National Football League

Doug Martin apologizes to Bucs after 4-game suspension for violating drug policy

Published Dec. 28, 2016 4:23 p.m. ET

Dan Graf

A day after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced that Doug Martin would be inactive in Week 17 for a second straight game, ESPN is reporting that Martin failed a drug test and will begin serving a four-game suspension this weekend.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/814216330404630528

Martin ran 16 times for 42 yards in Tampa Bay’s Week 15 loss to the Cowboys but was a healthy scratch for Week 16 before word came Tuesday that he’d sit out Week 17, too.

Martin then issued a statement Wednesday after the suspension was reported.

https://twitter.com/AndrewSiciliano/status/814216427934580736

The 27-year-old has had a roller-coaster five-year career with the Bucs that could be nearing its end. He burst onto the scene with 1,454 yards as a rookie but failed to top 500 as injuries slowed him in both 2013 and 2014. Then came a 1,402-yard 2015 season that seemed to get him back on track, but this year Martin has only 421 yards with a 2.9 average in eight games.

The Buccaneers started Jacquizz Rodgers on Saturday, and he had 15 carries for 63 yards. He’s averaging 4.3 yards in 2016 and now has a team-high 485 yards this season.

Last March, Martin signed a five-year, $35.75 million contract with $15 million guaranteed, but his future with the Bucs seems tenuous at best.