December 17, 2025 • 23 mins
Host Jeane Coakley is joined by Jets Legend Marty Lyons to discuss the Green & White's Week 16 matchup with the New Orleans Saints.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to another episode of jet Stream. I'm
your host today, KOCHLEI a long sign. One of my
favorite guys each and every week, my co host, the one,
the only, Marty Lyons And Marty, We've got a great
show because one of our favorite people are joining us
to day. You played with them. I actually worked with him.
He played linebacker for the Jets. The Jets fans love him.
(00:23):
Let's welcome in, Greg Buddle, Buttle, can you hear us?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Come on, Greg, I can hear you? Hear me?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yes? Can you hear me? Yes? We can. Did you
hear that great introduction? Okay?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Good to run the same page.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
How about that great introduction Janey just gave you.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
She forgot She forgot to say how much I taught
her when she got to s n Y. That's all
I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Oh wow, funny story, Marty. Greg was my first co
host for all the shows, so I was brand new
and I got to work with Greg Buddle. That's why
I'm so good at what I do now, because I
had to go through the ropes with this one.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Well, I think everybody had a anybody that stayed around Greg,
they learned a lot about the game of football, a
lot about public speaking, a lot about it raising money.
He's doing a great job. He was one of the
founders for the Joe Namath Foundation. And you know what,
but tell us a little bit about where that where
you are now and what you guys are doing with
all those funds.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I don't think Greg Buddle really wants to hang out
with us today. Marty, Well, technical difficulty, so.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
He did go to Penn State. Maybe that's the problem.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
That's exactly what the problem. But anyways, Marty, how are
you doing?
Speaker 3 (01:50):
I'm doing well, Janey. You know, it seems like the
season just started, but now it's almost over, and you
know we're right there from Thanksgiving to Christmas to the
new Year and then everything will start over. You know,
the Jets are going to have to reload starting right
after that Buffalo game and do some evaluation, find out
(02:11):
which players are going to keep, which direction they're going
to go. But I think they got a lot of
work ahead of them. But I think they got the
right people in ag and you know, the new GM,
I think they got the right people in line. So
we'll see what happens for twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
And Marty, I know I hate when people say, well,
what do the Jets have to play for? There's only
three games left for you as a player, what are
you playing for. These guys get paid, these guys, this
is their job. They're not going to give up these
last three games.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
No, they're not going to give up. You're playing for
either a spot on the Jet roster or thirty one
other teams. That's just the nature of the business. That's
not trying to be personal. Some people are like, some
people aren't like. That's just the nature of the game.
I think as a competitor, you want to win because
(03:04):
you've been doing it for so long, whether it was
in high school or college, anywhere that you played it,
you wanted to win. And nobody wants to lose. Nobody's
going to tank the job out there because people go,
you know what, at this point of the season, why
don't they tank it and they'll get a higher draft choice. Well,
if I'm one of those older guys, I'm not going
(03:27):
to do that because my number is going to be
called one day when they're not going to need me.
So I want to win as many games as possible.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
And speaking of old guys, I think we got buddle back,
buttle are we back?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Yes, but it breaks up a lot of times when
I talk it to you.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
All Right, well, Marty, how did you guys first meet?
Marty in buddle? Tell me? Tell me how you guys
first met?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Well, I think I first met Greg when I got
drafted in seventy nine. I just sat in front of
my locker and listened to, you know, one of the
team leaders, one of the guys that it was his team.
He wanted everybody to know it was his team. And uh,
you know, there came a time when he passed the
torch to myself or anybody else in the in the
(04:13):
locker room. But the one thing about Greg is, you
know what, besides being an outside linebacker, he knew what
the other ten guys were supposed to do. He knew
the whole defense in and out. And I think that's
a tribute to coming from Penn State. You know.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Well, you know, Marty, when he first came in, he
was probably one hundred, no, it was probably two hundred
and thirty pounds, and I'm going, this guy's defensive tackle.
I go, I could believe to forty five, it looked
two thirty. You were in good shape. But anyway, I
found out that a the first thing you do in
(04:50):
pros is find out if the guys can play. And
if the guys can't play, you know right away there's
no question this guy can't play, or this guy can play,
can play. Now, let's see how he fits in and
let's see if he's part of the guys. And that's
what happens in professional football. At least it did when
we were playing today. I'm not so sure how it goes,
(05:12):
but the same thing must happen. That you've got to
prove that you can play in this league. And you can,
and you can prove that you work hard and that
you try to do it everywhere smart, fast and physical.
And if that's not your game, you're not on my team.
That's the way it worked from not only me, but
the guys before me and the guys that came after me.
