December 14, 200322 yr EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jets running back Curtis Martin went over 1,000 yards for the ninth straight season Sunday, joining Barry Sanders as the only players in NFL history to accomplish the feat. Martin reached the benchmark on an 8-yard run late in the second quarter of the Jets' game with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The video board said, "Congratulations Curtis" and teammates mobbed him on the field after the gain, while the sparse crowd sitting through a snowstorm cheered. Earlier in the game, Martin passed John Riggins for 11th place on the NFL's all-time rushing list. Earlier, Steelers running back Jerome Bettis passed Franco Harris for eighth place on the career list. Martin has reached 1,000 yards every season since he joined the league in 1995 as a third-round pick of the New England Patriots. Sanders ran for 1,000 yards 10 straight seasons. Martin started the season slowly, but his numbers improved after Chad Pennington returned from a broken left wrist. With defenses keying on stopping the pass, Martin got more opportunities to run. espn.com
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