Curtis To Canton

[JetNation]

For the second year in a row, running back Curtis Martin is again on the list of finalists to be inducted into the Pro-Football Hall of Fame. If you like the Jets on Facebook or follow them on Twitter, you might have noticed their “Curtis to Canton” campaign? That’s what it is.

Martin had a spectacular career (mostly for the Jets).  He entered the NFL in 1995 as a third round draft pick of the New England Patriots. In his first year, he ran for 1,487 yards, and was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year, and selected to the Pro-Bowl.

Curtis Martin came to the Jets for the 1998 season as an unrestricted free agent, reuniting with Bill Parcells. Martin was an incredibly healthy player for the Jets, missing only one game in his first seven seasons, but he was forced to retire in 2007 due to complications from a knee injury. He had played only sporadically through 2005 and 2006.

Martin finished his career with 14,101 total rushing yards and 90 rushing touchdowns, as well 3,329 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. He rushed for 1,000 yards are more in each of his first ten seasons, but fell short in becoming the first rusher to run for 1,000 yards are more in his first 11 seasons.

Winning the NFL rushing title in 2004 with 1,697 yards, Martin became the oldest player to do it at the age of 31. He’s fourth on the NFL’s all time leading rush list, behind Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, and Barry Sanders. Martin is the Jets all time leading rusher with 10,302 yards, fourth on the Patriots (bleh) leading rush list with 3,799 yards, and he’s one of 16 players to have scored 100 career touchdowns.

Players are voted into the Hall of Fame by a Board of Selectors, a 44 person committee that is made up mostly of sports writers, usually from major papers in NFL cities. There are also other delegates, members whose cities have lost NFL representation (such as Los Angeles).

In order to be eligible for enshrinement, a player (or coach) must be retired at least five years. Fans are able to nominate players for the hall by writing letters or emails to the Pro-Football Hall of Fame. The selection committee is polled by mail to select 25 semi-finalists, once in March, September, and October. In November, the committee selects 15 finalists, also by mail.

Nine members of the Selection Committee, a sub-committee known as the Seniors Committee, pick two players whose careers ended more than 25+ years ago. This brings the total list to 17 finalists.

The day before the Super Bowl – so February 4^th this year –the committee gets together to elect a new class. To be elected into the hall, players must get at least 80% support from the voters. Here’s the catch: no less than four and no more than seven players are elected every year. If four players don’t get 80% support, then the top four vote-getters are elected. If more than seven players get 80% or more support, then only the top seven vote getters are elected in.

The induction ceremony usually takes place the first full weekend of August, with the community of Canton, Ohio (where the Pro-Football Hall of Fame is located) holding a weeklong festival to celebrate. Unlike the Baseball Hall of Fame, inductees aren’t enshrined as members of a specific team. All their accomplishments for each team are listed equally and no specific team is highlighted. In addition to the busts that stay on display in the hall, the inductees are given gold jackets.

As I mentioned, this is Curtis Martin’s second year in a row that he’s been nominated. Last year, his first year eligible for selection, he missed out on induction. Richard Dent (defensive end), Marshall Faulk (running back), Deion Sanders (cornerback), and Shannon Sharpe (tight end) were all elected in to the hall last year as players from the modern era. Chris Hanburger (linebacker) and Les Richter (linebacker) were also elected in, but didn’t play during the modern era, and Ed Sabol, who was behind the idea of NFL Films, was also selected.

One of the greatest players of all time and the guy’s a Jet. Here’s to hoping 2012 is his year to get in at Canton.

You can comment on Curtis Martin’s Hall of Fame chances in the

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[Sperm Edwards]

Curtis was a restricted free agent when the Jets signed him, not an unrestricted free agent. That's why we gave NE our 1st and 3rd round draft picks (in addition to the richest RB contract of all time, complete with a poison pill clause that's now illegal).

Also this is probably Martin's best chance at getting in for quite some time. It becomes more difficult as years go on. The competition this year:

Willie Roaf = 11-time pro bowler and 9x All Pro (3x first team All Pro). Member of two all-decade teams (voted on by NFL HOF committee).

Will Shields = 12-time pro bowler and 6x All Pro (2x first team All Pro).

Cris Carter = 8x pro bowler and 3x All Pro (2x first team all pro). Member of 1990s NFL all-decade team, once had the record for most receptions in a season. Led NFL in receiving TD's 3x. 4th in career rec TDs and 8th in career TDs. And a douchebag.

Cortez Kennedy = 8x pro bowler, 4x All Pro (3x first team All Pro). Member of NFL 1990s all-decade team.

Chris Doleman = 8x pro bowler and 4x All Pro (2x first team All Pro). Member of NFL 1990s all-decade team.

Kevin Greene = 5x pro bowler and 3x first team All Pro. Member of NFL 1990s all-decade team. DPOTY in 1995.

Dermontti Dawson = 7x pro bowler and 6x first team All Pro.

