NFL

9 NFL Veterans Whose Jobs Are Safe From 2017 Rookies

Joe Redemann  —  @TheIDPGuy May 12th, 2017
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​Doug Martin

Doug Martin had one of the worst years of any running back in 2016. There’s an alternate timeline somewhere where the “Muscle Hamster” continued his 2012 success through his rookie contract.

Instead, plain ol’ Dougie turned in his moniker and finds himself suspended three games to start the 2017 season, not to mention that he ranked worse than 40 other running backs to carry the ball 100 times last year in Rushing NEP per attempt. That’s right, Matt Asiata and Rashad Jennings were better than Martin in 2016.

Luckily, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected just fifth-round rusher Jeremy McNichols, who is a squatty runner like Martin but has a receiving skill set that profiles closer to being a true backup for Charles Sims. McNichols is no guarantee to be a contributor in such a loaded backfield. He has to really turn around the production, but he’s safe. For now.

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