Former NFL defensive tackle Charles Martin dies

<p>Charles Martin, the former Green Bay defensive end who body-slammed Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon into the turf and ended his season in 1986, has died. He was 46.</p><p>Martin, who was from Canton, Ga., and played for the Packers, Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons during his five-year NFL career, died Sunday at Memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, a hospital spokesman said.</p><p>"He probably died from complications of his renal (kidney) disease," Dr. Charles Aramburo, Martin's surgeon, told Houston television station KRIV on Tuesday. "We are still waiting for the results from the autopsy which will be definitive."</p><p>In 1986, Martin drove McMahon into the ground after the quarterback had thrown a pass. McMahon was out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Martin was wearing a towel with a "hit list," displaying the numbers of Bears' players on it during the game. McMahon's No. 9 was at the top of the list. Martin was ejected for a flagrant late hit and suspended for two games.</p><p>Martin, who had the nickname "Too Mean," played for the Packers from 1984-87. He also played for the Oilers in 1987 and the Falcons in 1988. He began his pro football career with the USFL Birmingham Stallions in 1983.</p><p>"He was a guy who, growing up, people thought wasn't going to amount to anything, and he proved everybody wrong," said cousin Daniel Varnar said.</p><p>Health problems ended his football career and Martin later was on disability for dialysis, Varnar said.</p><p>"He really wanted to play football," said Danny Cronic, the head football coach at Cherokee High School during Martin's days as a lineman there in the 1970s. "He ended up being one of the best football players I ever coached and someone I cared for deeply."</p><p>After graduation, Martin played at Western Carolina University for a year, then at the Livingston University (University of West Alabama) from 1980 to 1982. His awards there included Division II Football Hall of Fame, First-team All-American, First-team All-Gulf South Conference and GSC Defensive Player of the Year.</p><p>Joe D'Alessandris, known to his teams as "Coach D," was a coach at Western Carolina when Martin joined the team. When D'Alessandris was offered a full-time position at Livingston, Martin was the first player he recruited.</p><p>"What a sensational man. I was fortunate to be able to be around Charles," said D'Alessandris, now a coach at Georgia Tech. "He rubbed off on us and we rubbed off on him."</p><p>Martin is survived by one son, his mother, three brothers and three sisters.</p><p>His family is planning local arrangements with Huey Funeral Home in Canton, with plans to hold services Saturday at First Baptist Canton. Funeral services are pending with Mabrie Memorial Mortuary in Houston.</p>

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