From “Scout” To Stardom
December 7th, 2016
Freddie Martino had a bigger day than Mike Evans in San Diego. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com)
In October, the Bucs cut Freddie Martino. That was nothing new. He’d been cut by the Bucs previously, and multiple times by the Falcons and Eagles.
But as singers from the velvet-lined lounge at the Vero Beach Ramada Inn know, it’s all about getting ready for the next act.
Yes, Joe jokes about Martino, a massive long-shot receiver on the roster, the guy who had a career day in San Diego on Sunday.
Martino caught every ball thrown his way, four catches for 56 yard. He now has six career receptions since leaving Division-II ball at North Greenville University in 2014.
Martino’s big day was extra special considering he wasn’t a factor in the game plan. But Cecil Short and Adam Humphries were injured early and things changed.
Speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network this week, Dirk Koetter acknowledged that Martino spent the practice week on the scout team and really was not in the plans.
Martino, though, proved he was a true professional, ready for his surprising moments of glory.
He had more catches and yards than Mike Evans!
What a testament to Martino’s preparation and the coaching of Koetter and wide receivers coach/offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
Joe is raising a gin gimlet in unity with the blue hairs at the lounge.
December 7th, 2016 at 9:12 am
I really do not undesrtand the irony of some people……This guy each time the team needed him he delivered, and the stats show he is close to perfection…..
December 7th, 2016 at 9:14 am
A great performance but we need more weapons. Let’s hope Humphries is back. It wasn’t the original hit that got him; it was the second hit in the back of the head. Also Simms could forget being a running back and literally just play the slot guy.
December 7th, 2016 at 9:42 am
I believe the one of the more underrated stories of one buc place is Todd Monken. He was brought here not to call the plays but to make sure that Evans was not dropping the ball like last season. Well since he has started coaching for the Bucs, not only has Evans looked like a complete star but the Buc’s other less talented receivers are coming in and producing. People we have never heard of are coming in and catching the football. I don’t know if this is directly impacted by Monken, but I think he does at least deserve some credit for the receivers playing well.
December 7th, 2016 at 9:57 am
I really do not understand the sentence “I really do not understand the irony of some people”.
December 7th, 2016 at 10:02 am
Love stories like this of people working and stepping up when presented the opportunity. How do you not love this? Especially versus the sad situations of people who are blessed with endless athletic ability (ASJ? Free5?, etc) and do not recognize what a gift they have been given.
December 7th, 2016 at 10:05 am
The vero beach motel thing is getting old…he’s overachieving. Give some respect.
December 7th, 2016 at 10:15 am
Glad Freddie is able to click with #3. Hump is a pretty good blocker and that will be missed if he can’t go. On the blocking front…the injury to Luke Stocker is big. Hope he gets healthy before next week. Our run game needs him in there.
December 7th, 2016 at 10:18 am
Also a testament to Jameis. He’s spreading the ball around and making us learn names like Brate, Martino, et.al.
December 7th, 2016 at 10:47 am
^^^^^^ I live in Montana and I can Promise you people are taking notice of Brate and Hump. You should see how fast Brate got snatched up off the waiver wires a few weeks ago in my FF league
December 7th, 2016 at 11:14 am
Awesome story.
SB, you live in Montana too? I’m a Tampa Native who just moved to MT June 2015. Representing Bucs Nation in the frozen tundra! #SiegeTheDay
December 7th, 2016 at 11:30 am
Hope he gets more time, still need to see Shep more IMO and would like to see what Cross can do with more time, we have some weapons, they just don’t have the name recognition. You can’t underestimate how chemistry can affect the way you play.
December 7th, 2016 at 11:35 am
I noticed we brought up Josh Huff from the practice squad.. I wonder what he can bring to the table besides guns and weed?? LOL
December 7th, 2016 at 11:54 am
No_Bucs_Given Says:
December 7th, 2016 at 10:05 am
The vero beach motel thing is getting old…he’s overachieving. Give some respect.
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Goodness, I agree…just like the UPS driver line got old..On that note, I am happy for Freddie Martino! Love it when a passed kid makes good!!
December 7th, 2016 at 12:07 pm
Love Shep and Martino!
Whats all the love and sad faces of Vjack and Shorts production
What production?
Both shep and Martino is a better rac explosive receivers than even humphries. add Sims in the passing routes, with have a prolific passing attack
Peeps going to realize that Jaboo doesnt need the best of the best. He needs route runners who can create little separation. Martino ran the slant and crossing patterns his whole college career. Martino has similar skillset as Jaboos go to guy in college rashad greene
humphries had that little bubble screen that looked scary as hell like a car crash everytime they ran it.
**Is it only Kobe, but everytime humphries runs with the ball, he looks like he is lost in the wrong/bad side of town and running for his life? I swear i can hear him screaming from my moms basement- “whys all these black guys trying to kill me?”
Kobe has a keen eye
December 7th, 2016 at 2:28 pm
Hey JOE, After last Sunday Martino and his band of renown have graduated to a classy Marriot Resort hotel. If this continues I see a record deal and a tour in his future.
December 7th, 2016 at 2:30 pm
@ brion ,
Merriam-Webster defines irony as:
1: a pretense of ignorance and of willingness to learn from another assumed in order to make the other’s false conceptions conspicuous by adroit questioning —called also Socratic irony
2: a) the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning
b) a usually humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by irony
c) an ironic expression or utterance
3: a) : incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result; an event or result marked by such incongruity
b) incongruity between a situation developed in a drama and the accompanying words or actions that is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play —called also dramatic irony, tragic irony
A simple way of putting it is that irony usually signals a difference between the appearance of things and reality. For instance, here is how Wikipedia defines it: “Ironic statements (verbal irony) often convey a meaning exactly opposite from their literal meaning. In ironic situations (situational irony), actions often have an effect exactly opposite from what is intended.”
December 7th, 2016 at 2:44 pm
Being from Vero, we don’t have a Ramada Inn, but I think that I get the point.
December 7th, 2016 at 3:24 pm
@firethecannon58
definitely agree with you about Monken. he’s really understated, but his passion for his guys and for this team is undeniable. i’ve been as impressed with him as I was with Dirk last year in the same position. both guys are brutally honest, which i really appreciate as a fan.
December 7th, 2016 at 10:18 pm
@Wright……I wish I hadn’t left the room. Way to represent from way up here as well. I am one of only two Bucs fans in this town. Surrounded by Packers, Broncos, and Seahawks.
December 8th, 2016 at 6:29 am
Irony was used incorrectly in that sentence.