APLast year, the Buccaneers uncharacteristically splurged in free agency. One of the free agents on whom they splurged is interested in helping this year’s potential splurge.
And, yes, I like the word splurge.
Receiver Vincent Jackson raves about his coach, Greg Schiano, and the team.
“I couldn’t be more impressed with Schiano and his staff, the way they were able to come in here in one year, coming from the collegiate level to dealing with professionals,” Jackson said, via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “I know [Schiano] has some background in the NFL. But as a head coach, to take the reins the way he did, get his message across, get guys to buy in the way he did under totally different circumstances from years prior, he did an excellent job with that. He’s a lot of fun to play for. He’s a competitive guy, and he’s going to make sure you’re as well prepared as you can possibly be.”
Not everyone felt that way. Tight end Kellen Winslow complained about Schiano’s “toe on the line!” tendencies after being traded to Seattle. Of course, Winslow may have felt differently if he’d gotten a $55 million contract, like Jackson did.
“I would tell [free agents] it’s a top-notch organization; it’s a top-notch structure,” Jackson said. “We have a great coaching staff here. They’ve built a system and a feeling of family and continuity, not only with the team itself, but I think they’ve done a great job in the community as well.”
As losses mounted late in the year, there was grumbling about “college coaches,” an understandable reaction when considering that not every player will react well to change — especially when change leads eventually to a prolonged losing streak.
“His way of doing things was, to us, unorthodox,” defensive tackle Gerald McCoy told Stroud. “And with any new thing, change is not going to be easy. It’s going to be hard, and there are going to be growing pains. You make adjustments in the offseason, and you tweak things.”
The Bucs don’t need to tweak much to become competitive for a division title or a wild-card berth. If they can add some new players who will play well, that will help.
In the end, money talks more than anything the coaches say or do. If they’re going to hand out $55 million contracts in March, they’ll get guys they want — and those guys will be happy to do whatever the coaching staff wants.
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“They pay you more than you’re worth, just look at me and Carl Nicks! Come join us!”
Winslow begged out of Tampa and NE.
Patriots need a TE to replace Gronk.
He didn’t want to work to be that guy.
Have fun watchin
Yeah they paid a lot to some Lions CB too!
Dead last in pass defense. This could make sense as a landing spot for Ed Reed if Ronde Barber retires.
Yeah that should work out well. Look who wants to go play for teams that win like Atlanta, New Orleans, New England, San Francisco etc. Yeah this will work just fine.
Let’s see…they have money to spend, a young and talented team, the best playing field in the NFL, a state of the art practice facility, no state income tax and you can live a long one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the USA… Gee, who would go for that.
The Bucs are on the rise again! With the right pieces in place they should make the playoffs in 2013 no doubt! GO BUCS
Taking what Kellen Winslow says as a comparison? Really? ………… Really?
Maybe the Bucs best free agent acquisition ever. Taking on the leadership role, and putting up huge numbers, plus he is without a doubt the reason the offense opened up so much last year. Freeman just needs to put up consistently good numbers rather than periods of great mixed in with periods of godawful and this will be a playoff team next year.
Actually…no, they did not pay some corner from Detriot allot of money. He signed a big contract but he only got about 6 mil before he got busted making his contract null and void.
If Winslow says Schiano is too tough, then who will want to play there?
@jeagan999
Were describing Miami?
Isn’t Schiano to busy planning how to blow up the opposing teams victory formations next year?
Not only is it great here, but the owner violated the spirit of the cap the past couple seasons and is going to have an extra $50 to throw around.
You quote Kellen Winslow? I thought this was PRO Football Talk.com…. Last time I checked he was washing dishes.