Curtis Martin honorary captain vs 49ers

[everlong]

Quick-hit thoughts around NFL & Pats - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Running back Curtis Martin went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a New York Jet, as one would expect, considering he played eight of his 11 seasons with them. But today, he returns to Foxborough as one of the Patriots' honorary captains. Martin's presence is tied to the Patriots' celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Any disagreement that Martin is "The Greatest Patriot Who Got Away?"

This will likely be a very split decision between Pats fans and Martin coming back. On the upside none of the Jets fans will like it.

 

[DarrylS]

Always liked Martin, no animosity here for a great running back..

 

[PatsWSB47]

Quick-hit thoughts around NFL & Pats - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Running back Curtis Martin went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a New York Jet, as one would expect, considering he played eight of his 11 seasons with them. But today, he returns to Foxborough as one of the Patriots' honorary captains. Martin's presence is tied to the Patriots' celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Any disagreement that Martin is "The Greatest Patriot Who Got Away?"

This will likely be a very split decision between Pats fans and Martin coming back. On the upside none of the Jets fans will like it.

Someone has to post this at jetsinsider

 

[borg]

"Greatest Patriot to get away"?????

Really?

Off the top of my head, two players come to mind that challenge this headline.

Taking the "Greatest Patriot to get away " literally should mean who was playing their best ball as a Patriot, then exited to another team....How about Mike Haynes.... 9 Pro Bowls (4 with NE), Super Bowl ring, Hall of Fame, voted in top 100 greatest players list.

And while we are discussing Raiders, why not Jim Plunkett. Despite his Heisman, no one ever accused JP of being the most talented QB in the NFL, and injuries to Dan Pastorini and Marc Wilson allowed JP to take the helm of the Raiders twice steering them to SB victories. Plunkett's greatness is not measured by regular season stats but by clutch performances and hardware.

On talent, the argument....Martin vs Haynes....seems pretty equal. But that ring Haynes wears carries some cred.....Besides, Martin was a dirty Jet

 

[1960Pats]

Always liked Martin, no animosity here for a great running back..

He's a class act all the way and hard to root against. His only crime was that he allowed himself to be lured away by Tuna Crap.

 

[goheels22002]

"Greatest Patriot to get away"?????

Really?

Off the top of my head, two players come to mind that challenge this headline.

Taking the "Greatest Patriot to get away " literally should mean who was playing their best ball as a Patriot, then exited to another team....How about Mike Haynes.... 9 Pro Bowls (4 with NE), Super Bowl ring, Hall of Fame, voted in top 100 greatest players list.

And while we are discussing Raiders, why not Jim Plunkett. Despite his Heisman, no one ever accused JP of being the most talented QB in the NFL, and injuries to Dan Pastorini and Marc Wilson allowed JP to take the helm of the Raiders twice steering them to SB victories. Plunkett's greatness is not measured by regular season stats but by clutch performances and hardware.

On talent, the argument....Martin vs Haynes....seems pretty equal. But that ring Haynes wears carries some cred.....Besides, Martin was a dirty Jet

At the height of his ability, I think Martin is the one. But, there are greater "Patriots" who got away like Adam Vinatieri, Richard Seymour, Damien Woody, Lawyer Milloy, etc. who left later in their careers for cap/salary reasons who we missed for various reasons, but who we did not begrudge their getting their last big payday, or who returned value in draft picks or players.

This is an interesting question, actually. Coaches could be included as well. There are also the left and returned crowd including Flutie, Branch, Stallworth and McDaniels.

 

[Triumph]

To hell with Curtis Martin.

He conspired with Parcells so he could play in NY.The Pats dont need Martin bringing his Jets bad luck to Foxboro.

 

[wizwor]

Seems like a good guy and definately a very good football player, but he was a Patriot for a very short time and in the scheme of things not very important to the team's history. I think there are a LOT of better choices to serve as an honorary captain tonight.

 

[RayClay]

"Greatest Patriot to get away"?????

Really?

Off the top of my head, two players come to mind that challenge this headline.

Taking the "Greatest Patriot to get away " literally should mean who was playing their best ball as a Patriot, then exited to another team....How about Mike Haynes.... 9 Pro Bowls (4 with NE), Super Bowl ring, Hall of Fame, voted in top 100 greatest players list.

And while we are discussing Raiders, why not Jim Plunkett. Despite his Heisman, no one ever accused JP of being the most talented QB in the NFL, and injuries to Dan Pastorini and Marc Wilson allowed JP to take the helm of the Raiders twice steering them to SB victories. Plunkett's greatness is not measured by regular season stats but by clutch performances and hardware.

On talent, the argument....Martin vs Haynes....seems pretty equal. But that ring Haynes wears carries some cred.....Besides, Martin was a dirty Jet

Good point and that goes for Buoniconti too. Two rings and pages of All Pro etc.

Of course, as far as honors go, Curtis Martin was a class act all the way and a lot of that was wanting to be with his coach (Parcells) and i believe he had some sort of abdomen tear and the Pats didn't lock him up when they could have (correct me if I'm wrong).

 

[doesntmatter1]

I don't like this. This is insensitve to the younger pats fans. In my mind he is a jet, and a good one at that. I vividly remember him duking it out for the rushing title against runners such as priest holmes and sean alexander in his crappy green uni.

 

[Froob]

Why didn't they pick someone who spent more time with the pats?

