“Worse Than Ray Perkins”
October 3rd, 2013
The Josh Freeman saga is slowly coming to an end now that the Bucs have washed their hands of their tardy and disgruntled former franchise quarterback.
It isn’t over quite yet, as there are sure to be barbs tossed at the Bucs from the Freeman camp in the coming days.
The past month or so have been head-spinning for veteran Tampa Tribune scribe eye-RAH! Kaufman, the Custodian of Canton, who has typed words about Tampa Bay sports for some three decades.
Last night Kaufman spoke to Rich Herrera and Steve White on WHFS-FM 98.7 to discuss the sorry state of the Bucs.
“I have been in this town 28 years. I have never seen a saga like this. A solid month, day to day, new developments, new revelations, speculation, rumor. Every day for the past month. This is much worse than Raheem’s last 10 games when they were outclassed and couldn’t compete. Worse than Ray Perkins. Worse than [Bill] Parcells turning them down twice. I have never seen a story with these kind of legs, gentlemen.”
As for the job security of embattled Bucs commander Greg Schiano, Kaufman noted December will be the tale of the tape whether he returns for a third season on the Bucs sidelines. Kaufman believes Schiano’s seat is ablaze.
“I think it is very hot, very hot and very surprising this early in the year. I think Schiano still has the support of ownership at this point. They are not happy at the [public relations] beating this franchise has taken and the potential impact of free agents coming in here. But he has won 7 of 20 games. Not very good. I think they give him more rope. A quick hook in a couple of weeks? Not going not happen.
“Which way is the arrow going up at the end of the season? [Jon] Gruden lost his last four. Raheem was 0-10 in his last games. The arrow going down, they can’t support you. We will see about Schiano.
“I think in the short term he is OK. If he finishes [the season] 2-14, he won’t have a leg to stand on. I think they are growing uncomfortable with what is going on.”
Joe thinks Kaufman’s take on how Schiano and the Bucs finish the season is interesting. Or as Kaufman says, “the arrow.” If the Bucs win, say, their last four of the season, it is hard to deny that progress is being made.
Still, it is hard to believe the Bucs are now in their 11th season since winning their last playoff game, and counting. They are beginning to encroach on Bill Bidwill territory with that type of drought.
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:21 pm
OMG Joe…I never thought I’d ever see that guys face again. Flashback city. That’s when I first became a Bucs fan.
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:26 pm
All the more reason for Schiano to bring in a vet QB for backup in case Glennon falters or gets hurt, he knows he needs to win to stay on as HC
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:30 pm
The spin is already starting. NFL Media columnist Mike Silver says “I asked a ‘Bucs player’ (of course no name again…..) whether Schiano is in danger of losing the locker room. The player answered “Of course, if we don’t start winning pretty soon. We have too much gosh darn talent to be losing.”
Wow…that’s a scoop huh? How about a story like “I asked him if it was frustrating losing games in the final minute like that” the player answered “Yes, yes it is.” Why not ask him if it’s warm during training camp….
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:32 pm
At least Ray Perkins had a medical history of physical brain trauma….Shiano has yet to be diagnosed psychiatric issues…..
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:34 pm
2-14 doesnt sound so bad right about now…..
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:34 pm
I don’t think the Glazers are going to pay Freeman’s contract and Schiano’s contract. Schiano will get another year as long as they win some and stay competitive. The Glazers will just want to see progress. I really think the one on the hot seat is probably Sullivan.
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Bobby…wow Bobby what a crock of shyte huh? This stuff is getting repugnant.
For you people that were educated in Florida schools.
Repugnant : extremely distasteful, unacceptable.
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:38 pm
@bobby
Think what you want – it’s butts in the seat – Schiano ain’t puttin’ there.
No wins = No Fans.
No Fans = No Moolah
Very simple math that even Rutgers grads can grasp.
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:38 pm
Referring to the Mike Silver thingy. ^^^
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:39 pm
…and ain’t it interesting about who Schiano keeps getting compared to…
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:41 pm
Nope, an article posted yesterday confirmed what I’ve been saying.
We aren’t running the Giants offense.
We are running the Rutgers offense. The one Schiano has ran everywhere he’s gone.
The Giants offense relies heavily on the TE, and Steve Smith was a Probowlers as a slot Reciever.
Schiano’s offense doesn’t use TEs or 3rd Recievers.
Of course- he is a pathetic career.500 coach!
