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Buccaneers' Doug Martin: In contact with team, preparing for OTAs

Martin (suspension), who met with Bucs officials in Tampa last week, is reportedly doing well and will prepare for the offseason program over the next several weeks in California, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports. "We've checked in with Doug," general manager Jason Licht said at the combine. "His well-being is very important to us right now. We don't have to make a decision right now. We've got time, so there's no point in coming out and saying what we want to do and what we plan on doing. We're going to let the process play out and it's good for both parties."

Analysis:

The Bucs reconvene in mid-April for the start of OTAs, and, as of now, Martin remains a part of their plan. His suspension doesn't prohibit him from practicing with the team in any way during the offseason, but it does allow Tampa to void a guarantee of $7 million for this coming season and release him. However, the Bucs are understandably keeping their plans close to the vest for now, while also trying to leave open the possibility of their former Pro Bowl running back returning to the team in 2017 and playing a prominent role, as he has in the past. While they'll keep their options open with respect to Martin, the front office and head coach Dirk Koetter are firmly in lockstep with respect to their goal of solidifying the running back position this offseason. "We don't have to make that decision right now," Koetter told reporters Wednesday at the NFL combine. "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. But that's one of the things high on our list is what's going to happen with our running back situation?"

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