There are typical endorsements, and then there’s the rare heartfelt kind that exude love, devotion and respect.

Four-time Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn spent the first few years of his career playing for Marty Schottenheimer and the Kansas City Chiefs before becoming a star in New Orleans. Speaking today on The Dan Sileo Show on WDAE-AM 620, Horn said some of his former Chiefs teammates “literally would cry in meetings when Marty Schottenheimer talked.” Why? “Because we saw how much Coach Schottenheimer loved us, how much he really cared.”

Pick up the audio below at the 4:45 mark.

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It’s that time of year when the baseball world is wheeling and dealing players. And the Rays just made some moves and seemingly waved goodbye to Johnny Damon. So get on over to JoeRaysFan.com.

RaysIndex.com adopted Joe last year to form the best Rays site in town. Check it out today and every day like thousands of others do.

Bucs offensive linemen love to play general manager.

First it was Donald Penn giving an analytical call for free agents, specifically a need for rosterwide competition and a burner at wide receiver.

Now Davin Joseph has stepped to the plate to say the Bucs are ready to move to Phase 2 of the build-through-the-draft plan, so he outlined on Primetime on WHBO-AM 1040 this week.

“I really think we are at the time right now where we could definitely use some pieces,” Joseph said. “You know, we’ve gone about building our team through the draft and we have a lot of great young players that still haven’t had a chance to really develop. And so we’re excited for that. But right now we could use some key pieces in free agency to bring some guys here that can play some serious football.

“With the new CBA, of course, the strategy behind that was to encourage owners to spend money. And with them not having much of a choice now, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of guys they go get.”

Joe wonders how many other Bucs players want to see the Bucs become serious players in free agency?

During the interview, Joseph also talked about grabbing a cornerback, safety or linebacker high in the 2012 NFL draft, or a big, physical receiver. Overall, Joseph said he’d like to see the Bucs draft the best available player. The Pro Bowl guard added the Bucs are missing a “big playmaker” on special teams.

Joe suspects some fans wouldn’t mind Joseph and Penn actually taking over general manager duties, but Joe’s just fine with rockstar GM Mark Dominik.

As Joe’s good friend, the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620 said earlier this week of the list of known candidates to replace jettisoned Bucs coach Raheem Morris, “It makes me want to puke.”

Well, now there is one less person to blow chunks over.

Texans defensive coordinator and four-time former NFL head coach Wade Phillips has withdrawn his name from consideration, per Tampa Tribune beat scribe Woody Cummings.

Phillips, 64, was scheduled to interview for the Bucs job in Houston after the Texans practice on Friday, but he called Bucs general manager Mark Dominik early Thursday evening and told him he was pulling out.

Joe wonders why Phillips is pulling out at the last moment? Perhaps it’s because he was well-aware he wasn’t getting the job? Perhaps he’s on to something no one else is? More likely it is because he has more pressing concerns, like Houston’s playoff game at Baltimore this weekend?

Joe thinks it is because he doesn’t want anyone stealing knowledge from him.

Old man Ronde Barber has a broken arm.

Oft-injured Aqib Talib could be facing incarceration.

E. J. Biggers is learning.

Myron Lewis is invisible.

Elbert Mack is a free agent.

LSU shutdown cornerback Morris Claiborne could be sitting there for the Bucs in April when their name is called with the fifth pick in the NFL Draft.

Which one of those sentences excites you?

NFL Draft guru Justin “Commish” Pawlowski says the Bucs will be looking closely at Claiborne, who announced today he’s turning pro.

Expect teams like the Rams, Vikings, and Bucs to all be looking at drafting Claiborne in the top 5 picks of the 2012 Draft.

There’s no question that cornerback is the biggest personnel question mark heading into the Bucs’ offseason. A new head coach might have no interest in both starters, or eagerly embrace two of the most talented players on the roster: Talib and Barber, even if their futures are suspect.

Joe’s not big on government poking its nose into football business, but if it’s good for fans and it involves the public airwaves, who is Joe to play politics.

Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) spit out a press release touting that his office has moved the chains in the fight against the FCC and the NFL’s blackout policy.

Brown’s office announced today that the FCC is planning to reconsider the Sports Blackout Rule, a 1970s-era regulation that allows sports leagues, like the NFL, to black out broadcasts of a local sports game when the game does not sell out. At the urging of Sen. Brown, the FCC will release a petition urging the agency to open the Sports Blackout Rule for public feedback, the first step in repealing the regulation.

Per Bloomberg news, the FCC apparently has caved to pressure.

The Federal Communications Commission in an e-mailed notice today called for comments on a petition filed by five groups that said the rule dating to 1975 “supports blatantly anti-fan, anti-consumer behavior.”

Joe wonders how/if a repeal of blackouts would affect the Bucs, or any NFL team for that matter.

Joe’s met his share of Bucs fans that attended more Bucs games than ever the past two seasons because they couldn’t deal with not watching games live and shunned unlawful Internet broadcats. Surely, the blackout rule keeps some fans in the seats, but it limits longterm growth of the fan base because hundreds of thousands of “casual” local fans won’t be exposed to Bucs home games.

Joe suspects the mess of government and the legal power of the mighty NFL will tie up any real change in the blackout policy for years to come. If the NFL owners didn’t want the policy in place, it would have been gone years ago, and they’re surely likely to fight for its life.

Discipline, structure and free agents are the solution to snap the young Bucs out of the poor professionalism and quitter mentality on display during the end of the Raheem Morris era, says Pat Kirwan.

The former Buccaneers scout and Jets team executive and linebackers coach, now a busy analyst for CBS Sports, NFL.com and Sirius NFL Radio, is fuming at how the Bucs jilted his friend Raheem.

Speaking on 770 AM out of Fort Myers yesterday, Kirwan explained:

“I like where the Glazers are going in their philosphy for their new head coach,” Kirwan said. “And whether it’s Mike Sherman, who I think is the lead dog in this thing right now, or even a guy like Brad Childress or Marty Schottenheimer, the M.O. is the right one in my mind. And that is a veteran head coach, a no-nonsense guy who’s going to get some structure back into this place and the tail’s no longer going to wag the dog.

“So why do I say that? They had so many young players that I think misinterpreted Raheem’s youth and friendship for weakness. And they betrayed their coach. … I was furious with what those young guys did as a group. I took a lot of heat a year ago when I kept saying on the air, ‘Don’t, don’t miss the opportunity to re-sign Barrett Ruud. [Punits said] Oh, Barret Ruud makes too many tackles downfield.’

“I said, ‘Barrett Ruud’s a veteran who can line those young guys up and he actualy has values that can help those young guys understand preparation.’ The last game of the year the only disgraceful team on the weekend was Tampa Bay. And it’s not for a lack of talent it was a lack of effort and misguided rationale for how they were going to play. So get the veteran coach in here and Mark Dominik will work great with whoever they hire.”

Yes, Joe knows the Bucs say they’re not going to pigeonhole themselves in their search for a head coach. And while the disciplinarian/retread types are the known candidates (minus Wade Phillips who’s hardly a stickler for behavior), Joe thinks the Bucs would be just fine with a younger, fresher face who also runs a tight ship.

Mike Zimmer, the Bengals’ successful defensive coordinator, is an interesting possibility. Anyone who saw him on Hard Knocks years ago could only walk away thinking that guy would run a very tight ship.

Outspoken former Buccaneers tight end Dave Moore, analyst on the Buccaneers Radio Network, offered up his take on the Bucs’ head coaching search on The Dan Sileo Show this morning. Moore offers great perspective and you can catch the full audio below.

Interesting to Joe, Moore says he recently talked to former Bucs QB Steve DeBerg, who played 20+ seasons in the NFL, and DeBerg says Marty Schottenheimer was the best coach he ever played for. ‘

Among other topics, Moore also explains why he’d tap the services of Russ Grimm to lead the Bucs.

