Didn't see this posted before, sorry if it has been...
Cowher was contacting associates again this offseason with his sights set on four attractive possibilities: Chicago, Houston, Carolina and Tampa Bay. As we know, positions with those teams did not open up, but the Buccaneers did contact him and were serious in their intent, as I have reported, but concerns over salary and player spending doomed any progress there.
At first, Russ Brandon, then team president, now CEO, was running the show, putting together lists of candidates for owner Ralph Wilson and scheduling interviews. Efforts to court Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden and Cowher came up empty, as expected, and in the meantime Wilson was reshuffling his front office.
A few weeks back, Buddy Nix was promoted to general manager -- a move that shocked some in the football community given all the responsibility Nix, a 70-year-old, behind-the-scenes, on-the-road scout would have to take on -- and everything changed. Brandon now has a business-side title alone and, according to league sources, is no longer a part of the ongoing search.
A few weeks back, Buddy Nix was promoted to general manager -- a move that shocked some in the football community given all the responsibility Nix, a 70-year-old, behind-the-scenes, on-the-road scout would have to take on -- and everything changed. Brandon now has a business-side title alone and, according to league sources, is no longer a part of the ongoing search.
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