Malcolm Glazer got what he so desperately desired a few years ago when that noted West Coast auctioneer, Al Davis, bartered away Jon Gruden to the over-eager Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner for a staggering price: two first-round draft choices, a pair of second-rounders and a Warren Sapp-hefty $8 million.
After agreeing upon a compensation package that released the youngest coach in the NFL from the final year of his Oakland Raiders contract, the Glazer family signed Gruden to a five-year, $17.5 million contract. The fiscal gambit was substantial — and appeared to work. Gruden's men in scarlet and pewter produced more offense, at last figured out how to win in cold-weather climates and, finally, secured the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The 2002 deal appeared to leave both franchises winners, though the lingering results have left perhaps unintended consequences not fully revealed until 2006. It has gone from Tampa Bad to Oakland Worse, a coast-to-coast flop by two Bay-area teams that played in the Super Bowl only four seasons ago.
Today, the Raiders are the sorriest bunch in the league and far less disciplined than when Gruden captained the silver-and-black football pirates. Meanwhile, the Bucs, who may have mortgaged their future, have noticeably slipped, particularly on defense.
In an eerie repeat to the start of 2004, the 0-4 Bucs appear to walk the plank toward a third losing season in four years. By Halloween, things could get really scary with games against Cincinnati, Philadelphia and the New York Giants the next three Sundays. With teams like Carolina, Dallas, Chicago and Seattle remaining, a 3-13 season is not out of the question.
Worse, the seemingly always-rebuilding Bucs are 23-29 since winning Super Bowl XXXVII when Gruden used Tony Dungy's players to defeat those he had assembled in Oakland from 1998-2001.
Gruden's hyperactive nature and keen offensive mind have been sideswiped by the reconstruction of the team through salary-cap purges and divergent philosophies. The Buccaneers are younger and cheaper, but they have not delivered better results.
They're starting five rookies on offense, including quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, and a rather green O-line is a no-name bunch that has struggled, though Carnell "Cadillac" Williams produced his first 100-yard rushing game last week in a loss to New Orleans.
Worse, the Bucs' vaunted, always-reliable defense appears to be slipping. Or at least leaking at the point of attack along the line of scrimmage. The Bucs, who rank 28th in sacks, aren't getting much of a push up front, and teams are rushing for an average of 5.0 yards a carry, ranking them 31st.
"For us to come out of the ashes here," Gruden told reporters, "they're going to have to dominate."
Sunday, the Bucs play the Bengals, a team with a viable Super Bowl blueprint. They are coached by Marvin Lewis, who could've been the Bucs coach for nothing more than salary had the Glazers listened to then-GM Rich McKay.
They did not. Instead, they pursued Gruden, who won a power struggle with McKay, now in Atlanta, where the 3-1 Falcons are in second place. Two years ago, the Falcons lost the NFC title game. That same year, Gruden resurrected a partnership from his Raiders days when the Bucs hired Bruce Allen as general manager. Thus far, the duo is not exactly burning things up, though the Bucs did surprise last season.
Meanwhile, since the Raiders lost to the Bucs in the Super Bowl, they have won only 13 of 52. I suppose you could argue that they have done nothing since the departure of Gruden-Allen ... or you could say the cupboard was left bare with some questionable draft choices. (Or filled with canned goods such as Sebastian Janikowski, Marques Tuiasosopo and Jerry Porter.)
In any event, the arrogant, living-in-the-past Raiders have gone from vertical to horizontal. At 0-4, they are headed for their fourth consecutive last-place mudslide finish in the AFC West. They have lost their last 10 games dating to last season. The perpetually sloppy Raiders have 13 turnovers, the second highest in the league. The head coach (and/or his incompetent assistants) can't figure out when to challenge a play for review. The Raiders can't stop the run. They can't pass. They couldn't even beat the Cleveland Browns (blowing an 18-point lead) or San Francisco 49ers.
Then there's Randy Moss, a man who gathers no fans or respect with his attitude.
"I've been in worse situations," Sapp, the ex-Buc, told the media this week.
