Martin-Bucs Talks Breaking Down
February 25th, 2016
Done with the Bucs?.
Those pining for the return of everyone’s favorite Muscle Hamster, Bucs running back Doug Martin, may want to sit down and perhaps brace themselves with a shot of Jack Daniels.
There appears to be a breakdown in talks between the Bucs and Martin’s camp that puts his return to Tampa Bay in doubt.
The information comes from the fingertips of Woody Cummings at the Tampa Tribune. He reports Martin is likely to hit the free agent market.
Based on the current pace and direction of the talks, Martin is more likely to sign a deal with one of a handful of Bucs rivals than with Tampa Bay, sources close to the negotiations said Thursday.
The news comes just a day after Bucs general manager Jason Licht said he was optimistic about re-signing Martin ahead of a planned meeting with Martin’s representatives at the scouting combine.
The “rivals” element of the story is what gets Joe’s attention. Just who could this be? Surely not Atlanta. Perhaps not the Stinking Panthers.
Is it devious Sean Payton trying to wreck the Bucs? Joe is intrigued by this intrigue.
February 25th, 2016 at 5:19 pm
The sky is falling!
February 25th, 2016 at 5:20 pm
This will be much like watching Warrick Dunn signing with Atlanta… Just not as bad!
February 25th, 2016 at 5:21 pm
This will twist and turn a few times before it’s over….
February 25th, 2016 at 5:22 pm
I don’t trust anything reported by Roy Cummings.
February 25th, 2016 at 5:25 pm
Wat he said ^^^^
February 25th, 2016 at 5:25 pm
WHAT he said ^^^^
February 25th, 2016 at 5:25 pm
Stupid stupid stupid!
If true.
February 25th, 2016 at 5:29 pm
Define breakdown.
Bucs make an offer, Martin expects more. Did anyone really expect him to sign this week?
February 25th, 2016 at 5:31 pm
Possibly a fake news story from his agent to try and pressure the bucs into getting a deal done?? Remember, the bucs could just franchise Doug if they wanted him that bad and talks broke down.
February 25th, 2016 at 5:32 pm
That would be tampering!!! Maybe they go to the part of the negotiation where they started to discuss money!!!
Everyone relax, This was the part where the customer walked out of the car dealership only to be back the next day!!!
February 25th, 2016 at 5:43 pm
This kinda stuff doesn’t leak out by accident.
February 25th, 2016 at 5:44 pm
Well time will tell. Don’t blame him for wanting the money. If money is close I would hate to loose someone who fits in locker room and already knows system. Also, would have to waste draft pick on a replacement player. yes, some will say pick up a free agent, but they will be same age and free agents hit the market for a reason. Bucs have to many holes to fill to use precious draft picks on positions we could have already.
Once again, time will tell.
February 25th, 2016 at 5:51 pm
Hate to sound aloof here, as I do really like Martin, but I’d rather spend $11M on a DE like Vernon than $8M for a RB Martin.
February 25th, 2016 at 5:54 pm
Biff:
Not an outrageous thought.
February 25th, 2016 at 5:58 pm
Saints can’t afford Martin. Martin is looking for a HUGE payday and I don’t blame licht for walking away if need be, Charles Sims has talent and I’ve read the team still likes Mike James a lot. its also a nice draft for running backs
February 25th, 2016 at 6:04 pm
C J Prosise 3rd round steal watch his YouTube highlight films the guy played running back for 7 games 6 220 bet he runs in 4.3s has moved like a jitterbug and a former wideout going to be a stud
February 25th, 2016 at 6:07 pm
So let him go. It is not like he can not be replaced.
February 25th, 2016 at 6:08 pm
I bet dougs agent put in his head he’d get more on the market I agree besides he’s gone in 2 years anyways might be a blessing in disguise
February 25th, 2016 at 6:11 pm
Hey joe can the bucs put one of those 1st round restricted-transition free agent tags on Martin???
