Those of us over 40 remember our new GM's dad, Jets OC John Idzik Sr. Maybe someone recalls specifically what happened but Idzik Sr. was THE HOT NAME after 1978 to become a head coach. The Jets had a surprisingly good 8-8 year in 1978, even competing for a playoff spot until Week 15, and they beat Miami twice. Sports Illustrated's 'computer' had them going 1-15. But something happened next year. This time, the Jets had a disappointing 8-8 because some in the media and alot of uninformed Jets fans had thought that the team would improve again bigtime which was a stretch. Alot of people went after Michaels. Idizik and Michaels had a falling out, and Idzik left after that year. The next year, the Jets went without an OC: they fell to 4-12 and Todd threw 30 interceptions. The next year, they brought in Joe Walton, Todd had his best year, and the team made the playoffs (for those of you who insist that an OC doesn't matter). The Richard Todd-Matt Robinson QB Controversy is believed to have played a role in Idzik's departure. Supposedly, Idzik may have backed Todd over Robinson while Michaels went with Robinsion in the opener (he got hurt, Todd got the job back). Others say that Idzik helped conceal the injury to Robinson's thumb. Quite frankly, I doubt anybody knows (except Michaels and both John Idziks). I met Walt Michaels years later at a Jets preseason game (he had trouble walking; I got him hot chocolate to save him the trip). He was pretty talkative to Jets fans in the stands when we gathered around as the game turned into a farce, giving honest answers to lots of questions. I asked him about the Idzik departure and his face tightened up. "I"m not going there", he said. I left it at that.
No, he ranted thinking that a call at halftime of the AFC Divisional Game was from Al Davis. it wasn't, but he wasn't unrealistic to think it. Instead of worrying about Al Davis conspiracies, Walt and the Jets should have been worrying about Don Shula conspiracies (TarpGate).
I'm pretty sure it was Idzik Sr. who helped conceal Robinsons's injury the day before the season opener. Michaels wanted this game badly - the Browns eliminated the Jets from the playoffs the year before. But a numbing OT loss at Shea nearly gave Michaels a stroke and it set the tone for the rest of the season. Not to mention the 56-3 ass-kicking the following week at Foxboro. The day after the Browns loss, Michaels almost got into it with Joe Klecko who had been the 'guilty party' who injured Robinson's thumb during a drunken arm-wrestling match on Friday night. According to legend it was Idzik and Robinson who both attempted to conceal the real reason for the injury and downplayed it to some extent. Michaels was told about the injury Sunday morning but that 'it was under control'. They almost got away with it. The Jets fell behind with Robinson struggling slightly throwing the ball but he drove them down the field for what appeared to be the game winning FG with less than 2 minutes left. Thinking the game was over, Robinson tore off the bandages which was keeping the swelling on his thumb down because they 'got sweaty and felt uncomfortable'. Meanwhile the Browns threw a hail mary pass which was caught on a deflection with less than 10 seconds left putting them into FG range. The trainer tried to wrap Robinson's thumb up again but it was too late as it started to swell. Sure enough the FG was good and in OT Robinson underthrew a wide open Wesley Walker which was intercepted and run back into FG range. The Browns won the game and Michaels seethed. Come to think of it this may have well been the original 'same ole Jets ' game. Later that week he found out through sources the Idzik tried to hide the injury. Robinson never played another game for the Jets again and was traded in the offseason. Idzik was let go too.......Michaels took loyalty pretty seriously and felt he was stabbed in the back basically.....
Come to think of it I'm pretty sure the Jets intercepted Sipe with about a minute left in the game. However back in 1979 most teams had not quite yet mastered the art of running out the clock and the Jets were forced to punt back to the Browns with about 25 seconds left. Sipe hit Logan on a long pass and 15 yards were added on when Sipe was hit late putting them into FG range. I still vividly remember Michaels pacing the sideline in a rage talking to himself...no yelling to himself clenching and unclenching his fists and exhaling air. I was just 8 yrs old and still remember that pathetic sight. Think about it...the Jets fought tooth and nail all day to take the lead against a decent team despite an injury to your QB and you think the game is won and then in typical Jets fashion.........KABOOM! Slightly off topic I guess.....
Arrgh! Good memory. The funny thing at the time was that you knew Robinson was history as soon as that pass was under thrown.
I love Jets history. I swear...his team has more ups, downs, drama, comedy and pathos than any other franchise. Wish we had a few more trophies to go along with it.
Jibes with what I heard, great recall !! (1) Where did you hear it was Joe Klecko who damaged the thumb? Neither Paul Zimmerman (ex-NY Post, then with SI) or Steve Serby (still with NYP) who were the main behind-the-scenes guys, gave that info out -- I'd remember if it was. A friend thinks that Jerry Girard, the Channel 11 sportscaster (remember him ?) may have divulged the info on his Monday Football wrap-up show (when he would go into a game in detail). Other friends think -- but aren't sure -- that the MNF guys (Cosell ?) may have mentioned it in passing on the MNF game. (2) I remember both the 1978 and 1979 Browns games. I remember how disappointed the WCBS crew (Spencer Ross, Sam DeLuca) were (they had just gotten the Jets radio rights). I can still see a roughing-the-passer call on someone (Gastineau ?) and another key penalty helping Brian Sipe win the game. (3) I remember 56-3. Jets had lost the previous year 55-21. No way they lose again like that, they said. Hey, they were right !!!! LOL (4) Jets got a great haul from Denver for Matt Robinson but then blew it on Lam Jones. They wanted to take Anthony Munoz but the Jets doctors said no. God, what might have been....
Yeah, good info....I'll tell you about Walt Michaels chewing out Chuck Ramsey after a lousy punt on MNF sometimes.....LOL
You're right, there was definitely a penalty thought I had forgotten the interception earlier. I would guess the Jets went 3-and-out and they took off less than 30 seconds if the Browns had all 3 TO's. This would jibe with Sipe coming back with under 1 minute left. So Robinson had the game 'won' at 2 minutes.....Jets kick FG......Browns ball, intercepted...game should be over, but wasn't....Jets only take off 30 seconds or so, maybe more, depending on how many TO's Browns had left.....Sipe rallies at gun to get game to OT. Ugg.........can't believe it was 33 years ago. What a way to start the f****** school year, huh ?
1) There was book written by Joe Fields and Joe Klecko in the early 90s called 'Nose to Nose' where they talked about their Jets years. Klecko talks about the thumb incident at length. I'm 95% sure it was he who was wrestling with Robinson. He claims the day after the game a still seething Michaels walked up to him while he was on a stationary bike and challanged him to an arm wrestle in angry jest. Klecko denied having anything to do with it and Michaels replied 'Somebody is lying to me' and walked away....I don't remember Klecko's reasoning as to why he denied it... 2) It may have been Gastineau ( what was it with him and roughing Browns QBs?) He was having a nice debut in fact I think he had a sack also....
Yes I want to say it was Donald Dykes who intercepted the pass...it was right around midfield with a little over a minute left. I seem to remember him racing across the field, still in play, holding the ball stright up into the air in celebration before actually running out of bounds and getting an earful from Michaels. Michaels was a basket case that day.....the Jets had several chances to win the game. Leahy missed an XP and a couple of FGs, the last coming in OT after a blocked punt near midfield. Like I said before this may have been the original ' Same Ole Jets' game...
