A new favorite of Chargers fans, ex-Bucs RB Michael Bennett faced questions from the San Diego media regarding his role in a Tampa fight involving Bucs players and a restaurant patron

Former Bucs running back Michael Bennett talked about his playoff performance on Saturday that has Chargers fans ecstatic. And Bennett also discussed the civil law suit that has Bucs fans scratching their heads wondering if the speedster was cut by Tampa Bay because he is accused of flashing a gun during a fight at a Tampa IHOP in October.

Yes, before Christmas, Joe first broke the ugly details of the IHOP disturbance. The local and national print media woke up to the story in the past few days.

Questioned by the San Diego Union-Tribune on Monday, Bennett called the law suit “hocus pocus.”

The suit alleges he and former offensive lineman Anthony Davis – who the Bucs cut days after the IHOP incident – seriously beat the plaintiff and Bennett threatened him with a holstered gun.

A Tampa police report states Bennett was not identified in two photo lineups by witnesses at the scene. 

One witness interviewed by police said a man wearing a green outfit punched the plaintiff in the jaw, according to the report, and Bennett later told police he was wearing “a green hat and green longsleeve shirt with a white undershirt.”

No charges were filed by police, and Bennett told the Union Tribune on Monday that he was “the peacekeeper” at IHOP, where Davis was enraged and out of control.

Joe promises to keep you informed as the civil suit progresses through the court system.

And Joe is rooting for Michael Bennett on the field. Chargers fans are giddy about Bennett’s 31 yards (four carries and a seven-yard reception) in his San Diego debut against Indianapolis on Saturday. A former Pro Bowl running back, Bennett came on in the second half after LaDainian Tomlinson left the game injured.

Bennett showed the speed and power Bucs fans saw from him throughout the 2008 preseason. As stated many times in September, October and November, Joe disagreed with Chucky sticking Bennett in his doghouse before needlessly cutting him two months ago.

Prepared and confident, Raheem Morris interviewed for the Broncos head coaching job in Denver on Monday

Newly-crowned Bucs defensive coordinator Raheem Morris sounded like a man eager to replace Mike Shanahan as Broncos head coach on Monday. Morris was in Denver to interview for the position.

In a chat with the Rocky Mountain News, Morris, expressed his desire to wear orange.

“I got a chance to study them a little bit,” Morris said. “You always want to come prepared when you come in to meet with people … They’ve got a lot of potential, things they can do a little bit better, but everybody does. Hopefully, I can be the one to help them do it.”

Joe is pleased to read about Morris’ confidence and attention to detail, and that he wasn’t just going through the motions in Denver. It’s no wonder that NFL executives are high on his future.

Joe always chuckled at those in the media who thought Morris, just 32-years-old, was a great candidate but might not want to take over for Monte Kiffin because the shoes were too big to fill. That never made sense to Joe. If a guy is confident and capable, he’ll want the best job he can find.

And now the evidence is here, as Monte’s shoes are only half as big as Shanahan’s.

Joe believes Morris has very little chance to get the Denver job and the Bucs will have the chance to let him play head-coach-in-training this year in Tampa.

One local Tampa Bay scribe predicts Alex Smith will be wearing the red jersey of the Bucs next season, not the 49ers.

With the risk of reading like a paid advertisement, there is only one Sunday night sports wrap-up show worth staying up late to watch, and it can be found on WFLA-TV, Channel 8.

It’s not because the show has a lot of highlights. Joe’s not staying up until midnight on a Sunday night to watch only a handful of highlights when he can get significantly more highlights far earlier in the evening on various channels on his DirecTV, much less on the internet shortly following a game.

What makes the Channel 8 show worthwhile is the significant amount of analysis from various Tampa Tribune team beat reporters. Again, this is not to pimp WFLA (though Media General is welcome to advertise with Joe). Joe would say the same thing if other reporters from other papers, including the Tribune’s, would pop up on other late Sunday night shows. That doesn’t happen, aside from Pewter Report writers on WFTS.

At any rate, on Sunday eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune discussed the many holes the Bucs need to plug and the various moves Bruce Almighty and Chucky may make between now and the start of training camp in July.

