Door Not Closed On Martin
June 22nd, 2015
Bucs GM speaks.
When the Bucs rejected the fifth-year option on Doug Martin’s contract last month, it sure seemed as if the clock began ticking for Martin’s exit. The pride of Boise State will be a free agent after the season.
Joe knows Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht hails from Nebraska, an area where folks want and appreciate brutal honesty. Give it to ’em straight. And that’s just what Licht gave Martin, with a potential twist of a vegetable, documents Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
“We had a great discussion,” Bucs general manager Jason Licht recalled. “I hit him right between the eyes and said, ‘Hey, before you see this, we’re not picking up your option, but this could be a good thing for you.’ This doesn’t mean that we don’t want you here long-term. It just means basically you have a carrot in front of you right now. Hopefully, we’re sitting here in a few months talking about an extension.'”
So the door is not slammed shut on Martin. Look, there was no way of justifying picking up that fifth-year option because Martin has in no way earned it. He hasn’t rushed for 1,000 yards combined the past two seasons. He has been injury-prone since making the Pro Bowl his rookie year.
Picking up that fifth-year option on a guy who cannot stay healthy and seemingly cannot run any more would be the height of craziness. If Martin still has gas in the tank, well, time to prove it. No harm in that.
June 22nd, 2015 at 5:42 am
I’d love to see Doug Martin have a great year, because that means the OLine will have done a good job and most likely that the Bucs will have had a great year.
But my gut tells me there are two other RBs on the roster who are going to take center stage this year: Charles Sims and Dominique Brown.
June 22nd, 2015 at 7:17 am
Strictly Business!!!
June 22nd, 2015 at 7:28 am
In my mind I can still see the play when Martin injured his shoulder. Stupid play.
June 22nd, 2015 at 7:39 am
That wheel route going long in Atlanta. Fluke play really….
June 22nd, 2015 at 9:46 am
Martin looks so uncomfortable catching any pass over 10 yards. I think it was that play that won us the Charles Simms sweepstakes.
June 22nd, 2015 at 11:39 am
Dirk Koetter has ties to Boise State, so Doug Martin will get every chance to prove he still can be a bell cow running back in the NFL.
June 22nd, 2015 at 5:41 pm
The Bucs will employ specialists at RB based on D&D. As individuals I don’t see any of them individually making us forget Gayle Sayers, Walter Payton, Franco Harris, Eric Dickerson, Bo Jackson or Bary Sanders.
Koetter’s last year in Atlanta featured a pretty weak group of RB’s and NO Tony Gonzalez. This year he has a boutique of specialists at RB, including a “beast-mode” rookie at FB with great hands.
I don’t see any of the current RB’s getting 20+ carries and 100ypg. I do see the RB’s, as a group, contributing over 150ypg with combined rushing and receiving.