Wednesday, December 30, 2015

1976 Profile: Ed Marinaro

Running Back
No. 49
Cornell
"He played out his option with the Vikings and signed with the Jets- who needed him after loosing John Riggins. As a Viking he was overshadowed by Chuck Foreman, the team's leading rusher and receiver.
'I never had a chance to establish myself,' says Ed, a former Cornell All-American. 'I started every game, but I was used to block and catch passes. I only got to carry the ball about six or seven times a game.'"

-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1976

"Marinaro signed with the Jets in June of 1976 after playing out his option at Minnesota. Coming off his best pro season, both as a rusher and a receiver, he gained 358 yards on 101 carries, a 3.5 average, and a touchdown. He caught 54 passes for 462 yards, an 8.6 average, and three touchdowns to rank sixth in the NFL and third in the NFC behind frontrunner and teammate Chuck Foreman.
Ed is a versatile runner, blocker and pass receiver with the durability to play week-in and week-out. His career statistics include 1,007 yards rushing on 306 carries, a 3.3 average, with four touchdowns, and 1,008 yards receiving on 115 catches, an 8.7 average, and seven touchdowns. He started a majority of [his team's] games opposite Foreman in 1975 after backing up Foreman in two previous seasons.
In a game against the Jets in 1975, Marinaro rushed for 35 yards on 10 carries and caught two passes for 23 yards. A No. 2 draft choice in 1972, he has played in championship games in each of the last three seasons.
Marinaro left Cornell and the NCAA as the most prolific rusher in history. He held the NCAA marks for most yards rushing in a career (4,715) and a season (1,881). He played in 27 varsity games and averaged 29 carries per game, averaged 203 yards per game rushing in 1971 and scored 52 career touchdowns. Ed was named to numerous All-America teams.
Ed has a degree in hotel administration. A native of New York City, he played high school football in his hometown of New Milford, New Jersey."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide

Monday, December 28, 2015

1976 Profile: Mark Lomas

Defensive End
No. 84
Northern Arizona
"Lomas could be the comeback story of the 1976 Jets season. He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and missed the entire 1975 season. He was placed on injured reserve on November 15, yet participated in the Jets 1976 rookie weekend.
An active, aggressive player with a knack of rushing the passer, Lomas led or tied for the team lead in quarterback sacks for the previous three seasons from his right end position. He had five sacks in 1974 to tie for the lead, and owned the top spot in 1973 with 10 and in 1972 with eight.
Mark had injury problems in 1974, missing the remainder of the season after an injury occurred against Miami at Shea. He faces a 1976 battle with Richard Neal for a starting spot. Mark revealed after the 1973 season that he had secretly signed a WFL contract for 1974 and then played out his option. His contract was breached and he returned to the Jets.
His most memorable game was against Baltimore [in 1972] when he dumped Johnny Unitas three times and then recovered a fumble to set up a touchdown. Drafted eight in 1970, Lomas shared the Heede Award with John Little in 1971.
Lomas was a two-year starter in college who transferred from Golden West JC. An honorable mention NCAA small college All-America, he played defensive end and tackle and spelled occasionally at offensive tackle.
He played on a championship high school football team in Garden Grove, California. Mark holds a B.S. in physical education and works as a teacher at the Barbara Sterling School for Educational Therapy. He believes in health foods and makes his own concoctions. He's also a strong advocate of the stretching exercises many of the Jets now use.
Mark's hobbies including vegetable gardening and cycling. His hometown is Garden Grove, California."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

1976 Profile: Pat Leahy

Place Kicker
No. 5
St. Louis
"Leahy supported his storybook tale of a 1974 season with a solid 1975 campaign. He finished tied for 15th with George Blanda in NFL field goal rankings, hitting 61.9 percent of his attempts, and tied for sixth in the AFC.
He had the dubious distinction of facing the toughest average kick attempt from the standpoint of distance, 39.6 yards, yet finished third in percentage of long (40-49 yards) field goals (7-for-12, 38.3 percent) behind Denver's Jim Turner and Cincinnati's Dave Green. Leahy's longest boot in 1975 was 47 yards (twice). He kicked three field goals against the Bills and three against the Patriots, including a 44-yarder for the winning points. Pat arrived as a full-time place kicker after beating out veteran Bobby Howfield.
Pat signed with the Jets on November 8, 1974, two days before the mid-season game against the Giants. He replaced the injured Howfield and responded by finishing as the team's third-leading scorer [36 points] with 6-for-11 on field goals and 18-for-19 on PAT's for 36 points. Pat was one of the heroes of the tingling overtime victory over the Giants as he kicked field goals of 34 and 22 yards and added two extra points. He had a chance to win the game in regulation but his 19-yard field goal try was blocked. His long boot of 1974 was 45 yards against San Diego- that kick was the longest for the Jets since a 50-yarder by Jim Turner in 1969.
He had no football experience prior to attending the Cardinal's training camp in 1974. He held his own but could not unseat Jim Bakken. The Jets first knew of him when he kicked off against them in a preseason game.
Pat holds a B.S. in marketing and business administration and works for Schmidt Bros. Painting and Remodeling in the off-season. His hometown is St. Louis, Missouri."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide

Saturday, December 19, 2015

1976 Profile: David Knight

Wide Receiver
No. 82
William and Mary
"One of pro football's premier receivers after two seasons, Knight's third season was one of injury and frustration. He stretched a ligament in his left knee during the first veteran practice, and three weeks later tore cartilage which required surgery on August 17. David missed the first seven regular season games and suffered muscle pulls en route to recovery. He played briefly at Miami on November 9, and in five of the last six Jets games of 1975 did not catch a pass.
In 1974, Knight fulfilled all the hopes the Jets had for him, catching 40 passes for 579 yards, a 14.5 average, and four touchdowns. He started at right wide receiver and finished second behind Jerome Barkum in Jets receiving stats and eighth in the AFC while catching passes in 13 of 14 games. Rated one of Namath's favorite targets for 'big situation' passes, David caught touchdown passes against Baltimore, Houston, the Giants and New England. He had a career [day] against the Patriots, catching seven for 117 yards.
David owns a reputation as one of the NFL's most sure-handed receivers in the NFL- coaches say he dropped only one pass during the entire 1974 season. Drafted 11th in 1973, he does not have burning speed but has a great knack for finding the open spot and holding on after he's hit, and runs outstanding patterns. Until his 1975 injuries, Knight had not missed a game in his two years.
Knight won AP All-East honors and was two-time All-Southern Conference. He caught 133 passes for 1,995 yards and nine touchdowns- he had six touchdown receptions as a sophomore. Knight played in the East-West and North-South Shrine Games, the Coaches' All-America Game and the 1971 Tangerine Bowl.
He holds a B.S. in business administration. Born in Trieste, Italy, his hometown is Alexandria, Virginia. His brother also played wide receiver at William & Mary. David idolized Oakland's Fred Biletnikoff during his early career."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide

Thursday, December 17, 2015

1976 Profile: J.J. Jones

Quarterback
No. 11
Fisk
"Jones progressed from being a free agent signed after a tryout to being the backup quarterback for Joe Namath in 1975. He appeared in seven games, starting with the Monday Night national television game when Namath was disciplined for missing curfew. Jones completed 15 of 52 passes in 1975 for 173 yards and a touchdown. He has the ability to scramble out of trouble, running eight times for 58 yards for a 7.3 average, with his longest run 19 yards. A take charge type of quarterback despite his youthfulness, J.J. is applauded for his 'blackboard smarts' and is articulate, polished and poised.
He spent the 1974 training camp with the Jets before suffering a preseason game injury; he wound up on the injured reserve list. J.J. started a 1974 preseason game against Denver and threw two touchdown passes to David Knight. He threw for four touchdown passes in three games before his injury.
In a four-year career as a quarterback in college, Jones earned All-SIAC honors and was second team All-NAIA Division II. He set Fisk records for completions, touchdowns (17) and passing yardage (1,394) in 1973 and led his team to an undefeated season. He also competed in track.
J.J. has a B.A. degree in political science and business administration. He is working in the off-season for the National Alliance of Businessmen and the Department of Commerce in a drive to place 1,200 college-bound students from disadvantaged backgrounds in line for professional jobs in business and industry. His father John played in the old Negro baseball leagues for Memphis in 1943-1955. J.J. started the J.J. Jones football camp at Fisk in 1976. His hometown is Memphis, Tennessee."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide

Monday, December 14, 2015

1976 Profile: Jazz Jackson

Running Back
No. 43
Western Kentucky
"A swift outside runner who played in 13 of 14 regular season games and all five preseason games, Jackson ran back a kickoff 60 yards against the Giants and scored a touchdown against the Redskins. He missed the first Miami game with a hamstring pull.
Jackson has good hands, catching seven career passes for 98 yards, and has only handled the ball as a runner 26 times, gaining 85 yards. He provided a big play in the 1974 game against Chicago when he scooped up a John Riggins fumble and took it 24 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Jazz played in every '74 game and started against Houston; he carried seven times for 39 yards in that game and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Joe Namath.
Jazz is very muscular and durable despite his size. Drafted 16th in 1974, he has 4.5 speed with excellent acceleration. He has run the 100 yard dash in 9.4.
Jackson set Ohio Valley Conference marks with 39 career touchdowns and 297 yards rushing in one game (against Butler in 1971). His career rushing marks were 519 carries for 2,594 yards, and he caught 21 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson's kickoff returns were 20 for 443 yards and a touchdown and his punt returns were 37 for 234 yards and two touchdowns.
His Western Kentucky team won OVC championships in 1970, 1972 and 1973. Jazz played in the Grantland Rice and Camelia Bowls and was All-OVC twice.
He holds a B.S. in recreation. His real name is Clarence but he prefers Jazz. He is the shortest Jet ever but not the lightest- Ronnie Moore, the Jets' No. 9 pick in 1976, holds that distinction. Jazz would like to coach high school or college football.
Jazz's hobbies include woodworking, bike riding and swimming. His hometown is Knoxville, Tennessee."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide

Saturday, December 12, 2015

1976 Profile: Delles Howell

Cornerback
No. 20
Grambling
"A versatile player who started five games at free safety before a broken arm in St. Louis sidelined him for the season, Howell intercepted two passes in the preseason, one from his safety position against St. Louis and one as a left cornerback which he returned 37 yards for a touchdown. He played corner early in the season before replacing Phil Wise against the Dolphins, and intercepted a pass against the Bills to set up a field goal. Delles returned to the left corner in the second Miami game and then back to free safety against Baltimore, intercepting the second of two passes for the season.
One of the tallest cornerbacks in the NFL, Howell spent the 1974 season as a backup before starting at New England in the 10th week. He picked off two interceptions [that afternoon], but suffered a severely sprained ankle and was out for the season. Howell started at left cornerback in 1973 and started at right corner for the Saints in 1972 before joining the Jets. Originally drafted No. 4 by the Saints in 1970, Delles has suffered two broken hands in his career. He came to the Jets along with Richard Neal for No. 2 and No. 3 draft choices.
Delles was a four-year starter at cornerback in college and was an all-conference choice as a freshman. He played in the SWAC championship games of 1966, 1967 and 1968, the Orange Blossom Classic in 1967 and the Pasadena Bowl in 1968.
Delles majored in physical education. One of eight children, his brother Mike was formerly with the Cleveland Browns and another brother, Lane, was a tackle for the Giants and Eagles. Delles coaches high school track in the off-season. He was born in Vallejo, California and his hometown is Monroe, Louisiana."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide

Thursday, December 10, 2015

1976 Profile: George Hoey

Cornerback
No. 23
Michigan
"Hoey signed with the Jets as a free agent last November 22 after he was previously with Denver and San Diego in '75. The Jets are his sixth pro team. He played one game for the Broncos (against Green Bay) and suffered a fractured jaw. Hoey spent six weeks on the reserve list before being cut on November 17 and was the final cut by San Diego.
He started three games at right cornerback in the Jets' injury-ridden backfield. George started eight games for the Chargers in 1974, intercepting a pass and returning it 20 yards. He had a 103-yard kickoff return for St. Louis in 1971.
George was originally a 14th round pick of Detroit in 1969 and taxied for the Lions. He spent 1970 in the military and signed as a free agent with the Cardinals in 1971. George was claimed on waivers by New England in 1972 and played with the Patriots for two seasons before being waived to San Diego.
All-Big Ten for two years, George earned three letters in track with a 6.1 clocking in the 60-yard dash. He holds a degree in physical education.
George is the cousin of Herb Washington, a world class sprinter and former baserunning ace of the Oakland A's. His hometown in Flint, Michigan."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide

Monday, December 7, 2015

1976 Profile: Winston Hill

Offensive Tackle
No. 75
Texas Southern
"Winston started every regular season game in 1975. He holds the all-time Jet record for most consecutive games played, 181, and holds a similar record for games played in his career. Winston battled minor, nagging injuries in 1975 including a stone bruise on his heel and a bruised shoulder. An extremely durable interior line player and one of the top all-time protectors of Joe Namath, he's an excellent teacher of younger players.
He had one of his finest seasons in 1974 despite being overlooked for the Pro Bowl, though he has made eight all-star appearances in 13 seasons. He has improved his run blocking to a high level of efficiency. Hill has played both sides of the offensive line and experimented with playing at a lighter weight earlier in his career but has returned to the 275-280 range.
Hill won press acclaim for his work against Ordell Braase and Ben Davidson during the Jets' Super Bowl [postseason]. He came to the Jets as a free agent in 1963 after Baltimore and Weeb Ewbank had drafted him in the 11th round of the 1963 draft. In college, Hill played both ways for the [Texas Southern] Tigers and won All-America honors as a senior.
He was a Texas high school state tennis champion for three years. Winston is very active in religious activities and with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He does government work in St. Croix, Virgin Islands during the off-season.
Winston makes his home in Englewood, Colorado. His hometown is Gladewater, Texas."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide