Raheem Gets Endorsement For Next Year
December 23rd, 2010
It’s been widely reported that the Bucs signed Raheem Morris to a two-year deal with a club option for Year 3 in 2011. But there’s been nothing official about Raheem’s return or about Team Glazer giving him an extention with a raise.
During an interview on WDAE-AM 620 on Tuesday, general manager Mark Dominik was pressed by host Steve Duemig to comment on Raheem’s contract situation. Dominik said he’s eager to talk to his head coach about returning.
Steve Duemig: Are you going to sit down with coach and re-up him this offseason?
Mark Dominik: I look forward to it. We’ll certainly discuss that. …We got a special thing going here in Tampa, and I think we want to keep that going.
Earlier in that interview, Dominik was glowing about his coaching staff and the job its done with the tough task of preparing rookies. So it’s a no-brainer that Raheem will return, but will he get a new deal?
But Joe’s written before that it makes little business sense to lock up Raheem for many years. He’s not going anywhere, and he might as well prove himself another season.
December 23rd, 2010 at 9:14 am
I’ve got to admit that early on I was not a big fan of Rah Rah’s. I do feel he has earned the job. He started with less that every other team, we spent little to no free agent money, We have had the most injuries in the NFL. Every excuse to fail and instead he lead us to a 8-6 record so far with two games to go.
Go Bucs
December 23rd, 2010 at 9:21 am
Tampa will not have such an easy schedule next year.
December 23rd, 2010 at 9:36 am
@Apple, in all probability – no. But we’ll have a better, healthier, more experienced team too.
December 23rd, 2010 at 9:41 am
@Apple, probably a few free agent additions as well. DE,LB not to mention Tanard
December 23rd, 2010 at 9:59 am
Does that returning Staff include Todd Washed Up???
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:01 am
Just sign the man up so we can stop talking about it already. His has earned it.
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:01 am
Right on BigMac, there are a few position coaches that should leave for sure. Wash and maybe the LB coach?
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:41 am
Yeah whatever! I want to know who he voted for in the election! LOL!
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:42 am
BigMac and Gary,
I agree!
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:44 am
I find it funny that people already know it will be a harder schedule. Really? For example, I believe the Bucs play the AFC South. Now, sure looks like a tough game when they play Indy next year. Of course, if Manning is injured before the game, how tough of a game is it really? The NFL changes year to year that is the only constant.
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:53 am
RaheEEEEEEEem will get a pass but for how long? If the poor guy starts off poorly next season, then that short leash will get yanked by the media.
The team, as in Freeman and Olson, have done enough to save RaheEEEEEEEem a job for next season, but raheEEEEEEem himself hasn’t with his poor showing on the defense side of the ball.
I already see people wanting to blame the d line coach, make him the scapegoat for RaheEEEEEEems terrible 3 man front’s. Not much a d line coach can do with RaheEEEEEEEems poor play calling at the DC, giving the line coach only 3 guys to work with vs 6 blockers. But it ain’t RaheEEEEEEEems fault, no way.
The team earned RaheEEEEEEem new life, the coach is just happy to be here.
December 23rd, 2010 at 11:00 am
Rah has probably done well enough to earn another year. Most of us know this record is a facade but only 2011 will answer that question (assuming that there is a season).
The real concern: locking up rah-rah is like contracting for continuous blackouts and increasing community apathy.
I know that you sheep, errr core fans, can’t believe that a coach effects attendance, but you are dead wrong. Sign Cowher, or any big name, and fans including businesses will buy up tickets at an overwhelming rate.
The bulk of the fanbase doesn’t identify with a rah led team of no-names that may hover around .500 but nothing more. Even if rah could get this team above 3rd place in the division, who does that excite?
Tampa needs legitimacy with a proven Head Coach and Free Agents (especially on defense – probably 7 or 8)
December 23rd, 2010 at 11:00 am
You know they will exercise that option year. He is doing the job of HC & DC, a damn good value for the owners. Let’s not forget he has done a good job of getting this young group on the winning side of the ledger.
How about Mark D getting a long term deal with some big money for the job he has done with this group. He should get Exec of the year and a big boost in money.
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Can we get a new baby sitter for Thomas and Buc You? I think she and eric are out back smoking pot again.
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Hey Thomas2.1 the Blue oyster called you left your pumps and a blond wig in the alternative restroom. They also want to know if your tailend is still bleeding and if you were able to locate the gerbil in your colonoscopy they need liberachy the gerbil back
December 23rd, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Once again, Thomas beating the same drum. Attendance has nothing to do with coaches, just because you repeat yourself does not make it true. Remember how pissed everyone in Atlanta was when they brought in Mike Smith? They had a huge attendance problem. Id say that worked out well for them. Players and winning bring in attendance, plus an economy where half the people aren’t struggling to pay their mortgage. The first two are well on their way, the third is a bit more complex. If the fans in Tampa can’t get behind this young up and coming team, then you truly don’t deserve a team in Tampa.
December 23rd, 2010 at 5:35 pm
You idiots said we have players, last week they were 8-5 and in control of their playoff destiny, 35k showed up per estimates.
