Listen: Wayne Chrebet (12/17)

about this. Every time you come back and you go out there in the field house and you see yourself hanging a monster image of you and all of the Ringer Honor inductees of this organization that's been around since nineteen sixty, do you take a look at it just for a second and doesn't make you reflect. It's funny you say that, because I actually took a picture of it today when I was at practice just I can

show my kids. But yeah, talking to Christopher Johnson to practice, and I'm just like, I come here and I just feel so happy seeing that, and you know, I thank them for making me part of the organizations still put me in a ring Honor the all time team, So it's still kind of dream like. You know what, what was the first we've talked before? I mean, I remember reading the story that we did together on New York just dot com and I feel like there's a thousand

different things we can talk to you about. But one of my favorite things that that you told me when you signed with the Jets. You obviously it's still lived in the dorm and just walked to practice every day, Like is how weird? Was that? It was really weird, But it was kind of an advantage because EVER was kind of homesick coming from all over the country. But my wife was my wife now was a year behind me,

so I just stayed in the dorms. So I go to practice and still at my backpack from class on my hat low and like just kind of blended in, like I didn't have a care in the world. I had nothing to lose, you know what I mean. So UM definitely helped me out. But you were attending practices when you were a student there, obviously an accomplished receiver at Hofstra, But would you go across the street in

attend training. Can't practice this before you? When it got to try out with the Jets, I had seen it. I didn't think much of it, that I'd be out there someday, but um, it was it was a nice thing to have there. UM, especially once I started playing and I knew everybody there. You know, I was a local guy, But um, I missed those days. I miss it being in Long Island. Yeah, just a Long Island fans are gonna love hearing about. Yeah, because you you grew up in Jersey, you live in Jersey, but you

miss it being out there. Yeah, just a lot of good memories. I mean when I played, I wish the facility was here though, because it's like forty or five minutes and I could have lived home. But that's why I enjoyed my time in Long Island. So can you take us and whoever is listening, whether it be video or audio whatever, when you were when you found out that you were calling to the Godfather by Julian Edelman and Danny Amondola, Like where were you? What happened? And

do you almost feel like that's a rite of passage now? Actually, um, we got in touch with Avendola. Um, just I had been in finance and I was just helping some of the younger guys get adjusted to life in the league and what comes after the league. And I said, if you're ever in town, we'll go out to eat. And he said, um, I'm when being town, I said, we'll go out and get some good checking farm in New York. And uh, he's like, you mind if I bring somebody

Like sure, He's like, I'm gonna bring an Edelman. Like that's great. So we're just talking, had a great dinner and they're like, you know, we don't call you Wayne, we call you the guy father, the guy father. A slap like that. I appreciate that. And they're just talking about how they used to watch my film and Amundola at a poster me in his in his bedroom, and I appreciate. I was humbled by it because those guys are great and they certainly carried the torch, you know

for the slot receivers. But um just you know, I was part of the beginning and that is great. And uh, I don't know, it's just a weird experience thought of that way. But what's it? What's it like being in the city. You three guys at a table. Are folks like, yeah, you wouldn't see that? Is that? Is that? Why is that waiting for? And then they're like, oh, there's the guy with the beard. Is that Yeah? Did people pop in? Yeah?

But it was weird because we um all posted a picture of the three of us said little put across the middle till we die hashtag to Godfather and uh but um it just you know, I've never really met those guys before, but their respect was mutual. So, um, I don't want to give out him in too much love. Obviously everybody else can do that. But what do you

appreciate about his game? He's this tough guy. Yeah, he's he does it right, you know, and he's been doing it for a long time and he still haven't figured him out, which is great. Keeps adjusted. I mean, it's nice to have a quarterback like that for your whole career that bleesing you. But um, now he wants some super Bowls. He's done well for himself. So the question is, you know, is he getting nearer Hall of Fame status? And I think you know, there's another year or two

