Nobody Home
January 27th, 2017
Joe spent quality 1-on-1 time with Mike Evans this morning at Disney World following the NFC Pro Bowl practice.
And Joe will share various nuggets in the coming days.
One topic of conversation was suspended Doug Martin, who said in December, via a statement, that he’s battling a drug problem and will enter a treatment program.
Joe asked Evans if he’s heard any good news about Martin, and Evans said he’s heard no news at all. Evans added that he is a neighbor of Martin’s and went by his house last week and nobody was home, and Evans said he hasn’t seen any activity around Martin’s house.
Joe asked someone else close to Martin today, as well, and that party also said he had heard nothing of any kind about Martin.
Martin was suspended 30 days ago, and has three games left on his suspension.
Joe expects Martin’s camp will emerge with an uplifting statement from him and a impressive workout video by March 1.
January 27th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
Good luck getting Evans to ever talk to you again lol
January 27th, 2017 at 12:35 pm
Hope for his sake you right Joe.
January 27th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Joe ….you got me.
I thought you meant nobody home upstairs. lol
Nice try though.
January 27th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
Maybe he’s at the drug treatment facility, like he said he would.
January 27th, 2017 at 1:00 pm
Jason right on, at the facility or back home in cali
January 27th, 2017 at 1:01 pm
Exactly Jason. He’s in rehab trying to get his life together. This is excellent news.
Now I know stpete will be here in a minute to tell us he’s not the answer but from the last 6 years of me following him back in boise, he has been a great guy and as we have all seen, has the skills to be a better than average rb. He genuinely wants to improve and be a great player/teammate.
I totally anticipate he will finish rehab and get his life together. I also believe he will return to form and hope that he’s given another shot with us this season. The bottom dropped out for Doug and I know he learned from it.
January 27th, 2017 at 1:02 pm
I wish the very best for Doug…on an AFC team. He seems like a decent guy who has a problem. Hope he gets it taken care of.
Do you all remember how quite a few here made a HUGE deal over MG8 going out of bounds instead of crashing head first into a defender to pick up a first down?
They have never let it go.
Sorry that’s how I feel about Doug during one of his good years. I have literally forgotten how many times he got hauled down from behind while on taking it to the house….if the house was the ten yard line he’d have a lot more TD’s. LOL
I want EXPLOSION in our backfield…whether it’s Dalvin or Mixon or somebody else I want somebody who CAN FREAKING TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE!!!
January 27th, 2017 at 1:22 pm
If he is in a 30 day rehab then he would be out of touch for those 30 days.
January 27th, 2017 at 1:23 pm
Can anyone confirm these spots where the Buccaneers pick in the upcoming draft?
Just want to make sure I have their picks right.
1 19th
2 18th (50)
3 20th (84)
4 19th (124)
5 18th (164)
6 20th (205)
7 19th (240)
January 27th, 2017 at 1:34 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
“If he is in a 30 day rehab then he would be out of touch for those 30 days.”
Geez Bonzai. Did it help much?
January 27th, 2017 at 1:46 pm
Joe— Any updates on Brate?
January 27th, 2017 at 1:49 pm
Caution to all of you that want to cut Doug Martin. Think about all the current pro bowlers who were talented Buccaneer cast offs.
January 27th, 2017 at 1:56 pm
@Eric
Stpete isn’t here yet so I will tell you he isn’t the long term answer. He could have all the skill in the world but the bottom line is he can’t stay healthy. Idk how a team looking to get over the hump can go into a season depending on an injury prone RB fresh out of rehab serving a 3 game suspension.
And let’s just be honest how can you be sure of everything you said you are sure of? Nobody has had contact with him for a while, doesn’t mean he is in rehab and unless you know him personally nobody knows what’s going on in his head. So you can’t guarantee that he learned from this and won’t repeat his mistakes.
I would like to agree with you and I hope you are right about him getting it together but until the facts are out there nobody knows
January 27th, 2017 at 2:00 pm
@PanthersSuck
Name one former Buccaneer from those you were referencing who beat a drug problem and is still playing football professionally.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:10 pm
Yeah this is a different situation from other players we let walk away or we traded. I don’t think anyone here wishes any ill will towards Doug. The facts are pretty bad surrounding his case – he is injury prone, now has a drug problem that has been an issue but is just coming to light, and his contract is not team friendly given the other two issues.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
Ugh I hate the moderation bot you use.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
buc4ltfe: talib
January 27th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
Why are all of my comments being moderated?
