Jets Super Bowl III hero Matt Snell hates the Jets By John Breech / CBSSports.com September 17, 2015 04:02 PM ET When you think of the Jets' improbable Super Bowl III win over the Colts, the first name most people think of is Joe Namath. Leading up to the game, the Jets quarterback guaranteed an upset victory over the Colts, who were favored to win by 18 points when the game kicked off on Jan. 12, 1969. Namath, who threw for 206 yards and no touchdowns, would end up being named Super Bowl MVP in the Jets' 16-7 win, but he probably wasn't the most valuable player on the field for New York. That honor probably belongs to running back Matt Snell, who ran for 121 yards and a touchdown in the win. Snell would play four more seasons for the Jets after the team's Super Bowl win, but ever since his retirement in 1972, he's kept his distance from the team, because apparently, he doesn't want anything to do with them. The former Jets running back was approached by the New York Post this week and he was not interested in talking about the team. "I have nothing to say about them," Snell said. A former teammate says that Snell just doesn't like the Jets. "He's not too beholden to the Jets," former Jets tight end Pete Lammons said. "I haven't talked to him in a long time, but the last time I did, he was just a little put out with the Jets and how they handled his deal." According to the Post, that "deal" involves a situation where the Jets promised Snell a job after his retirement in 1972, but they never ended up hiring him. These days, the fourth-leading running back in Jets history doesn't want to be honored by the team for his individual accomplishments or for the part he played in the team's Super Bowl III win. "I'm not interested in being honored," Snell said. The 74-year-old pointed out that a lot of fans these days probably don't even know who he is. "Fans today with all of their instant everything, they don't know who I am," Snell said. The Jets are playing the Colts this week for the 72nd time. Snell was involved in the very first meeting in the series, which came in Super Bowl III. http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-o...super-bowl-iii-hero-matt-snell-hates-the-jets ***sigh***
Also an article in the Post with a little more detail on his career; His 4,285 career rushing yards remain the fourth-most in franchise history behind just Curtis Martin, Freeman McNeil and Boozer. A fourth-round draft pick by the Giants in 1964 out of Ohio State, Snell decided to sign with Sonny Werblin’s AFL Jets instead for a lot more money. He was the AFL Rookie of the Year that season after rushing for 948 yards and scoring six touchdowns. “I think Matt was as great a runner as just about anybody that played,” said Hall of Fame wide receiver Don Maynard. “Not only that, he was a great protector or pass blocker and lead blocker for [Emerson] Boozer. And, if you look at the stats, one year he might have caught two or three more passes than I did [1964, when Snell caught 56 passes to Maynard’s 46]. He was a great player and teammate.” http://nypost.com/2015/09/15/super-bowl-iii-hero-in-no-mood-to-end-decades-long-jets-boycott/
This reminds me a little of Yogi Berra and the Yankees and the grudge he held for 20 years. If Woody wanted to fix this I'm sure he could, let's see if he does not that this sory has hit a few papers. Woody wasn't around to cause it which makes it even easier for him to fix it.
74 is pretty old for us to hire him. Perhaps as a greeter? "Welcome to MetLife stadium. My, aren't you the drunken asshole! Have a wonderful time at the game"
They have tried over the years to repair the issue...but he will not so frankly its his loss, not the teams.
Why is this a big story all of a sudden? There were 70 NYJ-IND games between first meeting and now and this is important... why?
The real Super Bowl 3 MVP, based on his performance that game. I'll always respect Snell for what he brought out there. He should let the grudge go, the old Jets owners arent even around
Nobody hates the Jets more than there own fans, Snell has always held a grudge for not being the MVP of Superbowl 3. 20 years from now Tim Tebow will be saying the exact same thing
Because he is the most important player in the most important game in Jet history, any other questions?
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SnelMa00.htm Played every year with the Jets, 3x pro bowler, 4.1 yards per carry, 4200 yards rushing, 1300 catching, 31 total TDs He may not have been the greatest, but he clearly was very important to us
Jets not exactly exemplary on how to respect our past great players, what ex's work for them besides Buttle, Lyons?
I guess he doesn't have a future as an NFL executive. He would need undying loyalty to the Jets for no good reason, so he could screw the Patriots over, in order to rep the shield. #Patsfanshaveshitforbrains
