Klecko rag dolled everybody. One of the other great Klecko stories is from Marty Lyons. Lyons was drafted in 1979 and he came onto the team as a first round pick with all that hoopla. Klecko took him under his wing although not exactly in the way that most vets would. Klecko was like the master of the weight room by then and he was doing things nobody else could do. He'd bench 480 lbs, which was 50 pounds more than anybody else in the weight room could do, and then he'd get up after a set of 3 of those and he'd put 20 more pounds on the bar and do it again. He did this for effect - while other players were in the room - because he knew everybody had to get stronger and the best way to make that happen was to do insane feats of strength himself and put the challenge out there by example. Anyway, Lyons was gradually fitting in but he was just doing the usual weight room workouts. The Jets had a list hung which gave the weights and reps players were supposed to do on a daily basis in camp. Lyons was doing that every day. He was a good worker. Then one day he was leaving after his sets and Klecko was hanging out by the door and Klecko said "Really? You're done that quick?" Lyons was a rookie 1st round pick but everybody knew who really ran the weight room and so he listened. Klecko said "that list is just a suggestion. If you want to be strong enough to be really good you have to work harder than that. I want to be really good and for that to happen you need to be really good next to me. Why don't we go back in and do a few more sets?" And that became the routine. Klecko and Lyons would work the hardest of anybody in the room. The '79 Jets had one of the best rush defenses in the NFL. They allowed 3.4 yards a carry and Klecko and Lyons anchored the right side of that defense. BTW, most of these stories are courtesy of Paul Zimmerman, Dr. Z. He was a great sports writer who at a time when sportswriters were supposed to hide their loyalties had real trouble disguising his love for the Jets. He had the Peter King role at Sports Illustrated when King was still in college.
(18) Rich Cimini on Twitter: "No Jets practice today, but it’s still a big day for the franchise. At 1 p.m., the @ProFootballHOF announces its three senior finalists for the Class of 2023. Is this Joe Klecko’s year? If he’s one of the three, he’s a virtual shoo-in for Canton. #Jets" / Twitter
God I hope he makes it. This is one of the guys you want in while he's upright and able to appreciate it. Hardest-working player ever to play for the Jets and it showed.
One of 3 finalists for the 2023 class. Still need to sweat a bit but we're closer. Thread title needs to be changed.
Congrats to #73. Definitely want to make the trip to Canton for his ceremony. One of my favorite Jets players ever. Be nice if the Jets play in the HOF game as well since there will be a lot of green and white there that weekend.
(18) Rich Cimini on Twitter: "Joe Klecko to ESPN: "A tremendous honor. I didn't want to raise my expectations because of the past. I was hoping for the best, expecting the worst. When I got the call, I got emotional about it. My wife, she's usually reserved, but she was in the background, screaming." #Jets" / Twitter
(18) Rich Cimini on Twitter: "Klecko, cont: "It was a pretty cool phone call. It was quite a jubilant time for the Klecko family. I understand that Darrelle Revis is on the ballot for the first time (as a modern-era candidate). I hope he makes it. The whole place (Canton) would have a New York feel." #Jets" / Twitter