Raheem Morris Is Yunemployed
January 2nd, 2012
- “Olie, we just never found a way to be our best selves. We were never ready to deal after landing in England.”
Raheem Morris and his core beliefs have left the building.
The Bucs are going to have play fast, hard, smart and consistent for somebody else — hopefully.
The Buccaneers fired Raheem Morris this morning.
And Raheem’s entire coaching staff is gone, too, so WDAE-AM 620 reported.
Now Raheem will have take his underwear off, put on his big boy pads and put himself on somebody else’s team.
Was there really any doubt after five consecutive blowouts and 10 consecutive losses and a team that clearly quit mentally, if not physically? Raheem himself said the players tuned him out and questioned their effort repeatedly.
Raheem brought some great moments. Obviously, 2010 was a great surprise for Bucs fans, but everything came crashing down and Joe has pounded the drum for weeks that the primary cause was a widespread coaching failure, not a lack of talent or a foolish plan.
Make no mistake, the Bucs head coaching job is a very attractive one with the Bucs having top shelf talent in the trenches and at quarterback, plus a pile of cash they must spend on salaries come the start of the 2013 season.
Joe might even go out on a limb and say Tampa Bay is clearly one of the more attractive jobs open in the NFL right now.
The Bucs have a news conference from One Buc Palace scheduled for 3 p.m. Presumably Team Glazer and rockstar general manager Mark Dominik will explain what they perceive went wrong and what will happen next.
Stick with Joe through the day and night on this historic day. (And for those blasting Joe for not reporting this news the minute it happened, get off Joe’s back.)
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Been waiting for this news for a long time. Glad they got rid of his staff too. Because clearly olson doesn’t have a clue in how to o you know run a offense. Now the new coach can come in here and hire his own whole coaching staff and get these players on the right track. I actually read on pewterreport that players were blasting music in the locker room before games and continually seemed ill prepared and unfocused before games and that the coaching staff put in alot less work then the last regime. This new coach will hopefully whip this team into shape and actually get them to care or they will join morris in their own next job search.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:07 pm
I don’t watch a lot of this kind of stuff due to work, who carries these pressers on local TV?
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:07 pm
lol “Yunemployed”
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:07 pm
No, not again with this rockstar business! It is a new year and he is no rockstar.
How can rah be yunemployed over 0-10 and Dom retain rockstar status? Impossible.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Hopefully, the Glazers have a 3:00 pm conference,to announce they fired Dominck’s ass. This is as much his fault as Raheem’s.
Meybe more
And he can take Quincy, Gino, and Aqib with him
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Why did they keep Dominik? He’s a part of the issues as well. No decent coach will come in and trust his evaluative skills. Afterall he did buy and sell us Craig Lumpkin and drafted the likes of so many busts players that’s not even NFL caliber players. Oh and my latest point of draft failure is Luke Stocker who they traded up for and let’s see, he’s a glorified blocker that’s injury-prone. Take Dominik arse out the front door with you heem. Wish you the best but enough is enough.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Everything is unfolding just as I was told it would.
The next step that will happen, according to what I was told, is Mark Dominick will be retained when the new (already chosen) coach is announced, but he will not have final say in talent procurement (draft and free agency)
I believe the person who provided me this information, so this announcement came as no surprise to me.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:10 pm
My friend’s choice for the new direction of the team: GO OLD! since going
young didn’t work.
QB: Brett Favre
RB: Tiki Barber
WR1: Terrell Owens
WR2: Randy Moss
TE: Kellen Winslow Sr.
LB: Derrick Brooks
LB: Jeremiah Trotter
CB: Ronde Barber
CB: Ty Law
S: John Lynch
S: Lawyer Milloy
HC: John Madden
That is just a start. Think about all of experience the Bucs could have, I am sure that there are many other players that you can show game-tape of this season and think that they can be an improvement for the next HC.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:10 pm
The fact that they got rid of the staff could point to a non-college hiring…and possibly a big name who will want his own complete staff.
What’s done is done, Raheem is no more. Time to support the next guy!
