Get Ready to Re-Live the New York Sack Exchange

It hasn’t been much fun watching Jets games this year after Week 3, but you can still have fun this weekend watching the New York Jets play. Of course, I’m referring to the 1980s Jets. More specifically, the famously dubbed ‘New York Sack Exchange’ that terrorized quarterbacks around the NFL for years. ESPN Films’ latest 30 for 30 features the very last time that the iconic quartet of Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons, Abdul Salaam, and Mark Gastineau will ever reunite and highlights the last 40+ years that got them to this point.

This documentary debuts tonight at 8 p.m. EST on the ESPN app and will then be available on demand via ESPN+. For Co-Director Ken Rodgers, this is the latest installment of one of the most extensive filmographies in Sports Journalism. He’s been running Hard Knocks for 18 years, produced a few films for NFL Network, some other films for Amazon Prime, and this is his 10th(!) 30 for 30 episode.

I had the honor of interviewing him yesterday in preparation for today’s premiere and it was a very compelling conversation. We discussed quite a few things, including Rodgers directly addressing the viral clip of Mark Gastineau’s awkward confrontation with Brett Favre from an event in 2023 that Rodgers was there to witness in real-time. We paid our respects to Abdul Salaam, who unfortunately passed away in October of this year and won’t be able to see the footage that he was a part of. We talked about Joe Klecko, his Hall of Fame induction, and discussed the chances of Gastineau potentially making it in, especially after viewing this documentary. Rodgers was very complimentary of Gastineau and even said he hopes Gastineau does make it to Canton.

What’s in it for you?

Whether you’re a fan who has first-hand memories of these days or you’re a newer Jets fan who’s just happy to learn more about your favorite team, this is the doc for you. It could be a fantastic stroll down memory lane for the older fans but for all of us, it will also be a raw, honest re-telling of a brotherhood with its fair share of drama. One thing Ken discussed during the interview was the pain that is still there for these guys after all that’s happened between them.

We can see them talk it out amongst each other in an effort to make amends and address the real-life issues of resentment, pain, and forgiveness that all of us face in our lives. I’m very excited to tune in and if you’d like to see the interview with Ken Rodgers to better understand where he’s coming from here is the link

James Wudi

Born and raised in NY, cursed to be a Jets, Knicks, and Mets fan for life. I take turns every year crying over my snake-bitten franchises but hopefully before I die my favorite of the bunch (Jets) will be able to reward my undying faith in them. In the meantime, I'll provide rational insight and analysis to help give you a realistic perspective on the greenest show in New York City!

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