Tampa Bay fires Morris as head coach

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired Coach Raheem Morris Monday, one day after the team ended the season with a 10-game losing streak.

Tampa Bay finished the season 4-12. Only the Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams (both 2-14) and Minnesota Vikings (3-13) had worse records in the NFL. The Rams fired Coach Steve Spagnuolo earlier Monday.

Morris coached the Buccaneers for three seasons. After going 3-13 in 2009, Tampa Bay was an impressive 10-6 last season. The Buccaneers opened this season 4-2 but sank under the long losing streak, which included a 45-24 loss at Atlanta Sunday.

"I have a lot of respect and appreciation for the passion Coach Morris gave to our football team but this change is one we felt was necessary," said Tampa Bay General Manager Mark Dominik.