January 27th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
Go Bucs!
January 27th, 2017 at 2:17 pm
Buc1987 Says
“Geez Bonzai. Did it help much?”
What are you talking about?
January 27th, 2017 at 2:20 pm
While I agree that Martin is NOT a long term solution, if he will restructure his contract, the Bucs should keep him.
Draft picks are at a premium right now. If we can put off drafting a RB for a year, it frees up a pick.
That would let us strengthen the two lines. And a strong offensive line would help the running game AND the passing game.
As to the ‘we’re happy with our offensive line’ speak from Licht…never believe pre draft talk.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:25 pm
It all depends on how drug martin handled the suspension!!!! I never heard anything if he was apologetic or remorseful towards his fellow teammate!!!! Did he address that he let them down and how he would not allow for that to happen again!!!!
If he did not own this huge mistake, he could well be gone, and the fact he is a year older, had another injured season, and at best can only be available for 13 games!!!!! It does not look good!!!!!
January 27th, 2017 at 2:26 pm
Valid points, Realist.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:27 pm
@Buccaneer Bonzai
Why put it off when there are so many good RBs this year?
January 27th, 2017 at 2:43 pm
In other news, Martin just announced that it is alright to call him the Muscle Hamster. No big deal.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:46 pm
Bonzai/Realist,
Doug Martin did release a statement. Maybe his agent released this and you want to hear from him on tape. Probably would be a prepared statement live too. I’m not sure what you’re looking for.
http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Doug-Martin-Releases-Statement/1dff627e-7064-46a1-bad1-9a4238556443
January 27th, 2017 at 2:47 pm
Buc4lyfe79 Blount and Talib right off the top. But anyway I think we need to restructure his deal ideally or just move on. There’s no guarantee you’re going to get the ’12 or ’15 Dougie. Give him another prove it deal even if you have no intent of signing him if he blows up.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:53 pm
joey
Everything you said made complete sense. There’s very few logical people in here like we are but hear me out:
I realize doug is not the long term answer. At least that’s how it’s looking. He’s 28 and even if he did rebound, he’s got 3 years tops left in the league. As far as not staying healthy, well right now, deangelo, woodhead, eddy, ap, leveon, Abdullah, stewart, ingram, etc all can’t stay healthy. The list is much longer too. Every team should prepare for their #1 to go down. Def. need depth. Also look at leveon, suspended in the beginning of the year, steelers held on to him, after his second suspension and they made the afc championship.
As far as awareness of doug, nobody is and that wasn’t my point. All of that is yet to be determined and on top of that, he’ll either prove it or not. What to do with him will be concluded once he returns to the surface. I just want to fill other holes. Doug can be dominant and if he goes down we have quiz. We should find even more depth but having doug compete for the gig isn’t a bad thing especially with the bang for the buc(k) or his relatively cheap contract and his immense potential.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:55 pm
2 possibilities:
1) He’s in rehab getting his sh!t together.
2) He’s on a 30 day bender back home in California.
Hoping it’s #1.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:55 pm
Simple fix, move quiz to #1. Use doug as a backup to start training camp. Also throw in a drafted rb. Depending on what doug does, he could leapfrog quiz or be cut. But let’s not draft dalvin when we have bigger needs or depend on a fa for our workhorse role. Quiz could be it. Doug could be it. A late rounder could be it.
Most people think the situation needs to be solved by free agency or early in the draft. If we retain doug, we have leverage and more room to work.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
bonzai
I’m with you dude. We agree on this situation.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
Stop it stop it stop it… Wit all this Doug Martin returning nonesince.
January 27th, 2017 at 2:59 pm
Move 5’6 a buck something Quizz to the #1 RB and allow DM to be his back up… I’m done for the day. Joe I’ll holla back tomorrow bro.
January 27th, 2017 at 3:07 pm
@Eric
The difference between Doug’s suspension and Le’Veon’s is that Doug isn’t owed anything now. If he was still on the books for 7 million I would say keep him but since they don’t owe him it is easy to get rid of him.
I just don’t see the positives to keep him kind of the same way I struggle to see the positive in Adrian Peterson. This might sound harsh but if I’m Jason Licht I am using this as a way to get out of what was an originally bad contract.
January 27th, 2017 at 3:22 pm
You’re so knowledgeable about drug rehabs…I thought you knew from experience.
