Chrebet Closes CurtainBy James J. ParzialeJets Insider.com Staff WriterWayne Chrebet has transcended several Jets eras.His first two seasons were testament to his fortitude, surviving the four-win era of Rich Kotite, Keyshawn Johnson?s boisterous, helmet-throwing first touchdown catch and subsequent book, and Bubby Brister?s shovel pass turned interception-return for a touchdown.Chrebet can discuss at length the reconstruction later brought on by Bill Parcells and how the Jets were 30 minutes away from Super Bowl XXXIII before a 10-0 lead at Denver evaporated into the thin Mile High air.He has seen Bill Belichick?s one-day reign as Jets head coach, Al Groh?s subsequent cameo, and the recent Golden Age (by Jets standards at least) of sustained success under Herman Edwards ? bypassing this year, obviously.He is, essentially, a walking green and white almanac. Yet today at Hofstra, Chrebet, speaking for the first time since sustaining a concussion on Nov. 6, broached a tender topic, but confirmed what everyone has seen coming."I'm not going to get back on the field. I think everybody's aware of that," Chrebet said. "But I'm just thankful and want to let the right people know I appreciate everything they've done for me."Chrebet?s spur-of-the-moment meeting with the media was unannounced and though he did not officially declare his retirement, Chrebet wanted to make known his decision to not return. Chrebet, not wanting to be a distraction to his teammates with just two games left, preferred to wait until after the season ends to officially close the curtain on his career.?I?ve had nothing but time to think about that,? Chrebet said of retirement. ?I guess initially, I just kept to myself mostly and just stayed home. Now, I went from not really wanting to be around to just needing to be around [the team]."I just wanted to come up here today to be around practice and I?m looking forward to going to the last two games just to be out there."Though Chrebet only alluded to the r-word, the writing was on the wall. In a 31-26 loss to the Chargers last month, Chrebet?s head violently made contact with the ground after making a third-down reception. Fittingly, it was a third-down catch, which over the years had become Chrebet?s specialty.However Chrebet lay on the field, his eyes glazed over, motionless for several seconds. Anyone with a parcel of knowledge regarding Chrebet?s history saw his career end on that play.?One day I just remembered what happened during the play, and I just remember playing and I remember seeing a real white light,? he said. ?I don?t know if it was the field or just when my head hit the ground. I remember just kind of hearing voices and that kind of stuff and the next thing you know, I?m home. It?s weird.?The say after the game Chrebet spoke extensively with his family and the Jets placed him on injured reserve."It's just a weird thing you don't want to accept," Chrebet said. "I've had a lot of time at home with my kids and that's been great. It's something I've always looked forward to. The rest is dealing with not having this in my life anymore."For several years, Chrebet?s career has been concussion-riddled. In 2003, he had a post-traumatic migraine and sat out the final eight games with postconcussion syndrome. He kicked around the thought of retirement, but played in all 16 games last season but sustained a concussion in the regular season finale and missed the playoffs.?For me it?s difficult knowing that he?s never going to be coming out that tunnel,? Laveranues Coles said.Coles, who often bristles at the media, spoke frankly about Chrebet. The two grew close after the Jets drafted Coles in 2000 and when Coles returned during the off-season via trade, Chrebet was one the first to welcome him.?It?s just tough,? Coles continued. ?[He] helped me through my early years just talking to me and letting me know the ins-and-outs about the League about earning your stripes, getting your playing time?.Once he taught me all the intangibles about the game, our friendship just kept growing. Now, knowing we?re not ever going to suit up again it?s tough.??When you think of Wayne Chrebet you think of greatness. There are not enough words, there?s not enough numbers to describe him.?Ironically, Chrebet made the announcement at Hofstra, where for four years he dazzled fans at the Division I-AA collegiate level. After he graduated, no NFL showed interest in the scrappy 5-foot-10 receiver. His size was an issue.Ergo he made a highlight reel of his touchdown catches and tried for the Jets as a walk on. The rest is history.He is eight on the Jets with 41 career touchdowns and his 560 receptions are second only on the team list to Don Maynard?s 627. He caught 84 passes in the Jets horrid 1-15 season in 1996 and caught 75 balls in the Jets magical run to the AFC Championship game against the Broncos in 1998. Win or lose, Chrebet had a knack for having his nose around the ball.Recently, though, Chrebet has spent most of his time away from Weeb Ewbank hall because he did not want any of the spotlights to shift from his teammates and onto him.?I know for him it was difficult to come around knowing he wasn?t going to be able to put the uniform on,? Coles said. ?I know the way he loves the game and the way he loves the guys.?Coles explained how Chrebet?s reappearance in the locker room signified his acceptance of the situation.?I think he?s at a point now where he can come around and be around the guys and feel good about it,? Coles said. ?It?s great for him.?Yet Chrebet, like all players forced away from the game before their time, will try to fill the void off the field.?There was nothing like game day for me. I?m hoping to find something to replace that feeling and I don?t think there ever will be,? Chrebet said. ?It?s been the greatest 11 years of my life.?
