The Star-Ledger-USA TODAY Sports
As a fellow Taurus, I have to give one of the greatest New York Jets of all time Curtis Martin a happy birthday salute on turning the big 40.
On that day of March 20, 1998, when you signed your contract to become a Jet, I knew something special was going to happen with the organization. Also I was glad the New England Patriots didn’t know what they lost.
You were something special, being ranked in top-20 in touchdowns with 100, fourth all-time in rushing yards with 14,101 yards and 12th all-time with 90 rush touchdowns. My most memorable moment of you was when you won the NFL rushing title by one more yard than Shaun Alexander and became the oldest player (at 31) to ever win the rushing title.
You are the epitome of what it means to be a blue-collar hard worker. You never been known to quit and have set the standard for what it means to have class as an NFL professional football player. The Jets organization will forever be indebted to you for playing for them, and indebted to Bill Parcells for getting you to sign the contract to play for the Jets.
You continued your professionalism by having the “Curtis Martin Job Foundation” founded during your playing career and continued, during your retirement, to provide financial aid and hands-on support to single mothers, children’s charities, individuals with disabilities and low-income housing providers.
Whenever there is a list of all-time great Jet players and NFL players, you sir are sure to be placed on that list.
Alfred Epps is a New York Jets writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @mralfredepps or add him to your network on Google