Jacksonville is struggling to an equal or greater degree, sellouts this year. Why a proven nfl head coach and a community that has bought into the team. That hasnt happened here under ra ra. Also the collapse from 7-3 must be considered.
Bottom line: attendance stinks and the corp community doesnt accept kid rah.
December 23rd, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Thomas 2.1:
Your premise held water last year. No longer.
I really don’t know nor have heard of too many people who aren’t going to watch a playoff contender because of Rah. If anything, Rah has done far more to dispel the belief he is over his head than to reinforce that thought.
Simply put, people don’t have the cash. Don’t believe Joe. Just read the business sections of the local fishwraps for evidence.
December 23rd, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Thomas,
It’s a real slap in the face to those who would love to go to the game but simply can’t afford it for you to say that it’s not because of the economy. Most of my friends in the Tampa area are dying to go to a game, but just don’t have the cash. That includes my father and sister. It’s one thing that you hate Raheem (you are entitled to an opinion), but to make stupid assumptions like that because YOU haven’t felt the wrath of this economy is incredibly ignorant (even for you).
As for players, it takes time for the general fans to recognize them, and those are the ones key to selling out the stadium. Big difference between these players and Brooks and Sapp are they are not from Florida. Everyone knew Brooks and Sapp from college, so it was an easy transition. Most people are still learning the new guys, but we have big time talent, and they are going to excite the fans for years to come, regardless if Mickey Mouse is coaching. But like Joe (and everyone else with a brain) says, until people have money, they aren’t going to the games. You can twist it and spin it however you want, but it is the truth. Go ahead and continue to hope Raheem gets fired all you want, it shows the type of person you really are. It’s not going to happen, so why don’t you go crying all the way to Jacksonville and support their proven coach.
December 23rd, 2010 at 6:09 pm
The coach has a marginal effect. However, folks are still understandably skeptical about what kind of team do we really have. Afer all, if you plunked down your hard earned money to watch the new regime the last two years, you have seen 4 victories and 11 losses at home.
In contrast, if you went the previous two you saw 12 wins and 4 losses.
It will take more than some wins against lousy teams, and 0 wins against winning teams to get the fans back on board. Plus the disaster against Detroit did not help.
Rah has earned another year. If the team continues the upward spiral the old wounds will heal and Tampa Stadium will be filled.
I am very skeptical that will be the case. More likely we will look back at this period in Bucs history as a total waist of time with little to show for it except big talk.
The on the job training is over, and the excusses are gone – now lets see a Division Title in 2011.
December 23rd, 2010 at 6:29 pm
I agree with you for the most part Eric. However, I obviously have more faith that we will continue to improve. I’ve seen nothing to make me feel we won’t. Regardless, it will not be a waste of time, since during this era we got players like Freeman, Williams, Benn, Blount, Grimm, McCoy (yes, Thomas, I said McCoy), etc. Our team has been rejuvenated with young talent. It is yet to be seen whether Raheem can harness that talent into consistent winning. I happen to believe he will, we all know where you stand. So far, he has far exceeded expectations, regardless of how “easy” their schedule and how “lucky” they have been. Until/unless we regress, anyone who says otherwise is just sour grapes, or they are simply an arse hole (cough, cough Thomas & Buc You cough cough).
December 24th, 2010 at 12:51 am
Sometimes it takes the arse holes to raise that risk flag and remind every fan that this is just a house of cards. No one else wants to talk about Raheeeeeems poor defensive showing.
December 24th, 2010 at 3:16 am
Buc You,
I don’t expect you to answer this because you never do. Why do you say the same things over and over again? Why must every single post you make be about how terrible of a coach you think Raheem is? Joe could post that it’s going to rain tomorrow, and you will somehow someway bring the conversation to Raheem. That really is pretty pathetic, don’t you think? Don’t you think you are better than that? Is that all you are able to talk about, negative talk about someone? Is that the limit to your brain? This is a site to discuss the Bucs, not really a site to constantly bash Raheem. If you have some negative feelings about him, knock yourself out. But to just do it over and over for a full year is really kind of silly, don’t you think? Expand your horizons, venture to new lands, get a life. You just make yourself into a joke, and no one will take you serious because everyone knows you have the intelligence of a grape when you just say the same things over and over. It really makes you come across as stupid, and I doubt you want that. Take my advice, post every once and a while without bashing Raheem. Try it, you may find that your head will not explode. You may even find that you will be a happier person. Just a thought. Then again, if you really are as intelligent as a grape, you won’t understand a word I just said and you will just keep doing the same thing. We’ll see.
December 24th, 2010 at 3:18 am
By the way, Buc You, unless you have been on another planet, we’ve had plenty of discussions about the poor defense. It’s been talked about over and over this season, so what in the hell are you talking about? You just get upset because we are all not screaming for Raheem’s head. That is because most of us are a little more intelligent than that.
December 24th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
To say that the head coach has no or a marginal effect on attendance is absurd. Historically, to generate interest and ticket sales teams make a splash by signing big name coaches.
Why do you think the glazers replaced dungy with gruden and how were gruden’s ticket sales regardless of what you think of him.
Cowher would sell the season out, yes guys in
this economy. I am sorry for those who have fallen on hard economic times, for many it is undeserved.