The former Raiders exec will have final say on all football matters, including player personnel.
By RICK STROUD
Published January 9, 2004
TAMPA - Bruce Allen emerged from a two-hour dinner meeting at Fleming's Thursday night with Bucs vice presidents Joel and Bryan Glazer, a thick folder under his right arm and the job as general manager at hand.
The Raiders senior assistant was hired as the Bucs' top executive with complete authority of all football matters and the final say on player personnel, including the draft.
It's a similar front office structure that the Bucs utilized under Rich McKay, who left last month to become Falcons GM.
The move had been anticipated since Allen flew from Oakland to the Palm Beach home of Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer Dec. 29 to interview.
Allen, 46, who resigned from the Raiders this week, will be reunited with coach Jon Gruden, with whom he worked for four seasons at Oakland.
It's uncertain how Allen will decide how to revamp the front office, but the changes almost certainly will meet with the approval of Gruden, who advocated the shakeup.
Allen said Tuesday he was attracted to the job by the opportunity to return to the Super Bowl.
"The chance to win," Allen said. "I think what Jon and his staff bring to the table give you a chance to win.
"We're still talking, but we're going to get it done. I'd rather just talk (today)."
Allen won the job over several worthy candidates, including Bucs director of player personnel Tim Ruskell, who is not expected to remain with the team. Allen's first order of business will be to hire a personnel director. The leading candidate is thought to be Mike Lombardi, who worked in that capacity under Allen at Oakland.
Another possibility is John Schneider, 32, the Packers personnel analyst to the general manager. Schneider, who worked as a personnel director for Mike Holmgren in Seattle and Marty Schottenheimer in Washington, began his career with the Packers in '92 on the same staff as Gruden.
The Bucs also interviewed Jets assistant general manager Mike Tannenbaum and Broncos pro personnel director Rick Smith. But there's no doubt Gruden pushed hard to get Allen.
Even before the Raiders announced his resignation Tuesday, Allen spent several days at workouts for the East-West Shrine all-star game and told agents he was headed to Tampa Bay.
As of late Thursday, neither Ruskell or assistant general manager John Idzik had been told whether they will be asked to accept a role in the front office. Ruskell is a candidate for the Dolphins GM post, but both soon could join McKay in Atlanta.
Allen, named NFL Executive of the Year in 2002, is considered a savvy manipulator of the salary cap and shares Gruden's penchant for acquiring veteran free agents.
After losing to Gruden's Bucs 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII, the Raiders found themselves about $50-million over the cap. Allen whittled that down while retaining most of the players. But Oakland struggled to a 4-12 record, worst by a team the year after appearing in a Super Bowl, which led to the firing of coach Bill Callahan.
Allen is the son of Hall of Fame coach George Allen and the brother of U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va. Though this is his first NFL general manager's job, he worked in every facet of pro football with his father for the Rams and Redskins.
At 22, Allen was head coach at Occidental College. Three years later, he began his career as a general manager with the Chicago Blitz and Arizona Wranglers of the USFL while his father coached those teams. Later, as a sports agent, Allen learned the business of negotiating player contracts.
Though Allen has scouting experience, it was not expected that he would have such a large role in the Bucs' personnel decisions. In fact, despite all outward appearances, Gruden is likely to expand his input in deciding roster moves.
McCARDELL TO HONOLULU: Bucs receiver Keenan McCardell was added to the NFC Pro Bowl squad, replacing injured 49ers receiver Terrell Owens. In his 12th season, McCardell led the Bucs with 84 catches for 1,174 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns.