(05:34):
The Marty lions Is, the Cleco's and the Abdul Salaams,
the Lance Smells, Bob Grables, all of those guys fit
that mold. Today, I can't tell you, you know, if that's
part of the process that they go through.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
For you, Greg, what was your greatest Jets memory?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
The greatest Jets memory is a is a penelope of
the locker room. It wasn't you know. I can go
back in and look at every single game and try
to remember things and say, geez, that was neat boy,
that was fun. Yeah. No, But the locker room probably
was the best part about being on a professional football team.
(06:17):
That you lived and you died in that locker room.
It was your living room, and it was it was
not uncommon to have people invade your living room, and
that would be the Genet Cochleys of the world. That
would be mean, and all the other media that would
come in there. And and there was a time you
weren't even allowed in our locker rooms. And I think
(06:40):
that happened about nineteen eighty or so where females were
allowed in the locker room, and there was a transition
time for that. But I didn't appreciate the regular media,
the men in the locker room. The locker room was
really our private area that you know, you just couldn't
say things when the media were there. You know, you
couldn't curse out Marty Lyons, you know, for the one time.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
That did you ever curse out Marty Lyons?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
He still he still does that.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
You know, that's part of the locker room, right, Marty.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Yeah, you know what I remember. But my rookie year,
we were up there in New England, second game of
the year, playing in Foxboro, and the bench was so
close to the first row in the stands, and they
were calling us by every different name, and Butts is
sitting there, and then there was Joe Klecko, and then
there was Bobby Jackson, then there was myself, and they
(07:35):
were ripping us. They beat us fifty six at three,
but every time we sat on the bench, they would
yell at us, tell us about our moms, our sister,
and all Butts said, do not turn around, and they
went after Butts. Then he went after Joe. And I'm thinking,
as a rookie, oh my god, I'm two people away.
(07:57):
These guys are going to kill me. But I was
saved because Bobby Jackson turned around and started yelling back
at him, and then it was all Bobby. It was
all Bobby Jackson from then on out.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
It was it was. It was a different time, so
to speak. In those days. I mean, you walked you
you walked out of Philadelphia after a game, you had
beer bottles being thrown at you. Uh, you know, you know,
you had places that you would go play that that
were beautiful. You had you had terrible stadiums in the
NFL or the Old War Memorial Stadium in Baltimore had
(08:32):
a toilet in the middle of the locker room with
no no, no encasements around it, and it was like
high school showers. And that's where a professional football team changed,
uh into their uniforms and took showers, and it was
it really was an embarrassment to be there at the time,
(08:54):
but yay, you did your best and you did what
you had to do. There were a lot of different things.
The field in Cleveland was the worst field I've ever
played on. The Old Astrodome, the Houston Astrodome had the
first i think synthetic turf. It was like playing on
concrete and you went into that stadium and you got
(09:14):
burns all over your elbows and your knees from hitting
the turf and sliding on it. It really was terrible,
but it was an experience that you would never forget,
right Marty.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yeah, and you know, but you're getting ready to finish
up your twenty fourth year of doing pre and post
game for the Jets, and we'll talk a little bit
about the good thing, good, good times, bad times, how
you evaluate the game. I always like when you give
your report card. I don't know if you're doing that anymore,
but the report card to me was always something that
(09:47):
I wanted to listen to.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Well. I would tell you this, I've never had a
bad time, whether the Jets winner lose. I embraced the
experience and have a blast. I first worked with Don Lecgreca,
who was great great Don was a great guy. Unfortunately
he was a giant fan that worked Jet games and
then he decided to have children and that took him
(10:12):
off of the Sundays. And now Dan Grossa is my partner.
And Dan is a consummate historian of Jets football, and
I think that he's followed the Jets back when he
was five or six years old. And it's a fun
process of working together with guys that are part of
(10:37):
a history. Whether you like the history you don't, that
knows the history inside and out of what the Jets
were and what the Jets are and hopefully what the
Jets will be for you.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
And this is kind of a question for both of you, guys.
You both played for the Jets and now you're both
working for the Jets for decades. Why did you guys
decide to stay. What was it about the Jets that
you wanted to stay and be on this team?
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Well, for me, I had a little different reasoning than Marty.
I got into business back in nineteen seventy nine, and
when I opened up my bar restaurant, Buddles, and then
I got into the health and fitness business and nightclub business,
and so I stayed. I stayed around, and I was
around by the community for a long time and started
(11:24):
to figure out that, you know, I don't know how
much I can live on a thirty eight thousand dollars
salary playing football without having a business to support me,
and maybe get involved in something that had longevity to it.