like that, you know, winning super Bowls. He's got a chance. What does it mean to you to be recognized as the Godfather from two guys that are very successful in the slot and almost you know, I feel like you're almost a trend setter because you were the slot receiver before the slot receiver made it big. Yeah. Um, no, it's great. I don't be arrogant, but they really didn't have that when I started. Now they drafting guys just

to be in the slot. But when I started doing that on third downs and stuff, people like, oh, you're best third down receiver this net. And I was offended by it. I was like, Oh, I catched the ball first and second to him, not like some sub that

comes on the third down. And my dad's talking to me about it, and I said, he said, if I'm gonna be you know, coined that phrase, I'm gonna be the best there ever was at it, and I kind of embraced it and from the fans the third down thing and um, just kind of character of my whole career. I know the majority of my catches were third or first down conversions. That's just kind of happened. Receptions and definitely over three. Now, you said they didn't really play

offense like that. Who do you credit for changing that? Dan Henning was a parcelves when you go back to what you guys did in that transformation where it was like, hey, Jets are gonna play different offensive football and they're gonna use the receiver a lot differently than what we've seen. Yeah, when Henning came in, he did a great job, and Charlie Weiss was there, but um, they just put you the best position to succeed where your strengths were. So

they just kept me in there. And you know, I did my thing on the inside and the other guys did their things on the outside. And this was perfect chemistry. Um. Like I said, everybody was doing their strength. But it was just uh, some good years with those guys. Did you have to ask the coaching staff at the time, because we all now or no now about option roths, right, you know, you can go this way if they're sitting here, if leverage here and things like that. Did you have

to convince the coaching staff for more freedom? No? No. And the great thing was like when Vinnie came in and I had the option rounds. I could go left, that could go right, I could stop, um just by the pre snap read. I could look at Vinnie. He looked at me, and he know what I'm doing, because obviously he has to be ready to throw the ball. But we just kind of had that like special you know,

you know bond. I guess you could say unspoken bond that you know he knew what I was doing, and uh, we had a lot of access doing that, a lot of success over the years. How rare is that way you just described that unspoken bond because you see a lot of the very good quarterbacks and very good receivers have that bond. But how rare of a thing is that to no pre snap, no communication. Yeah, I know, Wayne's gonna break this way and if this I sits here,

I can fire it there. That's just for repetition, you know, not just in practice after practice, going over, going over, like you know, not the short routes, but when I'd have to run steam routes and stuff like that poster flag and you know I have a deeper route and you know, I'm primary guy. I would look at Vinny, he looked at me, and we'd be like do you see what I see? And like this is this is

gonna work. So we were no pre snap, like, you know, if it was gonna be successful player, you know, he if he could just put it on me, I was gonna catch it. But um, that's the kind of stuff I miss, Little things like that, you know, little relationships you have with all your teammates. Like sorry, I just feel like it's one of those things where when your buddies across the room and you both see something that's really funny and you look at each other, you just

start cracking up. I feel like that's the football equivalent. Yeah, it's just like you know you're looking at it's exactly what it is. And we were best friends on the on the field, off the field, and uh, I always said, what would my career look like and what would the Jets organization look like if he was played for the

Jets majority of his career. He was only here a handful of years, and I think if we had him longer, and when we had Bill longer and kept that you know core piece together, does no reason we couldn't have won a Super bowler too. What do you think most about when is brought up? Just the word right? Um, it's tough to know we were that close because I know whoever won the game with the Broncos was going

to win the Super Bowl. We already killed the Falcons. Um. But it's it's interesting people always I assumed we were up tend nothing at the half stupid story. I would bet my house on that we're up ten and a half. And someone showed me We're only up three nothing at the half, but then we went up ten nothing. I was like, wow, So I guess I don't remember the game that great, but we were essentially thirty minutes away from winning a Super Bowl, I felt, and I'm like,

