National Nonsense Peddling On Doug Martin

April 28th, 2017

Stop insulting fans’ intelligence

Man, Joe can’t believe some of the hot garbage peddled as elite intelligence on the national stage.

Ladies and gentlemen, your Buccaneers have been back to work for just 11 days and NFL rules don’t allow players to do anything but conditioning this month. That means a bunch of mostly-in-great-shape guys are just lifting weights, running, jumping and twisting on grass under the team’s strength and conditioning coaches.

Ok. So then why is NFL Network super insider Ian Rapoport insulting our intelligence by Twittering the following this morning.

@rapsheet – One reason passed on RB Dalvin Cook in the 1st: Source says the most impressive player thus far in training has been Doug Martin.

Jason Licht is smart enough to know that what Martin looks like during April underwear drills is meaningless. What matters is that Martin was bad when healthy last year, benched when healthy (see New Orleans in December) and he has to keep passing regular urine tests. And then there’s his long history of injuries and being suspended for the first three games of the season.

To think the Bucs passed on Dalvin Cook because Doug Martin made some mean cuts in a sandbox or around cones at One Buc Palace is pure ridiculousness.

Joe can say with authority that the drafting of O.J. Howard — and passing on Dalvin Cook — had ZERO to do with Doug Martin’s April exercises.

C’mon, Rapoport!

86 Responses to “National Nonsense Peddling On Doug Martin”

  1. stu Says:

    Don’t shoot the messenger…

  2. USFBUC Says:

    I agree, none of us really thought a guy like Howard would fall that far. Had the draft played out differently the Bucs could have easily taken Cook after trading back. The move up by Chicago took everyone by surprise and was a brilliant move by former Buc John Lynch to sell them on that trade.

  3. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    Yeah I hate it it when bogus intel gets passed around as if it were fact.

    You know, Tripe like this…

    https://www.joebucsfan.com/2017/04/know-bucs-really-sold-taking-running-back-first-round/

  4. Ben the Ga Buc Says:

    I have to agree. Something’s a little fishy with that tweet.

  5. Brandon Says:

    Cook was passed over 32 times last night for a reason. He isn’t the prospect the FSU homers think he is.

  6. tdtb2015 Says:

    Yeah. Today is a nonsense kind of day. Right Joe?!??

  7. DB55 Says:

    Well get a back. If not Cook or Mixon maybe foreman of Texas.

    Side note: really impressed with Johnny Lynch winning the draft last night. The trade to get more picks, Soloman Thomas is a beast and then trading back into the 1st to grab Rueben Foster. He can retire today and immediately enter the HOF as a gm. Lol

  8. Frank Pillow Says:

    Martin is insurance- and bad insurance- at best. There’s a ton of talent still on the board. I can see Licht going after a DB in the 2nd and seeing what’s left at RB as the round concludes. IF Cook or Kamara are still on the board, then he can use the same zeal that landed us Roberto the Kicker and make a move up, if necessary. Trouble is we don’t have the same ammo. Ultimately if we come out of this draft with a stud TE, S, RB and developmental WR, DL and OL, we’ll be in good shape. Back to the point here, Martin can’t be considered part of the plan in the here/now.

  9. rayjay1122 Says:

    OJ Howard > Dalvin Cook…. That is why we took Howard over Cook. Still can’t believe that he fell to us.

  10. Andrew Says:

    Howard was best player available. Period.

  11. Guzzie Says:

    Hunt Hill or Mack in the 3rd please, Jordan Willis, Derek Rivers, Chris Wormley, or Tim Williams in the 2nd, WRs Ishmael Zamora (6’4 224 4.5 40 a Josh Gordon clone), Cooper Kupp, KD Cannon (great name for a Bucs player, fire the cannons), Robert Davis, Dede Westbrook (DJax clone 4.34 6′ 178 Heisman finalist), Shelton Gibson, Carlos Henderson so many quality WRs available after the 3rd, don’t need a starter this year

  12. Dreambig Says:

    Brandon, with all the FSU hate, I am going to assume your a Gator fan. So with that in mind enjoy this little snippet from the Nov 27, 2016 Tampa Bay Times.

