Dangling Doug Martin
April 30th, 2015
Trivia time! Which Bucs running back has more 100-yard rushing days through the past 30 Buccaneers games, little used Mike James, or 2012 first-round pick Doug Martin?
Gotcha. They’re tied with one apiece. Martin ran for 108 yards on 19 carries against the Saints in the tank-for-Jameis finale last season. James ran for 158 yards on 28 carries versus the eventual Super Bowl champs in Seattle in 2013.
Some might tell Joe that’s unfair, since Martin says he was banged up badly for most of 2014, and Martin tore up his shoulder and needed surgery in 2013. However, James broke his ankle against the Dolphins in 2013, following five carries for 41 yards. James went under the knife, too, and he wasn’t quite right last summer.
Also, consider Bobby Rainey might be the best Bucs running back, and the team invested a valuable third-round pick in favorite son Charles Sims last year.
Joe would be surprised if the Bucs aren’t dangling Martin on the trade market this afternoon.
Why shouldn’t they?
Martin is about to enter the last year of his contract; there’s no way the Bucs pick up his expensive fifth-year option by next week’s deadline. Martin very well may have a bounce-back season, if he wins a starting job. But if that happened, would the Bucs realistically want to pay what it would take to re-sign him?
Maybe Tampa Bay gets lucky and finds a team willing to part with a mid-third-round pick for Martin. That would be a nice haul. Joe would take that deal and run.
Talented, injury-prone running backs are easy to find, and healthy good ones can be had late in the draft — or sometimes at the end of your own bench.
April 30th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
Because I still have Dougie’s jersey. That’s why.
April 30th, 2015 at 12:14 pm
87
Don’t you have a new jersey coming tonight?
Get what you can if martin s not in guture plans
April 30th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
past 30 games joe really? lol wow apparently that’s including the games he was injured….your reasoning is extremely questionable sometimes
April 30th, 2015 at 12:16 pm
People have turned on Martin in a way that I think is unfair.
Injuries slowed him and last year’s team wouldn’t have had success with Barry Sanders carrying the ball.
Give the man another chance. If it doesn’t work out, move on.
Stop creating reasons to justify disliking him.
April 30th, 2015 at 12:16 pm
I understand why they would do this, it would just suck. He is one of my fav Bucs. Hope he can turn it around either here or wherever he goes.
April 30th, 2015 at 12:16 pm
As Much as everybody THINKS that this BUCS draft is gonna be all DEFENSE after Jameis and an OLineman, don’t be surprised if the BUCS Draft a Big Short Yard RB and also a Slot Receiver that doubles as a return man.
Martin was apparently a one year wonder
April 30th, 2015 at 12:16 pm
They’s be FOOLS to trade Martin……Nothing worked behind the Bucs OL the past 2 years……NOTHING !
April 30th, 2015 at 12:18 pm
This just in… Bucs trade Doug Martin to New England for a block of cheese and a 1992 Ford Escort…
April 30th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
I’m sure we’ll trade Dougie for a late round pick so I can put my Dougie jersey next to my Barron 24 jersey, my clayborn… My freeman.. Sorry Lavonte. Guess your the next to go. The jinx of me.
April 30th, 2015 at 12:26 pm
it’s really honestly easier to just hope this guy gets back to his rookie form. why root for the trade, I prefer what we have steps up
April 30th, 2015 at 12:27 pm
@Mac
What type of cheese? Let’s make this worth it.
April 30th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
My guess is a 5th rounder at most for Martin. Can’t see why a team would part ways with a 3rd rounder when you can get the kid from UF in the later rounds
April 30th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
I like Martin, but Barry Sanders in his prime would have ran for at least 1200 yards with our O line! At least!