February 25th, 2016 at 6:21 pm
Be a damn shame. The guy is a true pro and a special running back (when he’s on the field). He has had some stellar runs where you think he’s swallowed up just to pop right out of the pile for a big gain. Plus he was always professional and seems like a great dude off the field. Probably my favorite player since he was drafted.
February 25th, 2016 at 6:36 pm
I am ambivalent about this “news”. I like Martin…BUT…looking at his history…I’d be very leery of a long term (3+ years). In 2014… didn’t we keep hearing from him that he was finally healthy ? Sometimes these NFL players respond BIG in a contract year…… if you look at it, rookie year…something to prove…. contract year…something to prove….I am against a long-term big deal… I think franchise tag would work out better given his history….or bye….
February 25th, 2016 at 6:37 pm
Why does no one think Charles sims is ready to be an all down back just watch if martin leaves Charles will be our leveon bell.
February 25th, 2016 at 6:59 pm
Worse case tag him to get thru this season and take a look at the RB class coming out next year for his replacement.
February 25th, 2016 at 7:00 pm
It’s a committee. Sims is no bell cow, he’s destined to be the 3rd round back
We get a bruiser who can run between the tackles and handle short yardage duties.
February 25th, 2016 at 7:04 pm
Media posturing, simple as that…
February 25th, 2016 at 7:05 pm
Martin has more leverage in this case. At the end of the day, the Bucs will lose one of their best players (who wants to be here) over a few million when they have the money to get the deal done. It’s creating another BIG hole and it’s amazing how some fans are okay with letting him walk over frugality. Regardless of what happens, I’ll always be a big fan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHsKYK3J1rg
February 25th, 2016 at 7:25 pm
I hate this line of thinking. Ask the Giants, Chargers, or Cowboys how hard it is to find or replace a bell cow running back.
People say “you can find one anywhere” …. so why haven’t those teams?
February 25th, 2016 at 7:30 pm
I’ll believe it when it happens. I like Sims, but he is no Martin. If true, depressing.
February 25th, 2016 at 7:42 pm
How many 1000 yard rushers made the playoffs last season? I want Martin back, but this is not as automatic as everyone thinks. This is his 1 shot at a payday. He would be foolish not to test it. At the end of the day, whatever the Bucs are offering now is his baseline. He won’t make less on the open market than what his current offer is. If so, the agent comes back to the Bucs and claims, Dougie has had a change of heart and is willing to take less to play for the Bucs, no matter what the true offer really is. Unless you overpay him now, he was always going to hit the market or we were going to franchise him. He will never be in this position of strength again.
February 25th, 2016 at 7:50 pm
Why isn’t this used more?
A “non-exclusive” franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five cap hits at the player’s position for the previous five years applied to the current salary cap, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater. A non-exclusive franchise player may negotiate with other NFL teams, but if the player signs an offer sheet from another team, the original team has a right to match the terms of that offer, or if it does not match the offer and thus loses the player, is entitled to receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.
From Wikipedia
February 25th, 2016 at 7:52 pm
Lol Joe the Saints could never afford Martin they are at the upper limit of the salary cap. Its ridiculous with all the cap space we have we can easily afford Martin. The salary cap goes up by over $10 every year!
February 25th, 2016 at 7:59 pm
Martin is staying..
Martin might not stay..
Martin might stay…
Martin is not staying..
Martin is staying..
Martin will not stay..
Martin and the Bucs are talking…
Martin and the Bucs not talking…
The yo-yo effect for us fans…
UGH..I am sick of it…
February 25th, 2016 at 8:03 pm
Doug Martin made a little under $7 mil for a full 4-years under his rookie contract. RBs like him usually only get one chance to make big money, and that’s the contract immediately after their rookie contract. Doug had a great 2015 and this is his big opportunity to capitalize on it. The agency that represents him, Athlete’s First, is the biggest gorilla out there (representing folks like Aaron Rodgers and over 120 other players). Surely no one really thought these negotiations would be a cake-walk for the Bucs.
February 25th, 2016 at 8:11 pm
Well maybe history will repeat itself. Fire defensive minded head coach. Hire offensive minded head coach who also calls the plays. Franchise running back chases big paycheck and signs with rival team. Running back then sits home for the playoffs and watches his former team win the Super Bowl. Laugh if you want, but it has happened. Right now, we’re all 0-0.
February 25th, 2016 at 8:12 pm
Can someone PLEASE just answer this for me??
What would be the reason not to slap the franchise tag on him??..I keep hearing all ober NFL radio and NFL Network on the players that might get the franchise tag..Josh norman being one of them, etc..
So what’s wrong with us doing that??????? Aren’t more players getting the tag in the recent five years??
I need football experts to explain that to me please…
February 25th, 2016 at 8:17 pm
Litmus test for lapdog Licht. Stinks of of pure incompetence, Lovie-style
February 25th, 2016 at 8:28 pm
It’s prob just silly season in full effect but I wouldn’t blame dougie for walking out on us. Last place 5 yrs running, 3rd coach in 5 years, no chance of winning a ring AND they don’t wanna pay me. PEACE ✌🏽
February 25th, 2016 at 8:32 pm
Franchise him, then you get all the leverage back
February 25th, 2016 at 8:55 pm
I don’t need to ask other teams that can’t figure out how to solve their own problem. That’s their management problem. When Martin went down we had backs step up. So yes he can be replaced and their are other running backs that will come out of college just as good at a cheaper cost.
February 25th, 2016 at 8:56 pm
Big deal just tag him and make him prove again
February 25th, 2016 at 8:57 pm
On the positive side, how many times in recent history have we had a draft pick worthy or resigning and this much angst? These are the type of problems that are good to have for a team that’s building. Always better to have guys in house you want to keep like David and McCoy and Martin.
February 25th, 2016 at 9:28 pm
Adios Suck Muscle… Lets clear this up…He can suck some other team DRy,he only runs hard when A ,hes in a contract year. B ,when its not a critical down i.e crunch time and C, quite frankly Im sick of his piss poor additude,let him go suck with matty lite or dead man breaze,he will get his fat payday and return to the loafer you fools seem to have forgotten so recently.BAMMMM!
SCREW YOU douggie ass midget,take that tissue paper mCsoft azz with your lovie dovie loafing ass…Tired of punk ass quiters in Tampa…
February 25th, 2016 at 9:36 pm
Calm down folks.
February 25th, 2016 at 9:44 pm
I almost want doug to leave to prove my point that Charles can be an every down back why do people not see this he can run catch and he’s an amazing pass blocker.
February 25th, 2016 at 9:54 pm
DO NOT LET HIM LEAVE!! Simms is a major downgrade.
February 25th, 2016 at 9:54 pm
If the bucs think he’s unreplaceable they will tag him. if they think Simms is the guy then let Doug walk simple as that
February 25th, 2016 at 9:55 pm
Time to draft E..Elliott
February 25th, 2016 at 10:01 pm
This is most obviously posturing by his agents / representatives.
And who is really surprised? This is par for the course. As others have said, this is his chance for his payday and his agents will work to make that happen. Even if Bucs don’t franchise him and let him talk to other teams, they are still able to match anything, if they want to.
Doug’s gonna get paid, most likely by us. Sky ain’t fallin yet.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:01 pm
For those of you on the Simms wagon please go back and watch the Washington Redskins game. I always thought the defense lost the game then I re-watched it.
Thanks Simms you’re Great! – no one ever
February 25th, 2016 at 10:03 pm
Thank You DB.
Simms is effective because he is the change of pace back. The “2” in our “1-2” punch.
Without the 1, you don’t get to 2.
Simms is not an every down back. Ppl out here hating on Doug and his attitude? wtf you talking about?
February 25th, 2016 at 10:11 pm
PAY THE MAN you cheapo Bucs organization! Or..Somebody else will. Its that simple. Hope we got a plan B or C. Better call Saul.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:12 pm
Simms don’t get tackled he trips over his own feet. He’s a great receiver but he can’t get past the LOS as a RB. If you touch him with a pinky he goes down and will prob get injured but again what do I know.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:12 pm
I agree with DB55. Count me in the “very wary of Simms being our #1 guy” crowd. With that said, you can’t believe everything you read and hear in the media. The posturing agents feed the media what they want to be perceived. I’m also on record saying I don’t think Martin is worth 8 mill plus as a 27 year old previously injured back. I would be happy to have him back but not for what he and his agent are looking for. If I didn’t watch Bill Belichick have about 10 different atrting RB’s in a 4 year period , then I might be thinking that we need Martin at all costs. It simply isn’t true. Like it or not, keep the heart away from the brain’s work and think of how many diamond in the roughs there are at RB. They are a dime a dozen. Qb, an even WR is different. It won’t be easy to watch Martin carry the ball if it happens but we don’t need another lage failed contract extension. The cap space we have would be better served acquiring us solid depth and shoring up the defense. Depth. Remember what that’s like? We have to go back about a decade to remember.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:13 pm
Maybe Dougie goes to Carolina and gets a chance to run over GMC on the goal line like every other RB in the league.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:18 pm
Is Chromolly just “The Kevin” with a slightly larger vocabulary?
Chromolly, your thing in life is not Bucs football. Stick with what ever else it is you do to exist on the planet.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:45 pm
They’re out of stuff to write about.
February 25th, 2016 at 11:04 pm
Its not March 1 yet and this is not journalism its just Roy Cummings gossiping. .
February 25th, 2016 at 11:10 pm
PAY HIM!!!!!! letting him walk would be one of the worst decisions of the decade
February 25th, 2016 at 11:38 pm
Stop being so reactionary, people. Doug is going nowhere.
Cummings was not even reporting on this, he was theorising…making assumptions. I hate it when an opinion is presented as fact.
Frankly, I HOPE they don’t do a deal. Slap him with the tag and be done with it. Do it again next year…draft a replacement to develop next year. This is nothing.
Keotter said it in his combine presser…we are a pass first team.
February 26th, 2016 at 12:03 am
Ya we’re just too good of a team, we can’t afford to keep everyone.. Say goodbye to another 1st rounder
February 26th, 2016 at 1:22 am
Im glad im not the only that sees Sims tripping over his own feet every time he runs with the ball. it’s like he is trying to run super fast but his legs arent fast enough and he falls on his face. He will not fight out tough yardage like a bell cow back should. He just doesnt have that type of power or leverage.
February 26th, 2016 at 1:26 am
I saw the roy cummings interview. He said he expects doug to be a Buc. But it might take a while to do it, as in he will teat the FA waters.
We have plenty of time still. And lets not forget that free agency now comes with a warm up session where teams can talk to potential free agents before the bell actually rings. This is where martin can test the market, before we actually lose him to an open market.
February 26th, 2016 at 3:45 am
I agree with TNEW and Defense Rules!
This is Doug’s ONLY shot at the big payday. He’s simply going for the most money he can score. Who can really blame him.
Licht has to be careful however as well since he needs to protect the teams interests.
Depending on what other teams are willing to throw at Doug Licht will either see value and resign him or not. It’s just business at this point and not really emotional for either side. Emotion is for we fans!
I agree with Joe and posters that if it gets down to it we can franchise him…too much money to pay for one year but it’s money we have and if it’s just for next year it won’t put us in cap hell later on.
Speaking of cap hell I know it’s awhile yet but am I the only person here thinking of how to keep enough cap space free to afford #3 when his rookie deal is up? That’s going to be some mega money.
