 8 receptions 30 yds 1 td. The cream always rises.
Walker, David said it all. His lifetime yards per reception 19.0, that’s amazing. His greatest game, the overtime win over Marino’s Fins 6-194-4
When Walker was a senior at Cal, his quarterback was Joe Roth. Projections were he could be the first quarterback drafted. Late in the season, he was diagnosed with inoperable melanoma. A true study in courage, played out the season, actually played in the Japan Bowl because he had already committed to play there. Passed away that February. His number the only one retired at Cal. Google his name, there is a documentary on his life.
Maynard. The greatest Jet receiver of all time, no doubt about. Funniest story he ever told. He was locked in a contract dispute with Weeb. Weeb never liked to talk about contract numbers. He was afraid the next player would say, you gave..............
Signed Maynard to a new contract, asked him not to divulge the numbers. Maynard told him, “ Don’t worry, I’m just as embarrassed as you by them”
Greetings fellow Jet fans!
This is my first time posting on DWH's pieces, but I've been reading for a little over a year now and I religiously read these comments sections.
Regarding your point about Jerricho Cotchery: he was undoubtedly my favorite Jet during those years that he was on the team and he got a total raw deal when they added Holmes and Edwards in 2010. He was THE guy in that receiving corps. Of course, he shared top billing in that passing attack with the immortal Dustin Keller. He was such a tough summb***h though!
I'm with you about Rex/Tanny completely ruining the chemistry of that team with ill-conceived veteran additions. Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason? What a waste.
Daniel
Yes, Rex and Tanny ruined the team that Mangini had built. There was a solid team with excellent veteran leadership. They were disciplined and played smart. Then Rex came in with his undisciplined doofus self, and within 2-3 years, they had dismantled and ruined that team. I had high hopes when Rex was first hired, but after one year, I was ready to see his ass get fired. He never tried to learn anything about offense, and once opponents figured out his 2-3 wrinkles on D, he had nothing except his big bragadocious mouth.
I loved Cotchery, too, and agree that he got the shaft. Tanny and Rex should have been sent packing, and the Jets kept Cotchery.
Post more often!
hey Bobber!
LOL "... don't worry, i'm just as embarrassed as you by them ..."
that is right up there with my favorite Jets saying, Walt Michaels to Jets Punter Chuck Ramsey after receiving a 30-7 pasting fm the seahawks (Nov 1976), where Ramsey shanked one and had another blocked - "... I can FART farther than you can kick! ..."
Word is, a reporter caught up with Ramsey after the game, and poor Chuck was crying he was so distraught.
from: https://archives.cjr.org/feature/the_gray_lady_blushes.php
"... Chuck Ramsey, the New York Jets’ punter, was crying. it was 1979 and the first time I I had ever seen a National Football League player in tears.
“What’s wrong, Chuck,” I asked after the Jets had lost a Monday Night Football game in Seattle. “Was it that punt they blocked?”
“How would you feel,” the kicker asked, “if the coach said to the entire team, ‘I can fart farther than you can punt?’ ” "
___
Like I said in an earlier post; Buttfumble, a blind WR dominating the game even with above average QB'ing, the Vinny Testaverde Head touchdown vs Seattle in '98, the "resign as HC of the NYJ" from he-who-shall-not-be-named; Quinnen steamrolling Tyreek Hill with one arm for dissing the team - we've got it all, Bobber, yessiree.
And the best part, a fan base who loves our Jets - no matter what!
CGVet58
lol.....Vinny’s TD that never was. He was a yard short! I was sitting upstairs in the same endzone and I could see he didn’t get in!
I never knew that about Walker's QB at Cal, Joe Roth. Thanks for the info, Bobber! I also loved the Maynard/Weeb story.
I also didn't know that Weeb was such a tight ass and had traded Maynard at the end of his career. That sucks.
A 1973 graduate of Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, Roth led Grossmont College of El Cajon to an undefeated season and state title in 1974, and transferred to the University of California, Berkeley in 1975.[6] Originally a back-up, he started the fourth game of the 1975 season, and led the Golden Bears to the Pac-8 title as co-champions.[7] Cal led the nation in total offense, gaining the same yardage both passing and rushing with 2,522 yards each.[8]
In 1976, Roth was a pre-season favorite for the Heisman Trophy. The season was more tumultuous, and towards the end of the year Roth's performance started to drop, but he was named an All-American and finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting.[9]
After the season ended, he revealed that halfway through it he had been diagnosed with terminal melanoma – apparently the metastasis of a mole removed from his face several years earlier. Despite his deteriorating physical condition, he honored his commitments to play in both the Hula Bowl and the Japan Bowl. According to a friend's reminiscence, during the Japan Bowl festivities Roth had agreed to sit for a thirty-minute autograph session; but finding, at the end of the scheduled time, hundreds of children still waiting, he continued to sign until every child had an autograph, after which he left the building and vomited.[10]
"Dying is not so tough. For the last three years I've lived with the realization that the next day might be my last. I'm lucky to be here as long as I was, so don't feel any pity." [11]
By mid-February he was in the hospital, where (in the words of the San Francisco Chronicle)
a doctor wanted to amputate both legs, but Roth did not want to die in pieces. What he wanted was to die among his friends and family at his Berkeley apartment. The ambulance delivered him, and his teammates carried him up three flights of stairs. Two days later, they carried his body back down.[12]
Roth died at age 21 on February 19, 1977.[4][5]
Thanks, Bobber. What a story! Cancer is a scourge. It's tragic that he died so young.
