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The Bucs coaching staff still is unsettled.

Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has not reached an accord on a contract with the Bucs. General manager Bruce Allen grouses about the salaries of assistant coaches spiraling out of control. Kiffin made about $1.7-million. It's believed he has been offered less than he earned last season.

Imagine how disappointed the Bucs were in Cowboys owner Jerry Jones when he signed offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to a $3-million per year contract.

One thing we're hearing is that former Nebraska coach Bill Callahan probably isn't coming to Tampa Bay.

Re-signing offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Bill Muir made it more difficult to find a spot for Callahan, who could have coached running backs, quarterbacks or be named an assistant head coach.

Whatever the reason, it seems more likely Callahan will wind up with another team if he coaches at all in the NFL in '08. He interviewed with the Jets two weeks ago.

Quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett, assistant offensive line coach Aaron Kromer and assistant defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake all remain unsigned.

In fact, it appears that Hackett probably won't be returning.

Lake was scheduled to visit the Detroit Lions Thursday and interview for their defensive backs coaching position.

"I like where we are right now but I still have a couple spots to fill,'' said Lions coach Rod Marinelli. "I'm still looking right now (for a) secondary coach.''

Don't expect Kiffin to wind up in Detroit, where former Bucs linebackers coach Joe Barry is defensive coordinator.

"I'd have to bring up a wheelchair for him,'' Marinelli joked. '"I love Monte to death. I've got the right coordinator. I've got the right guys in place here I feel really good about. We're going to make another nice, nice step.''

If you're a Bucs fan, you can't like the way it's going for Kiffin. He'll be 68, but 10 times in his 12 years as coordinator his defense has finished in the top 10.

Comments

[JScott]

Bruce Allen is holding and has held the Bucs back... Kiffin should have been given a key to the city ages ago.

Bruce is probably too busy talking David Boston and Jake Plummer in to playing for the Bucs this season

Bruce is too busy printing out t-shirts for his loyal groupies. One side says "Monte had to go" and the other "Monte rules!".

Whatever Kiffin does decides not only the future of the defense but what position the Gruden-Allen worshippers declare as the obvious and true solution. They do know best, after all.

[Jay]

I believe Greg Williams in Washington makes more than that, and his defensive squad has yet to accomplish anything remotely as productive and consistent as what Monte Kiffin has. I understand financial prudence when it comes to the salary cap, but the coachs' pay comes directly from the owners pockets, and if they don't believe that Kiffin has earned his payday, then they're just being foolish and shortsighted.

There are 30 or so other franchises that would love nothing more than to have Kiffin coaching their defense.

As for Callahan, I don't see why he cannot be the QB's coach and assistant offensive coordinator, other than pride at this point. Muir isn't bad, but the Bucs are the absolute WORST at running a screen. You would think that a line that excels at run blocking would be better suited for it, or at least anxious to try it considering their pass protection is somewhat lacking. The play calling has gotten better this year, but by no means is it impressive. I believe Callahan could improve that dramatically.

[Jon]

I understand why the 3 million given to Jason Garrett would make Bruce Allen upset. Monte deserves more money than 2/3 of the head coaches in the NFL, so to see Garrett get 3 million a year imagine what Kiffin should be making......It is a down right shame that Kiffin would be offered less money that last year. I am actually in shock at the possibility that Kiffin might not get his pay day with the Bucs....I was on the Gruden band wagon this year, but if I had the choice of keeping Monte and getting a monkey in a suit to replace Gruden and allow Monte to have his money....Well lets just say Gruden would be packing his bags for Atlanta or Baltimore.

[aaron]

i have been very outspoken in the past about some of the decisions bruce allen had made in the past, i.e., john lynch, joe jurevicious, dewayne white, michael bennett and the list could go on for a long, long time. but if he doesnt pony up, this would be the worst move ever. monte has been and is still one of if not the best D-coordinator in the league. he should be paid as such. his contribution to the city and franchise over the years is immeasurable. i know coaches do not count against the cap, but our number there paints a pretty good picture of how we are doing finanically. Bruce Allen i dare you not to resign monte. if you dont you better find a place to live far away. i like Raheem Morris but he is not ready and i dont think larry coyer should get it. he is a good line coach, keep him there.
sign monte to one last contract and let him finish out his career where it belongs. the bucs owe it to him. keep monte on and he can groom Raheem to take over in a few years.

[Tom]

I like what you're saying Aaron. We CANNOT let Monte go elsewhere. I really don't think he is going to go anywhere else at this stage in his career. It's just a cat and mouse game right now. It IS a business and I'm sure the Glazers want to save money just like any other business owner.

I think you're right about Raheem Morris. He is a unique talent as a coach. I sit in the west club and I can see him firing up our players. It would be a very big loss if he wound up as a DC somewhere else.

[Larry]

You're $23M UNDER the salary cap for 2007 and you're carping about a few hundred thousand for one of the best defensive coordinators in the game?