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:10 pm
This news is over an hour old. Welcome to the party. How MD survived this is beyond me. I hope the new coach demands they spend a lot of their cap room THIS year.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Glad the whole staff went with him. We needed a clean sweep.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Come on Joe, admit you stole “Yunemployed” from the guy off the espn chat lol
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Apple, I sure hope your source was completely right about Dominik. If retained he needs to be relegated to heading the scouting & draft preparation as well as contract duties while losing his final authority over personnel acquisition. His free agency record is absolutely horrible, so the new head coach must have final say over him regarding personnel.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Not a clean sweep with Dominik still lurking around. He is at just as much fault, if not more, as anybody.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:18 pm
At a minimum Dom is going to be on the hot seat. Hopefully we’ll hire a good coach and give him a veto on player acquisitions.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:19 pm
We’ve been tossing out ‘yunemployed’ on here for 2 months now. Joe didn’t steal it from espn.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Dominick should be gone too, Clayton, Black need I say more. Glad it happened quickly.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Every players job is not secure . I love it
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Joe,
I come here very often and really like this site. I have to disagree with you on how you chose to break this news though. It seems as if you are making a mockery of a man losing his job. Whether it was deserved or not, I think this is kinda unprofessional. I know I will catch a lot of flack from you and other readers for my opinion but I just didn’t like how this news was presented. With that said, thanks for providing us with Buccaneer news daily.
@BucFanFromLa — Let’s get real here. Raheem has a year left on a $2 million contract. He gets to hit the Lotto again real soon. Don’t get Joe wrong, Raheem deserves every nickel. But don’t take sports and “Raheem’s job” so seriously. This isn’t some guy getting laid off at the meat packing plant. If you want stale news presentation, this is the wrong site for you. Always appreciate the opinion. –Joe.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Dom stays because he just carried out the orders of the Glazers. Rah went along with the plan, but he failed to instill discipline in the team, hence he is no longer employed.
Hopefully, the Glazers change the strategy of the organization to supplement the roster with free agents from other teams.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:23 pm
I find no joy in this, nor do I understand the unnecessary nastiness from some people concerning a man who has lost his job.
There is plenty of blame to go around, including many players who lay down. Dominik obviously made serious mistakes in some player deals like Quincy Black, Mark Clayton and letting go of Carnell Williams and even Ruud.
K2 is the fourth best TE in our division and carries the flag during introductions while claiming Raheem’s firing would ruin the Buccaneers and playing so poorly, demanding the ball and repeating key penalties.
Let’s see what the Royal’s do now because WHAT they do will tell us if they really give a damn or not. And forcing Mark Domink and their austerity plan on a new HC MIGHT kind of sort of limit their options and the Buccaneer’s future.
Letting Raheem go can be a start or more of the same with him being a mere scapegoat. What happens now will determine a lot as far as where we are going. We need LEADERSHIP and a PLAN without hinderence from the Royal’s OR Mark Dominik IMO.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Technically Raheem is still employed. He’s just no longer on staff. He gets a full year of paid leave with a nice $2 million salary. After that he becomes yunemployed.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:26 pm
So I guess the new target for people is Dominick?
The guy is doing a fine job, considering the limitations placed on him. Imagine the players he drafted if coached by a more experienced coach. We won’t know until then if he makes good choices. And as far as resigning Black and company…at the time it made sense. Black was one of the few vets on the team.
Maybe even he can be better with a different coach.
Biggers was a late round pick…really, I don’t consider that a bust…it was just a gamble that has not paid off.
We need to stock pile picks by trading some guys that might still have SOME value. A 5th for black, a 3rd or 4th for Winslow (maybe even a 2nd). Trueblood, if still under contract…maybe we can pay someone to take him for a 7th.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Garv, are you copy and pasting your own posts?
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Hopefully the 3:00 presser is held by Joel Glazer. And it starts with the announcement that the “fraudster” just left the building. Dom is getting off way to easy after this year. Raheem didn’t build that roster by himself.
The Bucs scouting SUCKS OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:26 pm
I know our Team needed to fire Raheem but Im kinda sad hes gone.. I think Mark didnt give him enough in free agency….
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Rick Brown wrote an interesting article that was in the Ledger today. He basically goes on that Raheem is lucky to be fired, because he doesn’t have to explain this season, or figure out how to right the ship for next year. Plus, he still collects his paycheck.
