Joe Klecko, Darrelle Revis’ Hall of Fame induction is Jets football heaven

CANTON, Ohio — First got here Joe Klecko, from one nook of Pennsylvania.

Then got here Darrelle Revis, from the opposite nook of Pennsylvania.

The 2 best defensive gamers in franchise historical past enshrined on Saturday as Gold Jacket guys.

Corridor-elulah!

Particularly for Klecko, who needed to unjustly wait 35 years for his day within the solar.

“Thirty years,” Klecko mentioned, 30 years after he first grew to become eligible for the Corridor of Fame, “I’ve been ready to provide this speech.”

Tears of pleasure in Jetville, “J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!” cheers that turned Tom Benson Corridor of Fame Stadium into bursts of JetLife Stadium.

No. 73 Klecko jerseys and No. 24 Revis jerseys in every single place you seemed. And, after all, these inexperienced Namath No. 12 jerseys.

Revis and Klecko, kings for a day, taking the baton for a day from Aaron Rodgers, future first-ballot Corridor of Fame quarterback, all-in on chasing his second Tremendous Bowl championship and first with the Jets.

Who’ve been ready 55 years with Namath for his or her second.

Tremendous Saturday for Klecko and Revis.

Tremendous Saturday for the Jets.

Klecko was the Nice Disruptor. He’s every little thing Quinnen Williams ought to aspire to turn out to be.

“I wished to win each down and each battle,” Klecko mentioned.

Revis, who solely needed to wait the compulsory 5 years after retirement, was the Nice Eraser. He’s every little thing Sauce Gardner ought to aspire to turn out to be.

Each of them: each quarterback’s worst nightmare.

Legends of the sport.

And when the day ends, when the lights get turned off, the busts of Namath and Don Maynard can now trash speak with Revis about how they’d fare on Revis Island.

And the busts of Klecko and Winston Hill, Namath’s treasured bodyguard, can argue over who would get the higher of the opposite in one-on-one cross rush drills.

Klecko — offered by his buddy Marty Lyons, who helped unveil his bronze bust on stage — started his storied Jets profession in 1977, one 12 months after a hobbled Broadway Joe left the franchise to turn out to be Hollywood Joe for one final, unfulfilling season with the Rams. Luckily for Namath, he didn’t must play towards Klecko.

“I want I might play as we speak, not a lot for the competitors,” Klecko mentioned, “however for the cash.”

Lengthy earlier than he grew to become the highest-paid defensive lineman at — gasp — $700,000 in 1986, I keep in mind interviewing Klecko in his cramped Hofstra lodge room not removed from the Jets’ Weeb Ewbank Corridor facility. He was the alpha male who as soon as sparred with Joe Frazier, and if that didn’t get your consideration, this is able to each time he playfully cautioned what the results could be should you did him incorrect:

“Six weeks,” he used to say, displaying his left fist, “or dying,” displaying his proper fist.

Klecko helped get the 1982 Jets 60 minutes from the Tremendous Bowl earlier than shedding to the Dolphins within the Mud Bowl.

“We by no means made it to the large sport,” Klecko mentioned, “however the friendships I made are extra useful than a championship ring.”

Revis — offered by his mom, Diana Askew — helped get the 2009 and 2010 Jets 60 minutes from the Tremendous Bowl earlier than shedding to the Peyton Manning Colts and Ben Roethlisberger Steelers, respectively. He captured his Tremendous Bowl ring with Invoice Belichick and Tom Brady.

Revis advised me this early within the 2009 season: “Off the sector I’m a laid-back man, however as soon as I placed on that jersey and stroll by means of that tunnel, you understand the cartoon ‘Dragon Ball Z’? It’s like a ninja factor — they switch over to those Tremendous Saiyans once they struggle and go to warfare, they usually glow and all these items. … I identical to scream once I undergo that tunnel. I simply assume I’m like a Tremendous Saiyan or a lion on the market simply attempting to be hungry, and go on the market and simply dominate.”

Askew referred to as her son a “superhero.” And he paid particular tribute to her. “My first coach,” Revis mentioned.

Quarterbacks might keep away from trespassing on Revis Island. It was a uncommon prevalence if he acquired “Mossed.”

There was no escape from the raging bull that was Klecko. He was for the Jets protection what Lawrence Taylor was for the Giants protection within the Eighties. At the same time as his blue-collar model clashed with Mark Gastineau’s look-at-me sack dances.

“One of many greatest personalities in NFL historical past, my teammate Mark Gastineau … Mark, I do know that by means of our aggressive nature, we made one another higher,” Klecko mentioned.

His voice cracked when he honored former teammate and heart Jim Sweeney, who died out of the blue in October.

Revis thanked the Jets followers.

“The perfect followers on this planet,” Revis mentioned to cheers. “Seems like MetLife Stadium right here,” Revis mentioned. Extra cheers. “For all of the boos right here once I was drafted 14th total and burning my jersey once I signed with the Patriots … I suppose it’s protected to say we’ve been by means of so much collectively,” Revis added. “Thanks for believing in me, supporting me each step of the way in which.”

“You’ll all the time have a spot to remain on Revis Island.”

After all of the coaches and teammates and mates Klecko thanked, and naturally God, he turned to Jets followers: “I can’t go away with out acknowledging my devoted Jet followers,” Klecko mentioned. A roar erupted. Fireman Ed now led that “J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!” chant. “Thank you,” Klecko mentioned, and stepped away.

Corridor of a day for Klecko and Revis and the Jets.

An indication behind the stadium summed every little thing up completely for Joe Klecko and Darrelle Revis:

That is soccer heaven.