Gunzlingr
12-27-2003, 08:49 AM
The reality of not challenging for the playoffs at the end of December sank in a while ago for Curtis Martin. Now that the season finale is at hand, the star running back for the New York Jets isn't any more comfortable with the idea of going home early.
Although Martin has had his ninth straight 1,000-yard rushing season, one short of Barry Sanders' league mark, 2003 has been a struggle. There's been criticism that he's not the same runner - although the Pittsburgh Steelers, against whom he ran for 174 yards in the snow on Dec. 14, would argue against that.
There's also a losing record for the Jets for the first time since 1996, a full season before Martin joined New York as a free agent.
"This is only the second time in my career that at the end of the season there is no hope," Martin said. "It is a feeling you don't like and it leaves a taste in your mouth and a feeling in your stomach you don't want.
"In a personal way, in 2002 the pain was physical (from a high ankle sprain) I had to deal with. This year, with all the criticism, you hear things that affect your mind."
Martin and the Jets got off to a rough start. With Chad Pennington out with a broken wrist, they lost their first four games. The offensive line performed poorly, rarely giving Martin any room to run. He totaled 197 yards in his first four outings.
more (http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=1990066)
Although Martin has had his ninth straight 1,000-yard rushing season, one short of Barry Sanders' league mark, 2003 has been a struggle. There's been criticism that he's not the same runner - although the Pittsburgh Steelers, against whom he ran for 174 yards in the snow on Dec. 14, would argue against that.
There's also a losing record for the Jets for the first time since 1996, a full season before Martin joined New York as a free agent.
"This is only the second time in my career that at the end of the season there is no hope," Martin said. "It is a feeling you don't like and it leaves a taste in your mouth and a feeling in your stomach you don't want.
"In a personal way, in 2002 the pain was physical (from a high ankle sprain) I had to deal with. This year, with all the criticism, you hear things that affect your mind."
Martin and the Jets got off to a rough start. With Chad Pennington out with a broken wrist, they lost their first four games. The offensive line performed poorly, rarely giving Martin any room to run. He totaled 197 yards in his first four outings.
more (http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=1990066)