- Around Town
- Around Town - September-October 2011
- Our Pick - theWforum
- Around Town - New Hope Receives FIDELIS Charitable Foundation Gift
- Ask The Experts
- Ask The Experts: Dr. John M. Young
- Ask The Expert - David Bertone PT, OCS
- Ask The Experts - David Chewey
- Bay Wellness
- Bay Wellness - Health After Menopause
- Bay Wellness - How Can An Ultrasound Help?
- Bay Wellness - Making Weight Loss a Family Affair
- Buyers Guide 2011-2012
- Buyers Guide 2011-12 - Cabitron Kitchen and Bath
- Buyers Guide 2011-12 - Floor Covering International
- Buyers Guide 2011-12 - Kol Marble & Granite
- Cover Story
- A Hidden Beauty - The Greenbergs
- Arts & Scientist - Ilya Raskin, Ph.D.
- From Saigon to Success - Dr. Khanh Nguyen lives the “American Dream” in Colts Neck
- Daytripper
- Day Tripper - Staten Island Ferry Adventure
- DayTripper: Manasquan Reservoir
- Daytripper: The Lakewood BlueClaws: Exciting Minor League Baseball at the Jersey Shore
- Etc
- Etc - Walking through Monmouth County
- Etc - Aspirin...please.
- Etc - Tired, Busy, Distracted, and Resigned
- Fall Guide
- Fall Guide - Kids Party Entertainment
- Fall Guide - Pumpkins, Hayrides, & Orchards
- Fall Guide - Museums
- Featured Artist
- Featured Artist - Leah Passafiume
- Featured Artist - Sangita Phadke
- Featured Artist - José Serrano
- Gift Guide
- Gift Guide - The Great Atlantic Porch Company
- Gift Guide - Back Relief and Comfort Store
- Gift Guide - Don Francisco Cigars
- Health Talk
- Health Talk - Lori S. Gormley, M.D.
- Health Talk - Marshall P. Allegra, M.D.
- Health Talk - David Lopez, M.D.
- Health, Wellness & Beauty
- Health - NJ Shore Fit
- Health - Ani Orthopaedic Group
- Health - DeeAnna Merz Nagel
- Homes
- Home at Last
- Designed for Living, A Couple that Decorates Together Stays Together
- Family First Country Estate - McGee
- Living in Colts Neck
- Home at Last
- Writing a Legacy with Superintendent Dick Fitzpatrick
- It's All in the Details
- Newsletter Articles
- Our Picks: H2O Bath & Kitchen Elegance
- The Home - Agostino Antiques Gallery
- Four Seasons® Sunrooms & Windows
- Our Picks
- Company Profile - Colts Neck Center for Orthodontics & Invisalign®
- Company Profile - Allure Plastic Surgery Center
- Company Profile - Space Odyssey USA
- People On The Move
- People on the Move: Bob Gassaway
- Larry Fink caring, focused, and concerned environmentalist
- People On The Move - Tali Axelrod
- The Bay
- The Bay - Welcome to the Premiere
- The Bay - Can The Weight Be Over?
- The Bay - Healthier Heart
Forward Progress - Wayne Chrebet JS
02/27/2011 - By Tobi Drucker Tesoriero
Photo: Linda Rowe (lindarowephotography)
From the New York Jets to life after football
There are those athletes who through a combination of ability and character transcend their roles as players to become sports heroes.Wayne Chrebet is one of those athletes.
Wayne, who played for the New York Jets for eleven seasons, has been honored with numerous awards and accolades. He was named New York Newsday's "Jet of the Year," and received the Dennis Byrd Award for "Most Inspirational Player.” He was also awarded the New York Jets’"Unsung Hero"Award. Other honors include the Thurman Munson Award, and the Ed Block Courage Award.
And, while perhaps not an “official” award but none-the-less a deep acknowledgment of and show of appreciation for Wayne’s skill and character as a player are the many, many Jets fans that still sport his #80 Jersey.
The admiration that Wayne has earned comes not only from his athletic acclaim but also from his character.Wayne made his own opportunities. Undaunted at not being drafted, he walked on to the field to try out for the team. Once on, he proved himself every day, distinguishing himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. That’s how he earned the nickname, Mr. Third Down.Wayne told us that he felt fortunate to be playing professional football and felt obliged to give it his all. And that he did! He played hard and intensely, even at his own peril.Wayne suffered multiple concussions during the course of his career. But despite this, he said he would not change a thing about his time on the gridiron.
Today,Wayne is bringing his dedication and drive to the financial services industry. Applying the same degree of professionalism to his new career as he did to his former,Wayne looks forward to new challenges as well as growth personally and professionally.