Joe had to catch his breath when Kaufman suggested the next Chucky quarterback experiment would be Alex Smith. When Joe finally picked himself off the floor and dusted himself off, he realized Kaufman was making sense.

Kaufman did not try to make a case for Smith being a good quarterback. He isn’t. In fact, the top overall pick in the 2005 draft by the 49ers has been nothing short of horrid. But Kaufman laid out the reasons he thinks Smith will be wearing Pewter and Red next year:

* Smith will come cheap. Adding the soon-to-be free agent (who was set to make nearly $10 million next year) will hardly spark a bidding war. So the Bucs could get a bargain basement deal.

* Apparently per Kaufman, Chucky was smitten with Smith when the quarterback was coming out of Utah, after leading the Utes to an undefeated season and a win over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl.

* Chucky, per Kaufman, loves reclamation projects and isn’t scared to take a chance on a player, especially if said player comes cheap.

* Stating the obvious, Kaufman noted how Chucky loves to collect quarterbacks like Hugh Heffner collects blondes. (Actually, that’s Joe’s line.)

Joe is certain there will be a shakeup among Bucs quarterbacks for the 2009 season. Though Kaufman makes a lot of sense, the thought of Alex Smith potentially being the Bucs starting quarterback sends cold shivers up Joe’s spine.

It’s almost enough for Joe to swallow hard and accept Son of Bob as the starting quarterback.

Well, on second thought…

“Bryan, Joel, everyone, thanks for having me back. I love you guys.”

Here at JoeBucsFan.com, our writers don’t always share the same views.

Hey, what fans agree all the time? C’mon.

After much crying over the Bucs’ implosion and a holiday weekend of college football, pro football and quality beer drinking, Joe presents a couple of takes on Chucky’s future, more specifically how the Glazers view the status of their handpicked, expensive coach.  

By LEE DIEKEMPER
Managing Editor

Call it a hunch, but Chucky will return next year.

Chucky has three years left on a contract worth a reported $5 million a year. At the time he signed the new contract following the 2007 season, the deal put him among the top five highest paid NFL coaches.

That, in itself, is absurd, but it also means Chucky will remain as Bucs coach.

Please understand Joe is not a Chucky hater, though he can find plenty of things to hate. Joe will continue to bleed Bucs red if Chucky is the coach, or someone else.

Note that the last year of a head coach contract is virtually meaningless. Rarely do coaches reach the final year of a contract unless the coach is fired or has his contract extended. The vast majority of teams do not want lame duck coaches. So in essence, Chucky has two years left on his deal.

Sure, if the Glazer Boys unloaded Chucky and he was picked up by another team, the Glazer Boys would be off the hook for his salary. Keyword: “If.”

JoeBucsFan.com Managing Editor Lee Diekemper says the Glazer clan is watching all their nickels this year along with the rest of the National Football League.

Just because Chucky is fired doesn’t mean he’d agree to work for another team at likely a smaller salary. Joe can’t imagine a team would hire a coach who was canned for $5 million a year. Chucky also would likely spend a season out of football, which might attract more teams and better choices for his next coaching gig.

Remember that rich people don’t stay rich by being foolish. Five million dollars a year is a boat load of money no matter if you are Joe, Paul Allen, T. Boone Pickens, Warren Buffet or the Glazer Boys. With NFL teams hurt by the economy, and actually some teams including the league office laying off people, not all owners are ready to toss money away on unemployed coaches.

No less a well-connected authority than Chris Mortensen of BSPN has stated in his talks with NFL owners that they are counting their beans a little more closely this year.

(Granted, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen axed Mike Shanahan, who has three years left on his contract. Remember the Broncos aren’t having trouble selling season tickets. The Glazer Boys are.)

Should Chucky go? Joe is of the mind that, as much as he appreciates what Chucky has done for the franchise, yes. It’s time. He got the Bucs their only Super Bowl, for which Joe will forever be in Chucky’s debt. No matter what happens to Chucky, he should never have to buy another meal or a beer in Tampa for that reason alone.

Chucky’s record since speaks for itself. It’s not good. In fact, it’s worse than Father Dungy’s, who was axed by the Glazer Boys (not without merit) for lesser sins.

