INDIANAPOLIS — Eleven years ago, Curtis Martin felt a similar pain.
Martin, the legendary Jets running back and one of the greatest players in Gang Green history, was at Lucas Oil Stadium yesterday to serve as the Jets’ honorary captain against Indianapolis. But the future Hall of Famer, who referred to the Jets as “we,” said he knows how painful it is to lose an AFC Championship.
“I think [the Jets are] young,” Martin said after Gang Green’s 30-17 loss to the Colts, ending their season one game shy of the Super Bowl. “I think they have a bright future. It’s just hard to get over what just happened.
“I think everyone who’s a Jet fan believed 100 percent that we were going to pull this one out. And it just hurts. I’ve experienced this feeling before, and it hurts when you don’t get it done.”
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During the 1998-99 season, Martin’s Jets lost 23-10 to the Broncos at Denver in the AFC title game. There were some similarities between that game and yesterday’s contest.
That day, the Jets led 10-0 at halftime, and were outscored by the Broncos 23-0 in the final 30 minutes. Yesterday, the Jets led the Colts 17-13 at halftime (after being up 17-6 before that), but were outscored 17-0 in the final 30 minutes.
“I wanted them to win so bad,” Martin said.
For Martin, whose former team named its MVP award after him, that 1999 AFC title game was the furthest the Jets ever went during his tenure.
Nevertheless, the Jets’ all-time leading rusher said he believes this current group of players has a bright future.
“Young team,” Martin said. “Young quarterback who’s maturing. So I think they’ve got a bright future ahead of them.”