Scouting John Harbaugh
January 3rd, 2019
Best fit?
Jason La Canfora smells a bombshell coming.
And Joe thinks he might be on to something.
Folks know Team Glazer likes to make people sit up and take notice when they hire a coach. Enough that people might lean back in their chairs and say to themselves, “Whoa.”
In Joe’s eyes they did that with every coach they’ve hired since Father Dungy with the exception of Dirk Koetter. Good or bad, when you heard who Team Glazer was hiring, it got people’s attention.
Heavy-metal headbanging La Canfora of CBS Sports was underwhelmed with the last few choices Team Glazer made as coaching hires and he seems to think Team Glazer is about ready to set off a bomb.
Given that thought, La Canfora says he can easily see Team Glazer trading for Crows coach John Harbaugh.
The Bucs have not made a splashy hire since they traded for Jon Gruden way back when. This ownership is up to something, and has a trick up its sleeve. The Bucs have been very slow to put in many interview requests, and some think they are stalling to see what happens in Baltimore. And they should be. They failed to get Chip Kelly or Gruden, again, a year ago. They can’t do another Raheem Morris or Greg Schiano or Lovie Smith or Dirk Koetter hire now. The stated desire to keep Jameis Winston and the existing front office would be an issue if they did make this pursuit, but then again, you don’t try something this big without being willing to make massive changes to see it through. I’d offer two second-round picks the moment the Ravens’ season ends — especially if that comes Sunday — and I’d offer Harbaugh $11 million per year with the ability to evaluate the entire team, including the quarterback. And if ownership is truly committed to Winston, then I’d be all-in on a college guy, like Kirby Smart, who comes from the same coaching tree as Jimbo Fisher, Winston’s college coach, and who might best be able to make this thing work long-term.
Well, the Kirby Smart thing doesn’t make a whole lot of sense but if the Brian Kelly rumors are true, and Joe believes they are, that would fit La Canfora’s notion that a bombshell is coming.
Very interesting to Joe that La Canfora senses the Bucs are stalling with setting up interview requests. Why? Do they already have a guy picked?
Now if Team Glazer was looking for a college coach from the same tree as Jimbo Fisher, offensive coordinator Todd Monken would have been retained. Monken once worked with Fisher at LSU (Fisher was the offensive coordinator and Monken his wide receivers coach) and the two are very tight. In fact, Monken had told Joe when he was hired that a reason he came to Tampa Bay was because Fisher sold him that it would be good for his career to work with America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:34 am
NOW THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!
HELL YES!!!! PULL SOME ISHHH OFF TEAM GLAZER PLEASE!!!
:))))
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:35 am
You’d have to trade 2 second round picks for Harbaugh?
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:37 am
It does seem like the Bucs are stalling a bit on interviews now that he mentions it…
COME ON DOWN JOHN HARBAUGH!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:40 am
No state or local income taxes on $11 mill per over 6 years…..HELL YEAH. It would get his attention, along with FULL control!
PLEASE TEAM GLAZER…make it so!
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:44 am
i could see it if and that is a big if, we were a coach away from the superbowl ala the gruden trade, and why 11 million a year? we are not a team on the cusp of anything, hate to say it but there is many holes to fill and we need every damn draft choice we get, bruce arians would coach this team for the chance to work with jameis and the talent we got on offense, and would not cost us a pick, maybe some cash compensation for the cardinals, but i would be damned if i would give up any 2nd rounder specially two for harbaugh
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:45 am
THIS. THIS! And MOAR THIS!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:49 am
Ridiculous!!!! Just hire Arians, and don´t mortgage the team for a coach…..that would be really stupid……I think Haurbagh is awesome but don´t give picks for a coach when the main problem of the team is de lack of talent, specially on the defense……….with no secondary, with kwon question mark injury and 93 on the way out.,…….Doesn´t make any sense……
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:53 am
Since Licht hasn’t made a good 2nd round pick in a bit, or ever, we can hand those to the Ravens for Harbaugh
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:55 am
I see what he did there, we trade the second round picks because Licht is going to throw them away anyways. Well played
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:57 am
This team is in no position to be giving away draft picks, especially for a coach. Maybe I have just not watched Baltimore that much, but for the past decade they seem to be a middling team and John Harbaugh doesn’t get me too excited. Regardless though, outside of Bill Bellicheck this team should not be giving away 2nd round picks.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:58 am
Vince Lombardi couldn’t win with this roster. We already don’t have a third rounder for JPP, now we want to give up more picks for a coach? It ain’t about the x’s, and o’s, it’s about the Jimmy’s, and Joe’s. We don’t have enough talent to win, giving up draft choices will put us further in the hole.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:01 am
Trade DJax and McCoy for him….
