AP

Greg Schiano may be confident that his players are going to win plenty of games playing Buccaneer football, but many of the Buccaneers don’t respect Schiano’s way of coaching football.

That’s the word from Michael Bennett, who played for Schiano in Tampa last year but signed with Seattle this year. Bennett told Michael Silver of NFL.com that when Schiano tries to preach his tough, disciplined approach to “Buccaneer football,” the players in the locker room scoff.

“I think he just wants to flex his power,” Bennett said. “He has small [man’s] syndrome. I still talk to guys who are there, and trust me, there’s not much respect for him in that locker room.”

Bennett said a coach who has proven that his methods work can get players to buy in, even if that coach has a prickly personality, but Schiano hasn’t proven anything. Bennett says Schiano compares unfavorably to Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

“He’s trying to be Belichick,” Bennett said. “Yeah, some people think Belichick’s an [expletive], but he’s a legend. When this guy acts that way, it’s a whole different deal.”

If Schiano’s Bucs lose tonight to the Panthers, their record will be 0-7. Which means there may only be nine more games remaining for Schiano’s brand of Buccaneer football.