MIAMI -- Running backs can grow real old by being Curtis Martin's backup. He's missed only four games in six years, so it's almost unthinkable seeing the Jets without Martin.

Two carries into the third quarter, the unthinkable happened. Martin headed to the locker room for X-rays on his strained back only to find the X-ray machine not functioning. When doctors shut down Martin for the day, Jets coach Al Groh called upon the ancient Bernie Parmalee to beat the Dolphins 20-3.

The 33-year-old Parmalee responded against his old Dolphins teammates to rush for 57 yards on 14 carries, score two touchdowns and make a one-handed catch, all in the second half. For a Miami defense that spent all week figuring out ways to stop Martin, being beat by Parmalee is like having Joe Namath come out of retirement to beat you through the air.

The Dolphins released Parmalee at the age of 32 to go young in the backfield with J.J. Johnson, Cecil Collins and Rob Konrad. Parmalee arose from the Dolphins' graveyard to foil their chance of taking a two-game lead in the AFC East.

"I wasn't looking at it like that," Parmalee said about beating his former teammates. "I was looking at it as we just needed a victory and the Dolphins were the team that we were playing. This is a tough conference. Each and every week, it's a tough game, so we had to have this one."

If you thought Parmalee was unstoppable in the second half at Pro Player Stadium, you should have watched him deflect any questions about gloating in press conferences after the game. The nine-year veteran was as humble in victory as he was through his seven years as a popular backup and role player on the Dolphins.

"That's just the type of guy he is, though," Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde said of Parmalee. "He has a lot of pride, but he's not going to boast about it or rub it in anybody's face."

As a Dolphin, Parmalee was all hustle and all character. It's ironic that he lost a roster spot in 1999 because the Dolphins took a chance on Collins, who is in jail for violations of parole from his days in Louisiana. The Jets signed Parmalee just in case they needed someone to fill in for Martin last September.

Though he wears the Jets uniform proudly, Parmalee still lives in Miami and always will.

"I was sad to leave because of the guys on the team," Parmalee said. "When I was let go, though, I knew there would be something better for me. There is more to football than just playing the game. It's becoming part of the community. I was happy when I was here, I never got in trouble, and the fans never booed me."

This past summer, however, Parmalee had to wonder if he was going to take the field. In training camp, he suffered a fractured foot. Once that healed, he pulled a hamstring. All week in preparation for the Dolphins game, Parmalee's hamstring ached, but, as he did for seven years in Miami, he made himself available for anything asked of him.

They played him at halfback, fullback and special teams. And he loved it.

With the Jets leading 6-3 early in the third quarter, Jets coach Al Groh needed him at halfback for Martin. No problem.

"I was struggling with my hamstring, but I was not going to let it bother me tonight," Parmalee said. "I've been in this business a long time. I know how to carry the ball. I know about ball security, but I'm just happy to be out there."

The Dolphins weren't. The Jets spread the field with receivers and let Parmalee take the handoffs normally designated for Martin. In his second possession replacing Martin, he busted an 11-yard, third-quarter run and followed with a one-handed catch for eight yards on a third-and-3.

"Well, that tells you a lot about this team, the character we have," Jets linebacker Mo Lewis said. "One guy goes down, and of course, when that guy is Curtis, it's big. But then Bernie comes in and picks up the slack, that's big."

Damon Huard, filling in for injured Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler, threw an interception with 8:18 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Dolphins trailing 6-3. Parmalee took over. He ran over right end for 7 yards. He busted up the middle for 2. He then broke through the middle of the defense for an 18-yard touchdown that locked up the game at 13-3.

"I just kept telling myself, 'I've got to make a play,' " Parmalee said of his thought process as he was scoring his first touchdown.

Three minutes later, he converted another Huard interception into points on a 7-yard touchdown run.

"That's what they pay me for," Parmalee said. "When Curtis went down, I was the next man in line, and I didn't want to let the team down. I know I hadn't done much all year because of my injuries. This was a big game, so I am happy to step up."

The Dolphins don't share that sentiment.

John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.