News: Forgotten Harvey Martin Was One Of The Early Pass Rush Greats

CCBoy

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Forgotten Harvey Martin Was One Of The Early Pass Rush Greats
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...-martin-was-one-of-the-early-pass-rush-greats




For the fans who were around for the Dallas Cowboys first run of success the name brings to mind memories of the Doomsday Defense and what may have been the greatest single season ever experienced by a defensive lineman. It conjures up memories of Defensive Player of the Year honors being won and of Martin sharing the Super Bowl MVP award with fellow lineman Randy White. Harvey Martin was the definition of defensive domination during his time as a part of Tom Landry's squad.

Not all of us were so fortunate as to see the late Mr. Martin showcase his skills on the gridiron. I was able to catch the tail end of his career and I was far too young to appreciate the talents that he brought to the game. That does not mean that greatness cannot be recognized by those of us whose memory is more of DeMarcus Ware eventually surpassing Harvey as the Cowboys all-time sack leader. The effort that Ware had to put into achieving that milestone is a testament to just what a force Harvey Martin was.


Few of us doubt that shortly after DWare finally hangs up his cleats for the last time the Jones family will ensconce #94 in the Ring Of Honor, and that honor is certainly due to Mr. Ware. The tragedy is that the player that he chased for so long will most likely not be in that elusive club.

Outside the game Martin found his most difficult challenges. His on the field nickname of "Too Mean" followed the defensive end beyond the game. There were many rumors of domestic violence surrounding the player and also allegations of drug abuse. It was the drug rumors and his refusal to submit to a drug test that forced Harvey to retire from the game. He finally hit rock bottom in the mid 1990s when he was convicted of domestic violence and cocaine charges. For those offenses Martin was ordered into an extensive rehabilitation program...
 

plasticman

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He belongs in the Hall of Fame. Man, he and Ed Jones were exciting coming off tje bench during their first couple years.

If Martin's sacks had been counted, he would have been in the top 5 in history. They didnt begin counting sacks until deep in his career.

Again. Not having Martin in the Hall of Fame is proof of the bias against Cowboy players back in the 70"s and early 80's.

Started 22 playoff games including 7 conference championships and 4 Super Bowls.

Co- mvp of Super Bowl 12 in which the oppoment starting qb had a total rating of zero...as in zip, null, goose egg, the big O.
 

perrykemp

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He belongs in the Hall of Fame. Man, he and Ed Jones were exciting coming off tje bench during their first couple years.

If Martin's sacks had been counted, he would have been in the top 5 in history. They didnt begin counting sacks until deep in his career.

Again. Not having Martin in the Hall of Fame is proof of the bias against Cowboy players back in the 70"s and early 80's.

Started 22 playoff games including 7 conference championships and 4 Super Bowls.

Co- mvp of Super Bowl 12 in which the oppoment starting qb had a total rating of zero...as in zip, null, goose egg, the big O.

Is there 'unofficial' estimate of Martin's sacks?
 

fredp22

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Is there 'unofficial' estimate of Martin's sacks?

per Wiki-
The NFL didn't start recognizing quarterback sacks as an official stat until 1982; however, the Cowboys have their own records, dating back before the 1982 season. According to the Cowboys' stats, Martin is unofficially credited with a total of 114 sacks, leading the Cowboys in sacks seven times during a nine-year period, with a high total of 23 sacks in 1977. Martin played only on passing downs as a rookie, but still led the team in quarterback sacks with 9, tying Willie Townes rookie team record. Martin got 15 1/2 sacks in 1976 and made the Pro Bowl for the first time. He still holds the team record for most sacks for a rookie (9 - 1973) and in a season (23 - 1977).

His 1977 season was one of the greatest ever by an NFL player. In a 14-game season he totaled 85 tackles and a league-leading 23 sacks (more than Michael Strahan's 22.5 record in 16 games), he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a consensus All-Pro selection, was a key player in the Cowboys winning Super Bowl XII, and a co-MVP of the game with Randy White.


shud be in Hall. I have no idea why he's not in ROH
 

mrmojo

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Big Play Harvey! Every time the Boys needed a sack he delivered. They say Jaworski wore LT on his back but before LT it was Harvey....he wore Jaws out! Should be in the ROH at minimum and considered for the HOF.
 

perrykemp

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per Wiki-
The NFL didn't start recognizing quarterback sacks as an official stat until 1982; however, the Cowboys have their own records, dating back before the 1982 season. According to the Cowboys' stats, Martin is unofficially credited with a total of 114 sacks, leading the Cowboys in sacks seven times during a nine-year period, with a high total of 23 sacks in 1977. Martin played only on passing downs as a rookie, but still led the team in quarterback sacks with 9, tying Willie Townes rookie team record. Martin got 15 1/2 sacks in 1976 and made the Pro Bowl for the first time. He still holds the team record for most sacks for a rookie (9 - 1973) and in a season (23 - 1977).

His 1977 season was one of the greatest ever by an NFL player. In a 14-game season he totaled 85 tackles and a league-leading 23 sacks (more than Michael Strahan's 22.5 record in 16 games), he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a consensus All-Pro selection, was a key player in the Cowboys winning Super Bowl XII, and a co-MVP of the game with Randy White.


shud be in Hall. I have no idea why he's not in ROH

Incredible. I has no idea on those sack totals.

