A backup quarterback's job in the NFL is a pretty good gig. He draws a good paycheck, doesn't practice much, and on Sunday the hardest thing he does is chart plays on a clipboard.
There is a flip side to it, though. "When the backup comes in, it's not because things are going well," says Jamie Martin.
Martin should know. Since graduating from Weber State in 1993, Martin has been the NFL's 911 call, the guy who gets sent into the game when something bad has happened — to replace the injured starter or resuscitate a punchless offense.
"If it happens, it happens quick," he says. "They can't wait for you to get ready."
Martin has made a career of being ready for a call that rarely comes. In 13 seasons, he has played in a total of 34 games and started just eight, five of them last season when the Rams' Marc Bulger was injured. In six of those seasons he didn't play a down (he was on the practice squad during his rookie season and missed another season with an injury).
And yet he's never been out of a job. Signed as a free agent after a record-setting career at Weber, he hoped only to make one of the league's practice squads and extend his pro football experience as long as possible.
He did a little better than that. He spent four years with the L.A./St. Louis Rams. One year with the Redskins. One year with the Jaguars. One year with the Browns. Another year with the Jaguars. Two years in an encore with the Rams. One year with the Jets. Two more years with the Rams, again.
Last winter he signed a free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints, who made him their No. 2 quarterback behind newcomer Drew Brees.
He tried to retire a couple of years ago. He thought he was done after the Jets cut him following the 2003 season. For once, he had no offers for his services, and he was tired of moving anyway.
"I resigned myself to retirement," he says.
But in November 2004, when the season was nearly finished, the Rams suddenly needed a backup after Bulger was hurt. Because Martin knew coach Mike Martz's offense, the Rams brought him back for his third stint with the club. A week later, he relieved a slumping Chris Chandler and played well, completing 16 of 30 passes for 188 yards. The Rams signed him for the following year, as well.
With more injuries to Bulger last season, Martin played in eight games and won four of his five starts. "Having a year like that gives you confidence and makes you want to play another year," he says. But when Martz left the team, Martin was expendable and jumped to the Saints.
"A lot of it is timing, or a certain set of circumstances — either injuries or a team or coach that likes you or knows that you know their system," says Martin.
When Martin has played, he has produced solid performances. He has completed 65 percent of his passes (339 of 517) for 3,606 yards, 19 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
"I'm not resigned to being a backup," says Martin. "You always go in wanting to be the starter. You try to get better every day."
Martin considered it a "slap in the face" when he went undrafted after producing gaudy numbers at Weber State. A four-year starter, he set still-standing career, game and season records for passing and total offense for the Wildcats. He threw for 4,125 yards one season and finished with career totals of 12,207 passing yards and 87 touchdown passes. He still owns the NCAA Division 1-AA record for passing yards in one game (624).
He has had a few shining moments in the NFL. In his first regular-season game appearance, he replaced an injured Tony Banks and threw two touchdown passes to lead the Rams to a come-from-behind win.
"It's fun when things go right," he says. "I'll always remember that game."
Looking back, he says, "I'm happy with what I've done (in the NFL). Obviously, I want to play more, but you can't drive yourself crazy with it. Other people make the decisions. It's a cut-throat business — what have you done for me lately. That's the best phrase for the NFL. They change their mind quickly. But I've been lucky to be part of the NFL for so long."
E-mail: drob@desnews.com