All signs continue to point to Greg Schiano of Rutgers becoming the Buccaneers' next head coach. If the deal gets done, and it does not appear that is just yet, there will still be a very significant question remaining: Who will run Schiano's offense? Schiano has an extensive defensive background. He was a defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears in the late 90s and the...

The Bucs began the process of elimination Thursday morning and among the first to be told he will not be hired as their head coach was Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray. Gray informed Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean Thursday that he was no longer being considered by the Bucs. General manager Mark Dominik is actively in the process of contacting candidates who are not finalists...

They were among the first to fire and now the last to hire. The agonizingly slow pace of the Bucs' search for a new head coach -- 23 days and counting -- won't be without consequence. With the Indianapolis Colts hiring of Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano as their head coach Wednesday, the Bucs are the last NFL team to be without a leader of their football team. What...

Former Green Bay Packers and Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman will have a second interview today with the Bucs, the Tampa Bay Times confirmed. The meeting is being conducted at a secret location outside of Tampa and Texas, where Sherman met with members of the Glazer family and general manager Mark Dominik a few weeks ago. Sherman is the only known candidate to be a finalist and...

Former Green Bay Packers and Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman is the first to be called for a second interview for the Bucs head coaching job and obviously a finalist. But the Bucs have not contacted a single coach they interviewed to inform them that they are no longer under consideration, the Times has learned. Meanwhile, the team says it is making progress on hiring a new head...

MOBILE, Ala. -- The Bucs are in the process of narrowing their list of head-coach candidates to an unknown number of finalists, but Mike Sherman continues to be the only prospective hire known to be invited for a second interview. Panthers coach Ron Rivera, who is awaiting an outcome in Tampa Bay’s search because the team is considering his offensive coordinator, Rob Chudzinski...

Former Green Bay Packers and Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman is among the finalists for the Bucs' head coaching position, the Tampa Bay Times confirmed. After Oregon coach Chip Kelly ducked out of an offer to become the Bucs head coach early Monday, the team moved quickly to schedule second interviews, most likely to be held in Tampa this week. Bucs general manager Mark...

Oregon coach Chip Kelly, who reversed course and abandoned his jump to the NFL, issued a statement Monday saying he had 'unfinished business,' with the Ducks football program. "I am flattered by the interest of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ organization,'' Kelly said in a statement. "I enjoyed meeting with the Glazer family and General Manager Mark...

Oregon coach Chip Kelly told the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early Monday morning 'his heart is with college football,' and he is remaining with the Ducks. "His heart is with college football and Oregon and he's no longer being considered,'' Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said Monday. Kelly and the Bucs were in the process of finalizing a deal late Sunday with...

If and when Chip Kelly, as expected, signs on to become the next coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one of the most anticipated aspects of the move would be what kind of offensive attack he’ll employ. Kelly is renowned at the college level for running an exciting brand of the spread offense that has become the envy of many. His offenses have consistently led the Pac-10 and...

Oregon coach Chip Kelly is finalizing a deal to become the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Tampa Bay Times Sunday. Kelly met with the Bucs earlier this past week and both sides are hopeful an agreement can be reached in the next 24-48 hours. Kelly has been Oregon's head coach for three years, winning the conference title in all...

Despite a dismal season for the Bucs, running back LeGarrette Blount's memorable 54-yard run against the Packers netted one post-season award. Blount's run, in which he plowed through six Packers defenders on his way to a touchdown, was named the Pizza Hut NFL Play of the Year. The play was chosen over the touchdown reception by Bengals receiver Jerome Simpson, who somersaulted...

Candidates being considered in the Bucs' coaching search, including former Vikings coach Brad Childress, have said in recent days they haven't heard anything new from the Bucs. But there was an interesting side note after Joe Philbin's press conference in South Florida on Saturday that may advance the story a bit. Philbin, the former Packers offensive coordinator who...

Check one head coaching candidate off the Bucs list. Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin has agreed to become the Miami Dolphins' head coach, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Philbin interviewed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head coaching job on Thursday in Dallas. The Bucs also interviewed Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements Thursday. Two other...

If the Rams are seeking advice about playing in London, they can just ask the Bucs, who have done so twice in the past three years. It was announced on Thursday that the Rams will play one home game at London's Wembley Stadium in each of the next three seasons The stretch begins this fall, when St. Louis will "host" the Patriots on Oct. 28. Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer...

The Bucs are interviewing Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Tampa Bay received permission this week to interview both Philbin and quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, Packers general manager Ted Thompson confirmed Thursday. Philbin is also one of three finalists for the Miami Dolphins head coaching job and expected to have...

Greg Olson will have another young quarterback to break in. The former Bucs offensive coordinator has been hired as the quarterbacks coach by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Olson, who coached quarterbacks under Jon Gruden in Tampa Bay before he was promoted to offensive coordinator under Raheem Morris, will be responsible for developing second-year quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

A quick reminder that Times sports columnist Gary Shelton will be chatting live today, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Want to talk about the Bucs' coaching search? The Rays' offseason moves? The Lightning's struggles? Whatever's on your mind, we look forward to hearing from you. Can't make it? Leave a question in advance in the "Comments'' area below, then...

It seems the Dolphins are moving closer to naming a head coach, with numerous reports indicating they have narrowed their list of candidates to three and are conducting follow-up interviews with that trio this week. What does this have to do with the Bucs? Well, there is some overlap between the candidates for both teams. If recent reporting is to be believed, Bengals defensive coordinator...

The Bucs, as you might expect, have been scouting prospects practicing in St. Petersburg for Saturday's East-West Shrine Game college showcase at Tropicana Field. As they do annually, the team's college scouting staff and personnel director Dennis Hickey have been in attendance since Monday, evaluating a field that includes mostly mid- to late-round draft picks as well as...

The firing of Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell Tuesday means only two of the 11 NFL coaches hired in 2009 remain in their positions -- Lions coach Jim Schwartz and Jets coach Rex Ryan. Think about that. Only three seasons ago, 11 NFL franchises put their faith in new leaders -- many of them first-time head coaches like the Broncos Josh McDaniels, the Bucs Raheem Morris...

Want to talk about the Bucs' coaching search? The Rays' offseason moves? The Lightning's struggles? Join Times sports columnist Gary Shelton for a live chat Thursday, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Can't make it? Leave a question in advance in the "Comments'' area below, then check back afterward to replay the chat. Gary Shelton chat (January 2012)

Former Vikings coach Brad Childress, in town to coach the West squad in the East-West Shrine Game, said today he hasn't had any dialogue with the Bucs since his interview with the club last week regarding its opening head coaching post. "No. Don’t expect to," Childress said when asked whether he's heard from the team. "They said they were going to take...

Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer promised a thorough head coaching search and he's a man of his word. Having already interviewed or attempted to meet with four former NFL head coaches and Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, the Bucs apparently will spend the week talking with some of the league's top coordinators. According to multiple reports, Bengals defensive coordinator...

Raheem Morris and his staff were fired exactly two weeks ago today, and still it feels like we could be a ways off from learning who the next head coach of the Buccaneers will be. That's because the Bucs are taking their time in this search, looking in every crevice and under every rock for who they think will be the best man for the job. It's also been speculated that they're...