My God nobody gets me sometimes…lol
January 27th, 2017 at 3:25 pm
yesterday’s news
January 27th, 2017 at 3:30 pm
keep him if he wants to sign a restructured contract and hope he plays well then trade im for a 2018 draft pick or picks
January 27th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
screw martin… Rehab is a scam… 74% Relapse rate… Just a waste a money and a scam for group hugs and pity party’s. You have to stop making bad choices which rehab fails at addressing…. Look up the numbers on relapse rates before you bleeding hearts start crying…. It’s all about personal responsibility. rehab and all the labels and excuses for bad choices are the furthest thing from accepting responsibility.
January 27th, 2017 at 4:05 pm
That’s good news. Hopefully he’s away getting whatever help he needs and can rebound and get his life back on track.
January 27th, 2017 at 4:19 pm
@Buc1987
Nope. Never done drugs. Got drunk once in my life. But I have known people with drug issues.
January 27th, 2017 at 4:29 pm
3 bad seasons vs 2 good ones. in each bad season he was the guy the bucs were counting on to dominate the carries and (i think) didn’t even crack the 500 yard mark. that, not doug’s rehab stint, is why doug will be wearing a different jersey in 2017
January 27th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
Joeypoppems Says
“Why put it off when there are so many good RBs this year?”
Honestly, I’m not committed to either direction. However, it occurs to me that running back was considered a strength on this team before the suspension. There was a reason for that.
I think people are using the situation to instigate change before it has to happen.
Let’s be honest here…we’ve had players suspended plenty of times. Just last year, Kwon was popped for performance enhancing. Did we move on from him? No.
And there were plenty of other situations too.
I’m just saying this: Why create a new need when we already have a bunch? At some point, we have to start trimming down expectations because there are only just so many picks available to the Bucs. We cannot fix everything.
That means we need to buy time. One way is to not replace Martin ‘IF’ he reworks his contract to lower numbers and is willing to compete for a starting role.
Remember the Broncos offensive line that was so good for a decade that any running back could do well behind it? So good that mediocre QBs did well too? If we set up an offensive line like that, this team is going to compete for a very long time, no matter who we have at RB.
Bringing in a flashy RB is good for flash. It might fill a few seats. But if we don’t fix the offensive line, it won’t do any good. A RB does not create his own running lanes.
Frankly, I see our needs in this order: DE, RT, WR, S, RB…this year, in that order.
January 27th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
Deyeeham Joe!! Give Martin a break. Nbody home so what? The guys is an adult. He can be whereevers he wants to be! A lot of rehab programs require full residency for a few months. I’m glad I don’t have to rely on any of You’s for a 2nd chance! Let the 1st man without sin cast the 1st stone……
January 27th, 2017 at 5:01 pm
NOSBOS
It must be frustrating to discuss this with me when you clearly weren’t even aware of the context of my point. I meant to label him #1 to give Doug incentive to beat him out. Which he will do. I also stated to draft another RB to challenge for that position. It’s evident that Quiz can’t last a full season. SMH please take a second to comprehend before you post anything remotely condescending. Never seen someone spell nonsense that way before either.
Joey.. an intelligent poster
That doesn’t mean the Steelers were locked in on him. They could easily traded him away to 12 different teams that would jump at the opportunity to add him to their squad. I also agree that it’s difficult to see the advantages, but they are there. It’s ignorant for anyone to not even weigh this possibility and say “stop it stop it” when Doug does attempt to make his comeback after rehab.
AT NO POINT DID I SAY TO DEPEND ON DOUG, BUT RATHER ADD COMPETITION AROUND HIM TO BRING OUT THE BEST. IT’S NOT A ROUND 1 RB OR AP DEBATE. KEEP DOUG AND WE HAVE OPTIONS. CUT HIM IF HE DOESN’T WORK OUT BUT PREAPRE FOR HIS REPLACEMENT.
January 27th, 2017 at 5:03 pm
Hope the dude is motivated. In fact I think he is. Embarrassment is a great motivator.
1500 rushing Yards in 2017! I say we keep him for now.
January 27th, 2017 at 5:21 pm
@Buccaneer Bonzai
To me there are 3 major differences between Kwon’s suspension and Doug’s suspension. First, Doug’s involves an actual drug and involves rehab meaning he has a problem. Second, Kwon was still gonna get paid the following season while DOug isnt owed anything. And finally, and yes this does matter whether people want to agree or not, Kwon was playing well and Doug was not and was hurt. If Doug was healthy all year and had 1,000+ yards we would be looking for someone to fill in for him, not replace him.
