Monte Kiffin questions won't be a distraction to Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jon Gruden says

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said Monday questions about defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's future with the Bucs will not be a distraction to his first-place team.

Kiffin's son, Lane, will be introduced as the University of Tennessee's head coach at 2 p.m. today. ESPN's Chris Mortensen has reported that Monte Kiffin will join his son's staff.

"A lot of our coaches are sought after every year, and Monte's sought after every year,'' Gruden said during his weekly news conference at One Buc Place. "He should be. I'm not worried about any distractions. We've got a great opportunity ahead of us, and we want to take advantage of it.''

The Bucs (9-3) play the Carolina Panthers (9-3) in a matchup of the NFC South's top teams on Monday.

Regardless of the Tennessee situation, Kiffin will stay with the Bucs through the end of the season, Gruden said.

Kiffin dismissed the ESPN report as ''speculation'' when asked about it following the Bucs' 23-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

Gruden declined any further comment on Monday.

''(Questions are) gonna persist,'' Gruden said. "I don't have any update. I think he addressed it last night. Monte's the guy to talk to. I'll just say this. We're excited to win the game, and I can only comment on the Buccaneers.''

* In other Bucs news, defensive linemen Jovan Haye (knee) and Gaines Adams (hip pointer) are being evaluated after sustaining injuries against the Saints, Gruden said.

"I don't kow the exact severity of those injuries yet,'' Gruden said. "But, obviously, we have some concern.''

Comments

[JH]

Yes, I agree: "Questions are gonna persist". It is laughable that anyone can keep a secret at One Buc Place and even more so when the front office (including Gruden) try to answer questions about leaked reports. Will this be a distraction for the team? Actually, it might help because the team will not want to lose for Monte.

[aaron]

It would be sad to see Monte go, but it would open up a great opportunity for Raheem Morris...

[dond]

I do believe we will loose Monte. I have heard this weeks ago through several insider boards. Its already a done deal. Tampa Bay out of respect for Monte will release him from the one year remaining on his contract. The new defensive coordinator though will be Rod Marinelli ... once he is fired from the Lions head coaching job.

[Henry]

If Kiffin leaves, Morris is the way to go. Marinelli has got stink all over him - not entirely his fault (he was poisoned by Matt Millen), but when it comes to stink, people (and that includes players) don't dig into the details.

Raheem Morris is a stud coach, a rising star, and the Bucs should lock him up for 5 years as DC.

[Dave]

Morris will most likely be a head coach some day, like Tomlin, but until then he would make a fine replacement for Kiffin.

[Matt H]

But why would he want to do it? Leave a $2m a year contract to go earn $500K working with Lane?

I'd prefer to let my son stand on his own two feet.

If they wanted to work together so badly, why couldn't the Buc's have hired Lane in some capacity until he gets another Head Coaching offer?

I know Monte's getting up there in age and can't coach forever but moving backwards isn't the way he should go out.

[Ick]

Matt H- Reports are Monte is going to get PAID, as in perhaps the highest paid college coordinator, so money isn't the factor.

I wish the Bucs had hired Lane too, maybe this would not have happened. I personally believe that he would have to come to the Bucs had he not been offered a head coaching job by the Raiders.