Truth Behind Price Being Excused from Mini Camp, Stress May be Taking it's Toll

DT Brian Price

Most of us Buccaneers fans are well aware of the stressful career that DT Brian Price has undergone. We have all watched as Price has fought back from tearing both hamstrings from his pelvis, to taking the field as a starter once again.  Emotions have been running high for Price, and understandably so. As if that is not enough for one man to deal with, the talented tackle has been dealing with another family tragedy. Like we have previously described Price has seen his share of tragedies, obstacles, and roadblocks for such a young man. Most recently this off season, Price lost his sister in a fatal car accident.  Price was extremely close with his sister, and the grief has been a tremendous obstacle for him.

Knowing what Price is dealing with, it was not a big surprise that he was excused from the team OTA's and mandatory mini camp. It all fit. Give the man time to get his head and body together and he'll be ready for training camp.

1st round draftee CB Mark Barron

Well it now seems that there is more that went into the decision of Price being excused than mere thought. Price may not have given the team a choice. Information is now coming out that describes a physical altercation between Price and 7th overall draft choice Mark Barron.  It appears that early in the morning at the start of an OTA day, the team was assembling for a meeting. Defensive Tackle Brian Price told rookie Safety Mark Barron that he was sitting in Price's seat.  It's unknown as to exactly what Barron said in response, but within seconds, Barron was getting pummeled by Price. The third-year tackle was said to have gotten in a good number of punches before teammates pulled him off of Barron. Both players were removed from the meeting as Barron's face was said to have been slightly bloodied.

By all accounts, Price has always been a good teammate and has always gotten along well in the locker rooms. Price is going through some serious mental stress, and it seems that his emotions are on an extremely thin edge. Price has fought back from some serious issues during his short career and the team has been steadfast in standing behind his return. But Price has not provided enough return on the Buccaneers' investment to assure him a guaranteed position.

We at BuccaneerTalk.com are truly pulling for Brian Price. There is nobody that can ever question the man's heart and desire to play the game. The majority of men that would ever have both hamstrings torn from their pelvis would definitely hang up the cleats and call it a night. Price has persevered. Now let's hope he can overcome the two hardest parts of the human body to heal; the heart and the mind!