DeBartolo would buy Bucs, says team not for sale

Eddie DeBartolo, Jr., the five-time Super Bowl champion and former owner of the 49ers, said he would buy the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if they were for sale.

But DeBartolo says the Glazer family which owns the Bucs and the Manchester United soccer club, has no plans to divest in their NFL team.

"The Glazers are friends of mine and I have no reason to believe the Bucs are for sale,'' DeBartolo told the Times Tuesday.

"Tampa has been my home for the past nine years, and if the team was for sale, I would definitely be interested in putting together an ownership group to buy the Buccaneers. But I have no reason to believe they're for sale.''

There has been recent speculation that the Glazers might consider selling the Bucs because of the large amount of debt they reportedly incurred in their $1.4-billion purchase of Manchester United.

Manchester United CEO David Gill has been quoted as saying the Glazers took 660 million pounds (or $915-million) of debt when they purchased the soccer club.  He said they are paying 43 million pounds (or $59.9-million) per year to service the debt.

Since their purchase of Manchester United in 2004, the Bucs have not paid enormous signing bonuses for many top-flight free agents until signing Saints center Jeff Faine to a six-year, $37.5-million contract last March with $15-million guaranteed.

On Friday, the Bucs fired coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen. Both were signed to three-year extensions last season, leaving the Glazers on the hook for an estimated $25-million over the next three years.

They replaced them with two in-house candidates -- defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who becomes the youngest NFL coach at age 32; and Mark Dominik, 37, the team's former pro player personnel director who replaced Allen as GM.

For the past two years, DeBartolo has owned DeBartolo Sports and Entertainment, the full service agency located in Tampa that represents athletes, broadcasters and provides consulting services to corporations.

DeBartolo, 62, voluntarily resigned his position as owner of the 49ers in 1997 because of his involvement in a riverboat casino license case that led to the conviction of then Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards.

DeBartolo pleaded guilty in federal court of failing to report that Edwards extorted $400,000 from him to win a casino license.

In '99, the NFL imposed a one-year suspension, which automatically terminated on Jan. 31, 2000. He also paid a $1-million fine.

In a letter from then NFL Commisioner Paul Tagliabue to DeBartolo and his sister, Denise DeBartolo York, dated Feb. 14, 2000, Tagliabue wrote, "I am not aware of any basis for extending the league-imposed suspension and I do not expect to do so. Accordingly, there is no longer any absolute, suspension-based bar to Eddie's participation to Forty-Niners affairs.''

Over the years, DeBartolo has been approached by other NFL teams to gage his interest in ownership, but he has concentrated his efforts on his real estate empire and the sports and entertainment agency.

Comments

[AL]

Large amount of debt? That could be a reason they got rid of Gruden. They only have to pay Gruden if he does not get hired within the next 3 yrs. Does anybody see Jon not getting hired somewhere in the next 3 yrs? I have to say I am GLAD to see Allen go, but it was not entirely Gruden's fault we do not have a franchise QB, he tried getting a 1st round QB a couple of times, Allen said no. Three more things to add, our offense scored enough to pardon that side of the ball (Gruden). Our defense blew it after Monte made the choice to leave. Finally, Monte and other coaches decided as a whole who should stay and who should be released, i.e. Monte said we could do without Sapp and people blame Gruden and Allen for his release.

[AL]

One more thing, The Glazers are CHEAP

[USArmyRob]

AL while I feel your comments are old and stale..like the Dungy vs Gruden comments. IMHO. Just saying...

[Stacy]

Rick Stroud - I hate to do this to you twice in 1 day buddy - but it sure seems to me based on the "Gut" article and this one - YOU ARE NOt HAPPY W/THE GRUDEN FIRING? Just an observence of mine..

[Stacy]

wow Army IMHO? U made me go look that one up.

[DR]

Al, you're comments make no sense whatsoever. The Glazers didn't go cheap by firing Gruden and Allen. They took the expensive route. They are now paying Gruden and Allen $20M+ to sit and watch football and that isn't cheap. If they were cheap, they would have allowed a couple more subpar Bucs seasons to go to waste.