Why give up draft picks
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:06 am
this is BS….lol….they’re stalling because the man they want is currently preparing for the playoffs…..
and why would the ravens trade harbaugh?…..dont say 2 2nd round picks because they draft well and develop their players anyway…..they are currently chasing the SB and have a decent shot at it…..who would replace him?…..
the ravens are a smart organization…..they dont do dumb sh!t that sets their team back years…..yall think the ravens are going to give up a good HC for 2 crap shoot picks?……
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….#ADIOSDIRK!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:06 am
Zzbuc I here you. I think Harbaugh would be great but, how much do we have to give up. We see what happened with.Gruden and draft picks after the super bowl the team started to.regress. I don’t care how good a coach is if you don’t have the players you are not gonna win.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:08 am
NFL proven head coach is what we should be looking for, which will narrow the list if we can get our guy.
No to any non proven or first time NFL coaching prospects (college coaches or current coordinators).
WE need to land the right coach for the Bucs with a Proven NFL track record, yes it’s still a gamble, take Lovie for example. But we need NFL experience and confidence in that new hire.
Please don’t mess this up Glazer boys and Licht!! Pressure is on.
Go Bucs!!!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:20 am
No thanks. Stupid idea to trade draft picks for a coach. Now if they’ll take DeSean Jackson and Will Gholston it’s a done deal.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:20 am
The players in the NFL 2019 will chew him up and spit him out…he had talent last go around…
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:22 am
The only “splash” hire was Gruden and that was made by Malcom. Bryan, Joel and Ed hired Raheem, Schiano, Lovie and Koetter. None of those names moved the needle except for Lovie, initially. And that was primarily due to name recognition. I can certainly see the Glazers making a “splash” this time around, partly because they haven’t made a needle-moving hire yet and partly because this organization needs some fire, and they know it.
Giving up valuable draft picks for Harbaugh may not be the answer, especially given the holes that need to be filled on the roster. I say hire an experienced coach (Arians) without mortgaging the future. Unless the compensation is no more than a second rounder or two. The second round has been Lichts kryptonite.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:23 am
Sounds like a very bad idea to trade draft picks for a coach again….
Offer Arians a deal he can’t refuse!
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:23 am
I thought they were stalling because they waiting to follow through with Bruce Arians–he is the best answer
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:26 am
Trading draft currency when this team has so many holes is a mistake. With this roster Lombardi would win 8.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:29 am
Glazers behind the scenes…always be closing?
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:30 am
Stalling until January 8 when Nick Saban wins his last title to tie the Bear and then become President/HC of the bucs
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:34 am
They made sure to check off the Rooney Rule right away…with back to back interviews of minorities. To me that was telling. The scouting of college coaches plays into this story line a bit as they will be the only guys remaining if the Ravens advance. No established coach is going to hold out when there’s an offer elsewhere.
Here’s my theory….they are after either Arians or Jim Harbaugh. The John Harbaugh talk is the misdirection….Jim cant have his name out there with recruits, alumni, boosters, etc….It would be a terrible look, its either he leaves or there’s no mention of it. If they cant land Jim, Arians is the next choice. McCarthy will be gone….I don’t see an assistant being hired, its not big enough and the clock is ticking. They need proven commodities to evaluate Winston and the roster. I don’t see them shelling out draft picks for a coach, this team has too many holes to fill. Is Harbaugh worth all that?…He started the season on the hot seat and was drifting into Mike McCarthy territory of having a stale message.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:40 am
Bucs May very well trade for the next HC, but why Harbaugh? If a trade is brewing, why isn’t anyone considering a trade for Tomlin? He’s had a rocky road in Pittsburgh recently, and you know the Glazers are in love with the guy.
Talk about a splash hire.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:49 am
@Bculaw….good point. He may want out….Rothlisberger is nearing the end, Brown is a disaster. That locker room may need a new voice….no different then the Packers did or Ravens.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:50 am
To be honest, it wasn’t like I had much faith in the thought that intelligent banter and reciprocal football IQ would come flooding back in the comments on the board here….but dammm, the aggregate of the feedback sure is disappointing and telling of our fan base.
