Jeff Jagodzinski Firing Crazy to Some, Buccaneer Inmates May Be Running Asylum

"You cannot let the inmates run the asylum..."

Hank Stram to then Tribune reporter Tom Edrington, 1977

Hank Stram told me that oh so very many years ago.

It was true then, and it is still so very true today.

It's true in all facets of life, especially in the National Football League.

The Buccaneers face the Houston Texans tonight in their final preseason game, and no one really cares except for those players on the bubble, fighting for a spot on Raheem Morris' 53-man roster.

Sure, Josh Freeman may see his most extensive action to date, surrounded by the usual second-string suspects. No starters tonight; save them for next week when America's team, the Dallas Cowboys, comes calling.

The Buccaneers have been in the national spotlight for the past two days after offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski's firing.

It's drawing huge criticism from some camps. On the other hand, some believe it was better to get rid of Jagodzinski now rather than later.

But what really happened? What was the decision process?

What the heck is really going on over there in the Palace on MLK, aka One Buc Place?

One very astute NFL observer is former NFL general manager Mike Lombardi. You can read his weekly thoughts in the National Football Post.

Lombardi has a VERY interesting observation on this latest Buccaneer "decision."

He wrote this:

"What would worry me most if I were a Bucs fan is that word going around was that while players and (assistant) coaches were not happy with Jagodzinski, Morris in fact got along with him—but felt he needed to make the change to make peace with everyone. That doesn't sound like the work of the leader, but rather the work of a committee."

Could the inmates be running this asylum?

Perhaps.

And yes, you could hear it in Morris' voice during the Thursday press conference—he was one nervous dude. Very nervous.

Regardless of what's going on over there, the Texans are pretty much an afterthought.

This team has bigger problems than Jagodzinski or players and assistants influencing decisions by their leader.

The bigger, more looming problem is America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys, coming next Sunday to a stadium in Tampa.