Well, the news media is at it again.  AP is reporting that Lane Kiffin is planning to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan from the Raiders. He first wanted to hire Monte Kiffin but he apparently told Lane that he likes it in Tampa and when his contract is up he is done (I think that is in one or two more years).  Raheem Morris on the other hand is apparently the hire in waiting in Tampa as Monte is training him to become the defensive coordinator when he retires. As a result, the news media is now reporting if Lane Kiffin cannot get his father, he is going to try to raid the Bucs second-best defensive coach and take Raheem Morris.

I don’t know enough about coaches, but since the Bucs have lost so many defensive coaches to other teams as coordinators and eventually as head coaches (essentially, the whole Dungy staff as well as some Gruden/Kiffin hires from college), can they afford to lose more at this point? Kiffin is not that young (I think he is about 65) and if the contract rumor is true, his years in Tampa are numbered.  Thoughts?

I thought I just read that Rob Ryan was staying in Oakland.
Morris I hope stays with us for a long time. I could see him being groomed for our next Defensive Coordinator, Hope its true! I like his intensity.

Where did you read that Rob Ryan is staying in Oakland? I only have links that rumor he will be fired? Thanks.

It was posted on NFL.COM 1/4/08. Just do a search on Ryan staying in Oakland.

Okay, read the article. Says that Kiffen is evaluatng Ryan and that the PR person has said that Ryan is staying. I guess for now then there is no threat in Tampa. That is subject to change I guess if Kiffin in Oakland changes his mind. Thanks for the link.

It turns out Kiffin did fire Rob Ryan, but Al Davis reversed the decision because he wants Kiffin to quit.  So you have Rob Ryan still around, Kiffin excluded from draft planning (because Al Davis does such a good job at drafting people), and essentially chaos at all levels of the organization.  The Raiders will probably not do anything in 2008 either with this mismanagement occuring with the owner.

Thank goodness the bad old days of Culverhouse is gone from the Bucs franchise.  I credit the ownership of the Glazers in the end straightening out this team.  Between the terrible management of the Raiders by Al Davis, and the horrendous operation of the Arizona Cardinals by whoever is running them now, it shows us how far the Bucs have come from the awful 1980s and terrible early 1990s.

Oh yes, it appears the Bucs for now are keeping Raheem Morris and Monte Kiffin since he surprised me and signed up for a few more years with the Bucs.  Perhaps Monte Kiffin wants one more crack at the Super Bowl?