Doug Martin asks NFL to stop calling him ‘Muscle Hamster’
Much like Adam Jones and “Pacman,” Harold Miner and “Baby Jordan,” or Jim Everett and “Chris,” Buccaneers running back Doug Martin loathes the nickname “Muscle Hamster.”
The 26-year-old has made his disdain for the epithet well-known in the last couple of years, so he obviously wasn’t happy when the NFL recently tried to resurrect the hated tag by including it on a Martin highlight on their official Twitter account.
Doug Martin.
Currently bouncing off defenders and breaking tackles like 2012 Muscle Hamster. #CINvsTB http://t.co/561EEXaAmm
— NFL (@NFL) August 25, 2015
@NFL Appreciate the shout out but can you refrain from using that name please?
— Doug Martin (@DougMartin22) August 26, 2015
To their credit, the NFL (or at least their social media team) was a good sport about it, quickly granting Martin’s request.
@DougMartin22 You got it. Looking good nonetheless.
— NFL (@NFL) August 26, 2015
Detest the nickname as he may, Martin probably longs for those Muscle Hamster days of old when as a rookie in 2012, he rushed for 1454 yards and 11 touchdowns en route to a Pro Bowl selection. But in the two seasons since, Martin has struggled with ankle and shoulder injuries, recording a combined total of just 950 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
The good news is that Martin has looked great this preseason, showing a nice synergy with new teammate, No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston. Now, the Boise State product is poised to make the new post-Muscle Hamster era even more memorable.
Now he just needs a new nickname to go into battle with. Teach Me How To Dougie? D-Mart? Smug Martin? Martin the Martian? Dougie Howser? OK, I’m gonna shut up now.
#StopMuscleHamster2015
H/T theScore
Image Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports