Curtis Martin: First ballot HOF?

[DolfanDaveInMI]

With him being fourth on the career rushing yardage list and in the top 10 for rushing TD's, I don't think there is a question that he gets to Canton. The question is whether he's first ballot or not. What do y'all think?

 

[BwanaZulia]

Depends on the year and who is with him. If it is a heavy packed RB year (Priest Holmes, Da Buss, Curtis) might be harder.

BZ

 

[DolfanDaveInMI]

Priest Holmes is not a Hall of Famer. Terrell Davis won't be voted into Canton because he only had four great seasons. Priest has three and a half. In today's era, Priest's overall numbers just don't cut it.

If you're talking about a numbers game, Junior Seau's signing with New England eliminates one competitor for C-Mart's spot.

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

I don't think he is a first ballot HOFer. He is a great back but was never considered the best of his era. He was overshadowed early in his career by Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders. Terrell Davis was the dominant back for a few years. Then Edgerrin James and Priest Holmes, then Tomlinson.

The other thing that would trouble me is his career YPC is only 4.0. As a comparision, here are the YPC numbers for his contemporaries:

Sanders - 5.0
Smith - 4.2
James - 4.3
Davis - 4.6
Holmes - 4.6
Tomlinson - 4.3
Faulk - 4.3
Bettis - 3.9

Here are the averages of the backs in the hall:

Earl Campbell - 4.3
Marcus Allen - 5.0
Eric Dickerson - 4.4
Walter Payton - 4.4
Tony Dorsett - 4.3
OJ Simpson - 4.7
Jim Brown - 5.2
Franco Harris - 4.1
Leroy Kelly - 4.2

As was alrady mentioned, he may be in some tough company as well (Faulk, Bettis, Holmes). His career numbers are very close to Bettis and Franco Harris, but both have SB rings.

He has been amazingly consistent, but, IMO, not first ballot worthy.

 

[djfresh47]

I think he is. I believe he's 4th all-time in career rushing yards and had ten straight thousand yard seasons which makes him 1st ballot IMO. He's been a great back but not flashy. IMO he was a better back than Bettis.

 

[ih8brady]

First ballot all the way. One of the top 2 or 3 consistent RBs of his generation.

 

[Dolfan984]

With the career numbers he has, he most likely will.

 

[ThePats]

Isnt he in the top 3 for all time rushing yard leaders?

Every single season he played in he had over 1000 yards until last season. The guy was great. First ballot all the way.

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

Faulk, Bettis, and Martin will be eligible in the same year. Faulk has better stats (more TDs, higher YPC, more yards from scrimmage) and a ring, Bettis has similar stats and a ring. Who do you think gets voted in first? They will not put in 3 RBs in the same class.

 

[nyrican]

Curtis my Fav Martin

1995 1487 yds
1996 1152 yds
1997 1160 yds
1998 1287 yds
1999 1464 yds
2000 1204 yds
2001 1513 yds
2002 1094 yds
2003 1308 yds
2004 1697 yds
2005 735 yds

I think Curtis deserves first ballot hall of fame honors... he has been nothing but a class act and a terrific RB........

 

[GreenMachine]

Faulk, Bettis, and Martin will be eligible in the same year. Faulk has better stats (more TDs, higher YPC, more yards from scrimmage) and a ring, Bettis has similar stats and a ring. Who do you think gets voted in first? They will not put in 3 RBs in the same class.

If SB rings were prerequsites for HOF nominations, than the HOF would be minus alot of players.

 

[BwanaZulia]

If SB rings were prerequsites for HOF nominations, than the HOF would be minus alot of players.

D_ _ M _ _ _ _ _

I will buy an "A" Alex.

BZ

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

If SB rings were prerequsites for HOF nominations, than the HOF would be minus alot of players.

If you think that SB rings don't factor into the equation, especially when the career stats are so similar, you are naive, even for a Jets fan. No one is saying that he shouldn't make it in, but he will have a tough time with the first ballot. IMO, both Bettis and Faulk get in before Martin.

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

D_ _ M _ _ _ _ _

I will buy an "A" Alex.

BZ

If they weren't considered, I can think of a bunch that wouldn't be in.


J__ N______

I will buy an "O", Pat.

Alex Trebek is the host of Jeopardy, not wheel of fortune. Here is the Jeopary version of the joke:


Category: QB Trivia
Answer: Joe Namath
Question: Who is one of the most overrated QBs of all time?

 

[Dolfan984]

To compare Curtis Martin to Dan Marino is ridiculous. Martin was a great player, but for a long time, Marino was straight up dominant.