“Muscle Hamster’s Time In Tampa Is Done”
February 15th, 2017
McPaper predicts the end.
One reason Joe has harped on drafting a running back high is the Bucs don’t have a quality running game, in no small part thanks to Doug Martin.
The former first round pick has had two good seasons in his five-year career. Then he added the cherry to the top of his abysmal 2016 season by getting popped for a banned PED. Nice.
At best, Martin is unreliable. Steven Ruiz of USA Today thinks it is worse than that. In his breakdown of the top-25 players on the cusp of being cut, Ruiz believes Martin is toast with the Bucs.
Martin’s off-the-field issues should make this an easy decision for the Buccaneers. He’s a running back with two productive seasons under his belt and he gets paid like a top-10 back. The Muscle Hamster’s time in Tampa is done.
Well, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is in a power position here. Martin begins 2017 on suspension. So, Licht has time on his hands. He’s got until roughly the end of September to decide what to do with everyone’s formerly favorite Muscle Hamster.
Does he cut him? Does he keep him at a reduced rate? Does he keep him at his current salary (unlikely). All options are on the table for Licht.
Licht wields the hammer here as Martin has zero leverage.
Joe finds it difficult to believe that Martin will return unless Licht does not draft a stud running back.
February 15th, 2017 at 3:48 am
It’s time to move on, or keep him for depth for Dalvin Cook on a reduced salary.
February 15th, 2017 at 4:27 am
The popstar’s drafting strikes again. The list is endless.
February 15th, 2017 at 5:37 am
I think Ira is right that there will be a couple of RBs in FA that will be available. No need to spend a high draft pick getting one.
February 15th, 2017 at 5:46 am
Isiaha Crowell (don’t mind the spelling) is an intriguing FA to target. Then a RB in the draft aswell
February 15th, 2017 at 5:50 am
“Mr. Hamster, Bill Belicheck on line one.”
February 15th, 2017 at 6:46 am
Even if we do get a new rb….its a no brainer to try and keep martin on a new cheap deal. If he says no cut him. But he is talented. Injuries have been bad and I believe this will be his only suspension. Not worth being paid like a starting back but would be good value if you.can convinve him to stick around for cheap.
February 15th, 2017 at 6:52 am
At this point I’m just waiting to get the notification on my phone that he is cut, but the longer it takes to make that move the more you have to think it might not happen.
February 15th, 2017 at 7:00 am
He he goes to.new england I will throw up. Im sick of seeing guys go there and magically become the all stars they were expected to be. We need that here in tampa….make players want to play. I pray thats what Winston has brought to Tampa
February 15th, 2017 at 7:02 am
I would love to see crowell. He is a three down back, runs hard and would probably love to get outa cleveland. He woukd be an upgrade for sure
February 15th, 2017 at 7:17 am
Hey JLicht, if you’re reading JBF, please see if you can restructure a one year “team friendly”deal with Martin IF he can break up with Molly. Unlike JFro who went mental, Doug owned up and is seeking help. He still has talent.
February 15th, 2017 at 7:19 am
Dalvin Dalvin Dalvin!
February 15th, 2017 at 7:38 am
I think Martin would make a better than average backup if the price is right. I’ve never been high on him as the team’s feature back.
February 15th, 2017 at 8:23 am
Schiano drafted Dougie because he reminded him of his old RB- Ray Rice.
Sign Ray Rice!!!!
He is a Super Bowl Caliber RB!!
Come on!!
He would be perfect for us and soooooo CHEAP!!
February 15th, 2017 at 8:43 am
I go to USA Today for all my sports scoop
February 15th, 2017 at 8:50 am
I hear ya Ocala!!!
Am I the only one here who grew sick of watching the “Muscle Turtle” get some great blocking in 2015…free in the defensive backfield…on his way to the house…oops…drug down from BEHIND…..AGAIN!!!