Joe just doesn’t see the franchise improving under Chucky. Competing for a NFC South title and losing in the first round is not what Joe calls “improving.” And the Chuckyodytes who scream “who else would you have coach?” doesn’t hold water. Quick, raise your hands if you heard of Mike Smith, John Harbaugh or Tony Sparano prior to last year?

For that matter, how many people knew of Chucky before Al Davis picked him as the Raiders coach?

Should Chucky go? Regrettably, yes.

Will Chucky go? Regrettably, no.

By STEVEN ISBITTS
Editor

Getting in the heads and hearts of the Glazers is tough. They don’t talk to the media much, and they rarely show their cards when they do. Malcolm’s boys must be incredible poker players.

What we do know about the Glazers is they are savage, savvy business people who are not afraid to go after what they want. They outbid George Steinbrenner for the Bucs and threatened to leave town to force a new stadium deal. (Not that anyone cares, but they took on the wrath of an enitre country with a blood-thirsty media to buy Manchester United).  

And, of course, the Glazers take their head coach shopping seriously. Look at their willingness to fire Tony Dungy and pay a king’s ransom of cash and draft picks for Chucky, and their relentless pursuit of BIll Parcells in past years. 

JoeBucsFan.com Editor Steven Isbitts says the Glazers will show Chucky lots of love while they search for their next great leader, much like Chucky does with his quarterbacks

The take here is that the Glazers would be pleased to have a new coach now, if they found what they wanted. And they would spare absolutely no expense — they’d rather make cuts in other areas or raise prices. 

But the Glazer brain trust hasn’t found that guy. So Chucky will be their man again in 2009.

For now, the Glazers will rely on Chucky and Bruce Allen to find ways for the team to stay competitive, inject some youth into the lineup and, with a little luck, make the playoffs. That’ll keep the seats nearly filled and buy time. It’s the safe option, in an unsafe environment.

One look at the ’09 schedule, and the Glazers see a horrendous year for rebuilding the Bucs. Tampa Bay’s schedule is brutally difficult, including a forfeited home game in England against the Patriots. The Glazers know that rebuilding and finishing 3-13 in a poor economy is a great recipe for blacked out home games, major revenue loss, and overall great risk.

Imagine if a new coach and rebuilding is a flop? The Bucs could be mired in the NFC South cellar for years.

Look for the Glazers to give Bruce Allen and Chucky the green light to run the team however they wish in 2009 (Let’s hope that’s not into the ground). Joe believes the Glazers still have some faith in their dynamic duo, and they’ll buy their sales car-salesmen pitch that the team is just a stud running back and a pass rusher away from going 11-5 next year.

Joe is confident Gruden is done after next season, unless he gets to the second round of the playoffs, without excepton.

And another thing, the Glazers will do everything necessary to make sure Raheem Morris knows loud and clear that he’s in their future plans for head coach.

Former Bucs QB Jeff Carson nailed all four Wild Card playoff games, picking Arizona, San Diego, Baltimore and Philly

Time to applaud former Bucs quarterback Jeff Carlson, who is known to many for his work on Bright House Sports Networks, ESPN 1040 AM and coaching young quarterbacks. 

Carlson was the only JoeBucsFan.com expert to serve up a perfect record of picks, 4-0, for last weekend’s playoff games. Joe guesses the lesson learned is not to mess with the pros.

Joe provided expert picks for the opening round playoff slate, and the wide range of selections created the opportunity to make fun of some and praise others. All the picks are below.

Kudos to JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox for finishing 3-1. And Justin Pawlowski, of The Sports Animal, saved face with a 2-2 mark. Both nailed their best bets. As for the others, there’s always next week, fellas. 

Bucs crowds thinned out at Raymond James Stadium in '08

Bucs fans saw the empty seats sprinkled throughout the nose bleed and club seat sections of Raymond James Stadium all season. We also saw the single-game ticket ads on Buccaneers.com and in the local newspapers (Well, maybe not the newspapers, since nobody reads them anymore).

Now, a report in the Orlando Sentinel confirms Bucs attendance fell in 2008, just over one percent. That translates to 805 fans per game. So if the average fans spends $150 per game on food, tickets, gear, parking, etc., then the Glazers revenue took a hit of well over $1 million, including preseason games.