Joel Buchsbaum was the original NFL draftnik. Joe remembers hearing him on sports radio when Joe was a kid, before there was a BSPN, before America heard of Mel Kiper, and was mesmerized.

Since Buchsbaum died, Mike Mayock has picked up the mantle of NFL draft guru. Of course, real men enjoy Mayock as he is a regular on the NFL Network and is the backbone of the network’s exhaustive draft coverage, even that glorified track practice known as the NFL combine.

Today at 5:30 p.m., Mayock will make a rare appearance on local airwaves and will join Joe’s good friend, the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig on WDAE-AM 620.

Football fans will want to hover around a radio for this. Mayock always brings the goods.

Those chained to a computer can hear the live audio streamed from the station’s website, or they can download the iHeartRadio app on their smartphones.

Joe laughed the other day when Stephen Holder of the Tampa Bay Times made a case that the Bucs don’t have the personnel to transition to a 3-4 defense.

Really? Joe thinks the Bucs have at least the same number of front-7 pieces in place for a 3-4 as a 4-3. And it seems draft guru and Buccaneers Radio Network host Justin “Commish” Pawlowski is of the same mind.

Pawlowski penned a detailed breakdown here on 620wdae.com. Here’s a snippet:

I chuckle when people say that a 3-4 defense wouldn’t work in Tampa. Is that because the 4-3 defense has worked so well  the past 3 years?  Give me a break.  The Texans had run the 4-3  defense since Gary Kubiak arrived in 2006, but it wasn’t until another terrible  defensive performance in the 2010 season when Kubiak and the Texans  decided to turn their defense over to Wade Phillips and a 3-4 scheme.  Yep,  media and fans were saying the Texans didn’t have the personel to make it work,  but with a few additions and a new mentality, the Texans have one of the  league’s nastiest and most feared defenses.

The Buccaneers have drafted defensive linemen  over the past couple of years that were probably best suited for a 4-3 defense,  but this is the NFL, you get paid, so you better do what you’re told to  do.

Contrary to what most believe, much like the  4-3 defense, the 3-4 defensive scheme has many variations. One of those variations is a one-gap penetrating 3-4 defense.  Hmmm, last I checked, that was the skill most Buccaneer defensive linemen were best at. Gerald  McCoy and Brian Price were praised for their one-gap penetration while in  college and in their short time with the Bucs. Adrian Clayborn is quick,  physical, and mean.  There is no reason why Clayborn wouldn’t be a fit as a  3-4 defensive end if he was taught correctly. Actually, if you go back to last year’s draft, teams that ran the 3-4 defense considered Clayborn because of his ability to play end in that scheme.

Click on through above to read the whole take.

When the Bucs interview Wade Phillips for their head coaching gig today in Houston — Surely that is a charade. The man is 64 years old, in poor health, and has a playoff record worse than Marty Chokenheimer — the topic of the Bucs’ talent meshing in a 3-4 defense is bound to come up.

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik would have to give any new coach at least one major impact new linebacker, plus a quality veteran interior D-lineman. If both were 3-4 types, the Bucs would be well on their way to a successful switch.

Earlier this week, taking a break from having coaches hang up on him, Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune discussed all things Bucs while appearing on PrimeTime on WHBO-AM 1040 with co-hosts Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi.

Among the many things Cummings had to say was that the Bucs’ interview with Wade Phillips is little more than a fact-finding mission under the guise of a job interview, and that in 2002 Richie McKay gave Team Glazer three names to replace Father Dungy. One name was Marvin Lewis and the other was Mike Mularkey, who was just hired by Jacksonville.

Team Glazer is “continuing to look at elder statesmen, guy who have been around the block with a few teams,” Cummings said. “It’s clear at this point they are going to get exactly the opposite that they had in Raheem Morris. They want a more experienced, more disciplined coach who is probably offensive-minded.

“Jerry Gray is a bright young mind. he is very impressive but they are leaning towards more of a veteran coach with an offensive mind.

“Wade Phillips, that is more of a fact-finding mission than a head coach interview.

“I have not heard of any college coaches” on the radar of Team Glazer.

"Olie, I'm off to D.C. You watch me lay down the law in that DBs room. My best self is comin' back."

In what seems like a somewhat strange happening for Raheem Morris, assuming he has another $2 million coming to him from the Bucs for the 2012 season, the Bucs’ recently fired head man is now the defensive backs coach for the Washington Redskins.

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times broke the news this evening.

Raheem must really have been averse to waiting for a better gig and/or spending the 2012 season on the couch waiting for head coaching interviews. Remember, Raheem told Bucs fans head coaches don’t get fired after being coach of the year candidates months earlier. Apparently, they do, and they don’t land on anyone’s short list.

Or Raheem just loves molding young men and spreading his core beliefs more than Joe could ever know.

Regardless, Joe wishes Raheem well as he returns to what he likely does best — coaching a secondary.

It should be a fun-filled week of goofy and intriguing quotes when the Redskins play in Tampa next season. Perhaps Aqib Talib will be wearing Redskins colors in that game?

Earlier today, Bucs beat writer eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune visited “The Fabulous Sports Babe” heard locally on WHBO-AM 1040 and gave an update on the Bucs’ coaching search.

In short, he said Marty Schottenheimer is not atop the Bucs’ list of candidates and that Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is deeply involved in each and every interview per the wishes of Team Glazer.

“My information — which is fairly fresh — is I wouldn’t be talking up Marty Schottenheimer so much, nor Wade Phillips.

“I don’t think they have their guy yet. You are not going to like this one, but [the search] could stretch out a couple of weeks. I think there are other candidates as yet unnamed. They may be with some teams in the playoffs, but I’m not sure about that. Things are still in flux.

“I don’t think this Bucs thing is nearly wrapped up.

“The Bucs are really not interested in Jeff Fisher. They have never interviewed him. He is not coming to Tampa.

“For anyone that thinks thie Bucs will wrap this up Monday with a nice tidy press conference, I don’t think that is happening. i think they might be in the early stages.”

Team Glazer  “is locked in with Mark Dominik. He is a survivor; he stayed. Let’s not be naive, ultimately the Glazers will make the decision [of who the new coach will be] but Dominnik is in every interview and he has input. The fact [Mike Sherman and Dominik] share the same agent, that’s not going to carry the day with the Glazers.

“The guy they ultimately hire will have to be an old school disciplinarian. I wish they would open it up to first-time coaches.

“Steve Spagnuolo, go and get that man [for defensive coordinator]. Get him! He’s up for grabs. get him!”

Ever since Raheem Morris was jettisoned as Bucs coach, former Bucs quarterback Shaun King has stated he would do some research and come up with who he would choose as the ninth coach in Bucs history.

King, one of only three quarterbacks to lead the Bucs to an NFC title game, finally revealed his choice today on the show he co-hosts with Toby David on WQYK-AM 1010.

That choice would be Gregg Williams, defensive coordinator of the Saints.

First, King said the Bucs pretty much will have to get a defensive guy to be head coach as the Bucs are so devoid of talent outside of the front line on defense, that finding someone who would want to tackle that task as a defensive coordinator will be difficult to find.

On the flip side, King said finding an offensive coordinator would be pretty simple as many coaches want to work with Josh Freeman.

“I think [Williams] is a perfect fit,” King said. “Yeah, he was the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, but sometimes when you are a coordinator and you are a head coach you make some mistakes and the second time around you are more mature and you grow and correct those mistakes. I think Gregg Williams is that kind of a coach. I think he can learn from his mistakes.

“If you look at what he has been able to do with what I believe is average talent on defense, that projects well for the Bucs.

