The Jordan Scott Dynasty (NFL HC09)

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GRUDEN LEAVES TB, NEW COACH HIRED

Early this morning it was announced that Jon Gruden has resigned from the head coaching job of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is expected to begin a position as a head analyst at ESPN. The Bucs had been made aware of his plans and were already lining up new coaches.

Today the Bucs have announced the hiring of Jordan Scott, former graduate assistant at Indiana University. Scott is a very surprising hire, as he will become the youngest coach in NFL history at only 25 years old. However, Scott has a mind for the game and plans to incorporate some unique concepts in Tampa.

Scott inherits a roster with no long term plan at quarterback, as veterans Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese are flanked by disappointing young backups Chris Simms, Luke McCown and Bruce Gradkowski. The team's defense is solid but aging with stars like Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber leading the way, who are flanked by youngsters Gaines Adams and Tanard Jackson. Whoever emerges at QB for the Bucs will be flanked by a solid offensive line, with veteran tackle Luke Petitgout bookended by Jeremy Trueblood, as well as guards Arron Sears and Davin Joseph. However, the team must find a long-term option at center and begin working on finding a viable replacement for the aging Petitgout. The receiving core is also a question mark, as Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard advance in age and the team has not seen production from the likes of Maurice Stovall, Michael Clayton and Paris Warren yet. Running back Earnest Graham and tight end Alex Smith are solid supplemental pieces, but it is unsure if they are viable for the long term.

Scott has already announced a surprising decision; the team plans to use the franchise tag on linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. Barrett Ruud is already established at middle linebacker and the team has Brooks and Cato June to play on the outside, so bringing back Trotter doesn't really make sense. If the plan is to trade him, I'm not sure what team would take on the $8 million franchise tag salary as well as his advanced age.

Scott has also announced that the team will not tender a contract to restricted free agent defensive tackle Jovan Haye, making him an unrestricted free agent. This was expected as the team has no ties to Haye with a new coach coming in, and Haye was stuck behind Chris Hovan as the starting defensive tackle.

Update: GM Ben Allens has announced that the team is tendering Haye with a Level 1 contract, meaning that teams can give up a 6th round pick to sign him to a contract.

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BUCS MAKE SEVERAL BLOCKBUSTER TRADES

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been busy on the trade market early in free agency. They have found several bargain deals that set them up to be contenders for this season.

First, the Bucs traded quarterback Jeff Garcia and linebacker Ryan Nece to Houston for wideout Andre Johnson. Houston apparently doesn't believe in Matt Schaub and so they brought in Garcia to compete with him. Meanwhile, Nece fills a hole at left outside linebacker. Tampa gets a legitimate #1 receiver to jumpstart their offense.

Next, Tampa moved receiver Ike Hilliard and guard Dan Buenning to San Francisco for linebacker Patrick Willis. Willis will start next to Barrett Ruud in the Bucs' 3-4 defense, giving the Bucs a leader on defense for the future. San Fran gets some help at wideout and on the offensive line, which they sorely needed.

Another trade was made with the 49ers, as they traded their other first round pick from last season, tackle Joe Staley, to Tampa for tackle Luke Petitgout and corner Phillip Buchanon. San Fran opted to get a more proven left tackle and also fill a hole at corner, while Tampa gets younger and sheds some salary.

The Bucs also flipped some players to improve their current and future draft position, starting with quarterback Kerry Collins, who was acquired from Tennessee for a future fifth round choice, but flipped to Oakland for their first rounder next year as well as a seventh this year. In a separate deal, Tampa traded quarterback Bruce Gradkowski to Tennessee for receiver Chris Davis, who was then also sent to Oakland alongside defensive end Greg White and a future seventh round choice for star corner Nnamdi Asomugha, who was upset about being franchise tagged by Oakland and wanted out.

The Bucs found their center of the future, sending 2009 3rd and 4th round picks to the Jets for Nick Mangold. The Jets decided to move Mangold as they were unsure if they could retain him after next season, so Tampa was able to acquire him for a good price.

The Bucs then sent linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, who was franchise tagged earlier this offseason, as well as the 52nd pick this season to the Eagles for guard Shawn Andrews. Andrews has reportedly suffered from mental health issues this offseason, so the Bucs are taking a chance that he will remain one of the top linemen in the NFL and getting him under market value.

In a surprising move, the Bucs sent fullback B.J. Askew, quarterback Brian Griese and tight end Chad Mustard (acquired from Denver for a 2009 7th) to the Bears for their 2009 2nd and 7th round picks as well as two 3rds and a 7th rounder this year. The Bears apparently want to try Askew and Mustard at tailback, but it's odd that they are giving up so much for them and a quarterback that they just traded to Tampa.

The Bucs then acquired another top flight receiver, as Detroit traded Calvin Johnson for defensive tackle Chris Hovan, quarterback Luke McCown, and running back Carnell Williams. The Lions are hoping that McCown and Williams can develop into starters for them, but Tampa is acquiring last year's second overall pick for well below market value.

The Bucs found a couple possible options at quarterback, first trading punter Josh Bidwell to Baltimore for Troy Smith, then sending safety Will Allen and a seventh round pick to Cleveland for Brady Quinn. The two former college standouts will compete for the job in their second season, although the Bucs could bring in someone else in the future.

Another player the Bucs flipped was Atlanta safety Jimmy Williams. The Bucs acquired him from their divisional rival for a 5th and 7th this year, but then sent him along with safety Jermaine Phillips to the Giants for defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who will start alongside Gaines Adams to form possibly the top defensive end duo in the league.

The Bucs sent kicker Matt Bryant and a 6th rounder to Denver for defensive end Elvis Dumervil. Dumervil is expected to back up Gaines Adams.

