“I Turned Down A Couple”
January 17th, 2019
Hiring timeline.
The timeline of hiring and firing a coach just fascinates Joe.
When the Bucs hired Bucco Bruce Arians to replace Dirk Koetter, Joe was convinced — despite any evidence or documentation — that Team Glazer had reached out to Arians weeks, maybe months before Koetter was dismissed, not mere minutes after losing to the Dixie Chicks to close the 2018 season.
Arians has dropped subtle hints that was the case. Another hint came in the video below that Arians floated to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic.
Arians is in the Phoenix area this week to promote his charity golf tournament and he decided to do a sitdown with Somers to discuss how taking over the Bucs became a thing.
Take this quote from Arians about why he took the Bucs gig.
“I wasn’t sure one would open that I would want,” Arians said of coaching openings. “I actually said ‘No’ to a couple. Knowing Jason [Licht], knowing the Glazer family, [being] close to my grandson and then Todd [Bowles] is available and Keith [Armstrong] is available, Byron [Leftwich] is available — the whole staff is available! It was like, ‘Oh, you are supposed to do this.’ This is like a sign. ‘You have to do this.'”
So let’s do some math here.
Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles was relieved of his duties on Sunday, the final day of the NFL regular season. The next day, Black Monday, both Armstrong and Leftwich were blown out of their jobs.
It is difficult for Joe to believe (at the earliest) Arians was offered the Bucs job minutes after Koetter was told of the team’s decision to move in a different direction. It sure sounds like Arians was offered the job well in advance of the final game and he didn’t get serious about it until the other coaches, as he said, were suddenly looking for work.
Joe would love to know who the “couple of teams” are that Arians turned down. Remember, until the final day of the regular season, there were only two openings: Cleveland and Green Bay.
January 17th, 2019 at 5:55 am
Joe :
Watch Goodwin press conference, he mentions talking to Byron L a few weeks ago and something that he told him he can take the OC roll
January 17th, 2019 at 6:01 am
I think Goodwin let one slip when he said “ I told Byron he could have it weeks ago” when talking about play calling.
January 17th, 2019 at 6:23 am
Green Bay was open.
January 17th, 2019 at 6:53 am
It’s not a big deal. Of course the Bucs would talk early given the track record of losing out on their #1 coaching option numerous times. Especially with the situation being that we have a question mark at QB, a tough as nails division, over a decade of losing, and a horrible and hapless defense for at least a third of the season if not half. It would have been imperative to get the search going pronto before other jobs, in bigger markets or with teams closer to the playoffs, became officially available.
Every team does it. That’s business.
January 17th, 2019 at 6:55 am
There is no Armstrong on the coaching staff…
January 17th, 2019 at 7:00 am
Keith Armstrong is the ST coach…..
January 17th, 2019 at 7:02 am
As with Koetter……many coaching job firings are a foregone conclusion…..I think Bowles was in that category.
I’m sure their was talk before, perhaps even serious discussions, with a final offer later.
January 17th, 2019 at 7:07 am
When he said he turned down a couple, he probably was approached even after last year when he “retired.” BA (I always want to add Baracus when I see that) is a good quality coach so there’s no surprise that teams would “check his temperature” even after he said he “retired.”
January 17th, 2019 at 7:32 am
@Coach Arians … “the whole staff is available! It was like, ‘Oh, you are supposed to do this.’ This is like a sign. ‘You have to do this.'” Definitely pre-ordained.
January 17th, 2019 at 7:55 am
Dirk Diggler My Own Grave Koetter was the only moron in the world that didn’t know he was going to be fired.
January 17th, 2019 at 8:08 am
Ohhh I think Dirk knew.. I just dont think he wanted to let on with the media…
January 17th, 2019 at 8:28 am
Mid season Koetter was a goner but glad we didn’t fire him last year because there’s no telling who they would have hired.
January 17th, 2019 at 8:33 am
The last few games of the season Dirk sure acted like he KNEW he was gone. I am sure when Licht’s contract was extended for ONE year back in September his only job was to get BA and turn him into Bucco Bruce.
January 17th, 2019 at 8:33 am
I caught that Goodwin slip too. Went straight to the calendar and you could tell it was a done deal. Arians was just waiting for his coaches to be released and it was his job waiting if he wanted it by week 15-17.
January 17th, 2019 at 9:25 am
why did he ever leave the cards? He went right to work for cbs then to us.Why didn’t the cards want him? Their loss is our gain.
January 17th, 2019 at 9:29 am
I agree with Lambchop. This goes on ALL the time. There IS a protocol to be followed however.
Coaches do not want to talk about jobs where a guy is still technically employed. They do this out of respect for their comrade and I agree with that approach…especially in this case.
We can all document the many mistakes we believe Koetter made but he remained classy until the end.
BTW I do not assume Koetter was not aware that he was gone well before he got fired. Koetter would soldier on no matter what. Football has been his life! His father coached him. He would not pull a Smitty or a Grimes and just give up. We can call Koetter names and pick his coaching apart but he was never a quitter.
January 17th, 2019 at 9:40 am
Of course Koetter knew its the NFL Not For Long. I think our Florida climate was a factor in his decision too. He came from Arizona and didn’t take the Green Bay job- too cold!
January 17th, 2019 at 10:45 am
I’m a little concerned that Leftwich is going to be calling the plays. But I’m sure BA knows what he’s doing & if it doesn’t work he has a plan B already in mind. I also have a feeling there is going to be a big over haul in players.
January 17th, 2019 at 10:58 am
Agree stpetebucsfan, believe that’s why Arians said he’d only be interested in coaching the Browns, because the job was open. Bad form to say “I wanna coach TB” when Koetter was still at the helm. Think the mutual respect is strong among the HC’s around the league, though I doubt it prevented Arians from talking to the Bucs privately about taking over “if” the job came open. Wish Dirk the best, except when we play Atlanta twice a year.
January 17th, 2019 at 12:01 pm
This at least confirms my suspicions that there was other interest that wasn’t reported publicly.
January 17th, 2019 at 12:38 pm
He turned down Green Bay I think
January 17th, 2019 at 1:18 pm
Kudos to Licht and the Glazers for implementing their plan to perfection – and also for keeping this all under wraps until the proper timing to reveal the “news” was achieved.
January 17th, 2019 at 1:20 pm
Not according to 813! LOL!
January 17th, 2019 at 5:07 pm
bucsfanman
bruce also said he’ll cut back on drinking and lose some weight…..lol…
i guess you believe that too huh…..
unlike you, i’ll believe it when i see it….lol…
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
January 18th, 2019 at 12:28 am
@Pickgrin Agreed!