    Including catches, Cook amassed 112 yards on his 13 first-half touches; the Seminoles totaled 50 on the 17 times when he didn’t get the ball. His rushing total was the most UF allowed to one player all season.

    “He’s about as good as I’ve ever seen,” Gators coach Jim McElwain said.

    As Cook lived up to his hype, UF’s offense also played down to its expectations with another week of struggles. Through 59 minutes, Cook had more total yards (179) than all of UF (167).

  13. Eric Denman Says:

    Lichts board landed OJ Howard in our laps.. Still cant believe he made it to us!

  14. mark2001 Says:

    Someone made a great analogy somewhere regarding Cook….. Reggie Bush was all world, about the same size, but faster, and ended up being more of an outside running and pass catching threat. You have to wonder if that is what someone see Cooks college game translating into at the professional level.

  15. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    The important thing is that no Bucs fan feels Licht made the wrong choice with Howard. He made an excellent choice.

    Those saying no one saw it coming are not completely right, but even those that did viewed it as a slim possibility before the draft started (myself included).

    Mike Smith needs to be fed now. He stayed for a reason.

  16. Mike Johnson Says:

    Somebody here hit it spot on…31 other teams said No to Cook in the 1st. He’ll go somewheres in the 2nd..which is where he should be drafted. I can live with our tight end pick.

  17. Tampabayucfan Says:

    Not selecting Cook had absolutely nothing to do with Doug Martin……It had everything to do with OJ Howard…..I suspect we still would not have selected Cook at 19…..perhaps a move down and then pick him.
    We still have many options at RB including the draft…..picking up a FA…..a trade or even going with Martin. Even UDFA poses options….we got Blount that way.
    I am not concerned.

  18. NJBucsFan Says:

    I agree with Tampabayucfan.

    Now this is the trade bait story you should be covering Joe…not the Brate story from earlier.

    Calling Green Bay…hey you want Doug Martin and our 3rd for your pick?

    Then we grab out Safety of the future and Mixon with our next 2nd rd pick

  19. Joeypoppems Says:

    The first thing that comes to my mind when I read that tweet is that someone put it out there to try to keep teams from potentially trading in front of us for a RB.

    Or maybe Im biased and just want to see a new RB in the backfield lol

  20. Ndog Says:

    Yeah Brandon every player not taken in the first round sucks. Please tell that to our very own Kwon. People Cook was the pick but a top 5-10 player at a position of need feel into our lap. We had to take him so how this means Cook sucks is beyond me. It sounds like you are just pushing your agenda. You do realize Cook is going to get drafted and we will still see is ability which will really tell us about his ability not his draft position. Let’s just all be thankful the Panthers picked the next Reggie Bush ie McCaffrey, instead of the next Jamal Charles. We dogged a bullet there.

  21. mark2001 Says:

    Newsflash guys….no one is going to trade for Martin….they won’t pay 8 mil. for his services, and with a voided contract, he is a FA. And even if he wasn’t, who would trade anything for a guy that can’t play for the first three games, 10 games if he get’s hit again, and is such a question mark?

  22. AceofAerospace Says:

    Good bye Drug Martin. I have zero tolerance for druggies, cheaters, liars or morons. You had Tampa in your back pocket and whizzed all over us. Tick tock, your days/hours in Tampa are numbered

  23. mark2001 Says:

    I think Cook is the next Reggie Bush…or with luck…Warrick Dunn. But he won’t be an every down inside runner in the NFL. And frankly, I don’t know if he has the speed in the NFL to get around the corner.

  24. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    I’m still not sold on Martins future. Licht might be willing to roll the dice again on a 1 year deal if the RBs he likes don’t fall to him. We can win our first 3 games with the backs we have now. I’d like to see us draft a RB, just not reach for one because we have to and let a more talented player stay on the board.

  25. USFBUC Says:

    Just fingers crossed we can make moves today to get some combo of the rest of my players –
    WR – Godwin, Jones
    RB – Mixon, Foreman
    DT – Tomlinson, Ogunjobi
    DE – Willis, Walker
    CB – Jones
    S – Baker, Williams

  26. Brian Says:

    After your posts about trading Brate I would say you should look in the mirror when trashing others

  27. USFBUC Says:

    Oh forgot OLB – Anderson

  28. Doctor Stroud Says:

    This is more of a smokescreen coming out of One Buc Place (either to create some trade value for Martin, mask the next picks, or something else), but we’ll find out today and/or tomorrow.