we're going right back. And Vinny tears as a chilled his first game, and I broke my foot in the last season game. So we're during Sunday games. We both got our legs up ice on him and we're sitting there watching the game on TV in his house and we're like, this was not how it was supposed to be, so um and we never really got close after that. What did you like most about Vinny Um? And what do people not know about him? Because you mentioned how good of a man he is. He's a gentleman, a

good husband, a great father. He was so well liked inside the locker room. One of the strongest dudes I've ever been around. I remember back at Hofstra hit him doing all the things, taking care of his body, having a low body fat, but his personality. Guys just gravitated towards him. Yeah, yeah, pound for pounding is one of the strongest guys. But um, yeah, he led by example. You know he didn't get in your face, but you knew, you know, you better be listening when he's talking in

the huddle, no one, no one else is talking. But um, yeah, he's been a great friend. He's been like a you know, big brother kind of figure. Um ten years older than me. And his family has been great. Like I knew we we met them when he signed, I guess we're on the Intrepid. They had something going on in the Trepid. I met him and his wife, his young kids, and um, they from from day when it was like that, and then the first time we got on the field together,

I was like, oh, this is gonna be good. What you you had said that? Sorry to bring him up again, Edelman and both watch your film but being the Godfather, was there anybody that you watched film of that you or did you feel like you almost carved your own role without looking at anybody in particular, saying I like what that guy does, but I want to do a little more. Right, Well, I mean they're watching game film. I never read a chance to watch game film. But

you know, I was a big football fan. I loved watching guys like Jerry writes. Obviously but guys I really took notice. Was like Andre Reid from Buffalo. Guys like did that kind of stuff playing in the outside, inside and outside. But uh, seeing him because you know, Jets play twice a year. Um, he's just one of the guys larger and him. You guys, I kind of thought of, you know, do the same thing they did, you know, mimic third game Steve Large and Seattle Seahawks. Yeah, that

asked me. That's a guy who goes under the radar. Yeah, why don't we think about history? They asked me. Because I was number three in training camp. I don't know if anybody knows that. So everybody thought I was a kicker, you know. But when it was time the last preseason game, Clay was like, what number do you want if you meet the team? And he told me it was available. I was like, oh, I want a D if it's available. So the next day I came in and said it

the three carbet. It said Aidy Carbett, and I was like, you know, I still didn't know if I made a team, but I'm like they gave me the number. I was like, supposed to be a good song. I call my my parents, you know, I'm like, uh did She like, did did you make it? I'm like I don't know. They're like, ask somebody. I'm like, I'm not asking anybody. So I was like, said, I'm just gonna go to the meeting. They say stay, I'm fine. So that was it. Seen the ad crebit up there, I knew that I had

made it. Speaking of that, well, why don't you retell the story because I know a lot of our listeners who were out there, a lot of young folks definitely, who probably are not familiar with this. In your old words, what happened the day when you come over across the street from Houstra your report for practice or tryouts in the spring at that time, I believe, and you're stopped

at the security gate. What's the background here? No, yeah, the same thing coming from class backpack on hot low and um you know had that that gate that had opened. And the guy there, Harry Fisher, never forget it, he was like eighty years old. Funny guy just went let me in and man, I gotta go to practice. He's like, no autographs. I'm like, I'm a player. I said, I gotta go to practice, and he's giving me a hard time.

At all. It was hysterical, really, and then someone waved me in and I was like, so, me and Harry laughed about it forever. Um, he's a great guy. You know, he passed recently. But um, that was my first experience trying to be an NFL player was getting denied at the gate. And was that in the spring. That was mini camp. Yeah, and later on one of your old heady coaches her mad Words is now, of course, the

head coach at Arizona State. He famously got locked out his gate code wouldn't work at Hofstra, so he scaled the gate together. Because her famously used to work out every morning, probably still does, God bless him, Ountain Tempy four thirty every morning. Yeah, the first guy there. Yeah, yeah, he does running those drills to get his treadmill lifting a little bit. And I saw one of the shows they were showing on the Arizona State football and I

