Buccaneers Sign Dungy To Six-Year Deal
After having been labeled a head-coaching candidate for several years, Tony Dungy became the sixth coach in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 20-year history.
Dungy, who has been the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator for four seasons, had interviewed for other head-coaching jobs, including one at Tampa Bay after the 1991 season.
The Buccaneers’ new owner, Malcolm Glazer, turned to the 40-year-old Dungy after having been turned down by University of Florida coach Steve Spurrier and after Jimmy Johnson had accepted the Miami Dolphins’ job. Glazer courted Dungy for two weeks before offering him a six-year contract for an undisclosed sum over the weekend.
Dungy, who replaces the fired Sam Wyche, said he plans to bring stability to a franchise that had lost 10 games or more for 11 consecutive seasons before going 7-9 in 1995.
“We’re going to work on getting that consistency of play, so we can play at the top of our game every week,” Dungy said. “We have a lot of young talent here.”
Bledsoe separates throwing shoulder
It wasn’t just the left shoulder that bothered Drew Bledsoe last year. According to his father, the Patriots quarterback also separated his right - throwing - shoulder during the 1995 season.
Mac Bledsoe, a high school football coach in Yakima , told the Boston Herald the first-degree separation of the right shoulder happened Dec. 16 in a game with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mac Bledsoe said the right shoulder is fine now, and that although the left shoulder pops out of joint, his son will not have surgery to repair the damage.
Belichick may join Dolphins
The New York Daily News is reporting new Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson and current Cleveland Browns coach Bill Belichick spoke a couple of times last week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and Miami could be the landing spot for Belichick if Art Modell fires him.
The unsettled state of the Cleveland/ Baltimore Browns has spawned a cottage industry of rumors. There is growing speculation Modell will fire Belichick. And if that happens, Johnson reportedly wants to turn the Dolphins’ defense over to him.
End zone
The Cardinals have asked Colts management for permission to talk to defensive coordinator Vince Tobin… . The 49ers have called a news conference for today in which they are expected to announce that former coach Bill Walsh has rejoined the team as a consultant. San Francisco named former backup quarterback Matt Cavanaugh as its quarterbacks coach… . Packers assistant coach Gil Haskell has been transferred to a rehabilitation facility while recovering from a skull fracture suffered in a sideline accident in Dallas… . Cowboys defensive end Charles Haley, who has been out seven weeks with a back injury but aims to play in the Super Bowl, missed practice Monday in Tempe, Ariz., because of a 101-degree fever… . Steelers coach Bill Cowher said defensive back Rod Woodson will play in the Super Bowl. Cowher said Woodson’s playing time will be determined by how much he is able to practice.