TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released running back Doug Martin.
The decision saves the Bucs about $6.75 million, which is what Martin was set to make in 2018.
Martin, 29, is a two-time Pro Bowl selection. He has spent his entire six-year career with the Bucs.
Tampa Bay still has running backs Peyton Barber, Jacquizz Rodgers and Charles Sims on its roster.
The team selected Martin with the 31st overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Bosie State. Martin rushed for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie. He also was named to his first pro bowl.
A ligament tear in his shoulder forced him to miss 10 games in 2013. Further injuries limited Martin to five games in 2014.
In 2015, Martin finished with 1,402 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. He earned his second Pro Bowl selection. It marked the last season Martin played in all 16 regular season games.
The Bucs signed Martin to a five-year, $35.75-million contract in 2016, which included $15 million in guarantees.
Martin has rushed for less than 500 yards in four of his last five seasons.
Last offseason, Martin went to drug rehab and missed the first three games of 2017 to complete his suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
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