Bucs fire Dungy after another playoff failure

ESPN ^ | 01.15.2002 | ESPN.com

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Tony may not be the best coach out there, but who is better?

I like him, he may not be my favorite, but he is a good coach and will do better someplace else.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I didn't see this posted and did a search. Hope it's not a duplicate, remove it if it is.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

I was pro-Dungy until that playoff game Saturday. The Bucs need some offense - ANY offense!

[Corporate Law]

Good guy, but after seeing that horrific offensive play against the Eagles on Saturday, I certainly hope that the Colts don't get him unless he promises to leave the offense alone. The Colts have already stated that their offensive coordinator (Tom Moore) is the only coach coming back and any new head coach must factor that into his decision.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I agree. But it wasn't all Tony. I think keeping him but having him get new offensize coaches and some players replaced would help. Brad Johnson is not known as a playoff QB.

The Tuna is Mike Ditka reincarnated. They will do worse, IMO.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

He would do good at the Colts, provided he comes in with a different staff than what's there now, and than what hehad a TB, IMO

[RedBloodedAmerican]

G'mornin.

[silmaril]

Dungy took a pathetic basement franchise and made them respectable. Who would have thought that Tampa would ever expect to make the playoffs year after year? So, I salute the man. He's the best coach the Bucs ever had. I only hope his successor can take the team that one extra mile.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I am surprised Dungy went before Jax' coach.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

I agree - the only way Dungy should have stayed is if he totally revamped his offensive staff. Brad Johnson is not the answer at QB either. It's a shame, cause Dungy's a class act and I wish him well at his next stop (as long as it's not the Panthers!).

[OldFriend]

Parcells and Keyshawn deserve each other.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Tom Coughlin got an extension! As a Jags fan, I was happy - the troubles the last two years can largely be attributed to injuries, and one horrendous draft pick in R.J. Soward. Watta maroon that guy is! I think the Jags having a offensive coordinator was a step in the right direction this year - Coughlin shouldn't be calling the O.

[Corporate Law]

He is a defensive wiz, which is exactly what the Colts need (as well as defensive players!). My concern is the offensive side. There is nothing wrong with Indy's offensive unit, Peyton's interception binge this year being a fluke which can be blamed in part on O-line injuries. That is why Irsay has stated that Moore will be the offensive coordinator under any new regime. A positive is that the Indy media is reporting that Moore and Dungy are close friends. We will just have to see (since my dream choice would be Jon Gruden and that is not going to happen).

[stboz]

Tony Dungy was, indeed, the best coach the Bucs have ever had. He's got class and will be missed in Tampa, I predict.

The Bucs offense(?) is what hurt him. Look higher than the coach there. Try Rich McKay. The curse of his father hangs around like the Ancient Mariner's albatross.

[Bushwonyes]

NOOOOO NOT PARCELLS!!!! Living in the tampa bay area I know had BAD the bucs were before Coach Dungy. He did a heck of a job but the bucs need to go to the next level BUT he's not the right guy for that job . I know .... BRING IN MIKE DITKA! ;o)

[rdb3]

I agree that the Bucs need some offense, but why do I get the suspicion that Dungy was "hamstrung" by the likes of Keyshawn Johnson?

You did hear his post-game rant, didn't you?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I would say bring in Ditka if TB was in Miami's division. hehe. Ditka is a wash, IMO.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Oh yes - Keyshawn is not one of my favorite players. I would agree that Dungy was held back by the chemistry on the team - the last couple of weeks the offense and defense were sniping at each other mightily. Am I correct in saying Keyshawn had one touchdown all season? If so, that's pathetic. A big reson for that is playcalling, but part of that has to be the player's fault.

[wheezer]

I'm a big Dungy fan, but I think it was time for him to go.

I hope he ends up in Indy...with the one condition he cannot mess with the offense.

One side note...should the league investigate the trade of Keyshawn Johnson from the Jets to the Bucs from an angle of Parcels figuring they would be reunited in the near future when his fat-@ss turned up as TB head coach?...he is a first class sneaky-sneak (but a great coach).

[Mr.Clark]

I thought Keyshawn's rant was pro Dungy. It sounded like he was badmouthing the players on the team that ran their mouths but didn't play for their coach. I liked his last sentence, the guy they're talking about coming here,(Parcells) he isn't going to put up with this bulls***. He's right about that, GO TUNA!