5 Reasons Martin Contract Talks Make No Sense
October 13th, 2015
Yes, hard-running Doug Martin, tied for second in the NFL in rushing yards through five weeks, will become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Joe smells Bucs fans needlessly panicking.
And that’s why Joe’s typing up five reasons why the Bucs have no business talking new contract with Martin.
1) There’s no reason to distract Martin. He’s happy, healthy and productive. Don’t get Martin’s brain off track. And be real, a new contract offer will get anyone’s brain spinning in all kinds of directions — good, bad, whatever.
2) Martin is an injury-prone running back until he proves otherwise. That’s reality. There’s a large window for teams to re-sign their own players after the NFL season, nearly two months when no other team can negotiate with them. Let Martin get through 2015 healthy.
3) The Bucs need to see more of Charles Sims before assessing Martin’s value to Tampa Bay. Simple as that, as Lovie Smith likes to say. If Sims gets through this season healthy, productive and versatile, then that has to affect the Bucs’ approach.
4) Martin wants to stay in Tampa. Joe has had 1-on-1 time with Martin, and the 26-year-old likes Tampa, even bought his first house here last year after deciding he wanted to settle in. Money talks, but Joe would be stunned if Martin doesn’t let the Bucs match any deal on the table, assuming he tested free agency. Lovie wants to run the ball 40 times a game, and has no problem taking the ball out of his quarterback’s hands. What running back wouldn’t want to play for Lovie?
5) Also, Joe highly doubts Team Glazer is interested in discussing anyone’s contract until ownership is sure Lovie will return in 2016. That could take a while.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:05 am
There’s just no need to talk contract with a RB 5 weeks into the season.
Just look at DeMarco Murray last year. 1800 yards rushing and he was left sitting by the phone waiting for a single serious offer to come in. And now? He’s looking like an average RB.
Yea, the Dougernaut has looked great….but there’s just no need to move to fast on a new deal for him
October 13th, 2015 at 11:07 am
injury prone? Though he hurt his shoulder once? never anything about his legs, a rbs bread and butter
October 13th, 2015 at 11:10 am
Scott, Martin had various injuries last year and missed games. You can look it up.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:12 am
I did before I posted. Looks like it was only from 2013 for the shoulder thing and that’s it.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:13 am
Oh ok I found another source and he did miss a few games last year for different things.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:18 am
Part of his new deal should include the production and marketing of muscle hamster BUCS gaer!!!! He would be immortalized and go down as perhaps the best alter ego of any NFL or pro athlete of all time!!!! Embrace it Mr Martin…. We the fans do and let’s be honest… After you shot down the idea you slumped…. Now that we…. Or I the fan is pushing on you again…. The last two weeks the muscle hamster has returned!!!!! Let your ego go and the alter ego shine…. Plus think of all the after football marketing to be had!!!! Its unique and just plainly…. An awesome nickname for you as a player Sir…. Either way, love your hard work and perciverance. Keep running the wheel route and the ball all over the place…… PUN intended:-).
October 13th, 2015 at 11:25 am
Hey Joe, do the Bucs have any transition tags or the franchise tag available to use on Martin? If so, what would those contract numbers look like?
October 13th, 2015 at 11:31 am
Gotta agree with Joe on this one. I think Martin has been looking like rookie Doug Martin this season, which is very good. But we have a whole season to go. It’d be better to wait and find out what’s left to find out. Not like we can’t resign him at the end of the season.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:34 am
I smell Doug Martin not wanting to re-sign with the Sucs, unless they over-pay.
Why would he want to spend his prime years on a pathetic team?
Siege this!
Go Sucs!
October 13th, 2015 at 11:37 am
Yes, Martin is having an excellent year. But running back is one of those positions where teams seem to be able to move various guys in and out, and survive OK. When Martin was hurt over the last two years, Rainey and Mike James had some excellent games. It’s not a position in which a team should invest huge dollars.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:39 am
@Scott
Don’t bother to look it up. If you’re a fan you’d probably know when your starting halfback and recent first round pick misses chunks of games and under performs for 2 seasons supposedly because of said injuries. Just my opinion.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:43 am
He’ll be playing for the Cowpokes next year.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:43 am
I could be wrong, but since the Bucs didn’t pick up the 5th year option on his rookie contract, I don’t believe they have the option of franchising him.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:45 am
Pretty much everyone hates the nickname including Martin. Let it go. And I think you obviously as a GM want to make sure a productive player and potential star knows you want him. Keeping talks alive but at a slow pace is prudent. Joe you yourself also make the Alstott/Dunn comparison…these two guys (Martin/Sims) are huge for our offense. Why blow it up over a little thing like money?
