As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ losing streak has stretched to eight games, the future of third-year coach Raheem Morris has come into question.

There have been rumors he will be asked to relinquish his defensive coordinator duties if he’s allowed to return next season. After a 10-win season last year, dipping to 4-10 has been a major step backward.

Whatever changes, tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. wants to make sure Morris returns next season.

“Coach Morris…he’s the best motivational guy I’ve been around. He gets his guys going. It’s not (shown in) the won-loss column, but I’ve never been around anybody better than him. I really haven’t. It sucks what’s going on here, but we need him to carry on. We really need this. He is the main part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We need that guy. I can’t say enough about him.

“I think I’m speaking for the team. This is how everybody feels. They would give their right arm for this guy. We just need this guy. We didn’t have a good season. Try to finish off the last two games but we need this guy to move on to the next year. We’ve got to move on from this year. He’s just the heart of this team.”

BEING CAREFUL: The announcement this week that the NFL will station a specialist in the press box each week to help teams monitor whether players have suffered possible concussions is another step in the league’s emphasis on treating and preventing head injuries.

The latest step comes after Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy suffered a concussion when hit by Pittsburgh’s James Harrison. McCoy was allowed to return to the game though Browns doctors admitted they had not seen the direct hit because they were working on the team sideline.

“I think it’s good. Me coming off a concussion this year, I think it’s real important,” safety Jordan Pugh said. “As players, you’re trying to get back in the game any way possible. Sometimes you can do it at your own (risk). Having that outside source, an unbiased party, out there for your protection, that’s good.”

Wide receiver Steve Smith, who has had one concussion during his career, said the league is taking necessary steps to help the players.

“They have a lot of data that’s saying how it impacts and what happens. It’s a thing you can’t just sweep under the rug and say, ‘Well, we didn’t have the accurate reading,’ because of the long-term effects and the damages it has on people,” Smith said.

“All these guys that are having these problems, they go back and examine their brain and see the long-term effects of concussions. So it’s become a concerning issue that teams aren’t – you can’t fudge them anymore.”

Tight end Greg Olsen said hard hits are part of the game in the NFL.

“At the end of the day, everybody here knows what we signed up for. I know it’s the league covering us. We appreciate them trying to look out for guys – and they should,” Olsen said.

“But at the same point, no one should really feel sorry for us because at the end of the day, if you don’t want to play and risk that future injury and health, no one’s forcing you to play. Not that I want to go out and get cheap-shotted and knocked unconscious. But if you’re playing within the framework of the rules – the way they have them designed now – the rest you kind of take as just comes with the territory.”

BROTHERLY ADVICE: Last week, Southern Cal junior offensive tackle Matt Kalil announced he will forego his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Expected to be a top-10 draft choice, the younger Kalil talked with his brother, Panthers center Ryan Kalil, before making his decision.

“He called me and asked me a lot of questions,” Ryan Kalil said. “I tried not to influence his decision one way or the other. I just gave him the facts.

“I gave him as much advice as he wanted and tried to ultimately make sure he made the decision himself because that’s a big decision. I want to make sure it’s one that he’s proud of and happy with for the rest of his life, not ‘my brother told me to or didn’t tell me to.’ “

INJURY UPDATE: Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (hamstring) and safety Charles Godfrey (shoulder) remain the most serious injury concerns, coach Ron Rivera said.

Neither practiced Wednesday when the team worked out indoors at the Charlotte Convention Center. Rivera said it was too early to know the status of either Munnerlyn or Godfrey. Should Munnerlyn miss the game, R.J. Stanford would move into his starting spot with Pugh stepping in for Godfrey.

Offensive tackle Jordan Gross (ankle) and defensive tackle Charles Johnson (back) also missed the Wednesday practice, and tight end Jeremy Shockey was given the day off.

With a Saturday game, Rivera said the team will get in its usual amount of practice because it worked out Tuesday, typically a day off. Despite working indoors Wednesday, Rivera said the team got in the same work it would have done had it been outside.

“That was the first time I ever practiced in a ballroom,” Pugh said. “But that’s a new experience you can chalk up on the board.”

PRO BOWL UPDATE: Cam Newton remains in third place in fan voting for NFC Pro Bowl quarterback, well behind Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and New Orleans’ Drew Brees. Smith is fifth in voting for NFC wide receivers.

The fan vote counts for one-third of the total that will determine which players make the Pro Bowl. Players and coaches will vote this week and results will be announced Dec. 27.

By Stephen F. Holder and Joe Smith, Times Staff Writers

Posted: Dec 05, 2011 02:56 PM

TAMPA — QB Josh Freeman, who missed his first game in two years Sunday due to a right shoulder injury, is on track to return to practice Wednesday and is optimistic he’ll play against the Jaguars next Sunday.

Freeman said the plan is to rehab the shoulder for a couple days with hopes of resuming throwing during Wednesday’s practice. He had been limited last week to some soft throws after injuring the shoulder on the final play of the Bucs’ loss to the Titans on Nov. 27. Coach Raheem Morris remained hopeful Freeman would return Wednesday, but acknowledged they’ll be cautious with their franchise quarterback.

