Post by Lithfan on Dec 16, 2015 6:35:54 GMT -5
December 16, 1973
The 1973 season began with Weeb Ewbank announcing his retirement as head coach of the Jets. He would stay on as General Manager, but he would pass the head coaching position on to his son-in-law, former St. Louis Cardinal head coach, and current Redskin assistant, Charley Winner.
The 73 season would prove to be a rough, turbulent and disappointing final season for Ewbank. His star running back, John Riggins held out of training camp in a bitter contract dispute. His star QB, Joe Namath, would separate a shoulder during a week 2 victory against the Colts. Back-up QB All Woodall injured his elbow later in the season, leaving Ewbank to go 3-deep on the QB depth chart. 3rd stringer Bill Demory was forced into the only action of his NFL career, going 12 of 38 with 8 interceptions in 3 starts. The Jets managed to win one of Demory’s 3 starts, beating the Patriots 9-7 in a game where Demory completed just 1 of 7 passes for 11 yards.
In Ewbank’s final game, the 4-9 Jets would host OJ Simpson and the Buffalo Bills. It may have been Weeb’s final game, but Simpson stole the spotlight.
He came into the game with 1,803 rushing yards, needing 61 yards to break Jim Brown’s single season NFL record and 197 to become the first RB in NFL history to go over the 2,000 yard mark. He would proceed to set both marks with a 200 yard effort on a snowy afternoon in Queens as OJ and the Bills ran all over the Jets, leaving Shea with a 34-14 win. Buffalo FB Jim Braxton also went over the 100 yard mark as the Jets surrendered 304 rushing yards on an afternoon where Bills QB Joe Ferguson would only attempt 5 passes.
“We knew what he needed to do.” explained Ferguson after the game. “On the play where Juice got most of his yardage, we have an option where we can give it to the fullback instead. So I called that play to Braxton to keep the pressure off Juice.”
“Braxton did a helluva job of keeping us honest,” said Jets defensive lineman Richard Neal. “OJ is good, but his line is good and Braxton is good. They’re just too much.”
As for the Jets, Joe Namath was 13-30 for 206 yards and two TDs. His first was a 48 yard pass to Jerome Barkum in the first quarter that tied the game at 7 after a 1 yard TD run by Braxton. Joe would not get the Jets into the end zone again until the 4th quarter, by which time the BIlls led by 34-7. His 16 yard TD pass to Rich Caster closed out the scoring. The 34-14 loss marked a dismal end to a dismal season. Not the send off for their coach that the Jets players were hoping for.
On Monday, Winner officially took over as head coach of the Jets. “The first thing I plan to do,” said Winner, “is get together with our talent department to see what is available and what we need.” He also acknowledged that he would rely on Ewbank’s experience and knowedge as he transitoned into his new role.
As for Weeb, he would stay on as VP and GM. “I’ll study film and have an opinion,” said Ewbank, “but I won’t say anything unless I’m asked.
Source: Sarasota Herald Tribune & The Evening News
The 1973 season began with Weeb Ewbank announcing his retirement as head coach of the Jets. He would stay on as General Manager, but he would pass the head coaching position on to his son-in-law, former St. Louis Cardinal head coach, and current Redskin assistant, Charley Winner.
The 73 season would prove to be a rough, turbulent and disappointing final season for Ewbank. His star running back, John Riggins held out of training camp in a bitter contract dispute. His star QB, Joe Namath, would separate a shoulder during a week 2 victory against the Colts. Back-up QB All Woodall injured his elbow later in the season, leaving Ewbank to go 3-deep on the QB depth chart. 3rd stringer Bill Demory was forced into the only action of his NFL career, going 12 of 38 with 8 interceptions in 3 starts. The Jets managed to win one of Demory’s 3 starts, beating the Patriots 9-7 in a game where Demory completed just 1 of 7 passes for 11 yards.
In Ewbank’s final game, the 4-9 Jets would host OJ Simpson and the Buffalo Bills. It may have been Weeb’s final game, but Simpson stole the spotlight.
He came into the game with 1,803 rushing yards, needing 61 yards to break Jim Brown’s single season NFL record and 197 to become the first RB in NFL history to go over the 2,000 yard mark. He would proceed to set both marks with a 200 yard effort on a snowy afternoon in Queens as OJ and the Bills ran all over the Jets, leaving Shea with a 34-14 win. Buffalo FB Jim Braxton also went over the 100 yard mark as the Jets surrendered 304 rushing yards on an afternoon where Bills QB Joe Ferguson would only attempt 5 passes.
“We knew what he needed to do.” explained Ferguson after the game. “On the play where Juice got most of his yardage, we have an option where we can give it to the fullback instead. So I called that play to Braxton to keep the pressure off Juice.”
“Braxton did a helluva job of keeping us honest,” said Jets defensive lineman Richard Neal. “OJ is good, but his line is good and Braxton is good. They’re just too much.”
As for the Jets, Joe Namath was 13-30 for 206 yards and two TDs. His first was a 48 yard pass to Jerome Barkum in the first quarter that tied the game at 7 after a 1 yard TD run by Braxton. Joe would not get the Jets into the end zone again until the 4th quarter, by which time the BIlls led by 34-7. His 16 yard TD pass to Rich Caster closed out the scoring. The 34-14 loss marked a dismal end to a dismal season. Not the send off for their coach that the Jets players were hoping for.
On Monday, Winner officially took over as head coach of the Jets. “The first thing I plan to do,” said Winner, “is get together with our talent department to see what is available and what we need.” He also acknowledged that he would rely on Ewbank’s experience and knowedge as he transitoned into his new role.
As for Weeb, he would stay on as VP and GM. “I’ll study film and have an opinion,” said Ewbank, “but I won’t say anything unless I’m asked.
Source: Sarasota Herald Tribune & The Evening News
