Curtis Martin Makes it Official

Curtis Martin Makes it Official

While Martin sat out each of the last two seasons with the Jets, playing it straight and re-working his contract both years in order to offer up added room in terms of their salary cap, onlookers' doubts about Martin returning to the Jets continued to grow. During the second week of the 2005 season in a game against the Miami Dolphins, the Jets' running back suffered torn cartilage in his right knee, but opted to play through the injury at that time. That decision lasted until the end of the twelfth game, when Martin ended his season and underwent surgery in December of 2005. Martin has made a trip to the Pro Bowl five different times, but sat out for the entire 2006 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list from before training camp, in order to give the knee a real chance at recovery.

Martin arrived in New York when the Jets signed the restricted free agent in 1998, after spending three years with the Patriots. Critics point to the 2004 season as the real standout year for the back, when he posted a league-leading 1,697 yards, tying Barry Sanders' record with ten consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career at running back. His career numbers over 168 games are impressive, with 3,518 carries for 14,101 yards and 70 touchdowns.

Cedric Houston to Retire From the NFL

It was reported late last week that New York Jets' running back Cedric Houston will be leaving the team for the 2007 season, and possibly leaving the NFL for good. After the team announced Houston's departure "for personal reasons" last Thursday, they concurrently announced the signing of free agent Chris Davis, who is expected to play at the wide receiver position. The Jets reportedly placed Houston on the team's Non-Football Injury/Reserve list, and shortly thereafter, Houston left the team, saying he had lost his passion for game.

Houston's career, in NFL terms or not, will stand as a remarkably short one, in terms of its overall duration. Of course, the game itself is a decidedly rough endeavor that seems to become faster and more backbreaking every season, but Houston's departure appears to be more about psychological or emotional strain, rather than physical. In short, not the typical story coming out of the NFL these days.

Eric Mangini, head coach of the New York Jets, is reported to have said, "Some guys just make that decision," referencing Houston's opting to leave the NFL and the life of a professional athlete to assume the role of a more normal person in today's society. Houston was originally a sixth-round draft choice by the Jets in 2005, and has rushed for 676 yards in his first two seasons with the team. Additionally, he has caught 15 passes for
109 yards receiving; both of these totals, along with his seven touchdowns, will apparently mark the final career numbers for Houston.

His absence will leave more doubts in terms of the Jets's abilities at the running back position, after appearing in eight games with one start during the 2006 season that saw Houston making 113 rushing attempts for 374 yards on the ground combined with 7 receptions for 43 yards and five touchdowns.

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