Verner Benching A Mystery
September 27th, 2015
Alterraun Verner stated to Joe he is unaware why he was benched today.
If there is a valid reason — and Joe suspects there is — for Bucs coach and virtual defensive coordinator Lovie Smith benching Alterraun Verner today, well, it remains a mystery.
Joe didn’t get a chance to ask Lovie himself in his postgame presser, as Joe was busying interviewing players in the quiet Bucs locker room.
Joe did ask a trusted Bucs source if Verner was benched because of a matchup issue, and Joe was advised to ask Lovie.
Again, Joe didn’t ask Lovie but Joe did ask classy Verner. The answer? Well, Verner doesn’t even know. Verner told Joe that Lovie did not explain to him why he got benched. In fact, Verner is in the dark, so he says.
“I don’t really know too much about that,” Verner told Joe. “You will have to ask Lovie or the coaches.”
When Joe followed that up, asking Verner specifically if Lovie explained the move to him, the following was Verner’s reply:
“No, no. They just made the switch. I’m going to play when they want me, whenever they want me. That’s really all I know.”
Feel free to read into that what you wish. It sure seems as if the Bucs are hiding something here. Whether Verner or the Bucs are trying to hide an injury, or if something else is happening, your guess is as good as Joe’s.
September 27th, 2015 at 6:14 pm
He should have said “coach is tired on me being burnt by everyone every week.
September 27th, 2015 at 6:15 pm
Shame. Looks to me like he’s better than Jennings. Also looks like Lovie is falling into the same trap Gruden and Schiano fell into that eventually doomed them both. ‘I want my (usually old) guys.’
What a stupid plan. I liked the Jennings signing, but the dude ain’t Verner.
September 27th, 2015 at 6:20 pm
Maybe it was a disciplinary issue?
September 27th, 2015 at 6:21 pm
This team and organization is an absolute disgrace.
Say what you want but this team isn’t any better anywhere on the filed than any other year. Just terrible. Are not getting better and will not get any better
September 27th, 2015 at 6:24 pm
Should have just kept Revis all along but whatever.
September 27th, 2015 at 6:24 pm
The glazers should be giving away free tickets as a way to say sorry for the crap product they have produced year after year. How they expect people to actually pay money to see this crap and do it with a straight face is the definition of narcissism. It’s unbelieveable really.
September 27th, 2015 at 6:25 pm
How will this team ever mesh and grow together if we keep playing inconsistent Lovie guys. If he wants the players that know the system, hire them as coaches…their best playing days are behind them (except Melton)
September 27th, 2015 at 6:26 pm
I’m sorry I’m down on Jennings.. He didn’t even challenge Hopkins on the slant on goal line in the first half…Verner is disappointing as well him and Jenkins are the most penalized week in and week out they grab extremely too much down field. Lavonte David has even struggled wrapping guys up when your great none of which happen…
September 27th, 2015 at 6:28 pm
Dumb move.
September 27th, 2015 at 6:51 pm
If he can play NCB thenhe must because moore was awful
September 27th, 2015 at 7:01 pm
“virtual defensive coordinator”, GD that’s hilarious Joe
September 27th, 2015 at 7:03 pm
Does it matter?
September 27th, 2015 at 7:07 pm
Chemistry between kickers and holders or in the secondary just doesn’t matter…LOL “simple as that!
September 27th, 2015 at 9:58 pm
It will take years to undo the damage done by L & L. This team is every bit as bad as last year’s.
September 27th, 2015 at 11:48 pm
I think Verner and his contract is out the door. Im a fan of this move too because he hasn’t fit into the four man and I think he should play for a team that runs 3-4 defensive alignment as well as Bruce Carter. They just dont fit Lovie Smith system because they rely on getting big plays from a defense that brings pressure every play. Jennings might be old but he can get the job done this year and we look to finally draft a tall corner early in the draft instead of panicking again and selling out to some pass rusher. Verner needs to go though plus I like how Sterling Moore is coming along too as a physical corner in the 4-3 alignment