For months I’ve been asking readers to send me personal stories of Jets fandom, from the comedic to the tragic and everything in between. I left the door open for creative essays, photojournalism and even freaking poetry, and not one of you schmucks could be bothered to submit anything. Oh sure, the first two installments of Fanbytes  were great, way back in, like, April, but now it’s July and this blog is about ready to switch into full-on regular season mode. I need stories! Even David from Gang Green Nation has been hounding y’all about this for the past two days and still nothing!

 Thanks then to a Twitter friend who tweets by the name of @GONYJETS for taking the time to share a remarkable experience that took place only a year ago. I know a lot of you are down on Kerry Rhodes, and, in many ways, that’s deserved. Yesterday, Kris Jenkins not so subtly inferred that he is a woman. I myself have called him a “cockstain” on numerous instances. But I think after reading our friend’s story, you’ll see that there’s a legitimately good person beneath all that soft play. Have a read:

Maybe this is a good time to write about this. I have attended at least 2 Jets games for the past 15-20 years. Last year my fathers health was failing and I really felt uncomfortable leaving for the weekend to attend a football game 9 hours away. I knew my dad would not be with us for very long and thought it best to drive down and spend time with him on weekends. My father passed and I did not get to a game all year because I was basically checking on Mom every chance I could drive to her house. I was really grieving and a player picked up on this knowing my passion for the Jets and basically asked if there was anything they could do to help. Game tickets, autographed item, etc anything that would lift my spirits. I swear every time I posted something about what I was feeling they responded with a positive thought and the post were not directed to them. So finally I asked this player would send me an autographed ball and maybe get one or two other players to sign. I was contacted by the persons agent and was told that players are funny about signing sometimes but they would do the best they could to get it done. The next day the player contacted me and said no worries he would handle this personally. About 3 days later, the UPS guy runs into my garage with a box in the pouring rain. He is a native of NYC and I tell him what’s in the box so he asks if he can check it out. I open the box and to my surprise the ball is signed by every member of the 2009 NY Jets!!!!! This you best believe is my most prized Jets item even though I have tons of other items! This player is no longer with the Jets and has taken a lot of shall we say shots over the past few months. But I know personally that he is a good guy and will always be admired by me because he did this for someone he has never actually meet. I will keep in contact with him and will be in Charlotte to support him this year. I love the NY Jets but this is my dawg for life.

A football signed by every member of the 2009 New York Jets

A gift from a maligned safety to a grieving son.

Thanks again to GONYJETS for sharing his story. If you would like to submit a Fanbyte, please send it and any accompanying material to max@jetskvetch.com.

- Manhole Out.

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