Doug Martin inactive for rules violation
Doug Martin was not just demoted to backup - he was inactive, for an unspecified violation of team rules.
Greg Auman
Times staff writer
December 18, 2017 at 11:59 PM
TAMPA — The Bucs made even more of a change at running back than expected.
Peyton Barber took over as starter in Monday’s game against the Falcons, but Doug Martin was not just demoted to backup — he was inactive, for an unspecified violation of team rules.
Martin was benched in the second quarter of last week’s game after he lost a fumble, with Barber taking over in the second half of the loss to the Lions.
Martin is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry, lowest in the NFL among backs with more than 100 carries this season. Barber has the Bucs’ only 100-yard game this season, stepping in when Martin was sidelined by a concussion two weeks ago.
It’s the second year in a row Martin has taken himself off the field at the end of the season. Last year he was inactive in Week 16, then was announced as having a four-game suspension for a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. That carried over to the first three games of this season.
Martin’s future with the Bucs is uncertain for sure. He’s due to make $6.75 million next season but has had the NFL’s lowest average among qualifying backs in each of the past two seasons. He can be cut in the offseason with no salary-cap ramifications for Tampa Bay.
