Say goodbye to Curtis Martin, officially.

One of my favorite Curtis Martin memories from the college days ...

My roommate and I were walking down Forbes Avenue in Oakland, on our way to some serious drinking. I see this attractive, well-dressed black guy walking toward us and as he gets closer, I see it's Curtis Martin. But I'm not sure, so in need of the corroboration I turn to the roommate (who knows nothing about sports) and say, "Hey, is that Curtis Martin?"

"Curtis Martin?" she asked. "Who's Curtis Martin?"

"That's Curtis Martin!" I whisper loudly, staring in his direction.

She stopped for a moment as he approached and we said hello to him, then kept walking.

"Wow," my roommate said, obviously swooned. "That's Curtis Martin. Wow."

"So are you a Jets fan now?" I asked, laughing.

Her response? "Do the Jets play football?"

 

And in 2004, he had a more than capable backup in LaMont Jordan that Edwards wouldn't play for reasons known only to him and Vinny Testaverde.

 

Will my official goodbye be sent electronically, or by regular mail? Depending on your answer, am I allowed to enclose a novelty Jets helmet for Mr. Martin to autograph?

 

As good and decent a man as has ever played in any league.
Glad he got out with his health (relatively) intact.

 

We'll see how he feels in 10 years.

I bet those last two years did more damage to him than the first 10.