“We Think The World Of Doug”
January 1st, 2017
Dirk Koetter has fresh takes on Doug Martin
Strong new words from Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter.
For those who enjoy the sport of reading between the lines, Joe presents the latest in the Bucs’ running back situation.
Since Martin was benched last game and subsequently suspended four games by the NFL for violating a drug policy, and then issuing a statement saying he would “enter a treatment facility,” Koetter has been pretty tight-lipped about his feelings for Martin. Koetter had said he happy Martin was addressing his health, but there was little more.
Well, speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio this weekend, candid Koetter showed quite a bit of love for his former No. 1 running back.
“You’re always trying to do what’s best for the organization and give your team the best chance to win and at the same time honor a player’s privacy,” Koetter said. “The main thing with Doug, we think the world of Doug. He’s been a very good teammate and a really good competitor for us. More than anything, you know, we want Doug to get well and be healthy for the long haul. That’s really the most important thing. You know, there’s always more to every story that meet’s the eye. I hope the fans will understand that there’s certain things that, you know, can’t be said. And the most important thing is Doug’s health.”
Joe is dialed into two quotes: “we think the world of Doug” and “very good teammate.”
That’s enlightening stuff from Koetter, Joe believes.
Candid Koetter isn’t the kind of guy to drop love like that on a player if it’s phony, especially on a guy who screwed himself, his team and legions of adoring fans, including those fans who love Martin so much they ignore his bad film.
Joe wouldn’t bet a nickel Martin plays for Tampa Bay again, but it sure seems like the head coach would welcome him, assuming Martin is “healthy.”
Yes, if Koetter and Jason Licht think Martin is a good fit for the team going forward, Joe would embrace that, albeit with skepticism.
Bucs players have been vocal about playing games for their wounded brothers recently, such as after Kwon Alexander’s brother died and Alterraun Verner’s father’s sudden death, among other family tragedies for Lavonte David and Kevin Pamphile, along with keeping Cecil Shorts’ horrific injury in their heads.
Joe’s curious to see whether Martin’s name arises in pregame speeches or postgame reflection today. That might provide another clue into the team’s feelings about whatever is happening with Martin.
January 1st, 2017 at 8:12 am
I’m ok with Dalvin Cook wearing number 22 in Tampa as an homage to Martin!
January 1st, 2017 at 8:17 am
Not a bad idea Touchdown. Like the way You think. Especially considering him Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton are all around the same SIZE Blake.
January 1st, 2017 at 8:18 am
This is a potential come back story I would love to see happen. I hope Doug gets well, and comes back even stronger.
January 1st, 2017 at 8:35 am
And let me clarify for you seeing is how you are into putting words in people’s mouths and then later not being able to validate your accusation(see last night’s thread and read the difference between saying “looks like the second coming” and is or will be the second coming). I don’t want or wish for Dalvin Cook to be the next Marshall Faulk(the guy he patterned his game after according to his own words) I want and expect him to be the first Bad @$$ Dalvin Cook homeboy.
January 1st, 2017 at 8:36 am
Guys we would all, except Blake, love to get Dalvin but it’s just not happening. Corey Davis Rd 1 then Dede Westbrook Rd 2 then bam wr is done for years. That is if they don’t go with my favorite plan of getting free agent wr’s and only drafting the lines.
January 1st, 2017 at 8:50 am
I hear what you saying ndog but I gotta defend. He talking down on my guy like my guy has potential bust written all over him or something.
January 1st, 2017 at 8:54 am
Staying realistic, I think they go for a cheaper, cleaner Doug Martin. Restructure his deal, make him compete in camp with Rodgers, Barber, and Sims for the starting role. Pay Rodgers to come back. Bet you can have two for a bit more than the price of the previous Doug Martin. Draft a RB in two years. Doug is going to want to redeem himself, and I know the Bucs would like to leave his image on the side of RayJay. In perspective, what he did is no worse than V-Jax. Perhaps not as bad in fact.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:00 am
What are you talking about Fred? V-Jax got injured. Martin was deactivated right before the most critical game of the year and the playoffs on the line. In addition to that he is going to be suspended another four games. Time to move on. An injury prone back coming off a horrendous season who has a drug problem is who you want to pin your hopes to?
January 1st, 2017 at 9:04 am
Touchdown I don’t know why folks can’t see the writing on the wall. DM done Tampa people. And another thing free agency is going to tell us everything we need to know about the coming draft. If Licht doesn’t throw some money at free agent RB then its on when it comes to my idea you’ll see.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:11 am
Would love to get dalvin Cook. He Is a 1st class back. Not sure Tampa will have the ability to draft him. Depends on draft order. And if the staff believes it would be worth it.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:14 am
Bye bye Dougie Fresh!
…….thanks for all the memories you gave to all the bucs when you only on the field 50% PERCENT OF TIME during your tenure here as a buc!!!!
