Bucs fire Dungy after another playoff failure

TAMPA, Fla. -- Tony Dungy was fired Monday night as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, likely clearing the way for the team to hire Bill Parcells.

Dungy was the most successful coach in club history, compiling a 54-42 record in six seasons and leading the Bucs to the playoffs in four of the past five years.

There was no immediate word on a successor, but the Bucs are believed to be close to agreeing to terms with Parcells, who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants.

The official hiring of Parcells probably will be delayed for four-to-six days as he finalizes contract details and begins the process of assembling a staff.

According to a report in the Tampa Tribune on Monday, Parcells' deal is believed to be for three years and may include an option for two years or more that would allow Parcells to assume a higher role in the organization should he desire it.

Contacted by The New York Times on Monday, Parcells denied he had reached a deal with the Bucs.

"My status has not changed since January 2000," when he stopped coaching the Jets.

"I've had at least two inquiries and a couple of college inquiries but nothing is imminent. Nothing is in place. The TV reports are so far ahead of the facts, it's ridiculous."

But a Jets official told the Times on Monday that Parcells, 60, had contacted Dan Henning, who was his offensive coordinator from 1998 to 2000.

The Dungy announcement came just hours after a team spokesman said the coach's status wouldn't be determined until the he met Tuesday with general manager Rich McKay and the sons of owner Malcolm Glazer.

"It has been a privilege to work with not only Tony Dungy the coach, but Tony Dungy the man," Glazer said in a brief statement. "This has been a most difficult decision. Tony has done great things for our football team and our community."

The dismissal of Dungy and the arrival of Parcells to one of the most underachieving clubs in recent NFL history has been rumored for nearly a year. Rumors first began last year in days preceding Super Bowl XXXV that Bucs management was flirting with Parcells, but Glazer ultimately decided to maintain the status quo.

There has been speculation that McKay's job also could be in jeopardy if Parcells replaces Dungy, however there was no indication Monday night whether the general manager will return.

Dungy took over a struggling team that had not had a winning season in 13 years and transformed the Bucs into a Super Bowl contender in just three seasons.

He led the team to the NFC Championship game two years ago, but was under fire for most of his tenure because of an anemic offense that ultimately cost him his job.

The Bucs went 9-7 this season, overcoming a slow start to earn the final NFC wild-card spot. But a second straight loss to Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs sealed his fate.

Dungy, who had refused to speculate on his future, scheduled a news conference for Tuesday at the Bucs training complex.

The coach's agent, Ray Anderson, did not return telephone messages. He had sought a quick decision from the Glazers so Dungy could be considered for other head coaching vacancies.

The Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers both have openings, and ESPN's Chris Mortensen says Dungy is an instant candidate for both.

"You look upon it in terms of what he meant to our organization and to me, and that's a great deal. As a coach he has brought a tremendous amount of respect to the franchise. More importantly is the contribution he made to a number of players by making them better men. There are few people I admire more than coach Dungy."

The Glazers have remained silent about their pursuit of Parcells, who won Super Bowl titles with the Giants in 1986 and 1990, took New England to the Super Bowl in 1996 and the New York Jets to the AFC Championship game in 1998.

Dungy's replacement will inherit a team in much better shape than the one the former coach took over in 1996.

Before Dungy's arrival, the Bucs posted a .307 winning percentage (94-213-1), won 10 games in a season once and made three playoff appearances in 20 seasons.

Dungy has a .563 regular-season winning percentage, has won 10 or more games three times and guided Tampa Bay to its first NFC Central title in 18 years in 1999.

The Bucs had 18 Pro Bowl appearances before Dungy, an average of less than one per season. In the past six years, the team has sent 35 players to the Pro Bowl, in addition to having an average of two players per season voted first-team All-Pro.

Cornerback Ronde Barber was an All-Pro selection for the first time this season.

"He gave me an opportunity in the league and it's something I hold dear to my heart. I'm at a loss for words," Barber said.

"He should be remembered for how he pulled this franchise from the ashes. He made it into something, and made a bunch of players into special players."

keyshawn has no speed. that play at the end of the half was embarrassing, he had a clear route to the end zone and couldn't beat a safety (albeit a pro bowl safety, dawkins).

nonetheless, as an iggle fan, i'd rather have keyshawn than, say, james thrash, the #1 WR for philly. i'd rather have keyshawn that a lot of WRs in the nfl. he's a bit of a jerk but a helluva player.

