Former Jet Visits Waverly Park Elementary School

Decked out in Jets jerseys, Waverly Park Elementary School students filed into the gymnasium Friday morning to hear from someone who once wore the jersey for a living. Former Jets linebacker and current radio analyst Greg Buttle spoke to the excited students about the importance of character and discipline.    

His message? Be the best you can be.

“There’s a couple ways to do it,” Buttle said. “My way is through discipline, responsibility, and character. It makes you a better person and it gives you a chance to have success in life.”

Buttle also spoke about the importance of physical fitness, citing the NFL’s Play60 movement as a model. Play60 encourages children to get at least one hour of exercise per day, in whatever way they wish. 

“Exercise is always good for you, no matter what,” Buttle told students. “The mission of Play60 is to make you the next generation of individuals that have discipline, character, and responsibility. We also want to make you the most healthy and active that we’ve had in history. You have to work hard to do that.”

Buttle played linebacker for the Jets from 1976 through 1984. He had 15 career interceptions, according to pro-football-reference.com.

A question and answer session followed the presentation, with almost every student in the gym curious about different aspects of Buttle’s life, including whether or not he had ever run into John Travolta (he had).

Other questions focused on his playing career, specifically his days at Penn State (1972-75) and his relationship with the recently deceased Joe Paterno.

“[Paterno] was the greatest individual football coach and person I’ve ever met in my life,” Buttle said of his former Head coach. "He wanted you to be all you could be with discipline, responsibility, and character. He did not want you to ‘win’ the game. Never did he say, ‘you must win.’ He’d say ‘you’ve practiced too hard to go out there and do poorly.’ He was a wonderful guy to play for.”

Buttle showed off his 1973 National Championship ring, purchased by Paterno after Penn State went undefeated, but was denied a number one ranking in the polls.

He attended the legendary coach’s funeral early last week.  

The former Jet also fielded questions about the current state of Gang Green, including quarterback Mark Sanchez’s ability.

“I think he’s going to be a fine quarterback,” Buttle said. “My opinion on the Jets is (that) they didn’t play well enough. Their offensive line just let them down.”

As for the New York team still playing football, Buttle said he’d rather see the Giants win the Super Bowl than the Patriots, his former rival.