Durable. Dependable. Humble.
These were the first words that came to coach Rex Ryan’s mind when he was asked to describe his top running back.
“He’s a guy that’s not going to be outworked,” Ryan said. “He’s a true leader. He brings people with him. He leads by example, but he also encourages and brings guys with him and builds his teammates up.”
This was Ryan talking about Thomas Jones, but it might as well have been Bill Parcells, Al Groh, Herman Edwards or Eric Mangini talking about the greatest running back in Jets history — Curtis Martin.
Jones still has many miles to trek before he reaches Martin’s Hall of Fame status, but his quiet and determined consistency, as well as the family background that drives him, draws an uncanny parallel to the former Jets great.
Jones’ 109 rushing yards in Thursday night’s 19-13 win over the Bills in Toronto put him over the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth consecutive season and third since the Jets acquired him in a trade with the Bears in 2007. He has 8,883 career rushing yards.
Martin, with legendary toughness and work ethic, rushed for 1,000 or more yards in his first 10 NFL seasons, including his first seven with the Jets. Only Barry Sanders bettered that in NFL history. Martin is fourth all-time in rushing with 14,101 yards.
Never a statistical freak, Martin always appreciated his consistency the most, another thing that makes Jones mirror him so much.
This is why, when Martin’s balky knee finally forced him to stop playing after the 2006 season, he surveyed the crop of backs the Jets were looking at to replace him and endorsed Jones to Jets management.
“When the Jets were first looking at prospects to bring in, I remember telling them I think [Jones] is the perfect type of back that this team needs,” Martin told The Post last week. “They had a few different people in mind. I remember saying, ‘I think that’s the guy, I think he’s the guy who can replace me.’
“I looked at myself as someone who could do whatever a running back can do — block, catch, short yardage and be a dependable person — and I thought that [Jones] was one of those consistent, dependable people that you need on your team. And, he also came across as a workhorse.”
All prophetic words from Martin, as Jones became all of those things for the Jets and is, like Martin was, the linchpin to their offense.
And further making Jones bear the uncanny resemblance to the way Martin went about his business is the way he has become the most productive back in the NFL with little to no flash or fanfare.
Since 2005, only LaDainian Tomlinson (6,358 yards) has rushed for more yards than Jones (6,044).
“We do have similar personalities — pretty low key, pretty much go about our own business, go about our work and don’t ask for attention or do anything extra to get attention,” Jones said of the comparison to Martin.
“I don’t play for that kind of stuff,” referring to the notoriety,” Jones said.”
“I have a certain reason for being here in the league, and it might not be to be on Deion Sanders’ ‘Prime Time’ or to be the talk of ‘Monday Night Countdown,’ ” Jones said. “That might not be my purpose here. My purpose may be to set example for younger guys, to lead by example. I take more pride in that than being on some talk show or being a part of some highlight.”
Sound familiar, Jets fans?
This running back, however, wears No. 20, not No. 28.
Jones and Martin aren’t close. They have a casual, “Hi there,” friendship and a respect for each other.
In another parallel, the work ethic of both was forged through their parents.
Martin’s foundation was built out of watching the way his mother Rochella worked tirelessly in Pittsburgh to raise him.
Jones’ work ethic is fueled by the 20-plus years his mother Betty spent working as a coal miner in his hometown of Big Stone Gap, Va., where his father Thomas Sr. also worked in the mines.
“I don’t really know a lot about [Martin’s] upbringing,” Jones said. “I know he was a great player. Every time someone says something about him it’s positive. He obviously left a great mark here with the Jets. I still look up in the stands and see a bunch of 28 jerseys and he’s not even playing anymore. That’s respect.
“I never heard anything of him being arrogant. I know he played hurt a lot. He was always a guy that you could count on to make plays. So I guess in that sense you can say we’re a lot alike. I’m an extremely humble person. Every opportunity I get I’m thankful for.
“I feel like being dependable is probably one of the most important things in life in general. It’s important to come through when people are depending on you.”
Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum, who was integral in bringing Martin to the Jets in 1997 and traded for Jones in 2007, said he does recall Martin’s recommendation of Jones. He considers himself lucky to have had the two backs on his watch.
“We take Thomas’ consistency for granted,” Tannenbaum said. “He’s a consummate pro. He can run, he can block, he can catch, he doesn’t fumble, he’s flawless in his pass protections. You can take consistencies in those areas for granted.
“That’s where he’s similar to Curtis in that it’s not always flashy but at the end of the day you look at his production and it compares favorably with just about everybody’s.”
Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery is one of only a handful of players remaining on the Jets who played with Martin. Jones’ similarity to Martin is not lost on Cotchery.
“The only thing different about them is ‘T.J.’ is a more vocal guy [around the team] and Curt was a more quiet guy,” Cotchery said. “They’re both durable guys. They both defied the odds of being 30 years old and still going strong.”
Durable. Dependable. Humble.
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com