Sulking Sabby Steamed At Demotion
August 25th, 2010
If, by chance, the Bucs were trying to light a fire under Sabby’s rear end by releasing a mid-preseason depth chart showing Sabby on the bench, well, consider the goal accomplished.
Good guy Stephen Holder, of the St. Petersburg Times, filed a very brief, two-paragraph missive earlier this afternoon detailing that Sabby is outraged that he was demoted, claiming, in so many words, it was a set up that he is no longer the starter (allegedly).
Sabby Piscitelli appeared frustrated Wednesday, one day after losing his starting safety spot to free agent Sean Jones, saying he doesn’t believe it was a fair competition.
Holder went on to write that part of the fuel that has angered Sabby is that he was alerted to the news by text.
If that is true, Joe believes Sabby may have a valid reason to be steamed. Kinda cold to learn you’ve been (allegedly) benched by text.
As Joe has stated before, perhaps Joe is too cynical, but he will put more weight into a depth chart that is released after Labor Day Weekend.
UPDATE: Per Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, normally affable Bucs coach Raheem Morris seemed irked by the suggestion from Sabby that the fix was in.
“If he thinks that way then that’s probably why he didn’t get it,” Morris said of he starting job. “I think you go out there and you do your very best at everything you do. That’s Sabby’s problem at this point. Again, that’s Sabby’s problem, not mine.”
August 25th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
and when asked to respond to SP’s comments – Coach Morris said…
“I don’t have to, and that’s unfortunate for him. That’s probably why he didn’t get it. Generally, you go out there and do your very best. That’s the thing to do, so that’s Sabby’s problem.”
SNAP.
(PR report)
August 25th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Depends on WHO sent him the text. Maybe Morris was late in talking to him the same way Sabby was late getting to the ball.
Morris is right though, it’s Sabby’s problem.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
If you don’t mange your time wisely someone else will do it for you.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
“he didn’t like the fact he found out he’d been demoted via a text message from defensive back Jimmy Lake” – Ok, so he’s pissed at whom exactly?
A professional would find ways to improve, not place undo blame elsewhere.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
The outcome was predetermined…just like last year’s QB battle was.
…just another reason that Rah is a piss-poor coach, despite of what you think of Sabby .
August 25th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Wow, never heard Rah go off on someone like that, in public.
Is he implying that Sabby didn’t do his best?
Wow.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
funy is this is the first time in a while that joe doesnt call him “sabby the goat”…..
August 25th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
The funny thing , Sabby will probably still be on this roster next season , and Raheem is going to be standing on the corner with a reflector vest like all the other jobless panhandlers in this town.
Then it will be HIS problem.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
I read the entire quote from Morris, and he may have a valid point. If Sabby thought he had no chance, then he probably did not give it his all. I do not believe that the outcome was decided right away. Jones has played more consistently in the games than Sabby. Everything is not a conspiracy. I am pretty sure Sabby may have hurt himself pretty bad by speaking out in public. The text message is pretty bad though, Lake should have at least called him. His public comments though are bound to put him in several coach’s dog houses.
If you guys have not been over to Steve Whites blog, you should read his article about Ruud. It is very good.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Predetermined?! They gave Sabby the entire offseason and two preseason games with the first team to show he belonged. Seems like a pretty fair shake for him considering the horrible year he had last year.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
“Sabby the untrained farm animal” has potential, but not as good as Sabby the goat. Joe…u da man.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
I agree with MOBucs on this one. Sounds like Sabby is off base on this one.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Yes MO , and anyone will tell you that in that offseason and those preseason games , Sean Jones did not outplay him. They were both equally mediocre.
Predetermined all the way. Just like the benching of Zuttah was predetermined. It’s the way our pea-brained coach simply things for himself.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
simplifys things i meant…
August 25th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Simplifies things he meant . . .
August 25th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Radio, I disagree. I thought you saw a more consistent player from Jones than Sabby. Sabby had a few more WOW moments, but Jones is steady. He has always been steady as well. Sabby looked a little better than last year.
I also would have agreed with Joe about not trusting the roster this early, but Sabby went out and aired his feelings to the press. Kiss of death.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Rah absolutely SKEWERS Sabby man!!! How do you piss off the most happy go lucky coach in the League?
““No there is no such thing as an unhappy player. The only the person that’s going to be unhappy here is me. His job is to make us happy,” said Morris. “He’s got to do his job. That’s the nature of the beast. That’s how the NFL works.”
““In ‘09 we weren’t a very good football team. We weren’t a very good organized football team as far as our running game. We all struggled,” said Morris. “He was a guy that was a part of it. He went out there and he probably didn’t get the holes that he wanted. Whatever the reasons were nobody cares. It is your job to go out there and get it done. That is the same thing I’d tell Sabby. He feels bad about not being a starter. He feels bad because he feels like he was unjustly done, and nobody really cares. You got to out there and get it done and show us what you got. You only got one chance to do this thing, myself included.”