February 26th, 2016 at 5:21 am
The guy was great his rookie season, was hurt the next couple seasons because he was hanging out at Hogan’s Beach, Blue Martini, & all the other bars in Tampa & wasn’t in football shape because it wasn’t his #1 priority. Than comes contract year & what do you know he’s an All-Pro..don’t pay this guy or you’ll be sorry !!! Let him go that’s my advice, he played for a pay day! Once he gets the money, he’ll be at the bar saying “Money in the Bank, shortie whatcha drank?!”
February 26th, 2016 at 5:31 am
Sign him or tag him. We have enough holes to fill with out adding RB to the list! We should be trying to hold on to what works, not replacing players who were at the top of their game.
February 26th, 2016 at 7:12 am
To all Buc fans who believe the Bucs should let Martin walk, all you see is dollar signs, your fogus should be on the players in the locker room and their reaction when you let a very good player walk over money, Doug deserves the money, I can’t understand why Licht hasn’t gotten it done yet, it’s a no-brainer for this team!!
February 26th, 2016 at 7:48 am
agree that Martin plays bigger than his size and is explosive up the middle
but if Martin had Sims receiving skills he would be an everydown back.He
does the checkdowns pretty well.But in one respect it is like a tell on offense when doug is, in the majority of plays were runs.(lovie ball?)
Sims brings more speed around the edge and was very effective on screens
and has better receiving skills downfield. I would like to see him get the ball more in these situations.
Hope Koetter has them both back to figure out how to use them both and
confuse the defense more.
In Washington,we had a 21 point lead,i got conservative and went into an offensive shell and relied on a tired, bent and broken defense to save game.
Lovie’s conservative decisionmaking lost this game.The only way to hold on to a lead in the NFL is add to it.
February 26th, 2016 at 7:51 am
meant to say
Lovie got conservative.
February 26th, 2016 at 8:58 am
Martin is a $6 million a year back, not a $8 or $9 million one, if someone is willing to overpay him let them, there are backs on the market who are bigger, stronger, faster and younger, Lamar Miller for one, he was woefully mis and under used in Miami, give him a 4 year $30 million dollar deal with $18 guaranteed and put him and Sims together behind that emerging o-line and really watch that offense open up.
February 26th, 2016 at 9:12 am
Doug Martin was named all pro and wants to be paid as such.
February 26th, 2016 at 9:18 am
That’s hogwash, we’ll franchise tag if the talks really break down.
The ball is in the Bucs court on this one!
February 26th, 2016 at 9:42 am
This sounds like something the bucs would do, let your all pro RB walk in FA because u wanna be stubborn over a couple extra dollars wen ur 50 mill over the cap. Lol this is why we are sucs! What are u gonna do if Martin walks? Sign L.Miller I hear, we’ll he’s gonna want just as much as Martin wants so what sense does that make? I could understand letting doug go if we were close to the cap by were not! We got plenty to spend and letting ur pro bowl RB walk doesn’t fall under the “build thru the draft” approach. I hope this is his agent trying. To gain leverage cause it makes absolutely no sense to let doug walk over a couple extra mill. GET THE DEAL DONE AND GET THIS OVER WITH so we can move on. PLZ!
February 26th, 2016 at 9:53 am
Bob
In Washington,we had a 21 point lead,i got conservative and went into an offensive shell and relied on a tired, bent and broken defense to save game.
————————
I blamed the Def too but if you recall with 2:30 to go in the 4th qrt on 3&1 from the wash 1 yard line Simms gets stuffed loses 2 yards leads to a FG. Then with like 30 secs left in the game Jameis is driving into Washington territory for a FG to win the game and BOOM Fumble Charles Simms. Thank you and good night.
I think he’s a great slot rcv but he’s no NFL RB at least not a good one.
February 26th, 2016 at 9:55 am
Buc4life
we’ll he’s gonna want just as much as Martin wants so what sense does that make?
