Curt the Warrior speaks: HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) - Jets running back Curtis Martin reiterated Wednesday he wants to play this season, but is unsure when he will be able to return. The NFL's No. 4 all-time leading rusher said he is working out every day so he can come back as quickly as possible, and is hopeful he can play in the season opener Sept. 10 at Tennessee. But he made no guarantees about when his injured right knee will allow him to resume his career. "I'm working out as hard as I can," said Martin, resolute as always. "I'm here every single day and probably up here longer than most of the other players because I'm doing extra work. ... I don't know how long it will take me. All I can do is keep working the way I'm doing." Martin was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list July 27, the day before training camp opened. He initially got hurt last season and underwent surgery in December to clean out his knee. At the time, Martin thought he would be able to start running again in February. But the injury has taken much longer to heal. Because Martin is known for his ability to play through pain, the move to put him on the PUP list came as a mild surprise. Since then, reports have surfaced that he urged the Jets to take a running back high in the draft, has considered retirement and has virtually no cartilage in his knee. Instead of dismissing the reports, Martin declined to comment on them. About the only thing he was willing to say was he hasn't had any additional surgery.
(cont'd) "I'm trying to do my best to be as good as I could possibly be and be back as soon as I could possibly be back," Martin said. "I just don't know everything. I don't want to spend a lot of time trying to clear up rumors that I have nothing to do with, or that didn't come out of my mouth, that came out of somebody else's mouth or something somebody else made up." Martin, who never discusses his injuries, did say, "I'm not worried about retirement right now. I'm worried about the same thing I've been saying, working hard and getting to my best ability." The 33-year-old Martin is going into his 12th season in the league. He has 14,101 career yards rushing and won the 2004 NFL rushing title. He went into 2005 with high hopes but they ended in Week 2, when he got hurt. Martin kept going, possibly doing more damage. He ended up playing in 12 games, broke a streak of 119 consecutive regular-season starts and ended his string of 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons to start a career, a record he shares with Barry Sanders. When asked why he wanted to keep playing, Martin said, "Because I still feel like a young man." But Martin is ancient in running back years, and the Jets seemed to be too stubborn to realize it. Rather than planning for a future without him, they banked on him to be there - just as he consistently has been for his entire career. The Jets had a chance to prepare for life without Martin when they had LaMont Jordan for four years. But there was a critical decision to make once the 2004 season ended. They could only afford to keep Jordan or defensive end John Abraham. They went with Abraham, slapping the franchise tag on him even though they knew they had no long-term plans to keep him. Instead of trying to trade him in 2004, the Jets hung on to him and let Jordan go. Jordan signed a lucrative deal with Oakland. Abraham was traded to Atlanta last March for a first-round pick. Now the Jets are stuck with Derrick Blaylock and Cedric Houston, neither of whom are every-down backs. They drafted a running back in April, but waited until the fourth round to take undersized Leon Washington. There also is the possibility of trading for a bigger-name player. But they still have plans for Martin, who is around the team as much as possible. "He's been to every weigh-in, every mandatory dinner, and every curfew. He's doing everything we ask him to do," coach Eric Mangini said. Though Martin is hopeful he can return, he put no timetable on his recovery. "I don't usually do well with timetables and scenarios like that. You do your best and when you're ready, you're ready ... Time will tell," he said. "I don't know exactly what will happen, but I'll keep preparing to be at my best."
I know we have a lot of fun at his expense...but Ricky Williams was heading down the same road. Like Wannstadt...Herm Edwards lack of originality had Martin beaten up year after year. Say what you want about Ricky Williams...but if Wannstadt had stayed a couple more years..Williams would possibly be another Earl Campbell. Elusive backs like Smith etc..can get away with it. Martin lost that extra step and had been taking some kind of hits the last couple years.
Who wrote that? Whoever it was jumps to more conclussions than lemmings going over the cliff. Writer appears to be God himself.... seems to know everything... and people like that are ALWAYS full of shit.
The writer is Andrea Adelson, AP's beat writer covering the Jets. Here's the link. http://sports.excite.com/news/08092006/v8436.html
If Tangini Inc. is as astute as we all hope they are, they sit tight, play this season with the personnel on hand, hold on to the 2-2nd rounders, and make a decision in '07 on the RB situation.
The comment about how Blaylock and Houston aren't every down backs.... is what jumoed out at me....this woman has a freakin crystal ball. I'd like to be an unblocked nose tackle when she took a goal line hand off. Might knock some sense into her silly ass.
Totally agree. I would be shocked if they did anything big. If this is a rebuilding year..then its a rebuilding year..and theres no need to give up a high end pick to plug a whole with a "maybe" player. No honest Jet fan would be upset with the front office if they decided that was a whole they will fill next year...or to find out that this guy might be on the roster..even is those chances are minimnal at best.
:lol: I think I would pay (or sell) tickets for that. Or Bill Parcellls! new back yard drills video. :lol: I had a "senior" moment
Exactly. If we come up short this year, and Curtis did not play...I bet it had more to do with Curtis not playing. I mean, who's deluding themelves about this season anyway? With a healthy Curtis Martin we looked like a top five draft pick team. Anything they do can only pleasantly surprise us, not disappoint us. I hope Curtis comes back, just because I love watching players with class excel at this game. But this season was not depending on him at all. And if he's this hurt but still manages to come back and play a few games...give him his standing o, retire his number, and wait for him to enter the Hall of Fame. By that time, we should be competetive again.
LOL, nothin against women reporters there PF.... just say something like "Blaylock and Houston's ability to be every down RB's has been questioned." Same point, but not playing NFL scout god in the sky. I'd still like to take a run at her.... she can be in pads, I don't need even a hemet. Just one play.... just ONE....... reminiscant of the Bobby Riggs-Billie Jean King match. Only this time, she wakes up next week. Fortunatley, she awakes with no memory of the nightmare. Upon seeing film however, she goes into shock.
Oh, even if it were a man I would still highly disagree with statement. ( yea yea, we all know the woman's rights things and such) I really didn't like her remark about "stuck" with Blaylock and Houston. Not taking anything away from her ability? as a sports writer.
Look by the time (hopefully) we are ready to make our next SB run CM would not have been part of it anyway.
Yes for me it was simple to put 1 & 1 together once I learned of his disease. Bone on bone = laziness or put in another way not want to work hard cause your knee aches & is also probably swollen
Hey Chump, still no balls to respond to your blanket accusation against me which was laid out for the entire forum to see? You suit up for the game but when it comes time to take to the field, you're cowering in the tunnel. Which is it? Did I promulgate misinformation across this forum, and if so, where/what was it? Don't try and ignore this demand- when you make such an accusation you had better have the balls to back it up. Speak....
I really liked it the other day when champ said he didn't think the bone on bone "disease" could spread to the hands!