hey David!
just started reading the Walker article. Wow. I knew about his medical travails, what a story.
Here's something for you David - I've had this notion in the back a my head, for the longest time. What if the NFLPA took 1 percent of all the players collective earnings (not the sponsorships, of course) and the league would match that number, dollar for dollar, and set this aside as a fund dedicated solely to provide medical support for all NFL players suffering such grievous injuries as Wesley, or spinal/back injuries, etc? What if the players and the league did this every year?
The NFL made 18 billion dollars last year (of which around 55% is paid in salary...). One percent of that for just one year is 180 million. In 5 years, that's 900 million. At that point, you've got a serious nest egg, akin to Ivy League school endouwments (Harvard has 12 billion, for example) that would continue to grow via interest and conservative investment. After it reaches a certain point, the percentages could be cut back to say, .5 percent for the league and players to chip in.
The numbers above are certainly arbitrary on my part, but dammit, this is such a common sense move - I mean, who, especially the super rich, would complain about giving a penny out of every dollar they earn, to such a great and noble cause?
Now, here's the dig, David. Me, I'm just a wiener in a pile of beans. I have no voice, no audience. My great idea is a tree falling in the forest, and no-one around to hear it. But you - and other bloggers, journalists - you do have an audience. Your voice is heard... what if you and others got together and started nudging the powers that be for something like this?
I think something very real could be done along these lines, and only wish I did have a voice, an audience for this idea.
Whaddayathink?
CGVet58
CGVet58, my wife and I went to the NFL HOF several years ago. There was a lot of building going on and the person leading our tour told us the league was building it up to be a much bigger with many more features and attractions. It’s probably up and running now but the NFL was literally building a mini city there that was to include housing and medical facilities for former NFL players struggling with medical and financial problems. You comment is fantastic and I’m gonna look into this to get more information to how much of this has actually happened and is in place today.
Tx, JetsBrother - I think now, instead of just thinking about it, i'm going to use the internet to find the contact info of as many decision makers as there are with the NFL, and float the idea to them. Heck, I'll probably make a facebook (i don't have social media) just so I can post it publicly, see if I can get a few followers to like & support. The big wigs may see me as a nonfactor, as not a voice (and I don't care, don't take it personal no ways...) but once they see thousands, hopefully more, pinging for them to do something about the health of the players for the game we love - maybe something can happen, eh?
Matthew 17:20 - 21
CGVet58
I will keep youze here posted on progress - and if any a youze are Christians, join with me on this in prayer - Matthew 18:20
Yeah, I agree and I’m looking into the Hall of Fame situation.
I like your wide receiver list, except for me, one egregious omission. Art Powell belongs on this list despite only being with the Titans for three years. He was probably the first prototypical wide receiver in football. At 6'3' and 210+ pounds, he had the talent, speed and power to be a star in the NFL today. After playing in the CFL and a short tenure in the NFL with the Eagles, he signed with the Titans in 1960. That year, he and Don Maynard were the first wide receiver pair ever to each gain over 1,000 yards in a single season, and they repeated that feat in 1962. I watched Powell play at the Polo Grounds several times when I was growing up. After the 1962 season, he was sold to the Raiders because the team was in such bad financial straits. He was also a stand-up guy that refused to play in several games because the black players couldn't stay in the same hotel as the rest of the team. That was the primary reason the Eagles cut him. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame just as much as any other WR in the Hall at present. He was a touchdown machine and led the AFL in touchdowns several times. Even today he is # 4 on the Raiders for most TD's by a receiver. If things had worked out better, he would have been catching passes from Joe Namath along with Don Maynard. He compares very favorably with great AFL receivers like Lance Alworth, Lionel Taylor and Charlie Hennigan as well as Maynard. He deserves to be #3 on your list, all due respect to Wayne Chrebet, who has always been my favorite Jet receiver.
Great way to start the week - I couldnt rank them any differently or think or anyone else (Eddie Bell ?). The one thing Kotite did right was sign Crebet. Walker with the one blind eye still a favortite of mine. Crothery with that one handed catch in the AFC Championship game agianst the Steelers on 3rd down to keep our hopes alive.
