Reporters' blog ?
For NY Jets blocking tight end Ben Hartsock, a long awaited trip to the end zone
By Dave Hutchinson/The Star Ledger
September 29, 2009, 12:17PM
Andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger
Jets tight end Ben Hartsock hauls in his first career touchdown catch, on a goal-line pass from quarterback Mark Sanchez.
Jets tight end Ben Hartsock knows who he is. He's a blocker first, second and third.
But on Sunday, Hartsock, in his sixth season, finally experienced how the other half lives when he caught his first career touchdown, a two-yarder from rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez on a perfectly executed play-action fake, in the Jets' 24-17 victory over the Titans at Giants Stadium.
"It's been a dry spell but I wasn't brought into this league to necessarily do that," said a smiling Hartsock on Monday. "I'm glad to have had the opportunity, though. I jokingly tell my family and friends that I've cracked the seal now and now they (the touchdowns) are going to come in bunches."
Hartsock's Kodak moment came in the first quarter. On the second-and-goal from the 2-yard line, the play came in from the sidelines and his heart skipped a beat.
"We knew coming into the game that with their aggressive style that would be a good play," said Hartsock, who entered the game with 27 catches for 273 yards in 56 career games. "When the play came into the huddle, I knew the ball was either coming my way or it wasn't going anywhere.
"At the snap of the ball, I saw how the defense reacted (the linebacker over him immediately went into run mode) and I knew immediately, even before the ball was in the air that, 'Okay, it's going to work, just catch it.' And I was able to bring it in."
Al Bello/Getty
Jets tight end Ben Hartsock jumps up to celebrate his first career touchdown Sunday against the Titans.
Hartsock, however, didn't have a touchdown dance at the ready. In fact, he was surprisingly calm in the end zone, acting as though he had actually been there before. In what passed for a celebration, he jumped up and down several times.
"The guys laughed at me a little bit," said Hartsock, who signed with the Jets earlier this month after being unexpectedly released by the Falcons. "I hopped around and did a little celebration. But you try not to make a big scene -- and I'm not much of a dancer anyhow."