FanHouse MonteKiffin

As I watched Florida quarterback Tim Tebow in Saturday's win over Tennessee, I became more convinced than ever that he won't be an NFL quarterback. Tebow is a great quarterback in Florida's offense, but Tennessee defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin exposed real limitations, including an inability to feel pressure and a slow delivery, that just won't work in the NFL.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Only two weeks after Jon Gruden's surprise firing as head coach of the Buccaneers, the general sentiment in Tampa seems to have gone from "good riddance" to "Jon who?" Gruden is such a forgotten man in Tampa that I've barely heard his name this week.

But I have heard the name of his longtime defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who also left the Bucs to coach alongside his son Lane at the University of Tennessee. And although people here in Tampa have much warmer feelings for Kiffin than for Gruden, there's a sense here that Kiffin's departure may not be a bad thing.

The coaching transition in Seattle hasn't garnered much attention around the NFL this off-season, with coaching changes in places like Denver and New York making headlines while the media mostly overlooks the departure of Mike Holmgren.

The reason for that, of course, is that we've all known since last year that Jim Mora Jr. would take over for Holmgren after the season. But just because everyone in Seattle knew this change was coming, that doesn't mean there's no news coming out of Seahawks headquarters.

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Seattle requested permission today to interview Patriots special teams coach Brad Seely, who could replace the Seahawks' current special teams coach, Bruce DeHaven.

And in a sign that Mora would like his defense to model the Tampa 2 system that Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has employed over the last decade, Schefter reports that the Seahawks are also interviewing Buccaneers linebackers coach Gus Bradley and former Lions head coach Rod Marinelli.

What it all adds up to is that just because Mora was the top lieutenant on Holmgren's staff, that doesn't mean Mora is going to do things the same way Holmgren did. And really, why should he? With the Seahawks coming off a 4-12 season, they need more changes than just a new head coach.

It didn't take Lane Kiffin long to find another job after his rather infamous year-and-a-half stint as head coach of the Oakland Raiders. Recently, he's been named head coach at the University of Tennessee, and was able to get his father, Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, to join him.

Kiffin continued to fill out his staff at Tennessee this week by hiring a couple of his former colleagues in the Oakland organization. According to Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune, offensive line coach James Cregg will be leaving to join the fighting Kiffin's, while two other members of the Raiders front office -- director of football operations Mark Jackson, and Steve Reaves, whose job was to essentially make copies and go on coffee runs -- also left the organization today, presumably, to join Kifin.

Somewhere in his lair, owner Al Davis is throwing papers in the air trying to find a way to sue somebody, or, if all else fails, fire somebody. I'm sure at some point Davis will have a reaction to this in the form of a bizarre press conference, so, while we wait, let's get the reaction of current Raiders sacrificial lamb (head coach) Tom Cable.

In the wake of Lane Kiffin's hiring at the university of Tennessee, reports began to surface that Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin -- Lane's dad -- would be joining him to run the Volunteers defense. It appears that there's plenty of fire to go along with that smoke, as ESPN's Chris Mortensen mentioned today that Kiffin is leaning towards going that route.

There are only two possible holdups to such a deal. The first one being, (Monte) Kiffin is still under contract with the Buccaneers after signing a contract extension a year ago.

The second possible hold up is: are we sure the Tennessee athletic director isn't a senile old man that will refuse to let (Lane) Kiffin fire the current defensive coordinator to bring in his pop to coach alongside him? Okay, perhaps that's not going to happen. If you'll recall, Lane, reportedly, tried to bring Monte with him out to Oakland prior to this season, until Al Davis decided that Rob Ryan was the greatest defensive coordinator ever. Obviously, that's not going to be a problem here, as I'm just looking for a reason to make another Al Davis joke.

As far as father and son coaching tandems go, I would think that Lane Kiffin and Monte Kiffin would have to rank near the top in terms of potential to turn around a college football team. Or, if not "turn around", take talented players who were forced to underachieve with Tommy Bowden, and help them win.

Which explains why there's a pretty strong rumor about the Kiffins heading towards Death Valley. Or at least, as JoeBucsFan is reporting, why it's something that's being considered.

Through a source with strong ties to Clemson movers and shakers, Joe was informed of a meeting of Clemson boosters held Wednesday at the school and that many big-moneyed Tigers boosters want to throw considerable cash at Lane Kiffin to replace recently resigned coach Tommy Bowden.

The trick is the offer will be a package deal: Lane has to bring his father Monte with him.

One of the reasons the school negotiated an early release for Bowden earlier this week was so the program could get a headstart on acquiring a top candidate.

