1977 Profile: Burgess Owens

Free Safety
No. 22
Miami
"Needs a permanent home. Owens was drafted as a cornerback but spent his first two seasons at strong safety. The Jets have jockeyed him around at all four defensive backfield spots. He played two games at cornerback last year but the results were mediocre, prompting the shuffle back to free safety. Owens seems best suited for free safety.
The most consistent of the Jets' defensive backs the past three years, he has fine speed along with the size and strength to be a punishing tackler for a defensive back.
A first-round draft choice in 1973, Owens was an All-American cornerback at the University of Miami. He was born in Tallahassee and plans a dentistry career."

-Rich Kucner, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"'He found a home at free safety last season and probably had his best year,' says head coach Walt Michaels. 'He's one of the best free safeties in the league, and now we'll have to see how far he can go from here.'
After three campaigns at strong safety, Owens was switched to cornerback in the preseason and started the first two regular season games there before a musical chairs' switch sent him to free safety, Phil Wise to strong safety and Shafer Suggs to left cornerback in the third game at Miami. Owens led the secondary in total tackles (123), was third in solo stops with 61 and recovered three fumbles. He made an outstanding play at Buffalo, catching O.J. Simpson from behind to save a touchdown and possibly the game.
Burgess has stayed healthy most of his career, missing only three games in 1975 with a torn tendon in his left knee. He was the Jets' Rookie of the Year and a member of the NFL All-Rookie team in 1973. Burgess made the Jets' last interception for a touchdown (29 yards at Baltimore in 1974) and also the last Jet kickoff return for a touchdown (82 yards against Denver in 1973). He had three interceptions in both 1974 and 1975 and one in 1973.
In college, Owens was [selected] All-America by the Sporting News and second team by the NEA. He made 160 tackles and eight interceptions while playing primarily at cornerback. A running back in high school, he gained over 1,500 yards with 19 touchdowns.
Burgess is articulate as a banquet speaker. He was born in Columbus, Ohio and his hometown is Tallahassee, Florida. His father is a professor of agronomy at Florida A&M."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide

1977 Profile: Richard Osborne

Tight End
No. 86
Texas A & M
"Claimed on waivers by the Jets from Philadelphia last October 7, Osborne made an auspicious debut with the New Yorkers by catching a touchdown pass from Joe Namath only five days after reporting. The six-pointer gave the Jets a 13-0 lead [followed by a conversion by Pat Leahy] over Buffalo.
Osborne started at tight end the following week at New England when the club experimented with the move of Richard Caster to wide receiver. He spent the rest of the season on special teams and as an extra tight end on short yardage plays. He missed the final game because of an elbow injury.
A ninth-round choice of the Eagles in 1976, Richard was the most prolific receiver in Texas A & M history with 86 receptions. He was All-Southwest Conference and majored in business administration.
Richard was named the top prep player in Texas at Lee High in San Antonio. His birthplace is Wichita, Kansas and his hometown is San Antonio."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide

1977 Profile: Billy Newsome

Defensive End
No. 87
Grambling
"Newsome played in only two games last year because of a mild fracture of his knee. He started the first game at Cleveland and only saw spot duty six weeks later.
 'He could be a big help to us if he returns to his pre-1976 form because he has the ability,' says Walt Michaels. He didn't require surgery, and off-season medical reports indicate he should be ready to go.
Acquired from New Orleans in exchange for a No. 1 choice in the 1975 draft, Billy had a good year in 1975 with a team leading six sacks. He served as defensive captain under interim head coach Ken Shipp.
Billy spent two seasons with the Saints. He was voted the club's MVP in 1973 and was defensive captain in '73 and '74. Originally a No. 3 choice of the Colts in 1970 and a member of Baltimore's Super Bowl championship team of that season, Billy went to New Orleans in exchange for a No. 1 draft choice- the Colts tabbed Bert Jones.
A Little-All America choice at Grambling, he captained the Tigers in his senior year. Newsome majored in industrial engineering and spends his off-seasons in Denver. His hometown is Jacksonville, Texas."

-1977 New York Jets Media Guide