He is still a desirable head coach for some other team in the future, and it was just no longer the right match between him and Tampa.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Where’s @Mark when you need him? Marked your words Mark that this wouldn’t happen, seems you were a bit off-the-mark, Mark.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Pete Dutcher, would you please stop posting under the name “A REAL Bucs Fan”. It’s getting very annoying.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Whether you wanted to see him go or not. THat is about the lowest class article you’ve ever posted Joe.
Way to kick a man when he’s down.
THis is why i rarely come to this site anymore.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:32 pm
I prefer they go after a “name” coach, and a proven one at that instead of reaching for the hot coordinators- Look how well that worked out for us.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Those guys on offence looked totally unprepared no one knew what to do or where to go running into each other on routes. unable to line up correct no sence of urgency totally flat and cavalier. 5th pick don’t get you much these days seems to be the trend in tampa how many times has this Team ended up with the 5th pick and what did this pick produce on the field.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Vince
Rah want even a hot coordinator before becoming a HC. He was the DBs coach, def coordinator for as long as a commercial break, then promoted to HC. That was the problem from the beginning of this regime.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Morris is going to make millions of dollars to do nothing. Spare me the hurt feelings about him.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Who told Dom to resign Black? Clayton? Or, who told Dom that this team would be fine with Foster calling the shots on D?
I think Morris…..
As far as FA goes, I really doubt Dom had a blank check.
Still want him gone though…lol
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Hey Joe, I have a question/request. At 4-2 the bucs looked good but not great (one of those 2 loses was a blowout in SF). Then they go to England…and this team exploded. There has been mention of some of the players treating this like a vacation vs. as work trip but no specifics. Can you shed light onto what happened in England? It seems like that trip was the catalyst to this down fall so I wonder just what transpired? Would be great if you could shed light on it without compromising the confidence of your contacts…
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:43 pm
‘get off joes back!’ funny. yes biggest story to break in years and nothing here for an extended amount of time and no one should criticize. talk about needing to put the big boy pants on. this isn’t 1989 anymore. we expect immediate info whether that’s fair or not. everyone else was on it from the get go with quotes from raheem as well. sorry for expecting more.
Look, pal, Joe didn’t take the day off, simply posted the news about 60 minutes after it broke. Big freakin’ deal. You’re welcome to criticize Joe, but if it’s stupid Joe will be the first to let you know. –Joe
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:44 pm
I wish everyone would quit crying for a man who after next year will have earned 8 million dollars. Over all, he did a terrible job and since he wasn’t going to resign, he was fired. He should never have gotten the job to begin with. He was not qualified. The Glazers finally corrected a mistake they made 3 years ago. If Morris is not coaching somewhere next year, that will be his choice. It will be awhile before he gets a HC job in the NFL but he will get a job if he wants one.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:45 pm
I too wish the name “Rockstar” was no longer used to describe Mark Dominik, as do several other JBF Regulars.
Dominik admitted it was HIS idea, and not the Glazers, to shun Free Agents, and rebuild only through the draft.
His yuppie arse must be made out of Teflon, because nothing seems to stick to it.
Somehow, the Glazers have taken the blame for not allowing him to go after free agents, when he told them he could rebuild the team w/o them.
Unfortunately, he will be staying in Tampa, read this: General manager Mark Dominik will remain in his role, a source told ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas. Dominik is under contract for the next three seasons.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Thank you meh…I completely agree…the day I feel sorry for someone making 2 mill sitting on his a55 is the day I walk on water…Raheem became a walking talking cliche and it was beyond obvious he didn’t have a clue….
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:50 pm
Capt Stagger, actually Morris wanted Ruud back not Foster making the calls. Morris sucked but let’s at least keep the complaints correct.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Glad Dom stayed. He has built a good nucleus to work with. Every GM makes mistakes but the mistakes on this team were mostly coaching. Bad defensive scheme and bad OC. I want an OC who will work with a spread offense. Freeman is more comfortable in that. Defensively….heck, anything is an improvement.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Now all we need to make this day complete is for the Rays to make a trade.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:51 pm
NFL.com just stated Rah and his staff have been fired. They went on to say that those coaches still under contract still have their jobs. Who does this “staff” include? Aren’t all coaches on the head coach’s staff? Sure hope we haven’t lost Millard.
