I dont have enough posts to link but the report is from ESPN. Looks like Kevin Mawae is retiring. Great Jet for a long time. Pretty crazy that no one would pick him up after making a pro bowl. Hall of fame? Will the Jets honor him in some way?
He's almost 40, so his time is up. I didn't agree with the Jets decision to cut him, but then again we have Mangold now so it's all good.
Too much $. if any Center injuries happen around the league--he'd likely be coaxed out. Teams are looking to get younger and cheaper--40 year old centers with some contempt against the owners/coaches...not a surprise people stayed away.
An anonymous player from the Titans locker room suggested Mawae was no longer any good, not worth starting any more. Was there ever a team leader who was a more divisive locker room presence than this guy? -X-
Letting Mawae go was one of those savvy moves that happened that lot of folks either disliked, or weren't sure about. But somewhere through that time we managed to bring in Mangold and that really made the move make sense. It was the right move at the right time.
It sucked to see him go, but it worked out in the end. I hope the Jets honor him at some point. He's earned that. He was here for a long time (1998-2005) and was such an important piece to the most successful period in team history.
Agreed. As divisive as the guy was, he's an all-time great Jet. I'll never forget the games he played with a freaking club for a hand.
I'm surprised he lasted this long. I'm also surprised we were able to find someone who could step in and replace him so easily. He was a great player while he was with the Jets.
When I saw him outside of my building in Manhattan this year, on the day before the draft, I said "Hey Kevin, good luck this year," as we wrapped our conversation. He gave me some sort of a sad look, almost saying "Don't you know that I don't have a job right now?" Very cool guy in person, wife is easy on the eyes as well. Should have asked him to hold up an "FU KOZ" sign for the board.
Yeah I said it in the Mangold signs extension thread: it's been a long time since the Jets have had bad play from the Center position
That's what happens when you talk shit about the QB you are protecting. Calling Chad an "egg shell" might be accurate, but not P.C. under Woody's ownership... That being said I agree with most posters. He was probably the best center this team has ever had until Nick arrived.
This guy was pretty freakin good too. About a month after the draft, John Schmitt drove to the Jets' facility in Florham Park, N.J., and introduced himself to Mark Sanchez. Four decades ago, Schmitt played center for Joe Namath, so this was 1968 shaking hands with 2009 - an instant connection between past glory and future hope. Schmitt removed his Super Bowl ring, reached for Sanchez's left hand and placed it on his ring finger. "This is what we want," Schmitt told the quarterback. "This ring would love to have company." Schmitt was speaking for his 41 teammates in Super Bowl III, the 40 subsequent teams that failed to make the Super Bowl and the countless fans who have suffered through disappointment and calamity. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...siper_bowl_3peat_jets_1968.html#ixzz0z8zlRVDM
Mawae is a great player. He'll be the 4th Jet in the HOF. We've had excellent luck with centers between Mawae and Mangold. Hopefully Mangold starts his annual appearances as the starting center on the AFC squad this year.
Always loved Mawae, should definately make HOF. I think it's probably the combination of finally slowing down some and the fact that he's a top guy in the player's union.
Yeah, that's probably true. I always was a big Mawae fan. The way he could get out there and make downfield blocks was just great. Great in pass protection, too. I doubt he has any difficulty getting into the Hall.
There's a great photo from a few years back, I believe that it's Mawae leading the pull with two others behind him, perhaps Fabini and someone else. Loved that shot.