So forty years later, you know, it's like you've been
in the business a long time and stayed around. And
(11:47):
then then when Leon has sold the team, he died,
the family sold the team, Woody Johnson bought it over
and decided to go forward and be part of what
the Jets were was their history, and I think that's
when Marty and I got more involved in what the
Jets are doing. In media wise as opposed to just
(12:10):
my business or Marty's charity.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Yeah, I would have to agree. I think the one
thing that we both made the commitment that after you
play here in New York and you build a name
for yourself, this is where your livelihood's going to be.
You know, there's not many places that Greg can go
that he's not either recognized or somebody will tell him, hey,
you know what, I was at this fundraiser. He's a
great MC. You know, he does it for the Joe
(12:36):
Namath Foundation. He was one of the founders of the
Joe Namath Foundation, and that's a charity that does just
so much for the community. And Greg is the MC.
He introduces all the players. Whether they like what he
says or they don't like it, everybody embraces it.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Right, it's cute, it's it's it's it's it's fun doing it. Marty,
as you know, is like you have a little thing where,
you know, you get up and talk at the charity
all the time, and you embarrass people to donate money
and you do it in a very nice manner. And
I think that's why Marty Lyons is Marty Lions is
(13:17):
that people can relate to Marty Lyons, and they don't
look at Marty as some type of celebrity that is
above the fray. So he's down in dirty every single
day when it comes to the public, and especially with
his charity. And I think it's commendable of him. And
you know, a lot of players do get involved in
certain things, but the way Marty's involved with his charity
(13:41):
that dates back eons. As far as I'm concerned that
it's different. That's different than just somebody saying, yeah, I'll
donate to this charity or I'll lend my name for
this Marty. Marty is in the dirt, down and dirty.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
That's awesome. And now, Battery, you graduated from Penn State. Correct?
You played at Penn State.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
That's correct? I did gradual?
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Yeah, I did too. You did? Oh, Congratulabama years school? Yeah?
Well do you remember your last game you played at
four Penn State?
Speaker 2 (14:17):
The last game I played at Penn State was the
Sugar Bowl against Marty's team Alabama.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Oh that that two year school that you were just
making fun of.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Oh, yes, they cheated, but that's beside the point.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
How did you do? How did you guys finish?
Speaker 2 (14:30):
We lost thirteen to six in the Sugar Bowl. It
was a good game. It was a fun game. That's
I met Richard Todd there and Richard Marty I think
was a freshman at that time, but that was you know,
they the captains met together and I got along with
all of them.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Well.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Who was the defensive end? The linebacker? That was Cook?
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Yeah, Lee roy Leroy Cook. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
He was a very nice guy too, and we had
a blast. It was a great game. And again it's
just like an anything else at Penn State. It wasn't
about winning. It never was about winning. It was about
playing your hardest, being have an integrity and character and
making a way for yourself future in your future life.
And I think paternal did a great job with that
(15:16):
with all the players that were there, and so did
Bear Bryant. I mean, you know, Marty would would swear
by Bear and I would swear by Joe Paterno.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Ye know.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
But weren't you the last class that played against the
Super Bowl winners the All Star team.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Yes, As a matter of fact, we were the last
the college All Star Game it was called, was performed
like the week of July fourth or something like that,
and we played against the Steelers. The Steelers were the
Super Bowl champions, and we played against him in Chicago
with the Chicago Football Field, and it really was pretty
(15:50):
neat until the third quarter when the electric storm in
the downpour game, they canceled the game. Not only did
I play in the last one, I played in one
that it didn't even finish. The game finished it midway
through the third quarter.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I think, Olu, you could see the nests the greatest
second greatest Penn State Jet Olu fashion is see the
second guy drafted from the Jets as the greatest one.
I mean, obviously the first year the best one is well.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
No, because Lancemell was also drafted by John ever Saw
was drafted by the Jets. Ron Crosby was with the Jets.
There are a number of former players that played for
the Jets, and old the fashion know is a very
good football He's a sound football player. That and if
your sound and what you do, you can only get
better because you recognize what you do wrong and you
(16:44):
try to fix that. So he's he's come. I would
tell you a light year from his rookie year, and
he's playing very well. And I will tell you something
I expected to play for ten to fifteen years, depending
on how lucky he is with his physical appearance. But
other than that, I think that he's a smart He
plays hard and he plays fast. What else can you do, right, Marty.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Yeah, you just got to go out there and perform.
I think a lot of people are speculating. What did
you think of Brady Cook this past weekend against Jacksonville.
I was down there. I really liked the kid. I
like the way he controls the huddle. I like he
made some bad decisions there at the end, but I
thought he threw the ball pretty well.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
I don't disagree with you. I like Brady Cook as
a matter of fact. And Dan and I, Grassa and
I were talking about a pre game last week about
I was very interested to see how we would come
off with his first chance when he played when Tyrod
Taylor got injured, and I was amazed at how good
(17:49):
an arm he had. I didn't know that his arm
was that good. He can fit it in a basement
window somewhere. So that's number one a prerequisite for quarterbacks
because you can't go through the playoffs without doing that.
