Former Jets, Pats RB Martin headlines Hall's Class of 2012

Running back Curtis Martin headlined a six-member Class of 2012 that will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it was announced Saturday.

Martin is joined by defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, defensive end Chris Doleman, left tackle Willie Roaf, center Dermontti Dawson, and cornerback Jack Butler.

Martin retired after the 2005 season and was the NFL's fourth-leading rusher with 14,101 yards when he walked away from the game. A first or second-team All-Pro three times during his career with the New England Patriots and New York Jets, Martin scored 90 rushing touchdowns and rushed for 100 or more yards in 56 games. Martin and Hall of Famer Barry Sanders are the only running backs in league history to start their careers with 10 consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards rushing.

Kennedy registered 58 sacks and scored one touchdown on a fumble recovery in his 11-season career with the Seattle Seahawks. The No. 3 overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, Kennedy had a streak of 116 games played, earned selection to eight Pro Bowls (1992 to 97, 1999, 2000) and missed just nine games out of a possible 176 in his career.

Doleman was the 1992 NFC Defensive Player of the Year after registering 14.5 sacks and 64 tackles. He also returned an interception for a touchdown, forced six fumbles, recovered another three, and collected a safety. An eight-time Pro Bowl pick and three-time first-team All-Pro, Doleman is tied for third in NFL history with eight seasons of 10 or more sacks.

Originally a right tackle as a rookie with the New Orleans Saints, Roaf moved to left tackle in 1994 and earned selection to 11 Pro Bowls during his career with the Saints and Kansas City Chiefs. During his second NFL season, Roaf was a first-team All-Pro. Roaf was a first-team All-Pro seven times. He was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s.

Dawson played his entire 13-year career with the Steelers after the team took him in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played in 170 consecutive games before a hamstring injury ended that run during the 1999 season. He was selected as the NFL Alumni's offensive lineman of the year in 1996. Dawson was a first-team All-Pro selection from 1993 to 1998 and played in seven straight Pro Bowls from 1993 to 1999. During Dawson's career, the Steelers won five AFC Central titles and one AFC championship.

Butler was an undrafted free agent who played in 103 games over nine seasons with the Steelers. Although his career was cut short due to a leg injury in 1959, Butler retired with the second-most interceptions in NFL history. He collected 52 interceptions, which he returned for 827 yards and also scored four touchdowns on those returns. Butler also caught four touchdown passes and scored one on a fumble return.

via nfl.com