Greg Schiano denies rigging Bucs’ captain vote

Controversy erupted over how the Bucs picked their captains, though Greg Schiano denies rigging the vote.

by Matt Verderame

Sep 12, 2013, 1:18 PM UTC

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Part Of

Josh Freeman signs with Vikings

see all updates

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to have a controversy with how their captains were named, with some saying head coach Greg Schiano rigged the voting, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Rumors began swirling, indicating that Schiano manipulated the vote so that quarterback Josh Freeman would not be a captain for the first time since his rookie season of 2009. Schiano absolutely denies the claims, per the piece:

“I know there’s a story out there,” Schiano said. “It’s 100 percent false. If there was such a thing as 102 percent, this would be it.”

Instead of Freeman, guard Davin Joseph and wide receiver Vincent Jackson were named captains on offense. Certainly, Freeman isn't the only starting quarterback without a "C" on his chest, but considering all the stories about how tenuous his starting position is, his situation is much more interesting.

All of this chaos and confusion reportedly led to a players-only meeting before the Buccaneers Week 1 game against the underdog New York Jets, which Tampa Bay lost 18-17 on a late field goal.

Everything going on is apparently starting to grate the players, according to Shaun King, an ex-Buccaneers quarterback. Per the Times article:

“There’s a lot of disarray in Tampa,” King said. “Some of the players felt there was an unfair counting of the captains vote. Greg Schiano is a micromanager, and it’s starting to wear thin with some of the players. I don’t think those guys are currently buying into the my-way-or-the-highway.”

Over at Bucs Nation, there is more talk about what exactly is wrong in Tampa Bay:

You have to wonder with these recent developments if there’s a rift between the players and their head coach. As we struggle to understand how a team so talented could play so poorly, what seems to be crystal clear is it’s not only Freeman’s future on the line right now.

This Sunday, the Buccaneers will host the New Orleans Saints.