January 1st, 2017 at 9:36 am
I guess I just find it interesting that many fans didn’t want him to play because his performance has been awful this season. And now the same fans blame him for the loss at NO. Let’s at least be fair. Did Doug mess up big time = yes. Did his absence play a major factor in the team blowing the game in NO = no.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:40 am
So you’re saying he is not a difference maker tackle. Either way you slice it is time to move on based on your assessment.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:45 am
Touchdown, I agree. We can do better at RB. I’m excited about the possibilities at that position. But let’s not make Doug a scapegoat for the debacle in NO. We lost that game for many reasons, but Doug not suiting up was not one of them.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:51 am
I agree Tackle.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:53 am
As fans we need to at least be fair in our assessments. I think we all agree that we can upgrade this team in the offseason, in many areas. Personally I still feel this team has leftovers with a losers mentality that need to be washed from the roster. Pretty sure Jameis and Kwon agree. And then we still have players that give it their all, but just don’t have the talent. This upcoming offseason is going to be huge for our Bucs. We need to dominate this offseason in both FA and the draft.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:54 am
But first things first…can we please smack the Panthers in the mouth? Go Bucs!
January 1st, 2017 at 9:57 am
Tackle, while the offensive line was bad this year, the fact that he has a drug problem probably was a part of his poor play. If we had the Doug Martin from last year his loss would definitely have hurt. One has to wonder if his problem hurt them in many games this year prior to the NO game.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:58 am
@ Tackleblockwin
Stop wearing your bucs “rosey colored glasses”…..and wake up.
Dougie Fresh whole body of work does not add up to the bucs keeping him. He’s injury prone and has only been on the field for the Bucs 50% percent of the time since he’s been drafted. I was stunned the bucs gave him that big contract…….which the GM now regrets .
From buisness and performance perspective, the GM will not keep him.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:59 am
“…ignore his bad film”
Same can be said for the GM lackeys that ignore the bad oline film!
January 1st, 2017 at 10:02 am
I’m OK with keeping Martin next year…..if…
We break his contract down into 13 (he misses 3 games) individual contracts….and we have the option to renew each week.
After all, the season is broken down into a game to game situation.
If many are right, Doug will play very hard in a contract week.
January 1st, 2017 at 10:06 am
I hear you Dallas but they were dominant just a season ago. That is why I feel that unit doesn’t require overhauling just some tweaking.
January 1st, 2017 at 10:10 am
This is a lot of love for a RB who has only had 2 good/healthy years with the Bucs. Martin might have 2 more years left and we are kidding ourselves if we think he will be another 1000 yard back. That is unless he finds the fountain of youth which nobody has yet. We need to move on from Doug and get a new RB. A good RB can be had in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft.
January 1st, 2017 at 10:15 am
I think Doug will be back. He deserves a second chance. Re-sign him to a more team friendly deal. Injuries and his adderall problem caused him to have a down year. I don’t think he has lost his running ability. I could be wrong. But if Martin is willing to take a pay cut and stay. I think it is worth a shot.
I think our o line needs to be upgraded immediately. Before we spend a 1st round pick on a running back (waste), we need to have the blockers in front of him so he can tear up defenses. With how much all bucs running backs saw instant penetration in the back field, it won’t matter who runs the ball. It just won’t be as successful without good blockers in front. Not to mention to protect our QB. He’s kind of important too.
January 1st, 2017 at 10:19 am
Dalvin Cook will be a Jacksonville Jaguar next season. Tampa should stick to looking for guys in the trenches (offensive and defensive), a WR and another young CB to eventually replace Grimes. If they do grab a RB I hope it’s not until the 3rd round or later.
January 1st, 2017 at 10:21 am
@Tampabaybucfan
I am surprised you did not use the “march of dimes” formula and he gets set amount for every yard!!!!!! They could even put it on the super jumbo tron as the “drive fund” meter!!!!!!!!
The NFLPA might not go for it though!!!!!
January 1st, 2017 at 10:29 am
Touchdown, I think we all have been wondering the same thing. Makes me wonder how long self medicating had been going on. And I agree about the poor play of the oline. The oline did not help our running game much. Mankins retired, we bring in a guy who never plays due to injury. Then there was a mix of injuries and lack of depth. I like the character of our oline, but the talent level needs help. The lack of having a #2 WR also hurt. Teams are stacking the box because the only worry is Evans and Brate. Shorts getting hurt was huge. He was just starting to roll a little when he got injured.
January 1st, 2017 at 10:31 am
Bucs Anthem, where did you read that I wanted to keep Doug on the roster?
