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Bucs' Morris Talks To Broncos, Faces Decisions

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2009

TAMPA – Less than 24 hours after dining in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains with Broncos owner Pat Bowlen on Monday, Raheem Morris was headed back to One Buc Place, where his plan was to start poring over resumes.

In particular, the Bucs newly minted defensive coordinator was planning to look through the resumes of coaches with experience coaching linebackers.

"That's my first priority now," said Morris, who learned while interviewing for the Broncos head coach's job on Monday that Bucs linebackers coach Gus Bradley would interview today for the Seahawks defensive coordinator's job.

"It's crazy," Morris said before boarding a plane for Tampa in Denver. "There's a whole lot of things going on all over right now."

Indeed, the NFL coaching carousel is in full twirl and there's no way of knowing yet just where the likes of Morris and Bradley will be once it stops.

"It all depends," Morris said. "That's why I [had] to get back to work [here]. There's a lot that has to be done."

In addition to possibly having to find a new linebackers coach, Morris also is looking for a secondary coach to fill the role he left in replacing Monte Kiffin. On that front Morris may not have to look very far.

There is a chance the Bucs will promote from within by naming former California-Davis All-American safety and second-year defensive quality control coach Ejiro Evero their new secondary coach.

Meanwhile, should it become necessary, the Bucs may look to fill Bradley's post by re-hiring former linebackers coach Joe Barry, who was recently fired as Lions defensive coordinator.

Of course, the Bucs could also find themselves on the lookout for a new defensive coordinator should Morris be tabbed by the Broncos as the man to replace Mike Shanahan.

Morris, who was originally scheduled to meet with the Broncos on Wednesday, had his interview bumped up so the Broncos could spend Wednesday talking to Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.

"It went really well," Morris said. "The guys there are all great. It went well when we were at the facility and it continued to go well when we were at dinner. They really know how to treat you right, I can say that."

Others who have been or are expected to be interviewed for the Broncos job include Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

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