In a move that "stunned the NFL" and "shocked many ... players and the coaching staff," the Buccaneers fired coach Lovie Smith last night after just two seasons, according to a front-page piece by Rick Stroud of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Bucs co-Chair Joel Glazer in a statement said that GM Jason Licht will oversee the search for the team's fifth head coach since the '08 season. The move came after "three days of meetings with Licht" and the Glazer family, which owns the team. Smith yesterday "met individually" with his coaching staff, which "learned of his dismissal through media reports." The Glazers "have demonstrated a quick trigger finger on head coaches," but it was believed they "would have more patience with Smith" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/7). FOXSPORTS.com's Alex Marvez writes this was a move that "nobody outside the Buccaneers' hierarchy saw coming." Sources said that they believe Smith was fired after "refusing to make changes to his coaching staff." Marvez: "While he may have his drawbacks as a head coach, loyalty isn't one of them" (FOXSPORTS.com, 1/7). USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero writes the presence of QB Jameis Winston "makes the Bucs a prime job for the next coach, if the team hasn’t picked one already." But the impatience of ownership "may be cause for concern." The team "has now dismissed three head coaches in a little more than four years" (USA TODAY, 1/7). However, ESPN’s Mark Dominik said the move came because the team was concerned they "were going to lose" offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. Dominik: "Over the next week I expect they're going to have to interview people for the Rooney Rule, but I think you'll see Dirk Koetter become the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the week" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 1/7).
DO THE RIGHT THING: In Tampa, Tom Jones writes the Glazers "did the right thing" in firing Smith. Jones: "Did the Glazers believe in their hearts that Lovie Smith was the right man to lead this team? Is he the coach who is going to take this team to the playoffs? ... That's it. That's all that matters. Is Lovie the best coach this team can have? Obviously, their answer was no." Jones notes he was "shocked at the timing," as he figured Smith was in for at least another season" after finishing the '15 campaign at 6-10 following a 2-14 record in '14. However, his overall record "is part of the reason he is gone" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/7). FS1's Peter Schrager noted most observers "assumed that Lovie Smith was safe, but when you lose the last game of the season on national television to the Carolina Panthers, and they're dancing all over the place and doing that stuff on the sideline, the owner will notice." Scharager: "After two years of missing the playoffs, going from a two-win team to a six-win team just wasn't enough" ("Fox Sports Live," FS1, 1/7).
VERY QUICK ON THE TRIGGER: SPORTS ON EARTH's Michael Tunison writes it is "fair to say Lovie got a raw deal from the organization." For now, the Bucs are "simply a franchise with little concern for stability" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 1/7). ESPN's Mike Greenberg said, “The Glazer brothers, who have now fired three coaches in the last 10 minutes, would have looked at Bill Walsh and said, ‘You know what, I don’t think this is happening quite quickly enough for me.’” ESPN's Mike Golic said, "You don’t get the benefit of the doubt because this is your fifth coach in nine years, your third coach in five years." He added, "You can say you have a plan but ... everybody can be skeptical of that plan because of your past performances.” ESPN’s Michael Smith said, “That’s why the Bucs as a franchise throughout the majority of their history have stunk. ... You just don’t keep hitting the reset button ." Smith: "I know a bad pattern when I see one, and this is why the Browns are the Browns, this is why the Bucs are the Bucs.” ESPN’s Jemele Hill: “It just seems like this was beyond reactionary, this was beyond knee-jerk; this was just stupid. … This feels like a setback when they were headed in a good direction” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 1/7).
OWN UP TO IT: In N.Y., William Rhoden writes during "each season in the annual carnival of firings" many team owners "often escape responsibility for failure." Within and outside the NFL, the organizations that work "thrive on continuity, longevity and accountability -- beginning at the top" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/7).
