Lovie Has Final Say
January 5th, 2014
It’s no real shock to Joe that the speed in which Team Glazer closed the deal on hiring Lovie Smith meant Team Glazer threw in all their chips. This was clear when Lovie didn’t explore all his options to interview leaguewide for head coaching vacancies.
One way to keep a candidate from walking out the door without a signed contract is to make him an offer he cannot refuse. And apparently, Team Glazer did just that, giving Lovie full control of the Bucs roster, so claims BSPN insider Adam Schefter.
Lovie Smith’s contract contains a clause that gives him final say over all personnel matters on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 53-man roster, according to league sources.
That control is something Smith did not officially have in Chicago when he was the Bears’ head coach.
And, per Schefter in the same link, Lovie is also picking his own general manager.
Joe isn’t exactly comfortable with this, and it isn’t because of the greasy chicken wings and beers he had last night. Joe has always been a checks-and-balances kind of guy. Joe always chuckles when he hears people whine about Washington politics being in gridlock. Joe calls that constitutional checks and balances and believes it is healthy.
Joe has a bit of a reservation about a guy with only one Super Bowl appearance having complete and total authority on all things football. Hell, Chucky had to battle Rich McKay for personnel issues.
To be fair, Team Glazer gave Chucky full control over his roster late in his Bucs tenure, and it appears former Bucs commander Greg Schiano had final say on his 53-man roster, if you add up all the nuggets of information that leaked out of One Buc Palace in recent months.
It wasn’t Mark Dominik who chased off roughly 20 sacks this past season?
January 5th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Deliver~~~~~
January 5th, 2014 at 1:08 pm
I don’t have a problem with the Chain of Command going to Lovie…..Checks & Balances don’t work in the military and the Military performs quite well on “game day”.
I think controversy/confusion from the owners down to the HC is the downfall of many teams…..AL Davis, Jerry Jones & Dan Snyder
I think the Glazers are to be commended for concentrating the control with one man!
Joe, I think you could be wrong on this one…..Separate counsel, experience & opinion yes….but authority, no….not for the Glazers.
January 5th, 2014 at 1:11 pm
Hey if Lovie doesn’t get the right GM and scouts, we won’t succeed. I don’t care how much say he has.
January 5th, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Joe, you are right in some aspect,however coach’s may be requiring that before they sign. Who can recruit better then the coach,as long as he knows who is recruiting.
January 5th, 2014 at 1:16 pm
How would you like to manage a business when someone else planted employees on you….wouldn’t you want control?
The NFL is much like the military where teams operated and there is a chain of command…rules are rules and there is no democracy.
This is purely a case that depends on the individual circumstances….there are no set standards in the NFL….there are as many setups as there are teams.
January 5th, 2014 at 1:22 pm
”It’s just like a friend of mine told me. If they want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries.” – Bill Parcells
January 5th, 2014 at 1:24 pm
I don’t necessarily like it but it does have an advantage in terms of evaluating performance…Meaning, if he has the final say on everything, the accountability aspect isn’t quite so nebulous. I think this past year things vacillated from blaming Schiano to blaming Dominick to blaming Schiano. No one really knew who was responsible for what.
January 5th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
well, that means ballard from kc will be the gm.
and in other news…
per schefter on espn
brett hundley will stay at ucla and forgo the draft according to sources clos to the situation
January 5th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
When a tyrant has power, it is bad for everybody. When a benevolent and wise man willing to listen to counsel has power, time is saved, decisions are made and everybody is better off!
January 5th, 2014 at 1:39 pm
He doesn’t seem to be a hothead type where his emotion will cause mistakes with that power.
I don’t care, just get a dominant D back in the house. The talent on the Offense exists for a good Coach, so step on up to the plate Tedford. No pressure, but NFL doesn’t always mean the name of the league.
QB is a question mark for sure, didn’t see enough from Glennon, but he was a Rook. He will get his chance, but someone else is coming in at QB via draft or free agency.
January 5th, 2014 at 1:42 pm
@ Macabee
Well stated….it depends on the person!!!
