Don't think I'd ever seen Klecko in those first generation 70's unis before. And this is as good a place as ever to just go on record yet again that the Jets early 80's uniforms are so totally badass.
DAMMIT- beat me to it. Found that pic last night and was going to post it today--had never seen it before--really cool picture. Looks like there were a few that they snapped right in a row. Here's some slightly different versions. _
Remember James Farrior absolutely blasting Ricky Williams back into Aaron Brooks in that game. Chalenski's sobriquet is the same as Jamaican-born baseball player Charles Theodore Davis. Matt, unfortunately Sam Walton died homeless at 59 years of age (he was the 2nd guy from the SBIII team to pass away, the first being Verlon Biggs at 51). Walton started every game as a rookie but Weeb Ewbank didn't trust him against Oakland's Ike Lassiter in the AFL Championship Game so he benched Walton, moved undersized Dave Herman out from right guard to right tackle and inserted Bob Talimini at right guard. Walton played sparingly the next year and was out of football by 1970. BEN IJALANA, OL, VILLANOVA, 2013-present
You are correct about Ricky getting blasted, I remember that play. incorrect on the nickname(unless he had multiple which is possible). I have no idea why I remember this players nickname as he was here for 5 minutes but I do.
Sports PRO FOOTBALL Injuries Put Two New Faces in the Jets Defense: Chalenski and Cascadden By GERALD ESKENAZI Published: September 13, 1996 HEMPSTEAD, L.I., Sept. 12— One used to experiment on sheeps' hearts; the other used to take a beating in the boxing ring from his college roommate. On Sunday the Jets teammates make their first starts in the National Football League. And what better way to break in than facing Dan Marino, Coach Jimmy Johnson and the undefeated Dolphins in Miami? Wait a second. Who are Chad Cascadden and Mike (Chili) Chalenski? Just when the Jets' injury-riddled offensive line is back in one piece, the defense is shredded. Cascadden, a hard-working fellow who reads extensively and plays with a computer, has not started a game since his junior year in high school. At Wisconsin he was a walk-on who became a virtual starter at linebacker and an Academic All-American. One of his summer jobs involved blood research. He opted for a chance at the pros instead pursuing medical school, and made the Jets a year ago because he was a special player on special teams. Now he replaces Bobby Houston, who is nursing a strained quadricep. And just what does the strong-side linebacker do? ''There's a lot of pressure in that position,'' Houston said. ''You're right over the tight end, which is your first read. If you don't read it right, and play the run when they throw, they can be throwing passes at you all day.'' ''They'' are the Dolphins, who are surprising opponents this season by running the ball more often. ''I'm approaching this like I approached special teams last year,'' the 24-year-old Cascadden said. ''I've been watching films of the tight end, Keith Byars. Marino's got a quick release. I have to make sure I'm on the tight end and the running back, because Marino will throw it anyplace, any time.'' Meanwhile, Chalenski, 26, will replace Marvin Washington at left defensive end. That side of the defense will have Chalenski at end, Marc Spindler at tackle for the sidelined Erik Howard and Cascadden at left linebacker. The left side of the defense is also the offense's right side -- the favorite side to run to. But it would not be surprising if the more experienced defensive end, Hugh Douglas, switched from the right side on occasion to try to confound the Dolphins and upset the tempo of the quick-releasing Marino. ''The communication on defense is going to be very important when you have new guys,'' the defensive coordinator, Jim Vehciarella, said today, almost sighing at the prospect. ''This is not a business anyone ever promised would be easy.'' When he is on the left side, Chalenski will be alongside his old college roommate, Spindler. The pair used to beat each other up -- with boxing gloves on and sometimes wearing football helmets -- for the enjoyment of teammates when both played at Pitt. Chalenski later transferred to U.C.L.A. during a delicate time in his life -- Pitt was being investigated for recruiting violations. ''I'd rather not talk about it,'' Chalenski said, ''but I had my say at the time. ''I didn't see Marc since I left Pitt until I got here,'' Chalenski said. He was was not selected in the college draft but signed with the Eagles as a free agent by -- guess who? -- Rich Kotite. He sat out all of 1994 with a knee injury, then played for the Eagles again last season. Cascadden, who was also overlooked in the draft, joined the Jets last year. He became such an accomplished special-teamer that he was named the American Conference special team player of the week following the game against Seattle and the job he did stopping the explosive Joey Galloway. Cascadden was only the second special teams player honored last year for his tackling. The others were the more glamorous kick-returners or kickers. ''I'm approaching this opportunity like I did special teams last year,'' Cascadden said. ''Even in college, I never looked at myself as a nonstarter.'' As far as not being on the field much up to now, Cascadden conceded: ''Whenever you put new guys in, you'll always have problems. That's why you still have practice.'' And Chalenski is ready to go, too. ''We've thrown away the boxing gloves,'' he said.
