The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fighting hard for one of the final NFC playoff spots, made the surprising decision to deactivate running back Doug Martin just hours before the kickoff of their Saturday afternoon game against New Orleans. Martin was not on the Bucs’ injury list.

Martin has been one of the more consistent running backs of the last half-decade, although his 2016 season has been hampered by injury. He has played in only eight games and has only three touchdowns even as Tampa Bay has put together a late-season run toward the playoffs.

With Atlanta well ahead of Carolina as of Saturday afternoon, Tampa Bay needs a victory against the Saints to stay in the hunt for the NFC South division crown and keep playoff hopes alive against Washington and Green Bay.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports and the author of EARNHARDT NATION, on sale now at Amazon or wherever books are sold. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.