1979 Profile: Pat Leahy

Place Kicker

No. 5

St. Louis

"Franz Beckenbauer he's not, but Leahy played four years of soccer at St. Louis University. The Jets saw him during a preseason game with St. Louis in 1974, when Leahy tried to unseat Jim Bakken as the Cardinal place kicker. Fat chance. When Bobby Howfield was hurt during that season, New York signed Leahy. Howfield left, and Leahy's still there.

Leahy led the AFC in scoring with 107 points and hit 22 of 30 field goal attempts. He had a slump in '77 when he became known as Wide-Left Leahy. But Walt Michaels stuck with him, and now there aren't too many better kickers in the game.'

Born March 19, 1951, in St. Louis, Leahy teaches in the off-season- kids, not kickers."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"Pat enjoyed his finest season in pro football last year. He led the AFC in scoring and was one of only two players to score 100 points.

Pat works as a teacher's aide."

-1979 Topps No. 121

1979 Profile: Jerome Barkum

Tight End

No. 83

Jackson State

"The Bekins of tight ends. Barkum was a wide receiver for the first five years of his career before making the move to tight end in '77. 'At first I had some doubts, not about my ability, but I hadn't played the position,' he recalls. 'Now I'm catching balls in the middle and up the chute and it's nice. It's fun, too. I get to hit people before they hit me.'

Barkum was one of Namath's favorite targets in the old days. He was born July 18, 1950, in Gulfport, Mississippi,  and was the Jets' No. 1 draft pick in '72 out of Jackson State. Barkum set a high school basketball record by grabbing 30 rebounds in one game. He's still a dangerous deep threat wherever he plays."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"Jerome has made the transformation from wide receiver to tight end. He's a clutch receiver with great hands and his blocking has noticeably improved.

Jerome had 30 rebounds in a high school basketball game."

-1979 Topps No. 21

1979 Profile: Kevin Long

Fullback

No. 33

South Carolina

"A 'Who's he?' All-Pro. Long exploded on the scene in his second NFL season, rushing for 954 yards (4.5) and scoring touchdowns. He had just 170 yards (3.0) as a rookie. He's another reason to keep an eye on those Jets.

Long certainly isn't surprised by his big year. He had been a 1,000-yard rusher at South Carolina; in fact, teammate Clarence Williams also gained 1,000 that 1975 season.

Long was born June 4, 1954, in Clinton, South Carolina, where he still lives. He was an offensive guard in high school- good coaching, right? The Jets drafted him ninth, almost as an afterthought, after his rushing yardage fell off as a college senior. The Jets tried him at fullback, then made him a tailback- good coaching."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"The Jets' leading rusher in 1978, Kevin adjusted from fullback to tailback and has become a two-way threat to the club. He was the first 1,000-yard rusher in South Carolina history in 1975 with 1,133 yards gained on the ground.

Kevin was married after the 1977 season."

-1979 Topps No. 519

1979 Profile: Wesley Walker

Wide Receiver

No. 85

California

"The Jets' Wesley Walker caught eight touchdown passes in 1978. Not so amazing, unless you consider his shortest touchdown catch was 33 yards. Overall, his average touchdown reception was 52 yards. Impressed yet? Now consider that of the AFC's top ten receivers, excluding Walker, only four caught at least one pass of 52 or more yards all year. And there were three starting AFC quarterbacks who didn't complete a pass of 52 yards or more all season: Ken Stabler, Mike Livingston and Craig Morton.

Walker, after being named the Jets' 1978 MVP: 'I can't ask for anything more. I almost feel like crying. It's unbelievable what's happened to me, a real turnabout from last year when I was dropping the ball, but I never doubted my abilities and I'm thankful for the confidence of the coaches.' "

-from Notes, Quotes & Comments, Football Digest, April 1979

"The Seattle Slew of pass catchers. Walker was All-Pro last year after a superb season- 48 catches for a league high 1,169 yards and an amazing 24.4 per catch average- and eight touchdown catches, too. And he's legally blind in one eye!

In two years in the NFL, Walker has given defensive backs, especially those in the AFC East, nervous disorders. He broke in as a rookie starter and caught an 87-yard touchdown bomb against Oakland. He 'fell off' to just a 77-yard best in '78.

