Marty Lyons: Difference between revisions
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*[[New York Jets]] ([[1979 NFL season|1979]]-[[1989 NFL season|1989]]) |
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*1978 All-American |
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*SEC Defensive Player of the Year (1978) |
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'''Martin Anthony Lyons''' (born January 15, 1957) is a former [[American |
'''Martin Anthony Lyons''' (born January 15, 1957 in [[Takoma Park, Maryland]]) is a former [[American football]] player as a [[defensive tackle]] best remembered for his days as a member of the [[New York Jets]]' famed "[[New York Sack Exchange]]." |
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==Alabama Crimson Tide== |
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Although Lyons is well known for the incident that ended [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[Dwight Stephenson]]'s career,<ref>{{cite web|title=SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Was It a 'Cheap Shot,' or Was It Clean|author=Anderson, Dave|date=December 9, 1987|publisher=''New York Times''|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/09/sports/sports-of-the-times-was-it-a-cheap-shot-or-was-it-clean.html?pagewanted=1|accessdate=2010-05-01}}</ref> he is probably best known for giving [[Jim Kelly]] "the business," the descriptive personal foul penalty assessed by referee [[Ben Dreith]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Bickley, Dan|publisher=''The Arizona Republic''|date=January 18, 2006|title=NFL officials aren't as bad as they seem|url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0118bickley0118.html?&wired|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Lyons grew up in [[Pinellas Park, Florida]], and attended [[St. Petersburg Catholic High School]]. Lyons played [[college football]] at the [[University of Alabama]] where he was an [[All-American]] under legendary coach, [[Paul "Bear" Bryant]]. At Alabama, he had 202 tackles, six fumbles forced and four recovered; he also helped lead the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Crimson Tide]] to a [[NCAA Division I FBS national football championship|National Championship]] in 1978. He was a key player in the set of fourth quarter plays known as "The Goal Line Stand" in the [[1979 Sugar Bowl]]. It was Lyons that delivered what would become a famous line amongst Alabama fans just before the fourth-down play of the sequence. When asked by [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] quarterback [[Chuck Fusina]] how far the ball was from the goal line, Lyons replied, "'Bout a foot. You better pass."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rickrushart.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_98&products_id=108&zenid=b45r5j0sb9gj1aj25htgv9he64|title=You Better Pass|author=Rick Rush|date=March 1979}}</ref> Alabama was 31-5 during his years as a player. |
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==Early years and college career== |
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| ⚫ | Lyons |
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==New York Jets== |
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==Professional career== |
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Lyons was drafted in the first round (14th overall pick) of the [[1979 NFL Draft]] |
Lyons was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round (14th overall pick) of the [[1979 NFL Draft]].<ref name=pfr>{{cite web|title=Marty Lyons|publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LyonMa20.htm}}</ref> The following round, the Jets selected [[East Central University|East Central Oklahoma State]] [[defensive end]] [[Mark Gastineau]]. |
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When the two joined [[Joe Klecko]] and [[Abdul Salaam (American football)|Abdul Salaam]] on the Jets' defensive line, they formed one of the top defensive lines in the [[National Football League|NFL]], known as the "New York Sack Exchange." The four combined for 66 sacks in [[1981–82 NFL playoffs|1981]] to lead the Jets to their first playoff game since [[AFL playoffs, 1969|1969]]. The Jets made the playoffs again in [[1982–83 NFL playoffs|1982]], [[1985–86 NFL playoffs|1985]] and [[1986–87 NFL playoffs|1986]] during Lyons' tenure with the team, losing the [[American Football Conference|AFC]] Championship game to the [[Miami Dolphins]] in 1982. |
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| ⚫ | Lyons finished his professional career playing in 147 career games; he had 29 [[quarterback sack]]s. |
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In November 1981, Salaam, Gastineau, Klecko and Lyons were invited to ring the ceremonial opening bell at the [[New York Stock Exchange]] that served as the inspiration for their nickname.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2008/09/06/2008-09-06_jets_defense_looking_to_regain_glory_day.html |title=Jets defense looking to regain glory days of Sack Exchange |publisher=Nydailynews.com |date=2008-09-06 |accessdate=2010-08-13 | location=New York | first=Rich | last=Cimini}}</ref> |
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During the Jets' 14-13 victory over the [[Buffalo Bills]] at the [[Meadowlands]] on October 5, 1986, Lyons was famously flagged for a personal foul by referee [[Ben Dreith]] for giving [[Jim Kelly]] "the business."<ref>{{cite web|author=Bickley, Dan|publisher=''The Arizona Republic''|date=January 18, 2006|title=NFL officials aren't as bad as they seem|url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0118bickley0118.html?&wired|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Dreith mistakenly called the foul against number 99, which was Gastineau's number, instead of calling Lyons' number 93. |