January 5th, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Wow not former rockstar general manger this time
January 5th, 2014 at 1:57 pm
lol @ Sunny
@TAC….really you don’t think Lovie will want to keep Orlovsky….shocking. Just kidding.
January 5th, 2014 at 1:58 pm
Oh and @Joe…you guys are the only rock stars left in the bay area.
January 5th, 2014 at 2:01 pm
@Macabee
Well said
Has anyone heard anything about Jim Michalczik joining the staff as the offensive line coach.
“Jim Michalczik-Michalczik has a reputation as one of the best offensive line coaches in the West. performing poorly before his departure, and whipping them into ultra shape to make Cal the best rushing offense in the conference in 2004 and 2005 (yes, even over Reggie Bush and LenDale White at Southern Cal). Behind Ryan O’Callaghan, Aaron Merz and Marvin Philip, Cal enjoyed bountiful success in the run attack. Michalczik did find and develop Alex Mack into the best offensive lineman in the Pac-10 for 2007-08.
When he joined the Raiders, Oakland was and 22nd in power running according to Football Outsiders (Percentage of runs on third or fourth down, two yards or less to go, that achieved a first down or touchdown. Also includes runs on first-and-goal or second-and-goal from the two-yard line or closer). Michalzik turned them drastically around to4th in the power run game in 2009 and 15th in 2010.
Here are the overall stats for offensive line achievement (again thanks to FO):
2008 (before Coach M): Oakland 26th in run blocking, 30th in pass protection
2009: 23rd in run blocking, 31st in pass protection
2010: 14th in run blocking, 26th in pass protection
He was making definite strides before Al Davis decided to be Al Davis and change things up in Oakland. Much thanks goes to the Raiders owner for this assist.”
*He is the current coach offensive line coach at Arizona helping guide an OL that opens holes for star RB Ka’Deem Carey.
“Dominate in the trenches. Playing to the echo of the whistle”
January 5th, 2014 at 2:02 pm
Would anyone want Vick for a season or two
January 5th, 2014 at 2:10 pm
Just say no to Vick. I want someone who studies the play book not wing it and gets hurt.
January 5th, 2014 at 2:13 pm
No Vick.
January 5th, 2014 at 2:29 pm
Further shows us that Malcolm’s (Glazer) sons have no clue how to actually set up a franchise for long term success. Give a HC who is on his 2nd gig that kind of power? While Lovie has a good NFL record, I doubt anyone is putting him in the company of Belichick or Holmgren) or a coach with that kind of legacy. I guess we’ll have to let things play out first, but so many moves this franchise has made since the sons took the team over seem like knee jerk reactions at times. I hate to harp on it, but they should look to franchises like the Patriots, Ravens, and even the Steelers to see how a contender is built from the top on down.
January 5th, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Absolutely no Vick….would take McCown
January 5th, 2014 at 2:35 pm
I have never ever read a piece saying Schiano had final say so
Dom had the power over personnel
As far as Lovie having the power he’s the perfect person to have it if anybody were to. He’s not power hungry or egotistical, he’s very humble and really listens. Scott Pioli was talking about this and he was saying that whoever Lovie brings in as GM won’t have a problem because Lovie really would really want to hear what they have to say and it would really be a partnership. Most importantly he would have an established relationship with them.
January 5th, 2014 at 2:36 pm
@Tampabaybucfan
Suggested that last nite; Lurker was not pleased..haha
January 5th, 2014 at 2:36 pm
He has final say on the (53) man roster
He has his hands full I’m sure he doesn’t have time to play gm and coach, someone brings them in he decides off they stay out go, besides lovie isn’t dumb enough like some ex coach named SHE to get rid of their sack later still in late 20’s after a great season for an unproven player like Bowers, hopefully having roster control means we could bring him back then trade up and go get a real quarterback since all it will really cost are draft picks, if we’re as close as the glazers think then but go for it
January 5th, 2014 at 2:40 pm
NY Buc…lol I think the Bucs are like a giant toy for the Glazer kids to play with. They probably drove formula 1 race cars in high school just for fun as well. It’s the life of an uber rich kid.
