New York Jets
Greatest Player: Joe Namath
“Broadway” Joe Namath is still one of the most famous — or infamous — quarterbacks in the NFL history, largely due to his famous guarantee of a New York Jets victory in Super Bowl III. But here’s the truth: Namath is also one of the most overrated players in the history of the NFL, if not the most overrated outright.
For instance, how many people realize Namath led the NFL in interceptions four times in his 13-year NFL career, throwing 22 or more interceptions in those four years? Or how about the fact that Namath threw more interceptions than touchdowns in 11 of the the 13 years he played (including his last eight years in the NFL)? Namath’s guarantee deserves to be in the Hall more than Namath himself.
New York Jets
Runner Up: Curtis Martin
You know those people who are so consistently good at something that we eventually take it for granted? That was Curtis Martin. Case in point, how many people realize that Martin ran for over 1,100 yards in nine of his first 10 seasons in the NFL? After three seasons in New England, in which he averaged over 1,260 yards, Bill Parcells traded away first and third-round draft picks to bring Martin with him to the New York Jets.
In his first seven seasons with the Jets, Martin missed only one game and was selected to the Pro Bowl three times. In 2004, Martin became the oldest player, at age 31, in league history to win the rushing title. Today, he’s on the proverbial Mount Rushmore of the greatest running backs of All-Time, ranking alongside Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, and Barry Sanders for running backs with the most rushing yards ever.