Trying Harder : Rams’ Martin Beats Odds With Intensity

In football you’ve got your sure things: your John Elways and Emmitt Smiths.

You’ve also got your basic stiffs like Chris Martin, a short, squat linebacker who failed to draw a call in the draft when it lasted 12 rounds.

“Your typical 99-1 shot,” Martin said. “Only this time the longshot paid off.”

Eleven years ago, former New Orleans Coach Bum Phillips was looking for a dog who could hunt.

“Translation: The coach wanted someone who could hit,” said Martin, presently a Ram linebacker. “That’s what the coach wanted, so I ran down the field on the opening kickoff and hit the guy with the ball. His helmet popped off, the ball went bouncing, our team picked it up and we scored.”

First impressions earned Martin a job, but it’s the lasting ones that have allowed him to defy the odds, and take advantage of everything a professional football career could offer.

“When I was in Kansas City we had some great individual players like Derrick Thomas and Albert Lewis,” said Jim Erkenbeck, Ram offensive line coach. “But in two of the three years I was there, Chris Martin was selected defensive MVP. That tells you something.”

The stiff became a stud, and now the Rams have a dog who can hunt.

“These kind of guys have done it and they’ve won,” Coach Chuck Knox said. “When these kind of guys say something people listen.”

The Rams pounced on the opportunity to trade for Martin when it became apparent the Chiefs were going to play Lonnie Marts, who is younger, in his place. When Martin was informed of the deal last March, he packed, flew to Los Angeles and was working out at Rams Park by the end of the day.

“He’s more than the pro’s pro,” said Dick Selcer, Ram linebackers coach. “It’s like he’s a CEO who pays attention to every little detail and knows exactly what it takes to be successful.”

It’s not as if he’s a CEO. He is a CEO. He started his own sports novelties company, Chris Martin Enterprises, has a staff of five and offices in Kansas City. He designed and produced the foam-rubber tomahawks fans wave at Arrowhead Stadium.

“When I’d look up into the stands and I’d see people waving my tomahawks, I’d think to myself: ‘I love America.’ ”

Martin also developed plastic trading cards that are designed to be worn around the neck like military dog tags. A Jim Everett card goes for $2. A Chris Martin card runs $3.50.

“Remember, it’s my company,” Martin said.

He is first and foremost a football player but there’s a hint of business to whatever he does. When Martin joined the Chiefs he moved to Kansas City and he had a plan. For the next four years he did not miss an off-season workout.

“No vacation, no parties, no family reunion, no funerals, no nothing,” Martin said. “I don’t miss my workout. Nothing stops me. The Fourth of July, Memorial Day. I sent my wife to Hawaii with her mom and dad two years ago while I continued to work.”

Anita Martin appreciated the chance to go to Hawaii, but she was concerned about leaving.

“I wasn’t worried about Chris,” she said. “I was worried about the dogs. I knew he’d put the workout before them . . . they were fine, though, when I got back. Rather thirsty, but fine.”

Anita and Chris Martin were married eight years ago, the honeymoon was swell, and then they went their separate ways.

“I run the house, take care of the dogs and car and oversee the office,” she said, “so he can be 100% committed to football. That’s the way I want it because I admire someone who can be so committed.

“I haven’t had a vacation with my husband since our honeymoon, but before he went off to L.A. I did make him promise that one day he would take me to Maui.”

The pair might qualify for senior citizen discounts before that happens, but then there really is no end in sight to this hard-earned journey.

“I use the weight room as a way to get an advantage on other people,” Martin said. “When it’s sunny or a nice day at the beach, the others are at the beach partying and drinking, but I’m in the weight room. That’s the edge I’ve gained, and they’ve lost.

“The players feel uncomfortable with it. If one person does what I do then everybody is going to feel the repercussions of a coach saying, ‘Look, if Martin can do it, you can do it too.’

“It puts pressure on the other players, but then it’s easy to do if you got your priorities in order. This is a profession. I learned that from Walter Payton. One day after we played Chicago, I asked him how he could run as fast as when he was a rookie. He said you got to keep in shape all year long, and especially the legs, because they’re the first to go.”

The legs continue to churn, and after 10 seasons, they still allow Martin to deliver a wallop. In Saturday’s scrimmage with the Chargers, Martin’s responsibility was to protect the punter.

The Chargers unleashed a 6-foot-4, 255-pound linebacker and told him to go get the punter. He never made it past Martin.

“I watched it on film and he dropped the guy in his tracks,” said Howard Tippett, special teams coach. “It looked good to me.”

The Rams presently have Martin backing up Roman Phifer. Martin prefers to start, but in the meantime he will play special teams and throw his body in the way of lumbering free agents fighting to make the team.

“He’s the consummate team player,” Erkenbeck said.

When the Chiefs made the playoffs in 1991 they ran into a shortage of linebackers while playing the Raiders. Martin went down in the first half with torn cartilage in his knee, and in the second half Martin’s replacement, Tracy Rogers, was injured.

Martin picked up his helmet, ignored screaming doctors and Coach Marty Schottenheimer and limped back into the game. Late in the fourth quarter he sacked Todd Marinovich and helped preserve a 10-6 Chiefs’ victory.

The next day he underwent surgery.

Last season he broke his hand in training camp, tore ligaments in his thumb, and then stretched ligaments in his right knee. Despite being beat up, he missed only two games.

Someone who knew Martin, someone who was keenly aware of his struggle in moving from free agent longshot to sure-fire tackler, pinned an inspirational message to his Kansas City locker while he was hurt.

The author remains unknown, Martin said, but the message reads like his life story:

“Hard work and dedication is what I must do, because I have the determination to see it through. For this is the season in which I must make a stand to satisfy myself that I am the man.”