[DR]

And just so you know Al, there are reports that are saying the Bucs players were one of the big reasons for Gruden's release. That is understandable and the reports say that Gruden lost respect when guys were released and Gruden wouldn't "tell them to their face". i.e. Rice.
Stacy, Rick did defend Gruden in his one hour live blog, but I hope he sees the light and accepts the fact that Gruden needed to go. It's the best thing for the Bucs. There is no mention for Gruden in the NFL future, and I know it was a later firing, but he is only mentioned right now in the college ranks. That has to say something.

[Stacy]

DR...Yeah I was on there. Check out his Gut check article. That was really clued me into the Gruden firing thing.

[USArmyRob]

IMHO...meant In My Humble Opinion Stacy LOL..sorry thats the cell phone language again..

[IdahoBUCfan]

I suspect that the reason that "DR" only uses 2 letters for his name, is that any more might require thought that is beyond him! Read the posts that you are responding to you ______!
Gruden will not "sit" for any more than possibly 1 season, and I'll be surprised if he sits even one season!
Just because you are slow, and rode the short bus, doesn't mean that other teams around the league were on a short bus too! He will be hired, in spite of the fact that so many HC jobs are already filled since the close of the season! We were 4 players, and one DC who's timing on his announcement was thoughless, from really being a contender. I was already excited about next year when we heard the tragic news that we are starting from scratch! Of course, this will be great for guys like you who Love to complain about a loss, you should have plenty to gripe about now! GO BUCS! Inspite of the fact that this looks like a dumb move!

[USArmyRob]

IdahoBucfan...maybe you should cheer for Boise State to make it to the BCS again...cause your negativity isnt very helpful my fellow Buc fan...Blue Turf..must be nice.

[noosa]

gruden will be the head coach of the dallas cowboys next year and when he takes over dallas T.O will be happy again because he's in a W.C. offense(he is nothing more and nothing less than a WC receiver) and Tony Romo will reach the elite level that people say he is possible of and the cowboys will win back to back superbowls because unlike the glazers and Bruce Allen, Jerry Jones is not known for being cheap

[Banjo Jones]

Believe this story's been trotted out before. How is this "news"?

[scooterbucs]

After driving the drivel down our throats for 6 years, Steve Deumig must finally feel validated.

[OAR]

Scooterbus, I feel sorry for anyone who listens to Dui-eumig.
IdahoBUCfan, I agree with you. Uh oh!I'm gonna get it now.
And last but not least, the great DR has spoken once again about his love for Gruden, I don't think there are any hc spots left open in the Nfl. BTW Lane and Monte are at the college level does that "say something?", give em a break.

[Garick]

Sorry DR, going to have to agree with the others here. Sometimes I do think your hate for Gruden runs so deep you ignore the facts and try to invent your own. Gruden has been absolutely silent since this thing went down. I'm sure he is weighing his options. If the right job doesn't come up, he'll be a head coach the following season in the NFL. You may not think he's a good coach, but 75 percent of America does (that's from an ESPN poll, you can check it out yourself).

What that means is the Glazers will be off the hook for at least half of the money he is owed. Don't think they don't realize this. If Allen gets hired (which I'm sure he will in some capacity), then the Glazers we'll actually end up quite a bit on the plus side finacially given what Dominik and Raheem are making.

Those are the facts, you can ignore them if you want. It's no secret that I like Gruden as a coach. But at the same time, I'm a Buc fan and a very open minded guy. I hope the firing and hiring pays off. I hope the Glazers will actually go out and spend freely on free agents. I'm optimistic on both counts. But until we see what they do in the offseason, you, me, and everyone else don't truly know if their intentions are good just yet.

[Sunglasses Future]

Al and Garrick have this right. Gruden will be picked up somewhere and what he gets paid removes what the Glazers owe. They won't end up paying the full contract owed and the contract for Morris will be less. Nobody can question that it will ultimatley save the owners money. The question is was that a significant part of the motivation. Remember the financial companies were still high when they re-upped Gruden one year ago. Now times have changed,the Glazers debt is coming due, and the markert for financing has collapsed.

Here's some more news to the story:
AIG backs out from supporting Man U
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=611655&sec=world&&cc=5901

The choice between Bucs and Man U is shown by the signings for each team that last several years.

Maybe the Glazers will prove me wrong by approving the "Tiger Woods" signings this year. However, remember what accompanies any story about the Glazers: "shrewd businessmen." Are businesses adding costs or cutting?

Wonder if the Outback guys are still interested?

[OAR]

Garick, thank you! You took the words right out of my mouth.

[Robert]

Idaho, Idaho, Idaho... Haven't seen you here in a while. What you doing out there in the sticks.. Were you waiting on you internet to dial up? To say we were 4 good players and a DC is the most ignorant comment I have heard in a while. Every team in the NFL is 4 players and another good coach away from the Super Bowl you moron. What was there to be excited about next year. Having happy feet try to run outside the pocket against the D's in the NFC East. I'm not too excited to see that. Garick, the facts are, the Glazers got rid of GRUALLEN willing to pay that money if need be. People don't fire someone hoping someone else will hire them. If they were doing that, GRUALLEN would have been fired the day the season ended so someone else would sign them. Yeah, Gruden is so popular that when his name came up about Notre Dame the school came out and said someone is trying to SABOTAGE our recruting! Yeah, he seems real popular. You guys defending him are talking about him getting hired as a coordinator. If I remember right, that is a step back from a head coach? Anyway, Gruden had a chance to build a winner and Idaho said it for me. They were 4 players and a DC away from something big. JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER TEAM IN THE NFL! GRUDEN FAILED HERE. I WISH HIM WELL SOMEWHERE ELSE.

[Robert]

Anyway, back to the article. It's good to know there is a guy like DeBartolo around Tampa. If the Glazers did ever want to sell the team. Knowing a guy like this is interested is a good feeling. He has proven 5 times he loves to win the SB! He has also had chances to get on ownership with other teams and turned them down. He lives here and obviously would like to have his hands on this franchise.

[Garick]

Robert, I am not asking you to like Gruden or respect him. What I am asking is that people quit skewing some of the facts and acknowledge the truth. The Notre Dame thing is funny, you didn't read all the article now you? The University was pissed because they didn't want recruits to get excited thinking they were going to get to play for Gruden only to find out otherwise.

Charlie Weiss is not a popular dude right now. I'm sorry but I have to laugh because you completely twisted that the other way around. That's the kind of fact skewing I'm talking about! And it seems like you can't acknowledge that Gruden is still a very sought out head coach either. Here's a link to an article in the Oakland Tribune printed a few days after Gruden's firing: http://www.insidebayarea.com/raiders/ci_11473228 Not surprising the Raiders and a few other teams are clamoring for his services.

There are lots of things that Gruden did that I didn't like and I'm not on a personal crusade to save the guy. But when people spew facts that are totally slanted or untrue, I think somebody should say something.

Lets make a new start here. There's a new head coach, new GM, and new optimism that the Glazers might spend some money this year. I am hopeful and open minded. So lets not make the Gruden bashing a daily choir. He's gone. Lets talk about this team going forward instead of looking back for more ways to add more negativity to these blogs.

[Garick]

Oh and just for the record, I was also a Sam Wyche and Tony Dungy fan when they were here. Not just Gruden. How about Wyche for Offensive Coordinator? I am not joking either...

[OAR]

Garick, this is exactly what I have been trying to tell all these haters. I realize there are people who don't like Gruden(and aren't haters) but they're not the ones twisting truthes for thier own self-promoting hating. I was behind Wyche, Dungy, Gruden, and Morris also. I also agree with not making this a bashing Gruden choir a daily thing. I also think that some of you mistake corrections(to those wrong statements) as personal likes/dislikes and or beliefs/disbeliefs, which is not the case 100% of the time.

[OAR]

Garick, Something I did not know about Wyche: Known as the "Always Innovative Sam Wyche" by Norman Chad for his unconventional play-calling. Wyche introduced the concept of having 12 or more players huddle on the field, then having a few leave the field. This was meant to confuse the defense as to the personnel grouping and give the offense an advantage. This has since been outlawed in the NFL.

