Bucs put focus on new deal for Kiffin

Coach Jon Gruden will return, GM says, but wants assistants' deals to come first.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writers
Published January 11, 2008

The Bucs' priority is keeping defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, left, who took the defense from 17th in 2006 to second overall.
	[James Borchuck | Times]

TAMPA - The Bucs have been busy the last few days signing assistant coaches to contract extensions.

They're still waiting on Monte Kiffin's autograph.

The Bucs have tendered an offer to the 67-year-old defensive coordinator and discussions with his agent, Jimmy Sexton, are ongoing, general manager Bruce Allen said Thursday.

Offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Bill Muir, receivers coach Richard Mann and special teams coordinator Richard Bisaccia re-signed.

Allen confirmed the team had granted permission to the Rams to interview running backs coach Art Valero, who is expected to accept an offer from St. Louis to coach the offensive line. Arron Kromer, the Bucs offensive line assistant coach, will meet with Allen over the weekend.

Regarding the future of coach Jon Gruden, Allen said the first priority was the expiring contracts of the assistants. Gruden is under contract for 2008.

Asked whether he had any doubt Gruden would be the Bucs coach next season, Allen emphatically said, "No."

"I meet with the Glazers frequently during the season and obviously talk to them after our games. ...Right now, Coach Gruden wanted me to address his assistant coaches first."

The priority is keeping Kiffin, who took the defense from 17th to second overall in 2006 with help from relative unknowns like defensive linemen Greg White and Jovan Haye. Kiffin declined comment Thursday.

"I was just up there with Monte and he's ranking his players," Allen said. "Monte and his agent are going to talk about things.

"Monte is probably mayor of Redington Beach. He really is a fixture and an important part of the Buccaneers and he has said he wants to come back."

Allen said the Bucs have not met with former Nebraska coach Bill Callahan, who was offensive coordinator under Gruden with the Raiders for four seasons. Muir holds that title on the Bucs' staff and also coaches the offensive line. But Allen wouldn't rule out finding a spot for Callahan.

During a 30-minute news conference, Allen outlined a plan to improve the Bucs in 2008.

It starts with getting the 14 players who finished the season on injured reserve healthy, including tackle Luke Petitgout, running back Cadillac Williams and quarterback Chris Simms.

Allen said the Bucs have about $23-million under the salary cap for next season and nearly $50-million in '09.

"We have the ability, different than after the '05 season, to acquire more players and the opportunity to," Allen said. "First and foremost, we can play better. We can execute better on the field and we can train better. But the best way to improve the team is to increase the talent level.

"There's no limit to who we can go after, which is a nice feeling entering into free agency."

Allen said he hasn't given up on coaxing quarterback Jake Plummer out of retirement. "I'm a really hopeful guy," he said.

Allen talked about signing "Tiger Woods players," in the off-season, particularly on offense.

He indicated the team will seek to extend the contracts of several players, such as Earnest Graham and Jeff Garcia, whose deals expire after the '08 season.

Times staff writer Stephen F. Holder contributed to this report.

[Last modified January 10, 2008, 21:17:13]