After the
1997 season, Martin became a restricted free agent. On the first day of the free agency period Martin's agent, Eugene Parker, contacted the
New York Jets to gauge their interest in potentially signing the running back.
[13] Negotiations ensued between Parker and Jets head coach and general manager
Bill Parcells and an
offer sheet was formulated.
[13] Though Martin had reservations about playing in New York and particularly for a division rival, the presence of his former coach Parcells influenced his decision to ultimately join the Jets.
[14] On March 20, 1998, Martin signed a six-year $36 million
poison pill contract.
[15][16] The "poison pill" was a clause in the contract that stated Martin would become an unrestricted free agent after one-year if the Patriots matched the offer and it would have forced New England to pay a $3.3 million roster bonus that would have compromised their salary cap.[16] Under these conditions, the Patriots did not match the offer however they received the Jets' first and third round selections in the
1998 NFL Draft as compensation after filing a complaint with the NFL management council claiming the offer sheet violated the terms of the league's
collective bargaining agreement at the time.