Whether it's timing or speed on the football. I recognize
he has that, So I think he's got a lot
of upside. Now the question is is what does he
(18:10):
have around him that's able that will enable him to
be a better football player as he gets better, because
then he can make people around him better. So I
like him. I really do like him. And he's a
free agent. I was I don't even think he was draft.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Was he draft?
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Here you go that the Jets may have a diamond
in the rough with him.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
He had.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
I think he threw three interceptions last week. Two of them. Yeah,
I don't think we're his fault. The one he threw up.
I don't know what he was thinking about on that one,
But then again, I'm not playing quarterback. I don't know
what he saw, but he'd have to explain it better.
But the one thing about him, Marty and Janey is
that he he says it the way it is. He's
(18:54):
he's he's straight out there, He's straightforward. I could have
played better through this. I did that. I did that wrong,
But bup, I like that in the player. Admit it,
move on, let's do better the next game.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
All right, Well, before we let you go, we have
some questions from the fans. Is that good?
Speaker 2 (19:08):
I don't know, but we'll fight out.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
The holiday season. Honikah started. Christmas is a week away.
We're going to have some fun with this, all right, Okay,
the first question comes from Joe for Jersey. All Right,
best gift you received from Santa? That's when you made
the Nice List.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
As a kid.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
The best gift ever received from Santa was a brand
new thing that came out, and it was called a skateboard.
And I think it had to be in the late fifties.
A skateboard came out that you had like old roller
skate wheels, metal wheels on it under a board. It
was awesome and it was neat to We used to
play around with that the whole time. So that was
(19:47):
probably my favorite gift as a child.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Marty, what about you, Well, I'd have to turn the
clock back up. Probably when I was a little kid
getting a bike because that meant that I didn't have
to walk to school anymore. I had the bike with
the old banana seat on it, the high handlebars.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
You got pictures of that, No.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
But I'm sure you know you're too young to understand
what a banana bike.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I had a huffy with a banana seat, you.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Know, Greg, and I had those.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Oh yeah, and I know what a skateboard is too.
You're like the roller skate wheels on a board. I
know what a skateboard is.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
No, but this they didn't have rubber wheels or plastic
wheels like they do today. This is it was unbelievable.
All you did when you turned, you slid on the cement.
You started sparks were flying.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
All right. This is from Sue from New York. You guys,
a real Christmas tree or a fake?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
I'm a fake. I was a real Christmas I was
a real Christmas tree until I got tired of cutting
it down and having it in my house, dripping the
junk all over the plate, and then having it sprinkle
all the leaves as it died. So I got tired
of that, and I have a beautiful Christmas tree you
wouldn't think is real. That's how good it is.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
I'm the same as Greg. I used to have a
real Christmas tree until basically I got married and she
wanted a you know, artificial tree.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
All right, Well, they're nice and clean, all right. Last question,
this is from Meg from Jersey. What teammate would eat
all of Sanna's cookies?
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Clecco.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Oh, no doubt, Okay.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Abdul Stan Waltimore, that's a good one. Stan Waltimore would
not only eat the cookies, he'd eat the plate in
the silverware. I've never seen a man eat like Stan
Waltimore ever, Right, Marty, yeah, or.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Chris Chris Ward? Oh yeah, he would eat.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Neither of you guys would be stealing the cookies.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
No, but at least Stan Waltimore used a napkin. Chris
Ward never used a napkin.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Botta. We appreciate you jumping on with us so much fun.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
It's always fun to be with you, Janney and Marty
and uh. I just hope your husband learns how to
play golf, Jenney, Okay.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Oh is that what it is? How how do you
guys do when you guys play? How does Scott do?
Speaker 2 (22:12):
He runs away from me? He doesn't play with me. No,
he runs away.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Okay, and Janey, if you could pot, he'd be great. Yeah.
I played against Buts for how many years? Buds? Forty?
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Yeah? A long long time?
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Yeah, forty? And he gives me fourteen.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Strokes and do you still lose?
Speaker 3 (22:32):
I've only beat him once?
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Oh so, Butch is a pretty good golfers, But what's
your handicap?
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I claim I'm a five.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Okay, I'll have to tell Scott that that you're you're
going on, but you're going on saying that you're you're
a five.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Yes I am. I'm claiming to be a five, probably
a five five three or four five four, but that's
what I am.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Okay, all right, Hey, you have a wonderful all day.
Thank you jumping on. Don't eat too much. Don't eat
Santa's cookies.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Okay, I don't eat cookies much. Okay, unless they have
roast beef cookies. I'm not gonna eat them much disgusting.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
All right, Merry Christmas. But to you and Rita and
the family man, thank you, goodbye. I love you.
