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Buccaneers: Don’t Read Too Much Into Doug Martin Participating In OTAs

By James Yarcho

Dec 17, 2015 St. Louis, MO, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015 St. Louis, MO, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Doug Martin will be participating in Buccaneers OTAs this month – but don’t read into it too much.

Although many have speculated and assumed Doug Martin has played his final snap as a Buccanner, the 2012 first round pick will be taking part in the Buccaneers’ team activities this month.

However, that does not mean he’s going to be part of this team in 2017.

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    • As it stands now, Martin is still on the roster and is apparently overcoming his demons. Martin was suspended four games for violating the substance abuse policy and still has three games left to serve in the 2017 season. No other running back has walked through the doors at One Buc Place so Martin is still considered the starter.

    Taking that into consideration, Martin is still on the team because the Bucs don’t have to be in any hurry to release or trade him. His guaranteed money is voided due to the positive drug test so the Bucs have until week four to get rid of Martin before he starts earning a paycheck.

    That means, if the Bucs draft a running back early that they feel is the future or -should they miss on a draft target – they sign Adrian Peterson, Martin will be gone barring a massive contract restructure. Martin had an explosive comeback season in 2015 that he was rewarded handsomely for just to return to “bad Doug” form in 2016.

    Allow Martin to participate and get his reps in. Who knows? Maybe if he looks like he did in 2015, the Bucs give him another shot. On the other hand, the Bucs have made it no secret they’re visiting or have visited with some of the top running back prospects in this draft. Joe Mixon, D’Onta Foreman, Marlon Mack, Kareem Hunt, likely Dalvin Cook and Christian McCaffrey.

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    The Buccaneers aren’t doing that just for that sake of it.

    If Doug Martin is willing to stay on in a backup role, then he may remain in Tampa. Given how things are looking now compounded with the poor 2016 performance and drug issue, it doesn’t seem likely.

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