Pro Football

New York Jet lineman Dennis Byrd returned home to Tulsa, Okla., and was greeted by cheering fans who lined the road from the airport.

Byrd, who became partially paralyzed after being injured in a game Nov. 29, held his hand outside the limousine’s dark-tinted window in sign language for “I love you.”

He was greeted by dozens of children from the youth group at Woodlake Assembly of God church, where he works as a sponsor in the off-season. The children held banners and signs along a street leading to Byrd’s home in the northeast suburb of Owasso.

“We knew Dennis was coming and wanted it to be private, but we couldn’t resist giving him a hero’s welcome,” said Dave Mewbourne, youth pastor of Woodlake. “We at least wanted to wave at him and welcome him. All the kids have been praying constantly for him.”