Curtis Martin = 5x pro bowler (1 pretty badly undeserved) and 3x All Pro (1x first team All Pro). #3 in career rushing attempts and #4 in career rushing yards. 12th in career rush TDs and 19th in career TD's. Once led the NFL in rushing by 1 yard.

2013 adds Larry Allen, Jonathan Ogden, Warren Sapp, Michael Strahan.

2014 adds Derrick Brooks, Marvin Harrison, Zach Thomas (in addition to who doesn't get in from 2013 and earlier).

2015 adds Kurt Warner, Junior Seau, Kevin Mawae, Orlando Pace, Walter Jones, Torry Holt

2016 adds Brett Favre, Darren Sharper, Alan Faneca

The guy is no shoo-in and his prospects look worse in the future if he doesn't get in now. The best thing he has going for him is having played an offensive stats-type position because there are a number of linemen more deserving.

[Darrellegivesmeaboner#24]

If he doesn't get in this year the HOF becomes a joke.

[sg3]

looking forward to the announcement next weekend and his induction to the HOF in Canton this summer

class player

class individual

HOF caliber running back

[RutgersJetFan]

I still say every guy on this year's list belongs there. Even Doleman.

[Larz]

if this guy was a raider, almost every guy here would say he deserves it

only weird jets fan self loathing gets in the way sometimes

I've never even thought of going to canton for any reason, but when curtis goes in, I'll be there.

f the haters

[Sperm Edwards]

if this guy was a raider, almost every guy here would say he deserves it

only weird jets fan self loathing gets in the way sometimes

I've never even thought of going to canton for any reason, but when curtis goes in, I'll be there.

f the haters

Raider Tim Brown went to the pro bowl 9x, is 4th all-time in receiving yards, 5th all-time in receptions, 6th all-time in receiving TDs, is eligible, and shouldn't get in either. Happy now?

[Larz]

Raider Tim Brown went to the pro bowl 9x, is 4th all-time in receiving yards, 5th all-time in receptions, 6th all-time in receiving TDs, is eligible, and shouldn't get in either. Happy now?

so you think every finalist is deserving except the jet ?

is that about right ?

[Larz]

Also this is probably Martin's best chance at getting in for quite some time. It becomes more difficult as years go on. The competition this year:

chris hanburger and les richter say "let go of the hate"

[Sperm Edwards]

so you think every finalist is deserving except the jet ?

is that about right ?

No, but nice try making up stuff about me. I was showing what he was up against. I don't think Greene gets in ever, nor Dawson. I think if the voting was 15-20 years ago, though, Greene was the type of player they would have voted in because he was so larger-than-life. Plus it hurts him because he was on so many different teams.

Martin shouldn't get in because he merely alternated from so-so to very good. He was never this amazing RB and the HOF should be for guys who were just amazing on the field rather than good for an amazingly long time. His best season was supposedly 2004 and he was small when we needed a difference-maker against division rivalsl NE (twice) and Buffalo (twice) and conference rival Pittsburgh (twice). But hey, he sure put up huge yards against the Bengals and Texans and Rams and then-lowly Dolphins (twice).

Two championship games 3.1 ypc and 1.1 ypc. He had one really nice run in the AFCCG with NE where he got hit early and ran through two arm tackles, but the rest of the game you wouldn't know the difference if Cedric Houston was back there. That year - one of his pro bowl seasons I might add - he had 12 games of 3.4 ypc or less and 7 with under 3 ypc outright.

It has nothing to do with him being a Jet. I don't think defenders look back at who they had to play against and reminisce that Martin was this all-time great that they dreaded playing against. I do think some look back that way against former Jets that will never get in like McNeil and Klecko and #99. Mawae's number will come up and he definitely deserves to get in for being the dominant player (or top 2-3 at worst) at his position for pretty much his entire career.

I root for the Jets to win every week and have for decades. That doesn't mean I think Curtis Martin, who came up so small for us in so many big games, is one of those "Wow I remember that guy & he was freaking unstoppable!" type players.

It's just my opinion. Actually I think he's got a good chance of getting in this year. But as a fan of the team I don't recall thinking, "This team we're playing is tough to run on but they won't be able to stop Curtis Martin." One of those players who people look back at his totals and forget the player he was on Sundays. One of the most overrated players in NFL history.

[sg3]

he was a Jet player --- therefore we hate him

unbelievable, really

[Bugg]

he was a Jet player --- therefore we hate him

unbelievable, really

No.

We saw him play And w get the stats. We get the durabilitty. We get the positive attitude and that he reamins a nice man.

But because we saw him come up small so often when it really mattered, we don't see greatness.Isn't that what the HoF is about? And when Edwards was here he slavishly gave him carries over sometimes better options like Houston and Jordan game to game and quarter to quarter, even when Martin wasn't 100%.

