Fight!
August 14th, 2018
Dirk Koetter won’t be happy with this story.
One thing the Bucs coach does not like is reporters asking about fights in practice. Or writing about fights. But here we go.
The second skirmish (to Joe’s knowledge) of Bucs training camp happened Monday at practice and, as a result, Koetter ordered practice over with earlier than scheduled.
The fight — unknown assailants — happened at a perfect time to avoid media attention. Just as the team was at the far end of one of the practice fields — where Joe shot the Brent Grimes pick — reporters were told it was the final period of the day for practice. By the time Joe and other reporters reached the media staging area outside of One Buc Palace, the fight had already occurred and Koetter ordered the team to run gassers as a result, ending practice.
Usually, fights happen when training camp runs long and players are getting sick and tired of hitting each other. We are in Week 3 of training camp and but for the game at Miami last week, the Bucs have blasted the same guys in practice over and over.
Reluctantly, Koetter addressed the fight and it was easy to tell from his demeanor about the subject he would have rather sat in a mound of fire ants in Winter Haven wearing only boxers.
“Yeah, we had a fight. Big deal!” Koetter groused. “It’s football. … You are dreaming if you think that stuff is not going to happen in football. I don’t think twice about that. It’s over. Whatever happened, happened. And it is going to happen again sometime. That’s just the way it is.
“Tempers are going to flare. These guys are competing out there, they are competing for jobs.”
Koetter noted he has a policy if a guy gets in a fight, he sends them into One Buc Palace as punishment. Given how the fight broke out near the end of practice during the final period of practice, Koetter had the team run gassers and ended practice roughly 15 minutes early.
When probed for additional details about later in his press conference, it was clear to a blind man Koetter had his fill talking fights. Asked if he had a message to his team about fights, Koetter quipped, “Yes. Don’t fight.” When asked to elaborate Koetter snapped, “Do I need to be any clearer than that?”
Again, there is nothing that Joe has seen, outside of a rare question that gets under his skin like a hypodermic needle, that sets off Koetter more than talking about fights.
August 14th, 2018 at 12:26 am
Tell me what head coach would sanction fighting between his own players? Fights are fights. I do not understand why it needs further explanation and why reporters are stubborn to ask the same questions over and over. Clearly he was frustrated.
August 14th, 2018 at 12:35 am
Dirk is soft
August 14th, 2018 at 1:14 am
Let them fight Dirk. Shake off the “soft” label . Because you wouldn’t none of Sean Payton doesnt mean your team should reflect that. We got a bunch of squares. Wreak havoc? Besides, for most of these guys the only fight in training camp they will probably win is a fist fight.
August 14th, 2018 at 4:42 am
Fights waste valuable time and risk unnecessary injuries. Nothing productive can result from attacking a teammate.
August 14th, 2018 at 5:48 am
yawn
August 14th, 2018 at 6:12 am
Really kind of boring to hear about a fight without knowing who was in it…..I guess we will eventually find out.
August 14th, 2018 at 6:18 am
I like the part where Koetter said “no fighting” reporter says, “is that it?”, Dirk annoyingly says “do I need to be any clearer than that?”
August 14th, 2018 at 6:34 am
from what I heard this morning on 620, from the same guy that asked Koetter about the the message for the team about fights, Jensen and Kwon were involved.
August 14th, 2018 at 6:53 am
Fights gets players flagged, suspended, and fined. Bellichick has zero tolerance, as does Koetter. It is great to get after one another whistle to whistle as physical as possible, but you must be disciplined driven as the mantra goes…
I would have punished the whole team as well…..making them run gassers or whatever discipline type of drill as a result of their teammate’s poor choices.
August 14th, 2018 at 7:18 am
In the service at basic training….I was late getting into formation and the DI made everyone else do pushups while I watched……that was an effective tool to make me & everyone else shape up.
August 14th, 2018 at 7:32 am
QB coach is a poor head coach.
August 14th, 2018 at 7:59 am
I heard it started when JW inappropriately touched another player….
What a hassle.