Wayne is involved in several charities, and is also passionate about his involvement with horses and harness racing. But more than anything, Wayne is a dedicated and loving family man who is devoted to his wife,Amy, and sons, Luke and Cade.
Following is the interview Living In The Jersey Shore had with sports superstar Wayne Chrebet.
LIJS: Let’s start at the beginning. How old were you when you started to play football?
WC: Organized? I was 15 when I first played tackle, but I started catching the ball when I was just three years old. I played catch with my dad pretty much every day in Garfield, N.J. I was part of the Garfield Boys Club. They had all different sports teams. I played flag football, pee wee baseball, and basketball. They put me into every sport. I took to it. I played three sports my whole life, until I got to college.
LIJS: Why football? What drew you to specialize in that as opposed to the other sports?
WC: That’s the only sport that college wanted me for! [Laughs]
LIJS: Speaking of which, your alma mater, Hofstra, no longer has a football program. Have any thoughts on that?
WC: It’s where I got my start. It’s a shame that they got rid of the program. They said they were losing money, but a lot of schools lose money. Hopefully one day they will get it back.
LIJS: Who were your football heroes growing up?
WC: Jerry Rice, Phil Simms, Steve Largent and Walter Payton.
LIJS: Can you share the memory of the first time you took the field as a professional?
WC: The hair was sticking up on the back of my neck. It was exciting. My first game was in Miami. I remember when Dan Marino ran out of the tunnel, that place was as loud as I ever heard anything. I said, “If I am going to be here I am going to do the best I can.” That energy, that nervous excitement, was great.
LIJS: Many times people involved in sports have superstitions or rituals. Do you have any?
WC: I wore the same shirt under my uniform for pretty much my whole career.
LIJS: Do you still have it?
WC: It says “No excuses, just results” on the back. It is frayed with holes in it!
LIJS: Greatest moment for you personally on the field was...
WC: My greatest moment was my last year; they made my Luke the T-boy. So after the kickoff he had to run on the field and pick up the tee. I think he had to be like seven to do it, and in 2005 he was just four. I was on the sideline, watching him run out. He could barely pick it up and run off. The place went nuts for him. “Today's T-boy is Wayne Chrebet's son, Luke Chrebet.” Just watching him was probably my favorite moment. I have a video of it. He ran on the thirty yard line, not getting off it, not moving off that line, and had # 80 painted on his cheek
LIJS: Any disappointing moments?
WC: 1998 - we lost the AFC championship in Denver.We were thirty minutes away from going to the Super Bowl.We lost it.And, any other year we didn’t win the Super Bowl! [Laughs] That was the closest one, though.
LIJS: You could taste it?
WC: Yep, we could taste it.
LIJS: Who were some of the players you played against that you most admired, as well the players that you played with?
WC: Vinny Testaverde, Rod Woodson, so many guys...Michael Strahan, Laverneus Coles...
LIJS: Did you notice any special characteristics that these players had?
WC: Just great guys. Great players , but even better men.
LIJS: On the flip side, what players didn’t you enjoy playing against or with?
WC: Ray Lewis, the Chargers' Zach Thomas - the guy who knocked me out the last time, Bruce Smith - he was nasty.
LIJS: Okay, here is the question you don’t have to answer but I feel compelled to ask... regarding the relationship or feud you had with Keyshawn Johnson...
WC: That wasn’t that big of a feud.
LIJS: It wasn’t?
WC: It was blown out of proportion.
LIJS: Was it magnified by media hype?
WC: Oh, yeah. Magnified and blown out of proportion.
LIJS: Did it impact the game in any way?
WC: No, actually. The competition made us both better, ‘cause it was like, “Can you top this?” I would make a play, he would make a play.We made each other better. I am not going to break bread with the guy, but the respect was there on the field and we played hard for each other.
LIJS: People admire your dedication; you played with your total heart, soul and body. Discuss how much you gave to the game and the price you paid.
WC: I won the Ed Block courage award, which is for people that come back from injuries to play! I gave everything I had. The price I paid was my career suddenly ending with that last concussion. At that point I had a dozen concussions, 13 documented. I got everything out of it that I wanted. But it ended too suddenly. But I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I wouldn’t have changed how I played. That’s why the fans took to me.
LIJS: They still do. You were not the prototype of a wide receiver. You were not physically what someone would expect. What do you think in your character made it happen?
WC: I was what they said was an “everyman.” The thing about me was, you look at these guys that are 6 foot 5, three hundred pounds, then you look at someone like me, it gives you hope. For kids, they say I am not going to be 6 foot 5, 300 pounds, but I am the same size as Wayne. If he can do it, why can’t I do it? I have tons of fan mail saying, “seeing you inspired me. I was unhealthy. I went on a diet. I lost 100 pounds. Thank you for things you have done.”
