Prior to the 2001 season Terry Bradway re-worked Curtis Martin's contract to add length and cap room. At that time I suggested that the Jets look to trade Martin - and sign Free Agent Priest Holmes to go along with rookie LaMont Jordan to cover our running game. Since then, here are their stats: Curtis Martin 76 games - 5347 yards - 3.8 yard average - 36TD 203 receptions for 1297 yards - 6.5 average - 2TD Priest Holmes 61 games - 5933 yards - 4.6 average 76 TD 246 receptions for 2360 yards - 9.5 average - 7TD LaMont Jordan 76 games - 2302 yards - 4.3 yard average - 19 TD 120 receptions for 980 yards - 8.2 yard average - 3 TD OK - so now both Holmes and Martin appear done. Holmes singed for much less than we were paying Martin, and we could have let Holmes contract expire and resign Jordan. Yes, Martin has been a warrior and a HOF player and a loyal tough smart Jet...however, Looking back - did the organization make the right call on Martin?
Ithought it was too much for too long at the time.... but, having said that, I think they had visions of sugar plums and super bowls at the time.
Hindsight is 20/20 but who in their right mind would have let go of Curtis Martin for (remember, a VERY unproven) Priest Holmes? The guy's been money in the bank for the years since he signed the contract, he's definitely earned his dough, culminating in the season in which he lead the league in rushing. It might have been a little long, but I can't really blame Bradway. It wasn't his worst move as a GM.
unproven absolutely. But I also believe overrated. He ran behind one of the best lines in the NFL (I'm talking about Priest Holmes here)
Considering Curtis had 2 years and $18 mil left on that contract when he was extended by Bradway, his trade value (even coming off of a 1,500 yard season) was not very high IMO. I seriously question the liklihood of them getting a day 1 pick for him at the time since the team acquiring him would have to redo his contract. Looking back you can say they made a mistake with Martin (since the Jet teams of 2002-2005 did not go to the Super Bowl), but I can't criticize them for retaining a 1,500 yard RB who was in his prime. Let us not forget that Holmes played in front of the game's best O-Line and ended up breaking down after only a couple seasons as the full time back. Considering the way Holmes ended up breaking down, I don't think the Jets would have gotten any farther if Holmes had been their RB over the past 4-5 years.
GG, not many oldtimers around these days that remember when you did actually put that thought to the board. WE all thought it was too much for too long but was shouted down by those who differed in their opinion of Martin. Alot of us advocated trading Martin back then as well. That being said, Bradway and Edwards, whose loyalty to their veterans often clouded their collective judgement, were running things and just knew that Martin would be the key to a SB appearance. 20/20 being perfect, we know now that wasn't the case. No, the organization overestimated Martin's longevity. I don't think they took into account Edwards' penchant for overplaying his veterans to the detriment of their careers either. Edwards and Hackett's conservatism is as much to blame for Martin's demise as the shitty OLine he was forced to run behind last year. The CS ran Martin into the ground. Record or not, it was piss poor judgement on the CS's part. So I would have to say yeah, the CS/FO screwed the pooch..
These are the breaks in a capped NFL . Curtis's contract will hurt but won't cripple us in regards to the cap hit. Curtis was one of the best to play the RB position :martin:
This isn't a fair comparison. They were playing in completely different offenses with different offensive lines and quarterbacks. As for Jordan, when he came in as a Jet he had fresh legs against a defense that Curtis had already worn down. Also, look at Jordans numbers drop way off at the end of last season. There's no telling what Holmes number would have been in NY or Martins in KC. Where's the stat for being a leader and a role model on and off the field?
I think the stats given are a little unfair since in 2005 Curtis was behind a garbage O-Line and by all accounts should not have been out there with the state of his knee for most of the season. In those other three season Martin averaged 4.3 ypc. Also in defense of the contract he got, what is the exact language in terms of the protection that the Jets would get if Curtis was no longer able to play before the contract was up? With the portection they built in for themselves in the deal, the extra years on that deal were really just for cap reasons (spreading out the bonus) rather than actually believing that Curtis would be effective and healthy for the length of the deal.
Green Guy I remember you saying that - and yes I give you that point but to say that they over payed or went nuts with the contract I think is wrong..did they envision him playing out the whole deal probably not - they had an insurance contract on him until 03 and they probably firgured everything after 03 (where he turned 30) was gravy...
It is always a fine line running(ruining?) a franchise. Letting go of the old and transitioning to the new. Bradway definitely did a terrible job of that. I think the OP main point wasn't that we would have had Priest for his glory years. It's that a smooth transition would have been made to Lamont. I agree 100% and hope the new regime does a better job of making the most of now without sacrificing tomorrow... With that being a perfect segue - please enough of the "let's trade next years 2nd rounder for so and so". We have an extra 2nd rounder to benefit a rebuilding team. Not to plug in a short term replacement for this non playoff team. P.S. If Martin retires - how does that affect our cap situation?
And he would have been the laughing stock. Priest Holmes did what he did because of KCs line. If you traded Curtis Martin, the cap hit would have been HUGE. You guys need to think before you put your 20/20 hinesight glasses on.
Well, yes, the whole reason Martin got that contract was because he was untradable and already a massive burden on the cap..... I thought that was understood. What I didn't like at the time was the legnth and well, Bradway sold the farm.... it was too much money. He did the same with Chrebet.
Wayne's contract was the head scratcher IMO. While you can argue about the money that Martin and Mawae got, in those cases he was overpaying for pro-bowl caliber players, something that can not be said about Chrebet.