All four of these UNDFA WR’s are probably destined for the Practice Squad, but Brownlee & Kapp have a remote chance of making the 53 at some time during the season. Interesting to see how Hackett values speed in his WR’s . EJ Jenkins TE is a fascinating PS player, Bent does a great write up on this prospect. EJ is a TE converting from WR, is 6’6 245 and runs a 4.6, very close to Kuntz’s testing results. When you look at the Jets they have a lot of big WR’s and TE’s. Right now would carry only 5 WR’s on the 53, and 4 TE’s with Kuntz being your fourth TE and doubling as a WR
I don't know about only keeping 5 WRs on the 53 and keeping Kuntz. Kuntz would have to show some serious potential and improvement in TC for me to even think about keeping him over another player. That's even more true with Jenkins having similar speed and testing results.
Speed is only one attribute of a WR, but the speed of Wesley Walker was a game changer, dictated defensive coverage, and elevated the entire Offense. The Jets brought in 4 UNDFA WR’s, two 4.4 guys TJ Luther & Xavier Gibson ( Slot WR/Punt returner) and two bigger WR’s who run a 4.6 in Jason Brownlee and Jerome Kapp. The Jets seem to love speed, but the only WR with great speed on the roster is Hartman, although Wilson a very complete WR is arguably there. The question is do the Jets need more speed in the WR room. What is the value of a 4.4 WR versus a 4.6 WR
Hardman is not the only WR with great speed. Mims also has great speed (4.39). It's too bad he hasn't shown a whole lot else, because with his size and speed he could have been a weapon. IMO there's no replacing speed. Speed kills. It puts a ton of pressure on opposing DBs. Whereas I like tall WRs much more than short ones, I like fast WRs best of all. As long as we have 2-3 big WRs who are good blockers, I think the unit should be balanced with fast, shifty WRs regardless of size.
Most Offensive Coordinators would agree with you 100%. Partially because of the speed factor, Hackett will give Mims a fair shot. If I was Denzel , I would be camping out in Rodgers backyard for the next month.
As always, David, thanks for the links to other articles, the tidbits of information we may not see elsewhere, and for the interesting articles.
Regarding the Jets' all-time WRs, I loved all those guys except for Keyshawn. There is no way that he was the most gifted WR in Jets history! IMO Maynard, Walker, Toon, and Sauer, Jr. were all more gifted than Keyshawn. I despised him coming out of college and I didn't want the Jets to draft him. I would have been happy with almost anyone, but the Jets took him. He had zero class and acted like a baby. I was so happy when the Jets finally traded his sorry ass, then beat his ass that season. He was slow as molasses. He was just tall, had long arms and could jump. He probably had the fewest YAC in NFL history. I truly despised him. IMO both Cotchery and George Sauer, Jr. were superior technically WRs to Keyshawn. Keyshawn just had the fortune to be in the right place at the right time and have Parcells as the Jets HC. If Sauer had kept playing he would be much higher up the list. He was amazing. I don't recall ever seeing him drop a pass. He caught everything, and he didn't use stickum like Fred Biletnikoff.
Another great, heads up play that Cotchery made was in a game where he was tackled after the catch, but fell on the tackler, never touching the ground, and he got up and either scored a TD or got a chunk of more yards. I don't recall which.
I only saw Maynard play a few years, and I was young. The NC papers carried almost nothing about the Jets except the box scores of games. Wesley Walker was my favorite Jets WR of all time. He was amazing. If he had had Dan Marino throwing him the ball and the Jets had a good OL, there's no telling what Walker's stats would have looked like.
I mostly only got to see Al Toon play his last few years. Following the AFL-NFL merger, the Jets weren't on that often in NC and were never on in Texas during the years I lived there.
I loved Chrebet and liked Coles a lot. Rather than being pissed at Coles for leaving in FA, I was pissed at the Jets for not keeping him.
David, great article. I have participated in this discussion many times. I pretty much agree with your rankings to a tee. It seems like all of these guys could have been even better minus some bad luck. With the right coaching staff maybe George Sauer players 3 or 4 more years. The Toone concussions were and are troubling. The most disturbing for me was the hit he took from Pittsburgh LB Greg Lloyd who knocked him into the Twilight Zone and then stood over him limp body like a boxing referee counting him out. 😡 I was terribly disappointed no Jet player did a thing about that. He should have been clobbered for that. In todays game that would have drawn a serious suspension. I think the Jerome Barkum Rich Caster combo could have rounded out your list in the list in the 9/10spots. They were big fast versatile targets who we could interchange as WR and TE’s. Two Jackson St. kids as I recall.
.... aaaand YES!!! as Boomer used to do over at ESPN...
He could go. ALLL. THE. WAAAAAYYY!!!!
first out the gate (drinking my espresso with extra savor and a smile...)
CGVet58