JIM TURNER
Place Kicker-Quarterback
No. 11
Utah State
"Whenever he runs onto the field to try a field goal, Jim Turner gets an earful from Babe Parilli, the man who holds the ball for him.
'Babe will tell me that he can kick better than I can and that he certainly wouldn't miss this easy one,' Turner says. But in a crucial game against the Bills last season, with the Jets trailing 21-19 with three minutes left, Parilli was silent and so was the rest of the huddle. Turner knew how important this 35-yarder was, that he'd have to boot it into a stiff crosswind in the rain, and before a howling crowd of 61,000 at Shea Stadium. But when the ball was spotted by Parilli, Turner booted it true through the uprights and the Jets won the game.
That was one of six field goals he booted that day, tying an AFL record. He added 28 more of them, plus 34 extra points, to win the league's scoring title last year with 145 points. It was his first scoring title, though Jim has led the Jets in scoring all four years he has been with the club. He joined the Jets as a free agent in 1964 out of Utah State.
Jim has another duty on the club which doesn't keep him very busy: he's a backup quarterback behind Joe Namath."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1969
"For the fifth consecutive year, Jim led the New York Jets in scoring. Not only is he an accurate kicker but he can split the uprights from as far as 50 yards out. Jim led the AFL in scoring (145) in 1968. Additionally, he can play at quarterback or as a running back in an emergency."
-1969 Topps No. 29
STEVE O'NEAL
Punter
13th Round
Texas A & M
Steve arrives in New York from Texas A & M to replace Curley Johnson as the Jet punter. Along with New York scouts, head coach Weeb Ewbank has already expressed optimism about this young man's long distance booting.
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