C'mon Bruce, if you want Monte gone just say so but quit playing this stupid game. Oh that's right, I forgot, you don't have a history of being straight with either players or coaches. Meanwhile the fans get to endure this particular brand of Chinese water torture until Monte tells you to bugger off and signs with someone else.

[Tom]

I guess Kiffing don't cuss enough!

[Tom]

I guess Kiffin don't cuss enough!

[Jon]

From what I saw this season, Monte's defense didn't make the stops when needed, especially in the NYG playoff game. Like players, if you don't get it done, why get a pay raise?

[JD]

Maybe Monte should have worn more "attention grabbing" clothes.

"It's believed"? What kind of source is that? Is the writer of this post so ashamed of it that they won't even put their name at the bottom of it?

[Voc]

I have said it before, if Kiffin is not here, there is no reason as to why Gruden is still here and that is a fact....

Look mo further than the top, if the Glazer's wanted Monti here he would have been signed. It did not take them long to catch on to the old floridian ways of being so cheap.... (offered kiffin less money this year, you have to be kidding me)

[Art]

What makes anyone think Monte is not using his position to push the Bucs ownership to extend Jon Gruden? If I were Monte and I enjoyed working with Gruden, I'd hold off until I saw Gruden get the deal he deserves.

[aaron]

what kind of deal doe sgruden deserve Art?

[Duane]

I love it when a millionaire complains about how much other people are making. GREEDHEAD. Is the money coming out of your pocket? If not, SHUTUP. What is your salary Allen and did you ever strap on a pair of pads. Still, listen to Marinelli's wheelchair reference to Kiffen. Kiffen may be getting a little long in the tooth.

[Warren]

Here we go, and I guess all of you are the ones that burned him when he cut the homeless simeon rice.

[Hutch]

There is only ONE costant the Bucs have had the past 10 years. That costant has been Monte and HIS defense. He helped Dungy turn this team around and HIS defense carried them to the Super Bowl and 3 divison championships.

[Dwayne]

The bottom line is that Kiffin has to resign he made the defense wat it is today, are you guys all forgetting that we finished top ten defense for 9 years straight and a couple of those years were top 5, we dont have enough offensive fire power, so defense is the key for us to win games, all the player love kiffin to death and say there is no one out there like him and hes the best, so its obvious not just the fans want him resigned but the buccaneer players too, imagine wat it would do to brooks if monte left he cried his eyes out when rice was cut, so if kiffin leaves the guy that made brooks in to a hall of famer you can expect even worse from brooks, KIFFIN NEEDS TO BE RESIGNED.

[pansion]

What's up with the comment about Hackett and then nothing else in the story about it? Is he interviewing elsewhere? Is there a problem with Gruden and him like Valero?

[treybucs]

Great insight Rick. Way to get everyone in negative panic made for no reason. We just signed Kiffin to a multiyear extension. Tell me what its like to have one of the only jobs in America where there is no accountability for printing information that is dead wrong. It must be nice. Sooner or later everyone will realize that the people in this city who need to lose their jobs are the overwhelming majoirty of the media who cover the Bucs with the exception of Pewter report journalists.

[Jeff]

"From what I saw this season, Monte's defense didn't make the stops when needed, especially in the NYG playoff game. Like players, if you don't get it done, why get a pay raise?"

I smell a Grudenista.

From what I saw this season, Jonny Boy's offense didn't convert in the red zone when needed. Like players, if you don't get it done, why get an extension?

Oh wait I forgot, Gruden is hampered by a loss of picks, salary cap hell, Tony Dungy's conspiracy with Jesus and global warming. Funny how when you have Monte putting together a #1 unit with a patchwork DL, no one ever mentions a loss of picks (as if that excuse applies solely to offense) or that there was little done in FA besides Carter. If the offense falters, it's the first thing you hear even though we've burned up more wasted picks on offense during Napoleon's tenure here.

[Tom]

Good Lord, you guys are a bunch of clowns. Always negative. We just came off a very successful season and now you jokers are back to the Gruden/Allen bashing again. We have 30,000 armchair GM's here in Tampa that think they can make a deal to get Chad Johnson here or some other absurd idea. You guys were bashing Allen for not throwing a bunch of money at Kiffin to keep him, when they were apparently doing everything they can to keep him here. HE SIGNED!!

Let Gruden play out next year. If the team lays an egg again, regardless of who is hurt, fire him. If we build on momentum, sign him to a long term deal.

If the team lays an egg again, say somewhere around 6-10, he'll get defended. Remember, FIVE division titles and a Super Bowl! Coming off a winning season, it's always prudent to focus on the recently completed season. Coming off a losing season, it's always prudent to ignore the middle of the sandwich and focus on the prior winning season and the possibility of one to come.

But thankfully Monte is here so we'll have a true leader.

[DR]

Tom, you're starting to see things my way/ Let 2008 determine Gruden's job.

[Dwayne]

I agree DR the man deserves to play out his contract and het resigned if he has a good season

[Neville]

Good reporting there, fellas. Offered less than 1.7 million, eh?

Once again, superb Bucs reporting.