National Football League

Morris admits he talked to players

Published Sep. 12, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris admitted Monday he contacted some of his players during the lockout, opening himself up to a possible penalty from the NFL.

Morris was asked during his news conference about a report on CBS' Sunday pre-game show in which host Charley Casserly said the coach could face a fine from the NFL for illegal contact with players during the lockout.

Morris responded that he called tight end Kellen Winslow after his wife had a baby and also contacted cornerback Aqib Talib following his arrest on assault charges in Texas.

Casserly said Sunday the NFL was looking into seven phone calls — three of which lasted a minute or less — from Morris to his players. He said the league was also investigating other teams for the same infraction.

During the lockout, which lasted from March until late July, NFL teams and coaches were barred from having any contact with players.

In early June, Morris was quoted by the fan website, JoeBucsFan.com, as saying he had been talking to his players "all the time."

Morris, the youngest coach in the NFL at age 35, is in his third season with the Buccaneers, who lost their season opener 27-20 to the Detroit Lions.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League