Lewis NOT going to Tampa

Hey have you guys seen this??

Bucs break off talks with Lewis
FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer

TAMPA, Fla. - In a stunning turnabout, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers abandoned plans Friday to hire Baltimore defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis as their new coach.

Director of Communications Reggie Roberts confirmed that talks between the team and Lewis' agent, Ray Anderson, broke off - just 24 hours after the two sides appeared headed toward an agreement.

Anderson told CNNSI.com, which first reported the story, that Bucs GM Rich McKay told him the team's owners weren't comfortable with Lewis.

"Rich, with great reluctance and embarrassment, called to inform me of their decision," Anderson told the Web site. "Rich was, frankly, in a semi-state of shock that at this point they had determined that Marvin was someone they weren't willing to support."

Anderson did not return a telephone message from The Associated Press.

The move comes three weeks after Bill Parcells turned down the job in a last-minute change of heart that left the Bucs scrambling to come up with a backup plan to find a successor to Tony Dungy, who was fired Jan. 14.

Lewis emerged as the prime candidate after Bucs general manager Rich McKay made an unsuccessful pitch to get Oakland's Jon Gruden.

Tampa Bay contacted the Raiders this week about the possibility of hiring Gruden, who has one year remaining on his contract. The Bucs offered draft picks and perhaps cash as compensation, but abandoned hope of making a trade because Oakland's asking price was too high.

Lewis, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and former Washington Redskins coach Norv Turner interviewed for the Tampa Bay opening last week.

Turner dropped out of the running Monday, a day before accepting a position as the Miami Dolphins' offensive coordinator. Mularkey was told Thursday that the team intended to hire Lewis.

It's the third time that Lewis, architect of one of the NFL's most dominating defenses, has come up short in a bid to become a head coach. He interviewed for the Buffalo Bills job that went to Gregg Williams after the 2000 season and was a candidate for the Carolina Panthers opening filled by John Fox last month.

Lewis would have become just the third black head coach in the NFL.

 

There HAS to be something wrong with Lewis.

 

Crazy

Can't believe it has to do with race. He must be demanding too much power, or money or something. It is a shock to me that he didn't get that job.

 

well, i'm glad dungy got out of that situation. talk about your mis-managed franchises.

 

That's on the Glazers, not Lewis or McKay. I wasn't enamored with Cameron as OC, but he was a solid choice, and Lewis as a HC is undoubtedly not a bad way to go.

But the Glazer kids vetoed it and it's enough to cost them McKay, one of the better GMs in the league. So FWIW, I wouldn't worry about that if I'm Lewis, he's apparently been spared.

 

Seems like Lewis just can't convince someone he's HC material. I mean Tampa Bay are running out of options.

Kinda guess this is funny that this happened to Lewis after his comments about the Panthers.

 

If the Bucs don't come up with a HC soon they are really going to struggle next year. The Glazers are running the Bucs into the ground. The rumor mill says they may be preparing to sell, but if they are why would they be doing this? All that has transpired so far has done nothing to increase the value of the team. I sure am glad that I'm not a Bucs fan.

 

ESPN is reporting Lewis IS going to Washington as DC. Looks like a top notch coach staff up there is Spurrier pans out the way he's expected to. I guess the new uniform good luck charm might just pay off for them too.

 

Lewis still in cincy..

 

Yeah, that's actually pretty crazy. Ten years and no playoff wins.