-PR
August 25th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Sabby should have known , Raheem never chooses the white guy . Ask Luke McCown , LOL.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
By bitching in public about not being treated fair it would appear. Thanks for the post. I think Sabby is “toast”.
August 25th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
@ Radio
I’m sorry dude but you are a COMPLETE TOOL. Stop posting. You’re never funny. You rarely have anything insightful or thought provoking to say. You’re constantly ignorant, ill-informed, or flat wrong. You’re clearly not a fan of the team. Just stop.
August 25th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
You forgot racist. I am sure he does not spew his hatred when he is not hiding behind a keyboard.
August 25th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
obviously someone is too stupid to recognize a joke…and I’m quite often funny 🙂
August 25th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
So why did he choose to have Rudy Carpenter / Jevan Snead as back up QBs when there are several undrafted black QBs out there. What about the selection of Cody Grimm and Erik Lorig? Ruud is starting. Weren’t you one of the folks pissed we didn’t draft Sean Witherspoon? For all your racist assumptions, I figured you’d be rooting for the white guy.
August 25th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
LOL Racist ….Is Mark Dumbinik and the Glazerhouses black ??
August 25th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Yup, accusing the coach of being a racist because he’s black is absolutely hilarious. We’re so dumb.
August 25th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
@Redneck Mushmouth, I knew you or your Grudenite cultists would utter that White-Black BS. However, Sabby is of Hispanic descent. Good try, better luck next time.
August 25th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Italians are Hispanic now ??
Anyone who has paid attention to past posts about last year’s QB controversy knows that it’s been suggested before that Raheem is racist ….that’s why I made the joke.
Get a clue ya douche bags , and climb down of your high horse and get a sense of humor.
August 25th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Actually, I am happy to hear this from Rah. The kind of thing a real coach would say.
I have always thought he was too much a friendly players coach. I know the players say they love hime, but I think that itself is a problem.
These remarks could have come from a Shanahan or Cowher.
Good for him I say. Way better than the excusses he made for Clayton over the summer if you recall.
I’m warming up to this guy! He’s learning!
August 25th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Jonny Says:
August 25th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
@Redneck Mushmouth, I knew you or your Grudenite cultists would utter that White-Black BS. However, Sabby is of Hispanic descent. Good try, better luck next time.
===================================================
Carmine Sabatino Piscitelli IS NOT HISPANIC.
(Yes, that’s his full name)
God, there are some really stupid people that comment here.
August 25th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
I think the only people in Tampa Bay who wanted Sabby to be starting have the last name Piscitelli…..except for maybe Mushmouth (Maximus Toolius)
August 25th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Morris did the right thing taking Sabby to the woodshed. Race has nothing to do with it. If Sabby wants to be on the field then he needs to step up and prove it with his play. Morris’ job is on the line and this is what a head coach does – picks the players he thinks are going to have the best chance to win ball games.
We may not agree with some of his choices, and some of us are low enough spit out abuse instead of reasoned critique, but this is far more head-coach-like than flying chest bumps.
August 25th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
I want the best player to start , and so far Sean Jones hasn’t done squat to prove it’s him.
The same with Leftwich last year, the same with Kendrick over Zuttah this year. The fact is Rah always starts whatever guy he brings in. No real competition exists, no real effort to develop young guys for the future exists either.
So that begs the question: What the hell are we doing ?? What’s the big picture here? Is he trying to win just enough games to keep his job this year , or are we truly building for the long-haul ??
August 25th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Radio,
C’mon now, wouldnt you try to win just enough games to keep your job?
I damn sure would, I’d have as many bandades as i could find to get er done to save my own ass.
August 25th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
I would , eric . But then I wouldn’t feed you a line of bullsh*t that everything I was doing was for the “future” good.
People always talk trash about Gruden and claim he was a liar , but that is one thing he never lied about it. You knew ,with Gruden, he was trying to win and win NOW , and I was ok with that….
August 25th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
@Radio
If you are to be Politically correct, you have to learn that it’s either okay, or impossible for a Black man to be a racist. And you are not allowed to even insinuate such a thing. Because to do so makes you a racist in the Politically correct’s eyes. So, even if it comes to light that Raheem might be partial to some players in such a manner, you are not allowed to discuss such a thing. But I don’t think the barn door has been shut on this matter though. And it shouldn’t be! I do have a question for all the Glazerites, though. If the best man is supposed to have the job, why is it that Gruden has been replaced by an amateur?
