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New Contracts Put Added Pressure On Gruden, Allen

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By ROY CUMMINGS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

Updated: 01/22/2008 11:55 pm

MOBILE, Ala. - Speaking during a break Tuesday at the Senior Bowl, Bruce Allen sounded more like a Tampa city councilman than the Bucs' general manager.

"The infrastructure is set up for us," Allen said. "We have a world-class stadium and practice facility; they're like trophies to our market. We also have a tremendous fan base."

Throw in strong, if not unwavering, support from ownership and you can see why the three-year contract extensions that Allen and Coach Jon Gruden have received put them on the hot seat like never before.

Gone are all the excuses they have used or could use for posting losing seasons. With an infrastructure that is arguably second to none, winning consistently is all but expected now.

It's a tall order, especially for a franchise in the NFC South, which has never crowned the same team as champion two years in a row. For a variety of reasons, though, Allen and Gruden believe they can fill it.

Besides the infrastructure, the Bucs roster is full of mostly young players on the rise, not aging players hanging on to a dream like in 2003 and 2004.

There also is an almost unprecedented consistency within their coaching ranks. Though they likely will add new quarterbacks and running backs coaches, the offensive, defensive and special teams coordinators all return.

Finally, the Bucs have approximately $23 million worth of salary cap space to work with in free agency, which figures to make them one of the most attractive franchises in the marketplace.

"We're really going to be able to compete hard in free agency this year," said Gruden, whose extension is believed to call for an average payout of approximately $5 million per year through the 2011 season.

Terms of Allen's deal could not be obtained, but his extension means he can continue the franchise rebuilding project he started during the 2006 season and kicked into high gear last summer.

With a nudge from ownership, which desired a younger, more athletic team, Allen got rid of defensive stalwarts such as Anthony McFarland, Shelton Quarles and Simeon Rice and began phasing other notables out of the lineup.

The result was a bounce-back season. After going 4-12 in 2006, the mostly younger Bucs went 9-8 in 2007, winning their third division title in six seasons before losing to the Giants in the playoffs. That loss was the second straight for Gruden in the first round of the playoffs and it left him with a post Super Bowl record of 36-46.

Numbers were never going to decide his fate, though.

The Bucs' owners wanted to see Gruden and Allen rebuild the franchise's foundation, and they appeared to do that by leaning regularly on young players at several key positions.

The Glazers did not comment on the extensions granted Gruden and Allen, but the coach and general manager both expressed gratitude toward them for remaining faithful.

"I'm very appreciative," Gruden said while watching a morning workout at Ladd Peebles Stadium. "I've said before that I have tremendous respect for the Glazers and the vision they have.

"It's an honor to be here because I love Tampa and I love our football team. We have great camaraderie and I'm proud of the things we have accomplished and I'm excited about the future."

Allen said he and the Glazers share a philosophical belief that players grow most during the offseason. These extensions will allow the players to continue improving because their growth won't be impeded by change.

"They share their vision for the franchise in the future and we all get to benefit from that," Allen said. "So this is very exciting for all of us. We're in a good position."

The Bucs finished the 2007 regular season in an enviable position, one Gruden said was the result of hard work. He said concern over his job status never was a factor and it won't be now that he has a new deal.

"I'm not worried about things I can't control," he said. "I've always had a lot of confidence and resolve because that's what you've got to have to be successful in this business."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be

reached at (813) 259-7979

or rcummings@tampatrib.com.

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