Martin “Most Likely” Will Be Cut
January 10th, 2017
Doomed future?
Roughly a month ago running back didn’t seem to be a major, immediate need for the Bucs. But that all changed quickly.
When it was learned Bucs running back Doug Martin was popped for using a banned PED and subsequently suspended, draft talk quickly changed from wide receiver to running back for Bucs fans.
Last week in a Facebook Live chat, former Jets linebackers coach and pro player personnel director Pat Kirwan, a former Bucs scout and current SiriusXM NFL Radio talking head, fielded a question about Doug Martin.
Pimping his fantastic website, RealFootballNetwork.com, Kirwan not only suggested Martin’s trade value is virtually zero, he believes it is a very real possibility that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht washes his hands of Martin, who by his positive PED test voided his guaranteed $7 million contract for 2017.
“Sorry Doug, but here’s what’s going to happen to you: You are going to get released, most likely,” Kirwan said. “Why? Well, [your] team doesn’t want to take a second chance with you. But most importantly that contract you signed is big. Who wants to trade for that contract?
“I would say if Doug gets a clean bill of health and his club gets convinced — that being Tampa — that he can still play, he will be there. But I think he will be released. I don’t think he will have trade value. Unless you want to take a sixth or a seventh [round pick], and see if he passes all of your tests and see if he gets through summer camp and all of that. His value has gone right down the drain.”
As Joe has stated, it is not etched in stone that Martin is gone. Joe suspects the Bucs might try to rework his deal to, say, a team-friendly $1 million for 2017 plus performance incentives.
This much is clear to Joe: The Bucs will not be banking on Martin being a feature back any longer.
To see Kirwan’s entire Facebook Live chat about all things NFL, click the white arrow below.
January 10th, 2017 at 8:05 am
Thanks for the memories Dougie Fresh!!!!!!!
January 10th, 2017 at 8:19 am
Absolutely the contract will be torn up. His next contract will be performance based with the 3 game suspension will be factored in !!!
For the Bucs to become a consistent team, they need consistent players!!! And Drug martin is not the only name on the list being looked at right now!!!!!!!
January 10th, 2017 at 8:34 am
I like Doug but let’s be real here. 2 good seasons out of 5 with drug problems. Not very good odds you bounce back. Cut your loses and move on. Good backs coming out in the draft this year, and they’ll be cheaper than 7 mill for the first 4 years..
GO BUCS!!
January 10th, 2017 at 8:36 am
It would be different if the Mollys actually helped his performance. Hes taking PDD Performance Declining Drugs.
January 10th, 2017 at 8:38 am
Would be completely stupid to cut Martin.
He is one year removed from being the leagues second leading rusher. Mark my words, Martin gets cut, some like the Pats sign him and he has a huge year.
January 10th, 2017 at 8:47 am
Can one of the real CBA geeks explain something to me?
Are the Bucs allowed to cut Doug and then start fresh on the contract?
To be honest drugs aside Dougie was never a 7 million a year running back. He’s been a servicable running back who has prformed well when the OL dominated.
How many times did he get caught from behind after the OL got him into the secondary. He simply is not a special back and his equivalent could be found in the draft pretty easily. In fact I consider Quizz and Doug a bit of a tossup.
Deshaun Watson was slated by most experts as a very late…bottom of the first round to a more expected late 2nd or 3rd round pick. Will last night get any of the QB starved teams to make a play to get him. Not talking about trading to move up just teams ahead of us who may need a QB. I haven’t analyzed the teams to see QB needs other than Cleveland who needs a QB every year.
Point is if Watson or some other player jumps up the board higher than us could that make Cook drop enough to draft.
I lust for Cook’s speed but I concede it’s probably not worth it to package a bunch of picks/player to move up…but if he falls close enough to us…grab him.
Sign Terrelle Pryor and all of the sudden a slow team gets really fast with 4.4 WR’s and RB’s!