Hello and welcome to another episode of jet Stream. I'm
your host today, KOCHLEI a long sign. One of my
favorite guys each and every week, my co host, the one,
the only, Marty Lyons And Marty, We've got a great
show because one of our favorite people are joining us
to day. You played with them. I actually worked with him.
He played linebacker for the Jets. The Jets fans love him.
(00:23):
Let's welcome in, Greg Buddle, Buttle, can you hear us?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Come on, Greg, I can hear you? Hear me?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yes? Can you hear me? Yes? We can. Did you
hear that great introduction? Okay?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Good to run the same page.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
How about that great introduction Janey just gave you.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
She forgot She forgot to say how much I taught
her when she got to s n Y. That's all
I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Oh wow, funny story, Marty. Greg was my first co
host for all the shows, so I was brand new
and I got to work with Greg Buddle. That's why
I'm so good at what I do now, because I
had to go through the ropes with this one.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Well, I think everybody had a anybody that stayed around Greg,
they learned a lot about the game of football, a
lot about public speaking, a lot about it raising money.
He's doing a great job. He was one of the
founders for the Joe Namath Foundation. And you know what,
but tell us a little bit about where that where
you are now and what you guys are doing with
all those funds.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I don't think Greg Buddle really wants to hang out
with us today. Marty, Well, technical difficulty, so.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
He did go to Penn State. Maybe that's the problem.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
That's exactly what the problem. But anyways, Marty, how are
you doing?
Speaker 3 (01:50):
I'm doing well, Janey. You know, it seems like the
season just started, but now it's almost over, and you
know we're right there from Thanksgiving to Christmas to the
new Year and then everything will start over. You know,
the Jets are going to have to reload starting right
after that Buffalo game and do some evaluation, find out
(02:11):
which players are going to keep, which direction they're going
to go. But I think they got a lot of
work ahead of them. But I think they got the
right people in ag and you know, the new GM,
I think they got the right people in line. So
we'll see what happens for twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
And Marty, I know I hate when people say, well,
what do the Jets have to play for? There's only
three games left for you as a player, what are
you playing for. These guys get paid, these guys, this
is their job. They're not going to give up these
last three games.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
No, they're not going to give up. You're playing for
either a spot on the Jet roster or thirty one
other teams. That's just the nature of the business. That's
not trying to be personal. Some people are like, some
people aren't like. That's just the nature of the game.
I think as a competitor, you want to win because
(03:04):
you've been doing it for so long, whether it was
in high school or college, anywhere that you played it,
you wanted to win. And nobody wants to lose. Nobody's
going to tank the job out there because people go,
you know what, at this point of the season, why
don't they tank it and they'll get a higher draft choice. Well,
if I'm one of those older guys, I'm not going
(03:27):
to do that because my number is going to be
called one day when they're not going to need me.
So I want to win as many games as possible.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
And speaking of old guys, I think we got buddle back,
buttle are we back?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Yes, but it breaks up a lot of times when
I talk it to you.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
All Right, well, Marty, how did you guys first meet?
Marty in buddle? Tell me? Tell me how you guys
first met?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Well, I think I first met Greg when I got
drafted in seventy nine. I just sat in front of
my locker and listened to, you know, one of the
team leaders, one of the guys that it was his team.
He wanted everybody to know it was his team. And uh,
you know, there came a time when he passed the
torch to myself or anybody else in the in the
(04:13):
locker room. But the one thing about Greg is, you
know what, besides being an outside linebacker, he knew what
the other ten guys were supposed to do. He knew
the whole defense in and out. And I think that's
a tribute to coming from Penn State. You know.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Well, you know, Marty, when he first came in, he
was probably one hundred, no, it was probably two hundred
and thirty pounds, and I'm going, this guy's defensive tackle.
I go, I could believe to forty five, it looked
two thirty. You were in good shape. But anyway, I
found out that a the first thing you do in
(04:50):
pros is find out if the guys can play. And
if the guys can't play, you know right away there's
no question this guy can't play, or this guy can play,
can play. Now, let's see how he fits in and
let's see if he's part of the guys. And that's
what happens in professional football. At least it did when
we were playing today. I'm not so sure how it goes,
(05:12):
but the same thing must happen. That you've got to
prove that you can play in this league. And you can,
and you can prove that you work hard and that
you try to do it everywhere smart, fast and physical.
And if that's not your game, you're not on my team.
That's the way it worked from not only me, but
the guys before me and the guys that came after me.