Yay us
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:42 pm
White Tiger …in 2010 the Bucs went 10-6. I went to 2 games that season and the stadium was 1/2 empty. Sure winning helps, but this area does not support it’s team very well regardless of wins. It takes back to back years of winning and then, and that’s a maybe then people will show up at RJS.
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:43 pm
Sad thing is, if we go 6-10, people will think Schiano “salvaged” the season. 6-10 is still a regression from last year, and with way more talent on the roster.
Just fire him now.
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:46 pm
2-14 is probably the best case scenario. The sad part of this is that a GM that has this team loaded with talent may get the boot, too.
I see only two winnable games left on the Bucs’ schedule. Coming off the bye week at home vs. Philadelphia and on the road later in the season vs. St. Louis. Both teams beat us last season, the Rams destroyed us. I think 10 losses guarantees Schiano’s fate. The team spent way too much money to make this team a contender only to see them regain their “laughing stock status” in one season.
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:51 pm
@ Brandon
I see possible wins at home against Carolina & the Bills
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:52 pm
Perkins was a very organized guy, it’s what caught the attention of the owner.
He came highly recommended by Bill Parcells.
Had some success in college.
Was a complete tyrant that wasn’t bright enough to figure out that you don’t discipline respect IN to players, you don’t lock them down until they do EXACTLY what you say, the WAY you say to do it…
…and never figured out why he got the blame.
It’s the same conclusion I came to when I saw all the crap he did to Freeman in order to get what he wanted.
Thaty…and the decisions he made regarding Steve Young…
…oh, and the number of losing seasons the owner let me go – while cajoling me to keep buying my season tickets or I would miss the turn around…
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:55 pm
This is a direct quote from NFL X and so expert, Greg Bedard
“And, in what has been a Greg Schiano staple since his Rutgers days, the Buccaneers’ scheme is outdated, unimaginative and too reliant on short plays. The short and intermediate passing game that is so crucial in today’s NFL is essentially nonexistent in Tampa’s system. It’s difficult to win without it. ”
Don’t know what to add to that. This was posted here yesterday, under “Rutgers offense”.
The idiots will blame whatever QB we have playing. But it’s obvious that the scheme is the Problem
Schianos scheme.
This just Verifies what John Lynch said, what Cris collinsworth said. What Tim Ryan said.
And what I’ve been saying all damn year, since our losing streak started last year!!! The defenses know our scheme, and wait on our Wrs
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:58 pm
I think instead of micromanaging and coaching up players for ” one in a million scenarios ” the coaching staff should coaching the basics and concentrate on winning.
That we we won’t have to attack the kneel down as we should have the game in the bag. I like schiano but he is a conservative coach and sometimes he overthinks things and is too stubborn.
He needs to adjust quickly and win some games or he will lose this locker room if he has yet. Its sad really coz this team is ready to win it’s just lacking leadership.
If we lose the next game I say bring in Marty with 2 good coordinators he isn’t the long term answer but then again we don’t have the players to last that long – we only have about 2 to 3 years before this team starts aging. I say overpay to get a good coaching staff as we certainly got the players to get the job done.
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Well if the Bucs are 0-12 and win their last 4 games I don’t see how that saves Schiano’s job. He probably needs 6 wins at a minimum. The issue on this team is the same as it was before Josh was benched: QB play. Basically Glennon has gotta develop really fast for the Bucs to win games. We’ll see if he does.
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:04 pm
Losing teams always find a way to LOSE!
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:05 pm
There was a quote from bleacher report today that said, Schiano told season ticket holder in a suite Thursday that this franchise was the laughing stock of the league before he got here!! What a joke, he made this team the laughing stock and we have the talent to win a lot of football games. He is the laughing stock of the nfl not the team!!
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:06 pm
I’d like to see a dose of Demps…..Hopefully Crabtree will return…we need production out of Underwood/Owusu/Page..
I think we will open it up for Glennon because teams are going to stack the box like AZ…we really don’t have a choice. Schiano will have to start to take some gambles…we saw that fake punt last week….frankly, I was shocked & so was AZ!!!
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Regardless of whether he end up being the guy, can’t go anywhere but up from here.
We’ll see if he is the coach next season or not.
If he is great it’s cause he’s shown he deserves to stay, if he isn’t great it’s cause he doesn’t deserve it and ownership thinks they can do better.
Either way , should be fun. It’s a new day! lol
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:10 pm
@Bobby,
Did it ever cross your mind that perhaps the players don’t want to put their name on it for fear of facing the wrath of Schiano? First of all, if the interview is conducted without being authorized by the team, its a 10k fine. Maybe that unnamed player likes money. Second, next thing you know, they’ll be unemployed.
