By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, February 9, 2012
TAMPA — Greg Schiano's transition from college to the NFL as a head coach might go smoothly if he has someone at One Buc Place who has done it.
That could be Butch Davis. The Bucs are in the process of bringing the former North Carolina and Cleveland Browns coach aboard in an advisory role, as senior defensive assistant. A deal was not complete Thursday night.
Meanwhile, the Bucs hired Jimmy Raye as a senior offensive assistant, according to multiple reports.
FoxSports.com first reported the Davis talks and Raye's hiring.
The Bucs declined comment.
It's uncertain what duties Davis will have, but he is expected to assist Schiano in building a defensive staff and work with the eventual coordinator.
Why won't Davis be the coordinator?
It's likely because of a buyout in his contract with North Carolina, which fired him last year. It calls for him to receive about $2.7 million unless he accepts another coaching position. He already has received $933,000 and is set to receive $590,000 in January of 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Davis, 60, went 24-35 in three-plus seasons with Cleveland before resigning in 2004. He didn't duplicate the success he had at the University of Miami.
There, he took over a program that had been slapped with NCAA sanctions. In six seasons, including with Schiano as defensive coordinator from 1999-2000, Davis went 51-20. His final team finished 11-1 and No. 2 in the nation. The following season, Miami won the national title.
Davis returned to college with the Tar Heels in 2007. In four seasons, he went 28-23 and was fired in July, when the program was found to have committed NCAA violations.
Davis also coached under Jimmy Johnson with Oklahoma State and the Dallas Cowboys. With Dallas, he coached the defensive line from 1989-92 and was defensive coordinator from 1993-94, winning two Super Bowls.
Giants license plate provokes anger
A commemorative license plate for the Giants was unveiled a day after their Super Bowl victory. But a lawmaker said one for the Sept. 11 attacks should come first.
"I'm happy that the Giants won the Super Bowl as much as the next New Yorker," New York assemblyman James Tedisco said. "But who are the real heroes our state should first be celebrating with distinctive plates: the athletes on the gridiron or the first responders and the people who lost their lives on Sept. 11?"
The plate was issued despite a 2004 moratorium on new ones, which was prompted by a lawsuit filed by a group seeking a "Choose Life" one.
A spokesman for Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the plates don't violate the moratorium because they are a reworking of a 1987 Super Bowl plate with a new date and logo.
Gronkowski ripped: Ex-NFL safety Rodney Harrison said New England tight end Rob Gronkowski "disrespected himself" by dancing at a party after the Super Bowl loss. The NBC analyst lost Super Bowls with the Patriots and Chargers. "When we lost the Super Bowl, I was so devastated," he said. "The last thing I ever wanted to do was party, let alone dance or take off your shirt. He made a mistake. And I'm sure he feels absolutely stupid about it."
Giant sorry: Giants running back Brandon Jacobs apologized for saying Gisele Bundchen, wife of Tom Brady, should "shut up and stay cute." After the Super Bowl, she told hecklers Brady could only throw the ball, not catch it. "It's his wife," Jacobs said. "And I should respect that just as much as anyone else."
Information from Times wires was used in this report.