Attendance was down leaguewide, according to the report. The numbers come as no surprise, as the NFL is scheduled to layoff over 100 people after the season because of declining revenue. Florida’s plummeting economy likely is the No. 1 factor in the Bucs attendance drop. Consider Miami’s attendance was down over 7 percent, and the Dolphins won their division.

Attendance in ’09 should be interesting in Tampa. Joe guesses the Bucs will fare better. The Bucs have home games against their division rivals, plus against big names like the Cowboys, Packers, Giants and Jets. Tampa Bay has one fewer home game, thanks to the Glazers agreeing to play a “home” against New England in Great Britain.

Joe wonders whether Raheem Morris could be the Chiefs' next head coach, if Bucs pro personnel director Mark Dominik takes Kansas City's vacant GM job

Joe tapped his vast network of sources and told you on Saturday morning that Bucs director of pro personnel Mark Dominik is on the new short list of candidates for the Kansas City Chiefs’ general manager job.

On Sunday – that’s one day later Bucs fans – Adam Schefter, the NFL Network’s breaking news guru, reported Dominik is among four leading candidates to replace Carl Peterson.

Chiefs GM candidates are believed to include Patriots executive Scott Pioli, Colts VP of football operations Chris Polian, Buccaneers director of pro personnel Mark Dominik and Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye. One of those men, or whoever is hired as the Chiefs’ GM, is expected to make the final call on [Herm] Edwards.

Forgive Joe for reminding you that JoeBucsFan.com can be counted on for breaking news. Not all the time, but enough to shame the MSM.

Joe wonders if Dominik takes the K.C. job, whether he brings Raheem Morris with him to replace Herm Edwards. Reports say Chiefs owner Clark Hunt wants young leadership, and Dominik would surely know that Morris is a coaching star in the making, as other NFL executives are saying quietly.

"Jeff, man, if Sapp can be runner-up in Dancing With The Stars, you can win it all. The way you freak out in the pocket, man. You make Griese look polished."

Joe watched Kurt Warner, Philip Rivers and many other playoff quarterbacks over the weekend look so comfortable in the pocket, regardless of whether it was collapsing on them or not.

It was a enjoyable to watch them hang in there and make plays downfield.

Joe thinks he was getting a little too used to Jeff Garcia’s happy feet in the pocket and his inability to consistently make traditional plays. That just didn’t work for the Bucs when it counted most.

A rare glimpse of Monte Kiffin here at the news conference introducing him to the Tennessee media on Friday. The video is quite enjoyable. Joe highly recommends it.

Monte is a high-energy maniac, filled with smiles and analogies.

And aside from the bad combover and an orange tie, it’s hard to imagine how any blue-chip high school defensive player isn’t going to sign up to play for Tennessee.

A stellar reputation will follow Raheem Morris to Denver, where he will intervew for the Broncos' head coach opening

Denver loves its Broncos, and the city is buzzing over the team’s coaching search to replace Mike Shanahan.

Bucs newly-named defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will interview for the position this week.

Rocky Mountain News NFL reporter Jeff Legwold interviewed unnamed general managers and personnel executives Friday to get their take on the pluses and minuses of the Broncos’ candidates. Morris, only 32-years old, scored well but was knocked for his inexperience.

Raheem Morris, Buccaneers defensive coordinator

Strengths: The guy is going places, and everybody knows it. Players like Ronde Barber say they see him as a head coach in waiting, and many have compared his career curve to that of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Weaknesses: Just 32 years old and never has called plays on either side of the ball. Was just named Bucs’ defensive coordinator late last month. Executives said he is still a quality candidate because of his high-end people skills, but he would need to surround himself with plenty of experience while still making it clear he’s the boss.

As Joe has written previously, Morris has little or no shot of landing a head coaching job for 2009. But all bets are off after next season, if Morris returns the Bucs’ defense to another top-10 ranking. In 2007, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin landed the job in Pittsburgh after only one season as a defensive coordinator in Minnesota.

Joe has learned from a reliable source who covers the Kansas City Chiefs that Bucs director of pro personnel Mark Dominik is still in the running for the general manager position with the Chiefs.