He was one of my favorite Jets...and has been a Jet since i started watching football. You have to love the way he played, tough, physical, and clutch.
While I guess he was never a really great player, to me its deeper then that.He was a home grown product coming from Hofstra university (A 1-AA School), and when he graduated he turned pro.....went undrafted because he was too small (5'10), too slow, but the Jets took a chance on him as an undrafted free agent. From day 1, he worked harder then anybody else on the team, he learned his playbook, he ran his routes and became the best at it, and he went from undrafted free agent, to a starting Wide Reciever in a matter of months, starting from day 1 as an undrafted free agent. Putting up 66 receptions for 737 yards and 4 TD's on an awful offense as a Undrafted Rookie. On the field, he was the only player who would give completly 100% on the field, going up against much bigger, stronger, more physical players and beating them at their own game and them making the key third down reception. He would use his pure willpower alone to beat cornerbacks on the way to making a key and gamechanging play. He was also known for his third down receptions for first downs, where on a key third down you knew the ball was going to Wayne Chrebet and you still couldnt stop it. Which always made him a fan favorite. He is one of the players who you would never see on sportscenter dancing, or talking trash, but just went out there week in and week out and did his job. (Which made it so fitting that his last reception was a key 3rd and 5 driving the field on the final drive of the game where he got a 6 yard reception and then suffered a concussion while being tackled.)In my honest opinion, had his career not been so sidetracked due to concussions, he would be a very argueable case for the Hall Of Fame. Wayne's greatest quality was always his heart, while he wasnt just a terrific football player, he was a terrific person who always was involved with charitable events, ect. around the local area, while at the same time while he wasnt on the field, he was mentioring the likes of Keyshawn Johnson, Laveranues Coles, and Santana Moss on the way to their successful NFL Careers by teaching them how to be a true NFL player, both on and off the field. I guess thats why Wayne Chrebet is so great in my opinion.....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ven0m @ Dec 22 2005, 09:32 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>While I guess he was never a really great player, to me its deeper then that.He was a home grown product coming from Hofstra university (A 1-AA School), and when he graduated he turned pro.....went undrafted because he was too small (5'10), too slow, but the Jets took a chance on him as an undrafted free agent. From day 1, he worked harder then anybody else on the team, he learned his playbook, he ran his routes and became the best at it, and he went from undrafted free agent, to a starting Wide Reciever in a matter of months, starting from day 1 as an undrafted free agent. Putting up 66 receptions for 737 yards and 4 TD's on an awful offense as a Undrafted Rookie. On the field, he was the only player who would give completly 100% on the field, going up against much bigger, stronger, more physical players and beating them at their own game and them making the key third down reception. He would use his pure willpower alone to beat cornerbacks on the way to making a key and gamechanging play. He was also known for his third down receptions for first downs, where on a key third down you knew the ball was going to Wayne Chrebet and you still couldnt stop it. Which always made him a fan favorite. He is one of the players who you would never see on sportscenter dancing, or talking trash, but just went out there week in and week out and did his job. (Which made it so fitting that his last reception was a key 3rd and 5 driving the field on the final drive of the game where he got a 6 yard reception and then suffered a concussion while being tackled.)In my honest opinion, had his career not been so sidetracked due to concussions, he would be a very argueable case for the Hall Of Fame. Wayne's greatest quality was always his heart, while he wasnt just a terrific football player, he was a terrific person who always was involved with charitable events, ect. around the local area, while at the same time while he wasnt on the field, he was mentioring the likes of Keyshawn Johnson, Laveranues Coles, and Santana Moss on the way to their successful NFL Careers by teaching them how to be a true NFL player, both on and off the field. I guess thats why Wayne Chrebet is so great in my opinion.....</div> Good read. I feel the same about James Thrash, I've followed him throughout his career on the 'skins and Eagles and everyone sees him as a sucky player but I've always supported him.
Well sucks that he never really got the chance to be a bigtime reciever, althoguh didnt he have one of the most touchdown receptions in like 2002
