Even before his team fell to 0-7 in a Thursday night loss to Carolina, Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano was being critcized by more former players about his negative influence on the locker room.
"How bad is it there? It's worse than you can imagine," an unnamed player on the 2012 Bucs team told NFL.com. "It's like being in Cuba."
Another former Bucs player, current Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, told NFL Media’s Michael Silver that Schiano was scolded by Peyton Manning last December after the coach used his now-routine maneuver of storming the victory formation at the end of a 31-23 loss. "Peyton cussed him out," Bennett said. "And I ain't never heard Peyton cuss."
Bennett also repeated observations reported in other outlets that Schiano’s own players disliked the victory-formation move. "People just really hate it when you have to dive at people's legs," he said. "At the end of the day, we've got to keep going and move onto the next game and try to make a living. Some of these guys (on other teams) are our friends."
They were the latest indications that Schiano has lost the respect and attention of his players during their 0-6 season. The problems within the organization have been well-documented: the clash with former quarterback Josh Freeman, the speculation that Schiano was responsible for leaks about Freeman’s presence in the NFL drug program and for the manipulation of the captaincy vote, the pettiness of his treatment of players, the frosty relationship with opposing scouts and his bullying tendencies even to his own staff.
And outside the Bucs’ doors, things are testy, too. A Tampa radio station has purchased 19 “Fire Schiano” billboards.
QB COMEBACK STORIES
First, the good news: No NFL team has tried to contact Joe Kapp, Roger Staubach or Steve Young. Also, teams have not gotten calls asking for tryouts from Vinny Testaverde, Boomer Esiason or Jim Zorn.
Meanwhile, in all seriousness, not a single feeler has been put out for Vince Young. But it appears that every other out-of-work or retired quarterback is up for grabs this week.
Which brings us to the bad news: Three such players have been thrown out for the public’s consideration, in response to a disturbing week of injury- and ineptitude-motivated quarterback upheaval.
As this has been a fitting week to rank the worst ongoing quarterback situations in the league, ranking the most ill-conceived, least-plausible, most-absurd comeback bids of the week is also fitting. So, from the least-horrifying to the most-disturbing …
— Tim Tebow. NFL Network reported last Sunday, hours after Sam Bradford suffered a season-ending ACL tear, that the Rams discussed bringing him on, adding (correctly as it turned out) that it was unlikely to happen.
— Brett Favre. ESPN reported Thursday that Rams coach Jeff Fisher contacted the 44-year-old to play for them. Favre’s response, to a Washington radio station: "It's flattering, but you know there's no way I'm going to do that."
— Jeff Garcia. Favre, at least, played at a Hall-of-Fame level for the better part of 19 years, and played meaningful football in this decade. It’s unfair to Garcia to belittle his career, since that very sort of talk drove him to heights one wouldn’t expect from an undersized, undrafted CFL export, inclduing four Pro Bowls.
FINLEY RELEASED
Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley was released from the hospital on Thursday, the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. Finley had to be taken to an intensive care unit after taking a scary helmet-to-helmet hit from Browns safety Tashuan Gipson in Green Bay's home win last Sunday.
According to Rapoport, Finley's neck injury was diagnosed as a spinal contusion, but it may not require him to have surgery. After regaining all movement on Monday, Finley is now able to walk with balance.
Although it's uncertain just how much time Finley would need to miss, it's pretty clear that he won't play for the Packers again in 2013. The team is likely to put him on season-ending injured reserve in the next few days. So far Finley's recovery has been positive enough to think the injury won't be career-ending.
The Packers will start Andrew Quarless in Finley's place going forward, beginning with the Week 8 Sunday night game at Minnesota.
MARTIN COULD RETURN THIS SEASON
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not have to live too long without running back Doug Martin.
NFL.com reports that Martin could be back by Week 10 after suffering a torn labrum in last week’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Bucs are hoping for a Nov. 11 return, but if he experiences a setback in his rehabilitation between now and then, he’ll be shutdown for the season.
MORE NFL LONDON GAMES
America's Team" will get a chance to be "England's Team."
The Dallas Cowboys will be among four NFL teams making their first trip to play a regular-season game in London in 2014, the league announced on Thursday. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed the three matchups during a luncheon with journalists in London, in advance of Sunday's Week 8 game between the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars in Wembley Stadium.
The Jaguars will be the ones hosting the Cowboys in the same venue in 2014. Next season's other matchups in London will be Atlanta Falcons hosting the Detroit Lions and the Oakland Raiders hosting the Miami Dolphins.
The dates and times for the three games have yet to be announced, although Oct. 26 is a good bet for one of them to match the timing of 2013. Beyond '14, the Jaguars are also slated to host games in London in both 2015 and 2016.
Contributors: David Steele, Vinnie Iyer, Rana L. Cash