Jets legend Joe Klecko edged out for Hall of Fame nomination

[joewilly12]

Jets legend Joe Klecko edged out for Hall of Fame nomination

Tyler Greenawalt 

 

August 25, 2021 6:55 am ET

 

 

Joe Klecko won’t be a Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee next year.

The former Jets defensive linemen missed the cut to be the Class of 2022’s senior nominee, this time losing to Raiders receiver Cliff Branch. The senior nominee is reserved for players whose careers ended at least 25 years ago. While the voting totals weren’t released, Branch “edged out” Klecko for the spot, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

Klecko was a former sixth-round pick for the Jets who played 11 years in New York. He made 131 starts and was a member of the New York Sack Exchange in the 1980s. He ranks second all-time in franchise history with 78 sacks after new data came out earlier this year.

 

 

[nycdan]

Disappointing but it sounds like he's getting votes now, which seems to be an improvement over past years.  Maybe next year.

[peebag]

They threw us a bone with Winston's nomination.  We won't see Joe in there for quite some time I'm afraid.

[Beerfish]

Someone one other than our fan base has to champion his cause.

[JTJet]

By Cliff f*cking Branch? Are you sh*tting me? 

[jetsons]

???

[jetsman1]

Such bullsh*t!!!

[Claymation]

Well that sucks. The most dominate DT, NT & DE in that era.

It needed to be said.

[jbt]

[munchmemory]

Only one word:  Travesty.

[Spoot-Face]

Nothing good ever comes from getting "edged".

[RoadFan]

Klecko was better than Namath and Hill…

 

[genot]

What i've always wondered about was a story about Klecko that hasn't been told. I'm not talking about drugs, illegal activity, etc, etc. Did he do something that pissed a bunch of people off in the industry????so many Hall members who.watched or played against him, think it's ridiculous that he isn't there. Should have been years ago

[New York Mick]

By Branch?? Branch had two good seasons. 

[Raideraholic]

4 hours ago, munchmemory said:

Only one word:  Travesty.

Two words - Convicted Felon .

[Raideraholic]

1 hour ago, genot said:

What i've always wondered about was a story about Klecko that hasn't been told. I'm not talking about drugs, illegal activity, etc, etc. Did he do something that pissed a bunch of people off in the industry????so many Hall members who.watched or played against him, think it's ridiculous that he isn't there. Should have been years ago

He’s a convicted Felon.  Say it’s no so Joe. 

[genot]

Just now, Raideraholic said:

He’s a convicted Felon.  Say it’s no so Joe. 

Your guy Howie Long has been fighting for Klecko to be in the hall fir years. Is he wrong?

[jgb]

12 minutes ago, Raideraholic said:

Two words - Convicted Felon .

It sure ain't helping him

[Raideraholic]

21 minutes ago, genot said:

Your guy Howie Long has been fighting for Klecko to be in the hall fir years. Is he wrong?

Every year I explain this to Jet fans.  was Joe Klecko a hall of fame- yes Off the field he’s a convicted Felon - why not in the hall of fame.   Fact.

[Jetsfan80]

39 minutes ago, Raideraholic said:

Two words - Convicted Felon .

Ray Lewis murdered 2 people.  The HOF is cluttered with questionable people.

[jgb]

7 hours ago, Jetsfan80 said:

Ray Lewis murdered 2 people.  The HOF is cluttered with questionable people.

Reminds me of a classic bit -- I think it was George Carlin -- "our justice system is decided by twelve people who are too dumb to think of an excuse to get out of jury duty."

[Claymation]

Why not just say he was convicted of perjury or a nonviolent crime.

Still the best DT, NT and DE in that era.

[Jetsfan80]

11 hours ago, Raideraholic said:

Every year I explain this to Jet fans.  was Joe Klecko a hall of fame- yes Off the field he’s a convicted Felon - why not in the hall of fame.   Fact.

We didn't need this explained.  We are all aware that that is the reason.  It's just a sh*t reason, is all.  Because what can he do about it, erase that it ever happened?  Can't change the past, only adjust the lens through which we look at it.  He is a HOFer and not even a borderline one.  

[Fantasy Island]

Googled him, and then saw why he beat out Klecko.

 

[freestater]

20 hours ago, Spoot-Face said:

Nothing good ever comes from getting "edged".

Respectfully disagree 

[jgb]

4 hours ago, Jetsfan80 said:

We didn't need this explained.  We are all aware that that is the reason.  It's just a sh*t reason, is all.  Because what can he do about it, erase that it ever happened?  Can't change the past, only adjust the lens through which we look at it.  He is a HOFer and not even a borderline one.  

It is a pretty weak reason. What was it auto insurance fraud? Not defending it but come on, what’s that have to do with him as a player? And not exactly a despicable crime.

