STEELERS VS. JETS Bettis, Martin rushing toward milestone

The friendly rivals both could pass 13,000 career yards in Sunday's game.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -- Curtis Martin wants a shot at Jerome Bettis. He wants the Bus in the same building, with everyone keeping count.
Martin wants to take Bettis in bowling.
"He doesn't have to have a bad game, he only has to have a slightly off game and I'll beat him," Martin said.
The two have become good friends over the years, talking on the phone or spending time together whenever they have the chance. Now they have the opportunity to go over 13,000 career yards rushing in the same game when Bettis and the Pittsburgh Steelers play Martin and the New York Jets in a big AFC matchup Sunday.
For Martin, it hardly matters if they reach the milestone together or that he will be playing in his hometown. But he would love to take Bettis on in the bowling lanes for the first time.
Fifth and sixth best ever
Bettis is an avid bowler, with a lifetime average of better than 200. He has a perfect game under his belt, too. Martin, whose hobbies include chess, says about his bowling prowess: 'I'm all right, too.'
Is there anything these men do badly? Both have continued their climb up the NFL rushing charts this year. Bettis is fifth all-time with 12,980 yards, just 6 ahead of Martin's 12,974. Only four other players have topped 13,000: Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and Eric Dickerson; the last three are in the Hall of Fame.
Bettis, a 12-year veteran, has seen his playing time diminish while taking a back seat to Duce Staley, but his contributions are far from over. While Staley was out with a hamstring injury, Bettis racked up four straight 100-yard games.
Meanwhile, Martin keeps rolling. The 10-year veteran has 1,305 yards so far, joining Sanders as the only players to start their careers with 10 straight 1,000 yard seasons. Martin is on pace to break his career high of 1,513 yards set in 2001, and his 12 touchdowns are his most since 1996, when he had 17 (14 rushing, three receiving).
Asking defense for help
Because Bettis is back to his reserve role and Martin gets more carries, it seems inevitable Martin will pass his friend for good on the career list, maybe this weekend.
"It looks like it, unless my defense can do an outstanding job," Bettis said with a chuckle. "Hopefully, I can get those guys to step up and shut him down."
Both backs admire what the other has accomplished. The 255-pound Bettis knocks people over with his brute strength, earning his nickname of the Bus. The 210-pound Martin is smaller and faster, but just as physical.
Bettis sees similarities between the two, calling Martin a 'gladiator' because he has taken so much punishment throughout the years. So whether they're bowling over linebackers or rolling some rocks, count on Curtis and Jerome to find the lane.
"In the sense he's physical and runs in between the tackles well, I think is very similar," Bettis said. "He's a durable, dependable and reliable running back, and that's what you want -- and, unfortunately, you don't find too many of them around."
Martin also heaped praise on Bettis, whom rookie Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma called "just one of those freaks of nature, a real gifted athlete to be able to move like that at such a big width."
"What I like about him is he's a big guy, but he's light on his feet," said Martin, whose mother and about 40 friends will be at the game. "You usually don't see that combination. That's what I appreciate about his running style more so than anything else."