My Detroit Lions buddy occasionally reminds me that All Bubba Baker recorded 23 sacks in 1978.

I'd love to see a pre-1982 sack analysis for the league.
 

FuzzyLumpkins

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He belongs in the Hall of Fame. Man, he and Ed Jones were exciting coming off tje bench during their first couple years.

If Martin's sacks had been counted, he would have been in the top 5 in history. They didnt begin counting sacks until deep in his career.

Again. Not having Martin in the Hall of Fame is proof of the bias against Cowboy players back in the 70"s and early 80's.

Started 22 playoff games including 7 conference championships and 4 Super Bowls.

Co- mvp of Super Bowl 12 in which the oppoment starting qb had a total rating of zero...as in zip, null, goose egg, the big O.

He beat his wife for years. Made Greg Hardy look like Susan Anthony.

He deserves nothing.
 

FuzzyLumpkins

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More than a decade of drug and alcohol abuse had taken its toll, and he ended up being arrested one more time--the last time--for beating his live-in girlfriend. By the summer of 1996, the football hero had become just one more drunken, coked-out disgrace.

Twice that year, Martin was arrested for turning Debbie Clark into a punching bag. Dallas police went to his home in March and August, responding to disturbance complaints; both times, they found Clark battered at the hands of the man who became an NFL legend beating up quarterbacks.

The cops also found drugs on Martin, cocaine stuffed in his pockets. He claimed it wasn't his--he always did. For more than a decade, he denied he had a drug and drinking problem--no matter the trip to rehab in 1983, the pile of arrest reports, the business failures, his disappearance from friends and family.

Then again, Martin could deny his problem: Despite an arrest record that documents a man hitting bottom and then digging in, Martin continually got off. He passed bad checks and was let off by the judge; he got busted for pot and had the evidence thrown out; he was charged with drug possession and resisting arrest, then received a year's probation.

He had a fistful of get out of jail free cards, and Martin was free to ruin his life. Finally, by fall 1996, Martin was in the Lew Sterrett Criminal Justice Center one more time, claiming he was going to commit suicide.

http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/the-comeback-of-harvey-martin-6402182
 

FuzzyLumpkins

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And that article is reprehensible for claiming they are rumors. He went to jail for domestic violence and had complete impunity denying all of it even after putting one of them in the hospital He beat all of his women for all of his life. He was scum that deserves no honor.
 

plasticman

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Why is it no longer possible to seperate a man's proffesional accomplishment. from his personal life?

I was enjoying a conversation about the axcomplishments of a former Dallas Cowboy when Im informed they should be considered null and void due to his domestic violence and drug abuse.

My god, do some of you still fail to realize the *******s that we honor in history?

Did George Washington ever beat his slaves?

Why does Mrs Lincoln go down in history as mentally disturbed but no reference is given of her treatment by the "Great Emancipator".

Why do presidents, great generals, legendary musicians and poets continue to be honored despite their reprehemsible conduct towards others?

If we look deep enough can we find flaws in every famous person proving thathey are indeed human.

My father would be serving prison time under today's child protection laws. Many older posters can make the same claim. Yet, there was so much for his som to be gratefull the man was his father.

Athletes back then never had the advantage and aide of professional help and counseling, assistance in dealing with life after football, dealing with the duity of playing a violent game in a more "enlightened" age.

And yet, how do you know that the doctor who saved your family members life isnt a pedophile? If he was considered your child's best chance of surviving surgery, would you then refuse to consider his services?

Despite his personal flaws, and I agree they were serious, may I still be allowed to respect Harvey Martin's accomplishments on the field?
 

Sarge

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Harvey Martin is one of my favorite Cowboys of all time. Absolutely loved they guy. There was a reason they called him "Too Mean". He played with attitude much like Haley did. I still have his jersey to this day.
 

FuzzyLumpkins

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Why is it no longer possible to seperate a man's proffesional accomplishment. from his personal life?

I was enjoying a conversation about the axcomplishments of a former Dallas Cowboy when Im informed they should be considered null and void due to his domestic violence and drug abuse.

My god, do some of you still fail to realize the *******s that we honor in history?

Did George Washington ever beat his slaves?

Why does Mrs Lincoln go down in history as mentally disturbed but no reference is given of her treatment by the "Great Emancipator".

Why do presidents, great generals, legendary musicians and poets continue to be honored despite their reprehemsible conduct towards others?

If we look deep enough can we find flaws in every famous person proving thathey are indeed human.

My father would be serving prison time under today's child protection laws. Many older posters can make the same claim. Yet, there was so much for his som to be gratefull the man was his father.

Athletes back then never had the advantage and aide of professional help and counseling, assistance in dealing with life after football, dealing with the duity of playing a violent game in a more "enlightened" age.

And yet, how do you know that the doctor who saved your family members life isnt a pedophile? If he was considered your child's best chance of surviving surgery, would you then refuse to consider his services?

Despite his personal flaws, and I agree they were serious, may I still be allowed to respect Harvey Martin's accomplishments on the field?

We are talking about the HoF not your life or death hypotheticals. He did go to jail multiple times under the laws of his own time.

If you want to champion an age where people were able to get away with such things and your own stockholm syndrome then so be it. I will never.
 

muck4doo

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Glad someone agrees with me. He belongs in the RoH at the least. Been saying it for a while now.
 

muck4doo

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