After former Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson resigned before the end of the season, the Chiefs’ brain trust, including owner Clark Hunt, had Dominik on the initial list of candidates. When the Chiefs front office recently shrunk the list to 10, Dominik made the cut.

Though Hunt is in the process of interviewing Patriots general manager Scott Pioli, it’s hardly a lock that Pioli will get the job.

Dominik has roots and history in the Kansas City area. He graduated from the University of Kansas, which is nearly a suburb of Kansas City. Dominik also worked for the Chiefs in their college and pro personnel departments prior to joining the Bucs front office in 1995. He has been Bucs director of pro personnel for the past seven seasons and his contract is set to expire with the Bucs.

What fun would the start of the playoffs be without quality prognostications from a handful of your favorite NFL authorities?

So get your bookie on the phone early; Joe hereby presents some sure-fire winners. The only problem is there is no true consensus among our esteemed panel below.

Most like the Ravens to roll into Miami and overwhelm the Dolphins with defense. Jeff Carlson, former Bucs quarterback and professional quarterback coach, says Ravens rookie QB Joe Flacco is the real deal. The Eagles got the most attention. Only Steve Isbitts, JoeBucsFan executive editor, thinks Adrian Peterson is enough of a stud to carry the Vikings to the NFC semifinals. Justin Pawlowski, a former Division I offensive lineman and host of The Blitz on 620 AM, believes Peyton Manning will pick apart the Chargers’ secondary en route to a commanding victory.

Bobby Fenton, host of The Free Stretch on WQYK-AM 1010 Sports Radio, also belives the Colts will get a win over the Chargers.

Everyone’s picks are laid out below. Best Bets are in bold. Joe will praise and harrass our experts accordingly on Monday. 

JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox likes the Eagles, Ravens, Falcons and Chargers in the opening round of the NFL playoffs

Well, the NFL postseason starts this weekend, as the Wild Card playoffs begin Saturday. Twelve teams qualified for the playoffs, and now eight will square off. The other four teams get a well deserved bye weekend off, after their successful 2008 seasons gave them the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in their respective conferences. 

But before I try to breakdown the playoffs in each conference, I want to look at four teams that at one point looked like they were sure locks for the playoffs but faded badly down the stretch: the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Both the Broncos and Jets have already fired their head coaches. The Mike Shanahan firing in Denver was especially shocking. Eric Mangini in New York was not so surprising, as the Jets let a golden opportunity to win the AFC East slip away. They sqaundered the contributions of newcomers Brett Favre and Alan Faneca, and the season-ending knee injury to Tom Brady of the Patriots suffered in Week 1. Plus, the Jets were once 8-3 and had defeated the Titans and Patriots back-to-back on the road.

Jerry Jones says he will not change head coaches for the Cowboys. Don’t believe it. The Cowboys imploded big time in 2008 under Wade Phillips. They were beaten at home by the Ravens on the second-to-last week of the season when they played the final game ever at Texas Stadium in front of  all the past Cowboy legends on hand. They they were thoroughly embarrassed at Philadelphia by the Eagles the last week of the season. I would not be surprised to see Shanahan move on to either Dallas or the Jets.

Jon Gruden’s situation is not as tenuous in Tampa Bay, although some say it should be. Gruden and GM Bruce Allen were both given extensions after the 2007 season. I think the Glazers will do what Ralph Wilson did for Dick Jauron (Jauron was also recently given a contract extension) following the 2008 season and keep Gruden around. Owners (except Hank Steinbrenner of the Yankees) are being very careful with their money now in these turbulent economic times.  I think the Glazers will see what Gruden and his staff can do in 2009, and then re-evaluate the team.

But the Vince Lombardi trophy that Gruden brought home after the 2002 season has used its last  coaching lifeline. Gruden has not won a playoff game since the Super Bowl season. Yes, Gruden has won two NFC South titles in that time, but the Bucs also have gone 45-51 since the Super Bowl season. If Shanahan can get fired after winning two straight Super Bowls (but that was a decade or so ago), plus being close friends with an owner, no one is untouchable in the NFL. Finally, Gruden may have to make other changes to his coaching staff, as well.  Look for defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to possibly land in Denver or Cleveland as a head coach after recently replacing Monte Kiffin as the main man controlling the defense for the Bucs.

