Joe Klecko ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

One of the reasons the 1977 draft is considered the greatest in New York Jetshistory is because it produced the franchise's best defensive player -- Joe Klecko, chosen in the sixth round. He's one of the best defensive linemen not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a talent so versatile that he made the Pro Bowl at three different positions -- nose tackle, tackle and end. Many of Klecko's peers, including Hall of Famer Howie Long, have said he deserves to be enshrined in Canton as a senior candidate.Klecko's path to the NFL was unusual. Before enrolling at Temple, he played semi-pro football under an assumed name -- Jim Jones, from fictional Poland University. That way, he maintained his college eligibility. He didn't do well in school, clashed with his coach and wasn't invited to any all-star games, hurting his pro stock. His hometown Philadelphia Eagles were reportedly planning to take him in the sixth round (145 overall), but the Jets had the 144th pick. And that was that.

At Temple, Klecko won two NCAA boxing championships, which served him well in the NFL trenches. He was known for his quick and powerful hands, which he developed in the boxing ring. He played with tremendous leverage, allowing him to bull rush a guard. But he also was quick enough to beat an offensive tackle on the edge.Klecko was a sack master before sacks became an official statistic, recording a league high 20.5 in 1981. He was a member of the celebrated "New York Sack Exchange," which also included Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam -- a four-man wrecking crew that terrorized quarterbacks in the early 1980s. In 2004, Klecko became only the third player in Jets history to have his number, 73, retired. Years later, he was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor.

Honorable mention

Joe Fields, C, Widener: In 1975, the Jets struck gold in the 14th round (349 overall), finding a future offensive line cornerstone. The undersized center started for 12 seasons and played through 1988, making two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team (1982).

Randy Rasmussen, G, Nebraska-Kearney: He played in more games (207) than any non-kicker in franchise history -- not bad for a 12th-round pick (302 overall) in 1967. Rasmussen started for the Super Bowl championship team in 1968 and spanned three decades before hanging 'em up after the 1981 season.

>     http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/59754/an-extraordinary-joe-klecko-a-sixth-round-steal-for-jets-in-1977

[kelly]

 

 

 

cheers ~ ~

 

[kelly]

Will Jets legend Joe Klecko ever make Hall of Fame? What will it take?

 

Joe Klecko's Hall of Fame wait continues. (ANDREW MILLS | THE STAR-LEDGER)

PrintEmail

By Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 
Email the author | Follow on Twitter 
on February 09, 2017 at 8:00 AM, updated February 09, 2017 at 8:12 AM

 

 

 

On the eve of Sunday's Super Bowl, the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was announced. Once again, it did not include Joe Klecko, the legendary Jets defensive lineman.But that was known well before Saturday, because Klecko was denied entrance, once again, in August, when the Hall's Seniors Committee used its lone 2017 nomination on former Seahawks safety Kenny Easley, who wound up making the Hall of Fame on Saturday.

3 questions Jets must answer this offseason

The wait continues for Klecko, 63, but he could have a better chance for 2018.

That's because the Seniors Committee will get two nominations, while the Contributors Committee will get one. Klecko is no longer eligible as a modern-era candidate. 

The two non-modern era committees on a rotational basis, so the Contributors Committee had two nominations for 2017: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Jones made the Hall on Saturday, while Tagliabue did not.The Seniors Committee typically announces its nominees in mid-August, so that's when Klecko will find out if he'll have a shot to make the Hall next Super Bowlweekend. 

The Hall's rotational seniors/contributors rules began in 2015. And they mean fewer players in Klecko's position will have a chance to reach the Hall of Fame, via the Seniors Committee route. The Seniors Committee used to have two nomination spots every year.Klecko played in the NFL from 1977-88 and spent all but that final season with the Jets. He was a two-time first-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler. He wound up with 24 career sacks, but all of those were officially concentrated between 1982 and 1987, because the NFL didn't recognize the sack statistic until 1982. 

One of Klecko's All-Pro years was 1981, when he led the NFL with 20.5 sacks and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Year. During his career, he made the Pro Bowl at three different positions -- defensive tackle, nose tackle, and defensive end.

Klecko didn't make much of an impact as a modern-era Hall candidate. His first year of eligibility was 1994. He became a senior candidate for the 2015 induction class. Never once, during his time as a modern-era candidate, did he reach the finalist stage.

 

8 Jets who should be gone in 2017

Time to make some cuts.

 

Now, Klecko is 0-for-3 with being nominated by the Seniors Committee, though the new rules hurt his chances. In Klecko's three years as a senior candidate, his committee has only once been allowed to nominate two players. In 2015 and 2017, it could nominate just one. 

Ultimately, unless Klecko breaks through with the Seniors Committee, he will have to settle for being one of the finest players in Jets history. And there's certainly no shame in that. 

>     http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/02/will_jets_legend_joe_klecko_ever_make_hall_of_fame.html#incart_river_index