Bucs need Martin — at the right price
Doug Martin has 11 carries of 20 yards or more this season to top Adrian Peterson’s eight, including an 84-yard run that broke Michael Pittman’s run of 78 yards in 2004 as the longest in Bucs history. JASON BEHNKEN/STAFF MARTIN FENNELLY COLUMNSPublished: December 2, 2015When it’s this late in a football season, and you’re a running back, and the only person in front of you is Adrian Peterson, you’re having a great year, the kind that demands notice, as well as a new contract.That’s Doug Martin, the comeback kid in 2015. The Bucs declined to pick up his fifth-year option before the season, and it seemed like curtains for Martin in Tampa Bay, that standout rookie season in 2012 buried by two years of injuries and general ineffectiveness.Martin is the bell cow again. He broke 1,000 yards on the season the other day at Indianapolis, despite Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter forgetting to hand the ball to him most of the second half. Martin’s ground game has helped Jameis Winston, though I think the threat of Winston against defenses, and better Bucs run blocking, has helped Martin.But what a season. Sunday, Martin had his third run this season for 50 or more yards. No one in the league has more runs of 20-plus yards. Along the way, the fourth-year pro broke off the longest run in franchise history and put up the franchise’s second best rushing day (he already owned the best).I’d say it’s time for Martin to cash in. And for the Bucs to pay out.Only I wouldn’t break the bank on him, or any other running back.I mean, don’t go all David Price on the Dougernaut.I never thought it a bad move by the Bucs to pass on his fifth-year option, allowing Martin to become an unrestricted free agent for next season. Even now, after his comeback, you don’t go insane if you’re the Bucs.Then again, they might not have to break any bank. A reasonable deal with Martin, three years, maybe $15 million guaranteed, but loaded with incentives, might turn the trick, because I think it’s a soft market for running backs, like always.It’s not just the fact that the Eagles overpaid wildly to steal DeMarco Murray from the Cowboys, or that the Cowboys let them, or that on-field talents like Peterson are rare, or that runners have the shortest NFL careers and smallest windows to excel.It’s that there are too many guys out there who can do this job.It’s nothing against Martin’s talent, but there’s a lot of low-hanging fruit, in later rounds of drafts or in free agency. There are too many perfectly good backs out there, fresh legs, to devote too much cap space to a single runner, not when the Bucs have so many other needs.Look at successful teams like New England and Denver, who run running backs in and out of their lineups. Look at Seattle. Did they worry about a safeguard for Marshawn Lynch? No, they picked up a free agent (Thomas Rawls) and he’s churning out yards.Look at former Armwood High and Florida runner Matt Jones, who went in the fifth round to Washington and looks like that team’s best back when he’s not fumbling.There are examples all around the league, even on the Bucs, with third-rounder Charles Sims.There are always guys out there.Of course the Bucs should want Martin back. He’s been remarkable. But you have to consider those injuries, and a back’s shelf life, getting creamed for a living, sometimes 25, 30 times a game.If I’m the Bucs, I’d let Martin and his agent shop around and come back with the best offer. I bet it will be reasonable. The Bucs should stay at a three-year deal with incentives, for 1,000 yards, for 1,200 yards, for a certain number of carries, etc.Doug Martin has been great. He’s chasing Adrian Peterson.The Bucs should want to re-sign him. But not at any price. Leave that to the Boston Red Sox.Now, David Price’s deal, that’s insane