  29. Erik w/ Clean Athletics 'The Kwon Alexander of Bucs fans' Says:

    2nd and 3rd Rd picks will be Safety and RB in either order.

  30. JOEinPHX Says:

    Rapoport said that Martin’s performance in voluntary minicamp was ‘ONE’ reason the Bucs passed passed on Cook, not ‘THE’ reason as JoeBucsFan would have you believe. JoeBucsFan is peddling single-sourced nonsense again.

  31. TampaBay AllDay Says:

    Watch the next pick be defense for Smitty

  32. Gencoimports Says:

    Good chance we take a RB today even if Martin stays, which would be my preference.

  33. TampaBay AllDay Says:

    Hopefully

  34. NickTheKnife Says:

    Kinda like someone saying the Bucs are looking to trade Brate. Insane isnt it.

  35. c-spann Says:

    I hope we can snag Walker or Willis. We need edge rushers. We can grab a saftey in the 3rd Eddie Jackson, Josh Evans, Josh Jones, Marcus Maye should be there. After that I could care less who else we draft!

  36. mike n Says:

    I don’t know joe. When douggie is focused, he is a awesome. He will have a great year for someone this year. You can’t pay him longterm but one year is fine.

  37. Viejo_Sombrero19 Says:

    US Coast Guard search still ongoing for NosBos

  38. Tampa Tony Says:

    Man if the Bucs don’t draft a RB people are gonna lose it and question the experts who said Martin is gone

  39. TampaBay AllDay Says:

    I come on jbf comedy

  40. Fred E. Bucs Says:

    Martin was NOT healthy last year. His illness was between the ears and caused by what’s in the bottle, so it seems from the suspension…

    But we do know when Doug is right…he’s right up there with the tops of production…as has been proven.

  41. mark2001 Says:

    Dr….MARTIN HAS NO TRADE VALUE…PERIOD.

    Who in their right mind would pay him 8 mil. a year and picks? Even the Bears aren’t that crazy….not to even get into the drug stuff. And if you want to redo the contract for less, it is voided and he is a FA. Now he might redo it to play here and have a chance to redeem himself. But if he was traded…not a chance. Please.

  42. TampaBay AllDay Says:

    *for

  43. Tampa Tony Says:

    Can we just add “Trade Brate” to the list of crazy things Joe has stated within the last few years

    -Draft Manziel
    -Vic Beasley is a bust
    -Mark Dominik is a good GM
    -The Revis trade was good
    -sign Roddy White

  44. tdtb2015 Says:

    @mark2001. I also think Cook is the next REggie Busch. I brought this up a couple of weeks ago and NOS was all over my a$$. We should pass on Cook.

    BTW infamous Dave got a wedgie from Jason Licht.

  45. Fred E. Bucs Says:

    I’m betting on Zay Jones WR, Marlon Mack RB next. Last night I said the TE would be a “wild card” pick if the Bucs found out the best of the board was someone they’d rather have over stud S or WR available. Got it right.

    Today, I still think they will go WR 2nd rount, then RB 3rd round…as insurance for Martin/suspension and future development. Today, I predict the “wild card” will be a OL/OT who is still on the board. In which case, the Bucs can sign VJax to spell DJax and draft a WR next year.

  46. TampaBay AllDay Says:

    @Tampa Tony we most certainly can. Add the daily cook articles also.

  47. TampaBay AllDay Says:

    Rockstar dominik lol mf still can’t get a job

  48. mark2001 Says:

    tdtb…he could be a great complement to a pounding back, kind of the way we used Dunn and Alstott. But doubt he would hold up and be extremely effective inside.

  49. Gencoimports Says:

    Roy C. just said on WDAE that he feels the Bucs have reached a comfort level with Doug Martin, but they will still likely draft a RB.

    Drafting a RB doesn’t mean Martin is gone.

