Glenn Martinez’s wife and son couldn’t be at Monday night’s game; his son was ill and the parents didn’t want to risk making him feel worse.
But he brought back a present for them — the football with which he scored his first career touchdown on an 80-yard punt return.
Now he’ll bring home something else — the plaudits that go along with being AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, an honor that was years of practice-squad frustration in the making.
“I took the back road,” Martinez said. “I took the long way to get here. I’ve been working hard the past few years to find a home and make a name for myself. Finally I’ve gotten the opportunity, so I’m just trying to take advantage of it and make the best of it.”
Martinez’s 80-yard runback marked the Broncos’ first score on a punt or kickoff return since Rod Smith returned a punt for a touchdown against San Diego in November 2003.
The only blight on Martinez’s night came when he muffed a third-quarter punt. Tennessee recovered at the Denver 27 and drove to its second and final touchdown of the evening.
“It was just a lack of concentration,” he said. “I took my eye off the ball and looked forward, and that cost me. I’ve just got to shake it off and move on to the next play.”
The muff might have been unpleasant, but it wasn’t enough to cost the Broncos the game — or Martinez the designation as the AFC’s top special-teamer for Week 11. He is the second Bronco this year to win the award; Jason Elam earned it back in Week 2 after providing the game-winning points for a second consecutive week.
Tags: Glenn Martinez
im VERY happy for glenn!! Thats such a huge milestone!!
[...] 2404 – PC Gaming wrote an interesting post today!.Here’s a quick excerptMartinez to Be Special Teams Player of Week November 20th, 2007 – 5:56pm by Andrew [IMG] Glenn Martinez’s wife and son couldn’t be at Monday night’s game; his son was ill and the parents didn’t want to risk making him feel worse. But he brought back a present for them — the football with which he scored his first career touchdown on an 80-yard punt return. Now he’ll bring home something else — the plaudits that go along with being AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, an honor that was ye [...]
Yeah he had a return for a TD, but don’t crown him just yet, this guy is a fumble machine!!! Very inconsistent, he won’t be here for long. He dropped some passes during the game and he had a very costly fumble.
FAIR CATCH THE PUNT NEXT TIME MARTINEZ.
Great work Glenn! After we lost Darrent, we’ve been kind of swimming for someone who could produce and do well as a punt returner, and now we’ve found him!
THAT is the money shot. Look at the photo at the top of the page one more time, and study Martinez’s face. That’s what it looks like when someone is giving every once of what he’s got. If the Broncos get that from every player on every play, no one can stop them.
Congratulations, Glenn. You’ve worked hard for it, and you deserve it!
Great job Glenn, now next time if you can hang on to the ball that’d even be better! hehe.
Great job Glenn! Keep it up!
Glenn, congratulations! Now, please keep your eye on the ball next time, you would much rather be remembered as the guy with the long TD runs instead of . . .
Thanks again for a great play. There are a lot of us fans who would love to see that every game.
Good for you, Glenn! You’re one of the latest Broncos to rise from obscurity and make plays on the national stage. This tradition will never die because of stalwarts such as yourself. Keep up the good work, if you can be the best returner on the field at Chicago. (put Devin Hester to shame!)
I can’t tell you how amazing it was to see that run back for a score it’s been sooooo long since we have seen that kind of effort from special teams. GREAT job, my wife thought the house was on fire as I was jumping around hooting and hollering around the living room. Now lets take it to the windy city and show them some BRONCO football. Just one request of Glen please keep your eye on the ball, make it two requests RUN ANOTHER ONE BACK FOR A SCORE for the BRONCO homies.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING to EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD!
http://www.LetPlummerPlay.com
.I guess I should have read this one before I posted a response to the last one. I think the blocks he throws and his willingness to sacrifice his body for the team is what makes him a good NFL player.
Good point Dekrey! How fitting that Glenn gets the great return right after delivering a key block for Stokely. I am as pleased with the block as I am the return. Good jopb Glenn.
Martinez is always a fumble waiting to happen.
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