LIJS: People look to you as an inspiration, but can you identify what it was in you that made you accomplish what you did?
WC: Just an uncontrollable desire to succeed. I played more for my family and the fans than I did for myself. What I got out of it was great: the good times, the memories, my family getting to travel to the games and friends, and then the fans. I knew what the fans wanted to see. I remember sitting in those seats. They want you to fight for the extra inch, make the great catch, make the great block, and give back and acknowledge the fans. A lot of guys don’t acknowledge the fans. The fans put food on the table. They wear your jersey.
LIJS: How do you feel when you see that #80 around town, in the mall, in the stands?
WC: The other day I saw a guy chipping ice in front of the post office with my jersey on; I beeped at him! (Laughs) I go to the games, I bring my boys...I see just as many #80s as when I played. It’s a good feeling. It lets me know I did it right.
LIJS: Taking into consideration the wear and tear the game had on you, what are your thoughts about expanding the season to 18 games and the effect that will have on the players?
WC: It will make a difference. By the time you are coming into that last quarter of the season, your body just starts breaking down a little bit. 18 games, [sighs]...I think everyone would prefer sticking with the 16.
LIJS: What are your thoughts on the team today, with Rex Ryan coaching?
WC: You look at Rex Ryan and Bill Belichick; Rex is making a name for himself. Bill did it a completely different way. The thing about it is, it is tough to find a great student of the game and a great motivator. I have had coaches that were either one or the other. People don’t understand that Belichick was actually a funny guy. He was serious, but a funny guy to be around. Parcells is hysterical, the stuff he comes up with. He told me if you don’t pay attention your career is going to go downhill faster than a dump truck over a cliff with a cement parachute. [Laughs] I learned a lot of life lessons from him. He said the circus is not in town forever; you need to prepare yourself now for when your career ends.
LIJS: Before I move on to what you are doing now, any more special football moments you’d like to share with us?
WC: I think my first catch was a phenomenal feeling down in Miami. It was one of the hardest ones Iever caught. The best I ever felt on the field was when we played Green Bay at home and we couldn’t make the playoffs unless four things happened, and they happened. The fans were kind of telling us what the scores were in the other games. They put on the screen that if we win, we not only make the playoffs but, we win the AFC East. And we beat them so bad! I had two touchdowns in that game. It was a great feeling. Did you see the Monday in Miami miracle?We watched that in the office on a big screen. That was a great feeling - to come back from 23 points down in the fourth quarter. Games like that.
LIJS: Top two teams that you wanted to win against were?
WC: Always wanted to beat the Patriots and the Dolphins.We played them twice a year every year. I had my best games against those teams. I loved playing against them.
LIJS: Your favorite coach to play for?
WC: Parcells. Bill Parcells.
LIJS: Not to be negative, but was there anyone that you did not want to play with?
WC: Fifty-three guys make the team.You have to look at it as you had their back they had your back. If they made the team they are a good enough player to be there.
LIJS: Because the Jets are very hot now, are there any players that you think are going to be superstars?
WC: I would obviously say Mark Sanchez. Taking them to the AFC championship two years in a row is phenomenal. Jericho Crotchery, Santonio Holmes...Sanchez is making that team. They are a young team; they are going to be good awhile. You have guys like LaDainian Tomlinson, Sean Green, you got Jason Taylor, Calvin Pace. They are set up nice, they are built to win. They are going to be good in the future. I like Darrelle Revis - I would have liked to go against him - and Dustin Keller, the tight end, is a good receiver.
LIJS: Tell us about your current relationship with the Jets and with Woody Johnson.
WC: My relationship with Woody is really good. He is an owner that is kind of one of the guys. He is a soft-spoken guy. The last year of my contract he basically said, "We want you to be a Jet for life.” And I said, "Well, I want to be here.” It was the easiest contract ever. He took care of me. He deserves this. I know he gets booed sometimes. He found the different players for today’s Jets staff - young guys, straight up from the draft. They created this team from nothing. He deserves a lot of credit for it. Not a lot of owners would pay the kind of money he put outs. Whenever I see him I give him a hug. We are really friendly. I will always be thankful for him. They haven’t given my jersey number to anybody. It’s been five years. I am glad for that.
LIJS: Did Mike Tannenbaum draft you originally?
WC: No, that was way back. He was with Parcells. He did the contracts.
LIJS: So Kotite brought you in?
WC: Rich Kotite brought me in, that was when Mr. Hess was the owner. I played for Mr. Hess.
