Bucs Red Flag On Lamar Miller
February 21st, 2016
If the Bucs are foolish enough to let Doug Martin walk out of town, then they’ll need to replace him.
In that scenario, one has to think Charles Sims will get a shot to win the starting job, while battling whatever free agent running back the Bucs bring in for Martin.
That’s only smart. Right? Sims averaged five yards a carry last season, emerged healthy, and he has fantastic hands.
Oh, those beautiful hands. Joe suspects Dirk Koetter will incorporate Sims more into the passing game this season.
That brings Joe to Dolphins running back Lamar Miller. It’s pretty clear he will bail on the salary-cap strapped Dolphins when the free agency dinner bell rings in 17 days. But Miller told a Miami sports radio station that he wants to the “featured back” and demands the “recognition I deserve.” ProFootballTalk.com wrote all about it.
All that me-first talk from Miller should be a giant red flag for Tampa Bay, assuming they’re drooling over the speedy, versatile back, like many NFL teams are.
How can the Bucs bring in a running back who is pounding his chest and saying he deserves the rock? What happens if he has to share carries with Sims and starts whining and crying like a diva?
The Bucs don’t need that kind of potential mess.
February 21st, 2016 at 10:08 am
If you are familiar with his time in Miami, this is a non story. He was criminally underused and everyone knows it so it’s completely understandable why he’d say that.
February 21st, 2016 at 10:28 am
Fellow Bucs fans, I wonder what the price tag will be for Doug. yes, the Bucs have plenty of cap room, but how many years? If Doug hits the market, will a team like the Cowboys,or Browns give him the grand slam deal he wants? I also think Doug should thank the gods for Coach Koetter, or he would not be in this spot. I am torn, would I like Doug back, sure. Even with the ample cap room, and a ton of holes on D and W/R to fill do you overpay him? Maybe not. I think coach Koetter can make RB’s produce no matter who they are.
February 21st, 2016 at 10:33 am
All RB’s are not equal. Martin made the line look better than it was re sign him and stop letting good players leave this team
February 21st, 2016 at 10:41 am
Franchise tag Doug. He’s only done well half his years in the league. Make him keep proving himself while we have the cap room.
(I say that, but I also believe Licht will do the riskier thing and sign a contract)
February 21st, 2016 at 11:20 am
One things for sure..If Martin bails we need to act fast. And Don’t blame Martin Buc fans. There is no such thing in this contemporary world as allegiance/loyalty. The best thing I ever did in my life was bailing from a low paying job early and chasing money in my profession.The man with the most money hires the best hand nowadays. its just the way it is. Martin wants to get paid. And you cannot blame him.
February 21st, 2016 at 11:24 am
just keep doug and theres no issue at rb. then focus elsewhere
February 21st, 2016 at 11:30 am
As much as I hate to say it….Running backs are a dime a dozen. Yes Doug Martin had a phenomenal year but it was his only year he has ever looked that good. He looked good his rookie year to but not like 2015. He has not reached that A.P status yet. That is why I would rather franchise tag him or let him walk unless he was willing to sign a fair not overpriced contract. Every year running backs go down, and the next week someone steps up. As long as the db’s have a qb to fear and an offensive line doing it’s job a serviceable running back will look like an all star when healthy. I would love to see Martin stay but I have a feeling he’s going to get a ridiculous payday from another team and probably get injured next season.
February 21st, 2016 at 11:53 am
I’ve gotten the impression that Jason Licht and the front office are good at what they do and not foolish enough to let Doug Martin leave town.
February 21st, 2016 at 12:17 pm
What do you guys think about Chris Ivory? He’s a bruiser like Miller. Joiques Bell is another bruiser that I like. I’d be willing to pay Martin to keep him bc he’s better than any other FA available. Plus, I hate the fact that we draft players, invest time in coaching, training, etc then we let them walk.
And if you have any doubt, I’d suggest you check out week 5 vs Jax when Dougie Fresh went All-Madden on them fools. Spinning, juking, trucking, catching, blocking, scoring TDs. It was beautiful to watch.
#paytheman
February 21st, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Keep Doug Martin… Just front load his contract so all his garunteed money is in year #1 and #2… Keep Sims as a backup and use a second or third round pick next year to bring in the next backup as you move Sims to starter…
February 21st, 2016 at 1:39 pm
Ah, yes, let’s NOT throw a lot of money at a proven RB and let him walk, only to throw slighlty less money at an unproven back and take a chance.
Makes perfect sense.
February 21st, 2016 at 2:47 pm
Lamar Miller would be my second choice after martin….but Chris Ivory would be a nice compliment to Sims as well….as Ivory is great in the redzone!
February 21st, 2016 at 3:13 pm
Ivory is too inconsistent. Id keep doug over everyone but miller. Id rather keep martin but miller has not been used properly in miami. I dont like millers attitude though seems arrogant.
February 21st, 2016 at 3:24 pm
Arrogance is a good thing when competing. You’ve heard nice guys finish last.
February 21st, 2016 at 3:46 pm
4 yr 33 mil with no guaranteed money seems fair. (Year 1)-10 mil base,(year 2)- 8 mil base, (year 3)-6.5 mil base with a 1.5 mil roster bonus on March 1st, (year 4) 6 mil base with 1 mil March 1st roster bonus.
