WhoDat!656

During the lowest points of the regular season in Tampa Bay, Buccaneers fans wanted the team to fire Greg Schiano and immediately hire Lovie Smith.

They have gotten their wish, albeit belatedly.

Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that Lovie Smith will become the next head coach of the Buccaneers, and that the two sides are finalizing the terms of a contract.

Smith served as linebackers coach in Tampa from 1996 through 2000, before becoming the Rams’ defensive coordinator in 2001. Three years later, the Bears hired Smith to be the team’s head coach, where he served for nine seasons.

The move comes only two days after the Buccaneers fired Greg Schiano. Because Smith is a minority candidate, the Bucs were able to move swiftly, hiring Smith without interviewing any other candidates.

There had been speculation that the Buccaneers also will bring back former G.M. Rich McKay. Before filling that spot, however, at least one minority candidate for the G.M. position must be interviewed.

The decision to hire Smith before hiring a G.M. will raise questions regarding whether Smith or the General Manager will have final say over the roster and the draft. During Smith’s time in Chicago, former G.M. Jerry Angelo and then G.M. Phil Emery held those powers.

During the lowest points of the regular season in Tampa Bay, Buccaneers fans wanted the team to fire Greg Schiano and immediately hire Lovie Smith.

They have gotten their wish, albeit belatedly.

Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that Lovie Smith will become the next head coach of the Buccaneers, and that the two sides are finalizing the terms of a contract.

Smith served as linebackers coach in Tampa from 1996 through 2000, before becoming the Rams’ defensive coordinator in 2001. Three years later, the Bears hired Smith to be the team’s head coach, where he served for nine seasons.

The move comes only two days after the Buccaneers fired Greg Schiano. Because Smith is a minority candidate, the Bucs were able to move swiftly, hiring Smith without interviewing any other candidates.

There had been speculation that the Buccaneers also will bring back former G.M. Rich McKay. Before filling that spot, however, at least one minority candidate for the G.M. position must be interviewed.

The decision to hire Smith before hiring a G.M. will raise questions regarding whether Smith or the General Manager will have final say over the roster and the draft. During Smith’s time in Chicago, former G.M. Jerry Angelo and then G.M. Phil Emery held those powers.

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

Utah_Saint

Winner with a proven track record. Players love him.

They're already got a lot of talent. He could be just what they need to forge their players into a team.

saintfan

Yep. I was hoping he'd go elsewhere. He might just be the man to turn Tampa around.

SmashMouth

No GM in place ... kinda strange to hire a coach sans GM. While Lovie had a decent track record in Chicago, that does not necessarily translate to instant success with the Bucs. They have tremendous cap issues with Revis and others. They will be tough nevertheless, IMHO.

papz

Great hire. There are a lot of pieces in place for Tampa already. They could make a major turn around as soon as next year.

SaintsBro

I for one did not want this. This could have major implications on the window. I could see him building a team on a formula to simply stop Brees and Cam Newton.

QBREES9

Good for Lovie

Schmohams

Well that defense will be good no doubt, but I expect the offense to be remain average.

SloMotion

IMO, it will have a positive affect in that the team will be relieved to be rid of Schiano, but I don't think it will translate into the championships Tampa is hoping for.

Lovie is a competent NFL H/C, but he's average and his teams go up/down and .500 overall. Having him in the Division may mean trouble for Car/Atl, but Payton should be able to out coach Lovie on any given Sunday, now that Smith doesn't have the weather in Chicago to back him up, .

SmashMouth

That was a quick hire. He's already hiring coordinators. Bucs satisfied the Rooney rule. But I just wonder if there is such a a thing as a Reverse Rooney Rule. Not sure the Bucs interviewed anybody else.