Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold players-only meeting

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers held a players-only team meeting this week.

Not only did the Buccaneers lose the type of game playoff teams hold on and win on Sunday, but they did so in heartbreaking fashion. Linebacker Lavonte David, who was fantastic as a rookie last season, hit rookie quarterback Geno Smith out-of-bounds after a 10-yard scramble, allowing the New York Jets to move from the Tampa Bay 45-yard line to the 30-yard line. Jets kicker Nick Folk then hit the game-winning field goal. The Buccaneers had just taken a 17-15 lead on a field goal by Rian Lindell with 34 seconds left.

The meeting, according to Florio, was not only to discuss the loss, but centered around quarterback Josh Freeman, who recently had the “C” taken off of his jersey. Freeman, who has had an up-and-down career with the Buccaneers, went 15-of-31 for 210 yards with a touchdown and an interception in Sunay’s loss.

Freeman entered the final season of his five-year rookie contract without an extension (and not much of a thought of one). The team is concerned about the “legitimacy of the vote” that led to Freeman being removed as a captain.

The Buccaneers selected North Carolina State quarterback Mike Glennon in this year’s draft.