Barry will rejoin Bucs if Bradley exits

The Bucs new linebackers coach could be their old linebackers coach.

Recently fired Lions defensive coordinator Joe Barry has interviewed for the position he held in Tampa Bay from 2001-06.

Whether Barry rejoins the Bucs depends on the future of linebackers coach Gus Bradley, who interviewed Tuesday in Seattle for the Seahawks' defensive coordinator position.

New Bucs defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who is a candidate for the Denver Broncos head coaching position, says he is set to hire Barry is Bradley joins the Seahawks.

"To have a chance to come back here would be unbelievable,'' Barry said Tuesday night from his condo in Madeira Beach. "This is the place we used to call Mecca. That was a special time and we did a lot of great things. If an opportunity came about here where I could come back, I'd cherish it.''

Needless to say, Barry's first crack at being a defensive coordinator in the NFL was not met with any success. The Lions were last in the NFL in 2007 in points allowed with 27.8 per game and yards per game (377.6). In 2008, of course, the Lions became the first team to go 0-16 and the defense was a major reason why. The defense yielded 32.3 points and 404.6 yards per game.

Despite that experience, Barry still is a very confident coach not far removed from being part of a Bucs staff whose defense finished ranked in the top five in the NFL four years in a row.

"You know me, I'm very confident in my abilities,'' Barry said. "I left here 23 months ago, in my opinion, a very good coach. I know I don't have a lot to show for it 23 months later, but I'm still a very good coach. I don't have the stats or the records to prove that. But going through it, being a first-time coordinator, you learn things every day, every week, every game.

"But it was tough to go through what we went through. People said I would look back 10 years from now and I will be glad I went through it. But as you're going through it, you realize it's brutal and wonder why do I have to go through this to learn. But I'm a better man for it and a better coach for it. Twenty-three months later, I'm a better coach today than when I left.''

Ironically, Barry becoming a defensive coordinator under Lions coach Rod Marinelli - his father-in-law - is what gave Bradley a chance to take over his job as linebackers coach. Now Bradey's possible departure could open the doors again in Tampa Bay for Barry.

Comments

[Sir Pritam the Great of England]

Personally, I would rather have Joe Barry and Ron Marinelli in their respective positions rather than Gus Bradley and Larry Coyer

[Slamdunk]

I guess either feelings were not hurt as bad as I thought when the Bucs would not allow him to interview externally before, or being unemployed necessitates a very short memory.

[Sir Pritam the Great of England]

To add on my previous post, I would like to have Joe Barry as the linebackers coach, Rod Marinelli as the defensive line coach, and Larry Coyer as the defensive backs coach (that was his position when he was with Denver, producing 2 Pro Bowlers, John Lynch & Champ Bailey)

[BucFandango]

Does anyone else see how stupid this whole situation is right now? If Morris is not happy, wait, elated to be the Buc's defensive coordinator and wants to coach the Broncos or the Rams, please show him the Door. If Bradley wants to go, same thing. Cut him loose now. Wish him luck and "Seeya". Get rid of both of these clowns. Hire Barry if you want him, regardless. He is a good coach and I'm surprised he was willing to come back, even after the Detroit Disaster. Let's hire Marinelli as the Defensive Coordinator too, and tell Raheem "Seeya". Go be a head coach with your extremely limited experience. He'll be in the unemployment line before week 9. While your at it, fire that idiot Bruce Allen and tell Chucky if he loses one game & one game only next season "Your A__ is history buddy. Now hire an offensive Coordinator to run a new game, and be a head coach for a change". Superman's Cape has a gaping hole in it. Oh ya, also cut all of your players over 30 yrs of age. Love ya Derrick & Ronde, but you gotta go boys. Enough is enough. Ya think.

[Sir Pritam the Great of England]

BucFandango,

The dude has a TREMENDOUS opportunity. Who knows when he'll get another shot at multiple head coach interviews. I'm sure he wants to stay, but if I had a shot at a head coaching opportunity, I'd take it

[George]

BucFandango, you are an idiot.

Sir Pritam, Larry Coyer was D-coordinator and LBs coach before that in Denver. The point is moot anyway. Coyer is not returning to the staff.

Fire Gruden. Make Raheem head coach. Promote Gus Bradley to D-coordinator and hire Joe Barry as LB coach.

[Valrico Rick]

Get your Red Hot coaches right here! Yes sir, step right up and get your Red Hots! We got your could bes, and your should bes, your maybes and your wanna bes! Right now if you act fast you can get a really great deal on a soon to be, but you better hurry or you might end up with a couldn't be! Whoaa Nellly! Anybody know where I can get a good deal on a never will be?

[OAR]

Valrico Rick, I must say I usually don't like/agree with your posts, but dang that is hiliarious. I think I heard the soundtrack to 'Oh Brother Where Art Thou" playing in the background.

[brianj]

BucFandango, how's that fantasy league looking this year? Talented people with the opportunity for promotion usually try; that's why some people are successful.

[brianj]

Valrico Rick, do you have any used to be's.

[IMISS_No47]

And then Dungy will come back in 2010...they're getting the band back together! 3 days drive on I-75, half a pack of cigarettes, a full tank of gas, it's dark, and they're wearing sunglasses...HIT IT!

[chrisslooter]

I think all of these coaching names somehow tie back to Kevin Bacon.

[Leo In Canada]

Reports up here are the Bucs signed WR - Kelly Campbell & LB - Jamall Johnson. Who are these guys? Why are they not signing A. Bryant & other important free agents from the 2008 team?

[OAR]

Leo In Canada, This is from pewterreport.com(an excellent site if you have not visited it yet). The Bucs front office is talking to the agents for several players that are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on Feb. 27.

That includes agent Peter Schaffer, who represents Bucs wide receiver Antonio Bryant. While Schaffer had no comment on negotiations, sources have indicated to PewterReport.com that Schaffer and the Bucs are mutually interested in keeping Bryant in Tampa Bay, and that discussions regarding a long-term contract have already taken place and will continue. But Bryant might not hit the free agent market since the Buccaneers will consider using their franchise tag on him if contract negotiations stall, a maneuver that would call for Bryant to receive approximately $9 million in base salary. Tampa Bay has the option to place the franchise tag on Bryant as early as Feb. 5 and as late as Feb. 19.

[Leo In Canada]

Thanks OAR. I stopped reading their site because of disparaging comments towards this paper & other sourses.

To answer my own question on the other 2 players, they played in the CFL last year. With all due respect to both of these gentlemen, they are probably filler for training camp or long shot hopefuls.

[OAR]

Leo, gee, disparging comments towards this paper and other sites; they do have reason.