NFC playoff scenario
The Giants and Panthers earned a bye this weekend as the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively. I expect the road teams to win all the playoff games this weekend, with one exception, and that is in the AFC.

Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals
The Falcons are playing very well down the stretch, while the Cardinals for the most part have been floundering. I expect Michael Turner and the second-leading rushing attack in the NFL will do its share of damage for the Falcons. Rookie QB Matt Ryan of the Falcons has been almost unflappable, as he was recently won The Associated Press 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Ryan loves to connect with WR Roddy White.  While the Falcons are run-happy, the Cardinals are pass happy, led by QB Kurt Warner.  Warner has many weapons, including WR’s Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston. Still, I see the Falcons continuing their winning ways as the Birds are much more consistent than the Cardinals who will be hosting their first playoff game since 1947. 

Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings
Except for a brief hiccup in Washington in Week 16, there are those who think the Eagles are playing the best football in the NFC right now. Count me as a believer, although both the Giants and Panthers will have something to say about that. The Vikings have played better down the stretch as well behind QB Tavaris Jackson, but Jim Johnson’s blitz-happy Eagles defense has to be licking its chops waiting for a game against the inexperienced Jackson.  Once again, the Eagles will be led by QB Donovan McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook, but the Philly defense will be the real key in trying to stop RB Adrian Peterson and trying to force turnovers. I expect the Eagles to move on and face the Giants next weekend; they split their meetings this season.

JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox says the Chargers match up well against the Colts and Phillip Rivers will lead them to victory at home

AFC playoff scenario
The Titans and Steelers earned a bye this weekend as the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds.  Some think both road teams will win in the AFC this weekend, as well, but I expect the Chargers to surprise the Colts again, like they did in 2007, and almost did earlier this past season.

Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers
Sometimes teams just match up well with their particular opponents, no matter the record.  That is how it is for the Chargers against the Colts.  Yes, the Chargers have not had LaDainian Tomlinson or Antonio Gates practice this week because of injuries, but I think both will be ready for the game.  The Chargers beat Peyton Manning last year in San Diego, as Manning threw six picks.  The Colts were very fortunate to get a win this year behind a last second Adam Vinatieri field goal.  I just like Phillip Rivers and the Chargers in this one, even though the Colts are playing very well.  By the way, not only should Rivers be in the Pro Bowl for the AFC (which he is not, which is a travesty), but he also deserves consideration for the MVP award in the NFL.  Rivers is the top rated QB in the NFL with 34 TD passes to just 11 interceptions for 4,009 yards and a 105.5 QB rating, and he also brought the Chargers back from the dead with three games to go in the season and three games behind Denver to win the AFC West.

Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins 
The Ravens and Dolphins are both playing exceptional football right now. I give the edge to the Dolphins at quarterback, as Chad Pennington has had a great year, but Joe Flacco has also had a very nice rookie season at QB. The edge to me in this game is the Ravens defense. If there is a better DB than Ed Reed in the NFL right now, I don’t know who he is.  MLB Ray Lewis and others have led the Ravens defense to the No. 2 ranking in the entire NFL. The Dolphins defense is in the middle of the pack statistically. The Ravens run game has also erupted recently behind Le’Ron McClain and Willis McGahee and that will also help Flacco succeed in his first ever playoff game. I think this game might come down to a field goal, and I think Baltimore’s experience on defense will be the key factor in the win.

Bob Garcia, Jeff Garcia's father, is reporting Jon Gruden met with Jeff Garcia on Monday and told his son he wants him (and Carmella) back in Tampa Bay for the 2009 season

Throughout the season, Joe has enjoyed sharing the blogging of Bob Garcia, Jeff Garcia’s dad, a legendary retired high school and college football coach in northern California.

His thoughts on all-things Bucs and football are chronicled by the Gilroy Dispatch.  Sports editor Josh Koehn interviews Mr. Garcia weekly.

The elder Garcia’s work provided some great insight into the mindset of Jeff Garcia, and some quality laughs. His latest entry is no exception.

Bob Garcia talks about what Jeff told him about the Bucs’ effort in December.

‘No fire whatsoever. None.’

And Bob Garcia says Gruden held a face-to-face meeting with Jeff Garcia on Monday and wants him to return in 2009.

K: Do you think Jeff has played his last game in Tampa Bay?
G: I think so. You know, I shouldn’t say that because I guess they had a meeting Monday and the big guy (coach Jon Gruden) talked to him and said he wants him back. Well, I said, ‘It’s not for me to make a decision, but just remember what you went through. And, not just with the contract and the Brett Favre thing and the injuries and the benching and the whole thing from the offense and everything.’
He said, ‘I know, dad. I just want to get away for about two months and let things settle, maybe clear up a little bit, and then think about what I want to do.’ 

The entire interview and the archived blog entries are available here.

"Jeff, man, you know how this Favre dance goes by now. I love the guy, and I love you, too."

Expect the New York papers to ignite the rumor mill in a matter of days. It makes too much sense, right? Brett Favre is coming to Tampa Bay for the 2009 season.

Favre’s New York teammates are blasting him, reports ESPN.com, including 1300-yard rusher Thomas Jones. And the Jets have no coach; Eric Mangini, who named his infant son for Favre, was fired Monday.

Jon Gruden is probably begging Bruce Allen to pick up the phone and call the Jets to ask if Favre is available for a fifth-round pick. After all, Gruden loves quarterbacks, and Jeff Garcia’s a free agent. Heck, Chucky, seemed happy and ready to have both of them on the Bucs roster last summer.

Maybe the Bucs offer a conditional draft pick, much like the Jets did when they traded with Green Bay for Favre.

If Chucky stays on as coach, there’s every reason in the world to believe the Bucs will go after Favre — early and relentlessly — similar to how Gruden blames injuries for his teams’ struggles.

Monte Kiffin hired his new D-Line coach at the University of Tennessee only three days after the Bucs walked off the field in disgrace. Joe is sickened by the likelihood of Monte recruiting the guy while the Bucs' defense was imploding in December.

How did Monte Kiffin hire a hotly recruited defensive coach less than three days after the Bucs season-ending collapse without actively recruiting the guy during the Bucs season?

Circumstantial evidence is mounting that could reveal the ex-Bucs defensive coordinator was distracted during his final weeks with the Bucs, after announcing in early December he was leaving the team to coach at the University of Tennessee.

Local sports radio talking heads and print scribes have buzzed over the past week with speculation that the Bucs defense may have quit on Kiffin. For the record, Joe thinks that’s ridiculous. And Joe is far more troubled that the Bucs’ defense likely played its absolute best against the Raiders to send Kiffin off with a performance worthy of his stellar tenure in Tampa.

But Kiffin’s swift actions this week, along with his son Lane’s, the UT head coach, could lead one to believe that Monte Kiffin devoted time to Tennessee business while working for the Bucs.

On Wednesday, Lane Kiffin hired two NFL assistant coaches to join the UT staff: Ed Orgeron, the Saints’ defensive line coach, and Jim Chaney, the Rams’ tight end coach. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that father and son Kiffin interviewed Orgeron on Wednesday and he committed that day. Many thought Orgeron was headed to Louisiana State University.

“I’m so excited,” Orgeron, 47, told ESPN. “I get to coach with Monte (Kiffin) and I’m getting to recruit again. It’s pedal to the metal, and I can’t wait to get up there.”

What is disturbing to Joe in this article is the description of how close Orgeron was to leaving for LSU, and how quickly he committed to Tennessee.

It’s difficult to believe Monte Kiffin wasn’t actively involved in recruiting Orgeron, his new D-line coach and UT’s recruiting coordinator. It’s also hard to imagine didn’t devote time to planning a staff with Lane Kiffin before the Bucs final game in Tampa, given how quickly Orgeron was hired. He was hired Wednesday morning, less than three days after the final whistle blew in Tampa.

“Lane and Monte took a jet to Destin,” Bobby Hebert, a former Saints quarterback and lifelong friend of Orgeron, told Gannett Louisiana. “They were all freaking out at Tennessee after they thought he was going to LSU, and they just stepped it up. I’m not sure what Ed will be making at Tennessee, but it will be more than he would’ve made at LSU.”

