No tampering here, Gruden says

Ran into Jon Gruden this afternoon and the coach spoke for the first time about Chiefs coach Herm Edwards apparent implication last week that the Bucs were overzealous in their efforts to sign center Jeff Faine.

Edwards said the Chiefs played by the rules, waiting until the start of free agency to approach Faine, indicating he felt the Bucs did not.

But Gruden and Edwards recently cleared the air and the matter appears resolved.

"I thought the media blew that out of proportion," Gruden said. "I did talk to Herm. We did play within the rules. I've been doing this a long time, 11 years as a head coach and never done anything outside the rules. Jeff Faine should be the guy answering all these questions. He's from Orlando. He wanted to play for the NFC South champions, wanted to stay in the division. Who said what, I don't know. . . There's no issue on his end or my end. I like Herm a lot."

On a related note, commissioner Roger Goodell said today that the movement toward instituting a five- to seven-day window for negotiations before the start of free agency is gaining support. He seemed confident owners could come to some agreement about the issue, thought it's expected nothing will become official until the next league meeting in May.

Comments

[Darren]

Binkies give children the courage to grow up and spend the night in their own bedroom.

Should Gruden have offered to give Herm a binky? That could give Herm the courage to face the next season.

[Damien]

And, Herm ought to remember where he came from -- I understand that he was from Dungy's staff, but c'mon. Not two seasons after taking the head coach job in NY, he's jumping ship for KC?

I would doubt Edwards' integrity before Gruden's. Go ahead, Gruden haters, put that one in your pipe and smoke it.

[Rodger]

I will never understand why people hate Gruden, it's not like he is picking on a bunch of girl's. everyone of them could be somewhere else if they wanted to be, and you dont see coach Kiffin trying to get out.

[shane]

rodger the reason kiffin doesn't want to leave because him and gruden are the best fit coaches in the league. both of them are fiery competitors and are one of the best in knowledge for their side of the ball (gurden with the O and monte with the D)

[Kurt]

C'mon Rodger, isn't it obvious. Nobody likes a good looking millionaire on the top of his game in the prime of his life. Think about it...the same could be said for Jeff Gordon. Small people don't like the realization that they are nobodies, so they try to pick on those who have excelled in life and try to drag them down with them.

Psych 101 baby. Projection - projecting the ineptness of oneself on to others in order to relieve the blame of said ineptitude. Classic Freud. DR is a great example of somebody (excuse me, a nobody) who has to try to diminish the deeds of others by projecting his inequities onto others. For instance, DR's inability to score (get laid) translates into Gruden's ineptness as an offensive coordinator...and so on, etc.

I hope you have learned something valuable here today. This is important information for future degredation of nimwits like DR. Use it wisely.

I sure wish my pizza would get here already...

[DR]

Kurt, go have a cold one with your "buddies" at the local rainbow club. If you had a wife or a girlfriend, I probably had her. You have a kid, it might be mine. Be careful when your special lady has a girl's night out, because there are still guys out there, guys like me who love it when they get something easy and have no commitment. No follow up calls, but just waiting for that inevitable phone call for the time and place of the next encounter.
You're probably over it now, and have found your own sex more comforting to you, so go have a cold one with your "buddies" and talk about how good looking Gruden is and how you think he's a stud. If it makes you feel better to kiss another man's feet, an average man in his profession, if that makes you feel good, well than good for you. But you truly look pathetic and stupid. Go figure.

[DR]

Kiffen hasn't left because this is Kiffen's team. His defense won the Super Bowl, not an overrated offense. yeah, gruden brought in Mccardell and Joe J., but those guys didn't get the Bucs over the top. Kiffen's defense made all the big plays at the right times and dominated. The Bucs offense has never been dominate by any means. Yet, Gruden gets praised like he is the one who got it all started. Kiffen was here before Gruden and will be here with or without Gruden, until he retires.