[sg3]

baloney

and "Houston and Jordan better options" proves it so conclusively

gonna be tough for these haters to watch Curtis Martin's HOF induction this summer, I guess

Congratulations to Cumar

Terrific HOF rusher

Warrior

Super classy person too

Welcome to Canton, Great NY Jet

[Sperm Edwards]

baloney

and "Houston and Jordan better options" proves it so conclusively

gonna be tough for these haters to watch Curtis Martin's HOF induction this summer, I guess

Congratulations to Cumar

Terrific HOF rusher

Warrior

Super classy person too

Welcome to Canton, Great NY Jet

I think it's obvious you're too young to have actually watched him play.

[Bugg]

baloney

and "Houston and Jordan better options" proves it so conclusively

gonna be tough for these haters to watch Curtis Martin's HOF induction this summer, I guess

Congratulations to Cumar

Terrific HOF rusher

Warrior

Super classy person too

Welcome to Canton, Great NY Jet

WTF does running with a football in your hand have to do with being a "warrior"/ Look, I don't want to flame anyone; we can agree to disagree. But I'd ask you seriously engage your brain fully before comparing a football player to a soldier.

[Larz]

No, but nice try making up stuff about me. I was showing what he was up against. I don't think Greene gets in ever, nor Dawson. I think if the voting was 15-20 years ago, though, Greene was the type of player they would have voted in because he was so larger-than-life. Plus it hurts him because he was on so many different teams.

Martin shouldn't get in because he merely alternated from so-so to very good. He was never this amazing RB and the HOF should be for guys who were just amazing on the field rather than good for an amazingly long time. His best season was supposedly 2004 and he was small when we needed a difference-maker against division rivalsl NE (twice) and Buffalo (twice) and conference rival Pittsburgh (twice). But hey, he sure put up huge yards against the Bengals and Texans and Rams and then-lowly Dolphins (twice).

Two championship games 3.1 ypc and 1.1 ypc. He had one really nice run in the AFCCG with NE where he got hit early and ran through two arm tackles, but the rest of the game you wouldn't know the difference if Cedric Houston was back there. That year - one of his pro bowl seasons I might add - he had 12 games of 3.4 ypc or less and 7 with under 3 ypc outright.

It has nothing to do with him being a Jet. I don't think defenders look back at who they had to play against and reminisce that Martin was this all-time great that they dreaded playing against. I do think some look back that way against former Jets that will never get in like McNeil and Klecko and #99. Mawae's number will come up and he definitely deserves to get in for being the dominant player (or top 2-3 at worst) at his position for pretty much his entire career.

I root for the Jets to win every week and have for decades. That doesn't mean I think Curtis Martin, who came up so small for us in so many big games, is one of those "Wow I remember that guy & he was freaking unstoppable!" type players.

It's just my opinion. Actually I think he's got a good chance of getting in this year. But as a fan of the team I don't recall thinking, "This team we're playing is tough to run on but they won't be able to stop Curtis Martin." One of those players who people look back at his totals and forget the player he was on Sundays. One of the most overrated players in NFL history.

you just proved my point. you take browns career at face value, and go out of your way to make crap up about a jet. every single week martin was THE jet the opposing defense set out to stop as job #1

and the worst part is you know it

total crap all your posts about martin

crap

[Sperm Edwards]

you just proved my point. you take browns career at face value, and go out of your way to make crap up about a jet. every single week martin was THE jet the opposing defense set out to stop as job #1

and the worst part is you know it

total crap all your posts about martin

crap

What are you talking about? Brown had just as successful a career as Martin and he shouldn't get in any more than Martin should.

So what point have you proven? That I think only ridiculously players, who dominated their position against their peers, should get in? Guilty as charged.

Martin was not a great RB. Every year of his career it was easy to name people better at the position, including plenty that won't ever sniff at the HOF. He had great cumulative stats and that's impressive. But he wasn't a money player and he couldn't be relied upon to come up big in big games. Quite the contrary, actually.

It's as if people are just looking up his year total #s after the fact and never actually watched him run and get taken down by thousands of weak arm-tackles.

[Jetsfan80]

It's as if people are just looking up his year total #s after the fact and never actually watched him run and get taken down by thousands of weak arm-tackles.

What it REALLY is is that we haven't had a truly GREAT player in so long and overrate Curtis. In fact, even I have never witnessed greatness in a Jets uniform, and I've been a fan for 15 years. Probably the closest thing to it is Favre for 11 games in '08. And that's sad.

[Sperm Edwards]

What it REALLY is is that we haven't had a truly GREAT player in so long and overrate Curtis. In fact, even I have never witnessed greatness in a Jets uniform, and I've been a fan for 15 years. Probably the closest thing to it is Favre for 11 games in '08. And that's sad.

Revis

Mawae

Mangold

Abraham, for a bit

1 year each from Testaverde & Pennington were each better than Favre's 11 games in '08.

Jenkins was insane-awesome for 10 games the same year Favre was here.

[sg3]

great that we now have two threads for the haters to blast a great Jet running back about to be voted into the Pro Football HOF where he belongs