A Damning Word From Jason Licht
April 17th, 2017
Speaks on Doug Martin’s job status.
If anything, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was non-committal when asked various ways to comment on the job security of embattled running back Doug Martin.
Everyone’s favorite Muscle Hamster was popped last year for violating the NFL’s policy on banned substances. As a result, Martin served the first of his four-game suspension to end the 2016 season and will miss the first three games of the 2017 season.
Martin, who in his five-year career with the Bucs has had three rotten seasons, returned to One Buc Palace for the first day of team conditioning today. Licht, during his annual pre-draft address to the local pen and mic club, sang the praises of Martin and his mental state and physical condition.
But when pressed on Martin’s job security, Licht decided to tap dance.
“We don’t have to make a decision right now,” Licht said. “We have until [the end of September] to make a decision [to keep Martin]. We will see. We have a lot of time between now and then. We have a lot of things we want to see and want to hear. We have in the back of our minds kind of a little bit of a timetable. But the timetable isn’t until the fourth week of the season.”
Licht then denied finances will be a factor in whether to keep Martin or not. Last year, Martin signed a five-year, $35.75 million contract of which the first two seasons (at about $8 million each) was guaranteed. However, since Martin failed a whiz quiz, the guaranteed portion of his contract was voided. Martin can be cut at any time with no salary cap ramifications.
When prodded further, Licht offered what Joe thought was damning for Martin’s long-term future with the Bucs when Licht added, “We are making a decision on what is the best fit for the Bucs.”
Best fit?? This will be the third year that Licht has been general manager with Martin on the roster. Fit? You mean to tell Joe that Martin, a year removed from signing a big-moneyed contract, all of a sudden may be a bad fit?
That sure smells to Joe like the Bucs are drafting a running back next week.
April 17th, 2017 at 3:14 pm
The draft would provide plenty of insight into Doug’s future with the team imo. This is how:
Round 1 RB – Bye Bye Dougie
Round 2/3 RB – His status depends on the performance of the rookie
Day 3 RB – Please stay healthy Doug, we gonna need you.
For real tho. Would it really be that shocking if they decided to give him a 2nd chance? As much of a mistake as that would be imo, I can see them keeping him.
April 17th, 2017 at 3:18 pm
Hardly damning. There was nothing said about Martin that was newsworthy.
April 17th, 2017 at 3:19 pm
I would be surprised if the Bucs didn’t draft a RB next week. However, Licht said what I expected him to say with the draft coming up next week, regardless if he intends to take a RB in round 1 or round 7.
I know the Joes want Martin drawn and quartered and run out of town but it just might not happen.
April 17th, 2017 at 3:20 pm
I heard the whole press conference. Sounded like he likes what he sees in Doug and is going to take time to evaluate. They may draft another RB, but nothing Licht said implies it was because of Doug. Stop drinking in the middle of the day Joe! smdh!
April 17th, 2017 at 3:23 pm
JoeLichtFan agenda is busy at work crafting fun alternative facts!
April 17th, 2017 at 3:27 pm
So you can’t figure out it could have been talking about finances , offences style or many different things? He already said they have until September. But ya there is the RB signal. Why not just say Cook and get that out of your system too?
April 17th, 2017 at 3:28 pm
If a GM or HC says ” We will see what will be the best fit for our team”, regarding a player with a shaky history ….. It’s not a promising sign that player will be on the roster this upcoming season ( after suspension) .
April 17th, 2017 at 3:29 pm
Poker face until after the draft! The rest is purposely blowing smoke.
April 17th, 2017 at 3:34 pm
JAMEIS SPILLED THE BEANS…WE ARE NOT GOING FOR RUNNINGBACK IN THE FIRST ROUND
Greg augmen article – read between the lines
1st round is 125% defensive player
1 Buc Mole
April 17th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Nothing to grab onto here. But I have thought all along they lean toward keeping him, drafting third round running back, and if Doug is not needed, trade him to a team in week one or two that loses their RB for the season. What we get depends on what his deal is then and how desperate that team is. Really nothing to lose by wait and see.
April 17th, 2017 at 3:42 pm
Of course we are drafting a RB out of this uber-talented group. Best value is in the 3rd round. But I would not be unhappy with Cook or CMac at 19.
I think the only thing that is fairly sure about Martin’s situation is that we are not paying him his (prorated) $7M this season. How that plays itself out is up to Licht and Martin to decide. I’m sure that regardless of who we draft this year – that if Martin looks good and seems motivated – that the Bucs would like him back if the price is right (no more than $3M). We were down to our 4th and 5th RBs at one point fairly early on last season…
April 17th, 2017 at 3:43 pm
I agree Martin will have to earn is backup role and carries at a reduced rate, period…. get Cook in the first, Mixon in the second, Foreman in the thrird or Mack in the Fourth. Any of those should start and take 15 carries leaving Martin if he comes back on a restructured TEAM friendly contract and Quizz, Simms with about 15 to split. Make Martin earn back the trust this organization gave him in last years overpaid contract, plus he seems to play stronger when in contract situations.
