The Glove Still Fits Thirty-Seven Years Later
Adam Markowitz
Monday May 5, 2008
All joking aside, even though “The Glove” isn’t the greatest physical specimen to ever step onto a football field, there’s one fact that this writer will argue anyone who disputes it.
Kenny McEntyre is the greatest defensive back in AFL history.
All of the greats in all sports have those individual performances that make you just step back in awe and appreciate what tremendous careers they have had. It’s hard to say whether Saturday’s performance against the San Jose SaberCats was the best of K-Mac’s career, but it’s certainly the best game he’s had in quite some time.
Over two years ago, the chants that filled the Jungle were “Retire McEntyre!” “The Glove” recorded a career-low four interceptions that year, and following a loss in ArenaBowl XX to the Chicago Rush, was abandoned into the free agency pool. The Kansas City Brigade signed McEntyre, who reinvigorated his career with nine thefts and eleven pass deflections, but returned to Orlando via trade before the start of this season.
The signing of former Predators BJ Cohen, Damon Mason, and McEntyre were all questioned. Cohen has underachieved. Mason has since been traded to Utah. But there’s no questioning that McEntyre has not only carried his weight, but he’s carried the entire defense on his shoulders.
For his entire career, McEntyre has had to endure going up against some of the greatest quarterback/wide receiver combinations in league history. Saturday’s matchup saw him pitted against one of the greatest of those combos, Mark Grieb and James Roe. “The Glove” made his impact from the get-go.
Pinned deep into his own territory, Grieb tried finding Roe on an out route, but McEntyre stepped in front of the pass and waltzed into the end zone to give the Preds a 17-7 lead. In the second quarter, “The Glove” proved that he’s still got some hits left in the tank, delivering a jarring blow to Rodney Wright which forced San Jose into a 4th down situation which would not be converted. On the next drive, he stripped Roe of the football at the Orlando 2, which assured that the SaberCats would go into halftime with only seven points on the board.
But the coup de grâce came with 0:41 remaining in the game. With the Preds leading by 19 points and the outcome of the game determined, Grieb threw a deep pass into the Orlando end zone which was batted off of Roe and into the graciously awaiting hands of McEntyre. He raced his all-time leading 78th INT 47 yards and dodged seemingly every member of the SaberCats offense on the way to the end zone. It was the 17th career pick six for “The Glove,” and with it, he becomes the first player in league history to have four INTs returned for a touchdown in the same season. The previous AFL record of three pick sixes was set by McEntyre three times before.
Even at 37, “The Glove” is just a giant kid at heart. “I’m just playing right now and having fun… As long as I’m making plays, I’m fine.”
Boy, if that’s the case, the QBs in the immediate future on the Preds schedule better look out. Ask the 41 others that have had their passes stolen by the INT king of the AFL.
Check THIS list out… Jim Arellanes, Tommy Maddox, John Kaleo, Andy Kelly, Fred McNair, Ron Lopez, Tim Carey, Connell Maynor, Chad Salisbury, Pat O’Hara, Aaron Garcia, Kevin McDougal, Jeff Loots, Rickey Foggie, Damone Scott, Billy Dicken, Jay McDonagh, Clint Dolezel, Aaron Sparrow, Robert Hall, Tony Graziani, Chris Sanders, Charles Puleri, Todd Hammel, John Dutton, Adrian McPherson, Leon Murray, Chris Hixson, Glen Gauntt, Shane Stafford, John Fitzgerald, John Rayborn, Joe Germaine, Bobby Pesavento, Chris Greisen, James MacPherson, Matt D’Orazio, Shaun King, Juston Wood, Matt Kohn, and finally Mark Grieb.
Oh, and if McEntyre had only intercepted each of these QBs once, he’d still be sixth all-time in INTs and not twenty-eight INTs ahead of the second highest total.
Head Coach Jay Gruden speaks only the highest for the cornerstone of his defense which is holding teams to just 48.4 points per game since the acquisition of Rob Schroeder from Utah. “Kenny hasn’t lost it. He’s always been slow. He’s always been a great reactor, has great quickness. He’s got great ball skills that you just can’t coach. [He has] the ability to make those plays.”
He continued, “He’s got another 5 or 6 years left in him if I let him.”
As for “The Glove,” he’s not putting a timetable on his retirement. But there’s one thing that he assured me of after the game that guarantees that my #28 jersey will never have to be put in the closet for long again.
“This is my home and this is where I’m going to retire from.”
Adam Markowitz is an accountant living in Orlando. Adam is an old school AFLer, having followed the AFL since 1991. He attended or covered well over 200 games, including 17 ArenaBowls. Adam worked for the Arena Football League for two years as a columnist and historian before retiring in 2017 when the 50-yard indoor war left the Sunshine State. Adam still muses about the AFL on ArenaFan from time to time, and you can follow him on Twitter @adammarkowitzea.