I find it amazing that despite literally 100s of stories about Schiano, all from different writers, many still cease to believe any of it. That blows my mind! There were stories written about him while he was successful at Rutgers (successful by Rutgers standards that is). Do you truly believe it is all just made up? Do you not believe he is videotaping player’s reactions on the sidelines? Do you not believe he was a jerk to NFL scouts while at Rutgers? Do you not believe that he is a control freak? Do you not believe that he is 0-6 in close games as a Buccaneer coach? Do you not believe that he is responsible for the regression of our team, even though the talent was greatly increased?
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Just fire him now this guy is a flipping joke
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:11 pm
@Jason
More “hearsay” to throw into the fire?
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:13 pm
I’m really curious, is there anything at all you could hear about Schiano that would change your mind? Are you at least suspicious? Or are you just as convinced as ever that he’s our guy? Waiting for a serious answer.
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:17 pm
Are we as a city just destined to be a punching bag for local and national media? For months, all we heard was how bad Freeman was, and we the Bucs pull the plug on him, now it’s the Bucs who look like they can’t tie their own shoes. How many times have we gotten rid of a player who was considered a cancer (Winslow, Talib, Keyshawn, ect) and then have to watch that player be praised for haunting his former team with having a great game, it’s as if everybody wants the Bucs to fail- I’m over it, F them all, say what you want about this franchise, but it’s been Tampa’s team since ’76, the team I’ve rooted for better or worse, a team that etched it’s reputation in stone in the 80’s as SPORTS losingest franchise of all time (including the Clippers of that era), then they changed uniforms in ’97 and instantly changed the image, while winning a SuperBowl after being a Perennial playoff team, then it didn’t take long to tarnish that image once again and become a laughingstock of the NFL, and we don’t get any help from all these websites (joe included) that now like to pile on and kill any hopes of having a decent football team and organization, I may not like what’s transpired with the team’s losing, but I detest even more this witch hunt mentality to destroy anything positive coming out of One Buc, I mean is the coach hated that much? Is it Dominik? The Glazers? The fans? Is it the Bay area (which gets dumped on all the time)? Either way, we need to turn this thing around and be a team others envy, there’s no reason why this can’t be that franchise, I think the owners really do want to win, so what needs to be done experts, I’m all ears!
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:18 pm
Bucs went 7-9 last year. So improvement is 8 wins. Once Schiano can’t achieve that pack his bags!!!!!!!
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:18 pm
Never been so embarrassed to be a Buc fan, and I’ve been following them as long as anyone.
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:19 pm
So what do you do if you’re the Glazers?…..I agree with Kaufman….they keep him until the end of the year. He needs some wins but would have to go 6-6 from this point to end up 6-10….that’s a tall order…He needs to win a couple of big games against tough opponents….like SF at home.
Pulling the plug now would accomplish nothing. If his team sticks together and we can see some more improvement in the defense along with Glennon developing….Schiano could save his job and survive until next year.
I see us spending some(would be)Freeman money on WR/TE and if Glennon doesn’t impress….QB….some of that could come from next year’s draft.
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:20 pm
“so what needs to be done experts, I’m all ears!”
Bucfever40 …What can you or I do about it?
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:22 pm
PRbucfan: tweeted by Pewter Report and stroud
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:22 pm
Yes, if I hear from the mouth of our players verification of many of these alleged unsourced reports and them actually saying that they are done with Schiano than that will be enough for me.
Serious answer.
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:22 pm
Yes, Jason, in other words media “hearsay”
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:23 pm
bucrightoff Says:
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Well if the Bucs are 0-12 and win their last 4 games I don’t see how that saves Schiano’s job. He probably needs 6 wins at a minimum. The issue on this team is the same as it was before Josh was benched: QB play. Basically Glennon has gotta develop really fast for the Bucs to win games. We’ll see if he does.
Agree exactly, this team was supposed to make a playoff run not win 2-4 games at the end of the year to keep a dysfunctional coach for another season. I have had season tix since 98, thought hard about dumping them in the R Morris era but always wanted to support this team. What this coaching staff has done is inexcusable, turned the most high-powered Bucs offense into a 8-10 point a game team. The Broncos score more then we have offensively in a season in 3 quarters. Unless there is a dramatic change (lots if wins) and no change I can’t imagine stroking yet another check.
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:24 pm
If they keep Schiano sorry
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Well it’s wait and see. The Bucs have about what 8-9 more days to make adjustments to the offense. Let’s hope they make them, because as far as I’m concerned that is the missing element in this team. Now that the #5 distraction is gone. They can start to focus more on the current team at hand. All one can do as a fan is hope that they can fix the offense. I’m sure the defense sees it as well. They know that if the O gets fixed, that they are going to start winning some games.
