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While the drama continues and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 0-4, at least one former player believes that Greg Schiano wasn't involved in the drama, and that he will win the locker room back. Ronde Barber talked about the Bucs on the Fox Pre-game show yesterday, via the Daily Gazette (h/t Alexander Taylor on Twitter).
The best thing that they did was release Josh. Somehow, someway that situation had to end. It had gotten toxic from both sides. Josh was manipulating, everybody felt like Coach was manipulating, but I don't feel like Greg was that kind of guy. Greg wants what's best for this team. I think he can get the locker room back. I want to see him get the locker room back.
Whether or not those leaks were Schiano, at least some of them happened under his watch, and that makes it his responsibility. I do agree with Barber that Schiano wants what's best for his team. He wants to win. In fact he has to win to keep his job. That's not a profound statement, but it's good to keep in mind: Greg Schiano is not (intentionally, at least) sabotaging this team. He wants to win, and he's doing what he can to effect that.
I don't think Schiano has lost the locker room, either. At least, the team wasn't playing like he had. Despite all of the rumors and drama, the Buccaneers continued to play great defense and there certainly wasn't a lack of effort on offense, despite poor results. If the losses continue, he may lose the locker room -- but if they start winning, that should blow over, too.
As always, the key is winning. The Bucs will have an opportunity to start doing that by beating the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, avenging that awful, last-second loss of last season.