think they showed him doing the same thing. Yeah, yeah, I saw that to Actually, can you tell the story you told me once last year about your workout at Hofstra and I believe you were between there's some weird correlation. You're you're either going to be with the Jets or one of was it the Bengals or something. It was the Bengals and the Saints or Jets for free agency and so what can you just tell us the that

whole story and how you ended up in Green and white. Um, you know, I had worked out for a couple of teams, um try out sweet and they had a good couple of scouts. The Canadian League was looking at you two, right, Yeah, I went up there for workout, just to try to get looks and um, so when the draft went on the first day, obviously I'm not getting drafted, but the Saints and the Bengals said maybe they'd picked me up in the later rounds. So um. One of the guy's

name was John Griffin from the from the Bengals. So I mean sorry John um Garrett. Yeah, Jay Garrett's brother. So when I came in the house, you know, I didn't get drafted. I was upset. And then I get in the house, Mom was like John Griffin's on the phone, like you mean John Garrett. Like no, John Griffin. I'm like, who's John Griffin. John Griffin is like, you know from the Jets. We want you to come in. Um, you know, do a workout for us. I was like, the Jets

never showed much interest. And then I went in. I thought I was going to sign a contract. They're like, no, you gotta work out. So they threw me like a hundred passes, then dropped one and um, they brought me in and they still didn't know if they're gonna sign me. I'm like, there's nothing else I could do more to get signed by them. So then they called me and my agent. They said, we want to sign your free agent contract, and um, my agents lied. He's like, well,

these other guys are offering the money to sign. So he got me fift as a signing bonus, and I thought I was rich man. It's like not, that's a lot of nickel beer and ten cent wings in hospital. Hell yeah, so I got um um and uh, you know the rest of his history speaking of nickel beer

ted cent wings. You obviously later took over this establishment, but he used to be manna raise how about maybe how different was maybe for you guys as players to get away a little bit, Because I remember a couple of times i'd see you and Laverneus go over there and just go upstairs and have your private time kind of away from it where we don't live in a day and age back then of where people got our phones or cameras snapping shots, so trying to get video

all of you. Yeah, they didn't have they didn't have social media really back then when to play, which is a good thing. I don't know how it dealt with that, but um, yeah, you really you really can't do anything these days and people not knowing about it, and once you it's out there and it's there forever. So I'm kind of glad they didn't have camera phones when I was playing. Speaking of Coles, was he also one of

your favorite teammates? Yeah? Um, yeah for our He's a great friend, great teammate, and know he's coming to the game this week. Can't wait to see him. Another guy that's a tough guy, strong and uh you know, kind of like your brotherhood with those guys. What a dang. I just had a question in my head. Now, Oh, do you ever go back to Ostra? No, not anymore once I got rid of football. Yeah, how much did

that hurt? That hurt because it wasn't expected. I mean, they could have talked to the alumni or the former players and could have raised the money somehow to save the program, but it wasn't that much money. But you know, they just didn't want anymore. And you know it's a shame because we had built it into a pretty good one double A program. But um, they did what they had to do, and you know I cut cut ties

with them. You know the day they did that. How many years has it been, It's been probably what a decade it you're probably close to it. Yeah, yeah, I thought of you immediately. Obviously there are other guys who played there, but over the years and things like that. When you heard that a hostel disbanding the football program, was like wow, yeah, so what are you gonna do with great great times there? But so shame doesn't continue, but maybe one day, you know, it'll come back. What

was your favorite uh Parcels story? I mean, you were guy who would always put us that down when you had to speak, he spoke, you got firm opinions. But what was he like for you? Um? It was great because I was a massive Giants fan growing up and I always wanted to gatorade and build parselves. So Harry Carson doing it, but he's like the great Wayne Carbett. I know you. I know everything about you. I know all the cops and the judges in Burdon County because

