Taking Curtis Martin out of football games is usually about as easy as skirting past rush-hour midtown traffic.

Herman Edwards has joked that he has to hide Martin’s helmet to keep him on the sideline for a breather.

Now, however, all Edwards has to do is put rookie LaMont Jordan on the field and that’s enough to convince Martin that a breather is a good thing.

Jordan, the Jets’ second-round draft pick out of Maryland, gained 75 yards on seven carries during crunch time against the Saints last Sunday in New Orleans. That eclipsed the 61 yards he’d gained during garbage time in games earlier in the season, and it opened Martin’s eyes to the possibilities.

“This is the first time in all of my years that I realize [getting a break during games] can be good,” Martin said. “It has taken me seven years to learn that, and thanks to [Jordan] I really can see that. Over the years, it has been talked about and nothing has actually been done.

“[Sunday vs. the Saints], that was one of the first true glimpses that this could be a good thing. When you look at the bigger picture, I feel like I still have another five, six, seven years to play, and with someone like [Jordan], who can take some of those plays, it preserves me for the carries to come.

Martin, who leads the NFL with 804 rushing yards, considers Jordan a little brother, so everything Jordan has does is inspiring to him.

“It felt good to contribute to the win,” Jordan said. “That was the first time I went against a first-team defense and New Orleans has a good defense. I knew I could do it against a second-team defense, but could I do it against a first-team defense? I gained confidence in myself and I gained the confidence of my teammates and coaches.”