(05:34):
The Marty lions Is, the Cleco's and the Abdul Salaams,
the Lance Smells, Bob Grables, all of those guys fit
that mold. Today, I can't tell you, you know, if that's
part of the process that they go through.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
For you, Greg, what was your greatest Jets memory?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
The greatest Jets memory is a is a penelope of
the locker room. It wasn't you know. I can go
back in and look at every single game and try
to remember things and say, geez, that was neat boy,
that was fun. Yeah. No, But the locker room probably
was the best part about being on a professional football team.
(06:17):
That you lived and you died in that locker room.
It was your living room, and it was it was
not uncommon to have people invade your living room, and
that would be the Genet Cochleys of the world. That
would be mean, and all the other media that would
come in there. And and there was a time you
weren't even allowed in our locker rooms. And I think
(06:40):
that happened about nineteen eighty or so where females were
allowed in the locker room, and there was a transition
time for that. But I didn't appreciate the regular media,
the men in the locker room. The locker room was
really our private area that you know, you just couldn't
say things when the media were there. You know, you
couldn't curse out Marty Lyons, you know, for the one time.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
That did you ever curse out Marty Lyons?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
He still he still does that.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
You know, that's part of the locker room, right, Marty.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Yeah, you know what I remember. But my rookie year,
we were up there in New England, second game of
the year, playing in Foxboro, and the bench was so
close to the first row in the stands, and they
were calling us by every different name, and Butts is
sitting there, and then there was Joe Klecko, and then
there was Bobby Jackson, then there was myself, and they
(07:35):
were ripping us. They beat us fifty six at three,
but every time we sat on the bench, they would
yell at us, tell us about our moms, our sister,
and all Butts said, do not turn around, and they
went after Butts. Then he went after Joe. And I'm thinking,
as a rookie, oh my god, I'm two people away.
(07:57):
These guys are going to kill me. But I was
saved because Bobby Jackson turned around and started yelling back
at him, and then it was all Bobby. It was
all Bobby Jackson from then on out.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
It was it was. It was a different time, so
to speak. In those days. I mean, you walked you
you walked out of Philadelphia after a game, you had
beer bottles being thrown at you. Uh, you know, you know,
you had places that you would go play that that
were beautiful. You had you had terrible stadiums in the
NFL or the Old War Memorial Stadium in Baltimore had
(08:32):
a toilet in the middle of the locker room with
no no, no encasements around it, and it was like
high school showers. And that's where a professional football team changed,
uh into their uniforms and took showers, and it was
it really was an embarrassment to be there at the time,
(08:54):
but yay, you did your best and you did what
you had to do. There were a lot of different things.
The field in Cleveland was the worst field I've ever
played on. The Old Astrodome, the Houston Astrodome had the
first i think synthetic turf. It was like playing on
concrete and you went into that stadium and you got
(09:14):
burns all over your elbows and your knees from hitting
the turf and sliding on it. It really was terrible,
but it was an experience that you would never forget,
right Marty.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yeah, and you know, but you're getting ready to finish
up your twenty fourth year of doing pre and post
game for the Jets, and we'll talk a little bit
about the good thing, good, good times, bad times, how
you evaluate the game. I always like when you give
your report card. I don't know if you're doing that anymore,
but the report card to me was always something that
(09:47):
I wanted to listen to.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Well. I would tell you this, I've never had a
bad time, whether the Jets winner lose. I embraced the
experience and have a blast. I first worked with Don Lecgreca,
who was great great Don was a great guy. Unfortunately
he was a giant fan that worked Jet games and
then he decided to have children and that took him
(10:12):
off of the Sundays. And now Dan Grossa is my partner.
And Dan is a consummate historian of Jets football, and
I think that he's followed the Jets back when he
was five or six years old. And it's a fun
process of working together with guys that are part of
(10:37):
a history. Whether you like the history you don't, that
knows the history inside and out of what the Jets
were and what the Jets are and hopefully what the
Jets will be for you.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
And this is kind of a question for both of you, guys.
You both played for the Jets and now you're both
working for the Jets for decades. Why did you guys
decide to stay. What was it about the Jets that
you wanted to stay and be on this team?
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Well, for me, I had a little different reasoning than Marty.
I got into business back in nineteen seventy nine, and
when I opened up my bar restaurant, Buddles, and then
I got into the health and fitness business and nightclub business,
and so I stayed. I stayed around, and I was
around by the community for a long time and started
(11:24):
to figure out that, you know, I don't know how
much I can live on a thirty eight thousand dollars
salary playing football without having a business to support me,
and maybe get involved in something that had longevity to it.
So forty years later, you know, it's like you've been
in the business a long time and stayed around. And
(11:47):
then then when Leon has sold the team, he died,
the family sold the team, Woody Johnson bought it over
and decided to go forward and be part of what
the Jets were was their history, and I think that's
when Marty and I got more involved in what the
Jets are doing. In media wise as opposed to just
(12:10):
my business or Marty's charity.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Yeah, I would have to agree. I think the one
thing that we both made the commitment that after you
play here in New York and you build a name
for yourself, this is where your livelihood's going to be.
