Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schianosteadfastly has insisted that he's not worried about his job status, despite his 0-6 start to the season. But Schiano's gig is far from safe.
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NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport spoke with Buccaneers sources Thursday before Tampa's game against the Carolina Panthers who said there is "no guarantee" Schiano will even make it through the season. Those sources say that Schiano could lose his job if the Buccaneers suffer a string of embarrassing losses, show a lack of effort, and if there is an "obvious loss of the locker room" including current players speaking out against Schiano.
That sounds like an invitation. Ex-Buccaneers continue to speak up about Schiano with increasing bitterness, like in NFL Media columnist Michael Silver's Thursday takedown of Schiano.
Schiano needs his players to save him, or he's going to have time to vacation in Cuba. The defense especially has not played well in the past two weeks. Rapoport notes that a decision to fire Schiano will not be made rashly, so we wouldn't expect anything to happen during the Bucs' long weekend if they lose Thursday night.
UPDATE: During the fourth quarter of the Buccaneers' 31-13 loss to the Panthers, Silver tweeted that based on their conversations with Bucs sources, neither he nor Rapoport expect Schiano to be fired Friday.
Greg Cosell joined the most recent episode of the "Around the League Podcast."
