Martin’s Salary Worked Against Him
May 5th, 2015
The number was staggering
Doug Martin is free to fly the coup after this season.
Yesterday morning, it was reported by Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune that the Bucs declined the fifth-year option Martin’s contract.
Two years ago, this would have been hard to fathom.
As a rookie, Martin burst onto the scene, damned near led the Bucs to a Wild Ward, and found himself eating pineapple for Pro Bowl play. Now, he very well could be playing his last season for Tampa Bay.
Want to know why the Bucs didn’t pick up Martin’s option? Look no further than Martin’s contract, Cummings Twittered.
If ur wondering why Bucs opted not to pick up 5th-yr. option on RB D. Martin’s contract it’s b/cuz they would have owed him $5.6 mill in ’16
— Roy Cummings (@RCummingsTBO) May 4, 2015
Joe is sure the Bucs would have had no problem shelling out that kind of dough if Martin had been productive the past two seasons. He has not been. What he has been is oft-injured.
Martin is a weapon when healthy. But recent history suggests good health is unlikely for the Muscle Hamster. The Bucs picking up that $5.6 million option would have been a helluva costly gamble.
May 5th, 2015 at 11:40 am
Still love The Hamster! Hopefully with a real offensive coach, a couple new linemen, and some good luck on the health he can regain his rookie form.
May 5th, 2015 at 11:44 am
Agree Rachael. I still think he is our best RB on the team but he needs to improve on his blocking so the team doesn’t have to take him out of the backfield which is a dead giveaway that the team is thinking about passing.
May 5th, 2015 at 11:48 am
Wild Ward? Cross between Wild Card and Mental Ward?
May 5th, 2015 at 11:58 am
Duh. Salary worked against him… Masters of the obvious. That’s the only reason you wouldn’t pick up the option.
May 5th, 2015 at 12:03 pm
Love Martin.
But he’s done. When he was healthy- he still was 2.7 average.,
He’s lost his quickness. I’ve said it for 2 years. It’s been true for 2 years.
He doesn’t have “it” anymore- and sadly- it’s time to admit it.
It happens to running backs. Doesn’t take much to go from extraordinary to ordinary. Martin has been totally ineffective for the last two years
Think Sims shines this year. Hope so
May 5th, 2015 at 12:32 pm
I think we can give Doug the benefit of the doubt here.
Schiano’s dumb*ss ran him into the ground year one, and Mike Sullivan called that moronic deep route that injured his shoulder in year two.
Last year the Bucs had one of the worst O-Lines in history, from a talent, want-to, and continuity perspective. …Not to mention not a single QB that any defense had to respect.
Let’s see what Dougie can do this year, if given an opportunity.
There’s a reason why they didn’t draft any RBs…
Go Sucs!
May 5th, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Question…that could kind of pertain to this, but maybe not really:
If the team doesn’t pick up the 5th year option of a player that was drafted in the first round, can said player still be hit with the franchise tag?
May 5th, 2015 at 9:54 pm
I think with a GOOD (not Great) offensive line, Doug will thrive. I find it amazing the way the media gives zero credit to McCown or Glennon, when we had close to the worst offensive line in the history. I hope they both have lots of success in there endeavors,and hope Doug shines with some protection, neither were given anything close to a chance.