Ingle Martin Gave Brett Favre A Curtain Call

After leaving Green Bay, Ingle Martin would spend time on the rosters of the Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and the UFL's New York Sentinels.

When needlessly researching the worst rushing yards per attempt averages in Packers history, I came across an interesting nugget: Ingle Martin carried the ball twice for -5 yards in his brief Packers career.

Normally that wouldn't be significant at all, but these two sure seemed significant at the time.

Martin's two carries were kneel downs at the end of the Packers 26-7 win over the Chicago Bears on December 31, 2006. Martin was only in the game for two reasons. First, Aaron Rodgers, then the normal second string quarterback, was on injured reserve with a broken foot.

Second, and more importantly, the Packers were saying goodbye to Brett Favre.

Favre had been waffling about retirement for years, but the end of 2006 seemed to truly be the end. The Packers had rallied to finish the year 8-8, but they were clearly rebuilding as the Mike McCarthy era began.

So when Green Bay led Chicago big late, McCarthy pulled Favre to give him a chance to receive his due adulation from the Packers fans filling Soldier Field. While Favre soaked in the cheers (and even grew teary-eyed), Martin kneeled twice to run out the clock.

Martin goes down as one of the least productive rushers in Packers history, and Favre gets the glory.

And another season with the Packers.

And then one more with the Jets.

And then two more with the Vikings.

But at least there was that curtain call.