October 13th, 2015 at 12:05 pm
Martin got himself in great shape in the off season to prove he could return to his rookie season form. Some say contract year is the sole reason for his resurgence. I think not. Let him play out the schedule and things will work out fine. How can Bucs fans not be thrilled with his quick scampering moves that pump up the entire team and fanbase?
October 13th, 2015 at 12:11 pm
The conversation should be centered around the deal Mark Ingram -recieved from the saints.
Mark Ingram signed a 4 year, $16,000,000 contract with the New Orleans Saints, including a $3,600,000 signing bonus, $7,600,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $4,000,000.
Worse case scenario – he hits free agency – signs a solid contract.
We pick up a compensatory draft pick in 2017.
October 13th, 2015 at 12:14 pm
Since he’s from Northern Cali, I could see him returning to the Pacific Northwest (Seattle, Oakland, or San Fran). Either way – I’ll be happy for the kid
October 13th, 2015 at 12:35 pm
The fact of the matter is those 2 months after the season plays out are crucial. We are the only team that can negotiate with him and that’s when deals get done. If he continues to perform at this level, then it is worth our time and investment but not until season end. This is the most critical reason of the 5 that Joe named. Believe me, if Dougie has any motivation to stay in Tampa and I believe he does, the deal will get done.
October 13th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Doug Martin’s asking price will continue to increase with each 100 yard game!
October 13th, 2015 at 2:11 pm
AND – most importantly…
We can just franchise tag him if we can’t agree on a contract…which is big time leverage against a running back.
October 13th, 2015 at 3:07 pm
Celly,
They can still franchise him but it would cost around 11 million for 1 year to do that. There are a total of 2 RB’s in the entire league that make that much. If Dougie is to stay, I could all but guarantee you that means that he has a new contract in place.
October 13th, 2015 at 3:15 pm
The question is.. will Doug Martin have a case of the LVD’s after he signs his new contract or not?
October 13th, 2015 at 5:21 pm
how to manage the RB:
1) Draft promising RBs in the mid to late rounds
2) when you find effective ones, give them loads of carries
3) unless they are HOF caliber or physical freaks (alstott or blount type battering rams or darren sproles type home run hitters), make a lowball offer and stand firm. let somebody else give them that big second contract RBs never live up to
no matter what doug does, don’t be fooled. the vast majority of RBs burn bright and fade fast
October 13th, 2015 at 5:22 pm
*typo
“How to manage the RB _position_:”
also, forgot to mention the waiver wire and undrafted free agency, where guys like rainey, earnest graham, and legarrette blount were hanging out before becoming very useful for the bucs
October 13th, 2015 at 5:44 pm
Let me start it early
Dalvin Cook
Dalvin Cook
Dalvin Cook
Dalvin Cook
Dalvin Cook
October 13th, 2015 at 5:47 pm
Florida State RB Dalvin Cook 2014-15 Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLRKVVqxQJA
October 13th, 2015 at 5:57 pm
LUV
You my man bro. Get out of my head, lol. My thoughts exactly.
October 13th, 2015 at 6:00 pm
Heheheh
October 13th, 2015 at 6:11 pm
DB55
What your guy Sapp say
Runningbacks come a dime a dozen
October 13th, 2015 at 7:36 pm
Wait or don’t wait but he better be a Buc for years to come. Talk of not locking him up is ludicrous. We have gone for so long without a really good tailback. Once we draft one and get him in a halfway decent offensive system we are just going to let him walk?…that’s just plain effing stupid.
I have yet to see tweedle dee and tweedle dumb kick an inherited player off of this roster to save money where it hasn’t bit us in the ass. We don’t need to be getting rid of the few good football players that we have. I know it’s the incompetent Lovie Smith way but it needs to stop.
October 14th, 2015 at 2:28 am
Dalvin Cook is great, but he is one pulled hammy waiting to happen. We need players to boost our secondary. Ramsey would be nice, I even take Hargreaves from the Gators. We need cornerbacks ASAP
October 14th, 2015 at 9:12 am
I agree with Joe.
Although, I think if a contract is structured with proper milestones, a contract could work. Certainly, there needs to be a games started clause and injury protection for the team.