New Numbers for Green & White Draftees

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New Numbers for Green & White Draftees

Published: Tue, April 29, 2008 - 3:56pm ET
Randy Lange

By Randy Lange

Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J.


File Under: Erik Ainge, Vernon Gholston, Dustin Keller, Dwight Lowery, Marcus Henry, Nate Garner

04/29 — You can't tell your newest Jets without a scorecard, but here are the number assignments for the team's six draft picks heading into this weekend's rookie minicamp. A somewhat interesting note: None of the six has received the same number he wore last season in college.

Some of these uniform numbers may change either for training camp or, for those who make it, for the start of the regular season. But until they do, here's a little Green & White stroll down numerology lane:

56 — DE/OLB Vernon Gholston

College: Wore No. 50 for Ohio State from 2004-07

Current Jet Wearing 50: LB Eric Barton

Last Jet to Wear 56: LB Anthony Schlegel

Notable Jets to Wear 56: DE-LB John Abraham (2005 only), DE-LB Jeff Lageman (1989-94), LB Lance Mehl (1980-87), C John Schmitt (1964 only).

81 — TE Dustin Keller

College: Wore No. 28 for Purdue from 2004-07

Last Jet to Wear 28: RB Curtis Martin

Last Jet to Wear 81: WR Justin McCareins

Notable Jets to Wear 81: TE Chris Baker (2002 only), WR Art Monk (1994), WR-KR Terance Mathis (1990-93), WR Derrick Gaffney (1978-83), DE Gerry Philbin (1964-72)

34 — CB Dwight Lowery

College: Wore No. 25 for San Jose State from 2006-07

Current Jet Wearing 25: S Kerry Rhodes

Last Jet to Wear 34: RB Alvin Banks (2007 preseason, practice squad)

Last Jet to Wear 34 in Regular Season: RB Cedric Houston (2005-06)

Notable Jets to Wear 34: RB LaMont Jordan (2001-04), RB Johnny Hector (1983-92) (no DBs have worn that number in a RS game in franchise history)

9 — QB Erik Ainge

College: Wore No. 10 for Tennessee from 2004-07

Current Jet Wearing 10: QB Chad Pennington

Last Jet to Wear 9: WR Evan Prall (2007 preseason)

Last Jet to Wear 9 in Regular Season: QB Jay Fiedler (2005)

Only Other Jets to Wear 9: K John Hall (1997-2002), QB Jeff Blake (1992-93)

14 — WR Marcus Henry

College: Wore No. 86 for Kansas from 2005-07

Current Jet Wearing 86: TE Chris Baker

Last Jet to Wear 14: WR Jesse Pellot-Rosa (2007 preseason)

Last Jet to Wear 14 in Regular Season: QB Neil O'Donnell (1996-97)

Only Other Jets to Wear 14: QBs Glenn Foley (1994 only), Troy Taylor (1990-91), Richard Todd (1976-83)

71 — OT Nate Garner

College: Wore No. 75 for Arkansas from 2004-07

Current Jet Wearing 75: OL Robert Turner

Last Jet to Wear 71: OL Wade Smith

Notable Jets to Wear 71: G Kerry Jenkins (1997-2001), DT Bill Pickel (1991-94), T Sam Walton (1968-69) 

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tommy studdaz Said:

Fri, May 2, 2008 - 5:26am ET

"show some love for Freeman McNeil he was one of the few draftees that wasnt a bust, i liv revis but he needs to give the number up it should be retired with namath and maynard, afterwards definatly retire martin and chrebet. if mawae played here longer i would retire 68 also he was the heart of the team for a while"

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denden Said:

Fri, May 2, 2008 - 7:07am ET

"I agree "Steaming" Freeman Mcneil's number should be retired, if it wasn't for injury he would of been one the NFL's greatest backs."

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PapaShrek Said:

Fri, May 2, 2008 - 4:31pm ET

"I agree with the people who've said Freeman's number should be retired. He was fun to watch and a workhorse of a player who helped make this team successful back in the day. I'm not so sure about Mawae though. In my opinion...a player needs to end their career with the team...and end it favorably to earn having his number retired."

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