Thank goodness, hopefully…the Glazers (will) see the forest through the trees.
JOHN. HARBAUGH.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:05 am
Based on the Glazer’s history they are probably considering someone that no one is contemplating.
Kirby Smart is a defensive coach. That doesn’t line up.
The Jimbo Fisher tree? A bit of a reach. Although Jimbo is a fiery type that got in Jameises face a lot.
Maybe he responds well to that type of coach.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:12 am
Do not agree with the notion of stalling, with the exception of Edwards and Arians, the coaches that have been linked to the Bucs have teams in the playoffs
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:25 am
@duthsty rothdes. Omg that would be insane if true…. however Harbaugh would be the ideal HC for these underachieving players. Tomlin would also be a good pick. Trade Djax,kwon, and GMC and make it happen Glazers.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:25 am
Heck…if it’t going to cost us that much, make the offer the Jim instead! Costs us no picks!
And $11m per year? John Harbaugh is not Jon Gruden, people. Jim Harbaugh is.
Buy out Jim’s contract for $10m, offer him $9m per year with a guarantee of no firing for five years.
Or go with McCarthy.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:34 am
This situation is so similar to when they got Gruden. One side of the ball is good, the other needs fixing. We need a huge hire.
They overpaid for Jon Gruden, and between that move and MeShawn, it set the team back years. Was it worth it? Maybe then, but I would not want them to repeat that mistake.
In fact, didn’t the NFL pass some sort of rule to keep teams from doing the Gruden-type of trade?
I’ve been saying that going after Jim Harbaugh is the gigantic splash that would shock everyone. Hire him, and the Buccaneers instantly become THE team. It won’t get any bigger than that.
Jim Harbaugh is a bigger splash than Gruden was last year. That would be impressive.
But I’ll believe it when I see the press conference. Until then, I’ll go with the other smart moves. McCarthy being at the top of the list. Josh McDaniels is a gamble…but he might pay off for a team. No to Richard, a failed DC.
Ideally, we need a top notch defensive coach who has had a good offense as well. But there is no one like that available without getting fleeced. So an offensive coach with a history of good defenses too is what we’ll have to get.
OR…a non-splash hire of a coordinator who has less than a 50% chance of success.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:35 am
If the Glazers are committed to trading for a coach…go after Tomlin.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:39 am
this makes no sense at all!!!….we are not 1 trade away from a SB…..
KRIS RICHARD 4 HC!!!!
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….#ADIOSDIRK!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:39 am
Nick Saban would be an interesting option too. He failed miserably with the Dolphins, but his college record of 233–62 is incredible.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:40 am
@813bucboi
Kris Richard will not be the hire.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:53 am
La Canfora is clearly getting good intel from someone on the inside b/c I don’t believe the Kirby Smart thing is just a random name-drop. Said another way- I think there’s a greater likelihood that Smart is their college target than Kelly and this leakage is a little bit of speaking through the media on that point. who knows if Smart bites or if they come to an agreement in the end, but don’t let the Harbaugh bit distract you from who their real target could be.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:14 am
Great….just like I had mentioned before about Stephen Ross’s level of determination, it appears that PFT feels Ross’s pursuit of JOHN Harbaugh is a very real and expedient thing, in the link below.
Pay particular attention to paragraph 4, toward the end, and mesh the “no ego” part of that with EXACTLY what Licht said verbatim at his end of year press conference. Hmmm.
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/01/03/will-dolphins-call-ravens-about-john-harbaugh/
WE just need to offer MORE!! Team Glazer.
January 3rd, 2019 at 1:01 pm
Prepare to be disappointed.
January 3rd, 2019 at 1:13 pm
bonzai
yes he will…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….#ADIOSDIRK!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 2:19 pm
John Harbough so overrated!
One superbowl?
He can’t even beat the Steelers or Patriots, and struggles just to make the playoffs.
Ravens are BORING!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 4:28 pm
I am not sure why people are so high on John. I don’t think he is a great coach, he’s OK. But he hasn’t even been able to get to the big game in college, he keeps chocking in big games!
January 3rd, 2019 at 4:58 pm
I don’t understand why you keep saying Glazers make a splash hire…. Give me one splash since Gruden. please!!! I’m waiting!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you think any of our last coaches is a splash then I understand why your a blogger for Tampa.