Consider Mike Florio skeptical of Doug Martin’s future with the Bucs.

Yesterday, in perhaps his most direct comment this offseason on Martin’s status, winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter dropped the phrase “yet to be determined” on ESPN.

That comment sparked more Martin chatter on national TV this morning, specifically from Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of “Pro Football Talk.” During his weekday morning show, “PFT Live,” seen on NBC Sports Network, Florio wasn’t rushing to stamp Martin’s name on the 2017 roster.

Florio is dubious of Martin’s Bucs future for two reasons. Martin’s current contract just might doom his Tampa days, and Martin’s three-game suspension to start the regular season means he better hope the Bucs’ rushing attack struggles.

“Actually, that PED suspension helps the Buccaneers because it invalidates, it voids the guaranteed money for this year,” Florio said. “They can walk away from him. They are due to pay him north of $5.7 million this year. As running backs go, that’s a lot. And if you have guys who can get the job done for a lot less money, you say ‘See you later, Doug Martin.’ “So even though he has been drawing plenty of praise for his work in the offseason program – as he should be. The guy knows his career is on the line. And the guy has to understand that even if the Buccaneers decide not to keep him, he needs to have that positive buzz out there so somebody else will give him a job. “But the Buccaneers may very well decide when it is time for him to return from that suspension after the third Sunday of the regular season, they may say, ‘Doug, thanks for everything. But, we’re moving on with the guys that we have.’ This gives them – they have three regular season games to figure out whether the guys they have can be entrusted with the job of getting it done after Martin is cleared to return.”

Obvious point by Florio that’s been discussed on the Ira Kaufman Podcast: If (pick your favorite) Jacquizz Rodgers or Peyton Barber or Jeremy McNichols goes savage on NFL defenses in the first three games, Martin loses every ounce of leverage he may have. Why bring back a massive, expensive question mark if the running game is humming? Why fix something that isn’t broken if the running game is plowing through defenses in September?

For Martin’s sake, he better cross his fingers the Bucs struggle terribly with the run game while he serves his NFL penalty for flunking a whiz quiz.