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:33 pm
@BucFever40
I sat through the 0-26 then sat in the stands in 79 watching us in the NFC Championsip…..trust me….we are only temporarily the laughing stock. The Jets, Saints & AZ are breathing a huge sigh of relieve because they really are fortunate to have beaten us.
Coach Schiano is hated because we are 0-4 and the blame for that has to be spread so wide (LVD,Lindel,Freeman,Glennon) that Schiano has to take the heat.
He is also hated because the Freeman lovers blame him for Josh’s downfall. Also…where has Dominick been?….protecting and standing up for his coach?…..no…
With all the losing the last few years, the Bucs are almost like Rutgers.
There is a future…there is hope…it may be with yet another QB or another Coach….but it will come again!!!
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Damn, 7 of the last 20….. We lost three of the last four games in the last minute. I’m not so sure you can praise Dominik for stacking the team with talent when the most important hires are QB and coaching staff.
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Bucs should have waited one day…Hoyer is hurt. Enjoy Cleveland Josh.
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:46 pm
Don’t understand why we didn’t hold onto Josh to the trade deadline at the end of the month. We could have just sent him home….I know he takes a roster spot but….lots of QBs could be hurt over the next month.
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Well based on the below cap space of 18m I say pick upr trade for a TE and WR adm afew other pieces now and make a push for the playoffs. If not we will have a complete team next year with all players having palmed in the system including the new pickups.
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/cap-hit/
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:49 pm
“Yes, if I hear from the mouth of our players verification of many of these alleged unsourced reports and them actually saying that they are done with Schiano than that will be enough for me.”
——
I can live with that. Does it have to be a current player, or can it be a former player? No current player is going to do it, for fear of the lunatic and his wrath. So I guess we’ll just get to keep this debate going 🙂
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:57 pm
Let’s see…Freeman was released over 6 hours ago and there are still new reports on how Schiano is losing the locker room. Can’t blame that on Freeman anymore…
October 3rd, 2013 at 8:57 pm
^^^^ PRBucsfan
October 3rd, 2013 at 9:12 pm
Schiano got a 5 year deal.
He’ll get another year.
October 3rd, 2013 at 9:12 pm
No way is this worse than Ray Perkins. No way. At least this team is playing mostly good defense whereas Perkins’ teams were inept on both sides of the ball, and this team has above-average to good talent at every position except TE and QB. Plus Perkins had total control of football ops and he was a horrific drafter; the Bucs went YEARS without a single Pro Bowl player under his watch. Ignorant, emotional statement by Kaufmann, and completely not true. Maybe Schiano and Perkins are equally despicable people, but the current times are not worse by comparison. Not even close.
October 3rd, 2013 at 9:19 pm
@Jason
So what makes that claim infallible?
@Hawaiian
Ahaha Guess so 😀
October 3rd, 2013 at 9:28 pm
@ Bucfever
Very well said! I feel the same way!
October 3rd, 2013 at 9:33 pm
The problem with going on a late season winning streak is it could be a fluke and may not actually be progress. Schiano won games last year before the late season meltdown. It could be argued that the team was making progress at times last year. Fast forward to this year and there’s no doubt the offense has regressed, however, the defense is improved. I don’t want to pin the hopes on a much better season in 2014 with Schiano if he can’t win now with this roster.
I believe Schiano has his hands all over the offense this year. This tells me he’s not willing to let Sullivan run the offense. Sullivan knows more about running a successful pro offense than Schiano. I’m just speculating and I could be wrong, but Schiano appears to be a control freak. Micromanaging every detail like room temperature, player meals, etc. is the behavior of a control freak. This could be his undoing.
October 3rd, 2013 at 9:38 pm
I have a problem with a coaching staff with 8 pro bowlers that can’t seem to make a good call…. my opinion is that coach has thrown the QB under the bus to save his sorry ass. This will not continue…. At some point the owners will understand they have hired a college level coach and staff that cannot compete in the NFL… For me, go Saints !
October 3rd, 2013 at 9:51 pm
Hawaiian …
No,
I do believe in his defense tho…..He will be a fine DC in this league after he is finally fired here in Tampa.
BTW guys….
The Bucs where a laughingstock before he got here…. Remember Raheem’s tenure???
October 3rd, 2013 at 10:00 pm
Hmmm, I may have misread the question ..
