Black History Day 3

Fun times were had when Edward Allen Bell played for the New York Jets.

The 1970's weren't kind to the New York Jets. After winning their only Super Bowl on January 12, 1969, there wasn't much to brag about for Jets' fans, when reviewing overall team records.

The Jets finished up in 1970 third in the AFC East, 4-10-0. "Broadway" Joe Namath was calling signals behind center, Don Maynard and George Sauer were catching passes, and Gerry Philbin was the mainstay on defense. These were the leaders who brought home victory in Super Bowl III. The following season(1971), record-wise, things weren't much to build on, finishing 6-8-0. A total of 18 wins over the next three seasons illustrated a Jets team in constant struggle.

Among the heavy dose of Jets' defeats, there was one individual (other than Namath) who regularly provided highlights. In 1970, New York drafted Eddie Bell in the ninth-round out of Idaho State. All 5'10" 160 lbs of the Waco,Texan made for exciting times each time he chased a Namath induced spiral.

For Bell, without hesitation, he proclaims his years as part of the Namath-led receiving corps as "the best years of my life – bar none."

During a recent phone interview, Bell shared memory after memory of his six seasons, 81 games NFL odyssey based in Queen's Shea Stadium. September 24, 1972, week two of the season, is at the top of Bell's list among special Sundays. The Jets and Baltimore Colts clashed in Maryland. This would be the final time where Namath and Unitas, two future hall of famers, would meet on the same field. "Broadway" Joe would enjoy his best passing day as a pro throwing for 496 yards on 15 completions.

Early on in the game, the day's first big play came about, a 65-yard touchdown from Namath to Bell. The Jets would go on to win 44-34. There would be many more Namath to Bell success stories from 1970 – '75.

Right from the get-go of his career, Bell was a nuisance to defensive backs, particularly to Colts' corners and safeties. October 18, 1970, during a Baltimore visit to Shea, Bell had a hell of a day. In snatching one dozen passes in the game, he tied the club record (shared with Don Maynard and Art Powell) for most receptions in a game – which still stands today.

"I think it was my third or fourth year, we're playing the Colts at Shea. They were getting the best of us. The stands were emptying. Joe throws to me, and I run my ass off, for an 82-yard bomb. Colts' safety Charlie Stukes intercepts the ball. Then, ball is free, and I pick it up. Touchdown," Bell recalls. "People in their cars start honking their horns, the fans are chanting, "Eddie, Eddie". That was special."

Just being in New York and playing pro football, beating the odds of someone of his stature, remains a major victory for Bell,70. He enjoyed every minute of everyday in being a Jet.

And when talking of times wearing Jets green and white, Bell is forever connected with "Broadway" Joe. "It was a circus," is how Bell sums up the atmosphere at the stadiums and hotels, during the first half of the 1970's. "Everywhere we would go, the "traveling circus" would follow. When we played in Buffalo, fans would come over from Canada to see (Joe). He was friendly, handsome, I was thinking – is it always going to be like this?"

Bell remembers "once or twice" when the team flight was held up, waiting for the star quarterback to arrive. Only Joe's tardiness would allow for a later departure. Any other Jet not in their seat at take-off time would be left behind.

Read more here from the source: https://www.uticaod.com/blogs/20170709/when-flea-played-in-queens