Schiano's Hard Line Approach Not Playing Well in Tampa

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano apparently is taking lessons from New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin's book of old-school coaching.

Schiano's hardass approach with his players isn't going over well, according to reports in Tampa.

There are now emerging reports favoritism, along with players who don't fall in line getting cut, and Schiano bringing in players from his old Rutgers teams.

Sports Illustrated reporter André Brand says that Schiano's attitude has created a huge problem within the team and it's gotten worse over the past few weeks, especially in light of the Josh Freeman situation.

At least that won't be a direct distraction anymore. Freeman was released today.

Here is what Brand said in the SI article:

"In speaking with agents of several Bucs players recently, I have sensed a common theme: There is an atmosphere of fear and distrust under the current regime in Tampa. Players have told their agents about coaches roaming through the locker room (typically the players' sanctuary away from coaches) and staff videotaping players on the sidelines during losses to single out players laughing or horsing around."

To add to this controversy, there are now reports that Schiano leaked a story about Freeman going to drug rehab, which he denies, but the players union is looking into. It doesn't help Schiano's situation that the Bucs are 0-4 .

Schiano must not realize that this is the NFL, and his "my way or the highway" approach doesn't work on a bunch of millionaires like it does college freshmen. In school, if you have good depth, you can replace one good player with another one if that player is hurt or kicked off the team; it doesn't quite work that way in the pros.

Your best guy goes down, and your season may be over.

The way things are looking for Schiano, this season my not only be over, but his NFL career will be, too, if he doesn't find a way to at least co-exist with his players.