Okay, the last part makes total sense (although I heard that Bowden rolled early because he likes the idea of getting paid several million dollars to quit a job he was going to get fired from anyway.) But I don't know if I agree/believe the notion that Clemson would offer Lane the job only if he can get his dad to come aboard.

Hell, half the reason -- according to Al Davis' press conference -- that there was so much disagreement was that Lane wanted him to work in Oakland in the first place. Still, getting both Kiffins (or just one at this point) would have to be considered a coup for the Tigers.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have re-signed their most important free agent, six weeks before the NFL's free agency period begins.

Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, the mastermind behind the "Tampa 2" defense, has reached an agreement on a contract extension to remain with the Buccaneers, ESPN.com is reporting.

Kiffin, whose contract would have expired at the end of this month, was set to be a hot candidate for several vacant assistant jobs. There were even reports that he would join the staff of his son, Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin, although that was apparently not a serious option.

According to ESPN, the new contract will pay Kiffin $2 million a year, making him one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in the NFL, although still quite a bit behind the highest-paid, Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. The 67-year-old Kiffin has had several opportunities to leave Tampa, but he now appears set to finish his career there.

Although he's hardly ever mentioned as a head-coaching candidate, Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin is one of the best assistant coaches in NFL history. He's made a huge influence in Tampa Bay and with other coaches who have used his defensive schemes elsewhere.

And although he's apparently still not a head-coaching candidate, now that his contract with the Bucs has expired, he might be the hottest assistant-coaching candidate in the league, and Falcons owner Arthur Blank is apparently interested, no matter who the Falcons' next head coach is. From ESPN Insider:

there is still the possibility that the Falcons' brass could recommend to whomever it hires as its new head coach that the man strongly considers approaching Monte Kiffin about heading up his defensive staff. Blank might be at a point where he is willing to pay a $2 million salary for a valued assistant like Kiffin, a proven commodity who would represent a huge step in helping reverse the Falcons' fortunes. And during part of his Tampa Bay tenure, Kiffin worked for Atlanta team president Rich McKay, who has lost his general manager title but still remains a key component in Falcons' management.

Absent a contract extension, of course, Kiffin is fair game for any team to approach.

Whatever team ends up with Kiffin might just have the best free-agent signing of the 2008 off-season.

There was speculation earlier this week that Raiders defensive coordinator, and part-time Kenny Rogers impersonator, Rob Ryan, would be out in Oakland (and a likely candidate for the same job with the New York Jets). There was also talk that head coach Lane Kiffin might bring his dad, the Buccaneers defensive coordinator, in to replace Ryan.

Both rumors proved to be false. Monte Kiffin, Lane's old man, isn't interested in leaving Tampa Bay; Ryan is staying in Oakland.

Coach Lane Kiffin said Monday he would evaluate Ryan's status quickly. There were reports that Ryan would be fired, but team spokesman Mike Taylor said Friday that Ryan would return for a fifth season with the team.

"The recent conjecture regarding the removal of Rob Ryan is incorrect and the constant barrage of rumors is irresponsible," Taylor said. "The Raiders organization stated that the speculation that Rob Ryan will be relieved of his duties should stop."

So there you go. Even though Ryan keeps his job, there will have to be changes to the Raiders' defense. A unit that finished ninth last season ranked 23 in 2007. And not only that, but the run defense fell off the face of the earth, tumbling to 32nd.

The good news is that Ryan's players seem to love him. Being related to Buddy Ryan can't hurt either, I'd imagine.

FanHouse's Michael David Smith and Josh Alper wrote recently that rumors had Monte Kiffin potentially headed to Oakland. Alone, that may not seem like such a big deal, but a few of things to consider: Kiffin's son, Lane, is currently employed as the Raiders head coach; and Kiffin the Elder makes more as a defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay than his son earns as Oakland's top guy.

Oh, and the Raiders will potentially be in the market for a defensive coordinator, what with Rob Ryan set to be fired (before resurfacing in New York).

No matter, though: the old timer has no interested in moving across the country to work for a guy, who 15 years ago, was asking to borrow the car to go to the school dance.

"I haven't thought about what is going on in Oakland," Monte said. "Lane hasn't discussed it with me. I love the Bucs. I've coached here a long time, and I'd like to continue to coach here. But it's true that I'm not under contract. I'll be honest: all of my focus is on the Giants."

Kiffin, along with the Eagles' Jim Johnson and the Steelers' Dick LeBeau are three of the oldest (the oldest?) -- and three of the best -- defensive coordinators in the league. And all three run different schemes.

Whatever, Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden must be understandably jazzed to learn that he still doesn't have to worry about defense.