Comments on: TJB Hall of Fame: Dennis Byrd

By: alau53

alau53 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:06:48 +0000

lets put favre in the hof..cmon byrd..why not pat leahy..make bruce coslet coach of this hof..what a joke

By: scapp

scapp — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:25:37 +0000

That was the first Jets game I ever went to too. I set up the VCR to tape the game so I could see if I could see myself in the crowd. I still have the tape collecting dust on my shelf, never could watch it. Very sad day. Seing him later on walk in that press conference was amazing. Anyone remember the team kicking the crap out of the bills the next week in Byrd’s honor? That was very cool.

By: jeremy

jeremy — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:56:01 +0000

this story made me want to cry…. both the original one and basset’s take.

By: david i

david i — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:12:25 +0000

Forget Byrd as an inspirational football player, his courage transended sports and inspired millions of people. The strength of his faith is unmatched and it taught us all a very important lesson in life, as well as prepared me for how to deal with a very tough time of my own years later. His book is a must read and his induction to the HoF for couragous human beings is appropriate, let alone the TJB.

Being there in the end zone seats closest to where he smashed into Mersereu’s chest was chilling in a tragic way. But being there in the end zone seats closest to where he walked out onto the field was chilling in an amazing and inspirational way. I will never forget either chill.

By: sjfalcon2001

sjfalcon2001 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:54:41 +0000

Dennis Byrd’s injury and not only his response to it, but football’s response to it, prove to be one of the great stories of the NFL. I remember not only the Chiefs game, but the Bills game the week after it. Bitter division rivals, yet most of the players on both sides met at mid-field to pray for Byrd after the game. Until that point, there wasn’t a lot of that going on. He also got a made for TV movie made out of his autobiography and while the acting wasn’t great, it did let you in on his character. He may have had a short playing career and never lived up to his potential due to his injury, every Jets fan can look to him as an example and it is only fitting that we choose him for the TJB Hall.

By: Bent

Bent — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:55:16 +0000

Remember, Ed, that this isn’t THE Jets hall of fame for the best Jets players of all time, it’s the TJB hall of fame, which we have created to honor guys who may be underrated nationally, are fan favorites, or – as is the case with Byrd – have inspired us or made us proud to be Jets fans.

I think the tribute and comments bear that out 100%.

By: The Ed(itor)

The Ed(itor) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:48:15 +0000

Look, I like and admire Dennis Byrd. But the 3rd JET voted into your Hall of Fame??? Doesn’t rate that high on my HOF board. Must mean there are at least 50 members of your HOF. I can’t wait to see the remaining 47.

By: Liam

Liam — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:44:18 +0000

great post bassett and great comments all around.

By: SackDance99

SackDance99 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:19:17 +0000

I was there, too. The worst moment in my 17 or so years as a season ticket owner. Forget the “fake spike” or any game during the Kotite years. Seeing players praying and Dennis strapped to a body board, desperately hoping to see him give a “thumbs up” to the crowd, which never came, was awful. Dennis’ amazing comeback was further proof, to me, that there is a higher power. Bassett’s right, Byrd was a good and promising player, but his story and courage transcends football and, to me, is what Jets’ “core values” are all about.

Also, the inspirational win over the Kelly Bills the next week was one of the great Jets victories of all times, who cares that the team was a dismal 4-12; who could ever forget Brian Washington’s awesome pick 6 in the 4th quarter? It really did seem like destiny because he looked like Barry Sanders running through the out-stretched arms of like a half dozen Bills for the 23 yard score. Oh, and who was awarded the game ball. Of course, it was Dennis, who the Jets called up from the locker room. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:49:28 +0000

when i was a ballboy in 1990, d. byrd was my favorite guy and, even as a 16 year-old, i was impressed that he took an interest in the lackeys who did the laundry and cleaned the lockers. he was sincere and down-to-earth in a way that is uncommon for an athlete as talented as he was.