Grudens resume includes numerous Division and NFC titles, and a Super Bowl. Not to mention the fact that he is sought out by numerous Networks for his expertise as a Coach.
Morris’s resume is position Coach and Chest Bumper extrordinaire, with a 3-13 record. So maybe some of you “experts” can explain how the “Best Man” has the head coaching job in Tampa.
August 25th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
I find it laughable that the same people who cried about not getting veterans are now crying about playing veterans over players the front office doesn’t think are good enough to play right now. I’m happy to see at least Eric isn’t a hypocrite. If Raheem doesn’t think Sabby is going to develop into the player they want for the long term, I don’t see the harm in playing a steady veteran.
The Zuttah/Vincent battle seems a bit sketchier to me, but if Zuttah is getting thrown around, maybe he isn’t the answer either. Either way, we have another draft at least before we are serious contenders, why not look at OG and SS in the draft? I also hear this FA class in 2011 is pretty good. Until then, we have some vets.
August 25th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
@Tampa 2
None of us are in the front office, so all we can do is speculate. I can do that, though. Common perception is that Gruden wasn’t interested in, or wasn’t good at developing rookies. He preferred his Band aid veterans. The Glazers didn’t feel that this was going to work, so they wanted to go in a different direction. I can’t speak to why they didn’t consider a veteran coach, but apparently Raheem showed enough potential to be given a chance. It’s not like it would be an expensive experiment.
Notice how none of the veterans that Raheem and Dominik stuck with any other team? Notice how Gruden is coveted by news networks and not teams. I thought Gruden was a good coach. I thought Allen was a terrible GM, and the two were tied together.
August 25th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
eric Says:
August 25th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Actually, I am happy to hear this from Rah. The kind of thing a real coach would say.
I’m warming up to this guy! He’s learning!
—————————————————
Where is Eric & what have you done with him???
August 25th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
It’s not hypocritical at all. If we were ACTUALLY trying to win, Charlie, we could have gotten veterans that were difference makers like Anqoin Boldin , Brandon marshall , etc. Instead we were told , ” they are too old , we are going young for the future.”
Now we are going to start a few mediocre vets in hopes of winning 5 games instead of 3 ??? What ?? Which is it ?? If you want to win then go all out and try !! If not, fire-sale the vets and start coaching up the young guys!
It just proves there is no real plan , these clowns are simply incompetant.
No matter , this team is still going suck balls , and Radio Morris is going to get sh*t-canned.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
If you could put Cody Grimm’s heart in Sabbitha’s body, you would have Rudy on Steroids in a Pro Bowl.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
THE BRAIN DISEASE IS SPREADING! RUN FOR THE HILLS!!! Another poster who HAS to be mentally challenged.
Radio: “Hey, let me make something up with no facts to back my stance!”
Tampa2: “Awesome point Radio! I mean, I bet “IF” Rah was favoring black guys nobody would stand up to him!!!”
Complete and utter buffoonery. You two knuckleheads live in your own little fantasy land. The guy wants to win and he’s going to put the best players out there to accomplish that goal no matter what the nationality.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
I don’t think we didn’t get “difference makers” because of many reasons, but not because we didn’t want to bring in good players. We have never been the team to get into bidding wars with other teams. It’s just not how we operate, and of course we all wish we would, but then again it’s not our money. I promise you that if you were a business owner, you wouldn’t either (otherwise you wouldn’t be a business owner for long). They are not going to give up a lot of draft picks for anyone, because they have confidence in their ability to draft well. So far (granted it’s very early), they appear to be doing a pretty good job. I don’t care what your opinion is on coaching ability, I don’t think anyone can say the Gruden regime drafted well. I think so many people are misinterpreting “the plan”. They want to build through the draft, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to win now. They’re just not going to go out and spend a butt load of money on players that will be past their prime when our young talent catches up. That’s the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins philosophy, and I am glad it’s not us.
I don’t know if I would necessarily call Vincent mediocre. Did you not see the size of the holes he helped create on us last year (okay, well they also did it against other teams too)? Just because you didn’t know who he was doesn’t mean he is mediocre. Most people would have a hard time naming 5 guards across the entire NFL. Jones was one of the best available safeties this year, albeit a very thin free agent class of safeties this year. Who else were you looking for? This isn’t fantasy football, this is the real deal, and you can’t just get anyone you want.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
@ Radio
“It’s not hypocritical at all. If we were ACTUALLY trying to win, Charlie, we could have gotten veterans that were difference makers like Anqoin Boldin , Brandon marshall , etc. Instead we were told , ” they are too old , we are going young for the future.”
Boldin = Too old and injury prone. When’s the last time he played all 16 games?
Marshall = Too expensive & not a character guy…plus it seems that we have a rising star WR of our own in Mike Williams.