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:56 pm
This was a good start at cleaning house. I am not sure I would have left the GM untouched. Is he the one who gave a linbacker a huge contract. A linbacker Who found himself on the bench or looking at the backs of jerseys. There are a few young men in that locker room who should already being packing their bags to move on. Did anyone else notice yesterday they tried stretching the field with our backup QB..I am still laughing over that one..
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:58 pm
“We need to stock pile picks by trading some guys that might still have SOME value. A 5th for black, a 3rd or 4th for Winslow (maybe even a 2nd). Trueblood, if still under contract…maybe we can pay someone to take him for a 7th.”
No general manager in their right mind would trade anything for Black.. Winslow could possibly get us a 5 at best, and Trueblood would net us nothing either. Our only tradeable asset that might be moved is Talib. Freeman, Joseph, Penn, Clayborn, Bowers, Blount, Williams, Rejus and Foster are also tradeable assets but their not going anywhere.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Outside of raheem, who was clearly in over his head, where was Ronde Barber as far as leadership this season? Guy has been in the league for 13+ years and is a potential HOF, how did he not instill a bit of discipline into this squad?
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Ronde’s always been a leader by being an example of what TO do and has never been a vocal leader.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:05 pm
England has been the undoing of Spain, France , Germany and now the bucs . .
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:06 pm
dominic should be gone lets be real his drafts are not good. His free agent pickups have been a joke, his hiring of coaches and assistants terrible, and on top off all that god awful work, he drafted a punter in the 5th round that sucked and then had to replace him by paying a punter 20 million. OUr punter made more than sproles. Fire dominic now
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:06 pm
Joe here,
@BucFanFromLa, @ D-money — Let’s get real here. Raheem has a year left on a $2 million contract. He gets to hit the Lotto again real soon. Don’t get Joe wrong, Raheem deserves every nickel. But don’t take sports and “Raheem’s job” so seriously. This isn’t some guy getting laid off at the meat packing plant. If you want stale news presentation, this is the wrong site for you. Always appreciate the opinion. –Joe.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:07 pm
I felt like a change…sorry but it’s staying unless Joe makes me change. 😛
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:09 pm
@ Apple, I believed you. Or at least wanted to! Maybe you should work for JBF.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Yunemployed!!! I agree, excellent word choice Joe.
Hey Garv, was that you that called into the Commish?
Thomas, I’m glad they have thus far retained Dominick so that you have something to complain about. If you get all your wishes, you will no longer be Thomas.
I heard they have already scheduled an interview with Jeff Fisher.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Happy New Year!!! There is a God!!!
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:10 pm
I hope his legacy here will be that of someone who drafted a HOF, MVP, SB winning QB, and one of the nastiest defensive lines this league has ever seen.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:13 pm
Im kind of sad. I like raheem. Always have. Disappointed with how all this went down. Hope he bounces back.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:14 pm
I wonder if he still thinks stats are for losers.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:18 pm
I am interviewing for the HC position tomorrow.
I will run Blount til his legs fall off.
I will move Winslow to WR and draft/sign a real TE.
I will draft Justin Blackmon.
I will demand every FA I please.
I will not make up stupid phrases that embarrass the entire community.
I will replace Quincy Black and EJ Biggers with scarecrows, and get better tackling/coverage.
On goal line situations, I will run. 4x if need be. Power I. Nothing fancy.
I will sign a Sumo wrestler to play OL, like they did in The Replacements.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:19 pm
D-Rome,
Stats might be for losers. Not sure. I’m sure Raheem learned this though:
Losses. Losses, are definitely for losers.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:23 pm
Hi Joe,
Count me as another reader of JBF who would like to see the “Rockstar” nickname retired as well.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Espo: In the words of Homer Simpson, “I am intrigued by your ideas, and wish to subscribe to your newsletter!”
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:29 pm
@apple roof
I saw your post a few days ago and so far you’re right on, but it got me thinking….if the new HC is already chosen there’s only one way it complies w the Rooney rule.
I’m still thinking the next HC of the Bucs will be Herm Edwards
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:30 pm
I wonder if they already have a new coach in mind? I’m not gonna be able to stop obsessing until I know what style of Offense and Defense we are going to run…
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Firing Rah was the right decision. I feel bad for him as he’s next logical step would have been a DC but now he’s left with a 31st ranked defense. Shame on those selfish players for quitting on him.
I hope Winslow gets cut. Any retard that says they play for Rah and they play like that should be cut, what a DB!