As far as your needs go, honestly, I would put CB and TE ahead of RB. We need to upgrade that Luke Stocker spot and find Grimes replacement because VH3 is already a starter opposite him. And all those positions can be addressed through FA and the draft. If I was Jason Licht this is how I would do it.
DE – Calais Campbell, FA
RT – Sebastian Vollmer, FA
WR – Taywan Taylor, Round 2
S – Quintin Demps, FA (Late draft pick to develop behind him)
CB – Tre’davious White, Round 1
TE – Jeremy Sprinkle, Round 4
RB – Wayne Gallman, Round 3
January 27th, 2017 at 5:52 pm
So Bucky Brooks has my boy falling all the way to 21 to the Lions. Hmmm,that doesn’t quite seem like looonnnnggg gone to me.
January 27th, 2017 at 6:06 pm
Is that all likely to happen? Probably not lol. If it does tho we have another vet on the DL to be able to bring in another player to develop behind both of them (maybe early 2018 draft). Dotson is already a bridge player at this point, but Vollmer is an upgrade over him. Demps was tied for 2nd in the league in INTs last season. Would be an instant upgrade over Mcdougald.
As far as the draft picks go. I really am starting to LOVE Tre’davious White. Decent height, good length, excellent cover skills, can play man and zone outside or in the slot, knows how to find the football and has good instincts in route recognition. He is a little handsy and needs to really improve tackling but those are the only negatives to me. Taywan Taylor is explosive. He is exactly what we need opposite Evans. I would still get a vet FA receiver tho. Wayne Gallman has the skill set to be a 3 down back. Good size, good speed, runs through contact and has great lateral quickness to make guys miss in the open field highlighted by a very effective jump cut, also a good receiver out of the backfield. Pass protection is his big negative. Jeremy Sprinkle can block in the run game like Stocker but is way more of a receiving threat than Stocker. Nice compliment to Brate.
All of these guys I feel can make an immediate impact Week 1
January 27th, 2017 at 6:07 pm
We do not need a CB this year at all. We have VH and Grimes. Grimes is older, but he’s good for another 1-2 years at least. VH will play better next year.
Also, I don’t know why people say we need TE. We have a good TE. If Koetter wanted to add another, he would have switched Dan Vitale to TE and kept him.
January 27th, 2017 at 6:09 pm
Don’t get me wrong…I think we should add those pieces down the road. But we have other roles to fill right now. No room for luxury picks yet.
Address the key needs, and then we can make those picks.
January 27th, 2017 at 6:21 pm
@Buccaneer Bonzai
Grimes is a FA after this season where he will be 34 years old. Can he play more? Yea probably, but if we draft his replacement in a draft where there are a bunch of talented CB then we dont have to pay him and we can be set at CB with 2 young stud CBs growing together and most importantly both on cheap rookie deals lol.
As far as TE goes, yes Brate is good. I’m not trying to replace Brate. Lets be clear tho. As a team that runs a lot of 2 TE sets, it’s a problem when you have 1 TE that can catch but can’t block (Brate) and 1 that can block but can’t catch (Stocker). The reason we run that jumbo package where we have an extra OL in as an eligible receiver is because we don’t have enough TE that can block to run a traditional set. Sprinkle in this scenario can be a legit weapon in the passing game, unlike Stocker. And in the run game he can replace either the extra OL or Stocker. When your game plan is to run the ball and work play action, Its hard to do that when you are using OL as receivers and Stocker who might as well be a 2nd OL lol.
January 27th, 2017 at 7:06 pm
This is coming from someone who has been in worse places than Dougie is in, I am pulling for him. I am glad that people didn’t give up on me and that I didn’t give up on myself. That said, I am not really feeling him coming back here for half the money he signed for last yr. Belicheck will out-bid us just to turn another former Bucs player into a Star.
January 27th, 2017 at 8:39 pm
Clodhopper
1500 rushing Yards in 2017! I say we keep him for now.
Well that would be a FIRST now wouldn’t it. He had 1454 in his rookie year and it’s been downhill since then…456-494…rebounded in a CONTRACT YEAR not a good as his rookie season with 1402 followed by last year’s impressive career low of 421.
I’m not sure how we see a guy who has had two good seasons and three horrid seasons…hitting 1500 yards this year? So he’s going to rush for more yards in three less games than he has EVER rushed?