January 10th, 2017 at 8:49 am
It would be completely stupid to trust a unreliable dirt bag who screwed his teammates. Cut the bum
January 10th, 2017 at 8:49 am
come on warren… he is getting huge money and has been bad 3 out of 4 years. We know he is out for 20% of the season. Hope to keep him around as joe mentions with a team friendly contract but if you go into the season, he is your #3 back behind rogers, and a newly drafted or newly signed rb
January 10th, 2017 at 8:51 am
Would be completely stupid to cut Martin.
He is one year removed from being the leagues second leading rusher. Mark my words, Martin gets cut, some like the Pats sign him and he has a huge year.
I could almost see Doug Martin, and Leggarett Blount causing havoc for the AFC up in New England next year.
January 10th, 2017 at 8:52 am
Good been tired of this team gifting doigillac the unreliable gerbil a starting spot every year pinning their hopes to mr.imightnotsuckevery2years isnt a recipe for success. Thank god i dont really care if he goes somewhere else and is good. Hell suck the next year guarantee. Go get a rb that is young and can grow with this nucleus we have now someone reliable
January 10th, 2017 at 8:57 am
Go get marlon mack or joe mixon in the 3rd or 4th round cut martin
January 10th, 2017 at 8:59 am
StPete, definitely think Deshaun Watson helped himself in the draft last night. Clutch performance (and yes, I’m a huge Bama fan). Agree with Pat Kirwan that Dougie will be cut, but Bucs might bring him back at a much-reduced contract loaded with incentives. In terms of FAs, I know lots of folks like Terrelle Pryor, but I’d rather see the Bucs make a play for Desean Jackson (I think Washington will keep Garcon but can’t afford both). Granted he’s 30, but has great speed and is a consistent performer. Don’t really see any RBs who’ll be available in FA who I’d like to see wearing a Bucs uniform (Bell will re-sign with Pitt) so I’d draft a RB someplace in the top 3 rnds (doubt Cook will be there when our time comes up). Quite a few good RBs though in the draft.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:20 am
If his contract is voided, then of course you sign him to less money. He now has almost no leverage and understands that this is the consequence for his actions. He’ll take less. He provides talented and experienced depth behind the stud(s) that they draft after the 3rd round; after your o-lineman,WR and DE.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:21 am
DR
Like all the guys you have mentioned for WR…I think it comes down do you want a solid hit or swing for the fences.
Of course a big swing for the fences can also result in a swing and a miss.
But of all the possible home runs and alas possible swing and a miss it’s Pryor.
My son in Columbus will neither vouch nor condemn Pryor’s head…and my son is a Browns fans as well as OSU.
I’m prejudiced. I love former QB’s at WR the best being Heinz Ward. Ward had a bit of edge to him as well and so does Pryor.
Sorry to keep pounding this but a 6-4…225lb WR with 4.4 speed who has also played QB on a National Championship team under the largest lights short of the Super Bowl…a guy who just put up 1,000 yards for the worst team in the league…a guy who is still learning how to run routes…and a guy who is as competitive as #3…..can we manage that competitiveness? I honestly do not know.
But the upside is off the charts. Moncken completes the conversion, teaches route running and the finer points of Pryor’s new position and by 2018 we might be lining up with two #1’s at WR!
January 10th, 2017 at 9:23 am
So both of our 1st round picks from the 2012 draft will be gone.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:24 am
Defense,
I concur.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:41 am
Lol at finding a stud running back in the 4th round or later pick. The majority of those picks don’t even make the team. The ones that do are typically special teams players for a couple years.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:41 am
Good grief anybody that’s a name gets cut and just goes and prospers in New England. So he’s gonna get cut get picked up by New England and him and Blount are gonna rush for 300 yards a piece on the Bucs next year? Yes New England is great tom Brady yeaaah. Why can’t we be like them?? Martin is 28 in 3 days sooo suddenly he’s gonna burst out and dominate?? I don’t even want him for depth. Get somebody YOUNGRY!! Haha.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:47 am
StPete … Pryor has tremendous potential, and either he or Desean Jackson would be a huge upgrade for the Bucs obviously (I assume both would be costly). I’d love to see us draft a true #2 WR this year that we could keep paired with Jameis and ME13 for a LONG time, but I’m torn between using a high pick for that vs RB vs TE vs OL vs DT/DE. Fortunately (for me), my career (and fortunes) don’t rest on which I pick.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:55 am
Mark my words…As soon as the Bucs cut Martin? Watch Bellacheat and Co gulp him up faster than a magician!! Bucs are foolish to cut him and as usual, another player will come back to haunt them as several other have during our..bleak past. Martin has one strike, not 20 against him. He screwed up once. Should’nt he be given a 2nd chance? Nope not according to a lot of you. Don’t matter. We got Jameis right? Well, as Koetter has said, Jameis cannot do it alone folks. And there are a lot of teams who’ve had winning records one yr and fell the next (Hint..Superbowl champs Bucs). Doug Martin will come back next yr..regardless of who he is playing with and wreck havoc on somebody with 1000 yrs plus. Mark my words.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:56 am
So long Dougie. Hello Dalvin.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:59 am
Belichess gose thru RBs like a dime a dozen this notion that Belichess will automatically be interested in a guy with two productive season’s and a 2.9 yard average in 2016 is laughable.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:02 am
I would say a drug addiction is a pretty big screw up Mike!
January 10th, 2017 at 10:28 am
We missed the playoffs by one game, possibly missed the playoffs by just one play. Who knows? Yet this “bell-cow” chose his own fulfillment over the teams. Goodbye Doug. You chose your destiny now live with it. No sympathy here. Cut him unless there is some sucker out there for a trade.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:31 am
Goodbye Drug Martin.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:41 am
I’m not convinced Martin is gone. I can see him resigning with a prove it contract just to remain…and agreeing to regular testing.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:49 am
Joe suspects the Bucs might try to rework his deal to, say, a team-friendly $1 million for 2017 plus performance incentives.
————–
Logical approach. Having druggie coming off the bench is not a terrible idea.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:52 am
Missing post.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:53 am
2 year deal, 2 million per year. Option for a 3rd. No guarantees.
Incentives.
That’s the way to go.
January 10th, 2017 at 11:15 am
I wish Doug the best, I truly do, but I don’t see any possible way of him returning even with a reduced role. This team is establishing a new culture and wanting to contend for championships.
Martin shannihams are part of the reasons why we have been bad while rebuilding. We don’t need that on the team anymore.
Also a little nugget here…I listened to WhatTheBuc podcast from last week and I don’t understand why that guy loves to pick sides and defend or attack who he personally doesn’t like. He defended Lovie and ranted for months and now he’s on this defend Doug Martin kick. This is why I only do Ira and BucsUncensored, I can’t do the silly crap.
As bad as some of these personnel moves have been for over 10 years and you defend this mess I can’t affiliate with that. The Bucs are doing the right thing.
January 10th, 2017 at 11:31 am
What is martin proving??
January 10th, 2017 at 11:35 am
You know wasted draft picks you guys talk about like its something new. This sht has been going on for years. Were
January 10th, 2017 at 11:39 am
I like him back…just at a very very reduced price.
January 10th, 2017 at 11:44 am
I’m confused on the whole drug suspension thing. If it is true that he was taking Molly, I thought that would fall under recreational drugs and not PED’s.
January 10th, 2017 at 11:47 am
Cut Doug. Move on. It would probably be best for both parties at this time.
January 10th, 2017 at 11:56 am
Nope, you would be surprised at what is on the PED list. Cocaine is also on that list.
January 10th, 2017 at 11:57 am
Rework the contract and let him compete
January 10th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
It’s going to be hard to justify a roster spot for Doug, at any price. If he were a consistent player it would be different IMO. If they retain him it would have to be at a greatly reduced price.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:41 pm
The contract did not equal his production and now with a potential 10 game suspension looming should he re lapse the choice is clear. Let him go. Hope he gets his act together, but running backs have a shorter shelf life than most players and the money can be spent elsewhere.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Druggernaut
January 10th, 2017 at 12:53 pm
From the muscle hamster to the outhouse hamster in one fell swoop.
January 10th, 2017 at 12:55 pm
He screwed himself then his teammates…….would not have made a huge difference down the stretch because he was not having a good year! You don’t throw him on the trash pile….you offer him a team friendly contract!!!
