Another lesson in why coaches should not respond to fans' criticism.
Last week, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan apparently grew tired of the criticism he had received for continually using high-priced free-agent Darrelle Revis - considered the best man-to-man coverage cornerback in the NFL - in zone coverages.
Several media outlets reported Sheridan lashing out at the criticism.
"What I want to invite them to do is join us. I get here about 5:20 every single morning, and they're more than welcome to hang around here until about 11 [p.m.] for the first four nights of the week and they can help us put the whole game plan together," Sheridan said on Thursday, as reported on SI.com.
"We've got all the free Cokes you want in the building and we'll be happy to take those suggestions on how we can better use Darrelle. Trust me when I tell you we painstakingly game plan how best to use all of our personnel, not just Darrelle."
Tampa Bay Times reporter Joe Smith on Monday tweeted that Sheridan told him, "some fans took him up on offer to show up at 5:20 a.m. Monday. They weren't invited in"
Deadspin.com then copied Smith's tweet.
Disgruntled Buccaneers fans, no doubt frustrated by the team's 0-6 start this season, were not happy with Sheridan.
@RJW123 tweeted in response to Smith's tweet, "@TBTimes_JSmith Why did he make the offer then? Another example of this regime being full of crap. #FireSchiano"
It probably didn't help Sheridan's cause that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns - in the first half - during the Falcons' 31-23 victory on Sunday.
As SI.com pointed out, Atlanta wide receiver Harry Douglas had a career-high 140 receiving yards - also in the first half - on six catches, but Revis was not assigned to cover him.
"He is being used, often times, in man-to-man coverage," SI.com reported Bucs coach Greg Schiano as saying of Revis after the topic blew up. "Whether the whole coverage is man-to-man or just him taking a guy out of the play man-to-man, most fans won't be able to figure that out by watching it."
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