Doug Martin

[melohaven]

Has anyone heard of any news on Doug Martin about him and the Bucs recently? At the beginning of the year I saw a lot of "reports" that Bucs were going to release him since his suspension voided the guaranteed money. Since he hasn't been released and haven't heard anything about him, I'm curious if anyone else has heard reports about him recently.

[Plank]

You hear nothing but Crickets here in Tampa ... the occasional cicada..

[Valhalla]

I imagine they will make their choice on him post-draft. Owners better hope they don't draft a rb. If they do, and then they dump Martin, where does that leave him? Teams searching for a starter or a major carries guy will have addressed it in the draft.

[ChuckCecil26]

I imagine they will make their choice on him post-draft. Owners better hope they don't draft a rb. If they do, and then they dump Martin, where does that leave him? Teams searching for a starter or a major carries guy will have addressed it in the draft.

This is a really good point. But I'm holding some hope out for Martin as a bench stash who might have a better chance than the typical waiver wire guys to deliver some startable performances. 2016 was a really good year (praise the gods) in terms of a limited number of injuries to starting RBs. That might not happen again in 2017.

And even if he's released post-draft, I have to think that some opportunities will be there for him. Arian Foster wasn't signed until late July last year -- a dubious signing, but had his body held up, we might still be thinking Ajayi's a possible bust.

Compared to Foster (and to AP and Charles), Martin at 28 should have more left in the tank. I could see him move to a new team and have a 2-year career rival like Blount has done in NE.

[Valhalla]

I imagine they will make their choice on him post-draft. Owners better hope they don't draft a rb. If they do, and then they dump Martin, where does that leave him? Teams searching for a starter or a major carries guy will have addressed it in the draft.

This is a really good point. But I'm holding some hope out for Martin as a bench stash who might have a better chance than the typical waiver wire guys to deliver some startable performances. 2016 was a really good year (praise the gods) in terms of a limited number of injuries to starting RBs. That might not happen again in 2017.

And even if he's released post-draft, I have to think that some opportunities will be there for him. Arian Foster wasn't signed until late July last year -- a dubious signing, but had his body held up, we might still be thinking Ajayi's a possible bust.

Compared to Foster (and to AP and Charles), Martin at 28 should have more left in the tank. I could see him move to a new team and have a 2-year career rival like Blount has done in NE.

Martin in NE would have me highly interested

[Kossack]

Might be wishful thinking as a Martin owner but NE always seems to pluck the Tampa castoffs and do well.

Unless a top RB falls to the bucs in the draft I can see them cutting Martin and his voided guaranteed 6 million and signing AP with an incentive laden deal for not much more than they'd have paid Martin.

Belichick always seems to be able to get guys that have devalued themselves via bleep to swallow cheap contracts and play for a championship calibre team in NE. Blount will sign elsewhere for peanuts after the draft and Martin will assume his role. I foresee a 50/40/10 split for Martin/Burkead/White-Lewis. I think Martin would get the most work as he has more wiggle than Blount so he wouldn't just mop up 4th quarter leads like Blount has over the last few years.

Fingers crossed!!

[clarion contrarion]

the best thing for martin owners is if he gets cut or tampa forces him to take a restructured prove it deal. He runs harder towards the pile of cash than when it is weighing down his wallet . If I owned any shares I would be hoping he gets cut and signs a prove it deal anywhere.

[Space Cowboy]

No sense in dumping Martin now when they can do it later, costs them nothing regardless. They don't want to tip their hat on drafting a RB. I'm guessing they're targeting a top back. They got Jameis a real #2 WR, now time for a run game. He was asked to do too much last year.

[Valhalla]

No sense in dumping Martin now when they can do it later, costs them nothing regardless. They don't want to tip their hat on drafting a RB. I'm guessing they're targeting a top back. They got Jameis a real #2 WR, now time for a run game. He was asked to do too much last year.

Agreed. If I were forced to bet on his destiny with the Bucs, I'd say cut after the draft.

Is there any deadline on the Buc's side here where they need to make a financial decision on cutting him or not? Once OTAs start? Preseason? Not until his suspension is over? I know that the suspension voided the guaranteed $, but a portion must become guaranteed again at some point. When does his contract become part of their cap hit?
It would REALLY suck for Martin (and his owners I suppose) if the Bucs could keep him into week 3 of the NFL season for insurance and then cut him right before he returns at no penalty to him. Just screws his career up. I suppose he shouldn't have been on performance enhancing drugs...
Funny how your career and finances are really potentially wrecked for this in the NFL...and in MLB, does their contract even get hit? Pretty sure it's all fully guaranteed.

[clarion contrarion]

pretty sure if he is on the roster on week 1 his contract becomes guaranteed as a vested veteran although they have a roster exemption for him and he doesn't count against the 53 . He also loses a pro rata amount of $ for the games he is out. He would still be owed the balance of his 2017 salary as he earns it although any bonus $ I am not sure about the status . That is not the gospel just my opinion/understanding of the CBA .

[Plank]

Yeah I'm sure if Dalvin Cook is there, Jameis will lobby for him...

[Valhalla]

Yeah I'm sure if Dalvin Cook is there, Jameis will lobby for him...

I'm not so sure Jameis will be on hand in the draft room

[Space Cowboy]

Yeah I'm sure if Dalvin Cook is there, Jameis will lobby for him...

I'm not so sure Jameis will be on hand in the draft room

But I heard theyre gonna be having crab legs.

[Friction]

Yeah I'm sure if Dalvin Cook is there, Jameis will lobby for him...

I'm not so sure Jameis will be on hand in the draft room

But I heard theyre gonna be having crab legs.

I like it, 6.5/10, maybe even round up to 7.

[Pac_Eddy]

So Doug Martin dodged a bullet with the Buccaneers not using any early pick on a running back. They did use a 5th on Jeremy Nichols though.

Current ADP is 146, so an early 12th round startup pick. With Bucs management recently putting out some positive comments on Doug, is his value recovering at all or are we still really down on him?