Okoye gets released by the Bucs, isn't happy about it

Amobi Okoye is not happy that he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - and he took some parting shots at Greg Schiano. Apparently, firing someone does not endear you to them. Color me surprised. His comments are pretty self-explanatory, via the Chicago Sun-Times:

"You can be a little cautious at times," Schiano said of Okoye, according to the Tampa Times Thursday night. "We've tried to do that. But at the end of the day, you've got to go out and earn a spot."

Recently, Schiano also said that the Bucs took a risk with Okoye because of his "history with that knee."

Those comments stung, Okoye said.

"It's too bad to hear the unfortunate things he's saying about my knee," Okoye said. "It's kind of unfair of him to say what he said to the media, painting a bad picture like my knee was always bad.

"It really makes me question the character of he himself, because, while I was there, he was trying to mold us to be kind of like him. It made me question all the things he was teaching me, as far as TBA -- Trust, Belief and Accountability -- his way of doing things," Okoye said. "It's like, 'Wow, what type of guy is this?' That really hurt."

After receiving an injury settlement, Okoye signed a one-year deal with the Bears.

"Fits like a glove, and being here last year, and knowing what I like to do, it's perfect," Okoye said.

Okoye's release remains puzzling. While the defensive tackle hadn't shown much (or anything) during the offseason to warrant his spot on the roster, all of that was due to a knee issue. A knee issue the Bucs were apparently aware of when they signed him. Okoye, of course, expects everything to be fine with a little bit of rest. The Bucs didn't think so - or they didn't think they could hold on to him for a few weeks while he recovered. Whether that's smart with the complete lack of depth the Bucs have at the position remains to be seen - although their judgement has been fairly accurate so far this offseason.