“You don’t want to hurt your quarterback any further,” Morris said. “You want to be smart with him and figure out what he can do and how fast you can let him do it.”

Also on the injury front, CB Aqib Talib is unsure if he’ll play Sunday after aggravating a hamstring injury on the first series against the Panthers. Talib, who was forced to leave the game, has been coping with the injury for weeks and has played through a great deal of discomfort.

“It’s still in there,” Talib said of the injury. “You can play with it until you make a certain move.”

Morris said Talib will undergo an MRI, but pointed out the corner has a lot of pain tolerance.

“He’s a tough kid. His toughness is off the charts when it comes to dealing with certain injuries,” Morris said. “He’s kind of Ronde (Barber)-like in that sense. . . We’ll have to see where he is, go through the MRI process, see when you can run, see if you can run.”

PRICE CHECK: Morris apologized for using a four-letter expletive during Sunday’s post-game news conference, calling it “frustration on my part.” He used the term in responding to a question about why he told DT Brian Price to leave the field after committing a costly personal foul penalty in the third quarter.

Morris said Price’s standing in the lockeroom played a role in why he made the move, pointing out he has a “low tolerance” for players he depends on for leadership.

“We cannot make those types of mistakes, and he’s got to be an example-setter,” Morris said. Morris said he spoke with Price Monday and will talk to him again about the incident.

“He knows he can’t hurt his football team that way,” Morris said.

NOWHERE TO RUN: Wondering why RB LeGarrette Blount seemed to have nowhere to run on his 11 mostly fruitless carries?

That’s because the Panthers, knowing that Freeman was out, made certain of it.

“With Josh Freeman out and (Josh Johnson) stepping in, a lot of teams would be looking to stack the box,” Blount said. “(They think) we don’t have Freeman so they don’t have nothing to worry about.

“When safeties shoot through gaps, they’re not respecting your pass at all.”

Blount went on to say that Johnson acquitted himself well, saying, “We didn’t miss a beat with Josh Johnson in there. I don’t know what else we can ask for. He’s a solid backup.”

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer

Posted: Oct 19, 2011 11:33 AM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers long-snapper Andrew Economos suffered a torn Achilles just prior to the start of training camp. But his season may not be over.

Economos returnd to practice Wednesday at the Bucs’ facility in Surrey, England. General manager Mark Dominik says the Bucs have 21 days to activate Economos and expects to do so.

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer

Posted: Aug 24, 2011 01:35 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie middle linebacker Mason Foster has picked up another NFL “first” — his first league-issued fine.

Foster found out Wednesday he was fined $20,000 for his hit on Patriots WR Chad Ochocinco in Thursday’s exhibition game against the Patriots. Foster’s agent, Steve Caric, said he would appeal the fine.

Foster was called for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on the play, in which his forearm and shoulder appeared to go into the head of Ochocinco, breaking up a pass play.

“Just got to pay it and keep on going from there,” Foster said. “Learn from it.”

Ochocinco, for his part, has also praised Foster on Twitter, calling it a great hit, and offering to pay the fine if there was one. According to league rules, Ochocinco isn’t allowed to foot the bill, but reiterated in a new Twitter message Wednesday that he intends to reimburse Foster.

“Dad, no disrespect, but I don’t agree with (the Mason Foster) fine,” Ochocinco sent in a tweet aimed at Goodell. “I’ll be reimbursing him personally. Please feel free to contact me.”

Foster appreciated the respect.

“Definitely, growing up when you’re younger, (Ochocinco) is one of the guys you always see on TV,” Foster said. “So it was cool to get respect from another guy. But, at the same time, it’s just playing football, I try to go out and hit everybody.”

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer

Posted: Aug 24, 2011 01:35 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie middle linebacker Mason Foster has picked up another NFL “first” — his first league-issued fine.

Foster found out Wednesday he was fined $20,000 for his hit on Patriots WR Chad Ochocinco in Thursday’s exhibition game against the Patriots. Foster’s agent, Steve Caric, said he would appeal the fine.

Foster was called for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on the play, in which his forearm and shoulder appeared to go into the head of Ochocinco, breaking up a pass play.

“Just got to pay it and keep on going from there,” Foster said. “Learn from it.”

Ochocinco, for his part, has also praised Foster on Twitter, calling it a great hit, and offering to pay the fine if there was one. According to league rules, Ochocinco isn’t allowed to foot the bill, but reiterated in a new Twitter message Wednesday that he intends to reimburse Foster.

“Dad, no disrespect, but I don’t agree with (the Mason Foster) fine,” Ochocinco sent in a tweet aimed at Goodell. “I’ll be reimbursing him personally. Please feel free to contact me.”

Foster appreciated the respect.

“Definitely, growing up when you’re younger, (Ochocinco) is one of the guys you always see on TV,” Foster said. “So it was cool to get respect from another guy. But, at the same time, it’s just playing football, I try to go out and hit everybody.”

[Last modified: Aug 24, 2011 04:56 PM]

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