Rumor Mill: Chucky Top?
by Craig T
on Nov 4, 2008 12:37 PM EST
14 comments
The Killer B's on ESPN 1470 are reporting from an unspecified East Tennessee source that my beloved Tennessee Volunteers are going to make a run at Jon Gruden of my beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the tune of $5 million per season. I LOL'd at that one for a while, not because John Gruden doesn't have the stuff to right the Big Orange ship, but because I don't see Tennessee dishing out that kind of moolah when it's currently completing renovations to the stadium, continually raising ticket prices to fund improvements, renovating Thompson-Boling arena (home of the BasketVols), building a new practice facility, and paying off Coach Fulmer and some of his staff. I have no doubts that John Gruden's name will be tied to the Tennessee job until they name a successor, even if John denies interest in the job (due to the Nick Saban effect from 2 years ago). That said... there has to be at least a little concern for Bucs fans (except from the haters) that John Gruden would be intrigued by the Tennessee job. He's achieved the ultimate high here in January 2003. It's hard to stay on top in the NFL, especially in a division where last place becomes first place, and vice versa. There's been rampant speculation about his job security for years now, where he'll get a grace period in Knoxville to implement his players, coaches, and system. Ultimately, I think he's a perfect fit in Tampa and stays with the Bucs. He seems happy here. Even though his wife is a Vol alum from East Tennessee, he's got kids in school here. The UT job wouldn't pay that much more than he's making now, if anything. I seriously doubt he pulls a Petrino in midseason, and UT will likely want to find their successor right away to avoid missing a beat in recruiting. I just hope the rumors don't become a distraction as the team hits the playoff stretch run. More as I read/hear it later...
UPDATE (11/10)... Gruden dispels the Tennessee rumors..... sort of. Not the most "get outta town guys, I have no interest in the Tennessee job" kind of forceful answer, but supportive of staying, at least.
0 recs |
14 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Ths is a joke right? Just a funny rumor to me, a Gator fan! Of course Gruden will be rumored for the job, but more likely than not he'll be rumored as the replacement for whatever team he leaves. Everybody loves Chucky...OK, maybe not everybody, but belie
….
by TheUltimateBucFan on
Nov 4, 2008 7:59 PM EST
reply
actions
0 recs
......
not following you…. please continue.
Cannons... fire them.
www.BucEm.com - SBNation's home for discussion of all things regarding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
by Craig T on
Nov 4, 2008 8:13 PM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Sorry Craig, that statement was made when I was at the end of my 12 pack. Anyways, the bottom line is this...
There isn’t a snowballs chance in hell Gruden is leaving Tampa. Love him or hate him, he will be a Buccaneer I believe through out the duration of the 3 year contract he just signed. What I was saying above is that being a Gator Fan, I don’t want him to go to Tennessee and as a Gruden Fan, I don’t want him to leave Tampa. And why wouldn’t any team that Gruden coached for want to have him back? In the least it says that he is doing something right.
by TheUltimateBucFan on
Nov 6, 2008 11:52 PM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
I wouldn't go that far to say there's no chance
but, like I said, I think he stays in Tampa. Really, you never know what challenges he might be interested in taking on. That said… based on his patience, or lack thereof, with NFL rookies and young QBs, I don’t see him having the patience to go into recruits’ living rooms and kiss ass, and then teach those freshman his complicated offensive system and put up with a learning curve.
Cannons... fire them.
www.BucEm.com - SBNation's home for discussion of all things regarding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
by Craig T on
Nov 8, 2008 11:28 AM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Does anyone find it strange that Gruden seems to continually get attached to head coaching gigs at top-flight college programs?
I don’t hear Andy Reid’s name being tossed around, or Bellacheat, or Mangini, whomever. It’s always just Gruden from the pro coaching ranks. His job isn’t even in jeopardy right now.
