Looks like Sabby knows the score about how things work in the NFL:
Piscitelli: "I Don't Think It Was Ever A Competition"
UPDATED: Bucs SS Sabby Piscitelli, who lost his starting job to newcomer Sean Jones, voiced his displeasure over his demotion and the way in which the team handled it. Bucs head coach Raheem Morris reacted somewhat harshly during his press conference. Read the comments from Morris and Piscitelli here.
<DIV id=Text>Buccaneers safety Sabby Piscitelli reacted on Wednesday to losing the starting strong safety position to veteran Sean Jones, who was signed in March. Piscitelli was the Buccaneers starter in 2009, and was criticized for missed tackles and blown assignments.
"I don't think it was ever a competition," said Piscitelli. "That's my opinion. I don't think it was a competition that's all I'm going to say on that."
Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris was asked for his reaction to Piscitelli's comments.
"I don't have to, and that's unfortunate for him. That's probably why he didn't get it,"Â said Morris. "Generally you go out there and do your very best. That's the thing to do, so that's Sabby's problem."Â
Morris was asked if the team would consider moving Piscitelli because he is unhappy that he lost the starting position.
"No there is no such thing as an unhappy player. The only the person that's going to be unhappy here is me. His job is to make us happy,"Â said Morris. "He's got to do his job. That's the nature of the beast. That's how the NFL works."Â
Later in the press conference during a response to a question about running back Derrick Ward, Morris talked about Piscitelli again.
"In ‘09 we weren't a very good football team. We weren't a very good organized football team as far as our running game. We all struggled," said Morris. "He was a guy that was a part of it. He went out there and he probably didn't get the holes that he wanted. Whatever the reasons were nobody cares. It is your job to go out there and get it done. That is the same thing I'd tell Sabby. He feels bad about not being a starter. He feels bad because he feels like he was unjustly done, and nobody really cares. You got to out there and get it done and show us what you got. You only got one chance to do this thing, myself included."Â
Piscitelli explained how he learned about his demotion from defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake.
"I got a text message, and I didn't like that so I told him I'd talk to him first thing in the morning," said Piscitelli. "They already posted it (the depth chart on the team website). I came in and talked to Jimmy Lake, face-to-face like a man, and just sat down with him and had a discussion, and I talked with [Morris] later.
"The text was from Jimmy. I would like to talk man-to-man so that's why I came to see him in the morning."
Last year Piscitelli (6-3, 224) finished with 80 tackles, five passes broken up, and two interceptions. Yesterday Morris said that Jones was picked over Piscitelli because Jones was more physical. Piscitelli was asked if he felt he played well enough to be the starting safety.
"I'm my worst critic, and I have to improve on every aspect of the game," said Piscitelli. "I need to keep on improving, but if you ask me about that, I don't think it was ever a competition."
In previous seasons Tampa Bay has used a rotation at safety with the backup third safety getting a significant amount of snaps. Piscitelli said he wasn't sure if he would be used in that manner.
"That's up to the head coach," said Morris. "My job is make sure they know they got to have me on the field some time. Just having that ability to make them say ‘we got to have Sabby on the field at some point, somewhere to make plays.' That's my job and I'm going to keep on doing that."
Piscitelli, who was clearly miffed about discussing his demotion, said he would approach practice and the preseason games as a way to try and earn playing time with the Bucs, or with another team.
"I'm taking everyday like I always do," Piscitelli said. "I'm going to come out here and try and keep getting better.
"I'm just going to keep coming to work. I still have the same goals in mind. I'll keep on improving. I know my ability. I know what I can do. I know I can help teams win. I can help this team win. I'm going to keep on playing my hardest and make plays."
http://pewterreport.com/articles/view/7369
