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Bucs' Morris brushes off Talib curfew incident

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune
and ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 4, 2009

Updated: 11/04/2009 03:04 am

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris downplayed a radio report that second-year CB Aqib Talib cursed him out after breaking curfew following the 35-7 loss to New England in London.

WDAE, 620 AM, host Steve Duemig recently reported that Talib used profanity toward Morris when Tampa Bay's rookie coach admonished him and several teammates for arriving late at the team hotel hours after the Bucs fell to 0-7.

"A couple of guys went out for dinner, some with their wives, some with their teammates," Morris said Tuesday. "They came back late to the after-game curfew. They've been dealt with by myself and by the organization.

"As for the rumors of the confrontations, they are what they are. Myself and Talib, we have a great relationship. I don't think we've ever had an argument. I've yelled at him before, but I've never, ever been disrespected by Aqib Talib in life. Never."

Morris didn't say profanities weren't uttered during the Oct. 25 incident with Talib, who was not made available for comment.

"We've used swear words to each other every day," Morris said. "I wouldn't necessarily call it disrespect. That's talk on the football field. It's a form of communication. He has always been as respectful as can be to a coach."

New kicker

The winless Buccaneers made a change at kicker Tuesday, signing Connor Barth and releasing Shane Andrus.

Barth, 23, made 10 of 12 field-goal attempts and all 24 of his extra-point tries for Kansas City in 2008. He was waived by the Chiefs this summer. The former University of North Carolina standout was signed by the Dolphins on Aug. 10 and released three weeks later.

"He had a very good workout for us," Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said of Barth, who converted 54 of 71 field-goal attempts at North Carolina before joining the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. "Consistency for Shane in practice was a concern."

Andrus, signed a month ago after the Bucs released Mike Nugent, missed his only field-goal attempt and struggled on kickoffs.

"(Barth) had a nice workout, a really good workout," Morris said. "Now it's his turn. Let's see what he can do."

Misery does not want company

There are a lot of negative connotations that go with being the only winless NFL team.

The Bucs have lost 11 consecutive games, the league's longest active losing streak. Tennessee and St. Louis won Sunday, leaving the Bucs alone at 0-7. Many fans are wondering if Tampa Bay could match the 0-16 mark Detroit posted last season.

Despite Tampa Bay's woes, Morris is not interested in any of that.

"I'm not interested in sharing misery with anyone else in the league," Morris said. "I'm not interested in who doesn't have a win. I'm interested in getting our own win."

No game ball?

Many teams give game balls to individual players or coaches after wins, but if Tampa Bay knocks off Green Bay, WR Antonio Bryant has an idea who should receive that honor.

Nobody.

"I definitely wouldn't want anyone to feel good about it, but be hungry for the next one," Bryant said.

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