Schiano In Deep Trouble In Tampa
TAMPA (CBSMiami) - The 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers came into the season hoping to ride a big offseason of moves into competing for the NFC South title. It's safe to say though that the wheels have completely come off that ride.
From former players describing the locker room as being "like Cuba," to billboards calling for the firing of the head coach, to staph infections, to an 0-6 record, to releasing their starting quarterback; the Bucs have been through the ringer in the first few months of the season.
The 0-6 record may be the most concerning for ownership as the Bucs are looking less and less competitive through each game. And with each passing day, it looks more and more like head coach Greg Schiano could be on his last legs with the team.
Schiano, from multiple reports, has lost the respect of his players in the locker room and the fans are quickly jumping ship on the former Rutgers head coach.
During Thursday night's loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Bucs were not competitive until Carolina backed off near the end of the game. Fans wore paper bags over their head to hide their embarrassment and stadium security allowed it all to go on.
Schiano doesn't care what the fans are thinking at the games.
"That doesn't affect me," Schiano told the press after the loss. "People are certainly entitled to their opinions. Here's the thing - my whole career, player and a coach, you work as hard and as smart as you can. It usually puts you to bed tired, and you get up and do it again."
Fans, and even local radio stations, have taken to putting up billboards around the Tampa area to call for Schiano to get fired. His record is not helping his cause either. The Bucs are 1-12 in their last thirteen games under Schiano and he looks completely overmatched in the NFL.
Tampa Bay took a chance on the former Rutgers coach who never coached his Rutgers team to a Big East Conference championship and never got the Scarlet Knights above 12th in the rankings and it hasn't paid off.
Schiano had a college record of 68-67 in his 11 seasons at Rutgers and compiled a 28-48 career conference record. Since taking over the Bucs, he's compiled a 7-16 record and is 2-7 in NFC South games.
According to NFL.com, Schiano's got no guarantee that he will make it through the season.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport said if the Bucs suffered "a string of embarrassing losses, show a lack of effort, and if there is an 'obvious loss of the locker room' including current players speaking out against Schiano'" he may not make it to the end of the season.
If Schiano were to be fired, the Bucs have former Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt on staff and former UM head coach Butch Davis is a consultant with the team.