I most certainly dislike Gruden, but for the sake of being objective, him leaving a premier pro job for a premier college job just doesn’t make sense, especially for a roughly $500k raise.
by kericr on
Nov 6, 2008 11:15 AM EST
reply
actions
0 recs
from a Vol fan
You can believe that UT will try to get Gruden and you would probably be surprised at the amount they will throw at him. If he’s interested, he’ll make the jump. Rumors have the AD willing to pay up to $6 Mil to draw Gruden to Tennessee. Because the SEC just signed a huge contract with ESPN, all SEC schools have much more money than they have in the past. Again, if Gruden doesn’t come it will only be because he doesn’t want to. Money will not be the reason
White Youth, Black Youth
Better find another solution
Why not phone up Robin Hood
and ask for some wealth distribution?
All over people changing their votes
Along with their overcoats
If Adolf Hitler flew in today
They'd send a limousine anyway
~The Clash
..............................................................
by BlueVol03 on
Nov 6, 2008 2:52 PM EST
reply
actions
0 recs
The Buccaneers are not going to get into a bidding war with any other team over Gruden
But your logic fails in so many ways. First, he’s in the middle of a playoff run, in the middle of a season where his team has looked (in my eyes) much better then expected. He’s not looked at in the best light here in Tampa right now, but a deep playoff run will change things and I think that this team is playing well enough to do it. If Tennessee is going to want him to both accept and report immediately, he’s not going to take the job unless the Vols throw significantly more than what he’s currently making (~4.5M/yr). $5M/yr isn’t going to do it, and I have my doubts about $6M/yr too.
Personally, I hope Tennessee figures out a way to pry him away from the Bucs so I can start being a fan of this team again because I don’t like Gruden. But I think you’re overestimating UT’s ability to get a freshly-reupped pro coach who’s pretty entrenched in this community while making significant amounts of money coaching a division-leading team in the midst of a playoff run in a job that’s pretty secure right now. A job that he can lock up tight for the next few years as long as his team makes the NFC championship game this year which looks like a distinct possibility right now. I think you have it backwards. If Gruden doesn’t come, it will ONLY be because of the money, because he has pretty much no reason to leave right now.
by kericr on
Nov 6, 2008 5:22 PM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
And he'll be guiding a team over the next couple of years that is 25+ million under the salary cap....That's a coaches dream!
Unless the Glazers don’t spend it (which I think could be the case because they are in serious debt with Manchester United).
by TheUltimateBucFan on
Nov 6, 2008 11:56 PM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
They can't use money from the Bucs to fund Manchester United
That would be a violation of their ownership agreement; if the NFL finds out he’s doing anything like that they’ll swoop in and take control of the team faster then Glazer can die of another stroke.
by kericr on
Nov 7, 2008 12:19 AM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Kercir, this I know. However, you can't tell me the owner of one entity will not take from another if either is faltering.....
Basically what I am saying is while everyone knows the Glazers can’t use money from Manchester United and vice versa. However, I find it hard to believe that the Glazers or any owner under there situation could allow one franchise to lose (and lose big) and not at least keep an eye on ways to cut costs of the other franchise without violating any rules. For example, it isn’t against the rules to be so far under the cap like the Bucs are right now. If the Bucs continue to do this for the next couple of years, even though it won’t offset the losses mounted by Manchester United, it will help a little to the Leperchan’s bottom line.
Say what you want, but basically the checks are written by the Glazers for both franchises and I am sure if there is a way to ease the pain of $$$ loss, I am certain they will try to do it. I kind of compare it to legal money laundering. Bastards.
by TheUltimateBucFan on
Nov 7, 2008 11:26 PM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
Actually
my logic doesn’t fail. I know that it makes the most sense to stay in Tampa and that’s probably the smartest thing he could do. However, Gruden is unpredictable and if he decides he doesn’t want to put up with the Glazers then it wouldn’t be surprising. He’ll take the job if he wants to and money won’t be the reason. He’s already made plenty and has a Super Bowl ring. I’m not arguing for him to come to Tennessee because there are other names I would rather go after. All I’m saying is that money won’t be why he doesn’t come.
White Youth, Black Youth
Better find another solution
Why not phone up Robin Hood
and ask for some wealth distribution?
All over people changing their votes
Along with their overcoats
If Adolf Hitler flew in today
They'd send a limousine anyway
~The Clash
..............................................................
by BlueVol03 on
Nov 7, 2008 9:50 AM EST
up
reply
actions
0 recs
New FanPost
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
