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Bucs fire coach Greg Schiano
Updated: December 31, 2012, 11:55 PM ET
ESPN.com news services
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are moving on from coach Greg Schiano, although not necessarily their determination to win with one of the NFL's youngest teams. Schiano was fired Tuesday after one season that raised questions about his suitability as an NFL head coach. Despite ownership's demonstration of their commitment to winning by splurging on several big names stars such as receiver Vincent Jackson and guard Carl Nicks, a reversal of the team's normal tight budget policy, the Bucs finished an NFL worst 2-14 (the Buccaneers worst record since 1986) and lost eleven straight to finish out the season. Meanwhile, NFC South rivals, the Atlanta Falcons finished with an NFC best 13-3 record and the New Olreans Saints earned a wildcard spot in the playoffs.
The Bucs have been on a downward spiral since firing Super Bowl winning coach John Gruden, now of ESPN's Monday Night Football, after six seasons of disappointing in the playoffs. Gruden's successor Raheem Morris started off slow with a 3-13 record but rebounded with a 10-6 season in his second year, however, placing only 3rd in the NFC South. After falling to 4-12 in his third year, the team's owners - the Glazer family - decided to move on. Greg Schiano was widely viewed as an odd choice from the outset. Despite his noted success at Rutgers and his reputation as a meticulous and detail oriented coach, Schiano appeared to be quickly to be overwhelmed in the NFL and many of the questions about his readiness for the NFL resurfaced.
Sources close to the Glazer Family indicate that the Bucs are after a high profile defensive coordinator.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
RealSkipBayless: All I've been hearing about is how Guy Savage 'wowed' the Buccaneers' officials. He needs to 'wow' fans.
Savage new Tampa Bay Coach
Updated: January 1, 2013, 5:01 AM ET
ESPN.com news services
Savage began to earn recognition after leading the Patriots’ defense and rookie defensive end Chandler Jones to great success. This season, Savage turned the Patriot's defense, mediocre at best in recent years, to one of the best defenses in the league.
Rumors around the league stated that the New York Giants were eyeing Savage as a replacement for Tom Couglin after his retirement following a disastrous 6-10 season, placing the Giants last in the NFC East. The Cincinnati Bengals had also not hidden their interest in Savage after immediately dismissing Marvin Lewis and his staff the day following the season. Whispers around the league speculated that the New York Jets were willing to move on from boisterous coach Rex Ryan if Savage expressed interest in the job.
Savage is the fourth member of Master’s coaching staff to become a head coach in the NFL, following Romeo Crennel with Cleveland in 2005, Eric Mangini who joined the Jets a year later in 2006, and Josh McDaniels who joined the Broncos in 2009. All three have since been fired, though Crennel has found a new home with the Chiefs.
The Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in 2002 but have slipped into mediocrity, having not won a playoff game since.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Offseason Roster
5
Josh Freeman
QB
25
6'6"
248
Kansas State
22
Doug Martin
HB
24
5'9"
223
Boise State
34
Michael Smith
HB
25
5'9
205
Utah State
41
Erik Lorig
FB
26
6'4"
275
Stanford
83
Vincent Jackson
WR
30
6'5"
230
N. Colorado
19
Mike Williams
WR
26
6'1"
212
Syracuse
17
Arrelious Benn
WR
25
6'2"
220
Illinois
88
Luke Stocker
TE
25
6'6"
253
Tennessee
70
Donald Penn
LT
30
6'5"
305
Utah State
79
Jamon Meredith
LT
27
6'5"
312
South Carolina
77
Carl Nicks
LG
28
6'5"
343
Nebraska
67
Julian Vandervelde
LG
25
6'2"
300
Iowa
76
Jeremy Zuttah
C
27
6'4"
308
Rutgers
75
Davin Joseph
RG
29
6'3"
313
Oklahoma
62
Ted Larsen
RG
26
6'2"
305
N.C. State
69
Demar Dotson
RT
27
6'9"
315
Southern Miss.
71
Michael Bennett
LE
27
6'4"
274
Texas A&M
91
Da'Quan Bowers
LE
23
6'4"
280
Clemson
94
Adrian Clayborn
RE
25
6'3"
281
Iowa
93
Gerald McCoy
DT
25
6'4"
295
Oklahoma
95
Gary Gibson
DT
31
6'3"
312
Rutgers
58
Quincy Black
LOLB
29
6'2"
240
New Mexico
56
Dekoda Watson
LOLB
25
6'2"
240
Florida State
59
Mason Foster
MLB
24
6'2"
242
Washington
57
Adam Hayward
MLB
29
6'1"
240
Portland St.
53
Najee Goode
MLB
24
6'0"
244
West Virgnia
54
Lavonte David
ROLB
23
6'1"
233
Nebraska
25
Aqib Talib
CB
27
6'1"
205
Kansas
21
Eric Wright
CB
28
5'10"
190
UNLV
23
Myron Lewis
CB
25
6'2"
203
Vanderbilt
26
Anthony Gaitor
CB
26
5'10"
175
FIU
43
Ahmad Black
FS
23
5'9"
190
Florida
24
Mark Barron
SS
23
6'1"
213
Alabama
35
Cody Grimm
SS
26
6'1"
203
Virginia Tech
10
Connor Barth
K
27
5'11"
193
North Carolina
9
Michael Koenen
P
31
5'11"
198
Western Wash.
2012 Buccaneer Resignings
Michael Bennett, DE (4 year, $10M)
Aqib Talib, CB (4 year, $14.4M)
NFL Draft Rumors: Trade Could Happen With the Top Pick Published January 20, 2013
Things are starting to heat up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the first overall pick in the upcoming draft. According to Bucs head coach Guy Savage, other team's are starting to call about the possibility of trading up to acquire the top selection.
Originally assumed to be locked into taking Florida State denfensive tackle, Jakari Christmas, other players such as Baylor tackle Conner Barr and Louisville cornerback Jalen Cooper have been targeted as potential players of interest to the Buccaneers. Now it appears as though those same players may be used as bargaining chips in a potential trade.
Another player thought to be of interest for QB needy teams is Maryland’s Jonathan Moore. However, some scouts have expressed concerns as to whether Moore is as good of a prospect as Robert Griffin III was last year. The Washington Redskins gave the St. Louis Rams their first and second round picks in 2012, along with their 2013 and 2014 first round picks in exchange for the second overall pick which was used to select Griffin.
Coming off a dismal 2-14 season in 2012-13, the Bucs are looking to do whatever they can to improve their team, especially if that means moving their top selection in order to add additional assets.
Pro Bowl Rosters: AFC QB: Blaine Gabbert (Jaguars); Ben Roethlistberger (Steelers); Joe Flacco (Ravens) HB: Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars); Jamaal Charles (Chiefs); BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Bengals); Darius Reynaud (Titans) FB: Chris Pressley (Bengals); Marcel Reese (Raiders) WR: Wes Welker (Patriots); Stevie Johnson (Bills); Davone Bess (Dolphins); Demaryius Thomas (Broncos); Antonio Brown (Steelers); Reggie Wayne (Colts); Steve Breaston (Chiefs) TE: Heath Miller (Steelers); Ed Dickson (Ravens); Dustin Keller (Jets) LT: Duane Brown (Texans); Brandon Albert (Chiefs) LG: Steve Hutchinson (Titans); Andy Levitre (Bills) C: Matt Birk (Ravens); Kyle Cook (Bengals) RG: Jon Asamoah (Chiefs); Kraig Urbik (Bills) RT: David Stewart (Titans); Winston Justice (Colts) LE: Trevor Scott (Dolphins); Pernell McPhee (Ravens) RE: Haloti Ngata (Ravens); Cameron Wake (Dolphins) DT: Phil Taylor (Browns); Tommy Kelly (Raiders); Justin Bannan (Broncos) LOLB: Justin Houston (Chiefs); Robert Mathis (Colts) MLB: Brian Cushing; Paul Posluszny (Bills) ROLB: Jerod Mayo (Patriots); Will Witherspoon (Titans) CB: Shawntae Spencer (Raiders); Nate Clements (Bengals); Chris Harris (Broncos); Brandon Flowers (Chiefs) FS: Michael Huff (Raiders); Antoine Betha (Colts) SS: Abram Elam (Chiefs); Bernard Pollard (Ravens) K: Sebastian Janiskowski (Raiders) P: Zoltan Mesko (Patriots)
NFC QB: Aaron Rodgers (Packers); Matt Ryan (Falcons); Michael Vick (Eagles) HB: Frank Gore (49ers); Matt Forte (Bears); LeSean McCoy (Eagles); Darren Sproles (Saints) FB: Lousaka Polite (Falcons); Brit Miller (Rams) WR: Greg Jennings (Packers); Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals); Jordy Nelson (Packers); Brandon Marshall (Bears); Roddy White (Falcons); Miles Austin (Cowboyss); Percy Harvin (Vikings) TE: Jason Witten (Cowboys); Vernon Davis (49ers); Tony Gonzalez (Falcons) LT: Trent Williams (Redskins); Tyron Smith (Cowboys) LG: Evan Mathis (Eagles); Justin Blalock (Falcons) C: John Sullivan (Vikings); Todd McClure (Falcons) RG: Vince Manuwai (Eagles); Garrett Reynolds (Falcons) RT: Todd Herremans (Eagles); Tyson Clabo (Falcons) LE: Cliff Avril (Lions); Ray McDonald (49ers) RE: Charles Johnson (Panthers); John Abraham (Falcons) DT: Sedrick Ellis (Saints); Kevin Williams (Vikings); Brandon Mebane (Seahawks) LOLB: Anthony Spencer (Cowboys); Travis LaBoy (Cardinals) MLB: Brian Urlacher (Bears); Jon Beason (Panthers) ROLB: Aldon Smith (49ers); Lavonte David (Buccaneers) CB: Patrick Robinson (Saints); Brandan Carr (Cowboys); Elbert Mack (Saints); Antoine Winfield (Vikings) FS: Husain Abdullah (Bears); Madieu Williams (Redskins) SS: Donte Whitner (49ers); Roman Harper (Saints) K: Mason Crosby(Packers) P: Matt Bosher (Falcons)