April 30th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
@ Expo
Sorry, I have a correction to make…
Licht asked for a block of cheese but New England wouldn’t budge… So we ended up getting a few slices of Kraft American cheese along with the 92′ Ford Escort…
And we also found out that the Escort doesn’t run…
April 30th, 2015 at 12:42 pm
@joe
That’s not happening this weekend with guys like tj yeldon, duke johnson, Langford etc still on the board in round 3. We might can get a 5th rounder at best for him
April 30th, 2015 at 12:48 pm
Martin is looking good for the Free Agent market next year!
April 30th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
I say give ol’ Dougie a test run with our revamped O line! I still love his burst. Maybe some people think his vision is lacking but I didn’t see many holes last year AT ALL!
April 30th, 2015 at 12:53 pm
It’s not about getting a pick for him. It’s about packaging him with a pick to move up. We will get more value doing that than just trading him straight up. For example, maybe Martin and our 4th to get back into the late second. Or Martin and our 3rd to get back in the first. Same with Glennon. Him and our second to get back in the first? I’m thinking a pick and a player to move up. Could be wrong though. I don’t know!!!
April 30th, 2015 at 12:56 pm
Haha joe, was that a short joke?
April 30th, 2015 at 12:57 pm
PocketPirate
Just curious where this “revamped line” is coming from? After winston is the rightful first pick that leaves them 6 or 7 more picks depending on any trades to get 4 starters on the online. You do realize the bucs need 4 starters on oline and that relying on Mankins and EDS is suicide.. So again, I ask where is this revamped line coming from? They added zero help in free agency and please having the first wire claim is nothing to be proud of nor is it a way to build a roster. Lovie picked one starter out of the entire draft last year and he needs at least 5 from this draft… not going to happen… this line is 2 to 3 years and a real head coach away from being revamped. Not trying to be negative on Jameis to tampa day but to think this line is going to be revamped or even average is pure speculation. given lovie’s history of never ever fielding a respectable much less good oline I doubt he magically gets it in year 10.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Is Doug Martin the Michael Clayton of running backs? Maybe
April 30th, 2015 at 1:06 pm
I want a nice aged cheese, not that fake American stuff.
I remember when someone picked Martin in my Fantasy Football League, the first thing I said was “Good luck with that”. He was rated in the top 5 of that draft and I wouldn’t pick him.
I’ve said many times that Martin is overrated and doesn’t make people miss. Rainey has way more elusiveness and you can’t survive in the NFL without making people miss. Trade him and if you can only get canned cheese-wiz, do the deal anyway.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:07 pm
Doug Martin is certainly better than Sims and James, and probably Rainey. But since this regime appears to love shedding talent for downgrades (Penn, Revis, Zuttah etc…), Martin is probably on the way out. Doubt they get much more than a 5th, but please don’t trade him to New England. We all know how that’ll end.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
I’m expecting a trade up into the late first using Glennon or Martin along with our second rounder. Maybe Arizona or (gulp) New England?
April 30th, 2015 at 1:22 pm
Yeah, give doug a shot with a qb defenses fear..no more stacking the box
April 30th, 2015 at 1:23 pm
Hey Joe…
Are you monitoring this situation with La’El Collins… This guy is going to fall out of the first round maybe even out of the second… How low does he go? At what point should the Bucs take the chance?
April 30th, 2015 at 1:26 pm
bought a martin, barron , revis jersey 2 years ago worthless pissing money away
April 30th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Mac
You’ll need more info about the investigation before you can pull that trigger. Murder, rape, weed. Who the hell is the NFL hiring?
April 30th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
@mac lots of buzz on Twitter basically saying he’s undraftable. I wouldn’t touch that kid until his legal situation clears up.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Kraft american cheese? No way!!
Now if you said a Yugo…
April 30th, 2015 at 1:33 pm
Luther, Twitter is not NFL GMs. He will still go in first two rounds. Book it.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
^^Collins might fall all the way out of the draft completely. He’s not expected to talk to the police until after the draft. Not many teams will invest a pick in a guy that is being questioned regarding a murder, even though he’s not a suspect at this time.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
Lots of good sources on Twitter. I would laugh at any team that picked that guy…unless it was the Bucs. He’s not meeting with the Police until after the draft. It would be totally irresponsible for a team to pick him, not knowing his involvement or availability. I’m not saying he’s guilty, but you can’t take that kind of chance without knowing the facts.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Bird, if he’s not drafted in at least the first 3 rounds I’d be shocked! I’m still calling by the end of round 2. If he’s there in round 3 I say jump on it
April 30th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
“I like Martin, but Barry Sanders in his prime would have ran for at least 1200 yards with our O line! At least!”