January 5th, 2014 at 2:47 pm
actually, luvmybucs, you said:
@Lurker
What about signing Veteran QB to compete with Glennon Like
-Josh McCown
-Chase Daniel
-Brian Hoyer
-Chad Henne
-Kyle Orton( isn’t a lock to return as Tony Romo’s backup)
and I said:
there is nothing to say to this except, I hope you are joking.
but, you were close, I guess 😉
January 5th, 2014 at 2:50 pm
Amen. Macabee!
January 5th, 2014 at 2:51 pm
@lurker
Had 2 get you going bro..lol
On all seriousness though. There seems to be a lot of connections with Jeff Tedford/Marcus Arroyo and QB David Fales. Something to look out for.
January 5th, 2014 at 2:53 pm
it will be interesting what happens come draft time.
what will be funny is they will draft a non-qb at 7 and say glennon was their guy. but it will come out later that they tried to move up in the draft but couldn’t. then we will all argue that they tried to move up for this qb or that de…lol
I also missed where couch said I was acting like a god because i say opinions are facts…lol i try and make sure to never do that. i even post links when i can.
i have my strong opinion, like others and have given my reasons for so. i love all these stats pulled out of the air or manipulated, though.
January 5th, 2014 at 2:54 pm
I don’t think so, how do you figure LUV?
January 5th, 2014 at 2:58 pm
Joe,
Your numbers are way off, it was something like 27 sacks between Bennett, Gilberry, Selvie, and Chris Jones. Those four combined for more sacks than all members of Bucs Dline.
January 5th, 2014 at 3:01 pm
Lol thats not what I said either Lurker. I said you act like you were sent here from god to bless us with your knowledge. It’s all good though, Im all for debating!!
January 5th, 2014 at 3:02 pm
@PRBucFan
Arroyo played as a quarterback at San Jose State University from 1998 to 2001. Arroyo & Tedford tried to recruit Fales before attended Nevada Reno.
January 5th, 2014 at 3:02 pm
Sure let Lovie bring in any GM. But ultimately it’s the Glazers that pay the GM so the ball is in their court. If I were the Glazers, I’d say OK Lovie bring in whoever you want but the contract is on our terms take it or leave it.
January 5th, 2014 at 3:04 pm
Ah I see, I suspect if they go after a QB it will be one they expect has a legitimate shot at being the Bucs franchise guy and that can come in and beat out Glennon.
January 5th, 2014 at 3:06 pm
With Hundley going back to UCLA, there are only 4 QBs with 1st round grades.
Joe, do yourself a favor and check out Wyoming QB Brett Smith, closest thing to Johnny Football since Manziel.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFL-kzFIMqE
January 5th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
here’s an interesting mock out today after most bowl games:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1910762-2014-nfl-mock-draft-predicting-first-round-picks-with-bowl-season-concluding
(although i generally don’t care for bleacherreport, i love me some mocks, unlike the joes)
most fans here would love this
(synopsis of first 10 picks)
1. Houston Texans: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
2. St. Louis Rams (From Washington Redskins): Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
4. Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
5. Oakland Raiders: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
6. Atlanta Falcons: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
8. Minnesota Vikings: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
9. Buffalo Bills: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
10. Detroit Lions: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
*although sources say hundley is returning to ucla
January 5th, 2014 at 3:09 pm
@Brandon
Like Smith. Since Tedfords Luvs small, fast wideouts WR Robert Herron might get a look.
January 5th, 2014 at 3:26 pm
@ Lurker
Here are some stats “pulled out of the air”…..now last night you tried to say I was saying Glennon was as good as Manning….that is rediculous….we have the benefit on hindsight on all these QBs except Glennon….You are one thqt calls him a “giraffe”…..you opinion is only that…..below is not my opinion…they are facts!