LIJS: Can you talk about Mr. Hess a bit?
WC: He was bigger than life. He did so much charity work that no one ever knew about. He would just sit, watching, smoking his cigar during practice. What I learned from him is...we lost to Denver in 1998. We flew out. Right after the game, we got back in the middle of the night, and he was standing (and he was really sick at the time) at the door of the plane and thanking every player as they walked out for a good season. I was like, this is the kind of guy I want to be like. This guy was amazing. He died not too long after. I had tremendous respect for him. I played for two very good men.
LIJS: You mentioned you transitioned into a new field. Can you tell us what it is you are doing now?
WC: In 2008, I became a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley. I had always followed the market. Myadvisor during my career taught me a lot about it, because if my money was getting invested, I wanted to know where and why. So I was more of a CNBC guy then an ESPN guy. I followed it when I was done playing. I learned more and more about it. When I met my partner and explained to him what I wanted to do he said it was perfect for what he was looking for. What I could do for him and what he could do for me. That is why we formed this partnership. I actually met Ed (Editors note: Ed Moldaver is Wayne’s business partner) playing poker at a country club. He was impressed that I took his money. (Laughs)We play off each other. I can open a lot of doors that he couldn’t get in. If I was going to do this I wanted to be with the best. After researching and looking at all the data I saw that he’s the best around.You can look that up. Out of 18,000 brokers, he was in the top 50. We have a big group here. We are Number one in the region. We look at all the statistics. I wanted to be in the best team; it was a perfect fit. It was great to be part of a team again.
LIJS: Interesting that you say team.
WC: The camaraderie is here. Ed and I are partners, the Moldaver/Chrebet group. There are four other people – Jimmy, Tim, Mary and Bob. Everybody has their role.We are like a family.We work hard.We have our fun, but we work hard.
LIJS: What is your feeling about sports agents expanding their role and entering the realm of financial management?
WC: They’re trying. Agents want to have everything under one house and you should never have that. One person should not know all your business. I speak to the young and old guys; basically I say if you get someone to do something, have it be their specialty. Guy that does your contracts, have him do contracts; you are not going to have a contract guy do your marketing or PR work. If you want a financial advisor, you have to find the best one for that for you.We don’t take all clients. They are interviewing us but we are interviewing them. We turn down accounts if we don’t think we can have a good relationship. People and players need to understand you have to like and trust that person.
LIJS: I also noticed you are writing a blog.
WC: I write a blog every week for NYJets.com
LIJS: How did you get involved with that?
WC: They asked me to do it! I thought it was a great idea, so I did it. Some of the stuff, it is funny. Last week it was, “you want to know how long it has been since the Jets went to the Super Bowl? The last time they went, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.” Another I started off with “do you like apples? We beat the Pats; how do you like them apples?” (Editor’s note: At the time, the Jets were making their run for the championship).
LIJS: Any involvement with community or charity organizations?
WC: I have been doing a lot of stuff with the Guardian Angels.
LIJS: How did you get involved with them?
WC: Ed was on the board; I met Curtis (Sliwa, Guardian Angels founder) and his wife Mary. They have chapters all over. I also work with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Long Island.
LIJS: Why Colts Neck for home?
WC: I lived in North Jersey and my wife lived down in Tuckerton.
LIJS: So it was midway?
WC: We had visited someone in Colts Neck and thought it was great so, we looked at some houses and bought one. That was 11 years ago. It’s a great town. Nice and quiet. Nobody bothers you.
LIJS: Anything that I did not ask that you would like to share or discuss?
WC: I own racehorses. Harness racers, with the carts. I got into it when I first moved to Colts Neck. I got seriously into it a couple of years ago. One of my horses won a big race in Freehold. That horse was Southwind Tempo. She ended up making a million dollars when she was a three year-old pacer. Just to have a horse like that, a champion...there is not many ways to duplicate how I felt on the field, as far as that high...but basically, the race lasts a minute and 50 seconds. But for a minute and 50 seconds your heart is pounding. So it is a nice little high - but it is nerve wracking. She was the best filly in the country. I got a nice crystal trophy for having the three year old filly of the year. It was a highlight.
LIJS: So you still involved?
WC: Yes. Anything after that will not be as great, but I like the business. I have done well in it.
Favorite Music
Rock and pop music
Favorite Restaurant
The Bistro in Red Bank
Favorite Movie
“Cool Hand Luke” & “The Fighter”
Pet Peeve
People who drive slowly in the fast lane
Three People to Dine with
Will Ferrell, Pat Tillman, Arturo Gatti
Advertisers
Powered by eDirectory™