Could not disagree with this more. Martin is no Barry Sanders, but it sure is hard to run the ball when your coach doesn’t like you and your offensive line consist of a bunch of lawn chairs.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:42 pm
Walk, I understand what your saying but Lovie WOULD LOVE Sanders and he had sub-par lines in Detroit to deal with! I don’t think 1200 yards would be that hard for him. In fact that might be an insult!
April 30th, 2015 at 1:44 pm
The NFL scouts are saying La’El Collins can’t play LT because he has poor hand skills & too slow change of direction and plays too high & is not a natural knee bender so when he’ll have to play G or RT At G he won’t get the push needed to be effective in the running game.
I rather get a great G or C than a okay OT that will eventually move to G. I have a feeling one of those very good OT will fall to the Bucs at 34 and hopefully it’s not Fisher. Not too sold on him either. Hopefully Clemmings or Flowers.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:48 pm
Stan
“too high & is not a natural knee bender”
Unlike EK. Ha couldn’t resist.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Stanglass, I agree. I’d take Collins in the third, that’s it.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:50 pm
Donovan Smith, that is all. Ty.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:50 pm
There’s sub bar lines, and then there’s what the Bucs have. Sure Barry would’ve probably gotten more yards than the entire Bucs offense last season, but it still would’ve been a miserable year for him. Which is why this line needs to be fixed.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:50 pm
Collins does have killer instincts though…
…sorry.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:53 pm
It looks like he may fall further than that, what is it with LSU and draft day plunges. At least if the Bucs grab him late rd it’s low risk and less media attention about taking two players with off the field issues.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:56 pm
Walk, I agree that Barry would be pissed with 1200 yards. And I agree that the line needs at least two new starters. I was just pointing out the greatness of Sanders. I hated facing him twice a year and he would ALWAYS kill us. Bad memories I guess! Lol!!! We need to address OT and G with our next two picks after QB.
April 30th, 2015 at 1:57 pm
At least we are all on the same page!! O Line please!!!!!!
April 30th, 2015 at 1:59 pm
StanGlass, if we got him late that would be frakking awesome!!!!
April 30th, 2015 at 2:04 pm
Well Collins NFL doppleganger right now is Rae Carruth so…yeah stay the eff away. No one is touching this guy until that situation clears up.
April 30th, 2015 at 2:05 pm
No to Collins
OT – Humphries or Clemmings in the second
OG – Cann, Jackson or Tomlinson in the third
April 30th, 2015 at 2:07 pm
At least when you went to a bucgame and W.Payton or B.Sanders ran for 200 yds and 3 TDs you felt like you got your moneys worth in that a$$ whooping. Walter Payton going over the top on the goal line was poetry in motion.
April 30th, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Neckid- That’s a dream scenario. Those guys are long gone on all the projections I’ve seen in those rounds. Except for maybe Cann in the third but he was moving up on the most recent ones. I do like all those guys though.
April 30th, 2015 at 3:10 pm
We ended up trading Martin for Robert Kraft’s cheese (he cut it himself). We gave up the 1982 Escort and swapped picks in the first round.
April 30th, 2015 at 3:57 pm
I like Doug but if you take away a few games from his rookie year, he has never been a game changer. He doesnot stand out at all amoung our current cast of running backs and if the Bucs could get a 3rd rounder for him, that would be a great trade.
April 30th, 2015 at 4:14 pm
The only way I would give up Martin is if we can pick up AP. OTHER THAN THAT GIVE THE MAN ANOTHER SHOT