Post by ironmaiden on Jan 17, 2009 10:57:45 GMT -7
Bucs fire coach, general managerComment Email Print ESPN.com news services
Why The Bucs Dropped Jon Gruden
Mark Schlereth on the reason the Buccaneers fired Jon Gruden
Tags: NFL, Tampa Bay BuccaneersWhy The Bucs Dropped Jon GrudenVIDEO PLAYLIST
Why The Bucs Dropped Jon Gruden
Why The Bucs Dropped Jon Gruden
Mark Schlereth on the reason the Buccaneers fired Jon Gruden
Tags:
NFL
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Tampa Bay BuccaneersJon Gruden Fired
Jon Gruden Fired
John Clayton on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers firing Jon Gruden
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Tampa Bay BuccaneersClayton Sounds Off On Ex-Coach Gruden
Clayton Sounds Off On Ex-Coach Gruden
Tampa Bay WR Michael Clayton pulls no punches on the firing on Jon Gruden
Tags:
NFL
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
,
Michael Clayton
TAMPA, Fla. -- A Super Bowl title bought Jon Gruden time, but ultimately couldn't save his job.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dismissed their fiery coach and general manager Bruce Allen on Friday, three weeks after the team completed one of the biggest collapses in NFL history, losing four straight games following a 9-3 start to miss the playoffs.
NFL.com Video
Super Bowl XXXVII against the Oakland Raiders.
ESPN.com's John Clayton and Pat Yasinskas reported that according to multiple sources, the Bucs would hire defensiver coordinator Raheem Morris as head coach and pro personnel director Mark Dominik as general manager to succeed Gruden and Allen, with an announcement coming as early as Saturday.
Gruden was a rising star when he was hired seven years ago to take over a team built by Tony Dungy, and led it to the Super Bowl win. But Gruden guided the Bucs to the postseason only two more times after becoming the youngest coach to win the NFL title in January 2003.
That wasn't nearly enough for the sons of owner Malcolm Glazer, who took their time before deciding they had seen enough of aging quarterbacks, mediocre drafts and a coach and general manager who often pinned the blame for poor finishes on injuries.
Gruden, who was 39 when the Bucs beat Oakland in the Super Bowl, went 60-57 in seven seasons, including a 3-2 mark in the playoffs. Allen was general manager for the past five seasons in a reunion of a relationship that began when both were with the Raiders.
"These decisions are never easy. This is the toughest decision you can make for an NFL franchise. ... Jon and Bruce are consummate professionals. They've poured their heart and soul into this franchise," Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer said. "It's really been an honor to work with them. They gave their all."
A source close to Gruden said the coach was "blindsided" by the move, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported.
The Bucs were tied for first place in the NFC South heading into December, but finished with losses to Carolina and Atlanta on the road and San Diego and Oakland at home, where they had been 6-0. One more win would have secured a NFC wild-card berth.
Gruden Gone
Why The Bucs Dropped Jon Gruden
Mark Schlereth on the reason the Buccaneers fired Jon Gruden
Tags: NFL, Tampa Bay BuccaneersWhy The Bucs Dropped Jon GrudenVIDEO PLAYLIST
Why The Bucs Dropped Jon Gruden
Why The Bucs Dropped Jon Gruden
Mark Schlereth on the reason the Buccaneers fired Jon Gruden
Tags:
NFL
,
Tampa Bay BuccaneersJon Gruden Fired
Jon Gruden Fired
John Clayton on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers firing Jon Gruden
Tags:
NFL
,
Tampa Bay BuccaneersClayton Sounds Off On Ex-Coach Gruden
Clayton Sounds Off On Ex-Coach Gruden
Tampa Bay WR Michael Clayton pulls no punches on the firing on Jon Gruden
Tags:
NFL
,
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
,
Michael Clayton
TAMPA, Fla. -- A Super Bowl title bought Jon Gruden time, but ultimately couldn't save his job.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dismissed their fiery coach and general manager Bruce Allen on Friday, three weeks after the team completed one of the biggest collapses in NFL history, losing four straight games following a 9-3 start to miss the playoffs.
NFL.com Video
Super Bowl XXXVII against the Oakland Raiders.
ESPN.com's John Clayton and Pat Yasinskas reported that according to multiple sources, the Bucs would hire defensiver coordinator Raheem Morris as head coach and pro personnel director Mark Dominik as general manager to succeed Gruden and Allen, with an announcement coming as early as Saturday.
Gruden was a rising star when he was hired seven years ago to take over a team built by Tony Dungy, and led it to the Super Bowl win. But Gruden guided the Bucs to the postseason only two more times after becoming the youngest coach to win the NFL title in January 2003.
That wasn't nearly enough for the sons of owner Malcolm Glazer, who took their time before deciding they had seen enough of aging quarterbacks, mediocre drafts and a coach and general manager who often pinned the blame for poor finishes on injuries.
Gruden, who was 39 when the Bucs beat Oakland in the Super Bowl, went 60-57 in seven seasons, including a 3-2 mark in the playoffs. Allen was general manager for the past five seasons in a reunion of a relationship that began when both were with the Raiders.
"These decisions are never easy. This is the toughest decision you can make for an NFL franchise. ... Jon and Bruce are consummate professionals. They've poured their heart and soul into this franchise," Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer said. "It's really been an honor to work with them. They gave their all."
A source close to Gruden said the coach was "blindsided" by the move, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported.
The Bucs were tied for first place in the NFC South heading into December, but finished with losses to Carolina and Atlanta on the road and San Diego and Oakland at home, where they had been 6-0. One more win would have secured a NFC wild-card berth.
Gruden Gone