  50. mark2001 Says:

    tbtb…so I guess that means that I don’t think he was ever in the cards as our 19 pick. If we could have moved down a half dozen spots and picked up a second, possibly. Otherwise, we would have gone D line, Safety, or Corner. But today he would be a good value in the second, and would be happy if it went that way.

  51. Jacko101 Says:

    2025 he’s the best thing since slice bread, 2017 oh he sucks? He had a bad year and issues. It’s a team game and team sometimes have to fight through adversity together instead of cutting them off. What I love most about our team is they are a family (unlike the fans).

  52. Jacko101 Says:

    2015*

  53. Gencoimports Says:

    It makes me laugh seeing a cutline “stop insulting fans’ intelligence” on this site when JBF does that every day like with that Brate trade nonsense.

  54. BayCityBucBoy Says:

    Budda Baker in the 2nd and Mack or Hunt in the 3rd.

  55. bucNation Says:

    i’d say lol these reporters can be so foolish sometimes and completely make a fool of themselves it’s definitely as simple as “oh sh*t oj howard still on the board we like dalvin but we can’t pass on this guy.”you guys saw how quick they put their pick in! they couldn’t wait to make that call lol

  56. Tnew Says:

    Yeh, it would really suck if Martin could give us 13 really quality games. No one ever hits near rock bottom and then rededicate themselves to improving.

  57. TampaBay AllDay Says:

    Can Alvin Kamara plz fall to the bucs in the 3rd

  58. Mikep4bucs Says:

    Trade bait potential for Martin – you know better than anyone Joe that smoke screens are flying all over the place right now.

  59. JonBuc Says:

    Call the Bears about a trade for Martin. Perhaps Leonard Floyd of Jordan Howard will be made available given their trade up ONE spot while giving up 2 3rds & a 4th. It’s worth a try!

  60. TampaBay AllDay Says:

    They should pick defense for Smitty in the 2nd

  61. Issic Haggins Says:

    Keep your eye on DE Rivers, OSU Center,Zay Jones and Colorado Corner and of course the givens Mixon, Cook and Baker

    OSU Center can play both guards also.Huge Plus !!!

  62. mike10 Says:

    Not sure what the rush is to get rid of a 2 time, sub-30 year old RB that we can have at a negotiated rate… He’s better than every RB on our roster right now. You can fake it at RB, we did all of last year.

    How are we going to get pressure on the QB or defend the secondary when ONE guy goes down? You can’t fake that..

  63. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    JonBuc Says
    “Call the Bears”

    The Bears are dumb enough, but they don’t have much left to give, if anything.

  64. Patrick in VA Says:

    Would’ve thought that the day after the first round of the draft that they’d be reporting actual news instead of generating garbage like this.

  65. Cobraboy Says:

    A revamped OL and additional weapons at receiver will seriously impact the running game no matter who the RB is.

    I’m still OK with Martin and the rest of the RB’s. He has a LOT to prove and knows his career is on the line. NOW. There is no more dangerous animal than a man with nothing to lose but his pride.

    I was ecstatic when Howard kept falling. I couldn’t believe it! Had Howard been taken off the board I was expecting Licht to trade back.

    Folks praise Belichick for his personnel brilliance, and his attitude about RB is “plug and play.” I can’t recall when he went gaga over a RB like many Buc fanbois do. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

    Howard makes the Buc O much better. He’s like a bigger, stronger, faster ASJ but with character.

  66. Not there yet Says:

    Silly but that’s how people keep you talking about their name. It’s the new norm

  67. gotbbucs Says:

    Too talented of a draft for smaller RB with a fair among of red flags that didn’t take the pre-draft process very seriously to go high. He’s probably not done falling either, it’s possible that a couple more running backs go off the board before him.
    Why is it that the Bucs should ignore the factors that the rest of the other teams obviously see? Because he went the same school as Winston, where they were both knuckleheads together? Why expose your franchise QB to that risk again?
    There are way cleaner players in this draft that can have just as much of an impact on this team as a bone headed RB.

  68. Mo_Downs Says:

    My picks:

    1) TE OJ Howard
    2) RB Joe Mixon (Madden 19 cover)
    3) SS Obi or WR Godwin ( Next Jerry Rice)
    4-EOD) BPA

    If the Packers draft Joe Mixon, they become the next SB winners.
    If the Bucs draft Joe Mixon, they become the next SB winners.

