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Gruden: Galloway's 'Emotions Flared'

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 8, 2008

TAMPA - Bucs coach Jon Gruden on Monday said he understood WR Joey Galloway's frustration and subsequent decision to leave the sideline early during Tampa Bay's 24-14 loss against the Giants during Sunday's NFC wild-card game.

Galloway was still on the sideline with 5:37 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter with Tampa Bay's offense on the field. He had a towel over his head and helmet in hand before eventually walking to the locker room with 3:16 to go.

After the game, Gruden said he and Galloway had a sideline disagreement, but he believed his player left because of shoulder pain.

However, Gruden did not acknowledge during his Monday news conference that pain influenced Galloway's decision.

"I think more than anything he was just very frustrated that he couldn't compete at the level that he wanted to compete at," Gruden said. "We had a great relationship with him and I understand the frustration and we needed him Sunday and unfortunately he wasn't 100 percent. There was no disagreement.

"We made a decision to pull him out of the game and obviously he was hurting. You can see it on the tape Monday morning."

Galloway finished with one reception for 9 yards, but this was not the time he has struggled in the playoffs.

He was never won a playoff game in four attempts. In those four games, Galloway has 13 receptions for 159 yards and no touchdowns, which also may have added to his frustration.

"It's hard enough to play in this league, let alone with one arm and I think emotions flared," Gruden said. "This is very important to him. He's played for a long time and he wanted a shot at a championship and he knows he's a key cog here and one of the big reasons why we had a chance every Sunday, and I think the emotions got the best of him, but I can appreciate that."

JACKSON TORE MCL: Rookie S Tanard Jackson tore his MCL during Sunday's loss against the Giants, Gruden said on his weekly WDAE, 620 AM radio show.

Jackson finished this season with 78 tackles and two interceptions.

BROOKS PLANS TO RETURN: LB Derrick Brooks put to rest any rumors he might consider retiring after 13 seasons.

Brooks finished the regular season with 162 tackles (50 assisted), which is an improvement from last season's total of 150.

"I expect to be here because I deserve to be here. I take it no further than that," Brooks said. "If the fire wasn't there anymore, I'd be the first to tell you, but it's there even more than it was at this point last year.

"At 4-12 last season, we did have a lot to hang our hats on. I asked myself, 'I hope I wasn't selling a dream.' I hope I was selling these guys what was from my heart and what was real and it was.

"I sat up there this year and the same things I found myself repeating, so I know it's real and I know it's from the heart. I expect to be here and I want to here ... I look to lead these guys in 2008 more than any other year I've been here."

A-TRAIN RETURN? Bucs FB Mike Alstott went on the injured reserve list before the season because of a neck injury but has not announced if he intends to retire or play again in 2008.

Gruden was asked about Alstott on Monday but was unsure of his player's status.

"We're going to let the dust settle a little bit," Gruden said. "Obviously, that was a tough start to training camp. There were a lot of things that were strange and tough and hard to swallow, and that was truly tough indeed. We'll talk to Mike and we'll let you know when we do."

POINTING TO THE FUTURE: S Sabby Piscitelli struggled to watch three of his fellow rookie draftees, DE Gaines Adams, G Arron Sears and S Tanard Jackson, excel on the field while he focused on rehabilitation.

Piscitelli fractured his foot on a special teams play during a 24-3 victory against St. Louis in Week 3. He was placed on injured reserve and missed the rest of his rookie season.

"I had sleepless nights for a while. I couldn't even watch our game on Sunday for a month or so. It was real hard," Piscitelli said. "Even when I did watch it, I lost my appetite and the day was long. It was hard. Every weekend when it came to a Saturday or Sunday, I was real quiet. It was real hard.

"As the season went on, being on the field Sunday was a great experience."

Piscitelli was encouraged to see the early success this rookie class had and said he will be ready for organized team activities in March.

"I'm excited to go out there and showcase my ability next year," Piscitelli said. "It will be my second rookie year and now I have to go out there and make a name for myself. All of those guys had incredible rookie years and hopefully I'm blessed enough to have as great a rookie year as they did, next year."

DISAPPOINTING FIRST YEAR: DE Patrick Chukwurah was signed in the offseason to beef up Tampa Bay's pass rush, but he missed three games because of a knee injury and three more after hurting his shoulder.

Chukwurah's injuries contributed to the most exasperating of his six NFL seasons.

"I came in and played three games and then got my shoulder hurt. At that point, coaches were looking at me like they really couldn't count on me because they didn't know if I could stay healthy," Chukwurah said. "That is kind of the frustrating thing because you don't ask to get hurt. You never act scared. You never do things purposely to get yourself hurt.

"Like I said, that's the nature of our business. You can do two things. You can either deal with it or you're gone. I chose to deal with it and move on and hopefully next year will be a better year for me."

Anwar S. Richardson

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