Countdown to Camp: 62
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 62
This number had been allocated to undrafted free agent Lord Hyeamang. Hyeamang was released during rookie camp and so it's now been given to recent waiver claim Antonio Garcia.
The Greatest
Linebacker Al Atkinson was a Jet for a decade and was an AFL all-star during the Jets' Super Bowl-winning season in 1968. He intercepted 21 passes in his AFL/NFL career.
Here's Atkinson in action:
The other 62's
Vladimir Ducasse, Joe Pelligrini, Roger Duffy...
The '62 season
1962 was the final season for the Titans of New York as Harry Wismer would sell the team to Sonny Werblin after the season.
The team was losing money and had just suffered through its first losing season at 5-9 despite a 2-1 start. They lost their last three to fall out of postseason contention.
On defense, Larry Grantham was an all-pro and Lee Riley intercepted 11 passes. On offense, both Art Powell and Don Maynard had thousand yard seasons, catching passes from the likes of Johnny Green, Lee Grosscup and Butch Songin. Powell and Maynard each had eight touchdowns, as did the versatile Dick Christy, who had over 2,000 all-purpose yards and two punt return touchdowns. Christy was the only offensive player to be named as an AFL all-star.
A 62-point explosion
In 1985 they Jets exploded for a 62-28 win over the Tampa Bay Bucs. Tight end Mickey Shuler led the way with three touchdown receptions from Ken O'Brien.
You never would have guessed the Jets were heading for their greatest offensive display of all-time based on this early play:
62 yards to the house
Here's Al Toon with a 62-yard touchdown against the Saints in 1986, during the Jets' nine-game winning streak:
Let us know if there's any connections to 62 that we missed...