Gruden fears Phillips has a broken arm

TAMPA - The Bucs are battered and bruised and with one game to go before a desperately needed bye week, much of the talk Monday at Jon Gruden's press conference centered on his battered backfield and injured strong safety Jermaine Phillips.

Gruden fired first letting those in attendance know updates would be given Wednesday. But he did acknowledge a concern that Phillips may have broken his left forearm.

"That's our fear, yes," Gruden said. 

The Bucs strong safety had two tackles in 13-9 loss at Dallas on Sunday before leaving the game in the first half. He had entered the game second on the team in tackles with 51.

Phillips suffered a broken right forearm in 2004 that forced him to miss the final five games and landed him on injured reserve.

-- IZZY GOULD
Times staff writer

Comments

[PhilipJ]

EVEN WORSE:

Tampa Bay's discipline -- or lack of it -- on Dallas' only touchdown drive. The Bucs committed four penalties to keep the series alive. Worse, they allowed the Cowboys to score with one second left in the first half. They have only themselves to blame for the loss.

[DR]

No PhilipJ, the refs threw and caught that touchdown pass. The refs blocked Matt Bryant's field goal attempt. The refs caused the fumble to start the second half. The refs made every tackle against the Bucs.

[miamivex]

Wow Dr now you sound like a Seahawk fan 48 yards... my kids little league team coulda done better than 48 yard against the Cowboys Swiss Cheese Defense

[jeff]

in the nfl if you cant run the ball its over ?

[Clad]

I agree with Jeff completely.Our running game sucks, plain and simple. I don't understand at all why Gruden doesn't play Michael Bennett. He is the only explosive running back we have. Dunn gives us absolutely nothing. He's over the hill and offers no speed and explosion. Graham is nothing more than a plodder.

Every stinking opponent will play zone defenses against us and make it practically impossible to throw if we can't run the ball. Denver does it and shuts us down. Dallas does the same thing yesterday.

Wake up Gruden and get Bennet some playing time!

You know it's really hard to follow all this nonsense about who should be active or playing because it really doesn't matter. The Bucs have a tall tight end that can easily out jump a corner or safety, but he never got a chance. I don't remember anybody from the Bucs get a good "look" from Garcia. I do remember on one occasion Alex Smith was behind the secondary an open while "Happy Feet" was throwing a gopher killer to Clayton. The gameplan, the play calling, and the execution by the quarterback is what is wrong with the Bucs. 3 FIELD GOALS, count 'em 3 FIELD GOALS, while the defense, good or bad penalties not withstanding, held them to 172 yards and 13 points. The Cowboys were beaten badly by the Rams, humiliated, but we can't run with the Cowboys. I can't wait for the "big win" over KC. I am predicting an upset over the Gruden underachievers! 'Nuff Said!!!

[Carlos Pena & Evan Longoria]

If you want somebody on offense to score, sign us up once the WS is over. We will show Tampa Bay fans how it is done.

[Voc]

One and done in the playoffs again this year.. So what if we keep winning division titles just to get bounced in the first round. That is not success, the goal is championships...

[Voc]

One and done if we make the playoffs this year. This team is not even built for the long haul wake up guys. Look at the most important position on offense this year and look at the wideouts...

What is to keep winning division titles to see the team bounced in the first round each year... As a long time Bucs fan, this team is in a lot of trouble, take a look at the division, and what these other teams are doing with the youth movement on offense...

[skp]

our depth at safety will get us through this, as long as piscitelli can stay healthy....

....i'm willing to give the bucs a pass given that their #1 FB, #1 WR, and #1b RB, i hope they get healthy for the home stretch because we have the opportunity to blow most of our upcoming opponents right out of the stadium if we can just complement this defense with more 3rd down conversions and finished drives....1 TD instead of a field goal was the difference in Denver as well as Dallas...frustrating but not hopeless

[Yoshi]

Man, its amazing looking at the difference between the pre-game comments and the post-game comments. Everyone had their seatbelts buckled up in the bandwagon and as soon as we mess up everyone jumps off and starts talking about we are so terrible. Teams lose, it happens, thats just part of the game but its the way we come back from the loss that shows if this is really a good team. I'll bet anything we come back fired up and get a win at KC. This team has a bunch of talent and is definately a Super Bowl contender. Yes, we had a chance to win but we couldnt capitalize sometimes thats the way the ball drops. I still have plenty of confidence in this team. These bandwagon fans will jump back on as soon as we win again>

[BEENABUC]

I dont mind losing at all but to lose becasue we couldn't muster 1 measly TD is gut wrenching!

[BEENABUC]

I meant because.