Mike Glennon 19 9 83.9
Peyton Manning (rookie yr) 26 28 71.2
Drew Brees 2nd yr (rookie yr only 1 gm) 17 16 76.9
Tom Brady 2nd yr (rookie yr only 1 gm) 18 12 86.5
Eli Manning (rookie yr) 6 9 55.4
Matthew Stafford (rookie yr) 13 20 61.0
Carson Palmer (rookie yr) 18 18 77.3
Alex Smith (rookie yr 9 gm) 1 11 40.0
Steve Young 2ndyr(rookie yr only 5gm) 8 13 65.5
Vinnie Testeverde2nd yr (rookie yr 6 gm) 13 35 40.0
Freeman (rookie yr) 10 18 59.8
January 5th, 2014 at 3:29 pm
lurker…I have no problem with that mock at all. If the Bucs can’t get Matthews then Watkins would be just fine with me.
January 5th, 2014 at 3:34 pm
Bleacher has a different prospect drafted every mock lol
January 5th, 2014 at 3:38 pm
It wasn’t Dominik who chased off 20 sacks but it was also he who didn’t put his foot down and override that request.
That was his one fault, not enforcing or exercising his authority when need be. Being left with no depth at WR and TE was unacceptable!
I don’t believe the GM should be subordinate to the head coach they should be checks and balances.
January 5th, 2014 at 3:39 pm
@ Lurker
Your mock looks about right at this point except Hundley is not entering….that may mean that at least Minnesota will try to trade up.
If other teams trade up, that can change everything.
If a QB, Matthews, Clowney, Barr or Watkins don’t fall to us…we should trade down (deal depending) for extra picks
January 5th, 2014 at 3:40 pm
“Only one Super Bowl appearance” since when did taking a team to a Super Bowl become not experienced enough? I don’t understand that statement.
January 5th, 2014 at 3:42 pm
The great thing about Lovie is the fact that he makes sure to check and balance himself.
January 5th, 2014 at 3:45 pm
We finally landed the most qualified candidate for the job for a change and some fans are still looking for things to complain about
January 5th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
@ Lion
Some fans would complain about
Parcells GM…..Belicheck HC…..Chip OC….Lovie DC
There are those that take the negative route no matter what..how sad is that?
January 5th, 2014 at 4:39 pm
@ lion
That’s because the Bucs have some of THEE dumbest fans in the NFL. Been a Bucs fan for a long time, so I am quaified to make this statement.
January 5th, 2014 at 4:40 pm
No doubt about it Bucfan!
January 5th, 2014 at 5:12 pm
@gotbbucs
Absolutely true.
January 5th, 2014 at 5:30 pm
This just get’s better and better (sarcasm).
What GM will take a job when he does not have amy say? All he does is try to balance the budget without have a say in how the money is spent???
That’s why we don’t have a GM yet. No one wants the job! Tell me something, does anyone deny that Mark Dominick was good at contract negotiations and salary management? So why the heck didn’t they just keep him and give Lovie power?
No GM that comes in should be held accountable when he has no power. And no GM will want to come in and have no power.
Hell, I hope to God that Lovie does really well. Because they won’t fire this coach before his time is up.
This has disaster written all over it. I hate feeling this way. I bleed red and crap pewter, but my instincts are screamimg right now. I cannot beliebe no one else has the same gut feeling.
God, please let my instincts be 100% wrong.
January 5th, 2014 at 5:31 pm
I have to do some serious thinking about my season tickets.
January 5th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
BB No GM has come in because of that? Really?
I’m pretty sure it’s because the guy we want was on a team that was in the playoffs lol.
Again just cause Lovie has final say doesn’t mean he’s no going to check and balance himself with his GM.
Scott Pioli a GM himself made that great point when talking about how Lovie isn’t that type of guy to not hold his actions accountable to the staff around him, especially the GM.
January 5th, 2014 at 5:45 pm
“Giving that power to Smith could make it harder to hire a General Manager. For starters, any G.M. who wants final say won’t want the job.
There’s another potential issue. If the Buccaneers want to offer a promotion to a front-office employee from another team, the job needs to entail final say over personnel or the candidate’s current team can block the move.”
– PFT, Florio
January 5th, 2014 at 5:47 pm
Don’t expect McKay to agree to a deal like this.
