BustedKnuckles
Footballguy
Martin hints career may be over
BY RICH CIMINI
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Friday, October 20th, 2006
Curtis Martin is supposed to start practicing in two or three weeks, but he may never step on the field again.
In a 10-minute interview yesterday at his locker, Martin seemed conflicted on whether to resume his career. At one point, the Jets' injured running back talked about returning to practice and winning the scout-team player-of-the-week award, but he also acknowledged for the first time that he's mulling retirement because of his surgically repaired right knee.
Martin was eligible to begin practicing this week, but friends say he wanted to take an extra two weeks to weigh his options. He confirmed that he's soliciting advice from others because "sometimes you need eyes outside your own," and it's believed people in his inner circle are urging him to retire.
The future Hall of Famer, 33, sounded like he knows the end is approaching.
"The hardest part about this deal is that I can't just will myself to do things right now," Martin said. "I have to be smart and that's what I'm trying to do."
Martin admitted he hasn't tested his knee by cutting on it. That, he said, is a concern - ominous words from a player who never has revealed vulnerability. He also said it's not a given he will return to practice during the three-week window for players on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
"'Definitely' is not a word I'm going to use," he said. "'Hopefully' is the word that I will use. You can't have anything etched in stone in this situation."
Martin is expected to start practicing Nov. 1 at the earliest (the Jets' bye week), according to Eric Mangini. If he doesn't start by Nov. 8, Martin is ineligible to play for the rest of the season.
Once he begins practice, the Jets will have another three weeks to make the decision (if Martin hasn't made it by then). They can add him to the roster or place him on injured reserve, ending his season - and, in all likelihood, his career.
Out of respect for Martin, the club appears willing to give him the opportunity to practice. Why the two-week delay? After 10 months of rehab, it's hard to imagine that another two weeks will make a difference.
"I think another two weeks will help us make a wiser decision," Martin said.
Martin's trademark bravado was missing. In past seasons, he used mind games to help him overcome injuries, convincing himself to block out pain. His longstanding philosophy with injuries is to play until he crosses the "stupidity" line.
"I'm probably on that borderline of stupidity," said Martin, 10 months removed from surgery. "I have to be honest with myself."
Martin claimed he's "running a little better," but apparently not at full speed. He admitted "the one thing I was concerned about was making the cuts. Once you get out there, instincts take over, and I haven't been put in that situation, so I don't know how it will turn out."
Martin conceded he may never play again.
"If that ends up being the situation, I'm sure I'll make peace with it," he said. "But until that is a reality, my mind won't make peace with it."
Martin's crosstown counterpart, Tiki Barber, appears intent on retiring on his own terms, healthy and still productive. Martin supported Barber's decision.
"I think every NFL player's dream is to go out on your own terms," Martin said. "But sometimes it doesn't happen like that."
When Martin returns to the practice field - if he returns - he intends to make quite a statement.
"My No. 1 goal," he said, "is getting the scout player of the week."
It would be a humble, yet poignant start to his comeback - if it gets that far.
I wonder if he can make a comeback and have any fantasy value down the stretch?
BY RICH CIMINI
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Friday, October 20th, 2006
Curtis Martin is supposed to start practicing in two or three weeks, but he may never step on the field again.
In a 10-minute interview yesterday at his locker, Martin seemed conflicted on whether to resume his career. At one point, the Jets' injured running back talked about returning to practice and winning the scout-team player-of-the-week award, but he also acknowledged for the first time that he's mulling retirement because of his surgically repaired right knee.
Martin was eligible to begin practicing this week, but friends say he wanted to take an extra two weeks to weigh his options. He confirmed that he's soliciting advice from others because "sometimes you need eyes outside your own," and it's believed people in his inner circle are urging him to retire.
The future Hall of Famer, 33, sounded like he knows the end is approaching.
"The hardest part about this deal is that I can't just will myself to do things right now," Martin said. "I have to be smart and that's what I'm trying to do."
Martin admitted he hasn't tested his knee by cutting on it. That, he said, is a concern - ominous words from a player who never has revealed vulnerability. He also said it's not a given he will return to practice during the three-week window for players on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
"'Definitely' is not a word I'm going to use," he said. "'Hopefully' is the word that I will use. You can't have anything etched in stone in this situation."
Martin is expected to start practicing Nov. 1 at the earliest (the Jets' bye week), according to Eric Mangini. If he doesn't start by Nov. 8, Martin is ineligible to play for the rest of the season.
Once he begins practice, the Jets will have another three weeks to make the decision (if Martin hasn't made it by then). They can add him to the roster or place him on injured reserve, ending his season - and, in all likelihood, his career.
Out of respect for Martin, the club appears willing to give him the opportunity to practice. Why the two-week delay? After 10 months of rehab, it's hard to imagine that another two weeks will make a difference.
"I think another two weeks will help us make a wiser decision," Martin said.
Martin's trademark bravado was missing. In past seasons, he used mind games to help him overcome injuries, convincing himself to block out pain. His longstanding philosophy with injuries is to play until he crosses the "stupidity" line.
"I'm probably on that borderline of stupidity," said Martin, 10 months removed from surgery. "I have to be honest with myself."
Martin claimed he's "running a little better," but apparently not at full speed. He admitted "the one thing I was concerned about was making the cuts. Once you get out there, instincts take over, and I haven't been put in that situation, so I don't know how it will turn out."
Martin conceded he may never play again.
"If that ends up being the situation, I'm sure I'll make peace with it," he said. "But until that is a reality, my mind won't make peace with it."
Martin's crosstown counterpart, Tiki Barber, appears intent on retiring on his own terms, healthy and still productive. Martin supported Barber's decision.
"I think every NFL player's dream is to go out on your own terms," Martin said. "But sometimes it doesn't happen like that."
When Martin returns to the practice field - if he returns - he intends to make quite a statement.
"My No. 1 goal," he said, "is getting the scout player of the week."
It would be a humble, yet poignant start to his comeback - if it gets that far.
I wonder if he can make a comeback and have any fantasy value down the stretch?
