It’s a slow day in Indianapolis for many of the assembled media, but the 44 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee are busily working on deciding which four to seven people will be enshrined in Canton, a decision that will be announced this afternoon.
For two of the 17 finalists, Curtis Martin and Bill Parcells, it would be extra sweet to be enshrined together.
“As far as my football career, I consider him my father figure and my mentor,” Martin told the New York Daily News. “If it was not for Bill Parcells, my career wouldn’t be even half of what it was and I’m not saying that modestly. I’m not nervous at all. The exciting part of it for me is the possibility of going in with Bill. If I could guarantee that Bill would make it and that meant that I couldn’t make it, I would make that sacrifice. That’s how much he’s meant to me.”
Parcells drafted Martin in New England in 1995, and when Martin had his first 100-yard game, Parcells made a typical Parcells comment to the press: “Don’t go putting him in Canton yet.”
But over time Parcells made no secret of the fact that Martin was one of his all-time favorite players. A year after Parcells left the Patriots for the Jets, he gave up first- and third-round picks to acquire Martin and sign him to a big contract. Now it may be time to put Martin in Canton, and it may be time for Parcells to go in with him.