Vernon Hargreaves says lingering injuries kept him out for Bucs

TAMPA — Vernon Hargreaves said he had a ‘lingering injury" that kept him out of organized team activities last week and didn’t know what coach Bruce Arians was referring to when he said he wasn’t mentally ready to practice.

Hargreaves laughed Tuesday when asked why he landed in Arians’ doghouse a week ago.

“He didn’t tell me not to practice. That was my decision," Hargreaves said. "That was my choice.''

Hargreaves would not elaborate on his injury except to say it wasn’t the shoulder that landed him on injured reserve.

“It was about nothing. He came and talked to me," Hargreaves said of Arians. "Listen. That’s my guy because we’re on the same page. Nothing.

“Tough love. It’s tough love. Just two weeks ago he was telling me how great I was going to be, so it’s just like a parent. I mean the good comes with the bad. Like I said, it’s nothing. He came and talked to me. We’ve talked several times before then and we’re all good. There was never an issue between us. There never will be. I’m a coach’s kid. There will never be an issue between me and a coach. Never."

“Vernon has looked good," Arians said. "He’s healthy and we’re monitoring how many snaps he gets and he’s ready to roll.

“He’s never been a problem mentally. It’s just getting his body right and knowing you’re not always going to be 100 percent."