http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/115414975862090.xml&coll=1 Saturday, July 29, 2006 BY DAVE HUTCHINSON Star-Ledger Staff HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- RB Curtis Martin was placed on the physically unable to perform list Thursday as a precaution and is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener, according to an NFL insider with direct knowledge of Martin's injury. The person requested anonymity because he doesn't want to comment publicly about the Jets' situation. "Martin's injury isn't serious. The Jets just want to buy some time," the person said. "He'll be back." Coach Eric Mangini refused to give a timetable on Martin's return or give any details on his condition. "As soon as Curtis is ready to practice, he'll be out there," Mangini said. Martin, 33, had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his right knee last December. While on the PUP list, Martin can rehab at the team complex and attend meetings. He can be activated at any time before the start of the regular season. The move allows the Jets not to count him on the active roster during training camp and to be able to place him on the regular-season PUP list, if necessary. "I'm pretty sure if we had a game Sunday, Curtis would be playing," running back Cedric Houston said. "I know it's not his decision not to be out here practicing." Yesterday, Derrick Blaylock took most of the reps with the first team with Houston getting the rest. Houston, who lost 15 pounds and is down to 218 pounds, looked much quicker. "It's definitely an opportunity for me, Blaylock and (rookie) Leon (Washington) to get out there and show the coaches what we got," said Houston, who suffered a broken wrist and facial scars when thrown from a car in an off-season accident. WR Justin McCareins and CB Rayshun Reed were placed on the PUP list after failing Thursday's conditioning drill. Mangini seemed particularly annoyed with McCareins. "I'm not going to put anybody on the field who can't pass the criteria to get on the field," Mangini said. MLB Jonathan Vilma has been studying film of Patriots ILB Tedy Bruschi to help learn the Jets' new 3-4 alignment. "I wanted to see what he did because he has been in the system eight or nine years, and he knows how to work it," Vilma said. Trevor Johnson and Bryan Thomas are battling for the starting nod at the all-important weak outside linebacker position in the Jets' new 3-4 defense. The position calls for the player to be versatile enough to rush the passer and drop back in coverage. WR Laveranues Coles tweaked his left ankle in the morning session but he's fine. ... Rookie TE Jason Pociak (shoulder) didn't practice in the afternoon. ... Rookie WR Reggie Newhouse made two nice grabs on deep balls. In the morning, the Jets had a spirited one-on-one tackling drill in which LB Victor Hobson blasted rookie WR Paul Silva. ... Continuing his crackdown on the media, Mangini has barred reporters from the cafeteria at lunchtime.
I am just wondering now if Martin will be considered our starting ie leading back. I think Houston is going to get a real good look at in camp and during pre season.
Lets all wait and see.............if Curtis can return to "Curtis Martin form" with the new offensive line and not getting all the carries sharing time with Houston and Blaylock.Curtis might give us a career year not having to bear the entire load game after game.Fresh legs and breather once in awhile go along way for a runnng back.
lol this article sems kinda lkate alot of old news in it.. anyway in this morning daily news cimmi is saying some intresting stuff on Cmart.
Curtis has always publicly stated that the more reps he gets in TC and the preseason, the more comfortable and ready he feels going into the season. If Curtis was 100%, I see no reason why he wouldn't be out there.
He was playing at 233 last season? Holy wow....now I take back anything I said about hs speed. I'm alot more impressed now. Hopefully the pounds he dropped add alot of speed, otherwise I wouldn't mind seeing him still at 230ish if he can be that heaving and run a mid 4.5........maybe he did it for better quickness and agility and not just timed speed, but the power and ability to maintain his balance after contact that he showed last year was awesome. If the weight loss makes him faster and he can still run with that power and balance then we have a good back on our hands.
Well, I don't see this posted anywhere, but I found it on a competing message board: Curtis uncertain he can come back BY RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Curtis Martin stops short of promising he'll return to Jets, and questions linger over whether team is pushing him to retire. While his teammates practice in the hot sun before cheering crowds at Hofstra, Curtis Martin works alone, trapped in a quiet building. He works in the weight room, in the film room and in the trainer's room, rehabbing his surgically repaired knee. It's his personal hell. "To be honest, it hurts more than the physical pain, not being out there," the Jets' running back said yesterday in his first training-camp interview. At 33, Martin could walk away, his legacy secure, but he still wants to play football. He made that clear. Whether he will play is a growing issue. Given a chance to squash the speculation, Martin dodged. Asked if there's any doubt in his mind about playing this season, he replied: "I'm not going to comment on that at all." Realizing his nonanswer could be turned into big headlines, Martin quickly added, "Please don't go and insinuate." People close to the future Hall of Famer have clammed up in recent days when asked about Martin's injury, remarking, "Ask the Jets." Rookie coach Eric Mangini hasn't provided any details, saying only that Martin will be removed from the physically-unable-to-perform list when he's healthy enough to practice. Friends say Martin did a lot of soul-searching before the start of camp, which suggests something was - is? - weighing on his mind. Connecting the dots, it's starting to seem as if the Jets are more troubled than Martin by the knee. Could they be nudging their esteemed all-time leading rusher toward retirement? Martin didn't seem to agree with the club's decision to place him on the physically-unable-to-perform list, a notion echoed by some of his teammates. By rule, he can be activated at any time in the preseason, but he's such a workaholic that it has to be maddening to miss practice time. "To be honest," he said, "it bothers me." Diplomatic as ever, Martin refused to criticize the team's decision, saying, "I think, at some point in time, you become wise and you learn to just listen. Sometimes you have to set aside your own pride, and that's something I've definitely had to do." Martin, only two years removed from the NFL rushing title, underwent arthroscopic surgery seven months ago. He was expected to be ready for training camp, but landed on the PUP list on the eve of camp. With Martin out of the picture, the Jets have serious concerns in the backfield. Cedric Houston and Derrick Blaylock are sharing time, but neither is considered a No. 1 back. They also have rookie Leon Washington. The trade market could heat up in the coming weeks, with players such as Chris Brown (Titans), Thomas Jones (Bears) and Michael Bennett (Saints) rumored to be on the block. Remember, the Jets tried to trade for the Cowboys' Julius Jones in the spring. For now, the story is Martin and his quest to overcome the biggest challenge of his career. He replied without hesitation when asked if he wants to play. "Oh, yeah," he said. "I wouldn't be doing all this work for nothing. My fire will burn until the day I'm done with football. ... For me, it ends when it ends. Right now, that's not where my mind is at." The question is, do the Jets feel the same way? Originally published on July 30, 2006
curtis martin could possibly still have another 3 years in him... bettis style. Jerome was in a will he retire stage about 3 years ago and they reduced his workload and he played well... This is what im hoping for martin, he could stay for another few years with a small load and see a superbowl hopefully
This was todays Star Ledger article. Curtis Martin update The agent for the veteran running back said it was a mutual decision to place him on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a slowly healing right knee and he expects the veteran to play this season. "I don't know if I'm concerned," agent Eugene Parker told The Star-Ledger yesterday. "Right now, Curtis is working his way to try to play. When he's physically able to play, he'll play. "I think this (the decision to put him on the PUP list) is a consensus that it's the right thing to do. But Curtis wants to play this season." This doesnt make me feel all warm and happy inside. Why would his agent say "wants" and "expects" if he is healthy? It is starting to sound like there are doubts about him even playing.
Yes, it doesnt make you feel good because its all a smokescreen. Hes not playing. Get it in your heads ppl, curtis martin's long and great career is over.