Hope we can work a trade back in this draft to pick up two more picks in the third and fourth rounds but if we stay with our current picks I like the players in rounds below based upon where the Bucs pick in each round:
Team Need
1. RB 2. WR 3.TE 4. SS 5. DE 6. CB 7. WR
WR in the first Davis, Second would be Zay or Godwin, Third Hernandez, Fourth Cupp or Stringefellow
TE First Njoku, Second Engram, Third Everett, Fourth Hodges(my Sleeper TE) or Butt
SS only trading back into late in First which is the strategy I like the best for the Bucs, First Obi, Second Baker, Third Evans, Fourth Jones
DE First Barnett, Second Willis , Third Kpassagnon, Fourth Hendrickson
CB only trading back into late in First which is the strategy I like the best for the Bucs, First Ad Jackson (will replace Shep and be an upgrade), Second Tabor paired with his college buddy, Third Jones or Wilson, Fourth Douglas
Depending on how many QB’s go before us at 19 we could have an opportunity for any of my first round talents above. I hope we trade back, pick up picks and make Martin earn his back up role. I believe in second chances but they must be earned!!
April 17th, 2017 at 3:51 pm
I think the author Lee Child, of the Jack Reacher series of books, should consider starting a new series……..
Featuring a character named Joe Reacher, based on a guy who runs a website about an NFL team he loves who constantly “reaches” for theories.
This protagonist would specialize in “reading between the lines” of what the team’s GM and HC says and create all sorts of scenarios to fit his agenda.
Oh darn, I just remembered, Jack Reacher already had a brother named Joe.
He died.
Maybe Lee Child could spin it somehow and make it out like Rock Star, Mark Dominic, uses his super powers to bring Joe back to life?
It could happen……
April 17th, 2017 at 3:51 pm
Licht has been a gambling man with the draft. I feel he is holding onto Doug because in some (other franchises) he still holds quite a bit of value even with the suspensions. So it is very possible Licht will try to use Doug as a bargaining chip in a trade for either day 2 or 3 and see if not only we can unload him but also get something in return as well.
April 17th, 2017 at 3:57 pm
how’d the last rb we drafted in the 1st round work out for us licht?…..pretty inconsistent to say the least….
I think licht goes after an rb in rounds 2-4….foreman, mixon, mack….GO BUCS!!!!
April 17th, 2017 at 4:06 pm
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
April 17th, 2017 at 4:11 pm
Doug put himself in this situation, not the Bucs. If the Bucs lose the first 3 games because they lack a running game, lots of folks will be VERY unhappy. Since Martin’s sitting out those games … and would most likely take several games to come up to speed after that due to not practicing during those weeks … I seriously doubt that Licht & Koetter will just roll with what they have waiting for Doug to regain his 2015 form. Pretty good odds that Licht will draft a RB in one of the first 3 rnds. Which rnd will depend on who’s available I think. If Cook’s there in Rnd 1, convinced the Bucs will grab him. Wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them grab Mixon in Rnd 2 if he’s available, or Mack in Rnd 3 if he’s there.
April 17th, 2017 at 4:27 pm
No one is trading for an oft injured running back going into his 6th NFL season who won’t be available till week four of the season. Doug will be cut after we find his replacement in the draft. He’ll sit at home till some team has an injury at running back after week three where he’ll sign a prove it one year league minimum deal.
April 17th, 2017 at 4:58 pm
JL not foolish, like he said until October, you got the draft, free agency and then guess what, injuries happen. Quizz, Doug, Antoine and Chuck Sims all went down last year. Doug is insurance, you only cut Doug early to help him catch on to another team and the Bucs do not owe him that, because they have him under contract, even if they renegotiate
April 17th, 2017 at 5:04 pm
“Best fit?? This will be the third year that Licht has been general manager with Martin on the roster. Fit? You mean to tell Joe that Martin, a year removed from signing a big-moneyed contract, all of a sudden may be a bad fit?”
Well, yes, because of his drug issue, injuries and inconsistency.
But he also made it clear they fully intended to wait until the 4th week of the season. So he’ll be on the final roster.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Sign AP, draft Perine….move on from Doug.
April 17th, 2017 at 5:29 pm
Please do not draft another running back
April 17th, 2017 at 6:25 pm
Please dump this loser once and for all.