 

[Gwedd]

Good point and that goes for Buoniconti too. Two rings and pages of All Pro etc.

Of course, as far as honors go, Curtis Martin was a class act all the way and a lot of that was wanting to be with his coach (Parcells) and i believe he had some sort of abdomen tear and the Pats didn't lock him up when they could have (correct me if I'm wrong).

Martin went to the Jets because Parcells, when he got there, sent a "poison pill" offer to Martin's agent. It was an amount of money that the patriots couldn't match because of the financial position and so Martin went to the NYJ.

Blame rests with both Parcells, who was doing everything he could to get back at the Patriots & Bob Kraft, especially, and with New England's front office for mismanaging contracts, acquisitions, etc. Parcells was hoping to tear the heart out of New England, which he almost did.

We got lucky, and soon picked up Robert Edwards, who made everyone forget about Martin, until Edwards blew out his knee at a beach flag football game during Pro-Bowl week.

In the end, Parcells got some of the pain he was trying to put on the Patriots. We got Surf-Boy Pete Carrol for a coach, and between him and Grier and a couple malcontents in the locker room, this franchise almost imploded.

Thankfully, Robert Kraft got a handle on everything, and after a difficult first season with Coach Bill Belichick, it's been a pretty good ride for us. For the tuna? Not so much.

Karma, she is a beyatch.

As for Curtis Martin, I'm against this honorary captain appearance. It isn't personal. I have no bitterness towards him. But it doesn't feel right, and I'm worried it might confuse the Football Gods tonight, which would NOT be a good thing.

 

[Lansdowne]

I was heartbroken when Martin left for the Jets, and was upset with him and Parcells for a good while. But like with Parcells (and for that matter Vinatieri who bolted for Indy), I'm grateful for Martin's service as a Patriot. Brought a lot of excitement and hope, especially that magical 1996 season. He was always a class act, and even though he played out the rest of his career in the wrong colors, I don't mind him being honored for the right reasons.

 

[PatsDeb]

Hmmmm. Mixed feelings about this. I was always mad at Martin when he left how he did, and I took some small satisfaction that even though he had a good career in NY, he had to sit by and watch the Pats win three rings during his tenure in NY. That must have burned, at least a little.

Frankly, my first reaction when I saw this was, "I don't want no Jets karma for this game!"

I guess it's okay, and I will cheer rather than boo (that's for you Tune!), but I'd rather have Steve Grogan or John Hannah for tonight's game.

And I think Jim Plunkett was the greatest one who got away. He went out to Oakland and won for cripes sake. In truth, Martin didn't set us back. Tom Brady being too young to take over for Drew Bledsoe did.

 

[PatsDeb]

Why didn't they pick someone who spent more time with the pats?

I think the Krafts take great satisfaction in bringing lost sheep back into the fold. But I agree, how about Steve Grogan or John Hannah? I know Grogan isn't in the Hall of Fame, but he's still with the team, so to speak.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Hmmmm. Mixed feelings about this.

I have them as well. Unfortunately whenever I think of CuMar I think of him breaking our hearts and going to NY to have a fantastic career, rather than the great things he did as a Patriot. Still, when I saw Martin in the thread title I got so excited thinking it could be him. I guess there is still a part of me that remembers that '96 SB run and the other memories of him in NE. And FWIW he did seem like a genuinely great person, very spiritual.

 

[goheels22002]

I don't like this. This is insensitve to the younger pats fans. In my mind he is a jet, and a good one at that. I vividly remember him duking it out for the rushing title against runners such as priest holmes and sean alexander in his crappy green uni.

Good point. If the Patriots are going to have a NY Jet as honorary captain, I nominate Brandon Moore's butt.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Yuck, why this traitor? If they wanted a, TRUE, Patriot (RB of yesteryear) they should have asked Sam Bam or John Stephens or Tony Collins or Craig James. Heck, even Vagas Ferguson would have been preferable to this doofus!

 

[borg]

I hate to be hating on CuMar....but the pedestal that Martin has been placed on always seemed a little high, especially when you compare him to other RBs whose careers overlapped Martin's

Player......YPC......Receptions....Rushing TDs....Pro Bowls....All Pro....SB Rings

Martin.....4.0...........467..............90.................5...............1.............0

Ricky Waters......4.1....484..........71..................5...............0..............1
Barry Sanders....5.0....352...........99.................10..............6..............0
Marshall Faulk....4.3....767...........100...............7................3..............1
Terrell Davis....4.7.......169...........60................3................3...............2
Emmit Smith...4.2........515...........164..............8.................4.............3
Jerome Bettis...3.9.......200............91................6...............2..............1
Corey Dillon....4.3........244.............82..............4.................0..............1

Martin had a great career marked by consistency year in year out. But look at his peers. Can anyone argue he was more talented than Sanders, Davis, or Smith. Look at Faulk's numbers and remember how he elevated the Rams after his trade. Essentially, Martin is Ricky Waters....but a more personable, team first player than Ricky.
For Martin, being a media savy, good guy in the biggest media center elevated his status higher than his stats show. Best player on a team that never made much noise. A very good player but not one of the greats....even in his era.

 

[Silver Blue&Red]

He's a class act all the way and hard to root against. His only crime was that he allowed himself to be lured away by Tuna Crap.

^ This. I remember going to Pats/Jest games at the Meadowlands and hearing the Jest fans cheering for him. It was odd.