I voted for Curtis Martin. McNeil was good but he got hurt a lot, while Curtis put up at least 1,000 yards every year until his very last when he couldn't do it anymore. They were very similar runners in style and results, ie shifty and effective but rarely broke long TDs. Funny, I was thinking last week of LT now as a Jet compared to Curtis in his later years. So far the edge has to go to LT.
I just remember Freeman being a more explosive/exciting guy. If not for injuries he would have put up some crazy numbers.
Curtis. And as much as I really liked Freeman McNeil (not sure how any Jets fan wouldn't know who Freeman is btw) this was a pretty easy choice.
IMHO a silly poll since the majority of posters on this board NEVER saw Freeman play since they are were not even born when he was a NYJ. That being said Freeman was the shiftier/fastest back but as IS pointed out he also was hurt far more often then CM was :up:
Tough call, they played in two very different styles of offense. These stats are just Curtis' as a Jet Curtis played in 123 games with the Jets, had 2,560 attempts for 10,302 yards which comes to 4 yards per carry. Freeman played 144 games, but only had 1,798 attempts for 8,074 yards which comes to 4.5 yards per carry. Receiving, Curtis had 367 receptions for 2,439 yards which comes to 6.6 yards per reception. Freeman 295 receptions for 2,961 yards, which comes to 10 yards per reception. I think just based off those stats we see that Freeman was more explosive, and he was. One huge stat in Curtis' favor is fumbles, Curtis only had 17, while Freeman had 45. Freeman had 1/2 a yard more per carry and nearly 4 more yards per catch. Also Curtis had a nose for the EZ, with 58 rushing TD's and 5 receiving TD's he has Freeman beat. Freeman had a total of 50 TD's 38 rushing, and 12 receiving. For his entire career Freeman averaged at least 4 yards per carry each season, not many backs have accomplished that feat. I think if Freeman could've stayed healthy Curtis would not be the number 1 Jet rusher. Based off that Freeman was better IMO.
McNeil had a great O-line when he first got here. Marvin Powell and Chris Ward at T (Ward held a lot but was a good run blocker), Joe Fields at C, Dan Alexander and Randy Raassmussen at G. Rassmussen retired and Stan Waldemore took over, but mostly that line held up for Freeman's first 5-6 years, Ward eventually replaced by Reggie McElroy who was pretty good. No slouches in there, that's why we were a good team and Todd, Ryan and O'Brien had success in those years.
Freeman played most of his career with Johnny Hector, who was also a good back and excellent in short yardage, so he got a lot of the carries down close.
McNeil was probably a better back, and if you had to pick one for one game you'd probably go with him, but the question is "who had a better career as a Jet," and in that it's not even close. McNeil got hurt way too much; it's Martin by a landslide.
I'd say most of Curtis Martin's credentials for the Hall came as a Jet. He only played three seasons in New England, they were all good ones and he appeared in the Super Bowl, but most of his resume came as a Jet. Even that by itself is more steady then what McNeil gave us because he got hurt so much. Again, think about Johnny Hector, he had a whole productive career as a Jet in large part by playing when McNeil was hurt.
Too many times because he held the ball too long. Look at Todd and Ryan who didn't take nearly as many sacks behind the same line. Also, run blocking and pass blocking of course are different.
Johnny Hector was tops in the league in 1987 for rushing TD's with 11. I loved watching him play as a kid-
