Curtis Martin retires as NFL's fourth all-time rusher

Filed in archive on July 27, 2007

Photo by Louis Lanzano, AP

As someone who enjoys watching professional football and as a fantasy football nut, I've always loved Curtis Martin.

Even when I drafted Martin on my fantasy football team after his best-ever season - the season that he wasn't very good - I still loved him. How could anyone not love Martin?

The New York Jets running back, who announced his retirement on July 26, was a rock of consistency in 11 NFL seasons.

Martin always did things right. You never heard a story about Curtis Martin beating his wife, driving under the influence, showing up late for team meetings or so much as grumbling mildly to a reporter, who asked him a stupid question after a loss.

All Martin ever did was march out onto the football field and average just under 1,300 yards rushing and 302 yards receiving every single season.

He did it with a smile. He did it with total class.

Yeah, I always loved Curtis Martin, and seeing the Jets without him just won't be the same.