<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Martin to officially announce his retirement Curtis Martin will announce his retirement this week, according to the NY Post.Perhaps one of the most underrated running backs of all-time, Martin has not played since the 2005 season due to a bone-on-bone condition in his right knee. Jul. 24 - 10:21 am et</div>He'll be a Hall-of-Famer in no time.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jul 24 2007, 10:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Actually it will take time.</div>I doubt it. 14,101 Rushing Yards 3,329 Receiving Yards100 TD 4th All Time in Rushing Yards7th All Time in Yards From Scrimmage12th All Time in Rushing Touchdowns10 Consecutive 1,000 Yard Rushing Seasons5 Pro-BowlsNFL Leading Rusher (2004)That's a First Ballot Resume.
But it's going to take at least 4 years. Unless you consider that no time at all, then it'll take time.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jul 24 2007, 08:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>But it's going to take at least 4 years. Unless you consider that no time at all, then it'll take time.</div>I meant he'd be inducted his First Year Eligible. Which yes, will probably be 4-5 years from now (Not sure if last year counts or not).
Last year won't count because he didn't retire. It will start from this season on, and of course an obvious HoF first ballot.
Must Read for Jets fans, and a good read for any other fans. A run through of quotes from coaches, teammates, and even opponents talking about how he was not just a great player, but an even better person. In a time where players are constantly getting in trouble with the law, it's nice to pay some attention to one of the biggest class acts there ever was. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"Retirement is not an end but a beginning. It is not giving up a position but more of a passing of the baton. And it?s definitely not a crossroad but a bridge that will further my pursuits within the NFL." - Curtis MartinWOODY JOHNSON, New York Jets Chairman and CEO?Curtis Martin is one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game and his impact on the New York Jets and the National Football League will never be forgotten,? said Jets Chairman and CEO Woody Johnson. ?While millions of people witnessed his amazing accomplishments on the field, few knew the depths of his philanthropy off the field. His drive to give back, especially to the New York area that became his adopted home, will be his lasting legacy from which all of us can draw inspiration. As a player, Curtis approached philanthropy the same way he approached the game - with humility and grace. Whether helping the homeless on the streets of New York or volunteering at soup kitchens, he touched the lives of countless people who had no connection to the game that made him a household name. On behalf of the New York Jets, we wish Curtis the best in this new chapter in his life, and thank him for the lasting contribution he made to our team and our community. He will always be a member of our family."ROGER GOODELL, NFL Commissioner?Curtis Martin represents everything an NFL player should be. He overcame many challenges to enjoy an outstanding career as one of the best running backs in the NFL. His on-field accomplishments were matched by an equally strong commitment to serving his community and being a positive role model off the field. We know that Curtis will continue to be successful and represent the NFL well as he moves into his next career.?MIKE TANNENBAUM, New York Jets General Manager?The ability to play at such a consistently high level every week he took the field will be the enduring football legacy of Curtis Martin. He is a man of unparalleled integrity who treats everyone who crosses his path with a great deal of respect. I will always admire Curtis for the way he carries himself as a player and as a person.?ERIC MANGINI, New York Jets Head Coach"Curtis is not only one of the all-time great running backs, but he is also a truly special person. One of the best compliments you can give a player is that he is a 'pro.' Throughout my career, I've encountered players that you could call true 'pros,' and the one comment I consistently have for them is that they can still aspire to reach the level of Curtis Martin.?Personally, his friendship, insight and advice have been valuable resources to me and will continue to be important in the future. In light of the league's recent concentration on personal conduct, Curtis serves as a shining example of how to handle yourself on the field and off. If you are looking for a hero, you don't have to look any further than Curtis Martin."TERRY BRADWAY, New York Jets, Director of Player Personnel?Curtis Martin epitomized all the special qualities we look for in evaluating players. He is a true professional both on and off the field. His dedication and commitment to the game and his teammates is unmatched.?JIMMY RAYE, New York Jets, running backs coach, coached Martin (Jets, 2002-03, 06)?Curtis Martin is the epitome of class, character and work ethic. He is a tremendous, tremendous football player and competitor. He is a true warrior and a winner in football and as well as life.?CHAD PENNINGTON, New York Jets quarterback, played with Martin (2000-2006)?Curtis Martin is a true professional in every sense of the word. I consider him to be a very good friend and a great mentor. He has been a great teammate and role model and I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.?BILL PARCELLS, Former Giants, Patriots, Jets and Cowboys Head Coach, coached Martin (Patriots, 1995-96; Jets, 1998-99)?He?s one of the most inspirational players I have ever seen. I always judge players by their ability to inspire others. I?ve seen Curtis Martin inspire numerous players and coaches and I was fortunate to be among those he inspired. He?s one of the greatest players I have ever coached. HERMAN EDWARDS, Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach, coached Martin (Jets, 2001-05)?He's probably one of the classiest and most humble players that I?ve ever been around with his type of statistics and what he?s accomplished in the league. He never really got credit for the player that he is. He wasn?t the biggest guy, but he?s probably one of the more mentally tough guys that I?ve ever been around. He was a visual player, he saw himself doing certain things. He could will himself to do things and I marveled at that. With all of his success, he was all about the team and I had a great relationship with him. You don?t appreciate him as much until you?ve been around him and you watch how he practiced, watch how he prepared and watched how he played the game. When Curtis Martin stepped on the field, you knew one thing- whatever he had in his heart or in his body, he was going to give. That?s all you can ask out of a player. You?re talking about a great player; you?re not talking about just a guy. When