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Bucs quiet -- too quiet?

With target date after Super Bowl, they risk losing coaching candidates to other teams.

By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 26, 2002

TAMPA -- One Buc Place is as quiet as a library during spring break, and that's exactly what the Bucs want.

General manager Rich McKay, responsible for finding a new coach, isn't saying who he's interviewing, when he's interviewing or if he's interviewing.

McKay appears to be making good on his statement that nothing may happen until early February.

"I don't anticipate anything until after the Super Bowl," said agent Ray Anderson, who represents Marvin Lewis, Dennis Green and Tony Dungy among others. The patient approach, likely influenced by the embarrassment of the Bill Parcells fiasco and the desire to cover all bases, has its drawbacks.

While Tampa Bay waits, candidates may not.

Chargers offensive coordinator Norv Turner, strongly endorsed by quarterback Brad Johnson, could be named the Dolphins offensive coordinator as early as next week.

Former Redskins coach Marty Schottenheimer is expected to be hired by the Chargers after financial issues are cleared up with the Redskins, and he will bring in longtime assistant Jimmy Raye as his offensive coordinator.

Turner, under contract for two more seasons with the Chargers, has 14 days to exercise an escape clause after a coach is hired to replace Mike Riley, who was fired Dec. 31. Turner said he has not been contacted by the Bucs, and he quickly could reunite with Miami coach Dave Wannstedt, with whom he worked in Dallas.

The Miami job seems a natural fit, but Turner wants to become a head coach. "If Tampa Bay was interested in talking to me, obviously it's something I've wanted to do," he said. "Dave (Wannstedt) understand that."

Lewis, the Ravens defensive coordinator and considered a premier coaching prospect the past two seasons, interviewed with Carolina before John Fox was hired Friday, but Anderson said the Bucs had not requested permission to talk with him.

Pittsburgh's Mike Mularkey, who was born in Fort Lauderdale and began his coaching career with the Bucs under Sam Wyche and McKay in 1994, is in his first year as Steelers offensive coordinator and has been credited with helping turn around quarterback Kordell Stewart, who had a career year. He also was the architect of a running game that churned out 173.4 yards a game, best in the NFL.

New England's Charlie Weis, in his second season as offensive coordinator, also may be given consideration. He helped second-year quarterback Tom Brady pass for 2,843 yards and 18 touchdowns.

By NFL rules, the Bucs can't talk to assistant coaches whose teams still are playing.

"I think their plan is to let everyone else do what they need to do," Anderson said. "Once they get into the process, I think their plan is, we'll do it all at once. Why have all the speculation and all the innuendo for five or six days? I think they plan to just wait."

-- Times staff writer Rick Stroud contributed to this report.

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