The only way it could get uglier is if Sapp tried to squeeze into a Raiderette outfit. Now that might finally make Art Shell change his stone-faced expression.
E-mail Jon Saraceno at [email protected]
After agreeing upon a compensation package that released the youngest coach in the NFL from the final year of his Oakland Raiders contract, the Glazer family signed Gruden to a five-year, $17.5 million contract. The fiscal gambit was substantial — and appeared to work. Gruden's men in scarlet and pewter produced more offense, at last figured out how to win in cold-weather climates and, finally, secured the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The 2002 deal appeared to leave both franchises winners, though the lingering results have left perhaps unintended consequences not fully revealed until 2006. It has gone from Tampa Bad to Oakland Worse, a coast-to-coast flop by two Bay-area teams that played in the Super Bowl only four seasons ago.
Today, the Raiders are the sorriest bunch in the league and far less disciplined than when Gruden captained the silver-and-black football pirates. Meanwhile, the Bucs, who may have mortgaged their future, have noticeably slipped, particularly on defense.
In an eerie repeat to the start of 2004, the 0-4 Bucs appear to walk the plank toward a third losing season in four years. By Halloween, things could get really scary with games against Cincinnati, Philadelphia and the New York Giants the next three Sundays. With teams like Carolina, Dallas, Chicago and Seattle remaining, a 3-13 season is not out of the question.
Worse, the seemingly always-rebuilding Bucs are 23-29 since winning Super Bowl XXXVII when Gruden used Tony Dungy's players to defeat those he had assembled in Oakland from 1998-2001.
Gruden's hyperactive nature and keen offensive mind have been sideswiped by the reconstruction of the team through salary-cap purges and divergent philosophies. The Buccaneers are younger and cheaper, but they have not delivered better results.
They're starting five rookies on offense, including quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, and a rather green O-line is a no-name bunch that has struggled, though Carnell "Cadillac" Williams produced his first 100-yard rushing game last week in a loss to New Orleans.
Worse, the Bucs' vaunted, always-reliable defense appears to be slipping. Or at least leaking at the point of attack along the line of scrimmage. The Bucs, who rank 28th in sacks, aren't getting much of a push up front, and teams are rushing for an average of 5.0 yards a carry, ranking them 31st.
"For us to come out of the ashes here," Gruden told reporters, "they're going to have to dominate."
Sunday, the Bucs play the Bengals, a team with a viable Super Bowl blueprint. They are coached by Marvin Lewis, who could've been the Bucs coach for nothing more than salary had the Glazers listened to then-GM Rich McKay.
They did not. Instead, they pursued Gruden, who won a power struggle with McKay, now in Atlanta, where the 3-1 Falcons are in second place. Two years ago, the Falcons lost the NFC title game. That same year, Gruden resurrected a partnership from his Raiders days when the Bucs hired Bruce Allen as general manager. Thus far, the duo is not exactly burning things up, though the Bucs did surprise last season.
Meanwhile, since the Raiders lost to the Bucs in the Super Bowl, they have won only 13 of 52. I suppose you could argue that they have done nothing since the departure of Gruden-Allen ... or you could say the cupboard was left bare with some questionable draft choices. (Or filled with canned goods such as Sebastian Janikowski, Marques Tuiasosopo and Jerry Porter.)
In any event, the arrogant, living-in-the-past Raiders have gone from vertical to horizontal. At 0-4, they are headed for their fourth consecutive last-place mudslide finish in the AFC West. They have lost their last 10 games dating to last season. The perpetually sloppy Raiders have 13 turnovers, the second highest in the league. The head coach (and/or his incompetent assistants) can't figure out when to challenge a play for review. The Raiders can't stop the run. They can't pass. They couldn't even beat the Cleveland Browns (blowing an 18-point lead) or San Francisco 49ers.
Then there's Randy Moss, a man who gathers no fans or respect with his attitude.
"I've been in worse situations," Sapp, the ex-Buc, told the media this week.
The only way it could get uglier is if Sapp tried to squeeze into a Raiderette outfit. Now that might finally make Art Shell change his stone-faced expression.
E-mail Jon Saraceno at [email protected]
