1977 Profile: Ed Marinaro

Running Back
No. 49
Cornell
"Marinaro was signed as a free agent [for the 1976 season] after playing out his option at Minnesota. He was leading the Jets in both rushing and receiving when he injured his foot in the sixth game at New England. The injury wasn't thought to be serious at first but it kept him out for the rest of the season. At the time of the injury, Ed had gained 312 yards on 77 carries for a 4.1 average and two touchdowns and had caught 21 for 168 for an 8.0 average. He still finished third on the club in both categories.
He produced his career single-game rushing high with 119 yards on 31 carries against Buffalo. A week earlier against San Francisco, Marinaro gained 111 yards on 21 attempts, scored a touchdown and added 61 yards on five catches.
'He's a hard-working back who's a good runner and fine receiver,' says Walt Michaels. 'We'd like to see him come back healthy and return to his pre-injury form.'
In his final year with the Vikings, Ed finished third in the NFC and sixth in the NFL in receptions with 54 for 462 yards and an 8.6 average; he caught 11 passes against San Diego. He also had his best rushing season with 358 yards on 101 carries. Originally a number two draft choice of Minnesota, his career totals show 383 rushes for 1,319 yards for a 3.4 average with six touchdowns, and 146 catches for 1,176 yards for an 8.1 average with seven touchdowns.
Marinaro left Cornell as the NCAA's [all-time] most prolific rusher with 4,715 yards (since broken) and as the season record holder with 1,881 in 1971. His 203 yards per game is still an NCAA record. Runner-up to Pat Sullivan for the Heisman Trophy, he was named to numerous All-America teams.
Ed has a degree in hotel administration. He was born in New York City and raised in New Milford, New Jersey. Studying acting, he had a role in the feature film Fingers during the off-season. Ed is also involved in the New York anti-litter campaign. His last name is pronounced Mar-in-AR-row."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide

1977 Profile: Pat Leahy

Place Kicker
No. 5
St. Louis
"Leahy led the team with 49 points, kicking 11 of 16 field goals and 16 of 20 extra points.
He attended St. Louis University but did not play college football. In 1974 he showed up for a tryout with the Cardinals, was signed, then released. A few weeks later he tried out for the Jets, who signed him and have no cause to regret it."

-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1977

"Leahy proved to be one of the NFL's most accurate field goal kickers again last season. He finished fifth in the AFC and tied for ninth in the NFL with 11 of 16 for a .668 percentage. Leahy also made 16 of 20 PATs for a team-leading 49 points; he has topped the Jets in scoring the past two seasons. He has steadily increased his percentage each season and now has a career mark of .625 (30 of 48). Pat has a career total of 150 points.
He equalled his longest career field goal last year with a 47-yarder against the Redskins. His 38-yard boot with 48 seconds remaining proved the winner in the victory over Buffalo at Shea. Pat had some problems during the season because the holders changed frequently.
Pat joined the Jets as a free agent in mid-1974 when Bobby Howfield was injured. He immediately helped the club by defeating the Giants in the sudden-death game which started the Jets on a six-game winning streak.
Although with no football experience, Pat had a tryout with the Cardinals but couldn't unseat veteran Jim Baaken. The Jets saw him during a preseason game and kept him in mind.
Pat holds a B.S. in marketing and business administration and works for Schmidt Bros. Painting and Remodeling in the off-season. His hometown and birthplace is St. Louis, Missouri."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide