According to a source, a news conference could be held as early as Saturday. Yasinskas: Bigs Bucs
For Tampa Bay fans who think the Glazer family no longer cares about the Bucs, think again. The Glazers just blew $25 million when they fired coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen, writes Pat Yasinskas. Blog
•Blog network: NFL Nation Morris, 32, has made a meteoric rise from Hofstra's defensive backs coach in 2000-2001 to head coach of the Bucs in 2009. Morris, who coached the Bucs' secondary from 2006 through 2007, interviewed for the Broncos' head coaching position. He had been promoted to defensive coordinator of the Bucs after Monte Kiffin left for the University of Tennessee.
Dominik joined the Bucs in 1995 as a pro personnel assistant. He was a candidate for the Chiefs general manager job that went to Scott Pioli.
The firing of Gruden and Allen came out of the blue. Allen spent the afternoon negotiating a contract to hire Joe Barry as the Bucs linebackers coach. Morris was in the process of hiring former Saints defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs for the defensive staff.
After 6 p.m. Friday, ownership announced Gruden and Allen were out without any indication of replacements. Apparently, a plan was already in place in hiring Morris and Dominik.
Although Bill Cowher and Mike Shananan are available, they were not contacted by the Bucs. Cowher might not have been interested because of the team's uncertainty at quarterback. Shanahan is on vacation and might sit out next season.
Bucs ownership made a costly decision in firing Gruden and Allen. According to multiple sources, their firings cost roughly $25 million in contract commitments. Gruden had signed a three-year, $15.3 million extension and was under contract through 2012. Allen was making more than $2 million a year.
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