Countdown to Camp: 12
As we look ahead to training camp in late July, we're taking a daily retrospective look back at some random people, moments and games from Jets history...
The Current 12
The number has been retired for some time, in honor of hall of fame quarterback Joe Namath. While Namath's career statistics don't look that impressive based on the numbers being posted by elite players these days, he was constantly among the league leaders in passer rating and set numerous records. He was the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards in a season.
The Greatest
Here's perhaps the biggest touchdown pass of Namath's entire career, a six-yarder to Don Maynard to win the AFL title game and take the Jets to Super Bowl III, where he of course won the MVP having backed up his guarantee:
The other 12's
Al Dorow, Johnny Green, Harold Stephens...
12 years ago
The Jets entered the 2006 season under new coach Eric Mangini with a weak roster and not much hope for the short-term having made several cap-saving cuts.
Unexpectedly, they went 10-6 and made the postseason, as Chad Pennington stayed healthy for all 16 games for the only time as a Jet. He passed for 3,352 yards and 17 touchdowns and led them to a 23-3 win over the Raiders on the final day of the season to clinch the wild card spot, although they lost to New England in a closer-than-it-sounds 37-16 defeat in the first round of the postseason.
Laveranues Coles had a thousand yard season as a receiver and rookie Leon Washington was the team's leading rusher. Bryan Thomas posted a career-high 8.5 sacks and safety Kerry Rhodes had a great year with 98 tackles, 13 passes defensed, five sacks, four interceptions and three forced fumbles.
However, the team's only pro bowler was cornerback Justin Miller, who was there because of his kick returns. He averaged over 28 yards per return, scoring twice.
12-yard touchdown
Here's a collector's item; a 12-yard touchdown pass from Christian Hackenberg to Austin Seferian-Jenkins from preseason last year:
12 on the scoreboard
The Jets beat Arizona 12-7 in a 1999 game. Rick Mirer's late touchdown pass to Keyshawn Johnson would prove decisive.
12 on the stat sheet
Curtis Martin rushed for a career high 12 touchdowns in 2004, in addition to leading the league in rushing.
Two players who posted a career-high 12 pass receptions in a game were Wayne Chrebet and Richie Anderson. In Chrebet's second season he posted 12 catches for 162 yards and a score against Jacksonville. Anderson had 12 receptions for 109 yards in the Monday Night Miracle in 2000.
12 in the record books
The Jets' 12 wins in 1998 is a franchise record. The team has just 12 postseason wins (in 25 games) in their history.
Dainard Paulson has the team record with 12 interceptions in a season.
Greg McElroy was sacked 12 times in his only NFL start. That's a franchise record and also tied for the NFL mark.
Let us know if there's any connections to 12 that we missed...