Tampa Bay Buccaneers break for weekend after testy practice

TAMPA — The Bucs conducted their final bye week workout with a full-pads practice Thursday at One Buc Place.

With the team in good physical shape, coach Raheem Morris stirred things up with live hitting.

Turns out, he got a little more than he bargained for.

"We had a little padded work, a little physical (work) today," Morris said Thursday. "Some of it was too physical."

It seems there was a little pushing and shoving involved during the workout. But with the Bucs at 0-7, a little fire from players was considered a good thing.

"We had a spirited practice right before they go get a little break," Morris said. "We have time to heal up. We have time for these guys to get off their feet, time for other guys to fight those little nicks and injuries that come halfway through the season."

The Bucs will reconvene Tuesday.

"Sometimes you need to get out your frustration on each other a little bit, and that's what they did (Thursday) when they put the pads on," Morris said. "We got some temperatures to rise, and now we can get away from each other for a little bit."

NOT SO FAST: After players left the field Thursday, receivers stayed for extra work catching passes. Dropped balls have been a constant issue this season.

"It is a reflection of who we are," Morris said. "It's a reflection of where they want to go. They want to get better. … It's where they want to go as a group. It's what they know they need to improve.

"They don't have to have (reporters) write it for them to go do it. They just believe in themselves, and they're trying to get better. They know everybody's being evaluated."

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@sptimes.com.