Buccaneers hiring Lovie Smith as head coach

[Guest]

The Buccaneers aren't wasting any time filling their coaching role and are close to finalizing a deal with Lovie Smith, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reports.

La Canfora reportd two days ago that Smith was a top candidate for the job in Tampa and that former Buccaneers executive Rich McKay could be joining him.

The Buccaneers have a hole at both coach and GM after firing Greg Schiano and Mark Dominik on Monday afternoon.

Additionally, La Canfora reports Smith is expected to hire former Cal coach Jeff Tedford as his offensive coordinator in Tampa.

Smith, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports, "quietly interviewed" with the Buccaneers this week and the Glazer family liked him so much they moved quickly to ink a deal.

Lovie was ousted by new Bears GM Phil Emery after winning 10 games for Chicago in 2011 and replaced by Marc Trestman.

During his nine years running the Bears, Smith went 81-63, winning two NFC North division titles, appearing in six playoff games and advancing to the Super Bowl once.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-...ext-head-coach

[Maynard]

i dont know how i feel about smith. 81-63 is good and he did get to the SB with Grossman as QB. but coaches get fired for a reason and i dont think this move is anything great.

sidenote....if the bears had won that SB, Rex Grossman would be considered an elite QB by our resident savants

[MVPete]

[dave]

Great move by the Bucs. An experienced PRO coach who will instantly have the respect of his players and who will bring stability to the organization.

[FirstTimer]

If Smith has figured out how to hire offensive coaches then this could end up being a tremendous hire

[Guest]

If Smith has figured out how to hire offensive coaches then this could end up being a tremendous hire

Article is reporting that his OC will be Jeff Tedford. I do like the hire, but as you said, he's got to surround himself with quality offensive guys and let them do their thing.

[JeremyHight]

i dont know how i feel about smith. 81-63 is good and he did get to the SB with Grossman as QB. but coaches get fired for a reason and i dont think this move is anything great.

sidenote....if the bears had won that SB, Rex Grossman would be considered an elite QB by our resident savants

To be fair, Bill Belichek was fired from his job in Cleveland. One of his assistants, Nick Saban, was also canned at the same time. Pete Carroll was considered a failure for the Jets. There are a lot of coaches who don't make it for whatever reason. That doesn't mean they are bad.

[RyanLeaf16]

First smart move by the organization in a long time. Lovie was LBs coach under Dungy, he will bring respectability back to the organization. That Bucs D will be top level again very soon.

[dave]

ESPN's writer nailed it: http://espn.go.com/blog/tampa-bay-bu...on-lovie-smith

[Maynard]

To be fair, Bill Belichek was fired from his job in Cleveland. One of his assistants, Nick Saban, was also canned at the same time. Pete Carroll was considered a failure for the Jets. There are a lot of coaches who don't make it for whatever reason. That doesn't mean they are bad.

true, but lovie also had 9 years in chicago. not saying he isnt a good coach, but im not sure this is going to go anywhere. i can see him being gone in 3 years

[dave]

true, but lovie also had 9 years in chicago. not saying he isnt a good coach, but im not sure this is going to go anywhere. i can see him being gone in 3 years

He's a definite upgrade over Schiano or Morris ... and the Bucs weren't gonna get a better coach with so many teams looking for one and the Bucs having that owner.

[Hasselbeck]

Outstanding hire. The rumored pairing of Tedford and Frazier as his OC/DC is also impressive.

For once the Bucs did something correctly.

[BigBucs]

[FirstTimer]

Outstanding hire. The rumored pairing of Tedford and Frazier as his OC/DC is also impressive.

For once the Bucs did something correctly.

Looks like it's Tedford and Hot Rod

[kmanharris]

Ugh. Now we are going to lose Marinelli.