No, as in,I don’t think he will be a successful head coach in the NFL
October 3rd, 2013 at 10:02 pm
ray wasnt that bad> blame hugh c
October 3rd, 2013 at 10:20 pm
We’re the Succaneers again. A long period of losing is in store for us unless we clean house in that front office. And that means GETTING RID OF THE WORTHLESS GM. “Rockstar GM” my ass.
October 3rd, 2013 at 10:25 pm
I have been a Buc fan since the inception,the most recent problems started with Raheem as the coach .Coaches don`t party with their players or they will become complacent.Perfect example was Josh.Had a great year, comes back after gaining forty pounds and played like he gained forty pounds.Schiano arrives Josh comes back in shape and plays very well throwing the deep ball until opposing defenses figure out he can`t go threw his progressions and find an open receiver.Freeman,Winslow,Talib,and other were corrupted by Raheem with his party mentality.Don`t blame Schiano for inheriting a mess that was unseen by the fans.Maybe a change of scenery and some maturity might help Josh.As for Schiano,he has his quarterback and time will tell if he makes it as coach of the bucs.
October 3rd, 2013 at 10:34 pm
Hoyer went down so………….Freeman might be a brown?
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:00 pm
The Bucs where a laughingstock before he got here,what are they now,i guess he found something that he can do.
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:01 pm
I want a 15 game winning streak so bad right now. GOOO BUCS!!!
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:15 pm
They were laughing at Raheem’s team.
They are disgusted with Schianos team
Everyone thinks they are Scumbags
“The Sporting News” had a great article today
” Bucs are killing themselves with poisonous strategy towards Freeman”
While some of you refuse to listen to the dozen of reports coming out about Schiano- it’s pretty apparent to the intelligent. The locker room is in revolt over Schianos Terrible schemes, lousy coaching, horrible lying, and childish treatment of his players.
Yeah, now the franchise is labeled as a bunch of lying, backstabbing, childish fools.
Thanks Schiano! You told the truth about one thing. You’ve definately changed the perception of the team.
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:24 pm
If you don’t like where the team is headed. Support The Rays & lighting! Fill the trop & St Pete times forum or what ever its called. Send message to the Glaziers we will support Bay Area teams that are committed to WINNING!
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:28 pm
so do we start glennon this week or maybe go free agency? I say we shop!
October 4th, 2013 at 12:35 am
All they have to do is google “NFL EXEC SAYS SCHIANO IS A BULLY”
ALl you need to know.
We can compare the interest Josh Freeman’s release generates with NFL teams to the interest Greg Schiano generates after he’s released.
Until then, we’ll talk about all the crap he’s done wrong that’s causing the Bucs to lose – while he finds another player to blame.
October 4th, 2013 at 2:30 am
White Tiger- thanks for link.
Gawd, Schiano is an even bigger Assho*e than I thought.
I usually don’t wish things like this on somebody,
But I hope Penn body slams this lil jerk off out of the building
October 4th, 2013 at 2:49 am
Waaah Waaah Waaah
Poor Joshy Woshy!
Woe is him… lol Get over it already.
October 4th, 2013 at 6:17 am
Well, Schiano’s scapegoat is now gone. After greasing the skids since April he now has his own QB under center. Perhaps they can do a second vote for offensive captain. I get that Josh Freeman’s play clearly has declined since mid 2012 for whatever reason. I get that his work ethic, devotion to duty and maturity have waned. But please someone show me the evidence that Glennon earned the position by his performance in the off-season, training camp, preseason games and his debut. I sure didn’t have any “Ah ha moments”. If Freeman’s behavior was digressing since Schiano arrived, was nothing attempted to get this young man back on track? What happened? Was releasing him the final step to attempt to rectify the situation or the first.
There is little doubt that the Glazer boys are watching, but are methodical enough to let the season play out. They probably have their own video of the sideline focusing on Schiano and his staff. I like Mark Dominik, but I’m not sure he survives if the season continues to slide. If I’m the Glazers I’d take a little trip over to Avala and knock on Tony Dungy’s door with a fill in the blanks offer. Have him put together another solid staff starting with Lovie Smith and Jim Caldwell. And how about his friend GM Scott Piolli?
October 4th, 2013 at 7:57 am
This is what happens when ownership has no clue. The Glazers are listening to the problem to them what the solutions need to be. How many more bad decisions does the GM and coach have to make before they are held accountable? It is obvious to everybody that the Schiano regime is not working. Would an interum coach be worse? Really!
October 4th, 2013 at 8:02 am
They are going 0-16.