11/18 — Curtis Martin is resplendent as always, wearing a gray pinstripe suit, tie and handkerchief with magenta accents and black-and-brown shoes. Martin doesn't need a special occasion to look great, but today he has a special occasion: He'll be recognized at halftime of the Jets-Steelers game for his contributions to the Green & White from 1998 until he announced his retirement in July.

What will he say to the fans who've come to see the game and to share in Curtis Martin Day? No. 28 gave a hint of how it's so easy for him to be so eloquent.

"I don't really know what I'll say," he said. "I like to speak from the heart and see what comes out. This is a real heartfelt moment for me. There's a few people I want to mention. Everything else I'm sure will flow naturally."

Curtis was never one to think about his personal accomplishments as a player or to listen to others who wanted to encourage him to think about his milestones, but now is different.

"When I was playing, the team was first and my commitment was to them," he said. "Now I think it's appropriate. I'm retiring and this caps off my 12-year career. I'm looking forward to it."

He'll walk out to midfield fine because, he said, his right knee doesn't bother him under normal circumstances. But working out is still different.

"From what I understand, it'll never get better. I just have to manage it properly for the rest of my life," he said, acknowledging that doctors have told him the knee could get worse over time. "Hopefully it won't get so bad that I'll need more surgery or some type of replacement."

What hurts No. 28 mentally on this cold, overcast day in the Jersey Meadowlands is how his former team has struggled this season. But as he told newyorkjets.com last Tuesday, he remains optimistic about the Jets' long-range prospects under head coach Eric Mangini.

"Yeah, it hurts to see them," he said of the Jets' 1-8 record as they head into battle vs. the 7-2 Steelers. "This is like my family going through it. It was my family for the last 10 years. At the same time, I realize this is just part of the growing pains, part of the process. Unfortunately, this is just that time."

Perhaps this is just that time for the Jets to snap out of their funk and win one on Curtis Martin Day. We'll know soon.\

Who's Up, Who's Down

Jason Trusnik, who was signed from the practice squad Saturday, will be active and we can expect to see the free agent rookie LB from Ohio Northern make his NFL debut today.

Also active are CB Drew Coleman and DT C.J. Mosley, both of whom were inactive the previous two games, and TE Jason Pociask, who's been inactive for nine games and, like Trusnik, should make his pro debut. Besides Curtis Martin Day, it must be Jason Day at the Meadowlands today.

On the inactive front, the Jets' deactivations are WR Chris Davis, FB Darian Barnes, O-linemen Jacob Bender and Adrian Jones, TE Sean Ryan, LB Marques Murrell and (for the first time this season) DT Eric Hicks. Marques Tuiasosopo as usual is the third QB.

The Steelers IAs are WR Willie Reid, RB Gary Russell, CB Grant Mason, rookie LB LaMarr Woodley, C Marvin Philip and O-linemen Darnell Stapleton and Trai Essex, with Brian St. Pierre designated the third QB.

The Jets are in their green jerseys (with white sleeves) and green pants. The only other time they went with their double-green threads under Mangini, they lost to Buffalo at home late last season. Their track record since they broke out the green-green look in 2002: 5-6.