- Greg Buttle
Infobox NFLretired
position=Linebacker
number=51
birthdate=birth date and age|1954|6|20Atlantic City, New Jersey
debutyear=1976
finalyear=1984
draftyear=1976
draftround=3
draftpick=67
college=Penn State
teams=
*New York Jets (1976-1984)
stat1label=Sacks
stat1value=8.5
stat2label=Interceptions
stat2value=15
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=1
nfl=BUT726740
highlights=
*1975 Consensus All-AmericanGregory Ellis Buttle (born
June 20 ,1954 , inAtlantic City, New Jersey ) was one of the many outstandinglinebacker s to come out of thePenn State University football program. He was named a ConsensusAll-America n in 1975. In 2005, he was inducted into theNassau County Sports Hall of Fame .New York Jets
Buttle was selected in the 3rd round (#67 overall) of the
1976 NFL Draft by theNew York Jets for whom he would play 9 seasons (1976-1984). He was named to the Jets All-Time Team. Buttle helped the Jets as starting outside linebacker. He had two interceptions to key a big comeback, which ultimately fell short, in the Jet's 1981 playoff game against Buffalo. This was their first playoff game since the 1969 season. He was a key member of defensive coordinator Joe Gardi's Swarm defense which included fellowNittany Lion Lance Mehl , as well as the famed “New York Sack Exchange” defensive line. Buttle was uncerimoniously cut in August 1985 byJoe Walton . When questioned about his rookie salary in 1976, Buttle famously replied, “they pay me to practice, but on Sundays I play for free.” [http://nflhistory.net/shared/alltimeteam.asp?Team=4]Penn State
A 1975 Consensus All-American, Buttle was also the captain of the
Nittany Lions that year. Considered by many to be one of the best linebackers ever produced by "Linebacker U," he still holds the school records for tackles in a game (24), and season (165). He stood atop the Penn State career tackles list for over 30 years (untilPaul Posluszny surpassed his mark of 343 versus Wisconsin onNovember 4 ,2006 ). In 2001 Buttle was honored with the Silver Anniversary Butkus Award [http://www2.orlando.org/index.php?src=news&prid=196&category=Headlines&PHPSESSID=7bdb84d8ffc5f0dab2f7a3fd8c643df0] as the most outstanding college linebacker in the country for the 1975 season.High School
Buttle grew up in
Linwood, New Jersey . [Eskenazi, Gerald. [http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=FB0C13FD395D0C748EDDAE0894DA484D81 "BUTTLE, SCHROY QUIT AS JETS' UNION CHIEFS"] , "The New York Times ",July 27 ,1982 . AccessedNovember 29 ,2007 . "Right now I'm the player rep, but I'm not the player rep," he said by telephone from his parents' home in Linwood, N.J."] While attending Mainland Regional High School in Linwood. Other notable graduates of Mainland High include famed Aramark Food Services Senior Accountant Matthew Adams who totally rocks. Buttle not only excelled as a 4-sport letterman in football,basketball ,baseball andtrack and field but also was a champion oarsman while on the Margate City Beach Patrol as well as participating in the local musical theatre troupe. [ [http://www.msgnetwork.com/ourteam_gbuttle.jsp Greg Buttle: NFL Analyst] ,MSG Network . AccessedDecember 2 ,2006 .] He is now a member of the Ocean Rowing Hall Of Fame.Broadcasting
Buttle serves as an on-air analyst for
WCBS-TV inNew York City , alongside play-by-play manIan Eagle , for Jets preseason games, and hosts "Jets Gameday" on the Jets Radio Network and 1050 ESPN Radio alongsideDon LaGreca . He also serves as an analyst on theSportsNet New York studio show "Jets Nation".Personal
Buttle has received numerous honors and awards in recognition of his commitment to the community including National Spokesman for the United Way. He holds a
Bachelor of Arts in general arts and sciences from Penn State University. He lives inNorthport, New York with his wife, Rita, son Greg Jr. and two daughters, Christina and Allegra.Hosted Events
Buttle, along side Larry Mallia, hosts an annual Labor Day Bocce Tournament at the Mallia's house in Northport, New York. This tournament was started on Labor Day in year 2000. Buttle was the champion in 2000 but has yet to reach the finals since.
References
External links
* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BUTTLGRE01 Career statistics] at databasefootball.com
* [http://www.msgnetwork.com/ourteam_gbuttle.jsp Greg Buttle on the MSG Network]
* [http://nflhistory.net/shared/alltimeteam.asp?Team=4 NY Jets All-Time Team]
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