Post by Lithfan on Aug 19, 2015 7:10:18 GMT -5
August 19, 1997
The Jets claimed QB Ray Lucas off waivers from the New England Patriots.
Lucas, an undrafted FA out of Rutgers had signed with the Patriots the year before, but would not see any game action in the 1996 season. It would be a couple of years before Lucas got an opportunity to play regularly with the Jets -- he would only throw 7 passes in his first two seasons in NY. In 1999, when Testaverde went down with an injury, and Rick Mirer played, well, like Rick Mirer, Parcells gave Lucas his chance (more on Mirer tomorrow). Ray would lead the Jets to a 6-3 record in the 9 games he started, but the Jets would fall short of the playoffs ending the season with a 8-8 record after a 2-6 start.
Ray's best moment as a Jet came when he outdueled Dan Marino on 12/27/1999. Lucas was struggling, going just 7-19 for about 80 yards through 3 quarters of the game, but in the 4th quarter, Lucas would connect on 2 long TD passes to Wayne Chrebet and Dedric Ward as the Jets came from behind to beat the Dolphins 38-31. Marcus Coleman also had a 98-yard pick 6 of Marino to help keep the Jets in the game.
The Jets claimed QB Ray Lucas off waivers from the New England Patriots.
Lucas, an undrafted FA out of Rutgers had signed with the Patriots the year before, but would not see any game action in the 1996 season. It would be a couple of years before Lucas got an opportunity to play regularly with the Jets -- he would only throw 7 passes in his first two seasons in NY. In 1999, when Testaverde went down with an injury, and Rick Mirer played, well, like Rick Mirer, Parcells gave Lucas his chance (more on Mirer tomorrow). Ray would lead the Jets to a 6-3 record in the 9 games he started, but the Jets would fall short of the playoffs ending the season with a 8-8 record after a 2-6 start.
Ray's best moment as a Jet came when he outdueled Dan Marino on 12/27/1999. Lucas was struggling, going just 7-19 for about 80 yards through 3 quarters of the game, but in the 4th quarter, Lucas would connect on 2 long TD passes to Wayne Chrebet and Dedric Ward as the Jets came from behind to beat the Dolphins 38-31. Marcus Coleman also had a 98-yard pick 6 of Marino to help keep the Jets in the game.