Exactly
February 26th, 2016 at 11:19 am
Dougie fresh heard that there are better strip clubs elsewhere. He is sick of the slopes at 2001 oddessy.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:46 am
With the depreciated value of the RB position idk why you would pay a RB more than $6-7 million a year at best. Yes he’s coming off an all pro year and he’s bounced back in a contract year but how often have we’ve seen players perform lights out in a contract year. Just to sign a big deal and become quiet for the rest of their time in the league. Especially at a position like RB why overpay? Even for an all pro 2nd leading rusher in the league. This is a passing league now and everything is gear towards the pass. I rather sign an all pro receiver than an all pro back. I rather sign an all pro pass rusher or all pro player in the secondary to stop the pass than sign an all pro back. If we’re not willing to give him his asking price then let whoever that’s willing to sign him and be done.
The real solution is to just slap him with the non exclusive tag let him negotiate with other teams. If another team wants him that bad they’ll give him an offer and he signs with them. We’ll get draft picks in return and we’re all set. We don’t lose him for nothing and he gets his money. If he doesn’t get any offers then he pays on that one year contract with us and we can take the hit because we have enough cap. That way we’ll just draft his eventual replacement this year or next year.
RB is an easy position to fill with 2-3 guys because you don’t need one guy to be effective and it has been proven in today’s NFL. It’s really not that serious. I really don’t care if he stays or goes. I love the kid but I’m more concerned about our defense. I rather invest the money he’s asking for into a DE, S, or CB it would make a lot more sense to the overall success of our team. The biggest reasons we lost games last year was our defense failed us. Especially down the stretch that eventually knocked us out of playoff contention.
I say give him $4-6 mill a year for 3-4 years with half upfront and take it from here. If he’s looking for more then we’ll see you when we see you.
February 26th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
@Chyno1
You are completely kidding yourself with that last post. I doubt that even Lamar Miller will sign a deal less than 6 million per year. I find it fascinating when I see FANS that want to be frugal with paying your best player. I suggest you weigh the positives and negatives of letting Martin walk away. You have a promising but developing rookie QB, you have a new head coach who likes the current personnel, you have the cap room, you have a high character guy who you drafted & wants to be here, you’ve got holes to fill on defense AND offense… Do you really want to create more holes and take that kind of risk? No! Jason Licht is smarter than that which is why I’m confident that they can reach an agreement. Objectively, he looks a lot worse if Martin walks and kills it on another team than if he pays Martin 8 million a year and he underperforms. Any GM who has any idea what they are doing would recognize this.
February 26th, 2016 at 1:12 pm
@DB55
Good points,but I also remember a lot of three and outs due to consecutive running plays.Seems like when he had a chance to keep ball or go for 3,Lovie
chose three most of the time and it put the defense against the wall.
Of all the bad things that happened last year.no one thing drove me nuts more than Lovie’s passive decisions with the game on the line
as for Sims I am hoping Koetter will use him more creatively.he is also very good on screens.
But I am starting to wonder how much belichek influence is left on Licht
as far as running back philosophy.If Belicek thought he was getting held up by
RB,they would let him walk.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:19 pm
Joe, if Martin does sign with another team wouldn’t the Bucs receive a high compensatory pick. He was a first round pick by the Bucs and the number two overall rusher last year. Give us some information on what round compensatory pick we would receive. It might be worth letting him walk if we were to receive a second round or higher pick.
February 27th, 2016 at 12:17 am
I would let him go without a second thought if he is asking more than 4ish million a year. The tag is too expensive at 11 million for a guy who had a great “contract season”. Pass…let Sims take over and draft Kenyon Drake in the 4th to share the load. Spend that money at a different spot, like Vernon maybe.
February 27th, 2016 at 8:49 am
Look I like doug martin and he has earned bell cow role and pay.
Don’t agree with the people slamming Sims. he is on his feet a hell of a lot
more than some give him credit for.he ran for almost 5 yards a carry and has
an 11 yard per catch average.that is 3 yards better than Martin.
keep the two together they are a perfect complement.