He also killed someone once in a car accident although I believe he wasn’t charged and it was an obvious accident. 
 

Maybe it the two together…

[SAM SAM HE'S OUR MAN]

[Biggs]

On 8/25/2021 at 8:17 PM, RoadFan said:

Klecko was better than Namath and Hill…

 

LOL.  Hill was better and has a ring.  Without Namath the Jets are the Detroit Lions.  

[Biggs]

On 8/25/2021 at 4:44 PM, Claymation said:

Well that sucks. The most dominate DT, NT & DE in that era.

It needed to be said.

No he wasn't.  You realize Reggie White played in his era and so did Joe Green.  Klecko isn't on the all decade team for either the 70's or 80's.  He's clearly in the conversation but you can't ignore the NFL talent on the DL in that era and many of them have SB championships on their resume. 

He was great he deseves serious consideration and probably should go in.  He's not a slam dunk HOF DL man from that era.  If the Jets had made a serious run for a few years he would be in.  They didn't.

[Biggs]

On 8/25/2021 at 9:29 PM, New York Mick said:

By Branch?? Branch had two good seasons. 

He actually had 6 good seasons including 3 consecutive All pros.  He was in 22 playoff games started 9 and has 1289 yards, 17.7 YPC and 5 TD's.  He also played well in a couple of SB runs.  He has 3 SB rings.  Things like that get you noticed.

I think Branch is very borderline.  Wouldn't care either way.  

[SAM SAM HE'S OUR MAN]

1 hour ago, Biggs said:

He actually had 6 good seasons including 3 consecutive All pros.  He was in 22 playoff games started 9 and has 1289 yards, 17.7 YPC and 5 TD's.  He also played well in a couple of SB runs.  He has 3 SB rings.  Things like that get you noticed.

I think Branch is very borderline.  Wouldn't care either way.  

Enough goddamn Raiders ; time for a Jet .

[Claymation]

1 hour ago, Biggs said:

No he wasn't.  You realize Reggie White played in his era and so did Joe Green.  Klecko isn't on the all decade team for either the 70's or 80's.  He's clearly in the conversation but you can't ignore the NFL talent on the DL in that era and many of them have SB championships on their resume. 

He was great he deseves serious consideration and probably should go in.  He's not a slam dunk HOF DL man from that era.  If the Jets had made a serious run for a few years he would be in.  They didn't.

Joe Greene aka "Mean Joe" started his career in '69 finished in '81. Klecko started in '77, so yes there was an overlap but just barely. And the sack wasn't an official stat until '82, but in '81 he put up 20.5 of them. That would rank 10th, tied with Donald, Watt & Taylor. Deacon Jones put up 20+ 3x and he did it in 14 games.

He has more sacks than Mean Joe and Reggie.

Reggie Started in '85.

From '77 to '85, Klecko was a beast.

The only DL that was comparable was Randy White. Too Tall Jones isn't a HOF. Eller and Page were in the twilight of their careers. 

[Biggs]

21 minutes ago, Claymation said:

Joe Greene aka "Mean Joe" started his career in '69 finished in '81. Klecko started in '77, so yes there was an overlap but just barely. And the sack wasn't an official stat until '82, but in '81 he put up 20.5 of them. That would rank 10th, tied with Donald, Watt & Taylor. Deacon Jones put up 20+ 3x and he did it in 14 games.

He has more sacks than Mean Joe and Reggie.

Reggie Started in '85.

From '77 to '85, Klecko was a beast.

The only DL that was comparable was Randy White. Too Tall Jones isn't a HOF. Eller and Page were in the twilight of their careers. 

Klecko had 2 great years, 85 he was unbelievable in the middle of the line.  81 he was unbelievable on the edge.  He had a great not HOF year in 83.  He was all pro twice.  He made the pro bowl 4 times which includes he's all pro years. 

He was great but he also had limited time as being great in an era of great DL men many who played in playoff games and championship games and had very high visibility games in the playoffs.  

Now if you want to argue that everyone who had a couple of great years belong in the HOF it's not a crazy argument.  If you want to look at the entirety of the career and compare it to other players he's borderline.  

[Biggs]

28 minutes ago, SAM SAM HE'S OUR MAN said:

Enough goddamn Raiders ; time for a Jet .

Going forward the Raiders numbers are going to drop.  It's been a long time since they were a force in the playoffs where guys got to play on the big stage.  

If the Jets can break through and be a consistent contender for a SB the team will have really good and great players and they will get recognized.

[RoadFan]

3 hours ago, Biggs said:

LOL.  Hill was better and has a ring.  Without Namath the Jets are the Detroit Lions.  

Hill used to get flagged for holding often…

as for Namath? Overrated.  
Marino, zero titles, was way better than Eli Manning who won 2.  Winning a SB does not always equate to better football player.  Namath had his moment, but Klecko was a dominant football player.