January 5th, 2014 at 5:48 pm
We don’t want McKay
January 5th, 2014 at 5:57 pm
“Don’t expect McKay to agree to a deal like this.”
If we’re lucky!
January 5th, 2014 at 6:22 pm
In Lovie we trust……… or they trust…….. Or at least for now.
January 5th, 2014 at 6:24 pm
I never pictured Lovie as a tyrant like Oschiano. I’m sure Lovie is a reasonable man that will confer with the staff and make whole hearted decisions when it comes to personnel.
January 5th, 2014 at 6:27 pm
I concur BMA
January 5th, 2014 at 6:46 pm
So if we are successful or not as successful as we’d like on the field, then the head coach takes all the credit/blame. That sounds fair to me but who will have the final say so on contracts and issues that arise around them? Holdouts contract renegotiated etc?
January 5th, 2014 at 6:57 pm
yeah, i don’t care for bleacher report but i found that mock a possibility, but they have hundley in it. there are trades all the time, and i do not know if Oakland would take clowney instead of a qb or Watkins.
and what is amusing about having the worse/dumbest fans is that every nfl board says that…lol
January 5th, 2014 at 6:59 pm
HAHAHAHAHAAH! Good luck with that smug Lovie Smith wait till the press conf. ” Our quarterback is Mike Glennon” Giving him full control is a joke! You wil get the likes of Adam Archeletta…Again what a BONE HEAD MOVE!
January 5th, 2014 at 7:00 pm
so who is the better qb? rodgers vs kaepernick.
January 5th, 2014 at 7:05 pm
Rodgers
January 5th, 2014 at 7:25 pm
I don’t like this at all. I have said it here several times that the GM and Coach each need to have their own autonomy. A coaches job is to win TODAY; a GM is the build a team for the FUTURE as well as today. Its a clear conflict of interest. But whatever. It is what it is.
January 5th, 2014 at 7:52 pm
There are numerous situations in the NFL where the HC had all the control and it didn’t pan out. Having final decision is one thing and trying to do too much is another. Having the final decision is ok if Lovie can rely on the pro and college personnel departments for quality information and make good decisions without ego involved. He’ll need a good salary cap manager in the front office as well. Coaches are coaches and don’t usually excel at the business side of football.
January 5th, 2014 at 9:16 pm
There sure a lot of so called Bucs fans that want to give up their season tickets. Then do it and STFU!
January 5th, 2014 at 9:22 pm
Kinda of thought Lovie would have his GM since the chicken came before the egg.
January 5th, 2014 at 10:19 pm
It’s as simple as this. Gruden and Lovie are not exactly strangers. The Glazer’s appear to meddle. Connect the dots.
January 5th, 2014 at 11:25 pm
not sure I would have hired the “coward” frazier…
January 6th, 2014 at 12:42 am
Most don’t pay that attention seeking punter any mind.
Hey got cut cause his time ran out, it’s that simple.
January 6th, 2014 at 7:44 am
I think it’s a great call having Lovie have final say on personnel. If his big knock is that he can’t develop a QB then let’s give him a chance to actually have a say in who the QBs are that are coming in here. If Jerry Angelo is giving him nothing to work with for a QB then of course he’s not going to be able to develop one.
January 6th, 2014 at 8:05 am
In Washington, they will disagree with the other side just to make them look bad, regardless of what’s in the best interest of the citizens…not healthy.
January 6th, 2014 at 8:27 am
Jarred Allen to the Bucs next season then?
January 6th, 2014 at 2:42 pm
about the only guys i have seen be successful in this setup in the modern era are belichick and parcells….maybe andy reid, but he admitted personnel duties took away from his coaching success in the end. holmgren & shanahan are 2 superbowl winners who tried to handle personnel once they had the stature to demand that right, and neither could approach their previous success.
January 6th, 2014 at 7:49 pm
The Truth About Lovie Smith
His offensive rankings :
2004 – 32
2005 – 29
2006 – 15
2007 – 27
2008. – 26
2009 – 23
2010 – 30
2011 – 24
2012 – 28
One year out of nine in the top half of the league is hardly championship quality. He’s an offensive liability.