Were not going to suggest that the fair-haired one rode Tony Dungys coattails to the Bucs first NFL championship, but he did inherit an accomplished team. Gruden was probably just the right catalyst for the moment. Its what the coach has done, or hasnt done, in the wake of the Super Bowl win that plants him squarely on the hot seat. In the ensuing years (not including this one), the Bucs had a regu-lar season record of 22-28, including last years 4-12 debacle. Beyond the numbers, Grudens status as an offensive guru just hasnt panned out (even in the Super Bowl year). The natives are restless. Grudens scowls and tirades are no longer the endearing earmarks of a cantankerous winner. We cant read the minds of the Glazers, the teams secretive ownership group, but it doesnt seem too far-fetched to think this is a win-or-yer-out year for Chuckie.
This article appears in Sep 12-18, 2007.