Tampa sent receiver Joey Galloway to St. Louis for their 2009 1st rounder and a 7th this year. This gives Tampa 3 first round picks next year, as they acquired Oakland's pick earlier. St. Louis gets a replacement for Isaac Bruce next to Torry Holt.


Stay tuned for more on the free agency period, as the Bucs seem to not be done wheeling and dealing just yet.

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TAMPA ACQUIRES 2 TOP-10 PICKS

The Tampa Bay Bucs, much like free agency, won the 2008 draft.

Miami opened up by taking Michigan tackle Jake Long as expected.

However, Tampa shocked the world by sending star defensive end Osi Umenyiora, acquired from New York earlier this offseason, as well as RFA DT Jovan Haye and the 20th pick to St. Louis for the 2nd pick, then flipping it to Baltimore for picks 8 and 38, as well as their 2009 1st. The Ravens then picked LSU DT Glenn Dorsey.

The Bucs also acquired the 3rd pick and flipped it, sending C Kevin Mawae (acquired from the Titans late in the offseason for 3 kickers), punter Kyle Larson and the 8th pick to Atlanta, then trading the pick to Carolina for pick 13 and their 1st 2 picks next season, which prompted Carolina to take Ohio State edge rusher Vernon Gholston.

Next, Tampa traded for the Pats' 7th overall pick, giving up P Dirk Johnson, as well as the 13th and 55th picks. Tampa finally selected USC linebacker Keith Rivers to replace Derrick Brooks, who was traded to Denver for WR Brandon Marshall earlier.

The Bucs would then flip C Rob Smith, acquired from KC for a 5th rounder and kicker John Hall, as well as their 2009 1st for the 10th pick from New Orleans, and selected free-falling Arkansas HB Darren McFadden, who is expected to start over Earnest Graham.

The Bucs' other picks were:

2nd - RE Calais Campbell (Miami)
3rd - WR Earl Bennett (Vanderbilt)
3rd - SS Craig Steltz (LSU)
3rd - DT Dre Moore (Maryland)
4th - WR Mario Manningham (Michigan)
4th - QB Josh Johnson (San Diego)
5th - DT Athya Rubin (Iowa State)
5th - HB Jamaal Buckingham (Bloomsburg)
6th - TE Mike Peterson (NW Missouri State)
7th - K Alexis Serna (Oregon State)
7th - ROLB David Vobora (Idaho)
7th - RE Eric Baker (Michigan State)
7th - FB Carl Stewart (Auburn)
7th - RE Tony Bake (TCU)

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BUCS SET OPENING WEEK ROSTER

Due to several crazy trades and signings, the Bucs have the most talented roster in the NFL and are the favorites to win the Super Bowl.

Tampa Bay Bucs Depth Chart - 2008
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	Andre Johnson 90/90	Calvin Johnson 86/94	Mario Manningham 75/90
TE	Owen Daniels 77/81	Alex Smith 73/81	Mike Peterson 58/84
LT	Shawn Andrews 92/92	Eric Winston 81/84
LG	Davin Joseph 86/91	Arron Sears 85/87
C	Nick Mangold 91/94	Samson Satele 86/92
RG	Chris Snee 89/90	Ben Grubbs 84/89
RT	Joe Staley 87/93	Jeremy Trueblood 82/85
WR	Brandon Marshall 87/92	Earl Bennett 75/90	Devin Hester 75/87
QB	Trent Edwards 79/89	Troy Smith 79/87	Josh Johnson 68/92	Brady Quinn 75/91
FB	Tony Richardson 83/83	Carl Stewart 76/84
HB	Darren McFadden 86/97	Marshawn Lynch 86/92	Earnest Graham 80/81	Jamaal Buckingham 66/88
Base 3-4 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	Calais Campbell 83/89	Brian Smith 75/76
NT	Adam Carriker 87/91	Dre Moore 84/91	Athya Rubin 80/84
RDE	Gaines Adams 86/91	Tony Bake 66/80
LOLB	Lance Briggs 89/90	David Vobora 69/83
LILB	Patrick Willis 92/95	Barrett Ruud 85/88
RILB	Ray Lewis 92/92	Paul Posluzny 79/89
ROLB	Keith Rivers 90/95	Adam Hayward 74/83
CB	Nnamdi Asomugha 91/92	Ronde Barber 89/89	Deltha O'Neal 81/81
SS	Adrian Wilson 92/93	Craig Steltz 83/88	Nedu Ndukwe 81/87
FS	Tanard Jackson 88/91	Sabby Piscitelli 73/88
CB	Rashean Mathis 91/91	Chris Gamble 83/84
Special Teams
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
K	Alexis Serna 83/92
P	Ryan Plackemeier 83/90

Final Cuts:

Traded RT Trueblood, MLB Ruud, cut HB Buckingham

Traded for MLB DeMeco Ryans

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Season 1 - finished 15-1, only loss was to the Bears somehow

Award Finalists:
McFadden 2nd OROY
Rivers 4th DROY
Mangold 3rd, Andrews 5th OLOY
Gaines Adams WINS DLOY
Serna 3rd KOY
Scott 2nd COY

MVP/OPOY Tom Brady
DPOY Sam Madison (he had 97 tackles, 7 picks and 4 forced fumbles somehow)
OROY Limas Sweed (Patriots) (834 yds, 13 tds)
DROY Antoine Cason (Redskins) (84 tackles, 6 picks, 2 ff)

Divisional vs. Rams - L 20-6

New Staff:
GM Gary Meese
RBC Tim Sanders
OLC Tim Cobble
Trainer Arron Lee