I don’t really cook very much, especially for football games. Probaby just fire up some frozen pizza.
Mawae and Curtis Martin represented a solid era of Jets football. Two of my favorites, it's great to see them in the Hall together. Now let's get Klecko in already!
He had 10 as a Jet in 2005, which ironically was his career high. However, that year the Jets went 4-12, and if I remember correctly, a lot of those picks came in games the Jets were hopelessly behind in and did not affect the outcome.
Center is one of the few positions that the Jets had been proficient at hitting on great talent. These post Mangold years have been tough. Congrats to Mawae, big part of those late 90s/early 2000s Jets teams.
from ESPN KEVIN MAWAE | CENTER Seattle Seahawks, 1994-1997; New York Jets, 1998-2005; Tennessee Titans, 2006-2009 Mawae was a three-time finalist for the Hall of Fame. He played 16 seasons and was a no-nonsense leader on three of those teams who helped lift the offense he played in each time. In eight of his 16 seasons, the offenses he played in finished in the league’s top five in rushing. Why he was elected: On the field and in the locker room, Mawae’s work was universally lauded by his former coaches and teammates. When he was with the Titans, Mawae actually led meetings with the offensive line and the running backs without coaches present to get in the extra work he believed the group needed. He blocked for five different running backs who combined for 13 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He was selected to eight Pro Bowls and was an All-Decade selection for the 2000s. Signature moment: For the center’s career, many of his coaches said it was the fact they could run plays in their offense other teams couldn’t run because of Mawae’s athleticism. Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin said he wondered on several of his touchdown runs if Mawae “would beat me to the end zone because he was such a good athlete.” He said it: “He could do things other centers couldn’t do, pull out on sweeps, make that long reach block on players other guys simply couldn’t make. The only other (center) is his era I could compare to him is Dermontti Dawson (Pittsburgh Steelers) and he’s in the Hall of Fame.’’ – Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells
Mawae pulling and getting out front on the Martin sweep was practically unstoppable. That was the last time we beat teams with sheer talent.
Most team's don't get ONE center of that caliber over their history. The Jets have had 2. #68 and #74 should both be HOF someday, although I have a feeling that Mangold may be a slightly harder case than Mawae because of #68's versatility.
I remember i loved watching #28 Curtis Martin running the rock on sweeps and tosses behind Mawae as lead blocker. Well deserved and now both in the H.O.F. We were lucky to fill the shoes of Mawae with Nick Mangold. Didn't miss a beat imo both Ferguson/Mangold are Hall Of Fame worthy @ LT/C that was a "Brick of Gold".
They had a good interview with Curtis before the jacket presentations. Curtis said he blocked like a fullback.
. .I remember I loved watching #28 Curtis Martin running the rock off of handoffs from Testaverde, Lucas and Pennington. .
Ahhhh; but too bad none of neither Vinny, Ray Lucas or Chad will ever be voted into the H.O.F. Now on the other hand Martin behind a (future) H.O.F road grader in Mawae (topic of discussion) was a beautiful sight to see.
Center is arguably the best historical position for the Jets. Joe Fields was a great center who did not get as much recognition he deserved because of that guy in Pittsburgh (who also have an amazing history of centers) Jim Sweeney was a solid lineman for us for a decade with most at center as well.