TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin hasnt played since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 2, but the two-time Pro Bowler is hopeful he may see some playing time Sunday against the Chicago Bears.It felt real good, Martin said of returning to practice this week. It felt real good. I did some individual work. My legs were pretty good. My hamstrings were pretty good. I didnt really feel anything. Im pretty optimistic for this coming game. Hopefully I can get in, but its up to the medical doctors.I hope Im ready by that time, but well still [be] seeing if Im able to go at full speed, and thats why Im taking so many precautions and Im seeing where we go from there, but Im hoping I can.Coach Dirk Koetter is hopeful, too, but it wont be his decision.That wont be a coachs call, Koetter said. When a guys been out, thats a medical call and a player call.Martin was limited in practice Wednesday and did some agility work, including jumping over cones. He also worked on his cuts, changing direction and catching passes from running backs coach Tim Spencer. He did as much as he could away from the team to try to keep up his conditioning.On Thursday, he participated in receiving drills with the quarterbacks. He leapt and caught a pass in an outstretched position and caught two short passes across his body. He showed good lateral quickness with the ball in his hands and the ability to change direction, as well as start and stop. His cuts were sudden and decisive.Shape-wise, Ive been running with the trainers here on my own time, so I think Im in pretty good shape, said Martin, who rushed for 1,402 yards last season, second most in the NFL, along with six touchdowns. He tacked on 271 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.Im getting there. Im getting to that point. Its been kind of frustrating, but Im just going to take all the proper steps to get back on the field, Martin said. I do feel good. I feel really good.The Bucs have had four running backs go down with injuries this season and are now 3-5, something that has been hard for Martin to watch from the sideline. He even attempted to come back before the Week 5 game against the Carolina Panthers but reinjured his hamstring before the game, resulting in even more time away.Its been real frustrating, Martin said. The season, its not how I wanted it really to start. The injury was unexpected, but thats what comes with the game. To see all the other guys go down was hard as well. But next guy up. We have a lot of confidence in the running backs who are playing this week.Center Joe Hawley is thrilled Martin is on his way back.You kind of forget how important he is to the team, Hawley said. I told him the other day, I was watching the Bears game from last year, and the way he runs and hits the holes -- its a different level than most running backs. Hes a game-changer. Getting him back is gonna be huge -- a huge boost to this team. Former Black Ferns great Farah Palmer has become the first woman to win inclusion on the board of New Zealand Rugby.The three-time World Cup-winning skipper was unanimously elected as the boards Maori representative following the retirement of Wayne Peters.The 44-year-old is the first female board member in NZRs 124-year history.Her promotion comes at a time when rugbys attitude towards women has been widely criticised following a series of off-field incidents at various levels of the game.The lack of diversity in governance has also been highlighted.Palmer says rugby in New Zealand is not without its challenges but was still in good heart given the performance of its national teams and the growing numbers of women players and improved pathways for Maori.She believes she can provide a different perspective, ensuring NZR continues too meet the high expectations of not just Maori, but all New Zealanders.ddddddddddddChairman Brent Impey stressed Palmers elevation wasnt in response to negative headlines through the second half of 2016.He says her achievements and standing made her the logical person to replace the long-serving Peters.Palmer is a senior lecturer at Massey Universitys School of Management and is a director in the universitys Maori business and leadership centre.A World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee, she was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007 for services to womens rugby and sport.Earlier this year, the womens provincial championship was renamed the Farah Palmer Cup in recognition of her contribution. NFL Jerseys From China Stitched Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Jerseys From China Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '