Buccaneers in no rush to make roster decision on Martin

One of the more intriguing story lines of the offseason will be what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do with much-maligned running back Doug Martin.

Martin was handed a five-year, $35-million contract ahead of last season and proceeded to rush for 2.9 yards per carry in eight games. He was then suspended at the end of the season for violating the league's drug policy and declared he would enter rehab.

Many believe the Bucs will move on from their running back of five years, but the team's decision-makers said there's no need to respond with haste.

"We don't have to make that decision right now," head coach Dirk Koetter said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

"Doug did not have as good a season as he had in 2015 and that's mainly due to injury. Doug's under contract right now and no decision has to be made on that right now so we don't have to rush it. We can just work through it as we go."

Koetter did add that the team's running back situation heading into the 2017 season is high on the list of priorities. Backup runner Jacquizz Rodgers is slated to become a free agent but general manager Jason Licht said he wants the six-year pro back with the team.