    The Bears have no clue, period..!!

  69. Pa Privateer Says:

    If Litch is serious about keeping Martin, then perhaps we may wait to take a RB until the later rounds. Perhaps a RB that is faster then Martin.

    RB Joe Williams, Utah, 6-7 round could be a possibility. Good pass pro, 4.4, 213

    I really would like Samaje Perine to combine with Sims.

    This draft feels really good so far and today has the possibility to grab some wonderful talent.

  70. gotbbucs Says:

    Samaje Perine or Jamall Williams

  71. Aaron Says:

    I’m not sure I understand the Cook to Dunn comparison. Dunn was a very good inside runner, didn’t bounce the play outside, and was very good at pass pro…

    Saying that – Cook is very fun to watch and would help right away.

  72. bucs_365 Says:

    Joe may not believe Martin’s impressive workouts allowed them to bypass Cook, but there’s no reason to doubt Rapoport’s sources didn’t have good reports.

    Also, Joe, I think you’re stretching to say “Martin was bad when healthy last year”… If he was having problems with addiction (which he apparently was), then he never was healthy. That’s why the thought of a clean and healthy Dougernaut could be reason for optimism, and why I think he’s not going anywhere. I do think they’ll pick a RB in round 3 though.

  73. Fred E. Bucs Says:

    Bucs_365…been my take all along on Martin. Totally agree. When his mind are body are right, he’s very dangerous. I think he’s out of the woods given what we know about how he got there, and when. And the Bucs own him.

  74. FuNkYxMuNkEy Says:

    Martin had nothing to do with this pick. We got a gift at 19 that should not have been there.

    As far as Martin goes I think he will have more competition coming in the 3rd round. Joe Williams is gonna be good

  75. BigMacAttack Says:

    Now maybe our defense can finally learn how to stop Greg Olsenh

  76. FireDaCannons Says:

    I am still confused as to why Doug Martin playing for the Bucs this year is treated like a bad thing. If we got 2015 production out of him, and use our next 3 picks picks to get a damn good WR / Corner / Safety, well jeez, that’d be pretty much awesome.

    As long as it isn’t a Carl Nicks head in the sand situation, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

    Of course, if that were the plan, why the F not sign AP to start the season off right….

  77. PRBucFan Says:

    Your right Licht has seen Doug and what he looked like before his breakout season the year before last. He may feel he sees the same thing again.

  78. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    Martin’s been a bust of a first round pick…not because he was a running back but because of his performance and lack of real game changing abillity.

    This was NOT about Martin!

    Sadly in our society we have to characterize stuff as black and white…one guy wins…one loses…at UFC maybe but not at life. There were multiple winners last night. But when it gets down to it OJ was simply better than Dalvin for the same exact pick.

    I believe they are BOTH generational or exceptional talents who will do things others at their position generally cannot do. But clearly OJ has the potential to do those things for a decade or more….Even without his injury history RB’s just take a pounding and Dalvin is not a giant. I always thought three great years and hopefully a SB or 2. OJ and #3 will play together for a decade and become part of a core of players at what is going to become one of the greatest offenses of all time. Other pieces to that super offense include Marpet and of course Evans.

    Now we need a beast mode back who more importantly than catching the ball in the passing game can stay in the backfield and be a thuggish blocker who plants LB’s and DL who think they found a clear lane to #3. I want a beast back who will block with ENTHUSIASM and NASTINESS. We already have plenty of targets now just need to give #3 that extra fraction of a second in time in the pocket.

    Koetter has used an FB and even TE’s in the backfield to accomplish this but when I think of a legitimate runner like Foreman who is a large man and one of the best blockers in the backfield I can’t help but get excited.

    Think of it…Foreman or Perine (can he block?)…3rd and short looks different…higher TD % in the red zone…somebody shoots a gap and is ready to drill #3…oh but wait a 6′ 240lb RB wipes out the defender…thus giving #3 another half second to locate…ME13…DJAX…OJ…Brate…

  79. LakeLandBuc Says:

    Actually this what Jameis Winston had to say about Doug Martin………….“One name that’s gonna shock…Doug Martin. He, he looks incredible. He looks incredible. The way that he’s bursting, putting his foot in the ground and just being so explosive. I wasn’t really surprised because he is so, he’s a very hard worker. But to see the energy he has been bringing out there to work out day to day has been amazing. It really shows his resilience and how well he has prepared this off-season.”

