The New York Jets could soon have another Hall of Fame player among their ranks. It won't be a player currently on the field for them - they're about to put out one of the most lackluster rosters in recent NFL history for a 16-game demolishing. Team legend Joe Klecko is being considered for the ultimate team honor, though. Thursday marks a big step in determining whether he'll join the likes of Joe Namath and Curtis Martin in Canton.
Hall of Fame committee gathers
The Hall of Fame senior selection committee looks through a wide array of candidates before selecting two as finalists - that process is taking place on Thursday.
Last year, Kenny Easley was the lone senior finalist. Generally, however, there are two finalists. Big names have been inducted from the senior committee finalists in the recent past, though, including Ken Stabler, Ray Guy, and Floyd Little; Klecko could be a shoo-in if he gets to the next stage of the process.
The Jets currently have eight players in the Hall of Fame, in addition to five contributors. Several of those players only dabbled with the team for a year or two - Brett Favre and LaDainian Tomlinson come to mind. Don Maynard and Namath were the only inductees to play for the team for more than a decade. Additionally, Weeb Ewbank was the head coach for a decade. A long tenure is one thing Klecko has going for him.
Klecko's candidacy
The Jets drafted Klecko in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, he managed to record an impressive eight sacks. He was a member of the "New York Sack Exchange," one of the most vicious defensive lines in football history. He went to the Pro Bowl four times in his career (at multiple positions), but never had a year better than 1981.
He registered 20.5 sacks before being named Defensive Player of the Year by several different publications.
The Jets organization clearly considers Klecko to be a Hall of Fame caliber player. The team retired his No. 73 jersey back in 2004, joining just Namath and Maynard at the time. When the team created a Ring of Honor in 2010, he was part of the team's inaugural class.
Teammates have gone to bat for their fellow lineman in the past, pleading for his enshrinement in Canton. The Pennsylvania native is now 63 years old and not getting any younger. He may be running out of chances to see a bust of himself appear in the most hallowed halls of the sport - the senior committee should show him respect on Thursday.