Orgeron, who coached with Lane Kiffin at Southern California from 2001-04, is expected to make $650,000 annually, making him one of the highest paid assistants in the country, according to ESPN. Orgeron was making approximately $500,000 with the Saints and LSU was offering around $600,000.

“Ed also favored working with Monte Kiffin over John Chavis,” Hebert told Gannett Louisiana.

Count Joe among the many fans sickened that the Bucs’ players’ performance in December slightly tarnished Monte Kiffin’s reputation. Joe is even more sickened by the thought that Kiffin may have been distracted by his new job and not given the Bucs 100 percent of his attention.

It seems that Monte Kiffin’s successor at defensive coordinator, 32-year-old Raheem Morris, will begin his Rooney Rule tour in Denver on Monday.

Rick Stroud, of the St. Petersburg Times broke the story today reporting the Broncos have asked permission to interview Morris for their head coaching job and he will meet with Denver owner Pat Bowlen on Monday. Longtime Broncos coach and general manager Mike Shanahan was fired this week. (Kudos to the Times, as the Denver newspapers have yet to report Morris will interview).

On Wednesday, The Rocky Mountain News reported Morris was among young coaches to watch, when it comes to longshot head coaching candidates.

Two NFL general managers who were asked Tuesday to name an up-and-coming defensive assistant who might be ready for a move up mentioned Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive backs coach Raheem Morris as someone that both had “on the radar.”

Morris is a respected young coach but has never held a coordinator position in the NFL. How he could be considered a legitimate head coaching candidate – let alone for a storied franchise like Denver – is hard to understand.

Even boy genius Jon Gruden, who was 34 when he was named Oakland Raiders coach, had been an offensive coordinator with the Eagles before landing his first head coaching job.

Joe believes Morris is a Rooney Rule candidate for Denver. The 5-year-old Rooney Rule requires NFL teams to interview minority candidates for a head coaching vacancy, with a few exceptions. Morris is African-American. Morris is a fabulous young coaching talent who, right now, is not qualified to be a head coach in the NFL.

Joe hates all of the race-based, equal opportunity hiring processes across the United States. It would be nice to one day live in a world in which people were judged solely by what they can offer.

Let’s all toss out a huge high-five to JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox.

Fox tracked the NFC playoff drive over the past two months and nailed playoff picks that were hardly popular.

Among the highlights, Fox wrote the Eagles would make the playoffs when most considered them left for dead following their tie with the Bengals. Fox also wrote the Vikings would lose at home in Week 16 to Atlanta yet bounce back to knock off the Giants in Week 17 and win the NFC North. 

Look for more playoff picks this weekend from Fox and the rest of the JoeBucsFan.com staff.

Joe would like to wish all JoeBucsFan.com readers a Happy New Year, and may the days, weeks and months to come bring health and prosperity to all.

Just because the Bucs season is over, Joe is NOT done for the year. Hardly!

Joe will have posts daily through the offseason. You can count on JoeBucsFan.com for loads of offseason news, commentary and analysis. Joe will break down the 2009 draft in detail, and Joe has  plans in the works to deliver draft coverage unmatched by local media.

Also, Joe will report on all the Super Bowl happenings in the Tampa Bay area leading up to the game.  

As JoeBucsFans.com readers have already noticed, JoeBoltsFan.com will debut later this month.

In the busy final month of 2008, Joe procrastinated on offering thanks to a number of people.

Joe appeared on various sports radio shows, including The Ron and Ian Show, on 620 AM, The Sports Animal, the Blitz with Justin Pawlowski, as well as the dean of Tampa sports radio, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig. Among other topics, Joe spoke on WDAE about the active civil law suit that involves former Bucs Anthony Davis and Michael Bennett. The case is pending and, of course, Joe will keep readers informed of the twists and turns of the case. No one else in the Tampa Bay MSM is.

Thanks Ron, Justin and Steve!

Additionally, Joe was on with J.P. Petersen and his producer “Big Papi,” Dave Ortiz during the “Happy Hour with J.P.” show heard on WQYK-AM 1010. Many thanks again to J.P. and Dave!