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Lyons' wife, Kelly, got into a serious car accident during the 1987 season with their five you old child in the car. She suffered deep gashes from her lip to her forehead, and both her shoulders were broken, with shattered bones from her right shoulder piercing the flesh of her armpit. Amazingly, Martin, Jr., nicknamed "Rocky" by his parents, pushed his mother from the car, and up the embankment the truck had rolled down. Once at the top, Rocky flagged down a truck that transported them to Bryan Whitfield Memorial Hospital in [[Demopolis, Alabama]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20097833,00.html|title=Five-Year-Old Rocky Lyons, Son of the Jets' Star, Thought He Could Save His Mom's Life—and He Did|author=Ron Arias|date=December 14, 1987|publisher=''[[People Magazine]]''}}</ref> |
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Later during the same season, during a [[Monday Night Football|Monday night game]] with the arch rival Miami Dolphins on December 7, Lyons ended former Alabama teammate and [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[Dwight Stephenson]]'s career with what many considered a cheap shot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/09/sports/sports-of-the-times-was-it-a-cheap-shot-or-was-it-clean.html?pagewanted=1|title=SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Was It a 'Cheap Shot,' or Was It Clean?|author=Dave Anderson|date=December 9, 1987|publisher=''[[New York Times]]''}}</ref> |
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==Post-playing career== |
==Post-playing career== |
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Revision as of 19:11, 17 December 2010
| No. 93 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive Tackle |
| Career information | |
| College: | Alabama |
| NFL draft: | 1979 / round: 1 / pick: 14 |
| Career history | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Martin Anthony Lyons (born January 15, 1957 in Takoma Park, Maryland) is a former American football player as a defensive tackle best remembered for his days as a member of the New York Jets' famed "New York Sack Exchange."
Alabama Crimson Tide
Lyons grew up in Pinellas Park, Florida, and attended St. Petersburg Catholic High School. Lyons played college football at the University of Alabama where he was an All-American under legendary coach, Paul "Bear" Bryant. At Alabama, he had 202 tackles, six fumbles forced and four recovered; he also helped lead the Crimson Tide to a National Championship in 1978. He was a key player in the set of fourth quarter plays known as "The Goal Line Stand" in the 1979 Sugar Bowl. It was Lyons that delivered what would become a famous line amongst Alabama fans just before the fourth-down play of the sequence. When asked by Penn State quarterback Chuck Fusina how far the ball was from the goal line, Lyons replied, "'Bout a foot. You better pass."[1] Alabama was 31-5 during his years as a player.
New York Jets
Lyons was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round (14th overall pick) of the 1979 NFL Draft.[2] The following round, the Jets selected East Central Oklahoma State defensive end Mark Gastineau.
When the two joined Joe Klecko and Abdul Salaam on the Jets' defensive line, they formed one of the top defensive lines in the NFL, known as the "New York Sack Exchange." The four combined for 66 sacks in 1981 to lead the Jets to their first playoff game since 1969. The Jets made the playoffs again in 1982, 1985 and 1986 during Lyons' tenure with the team, losing the AFC Championship game to the Miami Dolphins in 1982.
In November 1981, Salaam, Gastineau, Klecko and Lyons were invited to ring the ceremonial opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange that served as the inspiration for their nickname.[3]
During the Jets' 14-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills at the Meadowlands on October 5, 1986, Lyons was famously flagged for a personal foul by referee Ben Dreith for giving Jim Kelly "the business."[4] Dreith mistakenly called the foul against number 99, which was Gastineau's number, instead of calling Lyons' number 93.
Lyons' wife, Kelly, got into a serious car accident during the 1987 season with their five you old child in the car. She suffered deep gashes from her lip to her forehead, and both her shoulders were broken, with shattered bones from her right shoulder piercing the flesh of her armpit. Amazingly, Martin, Jr., nicknamed "Rocky" by his parents, pushed his mother from the car, and up the embankment the truck had rolled down. Once at the top, Rocky flagged down a truck that transported them to Bryan Whitfield Memorial Hospital in Demopolis, Alabama.[5]
Later during the same season, during a Monday night game with the arch rival Miami Dolphins on December 7, Lyons ended former Alabama teammate and Hall of Famer Dwight Stephenson's career with what many considered a cheap shot.[6]
Lyons finished his professional career playing in 147 career games; he had 29 quarterback sacks. Lyons founded the Marty Lyons Foundation which works with terminally ill children, providing them wishes. He won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 1984 as a result of that work.
Post-playing career
Lyons is currently the Jets radio analyst and chairman of the Marty Lyons Foundation. In 2002, Lyons was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame.
See also
References
- ^ Rick Rush (March 1979). "You Better Pass".
- ^ "Marty Lyons". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Cimini, Rich (2008-09-06). "Jets defense looking to regain glory days of Sack Exchange". New York: Nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ^ Bickley, Dan (January 18, 2006). "NFL officials aren't as bad as they seem". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Ron Arias (December 14, 1987). "Five-Year-Old Rocky Lyons, Son of the Jets' Star, Thought He Could Save His Mom's Life—and He Did". People Magazine.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Dave Anderson (December 9, 1987). "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Was It a 'Cheap Shot,' or Was It Clean?". New York Times.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help)