RedBloodedAmerican said . . . "I am surprised Dungy went before Jax' coach."

POST #12 pretty much sums up why TC is still coach at JAX.

Coughlin has worked hard building a good expansion team and the owner is a big believer in loyalty . . . well, at least for this coming season. Janguars will have to do good this year IMO or TC may be fired.

As far as Dungy . . . you got to win and WIN big in the NFL. To his credit and downfall - he made the Bucs a winner, however, the expectations of the new owners/fans were raised, unrealistically, thanks to his success in Tampa. How many times the last few years have we heard that Tampa was "expected" to be playing for all the marbles in the superbowl? ? ?

I will be very surprised if JJ doesn't have something to say about Dungy's firing though. Dungy is a CLASS COACH and he will be a Head Coach somewhere else in the NFL before too long. Any guesses where? ? ?

FRegards . . .

This was inevitable. And it is good for Dungy. He needs a change of scenery. If he gets a good offensive coordinator at his next stop he will do just fine. Just look at the Rams. Martz was the offensive coordinator under Vermeil. Look at their respective records since 2000. The Bucs were the only team that the Rams had any real problems with. Without an offense the best defense will eventually collapse.

RedBloodedAmerican said . . . "I wonder if the Gators wish they had waited and taken him, if he would go NCAA. Coaching NCAA seems much more rewarding than pro."

Florida's AD, Jeremy Foley did not have Dungy on his "short list" of candidates. My guess is the rationale would be that Dungy is not an advocate of the wide-open-passing-game type of offense. Dungy did not show any interest in the Florida coaching job or any other at the college level, for that matter. (They were not interested in Tom Coughlin either, and, for the same reasons.)

Besides Stoops, Shanahan, and Zook (on the "short list") had recent and closer ties to the program/network in-place at Florida. All advocates of the "Fun 'N Gun" offense.

As to your point about NCAA more rewarding than pro . . . SOS left Florida for the Redskins job at a 3 million-dollar a year increase (and, for 5 years guaranteed 25-mil package total). I would venture to say that at least monetarily for Stevie, it is going to be much more rewarding in the pros.

FRegards . . .

Parcells.

My problem with Parcells is that when he leaves a team, he seems to do his best to blow it up.

I will say that he is best clock manager in the game today, and way too many coaches lose games because they don't have a clue as to how to manage (or sometimes more importantly, run out) the clock.

He'll manage a couple of good runs with the Bucs, and I'm sure the way they handle the Rams played into his decision making process.

I like Dungy, but Parcells will have Tampa in the Super Bowl within the next two seasons. Parcells won two Super Bowls with the Giants, turned around a bad New England team and took them to the Super Bowl and had the Jets in the AFC championship game in his second season. If Testaverde didn't blow out his achilles in the first game of the 1999 season they were odds-on favorites to win the AFC

With Tampa's outstanding defensive players, big bruising running back and a quarterback who will only be asked to manage games, not win them, I'll be shocked if they don't go to the Super Bowl under Parcells.

Dungy was the most successful coach in club history, compiling a 54-42 record in six seasons and leading the Bucs to the playoffs in four of the past five years.

Letting this guy go typifies why the Bucs have had a dismal history. Look to the front office, not the offence. Winning the Super Bowl involves just as much luck as it does good coaching. The playoffs are so competitive that typically, the difference between the winner and the team that gets knocked out in the first round is very small. It's like getting a hole in one. The guys who are consistantly close to the hole are the ones who will end up getting them regularly. Dungy has been close on a regular basis. The Bucs are letting a guy go who is due to have one drop. Now they'll start over with a new coaching staff and a new system. Dumb front office move.

I don't agree with you. I am a Giants fan, and he didn't do anything to blow us up. Well, unless you consider his recommending that one of his assistants take over, and that assistant turned out to be horrible. I think you will find that most Giants fans hold Tuna in very high regard.

And he seems to have left the Jets in pretty good shape.

He did seem to hold some animosity towards the Patriots though, there is no question.

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