Be Fair To Doug Martin
December 19th, 2017
Don’t do him wrong.
So for the second time in less than a year, Bucs running back Doug Martin was a healthy scratch, inactive last night.
The first time was Christmas Eve 2016. In a critical game with a potential wild card berth on the line, the Bucs chose to sit Martin. A few short days later, it was announced Martin was popped in a whiz quiz for testing positive for a banned performance enhancing drug. He served a four-game sentence.
Now last night Bucs coach Dirk Koetter would not discuss what the Bucs called a team violation of team rules.
“It’s done,” Koetter said. “It’s behind us now, and that’s all I’m going to say about it.”
Chatter around the team and at the Den of Depression was Martin’s offense was minor. If that is true, then the Bucs should do Martin a solid and come clean.
If the Bucs play cloak and dagger with this and turn it into a mystery, it invites speculation that does not paint Martin in a particularly good light, nor the organization.
It is simple for folks, with no information, to connect the dots using last year’s happenings as a foundation and assume Martin was using a banned substance again. If that is untrue, then the Bucs need to be upfront. If Martin’s violation is indeed minor, what is the harm of opening up?
Otherwise, the rampant if not wrong speculation is unfair to Martin and makes the Bucs look bad as well.
December 19th, 2017 at 5:50 am
I heard he missed a meeting.
December 19th, 2017 at 6:02 am
Apparently it was more severe than allegedly groping an Uber driver.
December 19th, 2017 at 6:12 am
Keep stirring that pot Joe. The media deserves to know everything y’all can about what Coach Koetter says is minor and “Done and behind us now”. Otherwise these Martin stories will become meaningless. Oh wait, they are already.
December 19th, 2017 at 6:17 am
lightningbuc, yea, see, allegedly is the key word. D!ck.
December 19th, 2017 at 6:38 am
lightningbuc Says:
December 19th, 2017 at 6:02 am
Apparently it was more severe than allegedly groping an Uber driver
That’s funny as hell!!! LOL I’m wondering when he allegedly grope the uber driver………did he use a crab leg or claw! lol All jokes aside Capt. Crab legs played great last night. He played like a three year franchise quarterback should play. Unfortunately someone forgot to tell our sorry ass defense they have to stop the run. They did a good job (somewhat, at least they kept him under 100 yards) containing Julio Jones, but a piss poor job stopping the run. Yeah, yeah I know they had injuries. I know that the baddest, toughest, meanest, D tackle to ever play for the Bucs wasn’t playing………..neither was Geraldine McSofty!
December 19th, 2017 at 6:53 am
I wish we had signed Calais Campbell with the savings from Baker and Doug. Nice guys, but man we sorely need a pass rush.
December 19th, 2017 at 7:05 am
Joe’s article on Doug Martin last night
“The headline says it all.
Joe’s wagging a finger at you, Dirk Koetter and Jason Licht. Martin never should have been on this team in 2017. All the evidence you needed was in front of you last season.”
Now – we should be fair. SMH
December 19th, 2017 at 7:12 am
D.R.- It’s probably Doug’s fault that Peyton (cough!) Barber fumbled! Am I right?!
Doug’s gone anyway after the season. That writing is on the wall.
December 19th, 2017 at 7:25 am
Fair to doug at this point is cutting him today. Time to move on. I was in dougs corner before the season. Not even close now. He isnt growing up and cant run to save his life, or career rather. Licht is gona need to get the new coach a rb in the first 3 rounds.
December 19th, 2017 at 7:26 am
JoeTellsBucsWhatToDo.com
December 19th, 2017 at 7:29 am
Doug didn’t look too unhappy on the sideline.
Bet he was thinking – “OK so Tuesday my $443,438 check clears and I’ve got 2 more coming before the end of the year – yea, I’ll probably be OK….”
December 19th, 2017 at 7:31 am
Damn this McCoy bashing in the comments is beyond boring. The story is nothing to do with him, he wasn’t involved and Jesus, if you think he is even remotely near the top of our list of problems then you are as stupid as your post suggests.
Give it a rest, it’s BORING.
December 19th, 2017 at 7:45 am
cut him today…it’s over…
December 19th, 2017 at 7:46 am
cherry pick the practice squads for a young RB…
December 19th, 2017 at 7:48 am
Im glad he didnt play. It forced Koetter to showcase Barber, something hes seemed reluctant to do. Plus, I believe Martin is done in Tampa. He better be. Time to cut bait
December 19th, 2017 at 7:48 am
Getting a good running back like Atlanta has must be against the rules for the bucs.
Instead we had to rely on Martin being good, which he really never has been. Slightly above average in a couple of seasons.
December 19th, 2017 at 8:34 am
Oh please get over it, you just want something else to write about Doug Martin. You dogged the guy about his bad play and his fumble but you won’t do the same to Peyton barber or Adam Humphries and those were worse fumbles. Martin won’t be on the team next year so you need to move on already or are you doing to drag out trashing him for two more years…. Sure you like Martin
That was Barber’s first career fumble in more than 125 touches, which is a great ratio. And, if you were really reading, Joe hardly dogged Martin hard specifically about his fumble. Joe simply remains stunned the brass was foolish enough to bring Martin back this season at full pay.-Joe
December 19th, 2017 at 9:18 am
DUMP him! Now. Today. Waste of money.
December 19th, 2017 at 9:45 am
Doug Martin will be fine..Just not with the Bucs. He’s gone next yr to another team and will..come back to haunt us..like all our players do when they find..new life elsewhere. Sometimes change does a player all the world of good. Martin will resurface elsewhere in the league and do well. See you later Dougie.
December 19th, 2017 at 9:55 am
bring Wilder Jr. in for a chance…played well in Snowland
December 19th, 2017 at 10:23 am
Listening to Jason Licht talk about Doug’s healthy scratch, it sure sounded like Doug relapsed…
Jason’s tone was very somber as he said ‘This is a very unfortunate situation for Doug and we wish him the best.’
December 19th, 2017 at 11:00 am
Erik
Of course he relapsed…rehab does not work and is a colossal drain on our healthcare system… if you cut you hand and knew stitches had a 85% failure rate would you pay for it and choose stitches….
Hopefully he screws up good. espn needs filler for the 30 for 30 right now his 20 seconds of career highlights dont cut it…
December 19th, 2017 at 11:44 am
Martin and Litch should take the same flight out of Tampa,
December 19th, 2017 at 11:51 am
Peyton barber is better anyway.
December 19th, 2017 at 1:50 pm
Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
#Bucs RB Doug Martin is a healthy scratch because of a rule violation regarding one meeting, source said. It was described as minor, and he should be back on the field for the last two games.
December 19th, 2017 at 3:21 pm
FAIR TO HIM??? I thought u were a clown b4. F*** DOUG MARTIN!!! He’s trash now.If he messed up he messed up. No explanation needed. Who cares he’s useless to the squad anyway.Shoulda BEEN say down. Never shoulda came back.
December 19th, 2017 at 6:15 pm
I’m more interested in who Jameis says was in the cab’s front seat. The more he comes clean the less likely it is that people suspect he committed the crimed Uber alleges he committed.