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:30 pm
hopefully they don’t bring back Chucky
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:30 pm
lol
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Pete: it actually wasn’t annoying, I was just 99% sure it was you and I wanted to confirm it!
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:32 pm
@ Espo. Best comment today.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Good call Flboyindallas!
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:36 pm
@ Michiganbucsfan, where are you in MI, don’t meet many Buc fans around here. Or Lions lol!
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:37 pm
All you guys going nuts and bashing this team should go away! Was the season a joke, yes it was… But this team has great players in place for the long run. The fact that Morris was not the right HC does not fall on Mark D, guess why? He didn’t have a say in hiring him! Let’s hope they great a good HC that can help the kids learn how to play fundamental football. My HC list is
1.marty schottenheimer
2.jeff fisher
3.mike zimmer
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Happy new Buc year!!!
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Could have just asked…not like I’m hiding it, lol. Thought about putting “- PD” at the end of it but decided not to.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:42 pm
@Bobby
Yeah, but if you are just going to use the draft to get all of your players, you can’t make mistakes as players Round 1-7 will be the ones that fill up your roster.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:45 pm
@CreamsicleBananaHammock
I’m really hoping it’s not Edwards. At first I thought it a good idea, but after listening to his views, I think we would still have a penalty issue.
“I think you let your defensive players play hard and aggressive and don’t worry about penalties. You should not coach them to reduce penalties.”
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:53 pm
And now we have what to look forward to? Jeff Fisher? Guarantee he wont get 16 years to NOT WIN a super bowl here in Tampa before the fans run him out of town. More like 2 or 3 years. I sincerely hope the Glazers ignore the ignorant fans in this town who only want Jeff Fisher because he is the guy whose name they recognize. There are FAR more deserving candidates of an NFL head coaching job right now than a guy who never won it all despite being given the better part of TWO DECADES to get it done. Im not sure who they all are but I know Fisher isn’t the answer.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Why do you guys dislike the Dom draft picks? GMC did not have health issuea in college, so who knew he would in the pros. Price, AC, and DB all look promising. Stocker will improve, and played decent for a rookie. Mike Williams had a sophmore slump, but you cannot call mhim a bust for that. When we get a OC that will use Benn properly he may shine. The 5th round and later are always crap shoots for every team.
There is not enough free agents to really tell.
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:55 pm
@BucfaninMI I’m in the U.P. and your right about the Lions, it’s mostly Packer fans up here haha
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Oh, and Freeman will be fine once the new coaching staff works with him…and we add some new weapons for him…
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Personally I prefer someone who is doing innovative things with offense. Jim HArbaugh showed what the right coaching staff can do a for a struggling QB and FReeman has a lot more talent than Alex Smith. Are we all sure there isn’t another HArbaugh brother floating around out there somewhere? 🙂
January 2nd, 2012 at 4:13 pm
flboy 84 , no Rays trades but they were picked number 1 team for something . That said , good luck to Rah but I will shed no tears for a guy making 2mil next year while he will probaly be an announcer for espn while he still gets paid .
January 2nd, 2012 at 4:14 pm
So is Olsen still around?
January 2nd, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Actually, Joe, I think it just took you an hour to come up with the term “Yunemployed” 🙂
January 2nd, 2012 at 7:22 pm
@ GenocideD ” Ronde’s always been a leader by being an example of what TO do and has never been a vocal leader.”
Why is this always said to only certain players , I agree with Simon.
A highly praised 13 year vet SHOULD on a team with our D stats & effort & record should be in these young players face on the sideline on the field in the locker room on the phone. If the Passion is not there. I bet Richard Wood,Hardy Nickerson, Warren Sapp, John Lynch. Would very vocally have been letting their teammates known their examples TO follow on the field.
That is what all the fine Qualities we want and compare in FA is all about, or am I missing the comments on how this Vet FA or that Vet FA is only a leader by example and is not vocally a leader on his team.
Yes, I am a Ronde Barber fan. I just don’t understand why some players are allowed this sentament.
January 2nd, 2012 at 7:50 pm
Rusty…it is either in your pesronality or it is not. You can be a great player without being a vocal leader, but I am not sure you can be a vocal leader without being a great player. That is the Bucs problem, their vocal leaders are too green, and their vets are not vocal leaders…