JACKSONVILLE – Jeff Lageman bled for the Jets in his six seasons in New York.
When he finally escaped for new beginnings in Jacksonville after 61 losses, only 36 wins and alifetime of frustration with the Jets, he wasn’t sure it would ever get better for his ex-teammates.
Now, with his Jaguars headed north to play the Jets in Sunday’s divisional playoff after yesterday’s 25-10 wild-card win over the Patriots, Lageman has had these crazy emotions flooding his mind.
“Yeah, it seems like it’s been awhile,” said Lageman – still sidelined after tearing his right biceps muscle from the bone in the season opener.
“But I’ll tell you what, I was just talking to my fiancee last night and was saying, ‘You know, it sure would have been neat to be a part of the Jets’ turnaround and to experience this playoff game from the New York Jets’ perspective.’
“And then I quickly added, ‘But it wouldn’t have been worth the last four years of [bleep)]'”
It, too, wouldn’t have allowed Lageman to meet his fiancee, who’s from the Jacksonville area.
For Lageman, the shame of Sunday’s showdown between the Jets and Jags is that he’ll be a spectator. But he’s still enjoying his experience in Jacksonville, where he’s become somewhat of a local celebrity, with his own weekly outdoors TV show.
“We’ve got a good thing going here,” Lageman said, referring to 36 wins and 30 losses and three consecutive playoff berths with the expansion Jaguars.
But still, his mind wandered to the Jets, with whom he was one of the most popular players from 1989-94. Lageman even had the surgery on his arm done by Jets’ orthopedist, Dr. Stephen Nicholas. “He’s a genius, a wonderful man and a great surgeon,” he said.
“I’m excited for all the people that have worked for the Jets for all those years when I was up there – [secretaries] Linda Martin, Maryjo [Tobias], Kathy Reade and [director of operations] Mike Kensil and [equipment manager] Bill Hampton Sr., especially, and [his son] Clay,” Lageman said.
“I’m so happy for those guys, and for the fans and people I knew, the people at the deli, everyone. Those people for so long have been supporters of the Jets and of the Jets’ players and every year it was bad. I’m so happy for them.”
Lageman said he expects Giants Stadium to be electric Sunday.
“I think the atmosphere’s going to be wonderful,” he said. “I’ll tell you what – when I played in New York I loved every minute of it. I miss a lot of things about it. A couple of weeks ago, when the Jets had to lose a game to better our playoff chances, I said to a friend, ‘You know, I just can’t root against them, because I’m just so happy for all those people up there that have waited so long. I just can’t do it.'”