you look at the record book, what he accomplished in his era, and how many yards he ran for, it?s amazing.?CHARLIE WEIS, University of Notre Dame Head Coach, coached Martin (Patriots, 1995-96; Jets, 1998-99)"Curtis Martin is one of the finest young men I have ever met. Not only was he a great running back, he is an even better person. He exemplified championship character on and off the field. He leaves the game a winner."WAYNE CHREBET, Former New York Jets wide receiver, played with Martin (Jets, 1998-2005)"What sums Curtis Martin up is he was a great player and an even better person."KEYSHAWN JOHNSON, Former NFL wide receiver, played with Martin (Jets, 1998-99)?In my opinion, he?s one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game, surely the best running back that I?ve ever played with. If you look at his numbers compared to the all-time greats and you look at what he?s been able to accomplish during his 11 years of healthy seasons and 12 years overall, you cannot argue with what he?s done on the football field. Off the field, he?s a stand-up individual who grew up in a tough environment and learned how to make the transition from an urban, inner-city kid to a multi-million dollar athlete who has had nothing but success on and off the field. That is a hard transition to make. In today?s world of professional athletes, when you talk about a guy that you want to model yourself after, you talk about Curtis Martin.?SAM MADISON, New York Giants cornerback, opponent?For years, Curtis Martin has quietly been one of the top backs in this league. It has been an honor to play against him so many times because he has always been a great competitor. From when he was with New England to when he played for the Jets, he was just always so tough to cover and tackle when we was coming out of the backfield. Curtis never said much and let his actions speak louder than his words. His teammates always knew they could count on him and that means so much in this game. I?ve been competing against Curtis since my days at Louisville when he was at Pitt and I?ve always had a great deal of respect for him. The NFL will miss Curtis Martin, but I wish him well as he moves on to the next phase of his life.?KEVIN MAWAE, Tennessee Titans center, played with Martin (Jets, 1998-2005)?Curtis was a true competitor. No player wants to leave the game due to injury, but in his case, football didn?t define him as a person and this is more of a beginning than an ending for him. I respected the fact that he was never bigger than the game and was one of the most underrated running backs to play the game. He just quietly worked his way up the NFL?s all-time rushing list with little fanfare. It was a privilege and an honor to play with him. Our group was able to accomplish a lot and I was proud of his winning the rushing title in 2004 and what it said about him and the group of guys around him. As a teammate, you never had to worry about him being on the field and he was one of those backs that got better the more carries he got. You knew no one was going to out-work him. Whatever he does after football, he is headed for success. His life is God-driven and he is ready to unleash himself into a new environment and I wish him the best.?DAN HENNING, Former NFL Coach, coached Martin (Jets, 1998-2000)?In all the years that I coached, I had two guys at the running back position that could do it all. One was William Andrews (Atlanta) and the other was Curtis Martin. They could run with the best, they could block with the best and they could catch it. Probably the best thing about both of them was they just went out and did their job, went out and worked everyday, and were just great guys to coach. I wish Curtis the best.?WILLIE McGINEST, Cleveland Browns linebacker, played with Martin (Patriots, 1995-97)?Curtis Martin is an amazing person. His football statistics and professional accomplishments don?t come close to matching the type of person Curtis is off the field. He is one of the most unselfish people I ever played with. He worked harder and endured more pain than most players ? and he never complained. It was always about what was best for the team before he thought about what was best for himself. He didn?t get as much attention as some of the other top running backs in the NFL because he was quiet, humble and kept to himself. However, his presence on the team was felt every day. Curtis led by example ? everyone worked harder and played harder to keep up with him. Curtis is like a little brother to me and I?m proud to call him a friend. He deserves everything good that has come to him in his life.?LAWYER MILLOY, Atlanta Falcons safety, played with Martin (Patriots, 1996-97)?Curtis is a class act. He was a guy who had standards and a guy I looked up to. I liked the way he approached the game and prepared. A lot of what I do as I prepare for a game I learned from watching Curtis when I was a younger player. Curtis was not flashy and did not say much, but he was a natural leader who earned everyone?s respect. When he went to the Jets, I knew he was going to bring his best and he made me bring my best when we played. Curtis left his mark on this league and I love him like a brother. I wish him the best as he moves into the next phase of his life.?JASON TAYLOR, Miami Dolphins defensive end, opponent"Curtis Martin embodies everything you want an NFL star to be. He is a class act and a great runner, not to mention a Pittsburgh guy! I have nothing but respect for him and what he accomplished over the course of his Hall-of-Fame career."MAURICE CARTHON, Arizona Cardinals, running backs coach, coached Martin (Patriots, 1995-96; Jets, 1998-2000)?I love Curtis Martin. Curtis is the best player I have ever coached. I love Curtis like a brother, and I am a better coach because of him. I wish he was still playing, because he sets an example for the younger players.?SAM GASH, Detroit Lions, assistant special teams coach (former NFL fullback), played with Martin (1995-97); coached Martin (2005)?What amazed me about Curtis was his ability to play with pain. It gets tough playing with injuries. Watching him play injured and (still) put out a stand out performance was inspirational. His acceleration to get away from a big hit was amazing. He is one of my favorites and he was easy to block for. All I had to do was make them (the defense) blink and he went right by me.?MARK WITTGARNER, Former High School Coach, coached Martin (Taylor Allderdice High School, 1990)?What impresses you most about Curtis Martin is the person, not the player. Curtis is probably one of the most upright, outstanding, courageous and giving individuals that I've met in my life. Obviously, as a player, there is no question that he is the best of the six NFL players that I've coached. However, what I want to emphasize and what I feel is most memorable about Curtis is his outstanding character. Anybody's life that has been touched by Curtis Martin is better for it.?</div>