You know, there's not many places that Greg can go
that he's not either recognized or somebody will tell him, hey,
you know what, I was at this fundraiser. He's a
great MC. You know, he does it for the Joe
(12:36):
Namath Foundation. He was one of the founders of the
Joe Namath Foundation, and that's a charity that does just
so much for the community. And Greg is the MC.
He introduces all the players. Whether they like what he
says or they don't like it, everybody embraces it.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Right, it's cute, it's it's it's it's it's fun doing it. Marty,
as you know, is like you have a little thing where,
you know, you get up and talk at the charity
all the time, and you embarrass people to donate money
and you do it in a very nice manner. And
I think that's why Marty Lyons is Marty Lions is
(13:17):
that people can relate to Marty Lyons, and they don't
look at Marty as some type of celebrity that is
above the fray. So he's down in dirty every single
day when it comes to the public, and especially with
his charity. And I think it's commendable of him. And
you know, a lot of players do get involved in
certain things, but the way Marty's involved with his charity
(13:41):
that dates back eons. As far as I'm concerned that
it's different. That's different than just somebody saying, yeah, I'll
donate to this charity or I'll lend my name for
this Marty. Marty is in the dirt, down and dirty.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
That's awesome. And now, Battery, you graduated from Penn State. Correct?
You played at Penn State.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
That's correct? I did gradual?
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Yeah, I did too. You did? Oh, Congratulabama years school? Yeah?
Well do you remember your last game you played at
four Penn State?
Speaker 2 (14:17):
The last game I played at Penn State was the
Sugar Bowl against Marty's team Alabama.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Oh that that two year school that you were just
making fun of.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Oh, yes, they cheated, but that's beside the point.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
How did you do? How did you guys finish?
Speaker 2 (14:30):
We lost thirteen to six in the Sugar Bowl. It
was a good game. It was a fun game. That's
I met Richard Todd there and Richard Marty I think
was a freshman at that time, but that was you know,
they the captains met together and I got along with
all of them.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Well.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Who was the defensive end? The linebacker? That was Cook?
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Yeah, Lee roy Leroy Cook. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
He was a very nice guy too, and we had
a blast. It was a great game. And again it's
just like an anything else at Penn State. It wasn't
about winning. It never was about winning. It was about
playing your hardest, being have an integrity and character and
making a way for yourself future in your future life.
And I think paternal did a great job with that
(15:16):
with all the players that were there, and so did
Bear Bryant. I mean, you know, Marty would would swear
by Bear and I would swear by Joe Paterno.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Ye know.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
But weren't you the last class that played against the
Super Bowl winners the All Star team.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Yes, As a matter of fact, we were the last
the college All Star Game it was called, was performed
like the week of July fourth or something like that,
and we played against the Steelers. The Steelers were the
Super Bowl champions, and we played against him in Chicago
with the Chicago Football Field, and it really was pretty
(15:50):
neat until the third quarter when the electric storm in
the downpour game, they canceled the game. Not only did
I play in the last one, I played in one
that it didn't even finish. The game finished it midway
through the third quarter.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I think, Olu, you could see the nests the greatest
second greatest Penn State Jet Olu fashion is see the
second guy drafted from the Jets as the greatest one.
I mean, obviously the first year the best one is well.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
No, because Lancemell was also drafted by John ever Saw
was drafted by the Jets. Ron Crosby was with the Jets.
There are a number of former players that played for
the Jets, and old the fashion know is a very
good football He's a sound football player. That and if
your sound and what you do, you can only get
better because you recognize what you do wrong and you
(16:44):
try to fix that. So he's he's come. I would
tell you a light year from his rookie year, and
he's playing very well. And I will tell you something
I expected to play for ten to fifteen years, depending
on how lucky he is with his physical appearance. But
other than that, I think that he's a smart He
plays hard and he plays fast. What else can you do, right, Marty.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Yeah, you just got to go out there and perform.
I think a lot of people are speculating. What did
you think of Brady Cook this past weekend against Jacksonville.
I was down there. I really liked the kid. I
like the way he controls the huddle. I like he
made some bad decisions there at the end, but I
thought he threw the ball pretty well.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
I don't disagree with you. I like Brady Cook as
a matter of fact. And Dan and I, Grassa and
I were talking about a pre game last week about
I was very interested to see how we would come
off with his first chance when he played when Tyrod
Taylor got injured, and I was amazed at how good
(17:49):
an arm he had. I didn't know that his arm
was that good. He can fit it in a basement
window somewhere. So that's number one a prerequisite for quarterbacks
because you can't go through the playoffs without doing that.
