As we approach the season, we are going to count down the history of Jets jersey numbers along with some of the notable players to wear each number. Today we will look at number 89.
Jerricho Cotchery had a record-setting college career at NC State pairing with Philip Rivers as part of a potent passing combo. The Jets picked him in the fourth round of the 2004 Draft, and Cotchery became part of the run of success stories the Jets had in the fourth round during the 2000's.
Cotchery got his big break heading into his third season. Eric Mangini took over as head coach, and everybody was given a fresh start. Cotchery got a starting job after beating out Justin McCareins. In his second game as a starter, Cotchery had an electric 71 yard touchdown with the Jets trailing the Patriots 24-0 in the second half. The play sparked a rally that fell a little short. Cotchery made playing well against New England a habit. He had a big touchdown catch in the second meeting of the season, a Jets upset win in Foxborough. He added a 77 yard touchdown in the third meeting with New England, a postseason defeat.
Cotchery's last great moment as a Jet also came against the Pats. It might have been the biggest moment of Gang Green's upset win over New England in the 2010 Playoffs. The Patriots had just scored a touchdown to cut the Jets' lead to 14-11. Cotchery's 58 yard catch and run set up a huge Jets touchdown.
Cotchery ranks eighth on the team's all-time receiving list. He posted a 1,000 yard season in 2007. I'm not sure there was anything physically overwhelming about Cotchery. A lot of his success was based on smarts, desire, and toughness, cliche though it might sound.
If I was to take one play that summed up Cotchery, it would be this one.
Despite sustaining a groin injury on the play, he powered through to make a circus catch that extended an overtime drive.