After kicking off the season by succeeding in grabbing a win and failing to keep Aaron Rodgers as their starter, the New York Jets are on the verge of another lackluster season. Though Robert Saleh recently lost his trust in Rodgers’s backup starter Zach Wilson, the Jets’ former star player Joe Namath was not a fan of Wilson since the start of the season.
While Namath is busy keeping Wilson under his scrutiny, one of his off-field blunders placed the former player in the hot seat of the football fans recently.
Joe Namath accused of allowing sexual assault at his football camp
The NFL legend has been accused of covering up sexual abuse at his football facility. The allegations were brought by Philip Lyle Smith, a man who claims he was assaulted there.
Behind the abusive case, Smith labeled Namath as the culprit, though the ex-Jets player was not actively involved in this case. Smith alleged that Namath’s negligence in this regard was immense for which he lost his position in the eyes of the victim.
“Back in those days, Joe Namath was my idol. And he went from my hero to a zero in my life,” he said.
Smith did not hold back from voicing his irritation and frustration regarding the worst period of his life by filing a lawsuit against Namath and John Dockery in 2021.
“This case is equally about the many adults in positions of power at the [camp] including Joe Namath and [ex-Jets defensive back and camp partner John] Dockery, who were aware of, tolerated and covered up known sexual abuse at the camp, abuse that had a lasting effect on Doe,’’ the allegations read.
Additionally, the Brooklyn prep school was charged with hiding the abuse. Later, they reached a landmark settlement in a 2012 lawsuit filed by former students.
Philip Lyle Smith accused Philip Foglietta of sexual abuse
Smith also unveiled the main culprit who snatched his joys and laughter during his boyhood. The 64-year-old claimed in a Brooklyn lawsuit that Brooklyn Poly Prep Country Club football coach Philip Foglietta was the main reason behind this sudden move. Smith accused the football coach of abusing him sexually 51 years ago at a Joe Namath Instructional Football Camp.
Foglietta is no more, yet with his heinous act, he stole headlines for sexually abusing boys at a New York private school over a 20-year period. Smith’s lawsuit contends that, despite Foglietta abusing and grooming him, the camp provided him with preferential benefits.
Smith’s mother assumed her kid wouldn’t have any concerns there, but she was ignorant of the hardships her young son faced. Even the trauma made him decide against being a father because he was afraid his children would end up like him.
“It was a place my mother [thought] would create wonderful childhood memories for me. Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way,’’ he said per Daily Mail.
Smith was so innocent in this matter that he thought Foglietta was favoring him as the love and affection of a father. Soon after he became the victim of the Namath camp in 1972, he found himself lost in the world of silence.
Namath, Dockery, and the camp’s attorneys did not reply to demands for remarks. Every NFL fan is hoping that the perpetrator accepts their necessary punishment as quickly as possible so that no other boys have to experience a day like Smith.