[ajepbuc]

I'm with you yoshi, these "fans" are the worst type of fans. how bout you guys just shut up and go voice ur see saw comments on some other site. seriously, you are annoying. evry game tampa loses you cry tampa sucks and what not, when they win they dont get enough respect...make up your damn minds!

[Voc]

If you look at the skill positions on this team how can you be so excited about the future of this offense...

[James]

The Bucs: On the rise

The Romeo-less Cowboys: Finished

DR, we all know you'll be a Titans "fan" by the end of the night.

[d]

gruden SUCKS!

[Patrick]

Guys,
Your offense sinks! You cannot score on a dallas defense that is depleted.I am a hugh cowboys fan and had a difficult time wondering who was in the secondary defending the bucs. Your offense at best is average and you better hope that Cadillac comes back soon. Good luck the rest of the way. You will need it. Cowboy fan.

[patrick]

Buc fans I neary forgot. Cato June is pretty stupid. Great penalty when the game count the most. Going up against Coloumbo. You guys got a lot to learn.

[patrick]

I neary forgot. Cato June is pretty silly. Going up against Mark Colombo. What is he thinking? Also our offense was horrible and still we beat you. You guys are in trouble for the rest of the year.

[patrick]

One word: Unbelieveable!

[patrick]

Whats up Buc fans, no comment? Your Rays are done and so are you guys. No comeback?

[Sean]

To all of the true Buc fans we know that losing one game against a decent Dalas D is not the end of the season. They may not be great, but they played better than we did. You will not win every game every week in the NFL, so for all of you who jump on and off the band wagon stay off we don't need you.

[DR]

Ahhh, James, it's okay to cry. On the rise losing to Brad Johnson? Yeah, that makes sense.
Didn't Jenkins look great on sunday? He's used to playing against third rate wide receivers like he played against in the Big East.
It's no big deal Bucs. You got the Chiefs next week. Maybe Gruden will throw the ball 50 times against them and their third world country run defense.

[DR]

The Cowboys are finished? They just beat a team that was supposedly a good team getting better without the 2nd best QB and one of the best young play makers in the league. If Romo was in the game, he may have had another 5 TDs. Especially if you put Barber in man to man coverage against anybody.

[nick]

CLAD; Graham is a plodder? did you see those long runs this year? Dunn over the hill with no speed? did you see the 3rd and Goal run from the 17? for a TD?

Lets put the blame where it belongs.
1)this O LIne is NOT run blocking like it should be
2)teams are NOT fearing our passing game for some reason and STILL playing the run well against us.

[Dark Side]

Its so pathetic that you blind fools that cant see our team is going downhill call us all haters for seeing what is truly being put out there. I am so sick of the bandwagon garbage! Do you honestly think you are a more loyal fan because you smile everytime we lose and say "aheyuck, golly... it happens!". Give me a break! Anyone who takes the time to read and comment on this blog every darn day is not bandwagon, they are true fans just like all you "non-haters"... its just 2 different perspectives. One side thinks we can do no wrong no matter how pathetically we lose a game, and the other sees the potential we have and only lament thier concerns hoping someone sees the light. I have no problem losing, it happens, we are not the pats of last year. But losing in the way we did in dallas, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory was simply sad. You can blame the whole organization for that one. Gruden, garcia, o-line, june, barber, everyone! Just stop with all this hater/bandwagon garbage... we are all true fans or we wouldnt be reading and commenting in the first place!

[Oldcrank]

Hey Patrick, STICK IT UP YOUR NOSE! The Rays are still in it.

[DR]

Has anybody seen Kurt? Or did he do us all a favor and drive to the Sunshine Skyway?

[RWS]

Well said Dark Side, I doubt the kool aid drinkers will get it, they probably jumped on the bandwagon last year anyway, and will soon be gone again. Little mans Offense could not score one TD against a very weak Cowblow team, how can anyone think it would get better against them in the playoffs.

[Clad]

Nick,
I agree with you wholeheartedly about the offensive line. The run blocking has been poor. I happen to believe the line would look better with a more explosive back.

Graham is a plodder. That is why he received a below average raise in the offseason. He has no breakaway speed. Teams are playing soft zone defenses on us because we can't run.

Denver and Dallas leave their man to man defenses and play zone against us. Why?? Because our run game stinks. Dunn is way over the hill. 1 or 2 good runs on the year can't hide the fact he's old and not the feature back we need.

Bennett is the only back we have with breakaway speed. I just don't understand why Gruden doesn't play him. In my opinion it's a big mistake.
Gruden can't see the forrest thru the trees. He's stubborn. He's gonna stick with 2 running backs who don't scare anyone while his only breakaway back can't get on the field.