we're from the same area. He said, Corbet, if you don't listen to me, your career it's going down. Heal faster than a dump truck would have cement parachute. That's what he said to me. And I was like, Wow, that's pretty harsh. But he made you play hard for him. Hit you know, he hit all the white buttons. And again, like I said, if we would have had him more years than he was here, I definitely could have seen

a Super Bowl or two. I feel like everyone that I've heard tell of parcelf story always says what you just said. He knew exactly what button to press for what guy at the right time, just to get under their skin enough to like really fire them out. I feel like that's a that's a skill almost, It's like a rare skill to be able to push you still keep in contact with him. I've seen him like up at Saratoga at the race track and now how all of the horses not as much as I used to

be just don't have time for it. But UM had some good times. I was looking for something after I retired to get my my my blood going. And you know when you got a horse coming down the stretch and he's gaining and kind of gets your heart pumping and uh, you know, small little No, I don't own him anymore. No, I owed for like fifteen years, but um, you know, give me a little rush. Do you still

get charged up? Will you watch some of these races? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll go to start o TV in bed on something. But I don't know. It was just something a phase that I went through for like for a while, and uh enjoyed it, but onto new stuff, you know. And then before we wrap up here, just what are you up to now? Then? If no horse is still looking for that rush? My kids, that's I'm living in privicariously through them. My middle son just started playing football last year,

So I enjoy that all my kids play sports. Got one looking at college. You know, it's kind of keeps me consumed. But um, you know, working for the Jets for a while now doing stuff like this, helping out with sponsorships and sweet sales and all and stuff. So you know, I was in finance for ten years and I got out of that and I wish I did sooner because I'm enjoying my being back working with you guys.

With the finance world cutthroat, Yeah, it's cutthroat, you know, just you know nothing you get any of the companies work with, just as far as the industry itself. Yeah, everybody's out to get everybody else's clients. Like just I don't know. Just it wasn't for me anymore. And how much you enjoy that a part of it? You said working with us now? But you know, I know there are a lot of dad's probably my age right now, who are looking at their kids and saying, this guy,

this guy was something else. Uh what does that mean to you when people tell the stories of you, because you're a guy used to go to Giants Stadium, sit there in the stands with your dad and now still to this day you go to MetLife Stadium and look around the crowd. A lot of eighties out there. Yeah yeah, my little guy when we go, he's counting how many eight Jersey sees it? But they you know, my kids were three and one when I retired, so they didn't get a chance to like experience it. In my eight

year old that's That's the great thing about YouTube. You know, on the internet, they could see all the things I ever did, and they got a chance to go on the field when I got in the Ring of Honor. But um, it's nice to be remembered. It lets me know that I did it right that you know their parents are still talking about me. So, um, you know, hopefully I have that the rest of my life because they cherish it. Oh you will. What do you think about this guy right now? The Jets went out in

the offseason. I don't want to talk about this year in terms of rocket or anything like that slot position because Greens was always bringing up to Godfather. Let's talk about Crowder. Do you like him? I like him a lot. Um. I like that what he did when he was in Washington, and um, you know he's continue to do that and you can see when they've made him the focus of the offense and some some of those games that he could really produce. And um, you know he's not such

a quick guy. He's fast, you can go deep too, But hopefully continue to use him. And you know, I'm happy to have him in green and white. And I know you like that number because he's wearing eighty two right now, Number eighty. I don't think it's gonna be worn anytime. I don't know. I don't know what they're gonna do with it, but I think it's safe. They kind of messed up that can't give it away. Now it's been so lot, people say, do you think they

retire number? And I said, I don't know, probably not, but there's a couple other numbers that should be retired before me if it does happen. But if they ever give me that call, then I'm getting retired and it would be probably one of the best days of my life. All right, Well, we'll be looking forward to that day. Thanks for coming on the Official Jets Party. We gotta have him on again. He is a jet Boy powered by Amazon Web Services in the bet MGM Casino Studio.

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