Audio Absolves Greg Schiano
November 20th, 2013
OK, so Bucs commander Greg Schiano has a reputation for being a big, bad bully. Is he demanding? Sure. Is he exacting? Yes. Now Kyle Meinke of MLive.com believes Schiano needs classes in phone etiquette.
After Schiano spent roughly six minutes with the Detroit pen and mic club, what seems to be (for those not familiar with Schiano) an abrupt ending to a phone call led Meinke to type in outrage that Schiano hung up on him and the rest of the Lions press corps today.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano hung up on Detroit reporters during a teleconference Wednesday after a question about the MRSA outbreak that infected at least three players.
He answered the question, then hung up fewer than 6 minutes into the call. That’s roughly half the length of the average weekly call.
No coach has hung up during the session in years.
However, listening to the audio of the teleconference (click the orange button below), the voice of Bucs director of communications Nelson Luis can be clearly heard saying, “Time for a couple of more, guys.”
Schiano is a literal person. In his vernacular, “couple” means “two.”
Schiano answered two more questions, the final one about MRSA. Schiano spent nearly a minute on it, giving a thoughtful answer about how much he has personally learned about MRSA since the outbreak in the Bucs locker room earlier this season.
After finishing his final answer, Schiano quickly said, “Alright guys, I appreciate it, I will see you Sunday” and, yes, hung up the phone.
Now maybe this is nothing for locals because the people who cover the Bucs are used to Schiano’s ways. How he ended his teleconference today is exactly how he ends most of his press conferences (go ahead and pick one, any one, from Buccaneers.com for evidence). Luis will say, “Two more questions” and after Schiano finishes answering the final question, he’ll say, “Thanks guys” and bolt off the dais. Sometimes, Schiano will toy with the Custodian of Canton, eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune, and say, “Thought you could get one under the wire, huh Ira?” then flash a big grin and walk off.
Did Schiano interrupt a potential final question as he was saying “See you Sunday?” Yes, but that assumes Schiano even heard the question as the two talked over one another. Schiano’s quick endings to press conferences happen virtually daily here in Tampa. Again, Joe suggests you watch his press conference videos on Buccaneers.com for evidence.
What Joe considers a hang-up is if he would call Rachel Watson in the small hours of the morning looking for a heavy-breathing tryst between the sheets and hears a click, yes, that’s a hang-up.
This was not a hang-up. An abrupt ending? Yes. Nothing new, not even for an NFL coach. Shoot, earlier this year in a short teleconference with Saints coach Sean Payton, the Saints leader was clearly bored and at one point, Bill Parcells-like, blurted, “I’ve only got time for one more, I’ve got to get going.”
And that was that. To hear the audio of Schiano’s teleconference (courtesy of the Buccaneers), click the orange button below .
November 20th, 2013 at 8:55 pm
I guess we should all cut the Lions’ press corps a break – it has to suck living in that cess pool of a bankrupt town!
November 20th, 2013 at 9:23 pm
some people, like my brother for instances, dont say “bye” at the end of a phone call. Im guessing this is what all the hubbub is about.
November 20th, 2013 at 9:25 pm
it can be frustrating, and he’s right its not proper phone etiquette, but its nothing to get your panties all in a bunch. sounds like piling on to me.
November 20th, 2013 at 9:37 pm
Sad, the media can do and say whatever they want to whoever they want. I feel for Coach, this is poor journalism and abuse of power.
November 20th, 2013 at 10:06 pm
I’m not a Schiano guy, but who cares? It sounded like they were playing catch with an empty water bottle or something on their end the whole teleconference. Whatever it was it was noisy and annoying, is that proper radio etiquette? Yet again media people outside the Bucs organization want to blow something out of proportion, make something outta nothing. Hopefully, the reason Schiano had to hang up and go so quickly was so he could get to practice, the Bucs need all they can get to be ready for the Lions on Sunday.
November 20th, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Maybe Greg had to pee
November 20th, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Thing is Mrsa is a thing of the past and schiano still here’s it from the media. Last time I checked couple more meant two more. So no issue.
I like schiano. I think he’s going to be a stud nfl head coach. It’s the learning curve. He came in not liking freeman. He was right. He has a better eye for talent and he’s getting over the learning curve. Give him a third year. If he succeeds it’ll be a boom. If he fails miserably we get a shot at Famoud Jamesis.
November 20th, 2013 at 10:25 pm
I betcha the 620Darrell Dawg has a field day with this one.
Joe- can you please post the audio from your hour with the Dog today? Love hearing the 3 wise men talk about Bucs.
November 20th, 2013 at 10:44 pm
I actually love this. I am a fan of the bunker mentality and I can guess Schiano hates talking to opposing teams media.
November 20th, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Detroit should be wraped with barbed wire and a mote, and turned into Gitmo II.
It wouldn’t break my heart to see the entire Northern US fall right off the map.
November 20th, 2013 at 11:07 pm
I enjoy when Schiano addresses the media. Kinda reminds me of Belichick.
November 21st, 2013 at 12:10 am
Screw the Detroit Knife & Gun Club….asking about MRSA…..Schiano should have asked hoe it felt to live in a bankrupt city….the only news that is older than MRSA is Freeman…Freeman is gone…at least there still might be some MRSA around….
November 21st, 2013 at 12:21 am
He probably wanted to get off the phone just like ANYBODY would want to get out of Detroit. As quick as possible….Preferably with no gunshot wounds.
November 21st, 2013 at 12:45 am
More evidence that the sports media people have an exaggerated sense of self-importance & take themselves way too seriously.
November 21st, 2013 at 9:36 am
Saying good bye at the end of a phone call might be 1980’s phone etiquette but not anymore it sounded completely normal to me. As far as Detroit goes I would like to see the city rebound and thrive once again. Did you all finally find a city of a team you all can make fun of? I think putting down a US city having trouble in today’s economy shows no class.
November 21st, 2013 at 11:26 am
It’s not like he just hung up the phone out of nowhere. He ended the call. This is the media making a story out of nothing.
November 21st, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Maybe he should have sat down and had a cup ‘O tea with them. ARE WE KIDDING here?! This is football man!
Next thing you know, we’ll have players crying about their feelings being hurt!!!