January 27th, 2017 at 8:52 pm
SB
If we wish to fear Belichek I think it was pickgrin who said we’ll pass on Mixon and Belicheat will take him at 32 and have a star. That I can believe. Martin not so much. Why are we expecting him to do well?
There is a 60% chance just based on HIS career performance so far that he’ll fail again. And in fact if we look at his career he’s do for another down year. He puts up two bad years for every good one and so he still has another turkey in him.
SB congratulations on your achievement. We have had in my extended family.
Could have happened to me. I agree totally in wishing Doug the best with his life. He made SEVEN MILLION last year!! Add his rookie contract and he’s set for life. Perhaps he’s better retired and away from the limelight so he can concentrate on his health.
I hold no ill will towards him at all and wish him success with his life. I just think backs that continually get hauled down from behind are pretty easy to find…especially in this year’s draft.
January 27th, 2017 at 9:17 pm
SB – I think Doug will want to come back – even at a bit less $ than he could get elsewhere if Licht treats him fairly within this process. And especially if the entire Buccaneeer “family” lets him know that he’s wanted and needed and loved and shows concern for his personal well being while he’s tackling his demons and trying to get to the other side of that.
He’s not there yet. Its only been one month since this all came out and nobody can get completely on the other side of a serious addiction in 4 weeks. This is a process and Doug was brave enough to admit that he needed help – and if he’s living up to his word – which I’m willing to bet he is – then he is right now getting the help and treatment he needs and that process is likely to take a few more weeks at minimum and more likely a couple of months if he chose a 90 day program which for his sake I hope he did.
This monkey on Doug’s back has been going on for awhile. That’s the sense I’m getting lately. It may be alcohol – it may be coke – It really doesn’t matter what the substance is. It got a grip on Doug and his world kind of came crashing down and he is not GUARANTEED ANYTHING now. Not 1 more snap in the NFL is he guaranteed much less the $7M he would have had in 2017 just for showing up.
Martin will be cut. Make no mistake of that. Hopefully he and Licht will have worked out a deal beforehand to bring him back quickly with a new contract – fair to both sides – but no more guarantees and no more than a $2.5ish base with nice incentives up to $5 or$6M total if he can perform at a pro bowl level.
Doug knows he F’ed up bad and if he does everything that is asked of him between now and whenever he must be cut so that the guarantee doesn’t kick in – then The Bucs need to show him some love and let him know that while of course there is a price to pay here and your guarantee is gone – we still want Doug Martin on our team for 13 games next year to help us try and win a Championship.
An incentive based contract with triple the vet minimum as a base and the opportunity to earn close to what he would have before any of this went down would be more than fair and I hope something of this nature can be worked out. IF Doug does what he is supposed to and I believe he will.
Trust me – we all WANT a motivated Doug Martin on our team if he gets through all this and can stay healthy in 2017.
Besides – He’s family and you don’t turn your back on a family member when they are in trouble and saying they need help.
January 27th, 2017 at 10:07 pm
He’s from the west coast right? Might better to be around family at a time like this….what would you do if you woke up and realized you away biggest payday of your life. Hopefully he’s thinking life after football because he won’t make enough in the nfl to live on easy street
January 27th, 2017 at 11:29 pm
SB, what happened to the “W/ Jameis” part of your name?
January 27th, 2017 at 11:35 pm
87… your 3:22 comment, it’s the shrooms man.
January 28th, 2017 at 9:07 am
He is doing exactly what he said. Try not to be a d!ck about it. I hope he comes back & proves all the doubters wrong.
January 28th, 2017 at 9:29 am
StPete
Sure why not? Sure its a bold prediction. Who cares.
Just for arguments sake say hes as motivated as his rookie year from embarrassment. Next year we’ll have Winston in his third year and we invest in #W4W. That will be the best team surrounding him his whole career. Throw in Mike Smith returning and we have a great defense. Meaning more time to run. 1500 yards, likely? No. But it’s not out of the realm of possibility. And its not absurd
January 28th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Haha, I love the first sentence of this article, Joe!
“Joe spent quality 1-on-1 time with Mike Evans this morning AT DISNEY WORLD following the NFC Pro Bowl practice.”
Please tell me you have video of this. I’m picturing a question with Evans coming every day:
The first one while you guys scream on Space Mountain together.
The second while spinning together on the Tea Cups.
Come on, Joes – tell me this happened!
January 29th, 2017 at 10:04 am
Pay Doug Martin per yard. Then I’d trust him again.