Curtis is up for induction into the hall next year, along with Sanders, Faulk and Bettis. What do you guys think his chances are of getting in on first ballot?
I don't believe Martin is a first ballot HOFer. He was never the dominant player in the league at his position. He was very good for a long period of time. In my mind that makes you a HOFer, but not first ballot. Sanders and Faulk are first ballot.
I think Curtis is a first ballot, and I think he is the better player over Bettis, but Faulk and Sanders should get in prior to him.
No, he's not. Martin is one of my favorite players ever, but he's not in the same league as a Barry Sanders or a Marshall Faulk.
Agreed. Maybe if this class wasn't so strong he would get 1st ballot, but he will get in the HOF no question.
He is not even CLOSE to a lock. There are some who believe he isn't even HOF worthy. He will get in, but he has only a slim chance of being first ballot. EDIT - I changed "many" to "some". I hear some people say he is a "hall of very good" player.
He is eligible for the class of 2011. His final game played was during the 2005 season. That is all that matters. The fact he was on the Jets PUP list in 2006 is irrelevant.
That's all he needs. Most people think that Bettis was a far better player than Curtis, but that's not really true.
I don't think Bettis gets in before Martin, but the fact that he played for the Steelers and won a Super Bowl helps him.
:beer: Bettis rushing- 3479 att, 13662 yds, 3.9 avg, 91 TDs receiving- 200 rec, 1449 yds, 7.2 avg, 3 TDs 1993 1st team consensus All-Pro 1997 2nd team Associated Press All-Pro Martin rushing- 3518 att, 14101 yds, 4.0 avg, 90 TDs receiving- 484 rec, 3329 yds, 6.9 avg, 10 TDs 1999 2nd team Associated Press All-Pro 2001 2nd team Associated Press, 1st team Pro Football Weekly, 1st team Sporting News All-Pro 2004 1st team consensus All-Pro Both players appeared in Super Bowls- Martin as a starter, Bettis as a backup. Martin was a better blocker and without question a more complete back. Sorry, but I don't see how Bettis was better aside from popularity. Sadly, between that and playing for the darling Steelers might be enough to push Bettis in before Martin. I also suspect that Steelers fans will try harder to get their player in the Hall of Fame.
Curtis should get in before Bettis, people will use that bs argument that Bettis has a ring. How does John Randle with no ring get in before Klecko. Klecko has been shafted. When you hear Anthony Munoz say flat out that Klecko was the best he ever played against and these voters shaft him, what a joke
postseason stats Martin rushing- 182 att, 795 yds, 4.4 avg, 8 TDs receiving- 37 rec, 305 yds, 8.2 avg, 0 TDs Bettis rushing- 199 att, 674 yds, 3.4 avg, 9 TDs receiving- 8 rec, 57 yds, 7.1 avg, 0 TDs
You are correct to a point. These sports Hall of Fames tend to be ridiculous with some of their decisions. However, with running backs and the PFHOF, statistics are usually a huge issue. Let's say somebody Rip Van Winkled the past 20 NFL seasons and finally awoke today. If you showed the stats to the person, he'd have to determine Martin was the better player. The regular season rushing numbers are as close as can be. However, the receiving numbers are in Martin's favor by a landslide. Finally, on the big stage (playoff games), Martin was more productive.
Never the dominant player?... His 1st season in the leauge he won offencive rookie of the year award rushing for 1,487 yards and went to the pro bowl, after that he went to 3 more pro bowls and won the leauges rushing title in 2004 at the age of 31. This guy played for 11 seasons and only untill he had bone on bone contact in his knees did he rush for under 1,000 yards and that was 1 out of 11 seasons, only the 4th player in history to rush for 14,000 yards With that said I think its fair to say he was quite dominant. Though I do agree Sanders and Faulk will go in before he does and they do deserve to, but Martin had his fair share of dominance I wouldnt be suprized at all to see him on the 1st ballot
