Senior discount

Levy could be good fit for not-getting-any-younger Bucs

I literally ran into Marv Levy during Super Bowl week in New Orleans. He was out running a hard two miles and stopped long enough to discuss his desire to be back on the sideline. He's in great shape and still has the fire in his belly to coach, that's for sure.

Bill Polian in Indianapolis and John Butler in San Diego both worked in Buffalo with Levy, and they know he can still do a credible job. Levy told me he thought that both the Colts and Chargers were thinking long term when they passed on the idea of bringing him back because he's 76 years old.

Levy and I had a good laugh about the concept of "long term," considering that a head coach's tenure in the league averages about 3 1/2 years. Many of the assistant coaches and former Bills players I polled think Levy could be just what the doctor ordered in Tampa for a year until Jon Gruden comes free or another option comes along. Levy is tailor-made for the Tampa Bay team in the short term.

The Bucs are a veteran team that could benefit from the wisdom and coaching style that took Levy to four consecutive Super Bowls and the Hall of Fame. He's obviously dealt with egos just as big as the ones in the bay; after all, he got Bruce Smith, Jim Kelly, Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas to play hard every week. And factor in that all the team's draft picks will be kept, no veterans will be traded away, Monte Kiffin will still be there to run the defense.

Major corporations bring retired executives back as consultants all the time -- why not the NFL? A good young offensive-minded coach would love to work under Levy and would welcome the opportunity to work with Keyshawn Johnson, Brad Johnson and the rest of the offensive talent. Anyone who laughs at the idea of Marv Levy for a year doesn't know Marv Levy.

Tampa Bay must win next season or the Bucs' organization will have to tear it all down and start again anyway. Six Pro Bowlers -- Keyshawn Johnson, Mike Alstott, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber and John Lynch -- took up $21 million of cap space in 2001 and next year will average 30 years of age. These guys keep going to Pro Bowls instead of Super Bowls. Believe me, that will not go on forever.

Still not convinced the Levy idea is feasible? Well, as Marv shook my hand and took off to finish his workout, I remembered that Ronald Reagan was president of the United States as a 78-year-old. I think coaching the Bucs would be a little less demanding than a tour of duty in the White House -- and I'm pretty sure Levy doesn't want a four-year term.

Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNNSI.com.

 

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