So let me ask you a question: Who were the “veteran difference makers” out there at strong safety? At offensive guard?
“It just proves there is no real plan , these clowns are simply incompetant.
No matter , this team is still going suck balls , and Radio Morris is going to get sh*t-canned.”
Let me ask you another question? If they went ahead and let Sabby and Zuttah start and they sucked, wouldn’t that be cause to question the credibility of “The Plan” even more? Wouldn’t that cause you to question Rah & Dom’s abilities as HC & GM? You try to play both side of the argument so no matter what Rah and Dom do they lose. That’s what makes you a hypocrite.
All the evidence I’ve seen throughout the Rah & Dom tenure leads me to the conclusion that the best players (whether young or old) play. We couldn’t necessarily say that throughout the final years of the GruAllen era (e.g. not getting Antonio Bryant and Joey G on the field at the same time)
August 25th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
I don’t think Sabby is great , by any means , but…
Maybe if Morris didn’t bring in a totally different defensive scheme last season , and a D-Coordinator who was so clueless that he had to be fired mid-way through the season , Sabby would have developed into a better player instead of being stunted.
It was such a joke…even Tanard looked like sh*t last season, but nobody seemed to care about that , because Bucs fans always pick just one player to scapegoat EVERYTHING on.
Anyone ever consider that part of the reason for Sabby’s stunted growth is Radio Morris ? No of course you haven’t , but guess what?? Sabby will be playing somewhere in the league next season , and Radio Morris is going to be FIRED like the dumbass he is. He’ll be coaching DB’s at Florida Atlantic if he’s lucky. LOL
August 25th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Yeah, it’s Raheem’s fault Sabby isn’t playing well. Half the people on this site know more about defense than he does. Tanard had such an awful season last year with 5 INT’s, 2 forced fumbles, 71 tackles, and 2 defensive TD’s (all career highs in only 12 games). It’s amazing he’s still on the team. If he had Cowher coaching him he would have 300 tackles, 8 forced fumbles, 14 INT’s, and 6 defensive TD’s in 6 games. And I’m sure that teams are lining up to sign Sabby so they can put him in their starting lineup, just like they did with all the other players we got rid of last year and this year. The Steelers would cut Polamulu in a second to get our incredible safety with unlimited talent. I can’t wait until our kicker misses his first field goal so we can blame Raheem for that too. I know that if it rains during the Cleveland game, they should just fire him right there.
August 25th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Did I say he would start , moron ??? Sabby will be in the league as a backup , and for his special team play, for years to come. Raheem WONT be in the league as a head coach EVER after this season.
By the way, guess who had the most missed tackles in the league besides Sabby ?? Tanard Jackson.
In case you failed to notice , our defense was horrible as a WHOLE last season , not just Sabby…but yes, I’m sure that had nothing to do with the Coordinator Raheem decided to bring in to scrap the Tampa 2 , then fire in order to bring back the Tampa 2 mid-season. There is no way that would cause any disruption and confusion for the players. What was I thinking….
August 25th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
If you didn’t catch, I was exaggerating to get my point across. And you don’t know what you are talking about saying he won’t coach ever after this season. Maybe he won’t, but unless you are a psychic, you have no way of knowing what’s going to happen. Even Chan Gailey got a second chance to be a head coach. I hope you eat your words and we do well this year and we have years of success; not because I care what you think, but because I love this team and I want us to win. I will support this team regardless, and I will always hope for the best. I didn’t always like Gruden, but I supported him until he was gone. However, I doubt you would want a successful team under Raheem. You would rather be right than have this team be successful. If you have any credentials of judging NFL coaching and/or talent, let me know (season tickets do not count, FYI). If you have ever even met a real NFL GM, then maybe you can talk. Otherwise, don’t make guarantees, you just sound ridiculous. Notice how even the biggest opponents of Raheem are backing you up on this one – there’s a reason for that! I’m not saying he’s Vince Lombardi, but if you are going to call him a dumbass when he knows more football than all of us combined, then what does that make you?
August 25th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
I meant, NOT backing you up on this one
August 26th, 2010 at 7:54 am
That’s wonderful Hawaii, you have hope ! I bet you even voted for Obama , LOL. Why don’t you “hope” in one hand , and piss in the other ,and see which fills up 1st….
This is going to suck, you don’t need to be a psychic to see that, just a realist.
August 26th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
You have such a great attitude. I’m sure people gravitate towards you. If you don’t hope for the team to do well, why exactly are you here? Must be a sad life.
August 26th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
I still root for the team, even though I know they will suck . It’s called being a fan. But being a fan doesn’t mean you have to ignore reality and convince yourself a sh*tty team will be good. This team doesn’t have much talent right now , and they are run by a retarded coach and GM…that usually does not equal wins….sorry…