Kiffin piques 49ers' interest

HONOLULU -- The trevails of a super season ended for Monte Kiffin, but his travels have not.

The 49ers were granted permission Tuesday to interview the Bucs defensive coordinator for their coaching vacancy.

Kiffin, 62, and the 49ers will finalize plans for his interview sometime today, according to agent Jimmy Sexton.

"It was a little crazy down there (Tuesday)," Sexton said. "They agreed to give (the 49ers) permission, and we're trying to set something up."

The 49ers interviewed Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel over the weekend and plan to talk with Jets defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell. The Niners already have interviewed Jim Mora Jr., their defensive coordinator, and Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress.

Under Kiffin, Tampa Bay ranked first overall in scoring defense, pass defense and allowed the fewest yards per game this season. They set a Super Bowl record by intercepting Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon five times, returning three for touchdowns in shutting down Oakland's high-powered offense.

San Francisco Pro Bowl quarterback Jeff Garcia said he's excited about the possibility of Kiffin becoming the Niners coach.

"Just looking at what Monte has done there in the past six or seven years. They've had such great defenses," Garcia said. "Obviously, you have to have good players in there, but the scheme that they play, what he does with those players, they're such great tacklers, they fly around to the football, they make plays, they create turnovers, they create points. And a lot of that has to go right toward him.

"I think for him to be mentioned as a potential candidate, I think that's something they have to be excited about. Obviously in San Francisco, I think certain areas are ready to move forward. But defensively, we've kind of been on the bubble. We've played well at times and we've suffered a little bit at times, basically because of youth. And I think if he can come in, or a defensive guy could come in with an emphasis on getting that defense better and allowing the offense to continue to grow, I think that would be a great addition."

DUNGY PLEASED: Imagine the kind of week it was for Colts coach Tony Dungy. During the week of Super Bowl XXXVII, he was in Tampa, where he watched the Bucs become world champions.

However, Dungy said Tuesday he has declined to be interviewed about his former team.

"I'm very happy for them," Dungy said from his office in Indianapolis. "I couldn't think of a better group of guys to have that happen to. But our focus is getting better so we can maybe get to the level they are now."

FREQUENT FLIER: Quarterbacks like to air it out, but this is ridiculous.

By the time Brad Johnson lands in Honolulu for the Pro Bowl today, he will have flown 10,915 miles since before winning the NFC Championship in Philadelphia on Jan.19.

Magellan would be envious. Johnson has flown to and from Philadelphia to Tampa to San Diego to Los Angeles to Tampa to Honolulu.

Johnson and five teammates were scheduled to arrive at the Pro Bowl for workouts Tuesday night or today.

Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson has been on quite a journey. He flew 931 miles to Philadelphia for the NFC Championship Game and 931 back to Tampa. He flew 2,087 to San Diego for the Super Bowl, then 116 from San Diego to Los Angeles and 2,162 from L.A. back to Tampa. Finally, he flew 4,688 from Tampa to Honolulu for the Pro Bowl. The grand total (which doesn't include his flight back to Tampa): 10,915 miles.