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I talked a little while ago to a former player under Dungy (who is now retired) and got his POV on the "Cowher to the Bucs" situation. First, I want to preface what I am about to say with a warning. I do not have links b/c this was a conversation and second, I have a bit of a track record for posting reliable info. With that being said please refrain from hijacking the thread or flaming me. You DON'T have to believe me and if you don't - I don't care. I just figured I would share the news b/c I know there are some people who will appreciate it.
Anyway, talked with this player about the situation and his take was that the decision to move on has already happened. His words were "Man, that train has already left the station." Now, this doesn't mean that Cowher coaches the Bucs in 2010. What it means is that the job is Cowher's if he wants it. If Cowher declines the job, the Glazers will refute the reports and provide a public vote of confidence to Raheem for 2010. He also said that Raheem winning against the Saints does nothing for his job security...even if he wins this week against Atlanta. What will drive his dismissal is the season-ticket sales and they are dropping like flies right now. So with the lack of season-ticket sales and if Cowher accepts the job - Raheem is gone. If Cowher declines the job...Raheem stays despite lagging ticket sales b/c the Glazers do not want to present an image of another rebuild.
A couple of other things to note is that the Glazers are very private people and no news gets out unless they want it to. The Glazers typically do not address rumors. However, a quick statement released through the team stating that Raheem will be back in 2010 would do a lot to quell the questions that the local media is posing to Raheem. Fact is, a lot of this is being orchestrated by the Glazers to gauge the public interest in removing Raheem as well.
This is the same blueprint the Glazers used when they fired Tony Dungy after the 2001 season. Per this player, any news of the coach being fired causes a huge distraction for everyone - regardless of what is said to the media. According to this player, all the talk of Parcells taking over before Dungy was actually fired was a distraction. According to him, they were told by people in football ops that Parcells was coming and that he was getting a staff together. The only reason Parcells didn't come was b/c of a gaffe on his part. Not due to a change of heart as reported by the media. Apparently, Parcells just started calling all of his former assistants directly. Many of these coaches were already coaching for other teams and those respective teams were not informed, nor was permission granted to speak to those assistants. Accusations of tampering were being thrown around and Parcells simply backed out rather than face the controversey that may have awaited his arrival in Tampa.
So there you have it! Cowher has talked to the Glazers. There is interest and he will be the only person to replace Raheem. If he declines the job, the Glazers will release a statement which indicates that the courtship never actually took place.
Anyway, talked with this player about the situation and his take was that the decision to move on has already happened. His words were "Man, that train has already left the station." Now, this doesn't mean that Cowher coaches the Bucs in 2010. What it means is that the job is Cowher's if he wants it. If Cowher declines the job, the Glazers will refute the reports and provide a public vote of confidence to Raheem for 2010. He also said that Raheem winning against the Saints does nothing for his job security...even if he wins this week against Atlanta. What will drive his dismissal is the season-ticket sales and they are dropping like flies right now. So with the lack of season-ticket sales and if Cowher accepts the job - Raheem is gone. If Cowher declines the job...Raheem stays despite lagging ticket sales b/c the Glazers do not want to present an image of another rebuild.
A couple of other things to note is that the Glazers are very private people and no news gets out unless they want it to. The Glazers typically do not address rumors. However, a quick statement released through the team stating that Raheem will be back in 2010 would do a lot to quell the questions that the local media is posing to Raheem. Fact is, a lot of this is being orchestrated by the Glazers to gauge the public interest in removing Raheem as well.
This is the same blueprint the Glazers used when they fired Tony Dungy after the 2001 season. Per this player, any news of the coach being fired causes a huge distraction for everyone - regardless of what is said to the media. According to this player, all the talk of Parcells taking over before Dungy was actually fired was a distraction. According to him, they were told by people in football ops that Parcells was coming and that he was getting a staff together. The only reason Parcells didn't come was b/c of a gaffe on his part. Not due to a change of heart as reported by the media. Apparently, Parcells just started calling all of his former assistants directly. Many of these coaches were already coaching for other teams and those respective teams were not informed, nor was permission granted to speak to those assistants. Accusations of tampering were being thrown around and Parcells simply backed out rather than face the controversey that may have awaited his arrival in Tampa.
So there you have it! Cowher has talked to the Glazers. There is interest and he will be the only person to replace Raheem. If he declines the job, the Glazers will release a statement which indicates that the courtship never actually took place.
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