As expected, the Bucs opted not to use their franchise tag on free agent running back Doug Martin, Roy Cummings of the Tampa Bay Tribune reports.
The non-move fulfills the widely-held expectation that Martin will only return to Tampa on a mutually agreeable multi-year deal, as opposed to the onerous $11.789 million salary for 2016 that the franchise designation would have carried. Cummings reports that the Bucs continue to work towards cementing a deal with fifth-year pro, ideally before free agency opens in earnest on March 9. If Martin does indeed land elsewhere, third-year all-purpose back Charles Sims and a 2016 draft pick or a free-agent signee would figure to share tailback duties in Tampa in 2016.