  80. Taren28 Says:

    32 teams passed on Dalvin last night, Joe.

    Our running game was ranked 29th last year as a while. Mostly with Doug not playing. Our run blocking is what hurts the most. Do you believe Doug’s not one but two MONSTER seasons were just a hoax? I’d be ecstatic if we got Cook in the 2nd, but I’d be just as content with Doug, Quizz, Sims, Barber, and a later round HB. It’s not a huge priority.

  81. PRBucFan Says:

    When healthy he is and has shown he can be a game changer

    Quit with that nonsense.

    Put on the 2015 game clips, they don’t lie.

  82. $acbuc$ Says:

    If y’all recall my draft order it looked like this Joe

    O.J got 1 right!
    OBI or Josh Jones if they swoop on my boy O
    Foreman but I want a downhill thumper type if he’s gone.
    Any of these big six foot cornerback with 4.4/4.5 speed
    Tanzel Smart
    Tarik cohen human joy stick

    If we get OBI I wouldn’t care who we draft after that. I will blow a head gasket if The Aints or the Stinking Panthers get O!

  83. America's Commenter Says:

    That story was obviously a Red Herring planted by the Bucs to divert attention from their glaring need at RB. Calling Rapoport out on the tweet only undermines that tactic. Let’s hope it doesn’t cost the Bucs a chance to draft Dalvin Cook.

  84. Trubucfan22 Says:

    Perhaps that isnt the reason the bucs drafted OJ instead of Cook, but it might be the reason the bucs take another pass on cook in the second round.

    Joe is quick to push Martin out the door, but it looks to me like Martin is being given the opportunity to win back his job. And if Martin can get back to his 2015 self, then there is no need to draft a RB this year. The bucs like Martin, even if Joe does not.

  85. Thomas Bowery Says:

    Fournette and McCaffreyy we’re both gone by the time the Bucs picked.I think Cook has all the tools to be successful but the baggage that comes with him may be to uncertain. Of course the Bucs want to build up Martin. When he is the old Doug he is a pretty decent back.I just think it came down that when Howard was available with alot more creditibility and a needed commodity for this team, it was a no brainer. The Bucs can still get their RB in round 2 or 3. Also need some defensive depth aka DB, DL, LB and Secondary.

  86. jenaw Says:

    I will giggle like the fan girl I am whenever Dalvin Cook blows through the Bucs defense in games to come for years ahead.
    O J Howard –
    2013, with 14 receptions for 269 yards & two touchdowns
    2014, with 17 receptions for 260 yards.
    2015, with 38 receptions for 602 yards & 2 touchdowns.
    2016, with 45 receptions (15 games) for 595 yards & 3 touchdowns
    Dalvin Cook –
    2014, with 1008 yards rushing & 8 touchdowns; with 22 receptions for 203 yards.
    2015, with 1,691 yards rushing & 19 touchdowns; with 24 receptions for 244 yards and 1 touchdown
    2016, with 1,765 yards rushing & 19 touchdowns; with 33 receptions for 488 yards and 1 touchdown

    Someone explain to me how Howard, who did less in 4 years of playing than Cook did in 2016 alone(!) (or any other year of playing), and overall against lesser quality opponents, is a better quality player than Cook?! Just because someone played at Alabama doesn’t mean they are a great and/or quality player.

    The ‘red flags’ on Cook overall are LESS sensational than those against Winston (I’m a huge Winston fan) with the exception of the arrest which was bogus and proved to be so by a non-player associated, eye witness. Health issues? Cook playing hurt (which he did without whining and complaining) was better than almost everyone else while they were playing healthy! He passed the Combine health assessment on his shoulders and bench pressed 22 reps with those supposedly ‘bad shoulders’.

    Cook will make big plays in the NFL for some lucky team for years and I will giggle and jeer the Bucs each time, for passing him over for some lumbering TE with a whole 7 touchdowns in a 4 year college career!