January 1st, 2017 at 10:37 am
After his performance yesterday, I don’t think Dalvin Cook will still be there when the Buc’s pick. One of my favorite posters suggested on another site that we look at this kid D’Onta Foreman out of Texas. He is a big back who could be a second or third round Pick. As far as Doug Martin, while I am a fan I will not comment on his fate in 2017, that is why they pay Licht the big bucks.
January 1st, 2017 at 10:41 am
My guess is we will not draft a RB in the draft early. We will pick up a RB in FA.
January 1st, 2017 at 10:41 am
Who was the last o lineman selected by the bucs in the first round?
I don’t think there is a worse record in the NFL of a team ignoring o lineman in the first round. All of those high first round picks, we could have had numerous pro bowlers, and the best o line in football. But we picked the likes of Mark Barron and heck even Doug Martin in that same draft. We could have Mitchell Schwartz. One heck of a right tackle. Instead of Adrian clayborn, OT Anthony Castonzo. Instead of trading for revis, we could have had Kyle long. The list goes on. I hate that our GMs think we can just plug and play sub par o lineman. Finding guys off the street and late in drafts. That is not how you build an o line. Franchise LTs do not walk the streets in their prime. Draft o line in the first round. Anything else is fail by this team.
January 1st, 2017 at 10:42 am
I would love to see a clean Doug Martin be given a chance come back (with a restructured deal of course), BUT they also need to resign Rodgers as well as draft a RB in one of the MIDDLE ROUNDS. This is a pretty deep draft for RBs and we have more pressing needs.
January 1st, 2017 at 10:46 am
Lol at TrueBuc fan referring to Martin’s “adderall problem!” Dude don’t be so gullible when players and agents make the addrrall claim. He is lying.
January 1st, 2017 at 11:12 am
I really liked Samaje Perine when I watched Oklahoma play. I just don’t think it would be wise to spend a second round pick on a RB with all the other needs we have
January 1st, 2017 at 11:14 am
Suh only had 5 sacks this season but Miami (of all teams) has 10 wins and a playoff birth. Food for thought. I think that’s 2 playoff visits since he entered the league (lions and Dolphins – powerhouses). And if I’m not mistaken he had to throw his def coaches under the bus to right the ship.
#ItsNotAboutProBowls
#ItsNotAboutBeingNice
#ItsAllAboutWinning
January 1st, 2017 at 11:16 am
Oline is waaaaay overrated on this site. Winston ran for his life all season and none of the backs were successful.
Stop ignoring the bad oline film.
January 1st, 2017 at 11:16 am
LOL
………very very very true DB55
January 1st, 2017 at 11:21 am
I love cook, even more so after his shelacking of a solid Michigan d. But we have much bigger priorities than back next year. And after what Mike williams did against a solid Ohio d, he fills a great hole too. Rather have Mike and evans with barber, sims and quizz over dalvin and evans and dede or someone like that.
January 1st, 2017 at 11:23 am
Steroids work, and do enhance performance. That’s why they are called PED’s
Doug Martin has averaged 2.9 YPC this year On The Juice.
Why would we want him to return ?
January 1st, 2017 at 11:29 am
“we want Doug to get well and be healthy for the long haul”
This is the quote you should have been keying on Joe.
Koetter was who insisted that DM be retained for 2015 when Lovie and Licht were apparently ready to get rid of him.
I’d be surprised if Doug has seen his last carry as a Buccaneer…
Yes he has been injured and ineffective 3 our of 5 years – but when DM is healthy, he’s one of the better backs in the NFL.
January 1st, 2017 at 11:31 am
The best RBs in the league are high draft picks, don’t get it twisted. Are there exceptions sure but this is not the time to play games. Go get Cook and build the trenches from the 2-7 rounds.
As for WR make a trade, you have like a Billion doallars in salary cap space. But get a young guy not an old vet unless that vet is named Boldin.
January 1st, 2017 at 11:35 am
It has to be more than just PEDs. You don’t go to rehab for just PEDs. He might have got popped for them, but I’d bet that he tested positive for more than just PEDs. If he doesn’t come back I’d like to get Cook. If he does come back, I’d like to see Mike Williams somehow in the first, O Line in round 2, then RB in round 3 or 4. Free agency will tell the story of where we’ll go in the draft. All I know is that we need 2 WR in FA and draft. I’d try to re-sign Jackson on the cheap to mentor who we brought in. If he’s not a 2 anymore he can be a valuable 3.
January 1st, 2017 at 11:50 am
Eric Berry and The honey badger are both FAs. Rumors that Arian might retire bc of health issues. Licht gave Tyrann a chance and I’m guessing he played with Kwon and/or Shep. Idk same school. I’m getting excited though.
January 1st, 2017 at 11:50 am
It might be more then just PED’s, but I wonder if us Fans will ever know ?
January 1st, 2017 at 11:56 am
This was too loyal to 22, Rodgers was better back but they kept sending doug out. For this team to take the next step they are going to have to spend lots of money inFA there are too many holes for the draft.
