Countdown to Camp: 84
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 84
This number has been allocated to Bucky Hodges, who is a long shot to make the roster at tight end having mostly played as a receiver in recent seasons. Can he improve his blocking enough to warrant sticking around?
The Greatest
Art Powell never played for the Jets but was one of the franchise's first stars when they were still the Titans, albeit only for three years. The Titans picked him up as a defensive back and kick returner for their inaugural season and saw immediate returns from converting him to wide receiver. He led the AFL in touchdown receptions in his first year and in receiving yards two years later. After the Jets, Powell earned four-time all-AFL honors in Oakland.
The other 84's
Mark Lomas, Bobby Humphrey, Fred Baxter...
The '84 season
A disappointing year saw the Jets roar out to a 6-2 start only to lose seven of their last nine. The year was probably most memorable for Ken O'Brien seeing his first NFL action, although he lost four of five starts.
The defense was led by all-pro Mark Gastineau, who racked up a still virtually-unsurpassed 22 sacks. Joe Klecko was also a pro bowler, as was Freeman McNeil, who rushed for over a thousand yards.
They also traded Richard Todd for a first round pick in 1984 and moved to the Meadowlands. O'Brien and Gastineau also drew headlines by getting in a bar brawl.
84 of the worst
This 84-yard touchdown was a watershed moment for any Jets fans who believed Darrelle Revis was still an elite corner. Teams never really seemed to fear him after this.
Let us know if there's any connections to 84 that we missed...