Bucs put focus on new deal for Kiffin
Coach Jon Gruden will return, GM says, but wants assistants' deals to come first.
By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writers
Published January 11, 2008
TAMPA - The Bucs have been busy the last few days signing assistant coaches to contract extensions.
They're still waiting on Monte Kiffin's autograph.
The Bucs have tendered an offer to the 67-year-old defensive coordinator and discussions with his agent, Jimmy Sexton, are ongoing, general manager Bruce Allen said Thursday.
Offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Bill Muir, receivers coach Richard Mann and special teams coordinator Richard Bisaccia re-signed.
Allen confirmed the team had granted permission to the Rams to interview running backs coach Art Valero, who is expected to accept an offer from St. Louis to coach the offensive line. Arron Kromer, the Bucs offensive line assistant coach, will meet with Allen over the weekend.
Regarding the future of coach Jon Gruden, Allen said the first priority was the expiring contracts of the assistants. Gruden is under contract for 2008.
Asked whether he had any doubt Gruden would be the Bucs coach next season, Allen emphatically said, "No."
"I meet with the Glazers frequently during the season and obviously talk to them after our games. ...Right now, Coach Gruden wanted me to address his assistant coaches first."
The priority is keeping Kiffin, who took the defense from 17th to second overall in 2006 with help from relative unknowns like defensive linemen Greg White and Jovan Haye. Kiffin declined comment Thursday.
FULL STORY
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/11/Bu...s_on_new.shtml
Bucs put focus on new deal for Kiffin
Bucs put focus on new deal for Kiffin
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