April 17th, 2017 at 6:27 pm
Joe is reading something in (as usual) that isn’t there. There’s nothing damning about that statement. If anything, his presence on the roster and all the complementary words they’ve offered tell me that they’re giving him a chance to earn his way on the team. If he’s fit mentally and physically, my money’s on him being with us. Whether they choose the renegotiate the contract downward might complicate matters… but that’s the only hiccup I foresee if he’s ready (like 2015 ready).
April 17th, 2017 at 6:28 pm
Draft this kids athletics are in his genes: His father, Ed McCaffrey, played college football at Stanford and in the NFL (mostly for the Denver Broncos) from 1991 to 2003. His mother, Lisa Sime, played soccer at Stanford. His older brother, Max, played football at Duke University. His younger brother, Dylan, is the #4 rated quarterback in the nation by 247sports.com and has committed to the University of Michigan. His youngest brother, Luke, has multiple offers for football. His uncle, Billy McCaffrey, played college basketball at Duke University and Vanderbilt University. His maternal grandfather is Dave Sime, an Olympic track star. So I think all around athlete and thin air training his whole life, Damn will outlast anyone! I think pound for pound best player available!!!!
April 17th, 2017 at 6:59 pm
Biggun
He does have an impressive family tree that’s for sure. Great genes.
The other part about children of celebrity professional athletes is that they grow up on the playing field. After literally growing up on Mile High Stadium with all of your classmates talking about your ole man the Bronco…it’s not a big deal when the bright lights go on. It’s almost like they’re bred for the spotlight.
April 17th, 2017 at 7:17 pm
Draft Dalvin … bring Martin back on a TWO year cheap deal … give him carries in week 5 and let him prove he can still play and then TRADE him to the Pats or any other team that will give up a 5th round pick or so … that would be nice but the most realistic scenario is that they cut him just before that week 5 game so they don’t have to pay him and don’t help any NFC playoff contending teams (Lions, Seahawks, et al).
April 17th, 2017 at 8:10 pm
The draft will be the indicator as Joe mentioned. Unless they restructure Martins deal to be heavily Bucs favored. He’s too much of a liability.
@Joes
If the bucs hold him past Sept does the original contract parameters remain in effect? I thought I read in the past he took a hit on guarantees.
April 17th, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Dallas:
What happened to pushing the narrative that Joe and Licht on working behind the scenes to launch a brewery? Or did that line grow stale? 🙂
April 17th, 2017 at 9:33 pm
Bucs released a promo video. It has a lot of Doug Martin in it. For a fuy half way out the door (according to joe) he sure gets plenty of face time on the new season’s promos.
April 17th, 2017 at 10:09 pm
What would happen if doug were to break his ankle during team workouts? Would he be guaranteed his salary for this year?
I would like to see the bucs restructure his deal now. Low base with some big incentives.
I know im in the minority to think that Doug will have a big comeback season. I just hope Licht will give him a fair chance to prove himself.
I do think the draft will dictate what we do with Martin. If the RB they want is available to them then they will pick him. Whether that player is a first rounder or not is still up in the air. If that player is not acailable they can sit comfortable knowing Doug Martin will be back with a huge chip on his shoulder. They can develop a late round pick this year or look to next years draft for Doug’s future replacement.
April 17th, 2017 at 10:41 pm
The best fit would be the guy that was 2nd in rushing in the league 2 years ago and not lynching the guy because a bunch of message board posters want someone’s head. We shall see what they do, but nothing I read means much of anything and it sounds like he’s being given a chance to prove he still has a place on the team – which I think is more than fair.
April 18th, 2017 at 1:08 am
I swear, Joe Mixon is the only player in the history of professional sports to receive a major boost in “Mock Drafts” for punching the life out of a woman. It goes to show how stupid most of these people are. It’s literally an example of “oh, I’ve heard of that guy before… he must be good.” Joe Mixon wouldn’t be a first round talent if he spent 4 years volunteering at homeless shelters and children’s hospitals between classes and practice (like Jameis did). The guy wasn’t a feature back in college and he’s a total POS with no redeeming qualities. I hate you if you think Mixion should, could or will go in the first round.
April 18th, 2017 at 1:59 am
Fsuking.
You are right.
Nothing but truth in your post. Bravo.
I didnt think it was going to happen, but for Jameis opening say thats what he wants . . .
I now believe we are signing Adrian Petersen.
Jameis said he wants Adrian Petersen on the Team. Believes it would improve everyone on the team.
He was so straight forward about, with such assurance, that he musta been talking to somebody at OneBuc.
Doesnt change my mock. Still think we grab a Rb around 3rd round.
But makes things look gloomier for some body on the roster. Probably Martin.
Cant wait to see if I’m right.
April 18th, 2017 at 7:41 am
@Fsuking
If Mixon didnt have his off the field issues, he would be a Top 10 pick.
April 18th, 2017 at 8:55 am
Of course they’re drafting a running back next week. But it’s not going to be in round one