Is Curtis Martin a definite HOFer?

[Jeff W]

Meh, I guess he goes in, very consistent if unspectacular. I'm not too enthused about it. He was arguabley the best RB in the league in 2004, but that's it and 4.0 career yards/carry is pretty anemic for a HOFer in this era.

[samjjones]

If Harry Carson is in the HOF, there is no way Curtis Martin doesn't belong.

[VarlosZ]

Curtis Martin is a lock, and absolutely should go in on the first ballot. Keep in mind that he is probably the best RB ever when it comes to avoiding fumbles, and by a wide margin.

Top 20 in NFL rushing yards, and their touches per fumble:

E Smith 80.7
W Payton 50.5
B Sanders 83.4
C Martin 138.0
J Bettis 89.7
E Dickerson 42.0
T Dorsett 37.0
J Brown 46.2
M Faulk 100.1
M Allen 55.5
F Harris 36.3
T Thomas 67.0
J Riggins 54.6
O Simpson 42.6
C Dillon 102.1
R Watters 71.8
E George 84.7
O Anderson 52.5
E James 77.1
T Barber 51.3

[SL__72]

You mean touches per fumble?

[wh1t3bread]

[ QUOTE ]
You mean touches per fumble?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. Curtis Martin has 1 fumble per 138 touches. Pretty amazing. Curtis Martin also has a career QB rating of 158.3. That means he is better than Tom Brady. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Jeff W]

[ QUOTE ]
If Harry Carson is in the HOF, there is no way Curtis Martin doesn't belong.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't much about Carson except he's a 9-time pro bowler and 6 time all pro for the Giants(5 Pro Bowls for Martin), but this kind of argument is a slippery slope. If one mediocre player makes it into the hall of fame, you can't start inducting every scrub who compares favorably with him(not that Martin is a scrub).

[Needle77]

[ QUOTE ]
C Martin 138.0

[/ QUOTE ]

I had no idea about that number, and you think I would living in North Jersey. That number is just sick, the next closest is Dillion with 102.1. Thats 37 carries. Thats ~2 games more each time with the 2nd highest person. Most impressive.

[Jack of Arcades]

[ QUOTE ]
Meh, I guess he goes in, very consistent if unspectacular. I'm not too enthused about it. He was arguabley the best RB in the league in 2004, but that's it and 4.0 career yards/carry is pretty anemic for a HOFer in this era.

[/ QUOTE ]

Man, it's so insanely hard to do what he did - take the rock 300 times a year, every year, and still be an above average back.

Not only that, he was the best back in football in 2004, and has a good argument for 1995.

[brettbrettr]

[ QUOTE ]


Man, it's so insanely hard to do what he did - take the rock 300 times a year, every year, and still be an above average back.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hear you, I just think Jeff is pointing out that if he's only "above average" then why should he go. Not that I agree with your calling him "above average." He was better than that.

[Jeff W]

[ QUOTE ]
Man, it's so insanely hard to do what he did - take the rock 300 times a year, every year, and still be an above average back.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, the low fumble rate adds some extra value that is easy to ignore, too. I do think he is a Hall of Famer.

[ QUOTE ]
Not only that, he was the best back in football in 2004, and has a good argument for 1995.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really, you think he has an argument over Emmitt for 95(and Barry Sanders for that matter)?