Why the Train is Quickly Derailing on Raheem Morris' Tampa Bay Bucs Reign

In an article by Stephen Holder of The St. Petersburg Times, The agent of Tampa DT Brian Price thinks head coach Raheem Morris went overboard:

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"He spent six days in a (walking) boot last week. It’s that same fight and attitude that probably (prompted the Bucs) to say, ‘I’m sorry you just got out of a boot, but go ahead and play football for us.’ I know Brian personally had to be disappointed because I know how he loves playing for Raheem. He’s made statements like he wouldn’t want to play for anyone else."

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Also, an article by Gregg Rosenthal of NBC Sports puts the actions of coach Morris into question:

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"Morris has the right to discipline his team, but he has to be careful to be consistent. He can’t suddenly change the way he coaches or his team might tune him out."

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So this is certainly an odd position that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now in. And when something like this occurs, this is where true identities are learned.

Which leaders will emerge, if any, and how do they get control of the team? Veterans like DB Ronde Barber surely come to mind especially on such a young team.

That said, after going a solid 10-6 in 2010 but getting the short straw when it came to the postseason, the Bucs' have come full circle but not in a good way. After the 2009 season Tampa finished 3-13 and had a 180-degree turnaround a year later.

Now, the Buccaneers are back on the down-swing and headed toward maybe a 5-11 season. With such inconsistency in the last three seasons coming fast, how long will Raheem Morris will be in charge?

After what happened in Week 13 though, the future certainly doesn't look bright. Getting onto the championship level in pro football, or any level of football for that matter, needs consistency.

When you go from 3-13 to 10-6 that's great. But from 10-6 to 4-12 or 5-11 doesn't provide you with any foundation to build on. Add in some questionable actions and it's no surprise that Tampa Bay has fallen from grace so quickly.

All this being said, Raheem Morris should be given at least one more year to get the Buccaneers back on track as he's proven a team this young can win. For his sake and the Bucs' fans sake though, let's hope he doesn't lose any respect or confidence from his players.

If that happens, then the proverbial derailing train will crash sooner than later.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27