January 10th, 2017 at 2:45 pm
Move on from Martin. Draft a guy in the 3rd or 4th making 1/10th what Martin is owed and use the 6 million plus extra cash to go get some o-lineman depth in free agency. The Bucs have a guy in Peyton Barber who has some serious skills. I’d look out for him after a full offseason of improving his game.
January 10th, 2017 at 3:26 pm
He’s not a dirtbag. He violated an industry rule. He did not commit a crime of moral turpitude. Rather, he is a player who made a mistake and will likely pay for it. Have some class…some empathy…some human decency.
January 10th, 2017 at 3:27 pm
We’re invested in him: money, draft pick, coaching, chemistry, development.
I don’t get why we always have to do the addition by subtraction thing this time of year.
We’re building something here. Let’s focus on adding the several other pieces we need and not have to invest another draft pick in a RB.
January 10th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Reach87, Martin violated a condition of his employment and cost his teammates by both being unavailable physically in game 16 and unavailable mentally in games 1-15.
I agree that the Druggernaut is a person who is dealing with a problem but I’m not crying for someone who just banked 7 million off of an awful year at his job.
If you grow up aspiring to be rich and famous, realize that fame has it’s price. So does addiction.
January 10th, 2017 at 5:34 pm
Mike…subtracting Martin means what? We lose is 300-500 yards?
Oh well. Buh bye.
January 10th, 2017 at 8:34 pm
87. You’re talking about just last season.
Look I get it. He’s unreliable and we are too heavily (not just financially) invested in him.
Over 57 games, he’s got 5272 total yards.. I looked it up.. that’s an average 92.5 yards of offense/game over his career.
I don’t know where that extra offense is going to come from, and think it’s a risk to say we can afford a zero-tolerance policy.. for a guy that gives you almost 100 yards/game
January 10th, 2017 at 9:16 pm
Tony in LA , I wish we would have seen more of Barber , I think he has some talent also.
January 10th, 2017 at 9:33 pm
Molly Hamster can go play in Canada for all I care!
January 10th, 2017 at 11:12 pm
Doug earned ever bit of his contract after that phenomenal 2015 season. Saying otherwise is ignorance. The o line sucked last year and sucked in 2015. The difference was a healthy motivated Doug Martin in 2015. Doug was never gifted a talented o line. And they NEVER dominated. Watch the tape. Doug would make 3 guys miss in the backfield and turn it into a 20 yard run. o line has been a problem since schiano blew up our franchise.
January 10th, 2017 at 11:18 pm
And who in their right mind thinks Peyton Barber ever looked good? What, because a decent run or 2 against the worst run defense in the league (9ers). puhlease. We need to add a new body to the RB group. Stop relying on publix bag boys to be key figures on this team. Ya’ll are crazy.
January 11th, 2017 at 12:54 am
I think some of you arent seeing the true picture about Martin.
He had a great first year- to get attention.
Then flat layed down the next two years.
Contract year- big year!!
Gets contract- again lays down on team
He is the worst kind of player. Only produces when he profits. No loyality to team or teammates. Thats why none of them had any words of sympathy for him.
Hes toxic to a team trying to build a winning attitude.
I said all this, before he signed his big contract.
He should be cut and his jersey burned.
If they keep Drug Martin, the money hamster, on a one or two year deal, he will produce. Has to be low dollar and incentive laden.
But it would be a mistake. You need the team know that they reward hard work- not people who lay down on team and teammates. Keeping Martin at any price is a mistake
January 11th, 2017 at 1:32 am
Joe, in retrospect, it’s clear to me, you knew the locker room rumors about Doug Martin long before the suspension was announced. Instead of simply criticizing his play, which is what you did ad nauseam, why didn’t you let your readers in on the real story? Don’t you feel you have that responsibility to your readers?
Very simple. Joe criticized Martin’s play because it was worthy of criticism, per the film and the numbers. Joe is not inside Martin’s body or spending free time with him. Perhaps whatever he was taking was helping him/keeping him from playing worse. Joe is not a doctor.–Joe