February 21st, 2016 at 3:47 pm
If we re sign Martin, make sure the contract has all kinds of incentives, like no production, not much pay. But I don’t think we will have that luxury because some team will throw stupid guaranteed money at Martin. I would not blame Licht for not matching some big money guaranteed contract for Martin.
Some people think Martin “took a few years off” until it was time for a big payday.
February 21st, 2016 at 3:49 pm
And those numbers are what i think is fair for Martin not Miller.
February 21st, 2016 at 3:54 pm
Pass on all “me-first” players. Those are not the guys who turn losers into winners. They do not contribute to a winning locker room. Move on… Please keep Dougernaut.
February 21st, 2016 at 4:47 pm
It’s no red flag
February 21st, 2016 at 5:04 pm
bucs will definitely let martin walk at 33 million .Now @28 maybe not. ITs a good deal for both sides.I am hoping for a dual threat backfield,since Sims has shown an ability to create big plays also.Not at the same time but his ability to run sweeps and good hands deserve more touches and will extend martins career.
February 21st, 2016 at 5:12 pm
pay the man, we have cap space and it’s not my money.
February 21st, 2016 at 5:27 pm
How come nobody has asked Martin about the two down years that are holding back some fans support? Lesser offensive line blocking? Injury slow healing? Or is the truth fans who have declared a contract year revival the improvement seen last year? Maybe I missed his response, or he was never asked.
February 21st, 2016 at 5:30 pm
Doug Martain should be a Buc for life, when you let speciall players walk out the door, you send the wrong message to the rest of the team! All you need to do is look at the Cowboys, all that all everything O-Line and you let your running back walk. How did that work out! PAY THE MAN!!!
February 21st, 2016 at 5:39 pm
Miller looks like Doug bodywise in that pic.
February 21st, 2016 at 5:59 pm
Love to keep Dougie, but if he bolts, Lamar Miller needs to be that guy, used the right way, with great break away speed, guy will get touchdowns when he gets touches.
February 21st, 2016 at 6:22 pm
No thanks on Miller. I’d rather keep this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZEPp9FQyeg
February 21st, 2016 at 7:10 pm
Seamonster knows. “Me First”?
Kinda why no one here is pissed about keeping VJax. Pricey? Sure. But kudos to the owners and new regime. When you can afford to pay extra for a real team first guy and don’t cheap out. Players watch.
Loyalty is what we’ve been impatiently waiting for.
Verner, Banks, Mankins….
The Bucs have sent some pretty strong signals thus far about keeping Bucs, Bucs.
Martin needs to stay.
February 21st, 2016 at 7:40 pm
I know a couple of me first guys like Sapp, Blount, Talib all have rings.
I know a lot of really nice gentleman that don’t have a winning season.
Only in Tampa will you garuntee a player 46mil for 31 tackles and 8.5 sacks but not garuntee 24mil to a 1400yard rusher.
February 21st, 2016 at 8:18 pm
What about getting zeke Elliott first round have our best triplets ever not hamstring the salary cap on an older back we will be cutting in 2 years
February 21st, 2016 at 9:30 pm
Injuries cannot be controlled. They will happen. My concern is effort. WILL he give the same amount of effort every season and offseason as he did.in his contract year. That is what scares me. I think Jameis needs to be the inside man for liqht and find out who wan trying s to win as bad as they want to get paid. If hes going to give that same effort every single season than pay the man. But if he doesnt he makes licht look like a fool
February 21st, 2016 at 10:37 pm
To understand why Martin had two down years look at who his OCs were those two years.
February 21st, 2016 at 11:20 pm
It is crazy that people think giving doug the contract he deserves would be “overpaying” him.
What number is exactly “overpaying”? Imo doug is worth the 6-8 mil a year range. Due to his up and down career, he doesnt belong in the top echelon of RB who get 8+, but he certainly has the talent that any of them do. Pay doug what he deserves. Overpaying, would be forcing the franchise tag on him. 11 mil making him the 2nd highest paid running back is not ideal. Sign him long term, 4 years with a front loaded contract with low guarentee. 15 mil guaranteed should make him happy on a 4 yr 28 mil contract. Please get this done. Doug needs to be our franchise running back.
February 22nd, 2016 at 12:33 am
Non story.
They are going to re sign him. Stupid not to.
He had very little wear and tear, no major knee issues, and is in his prime years right now. The next 4 years he’ll be 27-32.
They can sign him to 4 years 25-28 million.
Well worth it. He is a LOT better runner and more elusive than Simms. Simms is a great compliment and Receiver.
February 22nd, 2016 at 1:19 am
Don’t F-up a good thing?
February 22nd, 2016 at 8:20 am
@kevin Smidt
Don’t believe running back are a dime a dozen.if that were true there would be 32 1200 yard rushers. Good running games make the difference between 3rd and short and 3rd and long.But that doesn’t mean you have to run on first and second down consecutively all the time.
March 3rd, 2016 at 5:42 pm
being confident in your ability is not a me first trait… it’s being an athlete