August 14th, 2018 at 7:59 am
^^^^^
Allegedly
August 14th, 2018 at 8:57 am
Perhaps this is a great sign. It definitely much better than the “HEY EVERYONE LOOK AT ME! AND CHECK ME OUT TOO!” preseason from last year. 2 fights in one preseason has to be a record for us.
This team still need some toughness and grit in them. For too long they didn’t have that mentality in any players (excluding Ayers) and coaches. Maybe Just Maybe they will have the right mindset to win close grimy and physical games more often.
I didn’t think some players understand the lack of performance affect their teammate, coaches, personnel and their families lives. But, it simply no excuses this year for sure.
August 14th, 2018 at 9:04 am
Kwon and the new center
August 14th, 2018 at 9:25 am
They fight and they’re called soft now. Can one article come out without people whining. It blows my mind that you can complain so much about a team but yet first thing in the morning you read every article and complain. I don’t wanna hear about “we’re done accepting bad play” I’ve been on this bumpy ride as much as you but I remain optimistic. Otherwise what’s the point
August 14th, 2018 at 9:27 am
Mike Bajakian is not the head coach.
August 14th, 2018 at 10:10 am
Broy34
Temper your expectations and take a trip down memory lane.
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2017/09/the-morning-after-15/#comments
I’ve been an optimistic off-season Bucs fan since 1976, but I also have a pair of working eyes.
I got blasted after the first game last year after calling the team out for looking terrible and getting lucky.
I don’t see some of those people on there anymore.
Wonder why that is?
My point being, it’s great to be optimistic as long as you’re realistic.
BTW, when is Gruden getting here?
August 14th, 2018 at 10:13 am
Training camp fights…………..Yawn………………Must be a slow news day…………….
August 14th, 2018 at 10:30 am
This is the oldest trick in the book done by players to get a practice over with early. Many players of the past have confirmed this.
August 14th, 2018 at 10:42 am
Dooshlarue sure does think about Jameis touching body parts a lot.
Allegedly
August 14th, 2018 at 10:55 am
tbbf
I agree…..why mention it if you cant provide names…..was it Jensen and GMC?….marpet and allen?….VHG and godwin?….barber and LVD?…..who the F was it?…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
August 14th, 2018 at 11:05 am
Joe
Didn’t post from 2 hours ago get deleted?
August 14th, 2018 at 11:44 am
Dirk has had a soft image here at Tampa Bay. Seems like he’s really tryin to change though. He sees the handwriting on the wall which is good. Perform this year or go Fishing.
August 14th, 2018 at 11:49 am
Man, am I the only one that wishes Mayweather would fight Conor in MMA?! Mayweather’s one of the reasons that nobody watches boxing anymore. The dude dodged Manny Pacquiao until Pacquiao had zero chance to beat him. Then came the McGregor circus to get him to the magic #50. It’s too bad that he didn’t get “Camacho’d” by Julio Cesar Chavez back in the day! Julio had 107 professional wins……86 by knockout.
“Money Mayweather” pffffft!
August 14th, 2018 at 11:56 am
Said to be between the orange headed and red headed ones. A fight over whose is prettier?
August 14th, 2018 at 12:07 pm
Bucboi
GMC. In a fight ? You so crazy. 🙂
August 14th, 2018 at 12:56 pm
jmark
lol…..you right…..he wouldn’t bust a grape in a fruit fight…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
August 14th, 2018 at 3:11 pm
I don’t care about the fights…so long as players do not attack or mouth off to coaches and Cheerleaders.
August 14th, 2018 at 5:37 pm
I’ve been a little surprised given all the love for the Jags here that this story has not been brought up for the past two days.
This is the perfect thread. Fights in practice can have effects…like getting Dante Fowler and Jalen Rose suspended by their team for a week each.
Not for fighting each other…Fowler fought Nagokue…press types recorded some of it…Rose threatened media types if they dared cover the fight. Rose has had an ongoing feud with Jax media that began his rookie season. This is just the latest escalation.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24359993/jaguars-jalen-ramsey-dante-fowler-suspended-1-week-violating-team-rules