2012 Pro Football HOF candidates announced...

For good measure, Curtis was much more reliable in terms of protecting the ball.
Bettis: 41 fumbles; 3,479 carries, 200 catches (fumble every 89.73 touches)
Martin: 29 fumbles; 3,518 carries, 484 catches (fumble every 138 touches)

Bettis may have had the big personality and nickname but Martin was without question a better back.

 

Curtis Martin is the most underappreciated football player of the last 25 years--at least. I've ranted here about his credentials but goodness, the guy rushed for 1,000 yards 10 straight years and won the rushing title in the 10th year, at an age when most RBs are either long retired or just collecting a paycheck as a little-used role player. He should have been in last year.

 

I'll be surprised if Martin doesn't get in this year, and horrified. Last year was a real big crop of guys who should be in the Hall. This year, not so much. I like Bledsoe, and he was a pretty good quarterback in his day, but Hall of Famer? No.

 

I mean, Parcells will get in before Schotty IMO. What other coaching candidates are even still waiting to get inducted from past nominees?

 

I agree.

 

Sure, but it's the hall of "fame" not the hall of best.

 

Did you forget your blue font or are you actually suggesting that as a legitimate argument?

 

i'm a waffler on this one. martin was about the classiest act i ever covered. but i get the non-n.y./n.e. media/fans not being fired up about him. he had no important-game, signature moments, no highlight-film moments. truth is, he was an incredibly consistent, solid back but we prefer our 'skill positon' hof'ers to bring a WOW factor to these festivities. and truth be told, martin was a boring player (on the field).

my guess is he eventually gets in, but i have zero problem with those who shrug and put him in their 'hall of very good' instead.

 

I'm actually suggesting that factors other than one's playing ability go into who makes the HOF, yes.

Did Jerry Rice need a big personality to get into the HOF? No, he was that good. Does Keyshawn Johnson? Yes, if he gets in it will be largely on personality.

 

For running backs, it's all about yards per carry, Martin is at 4.0 for a career. He'll make it at some point, considering he is third all time in total carries behind only Emmitt and Sweetness. He may be one of the last running backs to get 3,000 carries in a career. When Tomlinson retires there really isn't another one on the horizon. Bettis and Edgerrin James are also in that group.

 

Bettis will get in because he has a neat nickname. Martin will get in because he deserves it. But I'm guessing Bettis gets in first. Possibly a number of years before.