“Being around Sean Payton, who is one of the best young offensive minds in the game, I think that has done wonders for him and will help in his analysis of the offensive side of the football. He can have dialogue with Josh Freeman about what it takes to get the job done.

“He understands the NFC South. He can be a disciplinarian without being a taskmaster. I really, really like Gregg Williams.”

One of the great mysteries of the 2011 Bucs was their unwillingness to throw downfield and/or give receivers opportunities to make big plays.

A key element of the 2010 success was Josh Freeman tossing balls up to Mike Williams and letting No. 19 go fight for balls. That didn’t really happen this season, and those efforts weren’t passed on to Arrellious Benn or Dezmon Briscoe.

Joe’s inclined to toss a heap of blame at Greg Olson, primarily because Joe’s not as down as many are on the talent of Williams, though he surely had an off year with too many drops.

But there is a growing call for the Bucs to score a speedster deep threat on the outside. Donald Penn is on board. And Ryan Nece, former Bucs LB and current Buccaneers Radio Network host, cites a No. 1 wideout as a primary offseason need, so he said today on The Dan Sileo Show on WDAE-AM 620.

“You’d like to see them get some more speed at the wide receiver position. They gotta find a way to stretch the field vertically,” Nece said. “Josh Freeman needs that big-time target to be able to have some explosive plays in the passing game. And that I think will really help open up their offense and allow them to do some exciting things with their play-action pass.”

Nece also said the Bucs should look to add impact players at linebacker and safety. On the coaching search, Nece raved about Marty Schottenheimer from what he’s heard from Schottenheimer’s former players, and Nece said fans shouldn’t shrug off Wade Phillips.

Last night when the Jets announced that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer resigned, it got Bucs fans in a tizzy.

With Schottenheimer’s dad, Marty, already interviewed by the Bucs and hinting at a second interview, talking like he was all excited to lead the Bucs into a new era, it seemed like a precursor of Marty Schottenheimer’s eventual hiding.

But BSPN’s Adam Schefter suggests Bucs fans hit the brakes. Speaking on the Mike and Mike Show this morning, Schefter said even if Marty Schottenheimer gets the Bucs gig, his son will not join him.

If Marty Schottenheimer gets that job, Brian Schottenheimer will not go with him. That will not be a match that will end up being made. I feel that Brian wants to be on his own. He doesn’t want to be with his dad. He wants to make a name for himself. Brian Schootenheimer wants to branch out on his own situation. Brian Schottenheimer will find a great job somewhere else. Brian Schottenheimer wants to shine in his own situation in his own job without the shadow of his father right there. That will be a union that won’t take place.

Well, so much for that idea. Joe also thought the younger Schottenheimer’s resignation with the Jets was a precursor of Marty being hired as Bucs coach.

Former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck looks at the Bucs’ concerns as the offseason begins in this BSPN video.

It will be a long time before Joe ditches the sordid memory of the Bucs — being coached by a defensive guy no less! — hacking up 42 points in 22 minutes in what proved to be the Bucs career finale for jettisoned coach Raheem Morris.

To watch the replay of that game should be like the opening moments of a graphic World War II documentary on the Military Channel where viewers are warned some scenes may be too disturbing for children.

Now that the Bucs are in the midst of a coaching search, just to hear some of the names of candidates with head coaching experience has nearly forced Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com back to his favorite watering hole, so he wrote Tuesday.

When you’re up against the likes of two Schottenheimers, Wade Phillips, and Mike Sherman, it’s hard not look like Brooklyn Decker leaning up against a jukebox. [Jeff] Fisher’s “stock” has skyrocketed in the last two months and it’s certainly not because of some new, innovative offense he’s been outlining on the beach in San Diego. …

In one fell swoop, Tampa Bay will go from a young, innovative unknown coaching entity to an old, well-traveled coaching re-tread. You know what you’re getting with a Marty Schottenheimer or a Wade Phillips. It might not be Super Bowl rings, but it’s stability, it’s a time-tested process, and for at least a few years — some order to the asylum. And for many franchises and long-losing fan bases, that’s enough.

Dominik rolled the dice on Morris in 2009, and after a 10-game losing streak to end what started a promising 2011 season, he crapped out. Now, he’ll go safe and play the penny slots. One extreme to the other. In three or four years, the pendulum will no doubt swing the other way.

In short, Schrager wonders why teams aren’t hiring up-and-coming coordinators. But like he wrote above, it’s the safe route, the best way for a general manager to save his job. As long as a team hovers near the .500-mark and competes for a division title, it’s unlikely a general manager will have to clean out his desk.

Chokenheimer, while safe, would be like a drill sergeant to the young Bucs. Drill sergeant in that if someone loafs or blows off meetings or doesn’t know the playbook, they will be drilled right out of town.

Late Tuesday night, the New York Jets announced that embattled offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will not return to the team for the 2012 season, that he turned in his resignation.

For those unaware, Schottenheimer is the son of Marty Schottenheimer, erstwhile Bucs coach.

The younger Schottenheimer was essentially the Raheem Morris of New York sports talk radio in that fans railed against him so much bonfires were nearly lit at Giants Stadium.

Jets fans were outraged over not just the Jets playcalling, but how quarterback Mark Sanchise, drafted in the same first round as Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman, steadily got worse and didn’t improve. Sanchise has sunk so low that sober minds in Gotham talked openly about getting a new starting quarterback.

So, Joe asks a few questions:

Is this a sign that the elder Schottenheimer is on his way to Tampa Bay? Schottenheimer has said he is meeting with Team Glazer for a second round of talks.

Will the younger Schottenheimer join his dad with the Bucs?

Should Freeman be frightened?

Conspiracy theorists and crystal ball types, REACT!

"You, 25, come here. Let me tell you a story."

As Chokenheimer fever sweeps the Bay area like gonorrhea through a frat house, Bucs head coaching candidate Marty Schottenheimer is fired up to teach the young Buccaneers.

The 68-year-old with 200 wins and an abysmal playoff record spoke to Stephen Holder of the Tampa Bay Times after meeting with Team Glazer and rockstar general manager Mark Dominik today. As Raheem Morris might say, Schottenheimer was vibin’ to Holder and said he’ll be talking to Team Glazer again soon.

“I think they’ve got some great young players on that team,” he said. “They’ve also  got some really solid veterans. And when you see the opportunity to work  with youngsters and see them develop, that’s always very exciting for  every coach. In my particular case, I like to work with kids. I refer to  them as kids, even though I know they’re grown men. But I like to give  them the benefit of my insight as to what I’ve seen and experienced in  this business. I’m a teacher is what I am in my view.

“And to watch these young men take the information that me and the (coaching) staff  provide to them and they, in kind, combine that with the skill set that they have, I live vicariously through their play. It’s like it’s me out there doing it.”

Click on through above to read the whole piece.

As Joe has written, if the Bucs are seeking a retread type head coach, which sure seems to be the case, then Schottenheimer is the cream of their current short list.

Without hesitation, Bucs Pro Bowl guard Davin Joseph said there’s a name on the publicized list of Bucs coaching candidates that he’d love to throw his allegiance to.

Joseph is a fan of Marty Ball, Marty Schottenheimer’s brand of physical offense, so he said today on PrimeTime on WHBO-AM 1040.

“Marty Schottenheimer,” Joseph responded when asked if he felt excited about any of the coaching prospects.

“I heard his name, because I remember back when he coached in San Diego. They had the power run scheme and they were just awesome. You know, that’s when [LaDanian Tomlinson] had his better years. They were just playing some serious ball.

“Of course, their whole thing was that when they got to the playoffs, they just weren’t playing good. They just lose in the playoffs every time they got there. But I’m like, ‘Shoot, I’d like to get there.’ I’d like to get there. … You’re talking about a guy who loves to play some power football.

Joseph went on to say the Bucs are built to run a power running scheme and they’re in a brutally tough division and Schottenheimer could get the Bucs competitive. “He’s a guy that can definitely get us some wins,” Joseph said.

Also, Joseph added that LeGarrette Blount is a talent that just needs a full offseason in a system and is a running back that has all the tools, running, catching and blocking.

As Joe’s written before, Schottenheimer is probably salivating at the thought of what could happen if he got to utilize Blount.

There are a few things Brad Childress is known for. One is an inability to develop a quarterback. The other is his penchant for fibbing. Another is his frosty relationship with the fourth estate or simply lack of understanding of simple media relations.

The latter trait was reinforced yesterday when Childress hung up on Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

Chilly chilled out and spoke with Cummings today and confessed, yes, the Bucs interviewed him and, yes, the Bucs do have some talent.

“I like Josh Freeman,” Childress said. “You know, we (Vikings) ended up taking (Florida wide receiver) Percy Harvin (22nd overall) in the draft, but if Josh had come to us, it would have been hard to pass up a quarterback like that.”

Childress expressed positive impressions of the Bucs’ young defensive line and veteran offensive line, which consists of two Pro Bowlers, right guard Davin Joseph and left tackle Donald Penn (in 2010-11).

“That group of five guys is fairly solid,” Childress said of the offensive line. “The thing they have to do there is play better as one, but they have a good element of toughness.”

Joe just cannot believe the Bucs would seriously consider hiring Chilly. Just cannot. There is no reason to hire this guy if you are trying to find someone to develop Josh Freeman.

If Chilly is hired, then you can find Joe at the bottom of a bottle of Bushmills.

Joe cannot find one guy who, after looking at the list of candidates the Bucs are interviewing to fill the hole left by jettisoned Raheem Morris, doesn’t come away aghast.

Yesterday Joe’s good friend, the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig, of WDAE-AM 620, said the known candidates “make me want to puke.”

Later, Duemig wondered aloud if the list was a smokescreen because the candidates were so outrageous. It appears Duemig is onto something.

Popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, beer-chugging Peter King of Sports Illustrated is of the belief that Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is thieving “knowledge” from the likes of Marty Chokenheimer and Wade Phillips.

TAMPA BAY IS FACT-FINDING. THAT IS ALL. “I’m not a fan of the Bucs, and I know you said in today’s MMQB that Cincy’s Mike Zimmer was a strong candidate to replace Raheem Morris, but are they REALLY considering Wade Phillips or Brad Childress as their next coach?? Phillips has never proven himself as a head coach while he has excelled as the DC everywhere he’s gone without the Ryan fanfare. And Childress, well, he didn’t very well distinguish himself in his time with the Vikings. What can they possibly be thinking?”
— Jon Karp, Camillus, N.Y.

I actually didn’t say that about Mike Zimmer; I said I thought Mike Sherman would be a candidate. Al Davis used to have this theory about coaching interviews. Cast a wide net and steal knowledge. If you have a chance once every three or four years to bring in veteran coaches who you may have a slight interest in hiring but absolutely have a strong interest in stealing knowledge from, why not interview these guys?

Why not ask Brad Childress his opinion on what’s important in developing a quarterback, and what did he learn from Andy Reid on that? Why not ask Wade Phillips, who’s been a terrific defensive coordinator, how he raised the Texans from the 30th-ranked defense last year to second this year — without Mario Williams? Why not ask them to watch some tape of the awful Tampa Bay defense and say, “Give me your theory: What’s wrong here?” Not saying he did that, but that’s something Davis would have done.

This makes perfect sense because Joe just cannot believe the Bucs are literally serious in hiring Brad Childress — Brad Childress! — to develop Josh Freeman. Might as well hire Les Miles as the quarterback coach.

Think about it: Who was Bruce Almighty’s right-hand man with the Bucs? Dominik. Who did Bruce Almighty learn the intricacies of front office politics from? Al Davis.

This has to be the logical conclusion. For the sake of Joe’s thinly-held sanity, it must be.