LISTEN: Curtis Martin Says He Owes His Career To Bill Parcells
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Hall of Famer Curtis Martin says his NFL career likely would have gone much differently if it weren't for Bill Parcells.
The retired running back told the "JR Sport Brief" podcast: "I feel like I owe Bill my career. If it wasn't for that man, I don't think my career would have went beyond five years."
Martin played 11 seasons in the NFL -- three with the Patriots, eight with the Jets. With 14,101 yards, Martin ranks fourth on the league's all-time rushing list. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
Martin played under Parcells in New England in 1995 and '96 before the two were reunited in New York for the '98 and '99 seasons.
The five-time Pro Bowler said he learned the value of hard work from Parcells.
"He encouraged me and almost forced to not take my foot off the gas," Martin said. "All I focused on was how to get better, how to get a little bit better. Every single year I would do something different in training just so football wouldn't get old to me and I wouldn't become complacent."