I don't understand it.

[migget]

jon gruden is one of the best minds in football just look at this offence click wow 7 or so years of this great game planing just think of all the good young offensive players they have things are going to be as brite as monty kiffs comb over head,we all know how good little jon an bruce all mighty draft skills are there is alot to look forward to!FIRE THEM BOTH PLEASE!!!!!!!!the team will only geat better when little napoleon is gone back to hooters.

[bucfaninPhx]

I believe philipj was blaming the Bucs for the loss, not the refs...so why did DR respond that way? I know a lot of people hate this guy, and I never paid much attention to him anyway, but i always welcome fans of other teams on here because they USUALLY have intelligent things to say and have insight to their own teams. I do find it funny that he wasnt on any of the posts leading up to the Dallas game,but showed up again after. Anyway, the Cowboys played great defense and our defense killed themselves with stupid penalties.Dont worry, that sound you hear is all the bandwagon fans jumping off...but the next sound you hear will be them jumping back on. Bucs for life!! No matter what their record is!!!

[bucfaninPhx]

yeah- lets fire Gruden- i hear Lane Kiffin is available...even Linehan from the Rams....lets fire gruden and as soon as that coach struggles, you can all call for him to be fired too...we'll just keep firing and hiring coaches till we get it right....so we can be what everyone calls us anyway....the Raiders....cause they know what theyre doing?...haha...thats what you all want,right? Go Bucs!!!

[patrick]

Hey Oldcrank(strange name, anyway)man if that is your only comeback that is sad. What about your Bucs? They really suck. Work on your dialogue it needs work. Go Cowboys against the Giants.

[DR]

bucfaninphx, I wasn't responding to philipj, I was mocking all the morons who blame refs for losing.

[Yoshi]

Hey patrick the reason no one responded right away is because no one is a Lame-o like you who stays up till 2:30 AM (while the rest of the world is sleeping)to post stupid and repetitive comments and actually expect somebody reply to your stupidity. As for the whole band wagon thing dark side was talking about, We are not, (or atleast I am not) criticizing you for pointing out weaknesses on our team. We all know this was a tough loss but there is nothing that we can do about it. Yea I know we couldnt get the offense going, I know we had stupid penalty's (QUESTIONABLE CALLS) at the end of the half but what do you want to do? Dwell on them? NO! We get up and look to the next game to fix our problems. The difference between the comments posted last week and the ones posted this week is like night and day. The Bandwagons that I AM talking about are those people last week that were talking about superbowl and this week are saying one and done in the playoffs or saying our team is terrible. We lost because of mental mistakes and lack of offense in that particular game but you are a complete and utter fool if you think that just because we lost this game this team does not have a chance to go to the superbowl. So once again I say yes, we lost a tough one but at KC we will get it back and once that happens all the band wagons will be back as usual.

[bucfaninPhx]

My bad DR . Your post happen to be right after his. I agree, can't blame the refs for losing the game. If we played better, we could have won.

[patrick]

Hey Yoshi, it was actually 1:30am central standard time. Some of us work evenings. Anyway it is interesting how you justify the Bucs demise. Man you got a tough game this week!! Good luck. Oh by the way oldcrank (your Rays are no longer in) Sorry!!!

[patrick]

Yoshi,
It is good you recognize your teams lack of talent. As far as stupidity regarding my comments you should deal with the truth and understand that your team at best is 8-8. Don't dwell on the bandwagoners, you need to get a running back and some receivers!! Oh I nearly forgot a defense!!! You guys suck. KC 21 Tampa 10. Prediction.

[patrick]

Yoshi,

It is only 11pm cst. Not too late. What type of looser is in bed at this time. Go Cowboys.

[Yoshi]

Sorry pat im not a 40 year old loser living with his mom who spends an hour on the same page hitting the refresh button waiting for a response to ridiculous comments. 8-8?! Are you serious? You must really be an idiot. Even DR would slap you on that one. Oh and sorry about the mix up about the time... I guess you're a lame-o who stays up till 1:30AM instead of 2:30AM and expects people to reply to stupid comments. Anyway, have fun have fun watchin your late night pornos. Hope your mom doesnt walk in on you. She might take your computer away for a week as punishment.

[patrick]

Yoshi,
It is ashame that your only comeback is about my mom who actually passed away in 2003. Stick to the reality that your team sucks and you really have no offense that can generate points. It has been like that since Dungy, you know that as well as I do.With regards to porn, what kind of sick person are you? Grow up man and stick to the topics.