Countdown to Camp: 53
As we look ahead to training camp in late July, we're going to take a daily retrospective look back at some random people, moments and games from Jets history...
The Current 53
Kevin Minter gives the Jets another stout option against the run, who will join a group of veterans competing for a back-up role. In addition to Minter and his fellow veterans Kevin Pierre-Louis, Neville Hewitt and Brandon Copeland, the Jets also added two undrafted rookies to their linebacking contigent.
The Greatest
Jim Sweeney spent the first 11 years of his 16-year career with the Jets. While he was a center for most of it, he also started at guard and tackle earlier on in his career while the Jets still had Joe Fields.
Here's Sweeney leading the way on a Dennis Bligen touchdown run:
The other 53's
Chad Cascadden, Josh Mauga, Mike Catapano...
53 years ago
The 1965 season saw the Jets boosted by a young rookie named Joe Namath. They still only won five games though. We detailed that earlier in our countdown, here.
Clutch from 53
Maybe the most impressive clutch field goal in history saw John Hall nail a game-winning 53-yarder in Oakland to earn the Jets a play-off spot:
Tom Tupa, the holder, played a key role in the play too.
53 yards in the playoffs
Here's Shonn Greene's 53-yard run in the 2009 postseason win over the Chargers:
53 on the scoreboard
In 1963, the Jets suffered a 53-7 loss to San Diego.
Let us know if there's any connections to 53 that we missed...