[Robert]

Garick and OAR, espicially OAR, you know that I was behind Gruden when he was here. I have said many times on blogs to people bashing Gruden " He's our coach and we need to support him if we are BUCS fans'. I just think it's funny that so many people were calling for his head and now with a new regime I still hear alot of complaining. Gruden had 7 years to lead this team. He won a Super Bowl. I won't say he won Dungy's SB, but I will say that team was already built to win a SB. He didn't take a 6-10 team and then lead them to the SB. They were already a playoff team. Since that SB all he has done is run people out of town. He has done a horrible job of building his own team. Without Kiffin's Defenses here the past few seasons the bucs would have been lucky to win any games with Gruden's offenses. The last month of this season our Defense was a little banged up, but a GREAT football coach would have gotten that 1 win to get into the playoffs. Gruden had the laughing stock of the league in his own backyard (OAKLAND) and couldn't beat them. Look at the record of West coast teams traveling East this year. They were somethig like 3-15. 2 of those wins against the BUCS. Gruden sealed his own deal.

[Robert]

Guys I just want to let you know I love debating with you guys. Even when someone has to let me know I'm a jack a%% and was wrong. I think we got some great people with great ideas on here. I just hate the people who drop an ignorant line and then you don't see another blog from them for a month or two. You know the one's who just want to say something stupid and then dissapear? Anyway, we got alot of good ideas on these blogs!

[Robert]

Even you RICK!

[Garick]

Well said Robert, we might not always agree...but as long as you're supporting the Bucs that's all that matters to me.

Back to Wyche for a second. I'm sure a lot of you might already know this, but he is also the one that invented the "no huddle offense", which few could argue has influenced the outcome of a lot of games over the years. I know some will say that he's too old, ect. But he only quit football because a surgery to his vocal chords actually ruined his ability to talk and call plays. Again, I'm sure you all know this.

Last I heard, he was able to speak to some degree again. I don't think he would be a good HC, but he was an offense genius and maybe still is. Anyway, for all I know he doesn't want to get back into football anyway. As long as were talking about things that will never happen, I'd like to see Dungy be our defensive coordinator too. lol.

[Trey]

This is Journalism?

In a newsflash, I would buy the Bucs if they were for sale (they aren't) and if I had a Billion dollars (I don't).

WOW this is some shoddy work. It is like saying tomorrow would be Friday, if it wasn't Thursday...

[DR]

Who cares what the nation thinks. We all know that the Bucs don't getm many, if any, prime time games so how can they judge what they don't see? The facts are coming out. More importantly, it's the players whose voice counts and they spoke loud and clear. You think the players opinions poll that tallied Gruden as one of the least favorite coaches to play for in the league was a little bit of a factor?
If the Glazers thought they could save money by firing Gruden and he be rehired, they would have fired him day one after the Oakland loss. They didn't and that's a dumb comment.
The Irish are not wanting Gruden and they have been pretty clear on that.
the fact is Gruden's record speaks for itself. He was 2 games over .500 after inheriting a great team. He is under .500 since. His personnel decisions have been bad and the good ones he made he handled like a coward. A comment made by his own players. He was two face to the media and he was two faced to his players.
The Bucs are in good hands now. It will come down to whether or not Morris is a quick learner and I think he will be. He won't be stubborn in his ways and will provide some new life to this organization. Much needed new life.
The only haters right now on these blogs are the blind die hard Gruden supporters. I'll be like you Gruden lovers, If you don't like Morris than go to another team and follow Gruden! Whaaa whaaa, lol

[Garick]

Actually DR, it's a well known fact that when Gruden was with the Raiders, Notre Dame pursued him. Today on ESPN, Chris Mortenson said his sources have indicated Gruden has no interest in the job.

Again, if the argument is whether or not there are teams that what Gruden...then you are wrong. There are a lot of NFL teams and college teams that would love to have him. It's ignorant and contrary to fact to say otherwise.

[Garick]

Sorry, I meant "want Gruden", not what.

[Jason]

If the team isnt up for sale - how is this news?

If the Glazers are broke, how would saving on Gruden's menial few $$millions help a billionaire family out, it would only be a drop in the bucket.

Grasping for straws/news here, dude.