It's nice to know there are still people like Cecil Martin playing in the NFL. You know -- humble, grateful, charitable.

No, really.

And it's even nicer to see them have success. Like Cecil Martin.

Martin, a four-year starting fullback for the University of Wisconsin from 1995-98, is in his third season with the Philadelphia Eagles. For the most part, his success can't be measured statistically, although that's up for debate after the season-opening game this year.

Martin scored his first two touchdowns of his NFL career against the St. Louis Rams on Sept. 9. He was the only Eagles player to get in the end zone that day and was named the team's offensive player of the game in the loss.

"It was really exciting just because it was my first touchdown," he said. "I hadn't scored a regular-season touchdown before. And it was even bigger for me because we were going again the Rams and were down at the time and that was able to bring us within a touchdown and then my second one was even better because it tied the game up.

"It was exhilarating. It was a feeling you don't normally have. Just one of those childhood dreams that you have. Unfortunately we lost the game."

But Martin, who last season was named the Eagles' Unsung Hero for his work ethic, knows those statistics are more of an anomaly. He wouldn't suggest you pick him for your fantasy football team.

"I'm not a touchdown guy," he said. "Success comes in productivity for me. When I'm productive, I'm satisfied. If I'm opening up a hole, then I'm satisfied. Or if they give me that ball and I can get that first down, I'm satisfied. I don't think it comes in one or the other. It comes in productivity.

"In my college career I had only between 5 and 7 touchdowns."

That just shows you how much he thinks, or doesn't think, about those scores. He doesn't even know how many TDs he had. For the record, Martin rushed for five touchdowns and caught three others in college.

But that's not what it's all about for the 6-foot-0, 235-pound Evanston, Ill., native.

"I don't hope for certain plays. You just try to get it done," he said. "You concentrate on that particular play. There's no selfishness. I learned that at Wisconsin. You can't be selfish in that offense or on that team. You just have to get it done. For me to hope that there's a certain play, that would be selfish. I just hope when the play happens that we get it right."

And while Martin's productivity on the field is difficult to measure, he productivity off the field is immeasurable.

While attending the University of Wisconsin, Martin was twice named to the American Football Coaches Association's "Good Works" team and was cited for establishing an off-season program with the UW Children's Hospital for players to visit hospitalized kids. He also served as a mentor at the Southside Community Center.

"(Wisconsin) Coach (Barry) Alvarez always speaks about giving back to the community," Martin said. "Giving back has to come from within first, but I think the University of Wisconsin is a place where they do stress that and they give you opportunities to do that and makes it a lot easier to do that. I think I would have gotten involved (in charity work), but it's a tribute to the University of Wisconsin that I did it to the extent I did."

Once in the NFL, Martin continued his off-field work. Last year he served as the keynote speaker at the Youth Development Conference at the Free Library of Philadelphia. He was a guest speaker at the Eagles Top Achiever Awards, given annually by the Eagles Youth Partnership to recognize academic excellence among area high school football players.

"We have an organization called Eagles Youth Partnership and I get involved in that and we read to kids, we talk about the importance of education and things like that. There are a number of different things we have the opportunity to do in the Philadelphia area as far as charity work.

"Being in the NFL affords you the opportunity to provide for your family and to hopefully do some good things."

He certainly did some good things while in Madison. On the field, statistically, he finished his career with 64 carries for 270 yards and five TDs and had 63 receptions for 431 yards and three touchdowns. But his main duties were to break open holes for the running back. In each of his four seasons he led the way for a 1,000-yard rusher (Carl McCullough once and Ron Dayne three times).

"One of the things at the University of Wisconsin that helped me in the pros is that Coach Alvarez teaches about being physical," he said. "As a fullback it was pounding all the time. You had to be physical if you're were going to play for Coach Alvarez. In the NFL, there's a lot of speed. You've got to be physical and get down and dirty with it. It was blue-collar attitude toward football, toward taking care of your business. That's what I'll always take with me, that attitude, that toughness."

He also liked watching the toughness of some NFL fullbacks.

"There are a lot of different fullbacks out there that I admired," he said. "Like (Tom) Rathman for the 49ers and Sam Gash for Baltimore. I never tried to emulate another player, but those guys, I really like their toughness. And Mike Alstott is from Chicago, he was always a big runner and punishing blocker, so I guess being from Chicago like I am, I looked up to him."

When Martin got to the Eagles, former Badger standout and current all-pro cornerback Troy Vincent befriended him immediately.

"Troy and I definitely have a bond," he said. "When I got here he showed me around and he's definitely a person I know I can go to just as a friend, as a spiritual leader, as a fellow alumnus. We have a special bond coming from the University of Wisconsin."

One of the things Martin quickly learned is that playing in the NFL isn't just a game.

"In the professional ranks, you are a professional athlete," he said. "It's a job and a business. In college you spend half your day in class before you go to practice. In the NFL, you spend half your day in meetings before you go to practice."

He said the change from college to the NFL was different, not necessarily difficult.

"Sure it is harder because you're going against the best athletes out there," he said. "But there were a lot of athletes I went against in the Big Ten who were real big and real tough, too, but maybe didn't make it to the NFL. But playing football here is definitely on another level."

Martin never gave much thought to playing professional football.

"The NFL was never something I thought would happen," he said. "I just concentrated on graduating and playing good football. The NFL has been kind of an extra. A great extra. I feel blessed to be in the position I'm in. I feel blessed every day I've been here."

And he certainly isn't taking anything for granted.

"I'm just hoping I have a job when I get in there tomorrow."