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Time Is Of The Essence For Bucs Coach Morris

Tribune file photo by JOSEPH BROWN III

Bucs head coach Raheem Morris used to be just another face in the crowd at the Senior Bowl. Not anymore.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 20, 2009

Updated: 01/20/2009 07:00 am

MOBILE, Ala. - Raheem Morris used to be just another face in the crowd at the Senior Bowl. Not anymore.

After arriving Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' new head coach was repeatedly pulled out of the crowd by colleagues wishing him well, associates offering him congratulations and fans asking for autographs.

"I've been trying to lay low and keep a low profile," Morris said after watching the North team's practice at Ladd Peebles Stadium. "I'm just trying to evaluate talent and get some work done."

As difficult as it might have been at times, Morris said he did manage to have "a real productive day." He said he expected to have a fairly productive evening as well.

"I'm going to sit down and have some interviews with some of the players and try to get to know them a little bit," Morris said. "It's a different view for me right now.

"I'm used to looking at things from the back end all the time. And I'm still fighting myself from trying to watch the defensive backs all the time, but I'm getting there."

Morris, who came through the Bucs' system as a defensive backs coach, watched the workouts Monday while sitting alongside college scouting director Dennis Hickey.

It was only during that time that the well-wishers, autograph seekers and unemployed coaches looking for work left him alone. Prior to and after that, Morris could only walk a few steps before being stopped.

"That's why I'm trying to stay incognito," said Morris, who avoided wearing Bucs apparel to try to blend into the crowd. "I'm just trying to watch the talent and evaluate."

Morris isn't the only Bucs coach doing that. The assistants who remain following a purge of six coaches Sunday were on hand as well. So, too, were all the Bucs scouts.

"This is where it all starts for us," Morris said. "This is the first phase for this regime, so it's an important time for us. We have a lot to get to and a lot of talent to look at and evaluate."

One of the things Morris still has to get to is the signing of his contract, which is believed to have a total value of approximately $8 million and is for three years with the team holding the option on a fourth year.

That detail has not been completed, but plans call for the Bucs to finalize the contract over the next few days and for Morris to sign it after he returns to Tampa later this week.

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

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