News gets worse for Buccaneers

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

News
Bucs' Phillips out for season; Brooks has rib injury

Posted: News | NFL.com Staff | Tags: Derrick Brooks, Jermaine Phillips, Jon Gruden

The Buccaneers’ trip to Atlanta was not a successful one. The Bucs lost their second straight game, 13-10 to the Falcons, missing out on a chance to clinch a playoff berth and creating a logjam in the NFC playoff picture. The Bucs do control their own playoff destiny over the season’s final two games, but a playoff run will now take place without at least one of their defensive stalwarts.

Bucs coach Jon Gruden said Monday starting SS Jermaine Phillips will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured right forearm, a tough loss for a defense that has struggled against the run in the last two losses. As Buccaneers.com points out, it’s the third time during his career Phillips has suffered a fractured forearm, and the second time this season — he missed three games earlier this season with a broken left forearm.

“Very tough loss for us yesterday,” Gruden said during his weekly press conference. “Jermaine Phillips, hate to say it, he fractured his forearm, his right forearm, and it is not the same injury that he hurt earlier.

“It is unfortunate. You talk about a great guy, and really a very good football player, one of our leaders. I can’t explain it, very, very unfortunate for us.”

Adding to the loss of Phillips was that Gruden announced LB Derrick Brooks is battling a rib injury that has the team concerned. Gruden didn’t have a full udpate on the injury until he heard back from team doctors following tests.

“We are concerned about him,” Gruden said. “I will remain optimistic because of whom we are talking about, but we have our concerns.”

The Bucs also played without both starting defensive tackles, as Chris Hovan sat out with a knee injury, and Jovan Haye (knee) played only a handful of plays.

As for QB Jeff Garcia, who was a late scratch for the game due to a calf injury, Gruden was non-commital on his status and will make a determination on Wednesday. Gruden wouldn’t say whether Brian Griese or Luke McCown would start if Garcia is unable to go.

 

[Lake Louise]

They played a great game with all they were going through. It sucks to see Phillips season end early and I really hope Brooks` injury isn`t that serious. He has been a force on that defense for soo many years. It would make things a lot harder for them to try and keep pace to have hopes for the playoffs if they lose anymore players. The Bucs Organization knows that, Gruden knows that, the team knows that, and Brooks knows that. He will try and give it a go, no matter the severity, knowing him, but if it`s too severe, I would advise against it. They have a great LB core, and losing a vet like Brooks would really hurt them greatly.

 

[$tunna]

Well hopefully my Falcons can capitaliz on this but I wiish Brooks a speedy recovery

 

[Giantmetfan07]

where'd you copy that from? Just curious because where you'd have a ' it has a box, meaning text issues.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

where'd you copy that from? Just curious because where you'd have a ' it has a box, meaning text issues.

http://blogs.nfl.com/2008/12/15/bucs-phill...ing-rib-injury/

 

[Giantmetfan07]

weird.. I saw the boxes b4 but now their gone.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

weird.. I saw the boxes b4 but now their gone.

Maybe you were just seeing things, lol.