Whether it's timing or speed on the football. I recognize
he has that, So I think he's got a lot
of upside. Now the question is is what does he
(18:10):
have around him that's able that will enable him to
be a better football player as he gets better, because
then he can make people around him better. So I
like him. I really do like him. And he's a
free agent. I was I don't even think he was draft.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Was he draft?
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Here you go that the Jets may have a diamond
in the rough with him.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
He had.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
I think he threw three interceptions last week. Two of them. Yeah,
I don't think we're his fault. The one he threw up.
I don't know what he was thinking about on that one,
But then again, I'm not playing quarterback. I don't know
what he saw, but he'd have to explain it better.
But the one thing about him, Marty and Janey is
that he he says it the way it is. He's
(18:54):
he's he's straight out there, He's straightforward. I could have
played better through this. I did that. I did that wrong,
But bup, I like that in the player. Admit it,
move on, let's do better the next game.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
All right, Well, before we let you go, we have
some questions from the fans. Is that good?
Speaker 2 (19:08):
I don't know, but we'll fight out.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
The holiday season. Honikah started. Christmas is a week away.
We're going to have some fun with this, all right, Okay,
the first question comes from Joe for Jersey. All Right,
best gift you received from Santa? That's when you made
the Nice List.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
As a kid.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
The best gift ever received from Santa was a brand
new thing that came out, and it was called a skateboard.
And I think it had to be in the late fifties.
A skateboard came out that you had like old roller
skate wheels, metal wheels on it under a board. It
was awesome and it was neat to We used to
play around with that the whole time. So that was
(19:47):
probably my favorite gift as a child.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Marty, what about you, Well, I'd have to turn the
clock back up. Probably when I was a little kid
getting a bike because that meant that I didn't have
to walk to school anymore. I had the bike with
the old banana seat on it, the high handlebars.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
You got pictures of that, No.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
But I'm sure you know you're too young to understand
what a banana bike.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I had a huffy with a banana seat, you.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Know, Greg, and I had those.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Oh yeah, and I know what a skateboard is too.
You're like the roller skate wheels on a board. I
know what a skateboard is.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
No, but this they didn't have rubber wheels or plastic
wheels like they do today. This is it was unbelievable.
All you did when you turned, you slid on the cement.
You started sparks were flying.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
All right. This is from Sue from New York. You guys,
a real Christmas tree or a fake?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
I'm a fake. I was a real Christmas I was
a real Christmas tree until I got tired of cutting
it down and having it in my house, dripping the
junk all over the plate, and then having it sprinkle
all the leaves as it died. So I got tired
of that, and I have a beautiful Christmas tree you
wouldn't think is real. That's how good it is.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
I'm the same as Greg. I used to have a
real Christmas tree until basically I got married and she
wanted a you know, artificial tree.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
All right, Well, they're nice and clean, all right. Last question,
this is from Meg from Jersey. What teammate would eat
all of Sanna's cookies?
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Clecco.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Oh, no doubt, Okay.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Abdul Stan Waltimore, that's a good one. Stan Waltimore would
not only eat the cookies, he'd eat the plate in
the silverware. I've never seen a man eat like Stan
Waltimore ever, Right, Marty, yeah, or.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Chris Chris Ward? Oh yeah, he would eat.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Neither of you guys would be stealing the cookies.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
No, but at least Stan Waltimore used a napkin. Chris
Ward never used a napkin.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Botta. We appreciate you jumping on with us so much fun.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
It's always fun to be with you, Janney and Marty
and uh. I just hope your husband learns how to
play golf, Jenney, Okay.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Oh is that what it is? How how do you
guys do when you guys play? How does Scott do?
Speaker 2 (22:12):
He runs away from me? He doesn't play with me. No,
he runs away.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Okay, and Janey, if you could pot, he'd be great. Yeah.
I played against Buts for how many years? Buds? Forty?
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Yeah? A long long time?
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Yeah, forty? And he gives me fourteen.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Strokes and do you still lose?
Speaker 3 (22:32):
I've only beat him once?
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Oh so, Butch is a pretty good golfers, But what's
your handicap?
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I claim I'm a five.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Okay, I'll have to tell Scott that that you're you're
going on, but you're going on saying that you're you're
a five.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Yes I am. I'm claiming to be a five, probably
a five five three or four five four, but that's
what I am.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Okay, all right, Hey, you have a wonderful all day.
Thank you jumping on. Don't eat too much. Don't eat
Santa's cookies.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Okay, I don't eat cookies much. Okay, unless they have
roast beef cookies. I'm not gonna eat them much disgusting.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
All right, Merry Christmas. But to you and Rita and
the family man, thank you, goodbye. I love you.
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