Bugel Tries to Play Down Threat of a Player Mutiny

One day after Tim Brown threatened to start calling his own plays to revive the moribund Oakland Raider offense, Coach Joe Bugel dismissed Brown’s remarks as the musings of a frustrated player.

Though Bugel said he’s always open to suggestions from players such as Brown, he told a team meeting that publicly questioning coaches’ decisions is not a productive move.

“I told them I’ve been around a long time. I told them there’s a way you talk to the media--you don’t point fingers,” Bugel said. “You play on a team for 10 years and you don’t play in the Super Bowl, I guess you get a bit frustrated.”

Brown, in his 10th year with the Raiders, virtually issued a call for mutiny after Sunday’s 30-0 loss at Kansas City, saying players may have to consider ignoring plays ordered by the coaches and coming up with their own plays.

In a further hint of insurrection, the five-time Pro Bowler also suggested players could hold their own workouts after the team’s normal practices to work on their own plays.

Bugel, while not directly addressing Brown’s threats, said he would welcome players doing additional work on their own after practice--and that he would listen to any suggestions Brown has for the offense.

The Raiders (4-10) have lost six of their last seven, and have lost 10 games in a non-strike season for the first time since 1962--the year before owner Al Davis joined the Raiders.

Brown made his comments Sunday after chatting in the locker room with Davis. Bugel said he spoke with Davis for two hours on the phone Monday morning, though he was not specific about their conversation.

Bugel defended offensive coordinator Ray Perkins, pointing out that Perkins ran the New England Patriot offense last season.

*

One thing that might help the Raiders is that the Seattle Seahawks, their next opponent, are hurting at quarterback. With Warren Moon injured and John Friesz not quite 100%, World League refugee Jon Kitna will get his first NFL start Sunday. . . . San Diego Charger Coach Kevin Gilbride indicated well-rested Todd Philcox may start at quarterback against Kansas City on Sunday. In a 14-3 loss to Atlanta last Sunday, Craig Whelihan had three passes intercepted. Gilbride said he needed to look at more film before making a decision. Philcox hasn’t started a game since 1993, when he was with Cleveland.

Tampa Bay quarterback Trent Dilfer’s streak of 46 consecutive starts, second-longest among NFL quarterbacks, may be in jeopardy. With his sprained right ankle in a plastic immobilizer, Dilfer said all he could guarantee was he’ll be back on the field as soon as possible.