February 15th, 2017 at 9:35 am
Lately I’ve been just reading the articles and skipping the comments, and now I know now. We’ve got people blaming Mark Dominik for Doug Martin’s drug problems. Then we’ve got someone wanting old arse Ray Rice!!! WTF, are you people serious? Ray Rice hasn’t played in 3 full seasons, and he was terrible the year before that, and you honestly think he’s going to help us? Why don’t we bring in Michael Pittman while we’re at it. He’s a Super Bowl RB as well. “He’s sooooo cheap”, LMAO. I wonder why.
February 15th, 2017 at 9:49 am
i blame licht for re-signing martin if as many people have said he was dating molly for awhile…great line and point by toes on the line of re-signing martic for the mininmum
February 15th, 2017 at 9:57 am
Keep Martin and slide Simms to the slot.
February 15th, 2017 at 10:49 am
Dalvin Cook could potentially be a game changer the likes of which we’ve never had before. Man if we could somehow draft him and Ramczyk this run game would be so lethal.
February 15th, 2017 at 10:56 am
“The Muscle Hamster’s time in Tampa is done.”
Hey, hey, hey wait just a minute buddy.
He doesn’t like being called The Muscle Hamster.
Do we care anymore? No.
February 15th, 2017 at 11:05 am
Typical Tampa writer..calling somebody a name he’s known to dislike. Its best Martin move on.Ny now, he probably wants to seeing the love he’s getting after one mistake. I for one, wish him nothing but the best. I’m willing to bet he comes back with another team and rips the league up in leading yardage. Just to say to Tampa, Up Yours!! Good Luck Doug.
February 15th, 2017 at 11:09 am
First, Ruiz is not a “Tampa writer.”
Second, Martin has much more grave concerns on his plate than someone using the best nickname in sports he could have made millions off of. If someone really wanted to be an arse to Martin, they can start calling him “Mollie Hamster” or “Druggienaut” or “Druggie Fresh.”
Guessing “Muscle Hamster” sounds pretty damned good by comparison.
February 15th, 2017 at 11:10 am
There’s plenty of time to let the whole situation play out. Licht has until the end of September to make a decision on Martin. We assume the GM will bring in at least one more RB via either FA or the draft.
The entire off season, TC and preseason will be utilized to see where we stand at the RB position.
Has Doug done everything asked of him the previous 8 months? How does he look in camp and in preseason games? Are the other backs performing well?
If the answers are Yes – Great – and not really – then its likely Doug will be cut and then re-signed to a new, 1 year prove it deal assuming he wants to be here.
The one thing that seems certain to me is that Doug will not be earning $7M in 2017.
February 15th, 2017 at 11:20 am
I never liked muscle hamster either. This market is already a joke without one of our (former) premier players being known as the muscle hamster. Not that it matters now.
February 15th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Count me in on the keep Doug Martin bandwagon. A full off season to heal up properly, he should be good to go. Adversity brings out the best in some players. Martin deserves another shot to prove himself. That’s my gut feeling and I’m sticking with it.
February 15th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
drug martin is my favorite nickname right now!!!!!
We will have our answers of what will they do with him right after the draft!!!!!
February 15th, 2017 at 12:34 pm
I think it depends on his attitude and his willingness to work out a new deal.
February 15th, 2017 at 12:37 pm
We are not getting Dalvin Cook unless we move into the top ten so you people shut up and try to think of other good suggestions for high quality RBs that could be a possibility in the higher rounds. We are not getting a RB in the first but if we did it would be D’onta Foreman for me all day. Dude is a fast bulldozer that gets 100+ yards every game.
February 15th, 2017 at 1:12 pm
In case any of you so called Buc fans have forgotten we have some pretty good, young RBs on our roster now. I think theyve done a great job by committee. Given the chance to compete this off season for the starting job I think we will be fine in the run game.
February 15th, 2017 at 2:38 pm
Yawn … It’s like this oped comes up every other day. Come up with something new please.
February 15th, 2017 at 2:54 pm
I think they we redo his deal when its all said and done.