The headline is a little jarring. The circumstances make it less so.
Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, running back Doug Martin is leaving the Buccaneers to address “personal issues.” With the move coming in advance of a Week 17 game for which Martin wasn’t going to be in uniform at a time when the Bucs have an incredibly slim chance at playing in the wild-card round, it’s really not a big deal.
Martin signed with the Buccaneers at a time when he could have become a free agent, weeks after having a solid contract year. He missed six games due to injury and has largely been ineffective in 2016, averaging 2.9 yards per carry.
UPDATE 4:58 p.m. ET: Martin has announced that he is serving a suspension under the league’s “drug policy.” His statement on the issue creates the clear impression that the suspension arises under the substance-abuse policy, especially since he says that he’s obtaining treatment for the situation. According to the NFL, Martin violated the PED policy. Frankly, it appears that Martin deliberately tried to obscure the fact that he was caught cheating.