Born May 26, 1955, in San Bernadino, California, Walker lettered in both football and track at California where he set an NCAA career record for average yards per catch (25.7). He can outrun them on any level."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"Wesley's speed is equal to that of anyone in the NFL. He has quick moves, good football intelligence and great desire to excel.

The Jets' leading receiver in 1978, he led the entire NFL with 1,169 yards and played in the Pro Bowl. He was an outstanding sprinter at California."

-1979 Topps No. 141

1979 Profile: Matt Robinson

Quarterback

No. 17

Georgia

"Where did he come from? When Richard Todd went down last year, there was despair in Gotham. But Robby was ready. He completed just 46 percent of his passes, but for 2,002 yards and 13 touchdowns, including several game-busters to Wesley Walker.

Robinson gives the Jets two good young quarterbacks for the future, although he might tire of being No. 2 after a while. He was born June 8, 1955, in Farmington, Michigan. Drafted ninth in '77 out of Georgia, his passing talents were lost in the Veer Offense. In fact, after leading the conference in passing as a sophomore, he played little as a junior and was a backup as a sophomore. Sounds like the Bart Starr story, but let's not rush things."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"Matt has displayed outstanding leadership qualities with the Jets. He has a strong arm, a quick release and can scramble with the best of them.

Matt was known for passing at Georgia, averaging 21.9 yards per completion. He played in the Tangerine Bowl as a sophomore."

-1979 Topps No. 267

1979 Profile: Richard Todd

Quarterback

No. 14

Alabama

"Joe Willie with blond hair. Not so much the lifestyle, but the throwing arm- strong, accurate, nice touch.

Ultimately, injuries have taken young King Richard off his throne, allowing Matt Robinson to come on the scene. However, let there be no doubt the Jets' quarterback is Richard Todd.

Though he hasn't played one full season out of his three in the NFL, when he gets experience, he should be a great one. The Jets are getting him blocking up front and he has the receivers, too.

Born November 19, 1953, in Birmingham, Alabama, he's another of the great Alabama passers (Dixie Howell, Harry Gilmer, Namath, Ken Stabler). Soft-spoken and polite, he built a beach house on Redneck Riviera."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"Richard has progressed rapidly in his three seasons with the Jets. He possesses the leadership capabilities to go with his extremely strong arm.

Richard led Alabama to three straight Southeast Conference titles during his collegiate career. He built a beach house in Alabama after the 1977 season."

-1979 Topps No. 41

1979 Profiles: Walt Michaels and Pete McCulley

WALT MICHAELS

Head Coach

"The Jets were like a bad play on Broadway when Michaels took over- a long-running production that was receiving bad reviews and needed reworking. Michaels had been passed over before, then they gave him the job almost as an apology.

It hasn't been easy for Michaels, who ripped the club and began infusing youth into the franchise. A Wesley Walker here, a Marvin Powell there. Things are on the upswing now. No miracles, but Michaels was voted AFC Coach of the Year in one poll for making the Jets respectable (8-8).

'Michaels is a professional,' says linebacker Greg Buttle. 'He knows how to get the most out of you without killing you and without bull. He motivates you.' A tough linebacker with the Cleveland Browns from 1952-61, Michaels has kept his sense of humor as a coach."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

PETE MCCULLEY

Receivers Coach

"Go ahead and ask. Everyone else is. 'Are there strings attached?' It is assumed by football scholars that any Joe Thomas coach is a puppet. Perhaps that is a strong word, but McCulley is accustomed to answering to someone above him. All 18 of his years as a coach have been as an assistant on both the college and pro levels. But he comes to the 49ers with good recommendations and good associations in his past.

While coaching at Baylor, he handled star quarterback Terry Southall and wide receiver Lawrence Elkins. While with the Colts, he handled Roger Carr, who says McCulley 'has an ability to get along.' While with the Redskins last season, he handled Jean Fugett, who praises McCulley's ability to 'force you to concentrate.'

Born November 29, 1931, in Franklin County, Mississippi, he was an all-conference quarterback at Louisiana Tech. His son Kit plays football for Navy."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"We don't talk about last year- we are only looking ahead. The 49ers will have a lot of new people playing important roles for us and we hope they will give us some consistency. We'll have to wait and see."

Pete McCulley, from News, Quotes & Comments (Football Digest, October 1978)