Post by TheShadow on Jan 17, 2009 6:54:51 GMT -5
Associated Press
A Super Bowl title bought Jon Gruden time, but ultimately couldn't save his job.
The Buccaneers dismissed their fiery coach as well as general manager Bruce Allen on Friday, three weeks after Tampa Bay completed one of the biggest collapses in NFL history, losing four straight games after a 9-3 start to miss the playoffs.
Late Friday, the Buccaneers settled on defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, 32, as their new coach. The move was confirmed by a person familiar with the decision who requested anonymity because the team had not yet scheduled an official announcement. Director of pro personnel Mark Dominik will replace Allen.
Gruden was a rising star when he was hired seven years ago to get a team built by Tony Dungy to the Super Bowl. But Gruden guided the Bucs to the postseason only twice after becoming the youngest coach to win the NFL title in January 2003.
Gruden, 39 when the Bucs beat the Raiders in the Super Bowl, went 60-57 in seven seasons, including a 3-2 mark in the playoffs. Allen was general manager for the last five seasons in a reunion of a relationship that began when both were with the Raiders.
The Bucs were tied for first place in the NFC South heading into December, but finished with losses to Carolina and Atlanta on the road and San Diego and Oakland at home, where they had been 6-0. One more win would have landed an NFC wild-card berth.
Cowboys fire Stewart: The Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Brian Stewart on Friday after two seasons, the first big coaching move after the team limped to the finish line and missed the playoffs again.
More moves may come soon. Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett remained among the finalists for the Rams' head coaching job.
Stewart is the second Dallas coach let go; the Cowboys earlier this month replaced special teams coach Bruce Read with Joe DeCamillis.
Another L.A. effort: The annals of pro football are filled with incredible comebacks, which might be why billionaire Ed Roski thinks he can build a new $800 million stadium and lure a team to Los Angeles County after so many others have failed.
A key part of his plan goes to the city of Industry's 82 registered voters Tuesday, when they cast ballots on a bond measure that would provide $150 million to pave the way for the stadium with infrastructure improvements.
City Manager Kevin Radecki expects approval by voters, mostly old-timers who own homes grandfathered into the city about 15 miles east of Los Angeles when it incorporated five decades ago and zoned all the land for industrial use.
Roski's Majestic Realty Co. is headquartered in Industry, and he has considerable political clout there.
Tomlinson may be gone: The Chargers appear to be bracing their fans for the possibility that LaDainian Tomlinson's brilliant eight-year run with the team could be over.
According to the team's Web site, club president Dean Spanos called the star running back Thursday to discuss reports that the Chargers might part with Tomlinson, who has been slowed by injuries the last two postseasons and will count $8.8 million against the salary cap next year.
Tomlinson, the NFL MVP in 2006, missed the Chargers' playoff loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday with a groin injury. That, coupled with the lowest rushing total of his career, has led to speculation that the team might try to trade or even release Tomlinson.
A Super Bowl title bought Jon Gruden time, but ultimately couldn't save his job.
The Buccaneers dismissed their fiery coach as well as general manager Bruce Allen on Friday, three weeks after Tampa Bay completed one of the biggest collapses in NFL history, losing four straight games after a 9-3 start to miss the playoffs.
Late Friday, the Buccaneers settled on defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, 32, as their new coach. The move was confirmed by a person familiar with the decision who requested anonymity because the team had not yet scheduled an official announcement. Director of pro personnel Mark Dominik will replace Allen.
Gruden was a rising star when he was hired seven years ago to get a team built by Tony Dungy to the Super Bowl. But Gruden guided the Bucs to the postseason only twice after becoming the youngest coach to win the NFL title in January 2003.
Gruden, 39 when the Bucs beat the Raiders in the Super Bowl, went 60-57 in seven seasons, including a 3-2 mark in the playoffs. Allen was general manager for the last five seasons in a reunion of a relationship that began when both were with the Raiders.
The Bucs were tied for first place in the NFC South heading into December, but finished with losses to Carolina and Atlanta on the road and San Diego and Oakland at home, where they had been 6-0. One more win would have landed an NFC wild-card berth.
Cowboys fire Stewart: The Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Brian Stewart on Friday after two seasons, the first big coaching move after the team limped to the finish line and missed the playoffs again.
More moves may come soon. Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett remained among the finalists for the Rams' head coaching job.
Stewart is the second Dallas coach let go; the Cowboys earlier this month replaced special teams coach Bruce Read with Joe DeCamillis.
Another L.A. effort: The annals of pro football are filled with incredible comebacks, which might be why billionaire Ed Roski thinks he can build a new $800 million stadium and lure a team to Los Angeles County after so many others have failed.
A key part of his plan goes to the city of Industry's 82 registered voters Tuesday, when they cast ballots on a bond measure that would provide $150 million to pave the way for the stadium with infrastructure improvements.
City Manager Kevin Radecki expects approval by voters, mostly old-timers who own homes grandfathered into the city about 15 miles east of Los Angeles when it incorporated five decades ago and zoned all the land for industrial use.
Roski's Majestic Realty Co. is headquartered in Industry, and he has considerable political clout there.
Tomlinson may be gone: The Chargers appear to be bracing their fans for the possibility that LaDainian Tomlinson's brilliant eight-year run with the team could be over.
According to the team's Web site, club president Dean Spanos called the star running back Thursday to discuss reports that the Chargers might part with Tomlinson, who has been slowed by injuries the last two postseasons and will count $8.8 million against the salary cap next year.
Tomlinson, the NFL MVP in 2006, missed the Chargers' playoff loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday with a groin injury. That, coupled with the lowest rushing total of his career, has led to speculation that the team might try to trade or even release Tomlinson.