Former New york Jets defensive end Dennis Byrd will have his jersey number 90 retired Sunday against the Dolphins in a halftime ceremony.
Byrd was a second round pick of the Jets in 1989 and in his first three seasons recorded 27 sacks. Everything changed in his fourth season with the club when he injured his neck and became paralyzed while trying to sack quarterback David Krieg of the Kanasa City Chiefs in 1992.
It is now 20 years later and Byrd is able to walk on his own, but still says even to this day admits “I still feel pain and some days are better than others.”
Byrd had said in a conference call earlier this week that he is humbled by the honor and very grateful to the Jets and the thousands of letters he received during his rehab, and how great New Yorkers were to him.
Owner Woody Johnson informed Byrd of the honor this past July. The number 90 will go into the Jets Wall of Fame and nobody will wear that number again. During his conference call, Byrd mentioned that he picked the number 90 because his older brother Dan wore 90 in high school and Dennis wanted to follow in his brother’s footsteps.
Today Byrd lives, in his words, “in the middle of nowhere, near Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his four kids and wife Angelia.”
Byrd coaches his kids football teams and enjoys the small town life, but this Sunday, it will be nice to him in the big city one more time wearing the green and white.
Grab bag…
Jets linebacker Bart Scott has a very severe toe injury and might not play Sunday. He only played nine plays last week at New England. It’s very similar to turf toe, which is very painful. If he can’t go, rookie third round pick Demario Davis would take his place.
Not practicing today were defensive tackle Kendrick Ellis with a knee problem, safety LaRon Landry (heel) but he should be ready to go on Sunday, and running backs Joe McKnight (ankle) and Bilal Powell (shoulder), however they should be able to go on Sunday as well.
Center Nick Mangold was limited in practice today due to his ankle injury he developed against the Texans a few weeks ago. He will most likely start Sunday.
