BY IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—In only six months at the helm, new head coach Greg Schiano has methodically weeded out some starting players who didn’t make his grade as “Buccaneer men.’‘

Unlike GM Mark Dominik, Schiano and his new coaching staff had no ties to tight end Kellen Winslow, safety Tanard Jackson, defensive tackle Brian Price or wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe—all either traded or released in the past few months.

In 2009, his first year on the job, Dominik dealt a second-round pick for Winslow and made him the NFL’s highest-paid player at his position. Jackson received a contract extension late last season after returning from a league-mandated suspension and Price was chosen in the second round of the 2010 draft as part of Tampa Bay’s youth movement up front.

Briscoe, pilfered off Cincinnati’s practice squad for more money, led the Bucs with six TD receptions last season but Schiano had concerns about Briscoe’s commitment to football.

All four players were gone before Schiano’s first training camp got underway and it has quickly become apparent that Tampa Bay’s new coach doesn’t mind backing up his words with action—even if it involves four players under the age of 30 who combined for 41 starts last year.