Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
The family of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Doug Martin is speaking out after news broke on Monday that he was in police custody when he died early Saturday morning. Martin’s agent, Brian Murphy, released a statement Monday addressing the former NFL All-Pro’s death. The statement, which came from Murphy and his agency -- Athletes First, included a clarification from the family of Doug Martin about what happened Saturday morning. It also shared that Martin had been battling “mental health challenges that profoundly impacted his personal and professional life.” “Doug’s parents were actively seeking medical assistance for him and had contacted local authorities for support,” the statement says. “Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug fled his home during the night and entered a neighbor’s residence two doors down, where he was taken into custody by police. An investigation into what transpired as he was detained is underway. “Ultimately, mental illness proved to be the one opponent from which Doug could not run." Doug Martin was 36 when he died. According to a report from the East Bay Times, police responded to a break-in at a home near the Oakland Zoo at approximately 4:15 a.m. Saturday. “Simultaneously,” police were notified that the suspected burglar was having “a medical emergency,” according to the report. There was a “brief struggle” between the burglar and officers, police told the East Bay Times. The suspect then became unresponsive after being taken into custody. The suspect later died at the hospital, according to the report. A two-time Pro Bowler, Doug Martin starred at Boise State before being selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He went on to spend six seasons in Tampa and one with the Oakland Raiders before his NFL career came to an end. Martin ran for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 49 passes for 472 yards and another score as a rookie with the Buccaneers in 2012. His numbers dipped as he battled injury, but he had another big year in 2015, rushing for 1,402 yards and six touchdowns while catching 33 passes for 271 yards and five more scores. Martin was a two-time Pro Bowl pick (2012 and 2015) and was a first-team All-Pro in 2015, too. He finished his career with 5,356 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns while also collecting 1,200 receiving yards.