January 1st, 2017 at 11:57 am
TouchDownTampaBay,
You insist that others are being gullible to believe that Martin has an Adderall problem. I read your post yesterday and you say that while you know what he didn’t take (Adderall), you have no idea what he did take. You even went so far as to suggest that he be a man and step forward and tell us what he did take. So, you don’t know! I don’t personally care what he took. I simply responded to Joe “ here’s what I read and here’s where I read it”.
Joe said that we don’t know what he really took and probably never will. I don’t doubt that players have used Adderall in an attempt to cover over a more undesirable/unacceptable drug that was really used. Here are facts that we know – the NFL knows what he tested for and it was deemed a violation of the PED policy. Martin was inactive for the Saints and will be inactive for the Panthers. He was suspended for 4 games and will start his suspension now (1 game with the Bucs) and will be suspended for the first 3 games of the of the 2017 season with the Bucs or another team. He has said he will enter rehab. The Bucs have said nothing further other than Koetter’s words “we think the world of Doug”.
Now please tell us gullible posters what it is you know to an absolute certainty as to what he took or any other information that you have that would lead you to be so emphatic about his drug of choice or better still what it’s not.
Former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan said that “we are all entitled to our own opinions, but no one is entitled to his own set of facts”!
January 1st, 2017 at 12:14 pm
Mac – if you were popped for Adderall, announced to the world what it was for, and yet rumors persisted that it was a much more insidious drug that you were using would you release the results to clear you name? I know I would. Also, have you ever heard of anyone ever going to rehab for Adderall? Players can claim it was anything they want without impunity. No I do not believe 95% of players with drug issues in this league just cant shake a raging Adderall addiction. I do think it is gullible to believe his agent’s claim. If Doug releases the result of the screen and it is just Adderall I will apologize. Until he does that I call BS.
January 1st, 2017 at 12:31 pm
TouchDown,
You may be right! All I’m saying is that’s your opinion. It may be a reasonable opinion. It is still not a fact. I believe it was something more to it also, but i have no definitive proof that it is. I know Joe is a skeptic, but others, Mike Florio, Ian Rappoport are using the party line. I say again, only Doug, the NFL, the Bucs, and his dealer know and they aren’t talking. Like Joe says – we may never know! And a Happy New Year to you! lol.
January 1st, 2017 at 12:35 pm
@ TouchDownTampaBay
Why are you being so ignorant trying to insert your own opinions as facts???
First off. ……IT’S NOBODY’S BUISNESS WHAT DOUGIE FRESH DID OR USED for this PED suspension…….
………hat’s off to Doug for handling his issues the way he is
January 1st, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Koetter’s comments lead me to believe Doug Martin is not going anywhere. I’m fine with that.
As to the guaranteed monies they supposedly will not have to pay? If he is still on the team, he will still get it…but it would be as salary. So those thinking we just saved $7 million better think again.
A guaranty is not a bonus…it’s a promise of salary paid. If he earns it, he will still get it.
January 1st, 2017 at 12:51 pm
TouchDownTampaBay Says
“…rumors persisted that it was a much more insidious drug that you were using would you release the results to clear you name?”
You can make your point for yourself, but you cannot accurately state what Doug would do. He is a celebrity. His life runs by different rules. What you would do is not necessarily what someone in his position would do.
From what I have witnessed, it is more likely a player would just stay silent so that the matter is forgotten sooner. Talking would just keep it at the forefront.
January 1st, 2017 at 12:56 pm
Screw Martin he was never any damn reliable. I hope he is Toothless pushing a shopping cart on Nebraska that is what he deserves for screwing his teammates
January 1st, 2017 at 12:58 pm
Dirk Koetter will stand by his Alumnus brother, and rightfully so. This should be the Bucs Draft Board. RD1 BPA, RD2 BPA, RD3 BPA, RD4 BPA, RD5 BPA, RD6 BPA, RD7 BPA. We have a need at every position, it wouldn’t make sense to reach or trade up for a player. Just draft the BPA on your Big Board, and we will be alright.
January 1st, 2017 at 1:03 pm
Dirk didn’t graduate from Boise State, but he was the head Coach there for a few seasons.
January 1st, 2017 at 1:43 pm
You are right Anthem. I am sure it was Adderall. I apologize
January 1st, 2017 at 2:10 pm
I’m not a Nole so I only see a few of their games…but I have to say every time I’ve watched them Dalvin Cook looks like he might be a “generational” player.
He has that killer combo of speed and size and power…he can run around you or over you.
If he was on the board I’d spend the pick even in the first round.
January 1st, 2017 at 6:55 pm
Bucs pick 19 or 20 based on their record. Stop talking Dalvin Cook, he will be long gone and we are not moving up to get him.
We want all the draft picks we have.