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He is a Jets’ legend. Some are called this who aren’t. He is.
Nick Mangold retired today.
The Jets sent out a notice to the media about a press conference next week with the heading, “New York Jets Media Itinerary – New York Jets Legend Nick Mangold, 4.24.”.
The NFL has this foolish initiative where they call all alumni, of all NFL teams, “legends.”
It’s an unwise word to use for EVERY former player. There are some players, who are part of the Jets “legends” group, who NEVER played in a game.
It’s insulting to our intelligence. Let me make this clear, I’m not picking on the Jets about this – it’s a league-wide program, and it cheapens the word “legend.”
I wish they would stop. I’m all for respecting former NFL player, but don’t call guys who never played in a game, or maybe played just a year or two, “legends.”
Nick Mangold is a true Jets legend. He made seven Pro Bowls. He will be in the Jets’ Ring-of-Honor. He was a heck of a player. I don’t think he will make the NFL Hall of Fame, but honestly, it’s not a stretch to have him in the conversation. Let’s be honest, he was just as good as Hall-of-Fame centers like Jim Ringo and Jim Langer. I doubt Mangold will make it. I’m just saying that I consider him to be just as good as most of the centers in the Hall-of-Fame.
Nick Mangold came from Centerville, Ohio. How apropos.
Mangold had it all – smarts, power, toughness, great technique.
HE never had much to say and had to have his arm twisted to talk to the press (though he’s good at it), so that probably hurt him in a little in terms of getting the notoriety he probably deserves.
In this day and age it helps to be a big mouth to get a lot of press.
I don’t really know Nick Mangold very well. He never really lets you in, if you know what I’m saying.
I’m not even sure he knows my name and I covered him his entire career.
He just wanted to come to work everyday with his lunch pail, work hard, perform his job on a high level, and go home to his family. He’s a great father, husband and dedicated family man.
I’ve never been into the whole process where players sign one-day contracts and retire with a certain team. It never did anything for me.
But Mangold doing this with the Jets is important for this organization.
First of all, I don’t think any other players has ever done this. For some reason the Jets’ organization hasn’t engendered a special feeling in enough of their former players who feel like they bleed Jets green. Too often, the end is ugly. I always thought Jerricho Cotchery would have been one of the lifetime Jets, loved by the fans during a long Jets career and for the rest of his life. But they let him walk in favor of a commitment to Santonio Holmes and Derrick Mason, who recently got arrested.
For some reason, the greatest Jet of them all, Joe Namath, is on bad terms with the organization. D’Brickashaw Ferguson clearly wants little to do with them.
So Mangold “retiring a Jet” is important to his organization, which doesn’t have the warmest relations with some of their notable alumni.
And Mangold deserves all the reverence he will get next Tuesday at the presser, and as a true Jets legend moving forward.
He is one of the greatest players to ever wear green and white.
April 17, 2018
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