Buccaneers' Head Coach Morris Unfazed as Rumors of His Fate Swirl

http://www.theledger.com/article/20...ch-Morris-Unfazed-as-Rumors-of-His-Fate-Swirl

Buccaneers' Head Coach Morris Unfazed as Rumors of His Fate Swirl

The Bucs reportedly have reached out to ex-Steelers coach Bill Cowher.

<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>var collab_title = 'Buccaneers' Head Coach Morris Unfazed as Rumors of His Fate Swirl';</SCRIPT><!-- /HEADLINE --><!-- MAIN PHOTO -->
scott wheeler | the ledger

Buy photo
BUCS COACH RAHEEM MORRIS, LEFT, pictured with veteran Ronde Barber, dismissed rumors of his job security Monday.


<!-- /MAIN PHOTO --><!-- BYLINE -->
By Rick Brown
THE LEDGER


<!-- /BYLINE --><!-- PUBDATE -->Published: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 1:14 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 1:14 a.m.
<!-- /PUBDATE -->TAMPA | A day after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' biggest victory of the season, head coach Raheem Morris was answering questions about his future with the squad.

<!--
AC =
--><!-- GRAY BOX ARTICLE CONTENT--><STYLE>.art_main_pic { width:250px; float:left; clear:left; }</STYLE><!-- /GRAY BOX ARTICLE CONTENT-->NFL.com reported the Bucs had been in contact with former Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Cowher to gauge his interest in coaching in 2010.
But sources close to the Glazers were adamant the story was false and Morris did not seem concerned following his team's 20-17 overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints.
"I choose to laugh at or ignore some of the gossip," said Morris, who has seen his team struggle to a 3-12 season. The team has won its last two games, both on the road. "I left that stuff with Jerry Springer back in the day."
Morris said he hasn't had any discussions with the Glazers and doesn't need a vote of confidence from the owners.
"When was the last time you've seen one of my owners speak publicly?" Morris said. "That's not what we do around here. We don't have to answer to all of the critics. That's not our job.
"The assurance they gave to me is I have to do my job tomorrow. That's what I have to do. When you're put in a position to coach a football team, you coach it. That's what you do until they tell you to stop, and that's what I'm going to do now."
Morris even joked about it with the media Monday.
"This game is not for everybody," he said. "It's not for the mentally weak, not for the soft. It's not for everybody. For me, it's about production, going on the field and progressing. All that other stuff is gray matter. All that other stuff just messes you up all week. I would be thinking about that all week. Are you guys trying to mess me up for Atlanta? Are you guys working for Atlanta?
"You can start thinking about all that stuff and lose sight that Matt Ryan is coming to town and you've got to tackle (Michael) Turner this week," Morris said. "That's how you get messed up. I prefer to think about Atlanta coming up here. I prefer to watch the tape and enjoy myself. I prefer to watch that type of stuff and look at my guys progress and develop. That's what I prefer. That's how I'm made up."
Speaking of Atlanta, the Bucs will go into the final game of the season Sunday without running back Earnest Graham and defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson.
Graham has a torn ligament in his toe, while Wilkerson tore his ACL. Both will go on injured reserve.
The Bucs activated tight end Ryan Purvis from the practice squad and are likely to make another move this week.
Chris Pressley likely will take over the starting role at fullback for Graham.

COACH OF THE YEAR SO FAR IN THE NFL!!!!!!!!!!!! 2010:



http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/nov/01/011948/playoffs-young-bucs-thinking-big/sports-bucs/



Playoffs? These young Bucs are thinking big


Photo by MAURICE CAPOBIANCO

Since the 2002 realignment, 31 of the 46 clubs that opened at 5-2 qualified for postseason play.




By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: November 1, 2010
Updated: 11/01/2010 08:27 pm

TAMPA - With Tampa Bay's race half over, NFL history suggests the Buccaneers sport a very good chance to reach January's finish line as an improbable playoff team.
The league's youngest club stands at 5-2 following Sunday's 38-35 victory at Arizona, a thrilling shootout win that pulled the Bucs into a tie with the idle Falcons and Giants for the best record in the NFC.
Since the 2002 realignment into eight four-team divisions, 31 of the 46 clubs that opened at 5-2 qualified for postseason play. That 67 percent success rate reinforces the mantra of Coach Raheem Morris, who said the Bucs are focused on accumulating 10 wins.
"It's a race to 10," Morris repeated Monday. "Ten wins usually provides you with a great opportunity to qualify for the playoffs. You don't go out there and say you're going to the playoffs. I will never talk like that. We're not interested in giving anybody bulletin-board clippings, but if that's how they take it …"A week after proclaiming the Bucs as the NFC's best team, Morris is not inclined to retract his remarks.
"It's not trash talking, it's a mentality," Morris said. "It's mentality before reality. If you don't believe you can win, you probably won't. I believe in my team and my team believes in us as an organization."
The Falcons, who face the Bucs Sunday at the Georgia Dome, have already heard Morris loud and clear.
"Saying you're the best, not one of the best, that's a bold statement," said linebacker Mike Peterson.
Safety William Moore is using the remarks as added motivation for a midseason NFC South showdown.
"You've got to back that up when you say stuff like that," said Moore, who leads the Falcons with three interceptions. "We are definitely looking forward to the show."
Tampa Bay's stunning rise from a 3-13 club to playoff contender is hardly unprecedented in the NFL. The 2008 Dolphins went 11-5 and edged New England for the AFC East crown, one year after going 1-15.
"The Bucs are legit," ESPN's Sal Paolantonio said. "To win in the NFL, you need superior head coaching and a quarterback with a superior skill set. The Bucs have that. Both Raheem Morris and Josh Freeman are leaders. The NFC is wide open, but I can't see both wild cards coming out of the South. If they can steal this one in the Georgia Dome, look out."
Tampa Bay's playoff push apparently won't include Randy Moss, the prolific 33-year-old wide receiver unexpectedly waived by the Vikings on Monday.
"He's a great player in this league who is available, but we have six young, dynamic wideouts we're building for the future," Morris said. "We love what we've got. We probably won't require Randy Moss' services right now. I think he's one of the best wideouts that's ever played the game."
With a strong finish, the Bucs could capitalize on a watered-down NFC to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2007 club that lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants in the opening round.
The Cowboys and Vikings are a combined 3-11, Washington, Chicago and Philadelphia appear mediocre and Tampa Bay already has beaten Arizona and St. Louis.
The Bucs boast a 3-1 mark within the conference, a key potential playoff tiebreaker, and their remaining opponents have a combined .500 record (33-33).
"We find ways to win every single football game that we have won this year," said 35-year-old cornerback Ronde Barber, one of only three Bucs older than 30. "At the end of the day, we are what our record says we are."

Wins against the Browns, Rams, Cardinals, Panthers, and Bengals.

Blowout losses to the Saints and Steelers.

This team only wins 2 more times all year. Maybe 3 if they get some breaks.

Cardinals, and Bengals.

Click to expand...

playoff teams last year...................

Both teams are CLEARLY considerably worst than last season.

5teamparlay said:

playoff teams last year...................

Click to expand...

Last year is last year for a reason. Cardinals can't pass and the Bengals have no offensive line.

They finally got smart and laid Cadillac to bed. Not saying this is a Super Bowl team but I see at least 4 likely wins going forward