Countdown to Camp: 71
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 71
Ben Ijalana has been around for quite some time although the only significant playing time he got was in 2016 when first Breno Giacomini and then Ryan Clady got injured. At least this gives the Jets a cheap option in the event of a Kelvin Beachum or Brandon Shell injury, although last year Brent Qvale seemed to get reps ahead of him when Shell got hurt.
The Greatest
Almost by default, the best number 71 is probably Kerry Jenkins. The guard made 50 starts in five seasons with the Jets, including all 16 games in each of his last three seasons. Here he is in action:
The other 71's
Bill Pickel, Sam Walton, Wade Smith...
The '71 season
Another rough year saw the Jets fail to string together back-to-back wins until their final two games, ending up just 6-8 on the year.
Joe Namath was limited to just three starts, as Bob Davis led the team with 10 touchdown passes and tackle Winston Hill was their only pro bowler.
John Riggins had exactly 1,000 yards from scrimmage as he led the team in both rushing and pass receptions, while Rich Caster and Emerson Boozer paced the team with six touchdowns each and WK Hicks led them in interceptions.
71 to the house
In a memorable game from 2009, the Jets conspired to throw away a 210-yard rushing performance by Thomas Jones as they threw six interceptions, five of them by Mark Sanchez, messed up a few field goal attempts and shot themselves in the foot with penalties, losing 16-13 in overtime. Here was Jones' longest run:
Let us know if there's any connections to 71 that we missed...