TAMPA - You can stop sending resumes and making phone calls, the Bucs have their front-runner for general manager.
It's Raiders player personnel director Mike Lombardi, a friend of coach Jon Gruden.
Lombardi is a respected football mind who pours over scouting reports on players, which would be an asset to any coach wanting to make personnel decisions.
Lombardi worked at Philadelphia when Gruden was offensive coordinator and has been in Oakland since 1999.
Tim Ruskell, Bucs director of player personnel, is the sentimental favorite. But Lombardi has no ties to Rich McKay, and Gruden loves his work ethic.
Mike Tannenbaum, Jets assistant general manager, could receive consideration, especially as a salary-cap expert. Tannenbaum was handpicked by Bill Parcells to join him in Tampa Bay before the two-time Super Bowl winning coach got cold feet.
It's speculated that Gruden's father, Jim, a Bucs consultant, could have a larger role with personnel, but Gruden insists he won't.
"No. He's a very low-paid consultant," Gruden said.
NEW BLOOD: Gruden has proved he is a good evaluator of talent, particularly on offense. Ken Dilger, Joe Jurevicius, Keenan McCardell and Michael Pittman have been productive.
Currently, the biggest contributors are running back Thomas Jones and receiver Charles Lee.
Then again, it took Gruden 13 weeks to determine Jones was better than Pittman. And Lee went from the couch to the starting lineup, having been cut twice this season while Karl Williams and Reggie Barlow remained active.
"We had a pretty good split end here. The guy was productive and outstanding at times," Gruden said of Keyshawn Johnson. "I think (Lee) has just taken the torch and distinguished himself in his own ways. He's a physical presence, he's playing fast, he's playing hard and he's playing error-free right now."
REMEMBER ARETHA: Saints receiver Joe Horn pulled out a cell phone. Falcons running back T.J. Duckett danced with his team trailing by more than three touchdowns. Those kind of end zone celebrations have no room in the game, according to John Lynch.
"I'm in favor of having fun," the Bucs safety said. "I think you have to draw the line somewhere. I think it goes back to respecting the game, and when you start thinking you're bigger than the game, I have a problem with it. There's an etiquette, there's a lot of players who have paved the way and have respected the game before you, so I think you need to do that."
